1. We have moved in.
Doesn't seem like a big deal, but it was for me. This wasn't just us coming with suitcases to stay for a week at Christmas. We are here, here. The kids' rooms are settled, unpacked, and lived in. They are happy in their spaces, and have learned their way around the house more than they have in previous times we have been here visiting. They know places they aren't allowed to go, things they should stay out of, and the boundaries of the yard.
2. We have consolidated, amalgamated, purged, and cleaned.
Not everything. This house is over 100 years old (actually, it's two houses that are both over 100 years old, one is just about 6-7 years older than the other, which is incredibly interesting and poses challenges for the upcoming renovations), and my in-laws have lived here for about 30 years. You accumulate a lot of crap in 30 years. We accumulated a TON in only 5 years. So we've been sorting through things, throwing things out, consolidating things like our spices, baking materials, linens, towels, and basically everything in the house. It's a lot of work, but I think that everyone is on board and happy with the results.
3. We have started sourcing out schools and activities.
This is a super tough one. I have major anxiety about school choice for Sprout for next year's giant leap into kindergarten. If we would have stayed put where we were, she would have gone to the private Christian school where she attended preschool. Here, it's a little more difficult. Not only is there tuition to be paid, we also have to consider the fact that the bus from the farm to the private Christian school costs an arm and a leg and takes the kids away for another 1-1.5 hours per day. The public school closest to us doesn't even have 'grades' because the school is so small. There are two divisions and two teachers, and that's it. I do not like that option for my children. At all. Personal preference. And the next closest school with the best testing scores (I know the Fraser report isn't everything, but it is something to consider) is about 25 min away, with no bus available, meaning I'd have to drive them. Every. Day. I don't know how I feel about that. Basically, I'm just happy at this point that I've found a dance class and possible piano instruction for Sprout, and swimming and gymnastics classes for Seedling. He desperately needs a trampoline; I think he's turning into a Mexican jumping bean.
4. I've started making friends, and so have the kids.
Whew. This was a tough one for me. It's so difficult to actually make new friends as an adult. How do you do it? It's not like when you're working full time and can interact and meet people through the workplace - when you're a stay at home mom, what do you do? Stalk other potentially-cool parents at the park? Eavesdrop on conversations at Starbucks to see if you might have something in common with another woman with a diaper hanging out of her purse? Facebook and Twitter have been fabulous places to connect with others, so I have actually turned to social media for my social life, and have made some connections with a few great local moms who seem to be really awesome parents and potentially great friends. The kids have been getting involved at the church, which has also been fantastic, considering they will most likely see a lot of those kids on the bus to the private school, if that's the route we choose.
5. We have started making floor plans and interior design plans for the house.
It's going to be a LONG time before it gets done, or even gets started. We have a lot of legwork to do prior to the renovations, but watching the plans come together makes it extremely exciting. This is a beautiful house, and I cannot wait to grab a sledgehammer and bring it up to date in a way that will preserve the classic farmhouse beauty it possesses.
All in all, it's been a great start. Career-wise, I have a few options that I am looking into. I don't want to limit myself, but I also have to be careful now that I have a husband who will undoubtedly be away from home quite often for work. The kids have been so happy here. Watching them learn to play (yes, learn to play...really funny to watch city kids after a few days on the farm - they've had to use their imaginations a lot more, which has been both hilarious and fantastic) out here has been just awesome. We've got plans for possible sheep and chickens in the spring, and have been eyeing up a farm dog and more cats. I'm excited and anxious and nervous for the next few months, as we will be traveling a lot and staying in Canmore (how awful, I know) during the winter. I'll keep everyone posted. It wasn't easy being away the first few weeks, especially for my one week that I was here alone while everyone else was gone for work, but we are happy and settling in and having fun so far.
Two more weeks, and we'll be back to visit family and celebrate Sprout's 4th (EEK!) birthday! :)
