Tag Archive | Thomas

3 Days of Making USA Our Home

The road to Canada was smooth as silk, the time to pack amazingly SHORT… We followed their saga via texts and then correspondence with the people they saw in Canada. Thank you so much Kristen, Fydo, Chris, Chris and of course Karyn… for putting up with Ken, for holding stuff for us, for keeping track of the guys. A major part of me wishes I could have been there, an even larger part was glad not to be confined to a vehicle for that length of time. Nana figured that it was a much easier drive on the guys due to its 2 hour planning time. No time to focus on the length of the drive.

Thank you so much Karyn for the bag of special stuff too!

That kept us close to home for another day to the great unhappiness of the boys. I, however, managed to write TWO letters in one. I really need to practice my penmanship. After the first page it gets a lot more sloppy than I would like. So more incentive on MY end to add to the letters… again if you are not on our pen pal list… please send me your name and info or email so we can exchange addresses. 

Of course we had time for some photos. She loves this dress and every time she wears it wants to take pictures

Anyway Saturday was nice and quiet and sunny and … lonely. It is amazing how much we miss our menfolk while they are gone. We did get ANOTHER pen pal letter in the mail today though! I honestly am loving the mail on Saturdays. A nice surprise on a weekend. The excitement in regards to our mail has already started. So on Monday we drafted a response!

Saturday night Arby’s picnic in the basement.

Pretty much Saturday, Sunday and then today (Monday) were all at home days. Sunday just after lunch the menfolk made their way here. They actually made the round trip in less than 3 days! That included sleep, two border crossings (both of which went well) and filling the trailer. We rushed right into the U-Haul when they got here and got it emptied well in time to avoid paying for 4 days as well!

Welcome home Daddy and Baba courtesy of Gavin (I had to write it out for him but we worked together on the spelling of welcome)

Waiting for the guys

Time to work

So Sunday was basically, get the U-Haul empty, return it, empty the Envoy and.. NAP! I think we were all worn out. But wow, the guys did an amazing job getting everything to fit in the space they had AND on top of that, it takes up so much LESS space in the garage. I am slightly afraid of when we are able to get our own place… exactly what are we going to have to fill it??? 

All the way from Canada in one piece, my Shandai Kurylo original!

Trying on a find

We did find quite a bit of what we were sure we needed immediately Sunday night… Ken’s second monitor… clothes for everyone… and after a tearful late night search – my dress from Chris and Chris’ wedding to wear to the Renaissance Fair! My friend Shandai works it and is getting us tickets. I am not sure if we will all go or just Ken and myself but I am so excited!! All I need to do is hunt down my hair things or come up with a style to do myself. 

Not THE dress, but the OTHER dress

Anyway… while we did not go far or do much, the kids were over the moon to see Daddy and Baba. And their toys… clothes and whatever we have unearthed so far. Everyone is officially well clothed again… options!!! And the boys have their precious trains and Legos! 

Today was a little more organized though schooling except our pen pal response was put on hold while I worked on opening and labeling buckets. I managed to complete 18 buckets and dismantle one of the few cardboard boxes before running out of steam and having to face that there is stuff in our room that requires sorting first. I am trying to figure out creative ways to keep stuff packed away but available as school and life must go on and I know that it will be some time before we can get into our own place. 

We had another first since getting here… Ken had his very first interview! He thinks it went well and now has code to do. On top of that on recommendation of my friend Shandai’s boyfriend he has applied at another company for 3 different positions. I have to say THAT company would be a perfect fit for him. So here’s hoping either the interview or this new company pans out and moves us along on our goals to getting our own place and starting to get our feet under us once again! 

The only big negative today was sadly related to my eyes. For some reason this year after years of relief I am getting back into the hay fever issues. I think I got some dust in my eye and then with them being so dry from some random plant that apparently I do not agree with it has NOT been a fun day. So tomorrow I am hoping we can get some over the counter remedies from Target. I am not sure what there is here in the states as I know it is different than in Canada where they all are. I was hoping to avoid the medications but I miss my contact lenses… oh and breathing better… 

The plan for the rest of the week… dig out the math books I know are there, find our supplies, educate on the butterflies and Mars rover before the interest fades… Oh and find those toys and other objects of interest that the kids are SURE are there. I still have to hunt down the tv remote for one of Ken’s favourite possessions – our personal tv.

