It's true, I believe we have found a home in Portland, although I am nowhere near needing an intervention. Yet.
The girls are 3 weeks into school and adjusting slowly. For various reasons we were concerned that the neighborhood school we were zoned for would not meet our needs and we requested transfers that were denied. It makes for a rocky start, but the girls are optimists at heart and keep plugging away. They've gotten to ride a school bus for the first time and are making friends in the neighborhood. We're spending more time outside enjoying all the greenery and fresh air... I had to steal their flip flops and tank tops while they were at school one day and replace them with waterproof hiking boots and Columbia jackets.
We live an hour from the coast. It's our favorite place to go. We've explored Cannon Beach and seen lighthouses, and Haystack Rock Beach (where Goonies was filmed!), and found crabs and starfish. It's so beautiful. Yesterday we visited Smuggler's Cove because it sounded like an adventure. We're searching for second-hand snow gear in anticipation of all the great winter adventures we're going to have soon!
My job is still going great. I never thought I'd be a midwife at a birthcenter in Portland, and here I am. It's so interesting to think about the path that led me here.
Today was the annual potluck for the midwives and clients. It was a great time! Joe met all my midwife-friends for the first time and the girls ran amok. I've had a part in the births of six babies in Portland so far. Two of my current clients are Nebraskans. It's really a small world!
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The girls got their faces painted and had Sprite for the first time in probably 3 months. It's definitely a different culture out here. Joe and I were just commenting that we don't even know where Walmart is. Seriously. I have a Target within 5 miles, but don't know where Walmart is. I can count a homeschooling family for every public/private school family I know. Nobody drinks soda. Our neighbor asked if the girls could have a popcicle and while I paused trying to decide if I trusted them with drippy pink treats in our neighbor's house, she rushed to explain that they were "whole fruit" with "no added sugar", as if that were the cause of my hesitation! I felt severely judged last week while Eva and I enjoyed a picnic of McD's nuggets, apple slices and WATER at the park. But I like it. I've always been a little on the health-conscious side and fit right it in here.. mostly!!
Before I say goodbye until the next post in who-knows-how-long... here's an overheard argument between two sisters on the way home today.
"Baby."
"Buttface"
"I'm not a baby."
"Then I'm not a Buttface."
"Fine. Then I won't play Dance with you."
"Fine. Agreed."
Pause
"I actually really wanted to play Dance."
"Me too."
"Friends again?"
"Friends."
