A Pattern of Words

I’m filled with gratitude that we once again get to live in an area that’s so pretty, whose mountains make my heart skip a beat every time I look at them, whose sky seems so rich and colorful. I missed this.

We’re renting right now. The search for a house seems interminably long and every few hours I refresh the website, hoping something has come up. In the meantime, this neighborhood brims with interesting nooks and fun crannies. More urban than anything I’ve lived in since leaving Chicago, it offers a coffee shop around the corner, a smoothie bar whose bright signage calls to me, a local grill with deliciously hot brownies for cold nights, and a hip rock climbing gym I wish I had the solo time to utilize. Most importantly, a long greenway with endless running room for the kids, noisy trains chugging by, smooth sidewalks perfect for scootering, a sprawling restaurant with outdoor seating, and a skateboarding wave ramp that delights the boys.

This house is five minutes from my sister’s house – four if you don’t hit traffic – but that seems insanely far away after living across the street for years. The boys don’t understand the concept of not seeing each other every day, multiple times a day, but many days we just can’t manage hauling all the kids back and forth more than once, especially with all the snow clogging the roads. Both my sister and I keep finishing every one of our conversations with “A HOUSE JUST NEEDS TO COME UP FOR SALE RIGHT HERE. RIGHT ON THIS STREET.” Please, God?

Meanwhile, I’m trying to enjoy the slower pace of life that comes along with living in a rental, with only a fraction of our belongings, no DIY home projects to occupy my time, and snow keeping us home more than usual. Vincas is working long hours as he sets up his new office and comes home later than late during the week – usually past midnight, when I’m already buried under a mound of blankets. This means I’ve been spending even more time with the kids than my normal SAHM job description. We’re getting into a good groove. Slowly. But I’m hoping this phase doesn’t last too long. Thankfully, Vincas only works four days a week, so we are getting delightfully long weekends with some together-time. January is ticking by and February holds all my hopes tucked between its paws.