I am hoping to squeeze some sewing in on that list but with the garage full of unlabeled buckets and our bedroom a stack of randoms… well I have my mission and 5 kids to balance so we shall see how it goes! Wish me luck! One more tie to Canada cut and one more root put down here in the USA!

Mobbing the Daddy and Baba

Welcome to Our Mid Week

Midweek is always a good day for a playdate. Sadly, our movie date got cancelled with a medical emergency (it has worked out pretty well ok, but still not in time for us to continue with our free movie plan), but our playdate with Quinn and his Daddy went on right as planned. We actually had the house to ourselves for the whole day today, which works well with the goal to continue getting Quinn used to the noise and activity level of our 5. 

It was a day of projected showers so after some inside train time we packed up sandwich fixings and juice pouches and headed out to the park we visited last time (the blue and silver one). 

Food first…

Just the boys

Miss Trinity

And THEN play… which we lucked out with the time we had. It started to sprinkle right after we got done eating and then very quickly everything got slick and VERY slippery. As was evidenced by Zander ZOOMING off the slide and through the woodchips they used instead of sand or fine gravel. 

General park chaos

I did get a few really excellent pictures trying out the setting on my camera for dealing with active subjects.

Swinging

Trinity from below… so silly

And then it was back to the house for some more playing… mainly with the Thomas set. Emanuel and Quinn are both train fiends! He honestly did NOT want to leave at the end of their visit. Apparently our 5 are great fun! 

How dare I interrupt Thomas time with something so trivial as photos!

For schoolwork we decided to go easy… There was an excellent video to watch about the Mars rover Curiosity. 

We lucked out and there was also a brief new blurb on tv before we turned on our movie for bedtime. Apparently a full colour 360 degree image should be up for all to see in a few days. Add to that starting the colouring books their Aunty Holly sent with us on our trip south and the kids were pretty content. We figured with our guests imminent and myself just not in the mood less was really more! 

Movie time… without Daddy who was gone for his gaming night

That is not to say I haven’t been stitching… I am making some definite progress on the butterfly wings… here’s hoping that Ken’s job hunt progresses with the same beauty and speed. 

Progress!

We are still adjusting to forever in this new state/country… and still it is me that falters from time to time. I realize that there is no location to go BACK to in Canada but at the same time, there are moments when I just want to go “home”… I am trying to rearrange my thinking to remind myself that home really IS where the heart is… and my heart is with my husband and children. 

Little miss almost 2!!

Settling into a New Groove

July 25-26

We are lucky as we know both of Quinn’s parents so on Wednesday we got to have ANOTHER playdate with him. This time with his daddy Steven along to visit with the adults. Ken and I both went to University with him (Ken two different schools, one in Canada and one in the US). So our friendship goes way back. In fact, we played the same text only game together. Anyway… before that, while waiting Trinity spent her time blowing bubbles and supervising her Baba’s bug killing. 

BUBBLES

Proud catch

Now Quinn and Emanuel have bonded most strongly over Thomas the train so I am sure you can imagine where they went right off the bat! Quinn tells us that we must come to his house and see HIS trains.

Bonding over Thomas

For Ken and Steven it was just like old times. We were able to sit and chat about everything and nothing while they played with their electronics and seriously relaxed. Just what both of them needed I think! 

Boys and their electronic toys

Further relaxing in the basement

We had lunch together – sandwiches, and then there was MORE time to play – this time heading outside to run as fast as little legs can go! 

Sandwiches together

Fun in the sun

I am so glad that Quinn has gotten along so quickly with our crew. It is great to add another sociable soul to our family unit.

Quinn and his Daddy

Thursday was a day for getting things done. Ken his job searching and such and the kids SCHOOL WORK! Actually we have been working on a little each day this week and it has gone… better… Once the boys truly realized that less whining means it all goes faster… for the most part we have trucked right through the little I have them doing (Farmer Boy and then their review books for the previous year). My hands are still rather tied until I either go shopping or get the rest of our things from up north. 

Drawing pictures for mailings… gotta get those stamps!

Echo on her own

We have spent a little time each day going to garage sales, checking prices at places like Target and Walmart. So far no boys’ toys but some unusual finds for myself…

The movie is one I just watched with Sharon recently!!

Don’t forget a nearby now dubbed Rainbow Park. 

Park

Baby in park

I am hoping to have better luck later but in the meantime we have enjoyed our finds and the kids are settling in more and more!!

Dolly chair is just her size