Kite Flying and House Hunting

We spent a lot of the day on Sunday at a new (to us) park.  Benjamin had received a cool kite along with some other gifts from Julie's parents before he started school. There is a tradition in Germany called a "schultüte" where kids are given cones filled with gifts before their first day of school.  Ela and Holger brought both kids very nice gifts back when we had the birthday celebration for Julie at our house.

One of Benjamin's gifts was this kite which he LOVES.  Yes, it is supposed to just fly on its own but it hasn't been windy here yet (other than the hurricane day but that would've been too much, obviously!) so he just runs with it behind him and loves it.  It is so great because he runs and runs and runs and wears himself out all while enjoying the kite.

We also have been feverishly looking for a new place to live.  A few weeks ago we received word that the owners of the house we are living in are returning at the beginning of February.  To say we are bummed is an understatement. 

When we had originally found this house the terms were for a full academic year but shortly before we signed the lease they informed us that there was a chance that they would have to return mid year.  We decided to go ahead with the 6 months because the house seemed so perfect and we thought there was a good chance that they wouldn't return.  Well, it really has been worth it even if we did get spoiled by the house and especially the location.  But now we have to go about finding another rental and rentals or even places to buy in this area are really very few and far between.  There just isn't much inventory and since Marty works from home we have to have at least 3 bedrooms preferably 4 but we could do with 3 and larger houses are not as common.  So, just when things were starting to settle down and become a bit easier they get harder again.  I'm trying super hard not to stress about it now.  Anything that is for rent NOW likely will not still be available come February and since there is such a limited inventory I cannot imagine a landlord is going to wait around with an empty house or apartment for 4 months.  I'm hopeful it will all work out the way it did with Benjamin and school and even if we find something that doesn't seem quite as good we will make the best of it.