We've been here for about 2 weeks now. Really, Canada feels like the U.S. to me, but it looks like Sweden, so it actually hasn't been too much of an adjustment for us, which is awesome. I really was waiting for culture shock and immediate homesickness, but we have really switched over to our new lives relatively painlessly. I really think it's mostly because we were showered with prayer before we left.
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| Our neighborhood |
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| A pretty house in our hood |
It also doesn't hurt that we live in an amazing beautiful neighborhood, Sunnylea. It just neighbors a very hip and popular neighborhood called Bloor West. But we love Sunnylea because it's much quieter and safe for kids. Our house is just steps from the Humber River, where there are biking trails and huge grass areas to play. But also just minutes walking from the subway, so Johan can take that to work. He loves not driving to work.
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| I like pretty houses |
The houses in our neighborhood look like Cape Cod cottages you'd see in Better Homes and Gardens, and others are just stunning stone and brick mansions. Our house is a 1950's home, not so stately as our beautiful neighbors. But we are thankful because it is much larger than we need, and it's perfect for us. And it's owned by a Swede! Funny huh? It has a large basement where we can watch movies and play when it's raining, or just because. And I just feel blessed in general to have such a beautiful rental. The funny thing is...no one wanted this place! And we got the renters to go down in price. Maybe we'll find out soon enough, or maybe it was another prayer answered.
The nature also makes everything beautiful. There are huge trees everywhere, and everything is green. Compared to California, which has it's green season in the winter then everything dies of thirst in the summer, here it's the opposite; Everything dies of frostbite during the winter then blossoms in the summer.
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| Axel about to score....again |
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| The bike trail by our house |
This is the first time since Axel was 2 1/2 that I've been home full time with him. That part has been a little rough, especially since we don't know anyone yet and I can't just send him over to play with the neighbors to give me a break. He's a pretty intense little dude. So I didn't hesitate in signing him up for a soccer team as well as gymnastics. He LOVES both. It is a little embarrassing how good he is at soccer. I really mean it. We are so proud that he can dribble up and down the field and scores 10+ goals each game, but it's embarrassing that it's a team of 4 year olds, and people have signed their kids up so they can have an experience at playing soccer, and there's only one kid playing because he ALWAYS has the ball. So we've been teaching him the concept of passing, and he actually made a couple of passes to his teammates during the last game. I also signed him up for soccer camp. Because he has so much energy, and also to give myself a break from his endless energy. He'll go five half-days a week for three weeks. A nice thing is that the parents on his team are so so nice. But then, every Canadian we have met has been so incredibly kind.
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| This is how I get him to eat his carrots! |
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| The Humber River |
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| Lake Ontario |
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| Mimico Bridge |
We have been having so much fun in this new city! The first weekend, we all biked to the waterfront. There are biking trails that start at the end of our street and go all the way to the lake, which is so beautiful on a clear day. It's fun that Axel can bike that far with us and we can go as a family. The second weekend, we went to a street fair that was really fun. Apparently, Toronto has a different festival almost every week during the summer.
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Crashed after a day at a festival in town...time for mom
and dad to have a beer |
Then this was our third weekend. We checked out the Swedish school, where Axel will probably go for a couple of hours on Saturdays in the Fall to get to know other Swedish kids, and hear the language. Then on Sunday (today), we went to a new church.
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| His favorite pastime....jumping off of anything and everything. |
We've been to about 4 churches so far, and this one really hit the spot. They were so welcoming, and genuine, and it seemed that everyone knew each other and really loved each other. We met so many people, Axel made a friend really quickly, and afterwards, they had a barbeque where we got to meet even more people. It felt like a big family, which was totally what we were looking for. It's an old 100-year old church that is Christian, non-denominational, a little traditional, but young enough that it doesn't feel old, and there are tons of families with kids. We both left feeling like that was just what we were looking for. This weekend, I was starting to feel the loneliness of not having friends or family around, which is why I especially am so thankful for this. To be invited to several events by the girls at the church, to make a new friend to meet for a playdate, and to see Johan meet another scientist and talk for a long time....I feel like it was such perfect timing that it came just when I was starting to need it. So we are thankful. We are feeling welcomed and at home here. We miss San Diego so much, but this is where we are for now, and so far, God has been gracious to us. Thank you for all the prayers!
And I guess the most important thing, the reason we're here, is that Johan loves his new job! His coworkers are amazing, his workplace is exciting, and he is happy. It's not always perfect and pretty, but we are happy and well. And thankful.
