09 July 2014

It's July!

Oh man, life just keeps going by faster and faster.

Let's see, June was a whirl wind. We were lucky enough to have two visitors, Dan's Mom and my good friends Dana and Tyler. "Gramma" came right at the end of May for a week and then my good friends came about a week later. We did it all. The full Patience D.C. Tour, lots of food, lots of museums, lots of staying up late talking, and lots of fun. It was so special to have some friends and family from home come visit. It doesn't happen often as we are so freaking far away. 

Then, two weeks later we had to move. June was really busy, really fun, and really stressful. Every emotion was felt in that month. For a while we couldn't find a new place to live until I finally spotted something on Craigslist that didn't seem like they would kill us if we went by to take a peek. One Craigslist place we went to look at wanted us to come by at 10pm, sketchy. We could have been strangled. Due to being stellar tenants, our reference totally talked us up and told the landlord he would be silly not to negotiate on price with us. That's some good karma I'll try to pay forward someday and am so thankful for. The new place is finally okay, with lots of elbow grease the dog smell is almost gone and I am able to relax. 

Upon moving in we had to be here for different people to come and clean and fix stuff and we couldn't really unpack for the first week. I thought I'd be fine handling such a situation but the older I get the less tolerance I have for annoying things. At my weakest, I took Jude to Costco for some groceries and he wanted a cookie from the bakery. They give them out to kids all the time in Costcos everywhere but this day ours was out of kids cookies. Jude just screamed and I didn't have the wherewithal to just walk away so I thought I'd buy some. Who cares. So he eats his cookie as we go through the aisles and then my stress catches up with me and I'm all "there is no way I'm paying for these effing cookies, they should have them for the kids in the bakery!!" In fury I tossed that container of open cookies on top of the bulk aluminium foil and I was off with a "humph!" For sure my lowest. I should probably go pay for them next time I'm at the wholesale store. But I probably won't. There's some bad karma that will probably follow me for a while. Sorry Costco. Sorry life.

On another note, I could probably blog just about this one thing, but while it is still fresh I'll put it down. I heard on the radio that the National Zoo got some new (to them) elephants all the way from Calgary! I was so excited I called Dan right away to report. You guys. I finally have some family down here. Yes, of pachyderm origin, but I'll take what I can get. I know where Sunday dinner will be this week! I'll bring 50 lbs of watermelon for dessert. 

Of course a little about my favorite little guy, Dan. Just kidding, it's Jude. He is 2 years and 3 months and if you say he is 2 and a half I get annoyed. Don't age my kid. He talks a mile a minute and runs even faster. He loves rocket ships, diggers, to dance, talking about things that scare him, planes, cars, babies, his sock monkey and the blanket Daddy used when he was a baby. Jude also has a pretty strong opinion about how I should wear my hair. He wants it down. He is good at putting his own thoughts together which always makes us laugh. Last night at the dinner table he engaged in a game of peek-a-boo that escalated until we had this little guy in stitches by pretending to fall over because he frightened us so much. It was a sweet little moment where we didn't stop him, we just played and played even though there were vegetables to eat and dishes to do. Jude almost has the ABC song down which reminds me that I need to video tape him doing it right away before he learns it for real. Twinkle Twinkle and Happy Birthday are also in his repertoire. Jude wants to be outside all the time and never wants to go home for nap time. But we do, and it's glorious. Jude is a great kid and I wish you all knew him. 

But wait, The Fourth of July also happened. While we celebrated Canada Day quietly, there was nothing quiet about Independence Day this year. We went to a fun pancake breakfast at the church where real Tropicana Orange Juice was served and all I could think was finally a good use of my tithing money. Then we headed to an old timey 4th celebration at a nearby farm that was freaking amazing. Jude was in heaven. He danced his little heart out to the live bands, which is hilarious in itself, learned about Virginia Rat Snakes and Bullfrogs, and played lots of little games. We had a late afternoon BBQ with friends and then it was off to the fireworks, which, of course, scared Jude. But he also loved them. How he reconciles his emotions I'll never know. It was the best 4th we've had here and I'm so grateful, as national holidays always depress me because we don't have family to spend it with. I should honestly stop complaining because hello elephants.

Love and miss you all!! xoxo pp

1 woot-woots!:

Eve said...

patience, you are too hilarious. You should seriously be sponsored by now.. i mean Hello! My friend is sponsored, and her blogs are super boring, all she does is review movies and various baby products that she is sent for free. You are SO much more funny and entertaining! XO Eve