bitter sweet

It hit me this week. ummmm, we're moving in 3 weeks! Yikes! Lots to do. Here's the story.

Derek has applied to a bunch of school divisions from Edmonton all the way to the Raymond area. We have no sign of a job yet. NOT gonna stress about this. I am not sick of Edmonton. I still really love it. I love the friends we have here. We love our ward. I love that they have babysitting at the gym. Really good shopping so close. Love the nice big parks. I do NOT enjoy the weather. (but it is getting better right now, and frankly we live in Alberta, weather sucks, that's just the way it is.) And I do NOT enjoy how expensive the cost of living is right now. Hence, for the last reason alone, we are outta here. Down to Raymond for the summer.

We found a sweet place to live. I'll tell ya about it. 6 bedroom, 4 bathrooms, fully furnished, big landscaped backyard with hot tub, occasional free babysitting, boat in the garage, Sunday dinners...well, you get the picture. We're moving in with my parents. It's pretty much against everything I stand for....but, come on, A YARD! I am in NEED to get out of this apartment. I am never living in an apartment again. 6 years in this teensy place, I TOTALLY paid my dues.

The packing is started. I hate packing. We never move. I hate moving. I don't know how to do it. Suddenly, when it's time to move, I get this constant stress in the back of my head all day and night. And whenever I am sitting, I feel guilty, like I should go pack a box or clean a cupboard, not blog. And the nice weather is so not helping my pack motivation. I'd way rather go play. Oh well, everything always seems to get done somehow.

So in September I have no idea where we will be. I honestly don't care where we go. (well, I care, and that is why I refused to let Derek apply anywhere north of here.) All I ask is more than 900 sq. feet of living space, no multiple flights of stairs to drag kids and groceries up, walls I am allowed to paint and a fenced yard to name a few. I really don't think that is too much to ask.

Derek had this last week off before he starts his LAST couple of classes. YAY! We had big plans to take in all the fun things we wanted to do one more time. We made it to a few, but instead we decided to work a little. I did a couple night shifts. I was so spent after. Seriously...spent. I couldn't sleep during the day. I used to pride myself on how good I was at sleeping anyplace, anytime, anywhere. I was totally disappointed in myself. Derek worked too. During the day. He remained sane all week. James decided sleeping through the night would be a good idea when dad was a charge. But I'm ok with it, because he is keeping up the habit! But i don't want to talk about, I probably just jinxed it anyway. And I dare say the plague of sickness that has been here since January just might be lifting

We did go for the free rides at Galaxyland. Alli can ride anything she is tall enough for (all 4 rides that is) with an adult for free too! She was out of control excited. We love taking her there.

Also, a hot dog roast at Hawelak Park was a must before we left. I LOVE that place. It's nothing special. But we have spent so much time there with family and friends playing and eating. I love being there in the summer. So Brooke and Brett joined us for probably our only trip there this summer...tear...

We wanted to make it to the zoo (but it rained) and swimming (but we didn't) But when it wasn't raining we hit up all the local playgrounds and yes, the mall of course. Oh mall, I will miss you! (don't worry, I'll visit you again before we leave)

I'm so excited for a ridiculously fun summer with family, but so sad to leave our life here. But so ready to MOVE ON in life!

So I have been typing this forever and my pictures won't upload the WHOLE time. I feel bad, I need pictures. Does anyone actually read when I go on and on? I wrote A TON here and no pictures. Sorry, I'll try again later. My internet has been like a SNAIL this week, what is up?