Trip to Durham - and good-bye to Freys

Wait, what's this, we live a half day's drive away from family?! And we can just zip over for a long weekend?! (Thankfully, Jim had accrued enough time off by now.) It was only a week to go until Craig & Rachel move out of their house and load up their moving truck for the move to Gainesville, FL, so we figured it would be great to get over to Durham to see them one more time. Life is going to change radically for them as they move to Florida and Craig starts graduate studies in botany; not to mention how much life will change for Grandpa and Jaja without these three grandkids around!

It was lovely to be in Durham in the springtime (despite the fact that I came down with a sinus infection and was feeling very out of sorts; thankfully the extra hands helped give me a break to get some more rest), and spend a lot of time on the front porch or down at the park with the cousins.

Mattias LOVES to sweep.

Now for the younger brother's turn to push the big brother.

Stopping on the road to watch a garbage truck go by.

Of course, we were also glad to have some time with Mawethu and Lisa! Even though our transition to new homes and jobs has been very different (over the last year), there are still many points of connection and it is always helpful to step back from daily life and reflect together on what we are experiencing.

Mila and Timo (Lithemba was busy jumping and running around, I think.)

Highlight: the trip was worth it for these two hours right here... drinking a beer outside at a new brewery - what is with Durham these days?! - and having time just for adults to chat. (Thanks for watching the kids, Mom and Dad.)

One evening we had dinner at Pete and Rita's, who continue to set the neighborhood record for the biggest, most beautiful azaleas. The boys had a blast playing with Samson and we all hung out in the backyard for a meal.
 

Legos in the basement, of course. Note the telltale dehumidifier in the background.

Off to another park, for one last playtime!
 

these are some seriously wonderful parents and grandparents right here!

A barred owl has taken residence in Mom and Dad's backyard!! There has been one a few doors down for years, and this spring suddenly a companion took roost, and the two owls call back and forth to each other and fly between the trees. What a beautiful, awe-some, intimidating bird!! And with a loud call, almost like a monkey at times. Unfortunately it has scared away all the smaller birds that we enjoy seeing at mom's birdfeeders... We'll have to see how long it stays.
 

I love seeing this joyful cousin moment. The last few months these two have learned how to play together well (they are 10 months apart but just about the same size).

Catching up on March

It's been a while since posting! (Sorry, Mom, Dad and Rachel.) March seemed to go by quickly with Jim's busy schedule, establishing daily life routines, finishing up settling into the house, battling some sicknesses, potty training, and lots of time outside as the weather got nicer. Plus a brief weekend visit with Uncle Bill and Aunt Jayne, who are doing an east coast road trip to see friends and family. [Also...my computer is dying and so uploading pics and posting on the blog takes longer...]

It seems a bit strange to see those photos, and they were only last month! Already our home inside and outside has changed (especially with a glorious springtime) and we feel like we are starting to know our way around.

Timo helping get dinner ready (we love our cabinet space)

One Sunday afternoon we took a family walk down the the park, and Jim snapped a few photos along the way.  

Here's where our driveway veers off from Hooper St, and winds up to the hill to the right.
 

Mattias was being so cute today about going down the slide!

the bridge over the creek that leads to the park

 Some Mattias scenes...

 

Oh the rare joy of brothers quietly and happily reading together!! Recently that has continued to change, as Mattias is now very interested in books and will sit for a long time to read - and he loves truck books just like Timo. The two of them will happily read - what else, of course? - Cars and Trucks and Things that Go together in my lap.

We had a wonderful visit with Uncle Bill and Aunt Jayne. They were our first guests here! (Although they slept outside in their camper...) It was great to see them again, since we had also seen them on their road trip a year ago, coming through Colorado Springs. Timo seemed to remember them, and both the boys had a blast reading and playing legos and happily going from one lap to the other.

