Grandparents, Hockey, & Exploring

Another week + has flown by and we continue to explore and work on fitting into our new life and city.  It's starting to feel like we are no longer visitors in a strange city and more familiar.  Last week when I was signing Charlie up for camp I was loading the kids up in the car and I heard someone say my name, I didn't react because who in West Hartford would know who I am?  But, it was someone that actually did recognize me and was stopping to say hi!  It was my new friend from moms club and it was so wonderful to run into someone that I knew!  Those are the things you realize how much you miss when you move away that I wasn't prepared for.  So it was a nice surprise to make that connection while out running errands.

One of the first days we were here our neighbor told us about Monday night hockey for West Hartford mite players.  Last Monday night Charlie went to his first meet up after we got him some new equipment.  He had outgrown almost everything!  He had a great time and scored a goal!  It was fun for him to get back on the ice and to hang out with some of the neighbor boys.  He went again this week and is already looking forward to next Monday's game.  Of all of us I think that Charlie has adjusted the best to our new life in Connecticut.  Which really surprises me given our struggles last year with starting Kindergarten and the anxiety from all the changes that came with starting school.  I worried about him because of this and how he would handle the move and the changes that come with moving.  Especially since he had such a great group of friends and family that he was leaving behind.  But, I am so proud of him and his ability to adapt to a new home, new city, new friends, new life.  He has even been a big Connecticut cheerleader for me on days when I am missing home.  He is a mature little guy that realizes being with dad and all together is better than any other scenario.  I am so thankful for him and his insight into what is really important.  💓

Hockey 

When we first moved to Eagan two years ago Alan and I started doing Blue Apron, which is a meal delivery service.  They send you all the ingredients to make three different meals each week.  We really enjoyed doing it and it was a way to get in a "date" night with the kids in bed.  We had to stop last year when he took the new job, because he wasn't home regularly enough to even be able to make the three meals before the produce went bad.  So when we got out here we started it up again.  It has been fun to cook together and spend some quality time after all our little loves head to bed.  Especially since our social calendar has really taken a hit with the move 😉.   So we have a lot more time to cook meals in the evenings.  It also a nice way to try foods that you would never buy at the grocery store or probably even try at a restaurant. 

Blue Apron Dinner

Date Night!

Another plus of having Alan home so much more is that I can run some errands all by MYSELF, yes without three little people complaining, fighting, crying, talking me into buying them a toy as bribery, or napping right before we get to the store.  It's amazing.  And an added bonus for the kids is dad is the fun one, so the kids love this time with him  He took them to the park for a picnic and playground time this weekend while I was gone.  It's fun for them to explore some places with dad when they can. 

Picnic with Dad

Over the weekend we went to dinner in Blue Back Square which is a little area (where our favorite library is) with shops and restaurants.  They have a band playing on Friday and Saturday nights and the kids danced and played while we waited for our table.  On Saturday night we went to a neighboring town for a movie in the parking lot.  We got to see Moana.  It was a lot of fun, the boys got their faces painted and there was a juggler with a bunny.  The bunny was Kaylee's favorite part. The kids had a great time, the only downfall is that they don't start the movie until it's almost dark. So by 9:45 Jack was sleeping, Kaylee was fussy and didn't want to sit still.  So we bailed before the end of the movie. 

Blue Back Square

Face Painting

Dad and Kaylee

Waiting for Moana to start

The most exciting part of the week was Sunday when Grandma and Grandpa Elder came!!!  The kids were so excited and couldn't wait for them to get here!  It is fun for the kids to show them around our new town.  Grandma and Grandpa were here for three days and we packed in a lot of stuff!  On Sunday after they got here we went out for seafood and then of course the boys had to take them to Sweet Frog for ice cream.  The boys would go there every single day if they could.  On Monday the kids took grandma and grandpa to their favorite places.  So that means we started at the library for some play time and checking out some books.  We then went to their favorite store, the toy store! Followed by lunch at Charlie's favorite spot, Bar Taco.  As I had mentioned above Charlie has hockey on Monday nights so it was fun for him to play for Grandma and Grandpa.  I stayed home with Kaylee and watched the Bachelorette finale.  It was a pretty perfect day. 

They made it!

Welcome To Connecticut Grandma and Grandpa

Story Time

Tuesday morning Jack had a new family breakfast at his preschool.  So he took me and Alan to meet his teachers and show us around the community center.  He was hoping we were dropping him off for school and was a little disappointed that Alan and I were staying with him.  He also was really excited to wear his backpack.  Grandma Elder put his name on his backpack so he was pretty proud of it.  While we went to breakfast Charlie and Grandpa went to see the Spider-man movie.  It was 10 a.m. on Tuesday so they were the only ones in the theater.  Apparently they got to yell and scream at the movie since they were all alone which Charlie thought was pretty cool.  That afternoon I got to go for a massage that was amazing!  It was so nice to have an hour of complete relaxation.  The kids went to the pool with grandma and grandpa for a few hours while I was relaxing.  The last night Grandma and Grandpa were here they went with Alan and the boys to the Hartford Yard Goats baseball game.  It was a fun visit and they left for the airport this morning.  It was another sad goodbye.  We loved having them here and can't wait to see them again soon.

Ready for School

Showing off his name

Yard Goats Game

Yard Goats Game

Tomorrow is our niece/cousin, Ava's 1st birthday.  Whoa, hard to believe she will be one!!  We are going to miss her first birthday party and this is the first family function we won't be home for.  It is hard to be away from everyone, especially for things like this.  I have a feeling that no matter how long we decide to stay in Connecticut this part will always be really hard for us.  Happy birthday to our sweet, Ava!

Next week the boys are each in a camp so we won't be doing quite as much exploring.  I will be home with my girl and so will hopefully be able to take her to some activities geared more towards her age. This weekend we will have been in Connecticut for four weeks!  Hard to believe, but at the same time it feels like we have been here even longer.  Thanks for reading the blog!