Palmyra

We've talked about going to the Pageant so many times, but there was always a reason not to go. It's late, it isn't exactly around the corner, and we've had really small kids for a really long time! This year though, it seemed to make perfect sense, we'd go on the way to Connecticut, and so we did. We meant to leave earlier in the afternoon, but we didn't. We enjoyed some construction traffic and moments of panic, but we made it with a few minutes to spare.

I had forgotten the feeling at Pageant. The Hill Cumorah is such a holy place, and the Pageant just kicks that up into high gear. All of the actors walking around, Kate ate it up. It had been such a long time since I'd gone - I honestly don't remember the last time. The set up has changed a lot. The parking is all on the same side of the highway as the hill, crossing the road used to be a big deal because of the anti-mormons, but they weren't there. And the parking, it was so well organized, all of it, it is just so well done.

All three girls really enjoyed it, but of course it meant the most to Kate, being the oldest, and the most awake. I guess my opinion isn't totally fair. Alice sat beside Ken, Kate sat beside me and Fiona was on my lap. I didn't hear the conversations that Alice and Ken were having. I just know that Kate and I both had tears a number of times. It is impossible not to feel the spirit testifying of the truth of the things that you are watching.

After the show when we were lining up to go to the bathroom an older woman asked Kate what her favourite part was. Kate was boggled that she could have just one favourite part as she exclaimed "all of it was my favourite." It was such a beautiful night.

I love being able to share spiritual experiences with my girls. I love building their houses of faith, their foundations. I am so glad that we took the time to go and see the Pageant. I'm not sure if we'll go every year, but maybe every other year. It was just so special.

We drove to Geneva that night and stayed in a hotel. The next morning we wanted to swim but the pool didn't open until 10, so we enjoyed breakfast, and then we went for a walk. Geneva is on Seneca Lake, the waterfront area was pretty.

After walking around the town a bit more we went back the hotel, had a fun swim, everyone had a bath/shower, and then at noon we set out for Connecticut! Bacon Family reunion, here we come!

So We Bought a House!

Let's see... where to begin. At the end of March I think Ken went to lunch with Adrian and Chris and they wanted him to join their Master Solve team and work in Whitby. WHITBY! That's far. Ken was excited. Work had been sucking bad for several months. This was what we'd been praying for. But this wasn't the answer I expected, be careful what you pray for.

Almost immediately Ken started talking about moving. And almost immediately it just felt right.  We've talked about moving lots, we'd talk about Newmarket, about being closer to Orangeville, maybe Alliston, heck Caledon - we love Caledon. We'd talk about moving and I never, ever felt good about any of it, and we knew it wasn't time to move.

Even this year, I was watching the vacancy listings, looking for the perfect gig closer to home, the school that would get us closer to Orangeville. But that wasn't meant to be.

It's that whole when you know you know thing. When Ken started talking about moving to Ajax it just felt right, right away. Not confusing, not sickening, just right.

We went on a date, I don't remember when, May maybe? And we drove out to Ajax and we walked around down by the lake. We went to our favourite Japanese restaurant out in Whitby and we talked about the future, a different future than we'd imagined not long before.

We met with a local agent, Ken rented a storage locker, we packed up stuff, we fixed stuff (well paid people to), we painted (paid people - but Ken did some) and we listed (with Maureen - SIL and realtor extraordinaire!) and sold our house. The market is insane right now, and the sale was final within a week of listing. The winning bid came in 24hrs after we'd listed.

And then it was our turn. The first weekend our house was on the market we went out to Ajax and looked at houses. Then we went out again, and again.  We looked at over 20 houses, and then there were two. Advantages and disadvantages to both, but one that made more sense. It was in the south end by the lake, it had four bedrooms, the school start times were awesome, it just made sense, and Ken beamed when he walked around it on Saturday morning.

They weren't considering offers until noon on Monday. We picked a number with Maureen, we wrote a letter - appealing to their sentimental side - not sure if that's the right word, and by one o'clock this afternoon we had bought a new house.

The new chapter begins August 24th. The Ajax chapter.

The Street Festival!

We know we are moving... the house is sold, we have no where to go yet, but we know we are moving. If you know you are leaving a place, you do the things that you haven't done. This year we decided that yes, we would go to the Firefighters pancake breakfast. We passed our neighbours leaving and they told us we were five minutes too late. We waited in line for a while, but it all worked out! The girls ate all of their pancakes and sausage and we were ready to play!

The street festival is so awesome. Pretty much everything is free. The food isn't free, but there are bouncy castles and a swing ride, and games for the kids, and that is all free.  This year there was also a rock climbing wall. I can't remember - I think Alice wanted to do it, but there was a line up at the time, and we'd already been out for four hours (including breakfast) so we were kind of done!

