A weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

And yes. That 'week' is said in the manner of a dog whistle.

In almost exactly one week, we will be touching down in Ottawa. Or, should I say "in a perfect world"? With wintery weather stretching from Montana to Ottawa and beyond, it will be a miracle if I make it home then, with Phil, Charley, Sam, a stroller, a carrier, 3 checked bags, 2 carry on bags and my sanity intact.

But then we'll be HOME! This has seemed like the longest and shortest 4 months. It hasn't seemed long in a 'oh-my-god this is taking so LONG' way, but more in the sense that we feel like a part of the town.

Charley knows all the landmarks. He knows when we're on a particular street. He yells out "there's Dragon's Hollow!" or "there's the ice cream factory" appropriately. He's got his posse at school and has flourished in the care of others. (There's nothing like a new caregiver to get him to do things that he wouldn't do for me!). Yesterday he told me that he was "so relieved that he loved me".

Sam has gone from a baby to a boy. He's gone from teetering first steps to running and jumping. He's talking now. He's 'soother-less' during waking hours. He's been out on many outings without me... amazing as that seems for Ol' Mama's Boy.

We found our "Hannah in Montana" by the name of Carmen. She has been really great, taking the boys out a couple afternoons a week for the last month or so.

And Chris. Oh Little Chris! How he's grown. (No, that's not a weight-gain jab, although...) I can't imagine Chris ever staying away from teaching for too long now. He's really enjoyed it and would have us move to a new university every year if he had his way. He's a rolling stone like that.

And me? Well... I haven't changed much. I've re-discovered my love of the sewing machine, having put that aside during the 'birthing years'. I've come to know which American products are superior to ours and which aren't. I become accustomed to mountains and altitude baking and herds of deer on my lawn. (Oh, and having a LAWN!).

Most of all I've learned that packing up and moving somewhere new, for however short a time, is actually not that hard. I kind of like it. Don't get me wrong... I would have done almost anything to have been in Peterborough last Friday night when my baby brother became a daddy, but overall it's made me feel like life is short and the world is big. Will we do something like this again? It's almost certain.

The end of term is this week, and Chris taught his last class today. The newspaper kids (who he has advised) had their end of term party last Friday night. Chris and I went, if only to dispel the myth that I'm a Snuffleupagus wife. I can honestly say I haven't been to a jumpin' house party in over a decade and the students... sigh... they are so young and perky and intoxicated. The theme of the party was "ugly sweater". It was dazzling... I wish I'd brought my camera to capture some of the acrylic-based entries.

I didn't last long, not wanting to be the 'narc'. Chris doesn't have this issue. He seems to forget that he's 'old' and stays out late, hooting and guzzling up a storm. I'm sure it will come as a huge shock to you that his brain froze, age-wise, at about 25 .

Carmen was babysitting, and she managed this shot as we headed out the door. Chris is bedecked in scratchy goodness and my "sweaters on the sweater" sweater was quite a hit.

Ah, Montana. At least we'll have photos like these to remind us of our good times here.