Timo insisted in having snacktime in the camper

Sadly it was really chilly the weekend they were here, but we still had some trees and flowers blooming.
 

lots of space to park in our driveway

Walking along Keener St, one block from our house to the library

view of historic downtown Sylva, from the library/old courthouse at the top of the hill

February Home scenes

We're official now! Our house didn't have its own mailbox yet, so Jim bought one at Lowe's and stuck it in at the bottom of the street/driveway. See our brown house up on top of that hill?

We have quickly learned that exploring this neighborhood means HILLS. Lots of "I'm using my muscles" talk these days, and "Come on, you can do it!" and "Let's sing Old MacDonald Had A Farm to make it easier to get up this hill." Here we are on one of our first walks, stopping for some snacks midway to keep our energy up, ha!

Our side yard has a nice flat area with a small fence around it, plus a sandbox that the previous people left behind. The weather is always good for digging, right?

The Super-Highway: another wonderfully perfect aspect of this house for two boys! This is the view from the living room to that side of the house, with the boys' two little bedrooms to the left; a bathroom on the right; the playroom at the end at the right; and the door leading to the side yard.
 

My 37th (gasp) birthday was on Feb 8, the first Monday after we moved in. Unfortunately in the midst of exhausting unpacking, we didn't do much to celebrate. Thankfully though Jim whipped up a delicious chocolate cake for teatime on Sunday, with a few presents!!! (Don't look too hard at the room; we've added and changed up the arrangement a bit and it is feeling more settled now.)

Timo was a very happy helper who put all the candles on by himself

Something about Timo's expression here makes me think of Granddad!

Random scene during our "not leaving the house the first 3 days of potty training" - the boys having a drumming session with chopsticks and laundry basket. (Timo in his underwear. This was three weeks ago, and he is doing pretty well with staying dry now.)

Arriving home (home?!)

Thursday, Feb 4 was the day our 'cubes' arrived from the moving company and we had the keys to our new (rental) house and were able to unload!! 

There were some agonizing hours leading up to the delivery, due to a snow day (higher up in the mountains, which prevented trucks from getting through) and the complicating factor of Sylva's narrow streets and the narrow, winding turns of our driveway. Where was the flatbed truck to park, and could the forklift make it up the steep turn to our driveway?? The driver from the moving company was balking at the delivery, until finally - nearly panicking - I had the brilliant idea to go into the Police station and ask for help. Within minutes of hearing the problem, they offered to mark off a parking spot on Main St across from the station, and stop the traffic so the forklift could unload the cubes and drive two blocks up to our driveway. On Thursday morning, an officer was there at the parking spot and another officer was positioned at the intersection to direct traffic. 

Now there's a welcome to Sylva!! We love our new small town!! The officer even gave Timo a little stuffed skunk ("Don't drink; you'll stink") as a present.

There goes the forklift turning up the street (with the library up on the hill) while traffic is stopped

Here comes the forklift, two blocks up from Main St, and pulling onto our street/driveway

Grandpa and Timo and I were there to watch, and ran up the street after the forklift to our garage. There is a little stream next to the road, so of course Timo stopped to throw in some rocks.

Entrance to Hooper St, a short paved road. Our house is just above at the top of the hill.

How appropriate, the sun has come out and it looks to be a beautiful day! Dad and I opened up the cubes and unloaded a bit, then had some lunch which Mom had packed. Shortly after, Mr Woody arrived to help, and he and Dad together unloaded the cubes into the house in less than 2 hours!

Can you guess what our favorite feature of the driveway/garage area is?

There's Dad watching the 2nd cube coming up the driveway - and a view to our neighbors.

Since Mom & Dad were in town, and Jim was working, we were able to sleep at the Woodys' for two more nights while we unpacked a bit and set up the beds. Finally, on Saturday, we gathered up the rest of our things and officially moved over to 126 Hooper St!

the "playroom" has great built-in shelving. The Legos were the first toys out!

view of the side yard from the street above

We could not have done this move/transition the past 5 weeks without the help and support of my amazing parents!!!!!