My travel papers arrived Monday Jan 30th in Boulder! Yipeeeee!
They are currently on their way to Victoria, BC via UPS and Rachel and I will fly out on Friday to meet Jason in Denver Friday night.
So our family will be reunited again soon, and we are excited.
Rachel and I have been on the go to California, Virginia, and BC since the beginning of December. We have no routine whatsoever. Rachel has been an awesome traveler so far on all the planes, cars, boats, bus rides, etc. She has had a couple of colds and has been an inconsistent sleeper. She has charmed everyone we've seen - family, friends, plane seat companions, flight attendants, etc. We are really looking forward to our own bed / crib, our own kitchen and food situation, and getting settled with consistent nap times. Hopefully soon we'll have a daycare and work schedule set up, and then I can go crazy on scheduling all of our family's activities and goals. (I love schedules and lists!)
I've been thinking about writing a goals or New Year's Resolution blog for a month now. I'm probably the most goal-oriented person any of you know. I think there is only one goal I've ever written down in my life that I did not accomplish. But it's been hard to set goals recently since our plans have been so up in the air. We don't feel settled in Boulder yet and it's taking it's time.
Typically I'd like to write goals that are specific, measureable, attainable, and have a time frame. And we are not there yet.... But here are some general things that I hope to accomplish in the next while.
1) Get a job. This is a little out of my hands right now but something I can work on again and get going very soon.
2) Save up our pennies and buy a house. This relates very much to me getting a job, and as soon as I know my job situation, we can learn more about our house budget.
3) Take better care of myself. I don't just mean sleeping better and things like that but I want to do more for myself to help improve my confidence, my physical strength and fitness, and my sense of control over my life. Being a mom and moving to a new country for me have included being mostly sleep deprived for the last 16 months. Since moving to Boulder, we've had very little time for ourselves to exercise, eat well, be social, shave, get a haircut, and things like that. It takes away from your own identity. I want to be confident and feel attractive and energized again. These things seem especially hard to do when visiting and living on the road and wondering about job and daycare schedules. For me, I have lost a lot of confidence not working since I love being a physical therapist so much, and consider it a huge part of who I am. When we get home it will be time to crack down on many things.
Here are some examples:
- Exercise consistently. Jason runs every Wed night and I plan to go to an exercise class every Mon night. We each get in something longer on the weekend, usually as a family. We both want more but are not sure how to get it just yet. Many people perceive us as being so active and fit, and we typically are, but we've both struggled in the last few months and I'm feeling it.
- Find time without Rachel. For the last few months this has been time in the shower, or online when Rachel naps. Maybe a family member has watched Rachel in the last couple of months while I've gone out for a jog. In March I'm going to Vegas with two special girlfriends for a girls weekend and later in March I'm going to Michigan for 6 nights for a manual therapy course. Vegas will be the first night since Rachel was born that I will be without her. This whole 'travel without Rachel' will also mean weaning her off breastmilk. I have mixed feelings about this but it will be great for some independence!
- Find time for Jason and I as a couple. Every parent will tell a new parent that it's hard to find time as a couple. We have no family near us to babysit, and bedtime has been our only consistent routine that we do have. We have hired a babysitter twice so far in Rachel's life and had a few dates out when family have watched her. We're going to work hard to find a babysitter again and make a date night (or date afternoon, perhaps) every 2 weeks to splurge and create some time to ourselves.
- Use daycare. Our hope is that we can use a little extra daycare time around our work schedules to fit in a run, hair cut, doctor's appointment, etc. to get something done for ourselves as adults.
- Sign up for an athletic event. Jason hopes to do three 50 mile runs this year and has signed up for his first. I plan to find a trail half marathon to do in April-June and get running again soon. If I don't have an event, I don't go out very often.
So we'll keep you posted!!
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Two different destinations
Parts of the Kelowna airport are lovely, like the section with the little waterfall that masks the noise and conversations of other passengers while you are waiting for your flight. However, the part where Rachel waves "bye-bye" as she and Meggs walk through the security door is lame. It is also hard to watch people traveling together as a family, today's opposite of families like ours, since we have to get on two different flights, and only half the family gets to go home. But that isn't the fault of those other families, so I sit in the airport and smile at other people's kids instead of my own. Someday Meggan's paperwork will come through, she and Rachel will return home, start work and daycare, and we will hugs lots. But not today (sigh)...
So I will tell you about our weekend in the Okanagan Valley, where we used to live. Meggan and Rachel arrived in Penticton on Wednesday, saw friends, and then Jehanne drove them to Kelowna on Thursday and dropped them at the hotel. When checking in, Meggan let the desk clerk know that I would be checking in late (after midnight), and could he give me a second key and let me know which room was ours? I worked Wednesday, then went to the airport, flew through Seattle (4-hour layover) to Kelowna, rented a car and drove to the hotel.
