Full Circle

Despite my silence here on the blog, the last couple of months have been quite eventful. 

Since the last time I wrote, we spent a week away on vacation at summer camp

outside the cabin at camp shehaqua, Koichi, Sky, me, Miles, and Mimi (my mom)

moved out of our apartment and back to my in-law's place

This was the second truck load...what a long week...

and Miles started Tae Kwon Do lessons...

His class is too cute, and the instructor was impressed that Noni is trying to teach him Korean!

With my computer also being out of commission for a few weeks, it made for an unintentional, though welcome, break. 

So here we are, settled back at my in-laws, the place where I first lived when I came to NJ, where Koichi and I lived during our first years of marriage, and where we brought Miles home after he was born.

It's a transition, which in general is my least favorite place to be, that strange middle ground of uncertainty. We don't know how long we'll be here as we are hoping to buy our own house within the next year. For the time being though, we're comfortable, and looking forward to spending some more time with Noni and Baba (grandma and grandpa), and taking advantage of their big backyard! (no more playing in the gravel drive way)

Certain things haven't changed: the company of course, the hum of the airplanes (the house is right next to Teterboro airport), we occupy the same two rooms and bathroom upstairs that we did four years ago.

In the last four years that we've been gone, however, the house itself has transformed in many ways. There are new solar panels on the roof, a new kitchen and dining room floor, and the whole basement is now an entertainment/play room. There is cable for the first time here since...ever? (HBO and Showtime, too!), and a nice shiny grill on the freshly painted back porch. 

The biggest change though, is us. We've welcomed our second son, Skylar, who is now 2. Miles is almost 5. Bertrand, the family dog, who used to just burst with energy, now has trouble keeping up with the boys, though he's still amazingly patient (thanks Bert, and sorry!). 

For my part, I'm more grateful. I'm grateful to have a place like this to fall back on, for an extra set of hands to help with the kids, and for the close bond my kids will always have with their Noni and Baba.  

Three generation living is not for the faint of heart, but I certainly appreciate the benefits much more the second time around.