My horrible springtime taxes

 Last spring we spent all day on a Saturday doing taxes while the kids played with each other and got bored of doing so. Maren wrote a poem called “my horrible springtime taxes.” Jeff says it was actually called “my spring time taxes are horrible.” Either way, same sentiment. 

The reason they were so horrible is that we had to do both Canadian and American taxes, we were part your residence in each country, Jeff was a resident in the US for tax purposes but not yet a permanent residence so we could not file jointly, and things were generally complicated. This year we expected things to be much less complicated, but fortunately/unfortunately our union had not finished negotiating a new contract before we left our old jobs, and we received a small amount of backpay in 2024. We ended up having to file Canadian taxes as non-residents, which is way way more complicated than it should be. So we braced ourselves for another annoying tax year.

We did not want to put the kids through the horribleness this year, so we spent an entire day working on them while the kids were at a super fun spring break camp, just barely finishing before we had to go pick them up. But now they are done and we really truly expect things to be simple next year. Fingers crossed they actually are!

And here is a photo of Maren reading to Linden, cozying up on a rainy day under blankets next to the fire:

I found them this way and snapped a photo without them noticing ❤️

Long spring

 When we lived in Regina, a friend’s daughter asked her what her favourite season was. She said spring, and her daughter said “oh, how sad, that’s the shortest season.”

In Regina spring really was short. Winter was very long, summer was a normal length, fall was short-ish, and spring could really get missed in the blink of an eye. Here, not so much. There have been signs of spring since late January, and it will continue through June. Although January/February spring is sort of a winter spring mix and June spring is a spring summer mix, it really does last that long. 

This means that gardening season has started and will last almost until it is spring again :-) We have our deer fence up, and this weekend we planted fruit trees – two kinds of apples, and one each of plum, cherry, and peach. Plus, blueberries and three kinds of grapes. The fruit trees/vines/bushes were my Christmas present from my mom, and I couldn’t be more excited that we finally have a yard where they will grow.

It is a little bit hard to see, but this is a picture of the fruit trees, some of the grapes, and the fence:

In the background you can see our magnolia tree, which is starting to bloom. Soon the trees will bloom and then leaf out and really start to grow, but for now we are so happy to literally be putting down roots 😊

Rain, rain ☔️

 We have been having lots and lots of rain. Another “atmospheric river“ they say. That means a greater proportion of time indoors, and plenty of games:

This one is called Go Cuckoo, and involves building a nest for the cuckoo bird and laying eggs without letting them fall. We are finally at the age with both kids where everyone can play to the best of their ability and anyone might win, as long as we are playing the right games. It is lots of fun 😊

Even this much rain isn’t keeping us indoors all the time though. Jeff and I have been biking to work most every day, and the kids play outside even in the rain and hail. I think we are becoming Oregonians again!

Piano recital

 Today we had our first piano recital with both kids performing.

Linden played Alouette:

Maren played Liebestraum:

We are so proud of them both!

Linden is six!

 Yesterday was Linden’s sixth birthday. She had a bit of an extended celebration. First she got presents from us:

Then she had a party with her friends (with cupcakes):

After that, my family came to celebrate, we had more cake, and Linden got lots of running and spinning with uncle Jon:

(lasting into the night):

My mom, sister, and niece stayed the night, extending the party to today. Both kids are sleeping hard tonight 😊 

Happy sixth birthday Linden! 🎂