Friday we got up and Rachel and I played in the hotel pool before heading to my citizenship ceremony at Kelowna City Hall. I checked in and was given my seat assignment, and Meggan and Rachel were directed to the spectator seating area. I was really excited; even though this may seem trivial now that we don't live in Canada, it was very important to me to complete this journey to citizenship that began when I moved to Canada in 2006. It was exciting to see people from so many different places and cultures, all excited to become Canadians. The ceremony began with a short speech from the citizenship judge, then we all recited the Citizenship Oath (in English and French), and the judge heartily declared, "Congratulations, you are Canadian!" Everyone cheered, and it was very emotional for a lot of people in the room. I saw a man from Senegal who was present the day I wrote my citizenship test in November; he has been working toward this day for over 9 years, and I'm sure many in the room have waited longer. Then we heard some speeches from local dignitaries, and sang the Canadian national anthem, before adjourning the ceremony and taking some pictures. Very cool!
Then we headed to Penticton, where we went to Jehanne and Nick's house (thanks so much to them for letting us stay there while they were out of town for the weekend), where we promptly exploded our stuff all over the place. Oops, hope we got it all clean this morning before we left! That evening we visited with Scott and Sarah McMillan, just across the street -- thanks to them for the weekend loan of the Pak N' Play, so Rachel could have a place to sleep without us bringing our travel crib.
Saturday we went for a family run up to the reservoir (thanks again Sarah for the running stroller). Then we went to Caithy and Sean's house so Rachel could terrorize their remotes, DVD collection, and other fun things. We are so excited for their little one coming soon! That evening we had a great dinner at Amber's new (well, since we left) apartment, then she and Greg came over for games. It has been so long since we've played games that it felt great to enjoy Settlers without having 50 other things to get accomplished that night.
Sunday we drove to Rob's house in the morning, and he and Andrea were kind enough to give us a ride up to Apex for the Annual Snowshoe Hash! There was a huge group there, and a wonderful trail through the woods was laid out for us to follow, complete with fun surprises along the way. So fun to see all our hashing friends again! Rachel was a good sport about being carried in the Bjorn for so long, but probably enjoyed more when she was set free to roam around the Gunbarrel restaurant afterwards. Back to Penticton for a fun dinner and catch-up with Dave and Stacey before it was time for us to pack up our things to get ready to leave this morning.
A crazy long weekend, but aren't they all for the three of us? Meggan and Rachel are winging their way back to Victoria, and I am waiting for my own flight day to start here in Kelowna. Hope all is well with your families; please give them an extra hug for us when you see them.
So I will tell you about our weekend in the Okanagan Valley, where we used to live. Meggan and Rachel arrived in Penticton on Wednesday, saw friends, and then Jehanne drove them to Kelowna on Thursday and dropped them at the hotel. When checking in, Meggan let the desk clerk know that I would be checking in late (after midnight), and could he give me a second key and let me know which room was ours? I worked Wednesday, then went to the airport, flew through Seattle (4-hour layover) to Kelowna, rented a car and drove to the hotel.
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| My cheering section at the Citizenship ceremony |
Friday we got up and Rachel and I played in the hotel pool before heading to my citizenship ceremony at Kelowna City Hall. I checked in and was given my seat assignment, and Meggan and Rachel were directed to the spectator seating area. I was really excited; even though this may seem trivial now that we don't live in Canada, it was very important to me to complete this journey to citizenship that began when I moved to Canada in 2006. It was exciting to see people from so many different places and cultures, all excited to become Canadians. The ceremony began with a short speech from the citizenship judge, then we all recited the Citizenship Oath (in English and French), and the judge heartily declared, "Congratulations, you are Canadian!" Everyone cheered, and it was very emotional for a lot of people in the room. I saw a man from Senegal who was present the day I wrote my citizenship test in November; he has been working toward this day for over 9 years, and I'm sure many in the room have waited longer. Then we heard some speeches from local dignitaries, and sang the Canadian national anthem, before adjourning the ceremony and taking some pictures. Very cool!
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| A new dual citizen! |
Then we headed to Penticton, where we went to Jehanne and Nick's house (thanks so much to them for letting us stay there while they were out of town for the weekend), where we promptly exploded our stuff all over the place. Oops, hope we got it all clean this morning before we left! That evening we visited with Scott and Sarah McMillan, just across the street -- thanks to them for the weekend loan of the Pak N' Play, so Rachel could have a place to sleep without us bringing our travel crib.