We walked up and down Queen street twice I think, participated in most of the activities, the girls had cotton candy and so many suckers. They all had so much fun!

 

We went back home and I was convinced I was going to clean up, but I was exhausted.  I fell asleep for a bit, Fiona had a nap, everyone was just kind of did their own thing.

For dinner we went to the Cappuccino Bakery in Nobleton, so good! I also saw a teacher - Tim Giasson that I worked with ages ago at Baythorn P.S. We chatted for a bit which was nice. Then we shopped at No Frills and it was back home to get ready for fireworks!

We all dressed warmly, and headed over to Queen street and then walked the rest of the way over to the conservation area - at least we went part of the way. We weren't exactly sure where to go and then I saw Ann-Marie and Macayla and so we followed them and sat across the pond from the conservation area. We had a pretty decent view. It wasn't perfect as there were a few things low in the sky and there was a tree in our way, but the girls all loved it. They were so cute.

I want to mention one more thing - living in a small town has been an adjustment, but I adjusted, and I know there will be things I miss. I'm not exactly sure what they are yet, but I know they will come. At the pancake breakfast we saw people we knew, and then throughout the day on the Street we saw more friends - Melissa, Brent and Madison, Michelle and her girls, Abigail, Makenna and Camden. And then tonight we saw Caroline and her kids and hubby, and of course we watched the fireworks with Macayla and her parents. Tottenham has really been great place to live. I will definitely leave a little bit of my heart here in our first home.

Summer Begins - Canada Day 2016

The school year went late this year, because we started late. It's funny that the first day of the holiday is Canada Day!  We had a mostly quiet day around the house. Ken did some work and I puttered.

In the late afternoon when the girls were getting crazy we left the house. We took some Canada Day shirt pictures and walked over to the Conservation Area, which Kate and Alice kept calling a Conversation area. It was cute.

There were so many people at the Conservation area - so many campers. The park was teeming with kids. There was a sign at the entrance saying "park full". It was fun to see. The girls mostly had fun. Alice had a hard time a few times, but survived.

When we were done we called Ken and he met us on the road, we went to Foodland and then went home and Ken barbecued for the first time this year! YAY! Kate decided that barbecued hotdogs are the best thing ever and that Dad needs to make them once a week.

After dinner the girls had baths and then we loaded up the van and drove down to Canada's Wonderland. The weather had been pretty iffy today and consequently the town firework display was postponed until tomorrow.

Kate was the only one to make it awake to Wonderland - or at least a commercial area just north and across the 400 from Wonderland. The firework display was great and although Kate and I were both really cold, we enjoyed it.

I am so grateful to live in Canada. I'm grateful to be raising my family in Canada. Happy 149th birthday Canada, may you continue to be strong and free!

Last Day of Work

It has been a really great school year. Very busy, but very fulfilling professionally. I produced two concerts, a talent show, I was evaluated, and I taught and reported on 457 students.  I'm really blessed with an awesome work family.  We had new administrators this year and with weird working conditions in the fall - we were in a legal strike position - the school year didn't start out the way it should have. But we more than made up for it.

I spent today meeting with colleagues, and then cleaning up my classroom. It was a good day.

Earlier this week I was chatting with my principal - Brian Fisher in the hallway about saying goodbye to a DECE that had worked with my kids for three years. I mentioned that we were moving, he asked why the DECE wasn't following us, and I said that Ajax is kind of far. He then got serious, and asked about me leaving the school. I said that next year I would be looking to move east. He then proceeded to tell me that I was irreplaceable, and that he didn't want me to go, but that he would help find a new position. He told me to come talk to him in February, and that he used to work in the east.

Today when I hugged Brian and Amalia Lucas (our VP) goodbye and wished them well, Brian remarked about the many good chats that we'd had. I feel like that was something that happened many times this year. I had many good chats with colleagues of both a professional and personal nature.

I am really thankful to say that I love my job. It wasn't always so. There were many Septembers that I looked at job ads in panic thinking anything but teaching. It was so overwhelming in the beginning! I am so thankful that I persevered and I am so blessed that I ended up at Blue Willow P.S. I am so thankful to be a music teacher.

Selling the House

The MLS listing went live tonight! My prayer is that we get our asking, and that it sells quickly. Keeping the house clean and Alice safe are important!

Ken's done so much, I've done some, we had someone clean the house on Monday, Kathy Goldthorp from our ward washed walls on Monday, the Lalonde family came Monday night to make the gardens look pretty. The photographer came on Wednesday, and Maureen put up the listing Thursday evening.

It's crazy, but not crazy that we're selling. It's all happening really quickly, but it just feels so right. Here's to hoping we can sell fast, and then find a new place to call home!