Giving thanks

It's so intimiating to try to catch up on many months of full lives!  A quick snapshot of where we are.

Riley just started Kindergarten.  He's thriving, a well-balanced sweetheart of a boy.  He's started piano lessons and continues to love music, Legos (so many awesome creations!) and playing with cars.  He does great with friends, but loves his alone quiet time.  Basically, a mini-Simon + music.

For the love of technology!  I cannot make his fire engine the right orientation.\

First day of school

Kivani has become this gem of a kid.  I can't even remember "the terrorist" or scowling cheeks.  She's super-sweet, caring, and loves to hold hands and cuddle.  Vani is definitely a bit quieter to start, and she tends to make a few deep friends.  Vani's started gymnastics, which she loves, and is extremely happy with her 2hr preschool, 2 days/week.

We still have Echo our nanny living with us, and the kids are now fluent in chinese (understanding; you still have to prod them to speak it back).  Echo's been a lifesaver, helping us to focus on being parents while she runs the house.

She can still whip out the attitude.  Yes, my kid is wearing footsie pajamas in the ferry breakfast.

Si just moved to a new job at the university where he's job-sharing, and working 3 days per week - what a great balance!  He still runs or bike up the mountain - quiet the feat! - and has achieved the role of super-dad status within our community.  We're so lucky to have him hold our family together.







I'm one year into the General Manager role and still adjusting to its demands.  I've definitely got a full plate, and am fortunate to have so much help.  I'm loving my family - they are all at such great ages.  We're also feeling so lucky to have had two years without significant sadness in our circles - there was a time when it consumed us, and we're now feeling fortunate to be "normal".  As my dad would say, Contrast.






We just sold our house and will be moving a few blocks away to a newer, larger model (must.not.collect crap. must.not.collect.crap...).  We're excited for the move.  We've made incredible friends and have a tight circle of families in similar stage, with whom there's never a cleanup before a visit, and our kids are regular bathmates.  I love the tightness of our community - we're all looking out for each other and helping every family do the best we can - and hope we can maintain this cohesion with a few blocks between us.  I'm so grateful for these friends who have become family.

Spot the kids (there are four)




I love the efficiency here!  These punks hadn't wanted to eat when we were at the park, then protested as we left.  This shared-stroller chow-down was their idea.  Problem solved.


Summer holidaying in Vernon together

So that's us.

The part that made me want to write the post?
Really early this morning, Riley walks into our room (sleeping).
"Daddy, can I get a minecraft tablet please?  Everybody has one?  Please?  Wesley (?who?) has one!  I've wanted it for soooo long.  I've wanted it for a whole WEEK!  Please daddy.  Maybe you can teach me to write it so I can put it on my santa list?"

Oh, kindergarten.  Before this week I don't think Riley knew what minecraft was, was thrilled with his saturday morning paw patrol and no other TV, loved Lego and had no expectations on a santa list.  We're in for a shock, eh?

Followed by Vani:
"and I want an Elsa book for my ballerina lessons". 
Um - vani, you don't take ballet.  But sure.

Happy thanksgiving.