Sunday we drove to Rob's house in the morning, and he and Andrea were kind enough to give us a ride up to Apex for the Annual Snowshoe Hash! There was a huge group there, and a wonderful trail through the woods was laid out for us to follow, complete with fun surprises along the way. So fun to see all our hashing friends again! Rachel was a good sport about being carried in the Bjorn for so long, but probably enjoyed more when she was set free to roam around the Gunbarrel restaurant afterwards. Back to Penticton for a fun dinner and catch-up with Dave and Stacey before it was time for us to pack up our things to get ready to leave this morning.
A crazy long weekend, but aren't they all for the three of us? Meggan and Rachel are winging their way back to Victoria, and I am waiting for my own flight day to start here in Kelowna. Hope all is well with your families; please give them an extra hug for us when you see them.
January 24, 2012
Some extra time
Well Jason and I will see each other on Friday in Kelowna for his Canadian Citizenship Ceremony. We will fly out of Kelowna and I will return to family in Victoria and he will go back to work teaching in Boulder. How long will I have to remain in Victoria before I can join him and begin work as well?
On January 4th, we were told that processing should take 2 more weeks. Today, we were told that they were currently 'backlogged due to a high volume of applications' and were processing applications from Sept 30, 2011.
What does that mean for our family? I don't know how long it takes them to move from Sept 30, 2011 until October 19, 2011 - the day I applied. But it would be safe to assume that I am not going to get my paperwork this week, and could safely plan to be in British Columbia for another couple of weeks...
My poor mailman! I've been pretty much attacking him in Boulder every day since December 1st assuming that my papers were about to arrive... and now I am certain that it will be days and days before it gets into the mail system.
So... how can we make this into an opportunity? I've had the unexpected chance to spend more time with family, catch up with friends, and play field hockey. I had an absolute blast playing field hockey and, although I am still very sore, was very happy with the atmosphere, the feeling of working hard, and how fantastic it felt to play the sport I love so dearly. I also got to play with some very amazing people, and remind myself how awesome it is/was to be a UVic Vike.
Should I stay put and enjoy time with family? Come up with some alternate trip? Get my BC Physical Therapy license and try to do some locums? Although I'm trying not to spend very much money, and I cannot enter the USA, I have time to enjoy many other options. Time is a gift...What do you think?
-Meggan
On January 4th, we were told that processing should take 2 more weeks. Today, we were told that they were currently 'backlogged due to a high volume of applications' and were processing applications from Sept 30, 2011.
What does that mean for our family? I don't know how long it takes them to move from Sept 30, 2011 until October 19, 2011 - the day I applied. But it would be safe to assume that I am not going to get my paperwork this week, and could safely plan to be in British Columbia for another couple of weeks...
My poor mailman! I've been pretty much attacking him in Boulder every day since December 1st assuming that my papers were about to arrive... and now I am certain that it will be days and days before it gets into the mail system.
So... how can we make this into an opportunity? I've had the unexpected chance to spend more time with family, catch up with friends, and play field hockey. I had an absolute blast playing field hockey and, although I am still very sore, was very happy with the atmosphere, the feeling of working hard, and how fantastic it felt to play the sport I love so dearly. I also got to play with some very amazing people, and remind myself how awesome it is/was to be a UVic Vike.
Should I stay put and enjoy time with family? Come up with some alternate trip? Get my BC Physical Therapy license and try to do some locums? Although I'm trying not to spend very much money, and I cannot enter the USA, I have time to enjoy many other options. Time is a gift...What do you think?
-Meggan
January 23, 2012
Rachel update: 15 months
Wondering what Rachel is up to? Sorry I can't post pictures since I don't have the camera cable / computer with me in Victoria. But I can tell you a few of her favorite activities lately:
1) The washing machine. We're staying mostly at Grandpops' house, and his washing machine door is at Rachel's height. She takes toys, cloths, shoes, etc and puts them inside, shuts the door, opens it, and unloads it and repeats this *100.
2) The dog. Rachel wakes up at 4:50am and the five words out of her mouth are 'mama', 'milk', 'NuNu' (her blanket), 'Baby' (her doll), and 'daw-daw' (dog). Max the 15.5 year old border collie doesn't wake up until after 7:30am, so I have over 2 hours of explaining to Rachel that she can't go in and see the dog yet because he (and Grandpops) are sleeping. Max is tolerant of Rachel's poking, prodding, and saying 'beep beep' when she wants him to move and pushes him out of the way.
3) My wallet. I got this awesome new wallet for Christmas from my sister in law. Unfortunately, Rachel also thinks it is very cool to open it, empty out all my cards and things, and then hand me back my 'wa-wa' (wallet). I have to then search around the washing machine, under carpet, and other strange places to find all my cards. I actually don't mind this game when we're safely at home and I can remove all important cards. But I do mind the game in the middle of the grocery store!
