So. We are here. It has been just under 2 weeks, and some of that time was spent back in Philly for cleaning/closing. We still have quite a bit of clutter at the new place, but we are imposing some order on it. My hair is two shades lighter and my skin two shades darker from all the playground hours I've logged. We call playgrounds "Whee"s, christened by Roo. Once she is resigned to leave the playground after a session, she calls out "byebye, Whee."
Shmoo has had more time outs than I can count, from attempting, often successfully, to inflict bodily harm on his sister, but it seems to be waning. Roo slept for shit our first week here (and also had a fever for a couple of days), but that seems to be improving, too. I have not won any awards for my parenting techniques lately, but I think we are figuring things out a bit.
We are trying to figure out some routines. HPR's days off are Tues-Wed. We have declared Mondays to be lake days. (Rooie's language explosion included the new word "tadpole" this week.) The awesome library has story time Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Saturday is the Farmers' Market. Am trying to meet other parents but also don't want to come off as the desperate newbie hitting on all the moms at story time.
I wrote several paragraphs about the move, but the details seem so tedious. I'll see if I can get back to it later to try to make it more interesting. Our new house was built in 1964. It is on a cul-de-sac, which I believe is French for "obsession with lawn maintenance." It has a carport. It has no basement, which bothered me at first, but after I spent 5 hours dragging crap out of our Philly basement and sweeping out the whole thing, I have warmed up to the basementless existence. The carport has a small storage unit, which I think we will find sufficient. It will be a good exercise in constantly paring things down rather than just stowing them away.
I haven't really focused on the job hunt as it seems we've been doing triage on the to-do list for the last 2 months. Something part time or freelance would be best, I think, at this point.
Well, time to get some sleep, otherwise I'll be Angry Mommy again tomorrow . . .
It was so great to see you on Sunday. Can't wait to see you this weekend. Great alrticle about Chris! Don't forget to e-mail us with your new e-mail addresses!
Love
Shelly
Posted by: Shelly Kaplan | June 04, 2009 at 07:22 AM
Glad to see an update, as we've been talking about you guys in our house for a few days. Al has proposed that we go camping this summer, and I proposed that we camp in HPR's park, so we can squeeze in the playdate I never got around to scheduling when y'all were in Philly. :-) We were eyeing Camp Misty Mount, though I still have some fear that a bathroomless cabin, while a step up from a tent, may still be too rustic for me.
Let us know if you or HPR have any recommendations for a family vacation in your area!
Also, your definition of cul-de-sac was priceless. I'm very interested to hear how you're making the transition from West Philly (where we are considering moving) to Western Maryland.
Posted by: Lori | June 04, 2009 at 07:36 PM
My colleague is a Baltimorean born and raised and said you've moved to an amazingly beautiful part of the country. Whee! indeed.
I'll be in Philly June 18--sorry to just miss you.
We will be needing freelancers and soon! Interested?
Take care and good luck settling in.
Posted by: Night Editor | June 05, 2009 at 10:26 AM
I remember one of our first conversations in 2005, when you talked about a little crush on teaching. How about trying that now?
Posted by: Ara | June 06, 2009 at 07:14 AM
So happy to see a blog post. Loved the artcile on HPR. Transitions are so damn transitiony. And routines and plans are so incredibly necessary. I like to wake up every morning and have an idea of where we are going to go that day. Hope you meet friends soon. And so very happy for you that you moved in the spring/summer. The isolation of winter would have been far from ideal. Thinking of you three often!
Posted by: Nicole Eggerts | June 07, 2009 at 07:48 AM
Duh - FOUR! Thinking of you four. Truthfully I was thinking of you home with the kids when I wrote that. But Ranger too!
Posted by: Nicole Eggerts | June 07, 2009 at 07:49 AM
Sounds like you're over the hump, but I know the longing for routine & normalcy takes a while to be satisfied.
I just completed my first year in my new home and situation, and it's really cool to look back and realize just how much normalcy has been attained.
Also, you're totally right about cul-de-sac. I live on one and last week Bob said the neighbor across the street spent a full hour weed-whacking their 30-square-foot "yard" (largest one on the block).
Posted by: Jennifer | June 11, 2009 at 02:08 PM
Oh, I remember that stage when what had been my innocent baby became the biggest threat to my new innocent baby. It helped a lot when the younger one learned how to make the older sibling laugh. I think that has saved him more than once.
Good luck with the settling.
Posted by: Eileen Flanagan | June 11, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Hallo, hallo! I've been trying to call...it's been crazy busy here (and that's in the midst of normalcy, though CH has effectively been furloughed - eek!), but I've been thinking of you and yours tons! Hope you're all still well!!! I've been trying to call, not sure if your mobiles still function. Loves!!!
Posted by: Jordi | June 20, 2009 at 02:10 AM
I'm very late on this, but I'm so glad you have the move behind you. And it looks like so you have some great scenery in the new place! I'd love to have "lake days"...sounds blissful. Glad you guys are settling in. Can't wait to hear more about the new place.
Posted by: lori | June 24, 2009 at 12:43 PM