You can do whatever you put your mind to!

That is something that I tell the boys all the time. One day Callym said he wanted to be an astronaut. I told him, if he wanted to, then he could do anything he wanted to. When Oscar was having a hard time learning how to use his bike, I told him to keep trying, he could do anything he wanted to. It's a very good message to tell your children, actually, to tell anyone. It's powerful, it lets you and other's know that nothing is imposible, and that dream can be achieved.

So what do you expect when you deny your 2 year old chocolate for breakfast? He stacks the chairs, climbs onto the counter, into the cupboard and finds them! Then at the time you should be getting cross with them they say ' BUT MOM, YOU SAID I COULD DO ANYTHING I WANTED TO!'

I Quit

I know that it was a couple days ago, but I Quit! On Friday the 28th of September. Holy smokes! What does the future hold for me? Oh, that's it. Another cup of coffee, thank you. To you guys. Life.

Long overdue post

Well it has been a very productive week. Our 2 weekends of moving sales were successful. The moving sales were very strange though. Some people would walk in and ask if we were moving????? Huh, I wonder what tipped them off, the moving sale sign, or the SOLD sign on the front yard? They would ask us where we were moving, and when we told them... we recieved one of two regular responses. #1, oh, do you have work there? why would you go there? when are you moving back?
OR #2. That's fantastic, I've always wanted to do that, you are very brave and lucky.
We've also had a few 'un-expected' visitors drop by. It was very nice. People we haven't seen for a long time. I mean a long long time. These are people who live here, but with such busy lives, we just don't get a chance to hook up. Visits from friends are always a pleasure. As with the moving sale, we also had the same 2 response's..... Please see #1 and #2 above.

As I mentioned, Chris had his last day of work on Friday. ( YIPPEEEE) He came home early, and you could tell that he was relieved for this day to come. He loved his job, but as with any job where you come in day after day, and do the same thing, with the same people, it get's a little tiresome. Chris is a very creative person, and it's been a long time since he could let that part of him out to play. It hasn't even been a week for Chris, but already I see him having some trouble with being at home like this. It's not his fault, I've had practice for the last 4+ years. It will take him some time to learn how to chill and relax, to learn how we do things. We will need to find a balance between the way he does things, and the way we do things. Although we are the same in many many ways, we do have differences. For example. When Chris walks through a room and see's something out of place, he will just put it away and move on, well, maybe he'll look for more.... just to get it all done. Me on the other hand, I will stack things in a pile and wait until it's large enough to warant a 'clean up'. Chris will wake up and do the dishes, sometimes starting even before his coffee! This is not the way I work. I will wait until I really need to get them done (or at least once my first two cups of coffee are done). When Chris is doing something, he likes to start and finish, I have learned that with kids around, sometimes you need to stop, and finish at a later time. Neither one of us is wrong, but we need to learn how to live with eachother doing things this way. Chris is use to having a limited time with us, and an even more limited time to get 'things' done. Now that we have all day to hang out and do things... well, like I said, it will take time for us to all get use to eachother.

Well, this week is dedicated to packing up EVERYTHING in the house. It sounds daunting, but it's reallly not. We have sold so many things (especially the large items) that it just means packing things to get sent out together, and packing the rest in bigger boxes that won't be sent out. We have a good dozen boxes done, and at least two rooms are completly empty. We also have most of the boys clothes in a suitcase. I know it's early for this, but it helps with having so much laundry, and keeps the mess to a minimum. At any rate, they really don't need shorts right now, the weather is getting a little nasty. No snow yet, but sometimes you can feel it in the air.

One last note here, We have found a home for Twinkle Twinkle, and we have sold our Jeep. These were the last two LARGE items of concern for us. Twinkle Twinkle was in need of a temporary home. We have every intention of having her shipped out to us once we find a real home for ourselves. The boys love her dearly, and she is a real part of our family. We thought about not having her with us, and we have decided that it wasn't an option. Thanks Chocha, it really means a lot to us.


