The New Groove

We have been home over three months now. The remodel is officially complete, the pod is off of the driveway, spring break is over, soccer season is upon us, and Bruce is out of town for a week. We finally replaced the computer that melted down weeks before we left for England, and I've downloaded pictures for the first time since we returned. The last picture from our temporary home was this one, taken driving by while running one of our final errands. King's College from the backs, one of the most popular views.


The kids and I have very much settled into our new routines. We resisted signing up for any new activities our first term home, though Sophia and Olivia got back into Irish dance, Miranda started the "Heart of the Valley Children's Choir" that she tried out for in the spring, Miranda and Sophia started with a new piano teacher. I do my best to make progress on unpacking and furnishing the house, and continue to search for that ever-elusive part-time local job, and enjoy driving the kids (not walking them!) to various activities, though we are in the process of getting into the right sized bikes for the spring. Now we add soccer for all.



Fortunately we managed to leave town one last time before the season started (one advantage of starting the spring season after spring break). We left town Friday, just as Barak Obama was entering it unannounced (he had pizza with the locals at the down town American Dream Pizza, our favorite spot, they ate Margheritas, pizzas I mean). We met my brother Peter and his new and very pregnant wife at the ranch. She was a little worried there would be nothing to do there, but we managed to keep her busy.

The kids went straight from the ranch to Vancouver where Grandma Terri picked them up and took them to Longview for a sleepover or two, and then a day or two at the beach in Westport. I then met up with them in Seattle for the family birthday celebrations, and a late-night trip home to see Dad before he took off for Indiana. (He's at the airport now, waiting for the weather to clear up in Chicago, his flight has been delayed by at least 3-4 hours at the time of this post. Good thing he got to the airport so early.)


We have managed to celebrate all three kids' birthdays since our return, the last one (Miranda's) yesterday with brunch at Aunt Lara's in Seattle. (Missed the cake picture, but got one with the new sunglasses.) This is the third time I've been to Seattle since we've been home, this time we managed to distribute the small souvenirs we collected for the cousins. The boys seemed to like the tatoos...

Thomas, in particular, was enthusiastic (see below). So great to be connecting with this group of kids as the oldest of them are getting into middle school. It's clear peer groups are increasingly more important than any parental input that is offered.

Now to see if we can gather all the required gear, and get to two soccer practices and piano lessons while something is prepared for dinner. Perhaps I will run over to the grocery store. I mean drive.