4) Zippers. Rachel's zippering ability has improved significantly over the last few weeks. She can now open the zippers on her crib, her diaper bag, her duffel bag, her jackets, etc. The only zipper that I don't think she's discovered yet is the change purse of my wallet (thank goodness). But there are not a lot of places that Rachel cannot get into anymore, except things that are up high or locked.
5) The potty. Rachel was given a potty for Christmas by my brother Jeff's family. This, by the way, was a difficult thing to let go of by Cooper (3.5 years old), who wasn't sure he was ready to give away his potty. Rachel loves to open the lid, hide things (pens, calculator, small toys, etc) inside, and close the lid. She loves to climb on the seat, sit there, and say 'potty', or 'chair', or 'peeeeee!'.
We're staying mostly at Grandpops' house, where Rachel has really moved in and is finally comfortable and sleeping well through the night and for naps! YAY!
So we're enjoying these things in Victoria and may join in a couple of kids activities this week (at the library or rec center) before heading to Kelowna later in the week for Jason's ceremony and to visit friends in Penticton.
Thanks for staying tuned and cross your fingers that I get my paperwork asap so we can go home soon!
1) The washing machine. We're staying mostly at Grandpops' house, and his washing machine door is at Rachel's height. She takes toys, cloths, shoes, etc and puts them inside, shuts the door, opens it, and unloads it and repeats this *100.
2) The dog. Rachel wakes up at 4:50am and the five words out of her mouth are 'mama', 'milk', 'NuNu' (her blanket), 'Baby' (her doll), and 'daw-daw' (dog). Max the 15.5 year old border collie doesn't wake up until after 7:30am, so I have over 2 hours of explaining to Rachel that she can't go in and see the dog yet because he (and Grandpops) are sleeping. Max is tolerant of Rachel's poking, prodding, and saying 'beep beep' when she wants him to move and pushes him out of the way.
3) My wallet. I got this awesome new wallet for Christmas from my sister in law. Unfortunately, Rachel also thinks it is very cool to open it, empty out all my cards and things, and then hand me back my 'wa-wa' (wallet). I have to then search around the washing machine, under carpet, and other strange places to find all my cards. I actually don't mind this game when we're safely at home and I can remove all important cards. But I do mind the game in the middle of the grocery store!
4) Zippers. Rachel's zippering ability has improved significantly over the last few weeks. She can now open the zippers on her crib, her diaper bag, her duffel bag, her jackets, etc. The only zipper that I don't think she's discovered yet is the change purse of my wallet (thank goodness). But there are not a lot of places that Rachel cannot get into anymore, except things that are up high or locked.
5) The potty. Rachel was given a potty for Christmas by my brother Jeff's family. This, by the way, was a difficult thing to let go of by Cooper (3.5 years old), who wasn't sure he was ready to give away his potty. Rachel loves to open the lid, hide things (pens, calculator, small toys, etc) inside, and close the lid. She loves to climb on the seat, sit there, and say 'potty', or 'chair', or 'peeeeee!'.
We're staying mostly at Grandpops' house, where Rachel has really moved in and is finally comfortable and sleeping well through the night and for naps! YAY!
So we're enjoying these things in Victoria and may join in a couple of kids activities this week (at the library or rec center) before heading to Kelowna later in the week for Jason's ceremony and to visit friends in Penticton.
Thanks for staying tuned and cross your fingers that I get my paperwork asap so we can go home soon!
January 22, 2012
Citizenship for Jason
Just when you thought our paperwork situation couldn't get any crazier...Jason is going to Canada on Friday! Unfortunately, not because by doing so I can help Meggan get back to Boulder any sooner, but because my own citizenship paperwork has been completed. In progress since May 2010, my application for Canadian citizenship has been approved, which is very exciting for us all!
In November, I flew up to Kelowna, BC, to take my 20-question citizenship test (which I passed), and was told a ceremony would likely be scheduled in the next few months. Fortunately, next Friday's date, Janaury 27, is a regular school day, and not one in which I am already scheduled for training or a conference with students (which happens a lot in February this year).
I don't know very much about the ceremony itself, since I haven't actually received the letter. Citizenship and Immigration Canada posted the following on my "application status" website: "We sent you a notice on January 18, 2012 to appear and take the oath of citizenship at the citizenship ceremony to be held on January 27, 2012 at 12:15 PM. The notice you will receive by mail will be your official confirmation of your appointment. If you have not received this notice prior to the date of your scheduled appointment, please contact us."
I have no idea which address they sent the notification to, so we'll see if I actually get the notice in time. I gave them my Boulder address when I was there in November, but the official system hasn't ever reflected this change.
