Favorite Time of Year

One more day until April is here and my favorite time - a trip south.  We have been going somewhere in April for many springs now, and this year are lucky to be going for the month!  There is no where I would rather be than anywhere in the fifth wheel with Don.  There is no way to explain the tranquility in that.

But first March.  It passed quite quickly in our house.  Don didn't work in February, then March stormed in and he had job upon job.  He was juggling 4 different ones on one day.  This is probably an indication of his future, but still having the option to discuss the projects and say yes or no is the best part.

I had a great month as well.  I finished both contracts I was working on, and looking very forward to April.  Sometimes I just want to pinch myself or come out of this dream, but it is our life right now and it's pretty great.

My 15 month contract with Volunteer Alberta concludes today, and my contract with Volunteer Wood Buffalo is also complete.  I have accepted a part time job with Volunteer Alberta, and will start that upon my May return, but still awaiting some definition around what it will be.  It will still involve supporting the voluntary sector, travelling and working from home, but on a part time basis instead of full time like the last one.  And I have ensured they are aware of our voracious appetite to travel, so hopefully I have made the right choice.  As well I am applying myself to to my company, SoulutionsByDonna, and hoping to get a few writing contacts like the Wood Buffalo one just completed.

We have some more renovations planned for the house over the spring and summer months.  Most exciting is the removal of a wall between the dining area and living room.  Removing this wall will allow us to fully open and sit comfortably around our glorious table!  Opening it fully versus opening it and sitting all around it is the key here.  That will lead to a lot of painting as well I am sure, and new flooring on the kitchen/dining room and bathroom.  Don and I both have home offices now, and although when I took over his (as he puts it) I didn't think I would feel as comfortable in any other space.  But I was wrong and the new one is as cosy - plus I decorated again:)  Check this proposed new paint color, tranquil blue; and we are pulling the carpet and putting new laminate in.

Not much outside this year, hoping not to be home too much!

I had a great week with Lindsay, Jeremy and Connor.  It is very hard to walk away from Connor every time, but it is what it is.  We are lucky he lives close enough to drive and see, unlike my friend Sharon who has a grandson in Australia.  It is all perspective.  Connor is a growing concern, already he has gained and as of Wednesday is 10 pounds, 10 ounces!  As I was confident, Lindsay and Jeremy have just smoothly moved into their new life roles as parents.

It has been fun watching spring through the eyes of Blake, Emerson and Reese.  Hard to believe Blake will be 5, and is registered in Kindergarten.  I know as a mom I cried every fall when that happened, and I will for Blake too.  Emerson is trying pre-school in April one day a week, and will be in the same class as Blake. I am sure she will offer him her assistance as a sister!  And Reese - wow she is all of a sudden a little girl, not a baby.  It is so cute to see her approach Don when he is playing with the them.  She wants to jump and wrestle, but not always confident of doing so!

Don is visiting this week with his mom and dad, who have just moved into their new condo.  He reports that it is fabulous, and we wish them many happy memories in their new home.  I don't attach much emotion to the buildings I live in, probably because as both a child and adult I moved around so much.  So I know mom and dad will make this house their home, and welcome everyone with open arms as they always have.  Some may be concerned with space, but I remember my Grandmother's 4 room house full of 50 plus people on many occasions and don't remember feeling crowded, only loved.

On Saturday we are hosting Connor's baby party, and today we bought the cutest decor:)  Good Friday will be our Easter meal with our family, and then we are headed south somewhere next Saturday.  We will definitely make it to the Las Vegas area, then depending on weather destinations unknown.  It is quite hot down there already so we will have to plan as we go, which isn't really that different than any other trip.

I will try to keep you updated on our April trip.

Happy Easter to all - have a fabulous spring!