Stable Instability

We are living in stable instability. At least for Samara. We are stable. We are living at my in-laws. Sam is in school (thank goodness!), loving four days a week at Temple Israel and one day at Bright Loritos, in Chinese. She's loving gymnastics. She loves stable routine. Yet...our stuff is on a ship. We aren't staying in Michigan past year-end. None of us really wants to get too invested in our life as it is now, as it will change very quickly, and we will have to just get all settled again. Matt and I are trying to deal with that reality as well as possible, but poor Sam. These are hard things for an almost-four-year-old.

Overall, we are doing great in our temporary life. We are enjoying being so close to family. We are loving the weather. We are loving not having to work. We are definitely enjoying...but it's also a hard time since nothing is forever, and like I said, it's some hard adjustments for a little lady.

Elie at Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo

Since I last wrote, we went to the west side of Michigan with Matt's parents, and we stayed in my cousins' gorgeous place, right on Lake Michigan. THANKS LENORE AND JOEL!! We had a lovely stop at Bell's brewery for lunch, fun on the beach, lots of relaxing time (including GORGEOUS sunsets) on the porch and just chilling in South Haven, a little hike, a farmer's market, a tour of my father in-law's childhood homes...it was great time for the in-laws and kids, and relaxing for everyone.

Elie after eating blackberries the size of plums

On the Kal-Haven trail

Before sunset at Sleepy Hollow

Funny faces in South Haven

Fran and Tom with Elie in South Haven

Fran and Sam at the beach in Sleepy Hollow

Elie and Tom 

Sam and the snorkel and mask she wouldn't part with, eating her sweet potato fries and yogurt

After that we headed up north towards Harbor Springs to meet Jeremy in Mark and Paula's place. THANKS MARK AND PAULA!! On the way up we test drove a car, we swapped our rental car for one with tires that held air, and we had a fantastic dinner at Short's Brewery. The few days up there were also filled with great outdoor activities and just great time with Jer.

Jer and Elie at the Pond Hill Farm, outside of Harbor Springs

Sam also at the farm

Sam and Jer at the farm

Natural balance beam

Petoskey

At dinner at Legs Inn

Since coming back, Sam started her schools and programs, Kitty has decided to come out and hang in the rest of the house more often, Elie got vaccinated, we got a car, we made loads of trip plans...and we have tried to relax a little bit. Elie has been sleeping through the night in South Haven and also for the last few nights, so that has changed my life.

I am reading Homeward Bound by Robin Pascoe, about repatriating from the perspective of the trailing spouse (pathetic term, but it's what I am right now...until I get my own thing going). Matt's reading one called Homeward Bound about readjusting a family, and we're discussing main points. We are trying to stay flexible and chill about the whole thing while also remaining on top of issues that may be challenging for any one of us - and also at different times.

Random, no? This was in Saugatuck, near South Haven. It seems to have NO relation to the real Singapore, which makes no sense!

Road trips are boring

First day of school at Temple Israel