For now, all our love, The Lukies

An early lesson in Patience

Tonight was an early lesson in Patience. My sister came over today, and we decided to go for a drive to West Edmonton Mall (I needed to do a quick exchange on some pants). Well, the whole family ended up tagging along and we decided to go out for dinner afterwards. Christina suggested the Olive Garden - they are having their 'never ending pasta bowls' right now. So, I thought it would be really nice to invite my other sister Lesia and of course my mama! My mom and sister don't eat as early as we do, (we eat around 5pm, they eat closer to 6 or 7pm), so we thought a 6pm meet up would be fine. We finished at West Ed a little eary and headed off to the Olive Garden to reserve a spot. They don't take reservations and some times the wait is very long at dinner time. Once we arrive the wait was 30 to 40 minutes. That was ok. I called Lesia, and she told us they would be a little late too. No problem. So by 630 we finally had our table. We placed our orders, had our drinks and waited. The bread sticks, salad and Callym's food came. Oscar only wanted bread sticks! Then we waited. We had more salad and B sticks. Then they brought us more. And we waited. It was now a waiting game. My mom and I ended up taking the boys outside for a few minutes (a good time to have a smoke and let them run off some steam). We came back in and we waited. It was 730. An hour since we ordered, and an hour and 45 minutes since we arrived at the restaurant. After another 20 minutes, the manager came by and said that there was a slight mix-up and the food should be along shortly, He had changed our bill to only show the drinks and Callym's food. He also mentioned that any and all desserts would be on the house. Nice. But.... We still waited. (At this point I would like to mention that this is a LONG time for children to be well-behaved at a restaurant. My kids, did quite well!) By around 815, our food came. It was good, and hot. I wasn't hungry anymore, I had had 4 bowls of Salad and 3 bread sticks. (Also 2 bloody ceasers). Anyways, to no-ones surprise, Chris finished all of his dinner, well we all took our's home for tomorrow's lunch. (BTW Chris also got a dessert to go - Very smart man my Hubby). So, the lesson here? Patience, Patience, Patience. In Latin America we will be lucky to even find a restaurant that will serve us dinner before 6pm. Tapa's the local snack, which is served almost everywhere, will have to tie us over from our siesta's to dinner. An adjustment I think will go over fine. The other lesson, Maybe don't go to The Olive Garden at dinner time, and in a city that is in desperate need of staff that actually give a damn about their jobs! LOL

What's new..

Well, the moving sale has been a success, but we still have more 'stuff'. I think we'll do it again next weekend, and that's it, whatever is left will be donated, packed up or given away (look out family, we're coming by with stuff!) After the first day we went out and treated ourselves with some new clothes. In Central America, people pride themselves on how they look. They aren't vane, but proud. It's not like here in North America where we think it's fine to go grocery shopping in our sweats. They think it's important to look nice, and if we want to fit in, if we want to be accepted, we are going to have to live without our ratty riped up jeans, and stained t-shirts. Chris, my dear sweet husband, who's wife loves him so much, does not have many 'good' clothes. He now has 2 fabulous pairs of pants that I can't wait to see him wear. The boys also got a few things (don't they always?)
Anyways, what's new? Well, as I mentioned, the sale went well, we are now without the following....
Microwave (no more popcorn)
Oscar's bed (he's been sleeping with us lately anyways)
Both of the boys Dressers (it's kind of fun living out of a suitcase)
Kitchen chairs (we'll be having picinic's in the living room for a few weeks!)
Radio (music only on the computer now)
Swing set, Slide and Teeter-Todder
Fire pit ( too cold now anyways)
A few book-shelves and many other little items.
So far so good..... now please, come and buy our stuff!!!!!!

Also, a quick note, Callym seems to be doing great with his new glasses. This makes me happy and sad. I knew with Chris' and my genes he would probubly need them some day, but he is only 4! I wish he was older when he needed them..... But we have noticed that he isn't tripping as much, nor is he running into his brother (we thought he did that on purpose - opps) He is also much better at kicking balls and catching balls. Hmmmmm, I think that's a good thing. Still makes me a little sad tho. Well, if you want to see a picture of him with them on, please check out the post from September 19th.
Also, another quick note, remember that you can subscribe to this blog. It will come straight to your inbox, and you won't need to check in every other day for news!


All our Love,
The Lukies

It's late, I'm not tired, and I'm thinking........

Well, it's only 11:40, not late, but I'm not tired. I'm in bed thinking..... thinking about a lot of things. Thinking about what we're about to do. Thinking about where we're about to go. Thinking what is about to happen. Thinking about what could happen. Thinking..... Is this crazy? Are we as insane as some people are saying? Or am I just thinking this way because I have most of the big important things out of the way and now have 'time' to sit and think 'these' thoughts. I'm not sure. I wish I knew. What are we doing..... I mean, I know what we're doing, but Gosh, Wow. What if we don't find a home? What if the boys don't like it? What if we get sick? I know the answers to these questions, I've told you all already.... Now it seems I have to remind myself. Is this a natural part of any adventure? I mean, this is a HUGE LIFE CHANGING move we're about to make. I not sure that what I am having is doubts, but I am in a way rethinking. Not rethinking the trip (no no no), but rethinking what could happen. What we would, could, should do if a certain cirumstance arise's.... These are a lot of thoughts and 'what if' questions. Maybe I'm just trying to be prepared. I am prepared, I feel prepared, but maybe not enough? Is this a girl thing, a mother thing? to question and what if so much? Ah, I just don't know. I hate having to think this and come up with 'what if' answers. ('what if' answers are the worst mind-confusing-waste-of-precious-time blunders next to lover's misunderstandings). 'What if we don't find a home' (I ask myself) 'Well', (I tell myself), 'it depends on where we are, and how long we have been travelling' 'yes, but what if' (I ask again) 'well, we re-evaluate where we are and what we want'. A good answer, I've been through this before with myself you see, (I knew what I was going to say before I wrote it!)

