It's like living in New York

Ryan and I were feeling quite happy with the fact that housing prices were coming down. We have had our plan in place for saving up enough for a small down payment and were feeling more optimistic than we had in several years about eventually owning a home. (Our options for homes are limited because we can't have a townhouse/split/bi level because of Claire's wheelchair). I then read in the paper this morning that next year housing prices are supposed to be back to "normal." How disappointing! It feels like we will never be able to get our own home.

My biggest worry is that the girls don't have a private little grassy spot to play in. I feel like we're depriving them of an essential part of childhood. However, I'm trying to reconcile myself with apartment living right now by telling myself "It's like living in New York." There are lots of families living in New York apartments and they survive just fine. They get along fine with playing in public parks and playgrounds. Their children aren't deprived - right? This is how I've been comforting myself but it's not really working.

I am trying to focus on the positive - we have a huge apartment with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a washer, a dishwasher, all the storage rooms in the building are crammed with our stuff, we are close to several parks, the river valley and the library, we can walk to lots of fun summer/winter festivals, if we need things repaired we don't have to pay for it, we can use all the hot water/heat that we want and we're close to lots of good places to eat. It could be a lot worse but sometimes I feel so behind compared to people who have their own home. I wonder how some people can afford it when the median house price is $350 000!

On a more positive note, we had a great Family Day weekend, besides Claire being under the weather. We spent a lot of time doing stuff at home, going for walks, making messes, etc. We went to the Royal Alberta Museum on Monday when it was free admission day and took in the exhibits and a balloon art performance show. It was fun although we almost weren't able to sit in the theatre because parents had filled the empty wheelchair area in the back with their empty strollers and wouldn't move them! I was almost ready to bust some heads, but the girls had fun. We didn't take any pictures during the show since they wouldn't have turned out but here is an example of some animals that the lady makes with balloons:

Madeline had fun on daddy's shoulders while we were viewing the exhibits.
Claire loves the Alberta exhibit with all the animals and landscapes.
I think she also enjoyed all the crowds and hearing people talk and laugh.

I've really been enjoying how the girls interact with each other now. Madeline is always trying to copy Claire. For example, whenever Claire stands in her standing frame, Maddie always wants to have a turn:

They enjoy doing more things together now.

They like having their baths together, reading stories together, colouring together:

Maddie pulled her chair over to Claire's chair and started colouring with her. It makes me so happy to see them enjoying each others' company.

Claire looked so grown-up today and I tried to get a picture but all
she was showing me was the profile shot.

And, filed under the category of "at least our lives are never dull,"
this is what I found in Madeline's room after nap time today:She had systematically taken every piece of clothing out of her dresser drawers and almost all the books out of her bookshelf. She did this very quietly and sneakily. Fun times.