Update: I just searched online at CIC and found that the Kelowna ceremony will be at City Hall in Kelowna, on Friday, Janaury 27, at 12:15pm. If you are local and you want to come, please do. :)
In November, I flew up to Kelowna, BC, to take my 20-question citizenship test (which I passed), and was told a ceremony would likely be scheduled in the next few months. Fortunately, next Friday's date, Janaury 27, is a regular school day, and not one in which I am already scheduled for training or a conference with students (which happens a lot in February this year).
I don't know very much about the ceremony itself, since I haven't actually received the letter. Citizenship and Immigration Canada posted the following on my "application status" website: "We sent you a notice on January 18, 2012 to appear and take the oath of citizenship at the citizenship ceremony to be held on January 27, 2012 at 12:15 PM. The notice you will receive by mail will be your official confirmation of your appointment. If you have not received this notice prior to the date of your scheduled appointment, please contact us."
I have no idea which address they sent the notification to, so we'll see if I actually get the notice in time. I gave them my Boulder address when I was there in November, but the official system hasn't ever reflected this change.
Update: I just searched online at CIC and found that the Kelowna ceremony will be at City Hall in Kelowna, on Friday, Janaury 27, at 12:15pm. If you are local and you want to come, please do. :)
January 19, 2012
92 days
Note - I am writing this from Victoria as Rachel and I are there visiting the Hunt side of the family, which Jason remains in Boulder working.
The big news in our MOJO family is the LACK of news from US immigration. We filed a request for authorization to work and travel while waiting for a Green Card on October 17, 2011. They are supposed to process these claims within 90 days. Our immigration lawyer has continued to suggest that all is well, that I would receive it before the end of 2011, or before Jan 17th, 2012 for sure. He did not seem concerned about this trip until a few days before we left, at which time he tried to get us special permission to leave the USA and return - we were not able to secure this before we left.
I decided to come on this trip anyway, especially when Immigration recently told my lawyer that this authorization had been approved and its arrival should be 'imminent'. I knew when I left that there was a possibility that I could get stuck in Canada with family. I also went ahead with many job applications and some interviews, eager to start working as soon as possible upon my return.
It has now been 92 days since we filed. I have 4 job interviews lined up for next week. If Rachel's daycare hadn't just closed, she would have started daycare on Monday full time. As far as I have been concerned for months, my 'real' life was supposed to resume on Jan 23 after someone hit the pause button on it last summer.
Still... here we are... no visa.
So tomorrow I will call Aeroplan points and try and change my ticket. I will not be allowed to re-enter the USA until this paperwork arrives. Do I rebook my flight for next week? one more week? two more weeks? What plans should I make for my visit here? What can I possibly tell the clinic directors that I'm supposed to meet with next week that can save my integrity and keep my job options open?
In a new community where I have been struggling to make friends, have a schedule, see my husband very much, find time without Rachel, or do anything for myself... I will now continue to live in a world on 'PAUSE' and hope that someone up there pushed 'PLAY' quickly so that I can move forward.
The positive side to this catastrophe is that I am here in my home town with my family and old friends. This means that I might be able to visit more, assist my Grandpa, possibly head to Penticton, maybe catch some Women's National Team Soccer, ... who knows?! I am even likely to play field hockey this weekend (indoors) for the first time since probably 2005 or even earlier. I'm going to be one very sore gal by Sunday and Monday! Hopefully some miracle will create the opportunity for me to be very stiff after arriving home in Boulder shortly thereafter, after sitting on the plane holding a happy and tired little girl.
The big news in our MOJO family is the LACK of news from US immigration. We filed a request for authorization to work and travel while waiting for a Green Card on October 17, 2011. They are supposed to process these claims within 90 days. Our immigration lawyer has continued to suggest that all is well, that I would receive it before the end of 2011, or before Jan 17th, 2012 for sure. He did not seem concerned about this trip until a few days before we left, at which time he tried to get us special permission to leave the USA and return - we were not able to secure this before we left.
I decided to come on this trip anyway, especially when Immigration recently told my lawyer that this authorization had been approved and its arrival should be 'imminent'. I knew when I left that there was a possibility that I could get stuck in Canada with family. I also went ahead with many job applications and some interviews, eager to start working as soon as possible upon my return.
It has now been 92 days since we filed. I have 4 job interviews lined up for next week. If Rachel's daycare hadn't just closed, she would have started daycare on Monday full time. As far as I have been concerned for months, my 'real' life was supposed to resume on Jan 23 after someone hit the pause button on it last summer.
Still... here we are... no visa.
