Today was our first Saturday in our new home. ..and simply a dream…

Before we moved here we sat down and wrote down all the things that were important to us. We created a plan for the type of neighborhood, size of our house, distance to schools, vicinity to parks, etc. One thing that you can never plan for is your neighbors…the people…you simply have no control. Today we were given a gift. We were welcomed with full, open, and genuine arms. The neighborhood we chose is an older one…on purpose. We don’t want to live in the new “planned” areas that remind me of Pleasantville. We want to live where people have been for a while….where they love….and would NEVER consider leaving. That is what we have found. We are the newest on the block and there are not many that come and go…they come and stay…and there is a reason……it feels like home.

The woman across the street, who’s husband we met the other day, saw me outside on Friday morning and made a point to smile and wave. I was running barefooted, braless, and hurried…..to get Andrew’s boots out of our van in a 5 minutes-until-the-bell sprint. She seemed to understand, not judge….and just smile. It felt good.

Today we woke up and I insisted that we head out to yard sales. I am a yard sale freak…..and we need furniture….and well, I just wanted to do something that I really love. We were SOOOO unsuccessful! We could not find 1/2 of them….and those we did were just ODD. I was later told it was WAY too early for yard sales…but, nonetheless…we went.

We came home to be greeted in our driveway as we got out by the same neighbor and her daughter. They came over to welcome us to the neighborhood. They stayed and talked with us for almost 2 HOURS! When they saw another neighbor driving, walking, or within yelling distance…they called them over to introduce us. By noon we knew almost everyone on the street!!

This street has some SERIOUS gardeners!! They LOVE their flower beds and all belong to the Calgary horiculture league. I really love flowers and would LOVE to know more about how to mix colors, varieties, and shapes. So as we talked, I watched my children ride their little bikes up and down the street, around the block, and meet a few children. Before I knew it, they were fully engaged in a a HOCKEY GAME!! Andrew had a stick in hand and was working with a tennis ball! A boy in FULL gear was in the goal and a 10 year old boy was showing Andrew what to do….it was sort of surreal….It was everything that I hoped for….everything that I wished for….and right in front of my eyes…..it was coming true.

I was invited to the Calgary horticulture show on Friday night. They are all older women and have kids in high school or above….so, it is a little weird….but, you know what….life is not always a straight road. I hope to learn the grace that I was shown today. The kindness of making sure that we were “ok” and the ability to give time for no other reason than being a good neighbor. I think I am really going to love living in a real neighborhood.

I signed the boys up for soccer today. You won’t BELIEVE where they play!!! IN OUR BACK YARD!!!!!!! The kids walk OUT of our garage and play SOCCER!!! They do it differently here. Adam will play on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6:15 - 7:15 and Andrew on Tuesday and Thursday nights. So, our weeks are FULL I guess But, let me tell you what…..them playing in the back yard is the coolest thing I have EVER hear of!!

I took Claire’s car for a really good wash today and found a smooshed bumper and 2 really deep scratches. The side of my van has a ton of scratchs too. The bumper also needs to be replaced becasue it is really messed up from another car’s license plate rubbing into it on the truck. Yipee…fun for me! NOT !

Claire went on a long bike ride with Andrew today and they got ALL muddy! Andrew is Mr. Bike here. He has so much freedom because of the sidewalks and lack of traffic. He is in 100% HEAVEN! He is such a social butterfly! Today there was a team practicing in the field behind our house. They had to SPRINT up the hill….it was HARD! The high school boys were having a HARD time! Andrew went out there and did it WITH THEM! It was a RIOT! I was automatically my Mrs. “come back here and stop bothering them”…and one of the neighbors told me that the coach is used to kids being out there…he just watched Andrew and smiled at us. I love that he has the confidence to do such things!

The house/stuff is really shaping up. I think we should be sort of “done” in about 2 weeks. I am not really killing myself to get it finished, just sort of poking at it here and there. But, overall…I am happy with it’s progress.

We have one problem…..a big one……they do not sell Co Co Krispies in Calgary. Seriously, it is a PROBLEM. That is my very favorite cereal! How could they not sell such a important item!

Oh, before I forget….I could not find photos of everyone….and Claire told me to stop obcessing….so, if your photo was not in the group PLEASE PLEASE do not think we are jerks! We simply could not find a photo.

Well, I felt like writing a bit tonight…..and boy did I !!

I can not find the battery to my camera….and it has now been a WEEK! Tomorrow’s quest…FIND THe BATTERY! Not having a camera is WEIRD!

Later gators!
Anne

Boots, Braless, First Saturday, Flower Beds, Freak, Friday Morning, Furniture, Gardeners, Neighbor, Neighborhood Size, Neighbors, One Thing, Pleasantville, Smile And Wave, Sprint, Vicinity, Yard Sale