A few weeks ago I was chatting with Jenna, one of the front office staff for the Whitecaps, and she asked me if I’d be interested in writing a little something relating the fans to the players and their families for the match day program for today’s game. Um, yes. The nerd in me who’s been dying to have an actual assignment jumped at this. I still from time to time have horror dreams about waking up only to realize I never finished that paper due today. Worst feeling ever. Then I realize I haven’t been in school in 3 years. So, suffice it to say, I was pretty excited to be able to turn something in again. So, here it is! A little re-cap and insight into our move to Vancouver…

“I’ve loved the Disney movie UP from the first time I saw it. I love the message that adventure is out there, for anyone, no matter what type of unadventurous life you may think you lead. And who wouldn’t love hundreds of brightly colored balloons? J

When Matt first mentioned the possibility to me, back in August of last year, of moving to Vancouver, my automatic response was excitement. It was the adventure of it all that enticed me. Experiencing city life, exploring a different country, meeting new friends and obviously the career advancement for Matt all sounded like something I really wanted for our family. When it became official, finally, in December, I was more than ready to start the journey.

Of course, change doesn’t come without growing pains. We were sad to leave our friends and family. Moving in and of itself is a pain; moving to a new country with two small kids is nothing short of daunting. New passports, bank accounts, faces, streets and surroundings…it was all pretty overwhelming at first. Add a throwing up 2 year old and a 10 month old that thinks it’s 7am when it’s really 4am and we had certainly had ourselves something of the adventure we had been anticipating. We could’ve done without the vomit but that’s life, eh?! Some things, though, that immediately struck me were: the friendliness of strangers, the 12% sales tax, the European feeling fashion, the colored money and $2 coins, the multicultural influences, how everything seemed to close early and an incredible energy about the city that not even the longest rain could wash out. Within a few days, despite the unknowns and unfamiliarity of it all, as we acclimated, we knew we were right where we were supposed to be. And that’s a great feeling.

That feeling has only been reinforced in the 2 months we’ve been here. And not because we have some super exciting life. We’re just regular people, raising our kids, living our lives. I’m home with the kids while Matt goes to training, not exactly what you’d call an adventure. But that’s just it: adventure IS out there. It just has to be found. And this amazing city, Vancouver, has been the perfect playground for us to go find it.”

A little sneak peek from Evelyn’s 3rd birthday photo shoot…I thought this matched well with the article