So tomorrow I will call Aeroplan points and try and change my ticket. I will not be allowed to re-enter the USA until this paperwork arrives. Do I rebook my flight for next week? one more week? two more weeks? What plans should I make for my visit here? What can I possibly tell the clinic directors that I'm supposed to meet with next week that can save my integrity and keep my job options open?
In a new community where I have been struggling to make friends, have a schedule, see my husband very much, find time without Rachel, or do anything for myself... I will now continue to live in a world on 'PAUSE' and hope that someone up there pushed 'PLAY' quickly so that I can move forward.
The positive side to this catastrophe is that I am here in my home town with my family and old friends. This means that I might be able to visit more, assist my Grandpa, possibly head to Penticton, maybe catch some Women's National Team Soccer, ... who knows?! I am even likely to play field hockey this weekend (indoors) for the first time since probably 2005 or even earlier. I'm going to be one very sore gal by Sunday and Monday! Hopefully some miracle will create the opportunity for me to be very stiff after arriving home in Boulder shortly thereafter, after sitting on the plane holding a happy and tired little girl.
January 9, 2012
Changes
A new year has begun, and we're trying to keep up.
Rachel is doing awesome. She's happy to be home and back in a routine of good eating, sleeping, and playing. She's had a haircut, gotten over her cold (by giving it to Daddy), played with friends outside, at the pool, and at the ski lodge, and is enjoying all her new Christmas gifts.
Jason is back at school and trying to get organized for this semester. He is teaching his two marketing classes again, a finance class, and a desktop publishing class. He also continues to run the school store, the school credit union, may coach track&field this semester, and seems to be joining new committees all the time! It's a lot of work for him to stay ahead, and he expects to work long hours and many weekends over the next month.
I am trying to get organized to start work. While we know that the work and travel permit has been approved, it is not here yet. Rachel and I are headed to BC to see family on Wed Jan 11th, and need the travel permit in our hands to be able to come home Jan 21st. Hopefully Jason will receive it soon and be able to FedEx it to us pronto.
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| Cute hair before cut |
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| Short hair = less work, less mess! |
It's difficult to drop off resumes and have job interviews while being with Rachel full time. I have had interviews at one clinic and have a few more interviews scheduled. I am confident that something will work out soon but am eager to know the whens, whats, and hows about it all.
Rachel was supposed to start full time daycare on Jan 23rd when we return to town... however, due to tough economic times, her daycare will be shutting down at the end of January! So we are back to square one for daycares and need to get something organized asap. This is very disappointing as we were really looking forward to that center.
We did have a beautiful day at Keystone on Sunday, despite some ugly driving up and down the Interstate. Hopefully by the time Rachel and I return from BC, we'll get our schedules sorted out, the mountains will get more snow, and we'll be able to enjoy more skiing in February!
We did have a beautiful day at Keystone on Sunday, despite some ugly driving up and down the Interstate. Hopefully by the time Rachel and I return from BC, we'll get our schedules sorted out, the mountains will get more snow, and we'll be able to enjoy more skiing in February!
January 3, 2012
A Slice of Home (the East Coast version)
Highlights from our trip to Virginia
FAMILY
We were fortunate enough to see almost all of Jason's family. We saw his mom and sister, 4 grandparents, 6 aunts/uncles, 1 great aunt and 1 great uncle, and 10 cousins. We only missed 1 cousin in all of Jason's extended family. We also met up with family friends for dinner, saw friends at church on Christmas Eve, and saw over 50 guests at the Oliver Open House on New Years Day. Rachel even made friends with many residents at the Landing and the Chesapeake (her great-grandparents' residences). Although Rachel was pretty fussy by the end of the trip, we are thrilled that almost everyone at least got to meet her.
FOOD
Before we left, I was so looking forward to holiday food. Now that we are home, I have no interest in food at all. It seems every time we go to Virginia we spend a LOT of time eating and snacking. We visit with people and eat. We drive somewhere else, visit and eat. Food arrives at Grandma's house from friends, neighbours, and Costco and we continue to fail to empty her freezers full of treats. My favorites are the sweet potato casseroles, eating at Cracker Barrel, eating cooked apples as a side dish (not a dessert), meatballs and sausage patties, and caramel sauce on apple slices. Jason, Rachel and I all have large appetites. I also have no self control - if you put something yummy in front of me - I will eat it. All of it.
HEALTH
Jason is recovering well from his appendectomy. Rachel loves to lift up his shirt and look at his incision, and she has become very interested in everyone's belly buttons. All of our relatives looked to be in good health. Meggan caught a bad cold and passed it on to Rachel, who had a rough time on the last 2 days of our trip with her first ever fever.