At any rate, I honestly, deep down think that no matter where you are in your life, and where you are in your dream, re-evaluating your situation is a vital part of living and dreaming. It is so true. We could find the perfect home in a not perfect place, we could find our perfect place and not a home. We could get sick, we could find a great way of life. We could meet wonderful people and make great friends. We could not. We could a lot of things. And maybe we could not... But in the end, I know we will.

I need something to fill my time. To fill my mind. These thoughts are starting to drive me crazy. Maybe I should pack more boxes....

All this and still trying to be a decent parent

Well. We had day one of our moving sale. By most standards it went well, but we still have so much stuff here. And we feel we are minimalistic. Makes me wonder what the type-A's and the Jones' have at their homes. Feel free to respond, you know who you are. The boys have been troopers putting up with our matters of consequence, and they have had a hard time trying to be happy in this time it seems. We have not been playing as much as we can, of course, because, we have to set things up for the sale, book this, ready that, read on this place, drive to get this, worry about money, and to top it off, we stick them with needles containing potentially fatal diseases and say "cause it will get you to the beach". We owe those kids so much for being so strong and going thru so many changes. btw Callym now needs to wear glasses because he has astigmatism, and it seems to be a pretty significant prescription, explains a few things going on around here. Dreams are worth chasing, but they are not all beaches and surfing. Not by a long shot. Chris out.

I love spending money!

Well our VISA is getting a run for it's money... but it is all for the good. I have found a cute little hotel/appartment to stay in for the remainder of October, it's located just 15 minutes north of San Jose - so very easy to get to from the airport. It's a small 2 bedroom place with a kitchen, living room, private bathroom with hot water, and either a balcony or small yard. There is internet service, so we will continue with our blog (thank you for reading by the way!). The town is called Heredia and there are stores near by to shop and buy food. The people at the hotel are very friendly and can help with anything we may need. Tours, transportation, etc. October Accomadations . Heredia is only a 10 or 15 minute drive to the town of Grecia, the cleanest town in latin america. One of the great places that I want to look at homes in. Although it's not near the sea, the prices there are great! I found a wonderful web site Karens Real Estate We have an appointment with her on Monday to look at homes (even I'm surprised at how fast this may be moving, but isin't that the way Chris and I work?). Karen is actually going to interview us for a show called House Hunters International! It's a show on HGTV (one that Chris and I try to watch all the time) They help you find homes in your price range, and help with many of the details! Wish us luck with this, it could be very cool, and who knows, we may be on tv! As for the month of November, we are still looking for a place to stay, no rush... we have time. We are looking in the area of Tambor (if you look at a map of CR, it will be at the south end of the north-west peninsula. Very beautiful (from what we've heard) and quiet. Not touristy, and full of cute little towns and villages. Ah, doesn't that sound like the life???

We have also talked about it, and decided that Belize would make a very nice 'vacation' for Christmas. We talked and talked about it, and were going to go north to Nicaragua, but have decided on Belize. So we are booked at The SeaSpray (if you want to visti!) it seems very nice, beautiful and relaxing actually! 2 minutes from the beach, restaurants, snorkelling, diving, fishing, sitting, etc. It is located in the town of Placencia, one of the places I wanted to stop and look at real estate anyways! Wow, is this trip working out? We will be at the sea-spray for the enitre month of December (Callym wants to know if Santa will surf to our home, and if he'll just bury his presents in the sand under our palm tree?) I'm not sure if we will stay throughout January aswell, but we have time to decide.

As Chris has mentioned, we are working hard, the boys are getting restless..... why oh why do we keep on with the 'matters of consequence'? As the little prince would say 'it's hard to understand Adults, you always need to explain things to them!'

Well, the days go on, and take off for CR is getting closer and closer. Will we be ready..... I wonder. We're ready to go, but our 'stuff' isin't quite there yet. Well, 21 more days. That should be enough..........

btw, just a cute picture of Callym with his new glasses. Enjoy!