California

So here we are. After a very horrible last week in Canada spent with the movers packing up our home and then saying some very emotional goodbyes, we packed up our children and travelled to the land of fruit and nuts. We cleared immigration in Canada with no problems which meant that when we arrived we just went straight to the hire car. The children were amazing on the flight, Patrick slept most of the way and Gracie watched a movie. When you are 2 and 4 it is hard to take on the enormity of an international move. We have told the children that we are living in a holiday home initially and they seem to be okay with that idea – Grace especially as she is sleeping in a double bed at the moment. Luckily, our move coincided with Diesels company 4th of July shutdown and so he has been around all week which has been great. Our number 1 priority was to get the children settled and I think we have managed okay on that. Patrick was a bit iffy at first and struggled if he couldn’t see both his parents at the same time and Grace has made some comments about not having a real home and clearly she misses her friends very much. On a positive note though the appartment complex is really great and we have been making good use of the pool and gym facilities. Grace has surprised us again in the water and on the first time in the pool she was already swimming in her armbands on her own and happy to get her mouth under the water. To try and maintain this momentum I have booked her in for a 3 week course of swimming lessons which start tomorrow, if shes going to be a Californian girl then clearly she needs to be comfortable in the water.

Not ones to hang around we have also managed to find, put in an offer, and get it accepted on a new house – phew. We hadn’t really intended to buy one this quickly but decided to use some of the time whilst Diesel was off to do some hunting. The first one we saw we fell in love with, particularly as we never expected to find something in our price bracket that had already been remodelled. Unfortunately, the day after we viewed it someone else put in an offer so we were forced to act. Despite the fact that I am feeling a bit rushed I am delighted to have the house. It is walking distance to the school we had already enrolled Grace in, it has all the bedrooms upstairs (which isn’t common here) and the list goes on. We are due to close 4th August so will have plenty of time to decorate the childrens rooms and get them settled before Gracie starts school on 27th August.

As for this part of California – it is undeniably beautiful. There are mountains and fabulous views everywhere and just over the other side of the mountains is the Pacific – wow. The weather has been stunning this week, mid 20’s every day but no humidity and no bugs so it is lovely to sit outside.

We are all desperately sad to leave Canada but after week 1 we are feeling confident that the next chapter for the Dempsters will be a good one.