EXERCISE
What?! What was that word? We were too busy eating and visiting to do much exercise. Plus, I have no real exercise goals right now which is bad. Having access to a babysitter named Grandma, we did enjoy running the trails down by the river near Susan's house. Karen and I ran a 10km run on Dec 31st which was very entertaining. Neither of us felt well prepared with little training and head colds lingering, and were not sure if we would succeed in running the whole way. We passed the first 4 miles chatting and catching up before deciding that our time was going to be a bit too slow for our liking, and ran very hard for the last 2.2miles trying to beat 60 minutes. I'm not proud of the 61 min finishing time, but did have a fun day and it felt good to push hard for the last bit. Susan and Jason pushed Rachel through a 5km walk in this fun event with 1400 people running or walking for local charities.
RACHEL
Favorite activities - crawling up and down stairs, new cool toys, being chased.
New words - "MA!" for her cousin Matthew, and "Amma" for Grandma, 'back pack' - see below
Funniest things - cheering with us during dice rolling games
Hard times - many poor sleeps, a terrible cold/fever to end the trip, difficulty meeting so many new people, and getting really cold while outside at Wintergreen, not being able to run around while on the plane or bus (Daddy failed to grab any Rachel books for the plane ride.) All these things combined with a weaning attempt made Rachel very clingy to her mamma.
WEANING
I am terrible at weaning. Something always seems to come up! Perhaps it's my lack of self control because I cannot seem to say no to her requests. Either Rachel gets sick, takes a plane ride, cries nonstop at night, is at elevation, sleeps somewhere new and scary, or we have no substitute milk while on the go... I had hoped to start January off with 2-3 nursing times a day, but instead it feels like we've gone backwards and Rachel is again asking for milk every few hours. Sigh.
GIFTS
We received so many things while we were away! Christmas day itself we opened gifts in our pajamas from about 8am-4pm with few breaks. Again, I looked so forward to this before we left and did enjoy it... but also struggle a bit with the concept of this tradition. We try hard to find 1-2 things for each person we buy gifts for, both to save money and to avoid over consumption in the world. But I do LOVE gift giving and finding the right gift and have to constantly pull back the reins not to do more. I also love wrapping paper and ribbons and bows but hate ripping it all up and putting it in the trash and not re-using it. Recently at the mall I was reminded of just how much STUFF is produced, packaged, and sold in the world. We continue to accumulate so much stuff ourselves. I struggle with the internal dilemma of enjoying giving and receiving lovely things, but not wanting to join in to this more-more-more society.
This is particularly evident for Rachel as she has so many things. We try to get lots of second hand clothes and toys and gear and avoid buying new things. We do love the many clothes and toys she has been given. I'm not going to lie - I really enjoy dressing her and having fun clothes for her, whether new or used. It's so fun to shop for her. We're huge gear geeks in our family and baby gear is no exception. I love the toys that she was given for Christmas and am stoked to play bowling games, tower building, doll grooming, shoveling, reading and ball games with her. But I we don't NEED these things. So many people out there need so much. And the second hand store has lots of good things. Why don't we use these stores more for gifts? We were thrilled by the hand-me-downs we were given by cousins this year.
So I struggle at this time to be grateful for what we have, thankful for the fun things we were given, and yet conscientious of the environment and the consumer-driven economy. I want to make this work better next year, but I'm not sure quite how.
HOMESLICE
Contradicting myself perhaps, I will pay special thanks to one particular gift: Homeslice. Rachel's aunt Karen gave her a purple and teal North Face backpack for Christmas that Rachel loves. It's tiny - just her size, and fits her blanket and doll inside and her new Life Is Good water bottle on the outside. The backpack comes with a name: Homeslice. It is ridiculously cute. Rachel enjoys putting it on and off and putting things in and out of it. She had it with her as her own 'carry-on' for the plane ride home, and we spent hours through the airports, trains, buses, and walking hearing 'backpack' as Rachel played with it. Fun times.
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| Rachel walks with Aunt Karen and Grandma to deliver cheese balls to neighbours |
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| Rachel reads with Great-GrandDaddy Lord |
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| Rachel sits with Buddy (Great-GrandDaddy Oliver) |
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| Grandma, Great Grandmother Lord, Rachel, and her Mama |
We were fortunate enough to see almost all of Jason's family. We saw his mom and sister, 4 grandparents, 6 aunts/uncles, 1 great aunt and 1 great uncle, and 10 cousins. We only missed 1 cousin in all of Jason's extended family. We also met up with family friends for dinner, saw friends at church on Christmas Eve, and saw over 50 guests at the Oliver Open House on New Years Day. Rachel even made friends with many residents at the Landing and the Chesapeake (her great-grandparents' residences). Although Rachel was pretty fussy by the end of the trip, we are thrilled that almost everyone at least got to meet her.
