Mount Rushmore
So, we've made it to Calgary. We spent four days in the U-Haul, and by the end we were all ready to kill each other! No, just kidding, but we were certainly ready for a long winter's nap. Adam did all the driving, and I was in charge of changing the DVD for Nate and keeping him happy with all the tricks I could think up. Have you ever restrained a three-year-old for four days straight? They become like a caged animal and you hardly dare let them out, because you know they won't get back into their seat! Oh well, we made it. On the way, we saw Mount Rushmore and that was really great. Neither Adam and I had really seen it (I visited when I was a little kid, but it was too dark to see it by the time we arrived). Nate was fascinated by the "men on the rock." We didn't stay long because it was so cold and the wind was terrible! But it was nice to take a detour and actually SEE something! We had absolutely incredible weather, the whole trip was snow-less (just really cold).
So now we're getting ready for Christmas. I cannot believe how fast it has approached! Before we know it, it will be here and gone. We set up our trees (one upstairs and one downstairs) and it is much more festive around here. Isn't a Christmas tree magical?!? I just wonder what Santa will bring me this year....a permanent home? Ah, a girl can dream. I know one thing I'm getting, because I bought it---a new pair of jammies. Does anyone else have that tradition of opening jammies Christmas Eve? I thought I'd start that this year, and thus I am sure of only one thing: I'll have new pajamas.
Everyone wants to know: What is it like living with the in-laws? Well, I don't recommend it. I actually think we have it easier than anyone that's ever done it before. But that doesn't mean it's easy! It's so strange to have a couple rooms to call our own and it's really difficult to feel that every move is seen by other people...we are just not used to it yet. But hopefully we won't have to get too comfortable, because maybe soon we'll have our own place! We'll see. The market here has resembled California-like prices (half-million-dollar dumps that cost $150,000 three years ago) so I don't think we'll be able to afford anything. I just keep praying that someone will really want to sell their house for less than half of what it's worth and then we can buy a home!
Okay, so this is a boring blog entry. I'm trying to think of things to say other than: "I wish I wasn't in Canada" or "I really miss my old life" or even "I wish I was with my own family for the holidays." Instead, I bite my lip and murmur, "Merry Christmas to all! Life is beautiful!" I'm just drawing from my limited acting experience, where I learned to portray a different emotion than my real-life self was feeling!! hahaha
That is the secret to life, though, isn't it --- to learn to count blessings instead of sorrows. I'm still learning, I guess.