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| Oliver Great Grandparents |
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| Lord Great Grandparents |
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| Uncle Jim reads to Rachel |
FOOD
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| Dining at IHOP and playing with a straw |
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| Driving the Audi with Grandma |
Jason is recovering well from his appendectomy. Rachel loves to lift up his shirt and look at his incision, and she has become very interested in everyone's belly buttons. All of our relatives looked to be in good health. Meggan caught a bad cold and passed it on to Rachel, who had a rough time on the last 2 days of our trip with her first ever fever.
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| Playing with new camera toy given by Mike and Cindy Montana |
What?! What was that word? We were too busy eating and visiting to do much exercise. Plus, I have no real exercise goals right now which is bad. Having access to a babysitter named Grandma, we did enjoy running the trails down by the river near Susan's house. Karen and I ran a 10km run on Dec 31st which was very entertaining. Neither of us felt well prepared with little training and head colds lingering, and were not sure if we would succeed in running the whole way. We passed the first 4 miles chatting and catching up before deciding that our time was going to be a bit too slow for our liking, and ran very hard for the last 2.2miles trying to beat 60 minutes. I'm not proud of the 61 min finishing time, but did have a fun day and it felt good to push hard for the last bit. Susan and Jason pushed Rachel through a 5km walk in this fun event with 1400 people running or walking for local charities.
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| Rachel eats a snack while visiting |
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| Rachel looks at photo album while visiting |
RACHEL
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| Rachel practices stair climbing at Aunt Karen's house |
New words - "MA!" for her cousin Matthew, and "Amma" for Grandma, 'back pack' - see below
Funniest things - cheering with us during dice rolling games
Hard times - many poor sleeps, a terrible cold/fever to end the trip, difficulty meeting so many new people, and getting really cold while outside at Wintergreen, not being able to run around while on the plane or bus (Daddy failed to grab any Rachel books for the plane ride.) All these things combined with a weaning attempt made Rachel very clingy to her mamma.
 |
| Wearing her mom's coat at Wintergreen |
I am terrible at weaning. Something always seems to come up! Perhaps it's my lack of self control because I cannot seem to say no to her requests. Either Rachel gets sick, takes a plane ride, cries nonstop at night, is at elevation, sleeps somewhere new and scary, or we have no substitute milk while on the go... I had hoped to start January off with 2-3 nursing times a day, but instead it feels like we've gone backwards and Rachel is again asking for milk every few hours. Sigh.
 |
| Super cute penguin hat and mittens from Grandma |
We received so many things while we were away! Christmas day itself we opened gifts in our pajamas from about 8am-4pm with few breaks. Again, I looked so forward to this before we left and did enjoy it... but also struggle a bit with the concept of this tradition. We try hard to find 1-2 things for each person we buy gifts for, both to save money and to avoid over consumption in the world. But I do LOVE gift giving and finding the right gift and have to constantly pull back the reins not to do more. I also love wrapping paper and ribbons and bows but hate ripping it all up and putting it in the trash and not re-using it. Recently at the mall I was reminded of just how much STUFF is produced, packaged, and sold in the world. We continue to accumulate so much stuff ourselves. I struggle with the internal dilemma of enjoying giving and receiving lovely things, but not wanting to join in to this more-more-more society.
This is particularly evident for Rachel as she has so many things. We try to get lots of second hand clothes and toys and gear and avoid buying new things. We do love the many clothes and toys she has been given. I'm not going to lie - I really enjoy dressing her and having fun clothes for her, whether new or used. It's so fun to shop for her. We're huge gear geeks in our family and baby gear is no exception. I love the toys that she was given for Christmas and am stoked to play bowling games, tower building, doll grooming, shoveling, reading and ball games with her. But I we don't NEED these things. So many people out there need so much. And the second hand store has lots of good things. Why don't we use these stores more for gifts? We were thrilled by the hand-me-downs we were given by cousins this year.
So I struggle at this time to be grateful for what we have, thankful for the fun things we were given, and yet conscientious of the environment and the consumer-driven economy. I want to make this work better next year, but I'm not sure quite how.
 |
| Opening up little homeslice backpack from Aunt Karen |
Contradicting myself perhaps, I will pay special thanks to one particular gift: Homeslice. Rachel's aunt Karen gave her a purple and teal North Face backpack for Christmas that Rachel loves. It's tiny - just her size, and fits her blanket and doll inside and her new Life Is Good water bottle on the outside. The backpack comes with a name: Homeslice. It is ridiculously cute. Rachel enjoys putting it on and off and putting things in and out of it. She had it with her as her own 'carry-on' for the plane ride home, and we spent hours through the airports, trains, buses, and walking hearing 'backpack' as Rachel played with it. Fun times.
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