The Kids

Here are the most recent pictures of the kids. We parked on the other side of the freeway the other day and crossed the pedestrian bridge to the kids school. It was really creepy. Having cars and truck going 80-90 mph right under you. Not sure if I want to make a habit of it.

What Lisa and Dave see out their back door

Need I say more?

Oh SpongeBob

A few years ago we decided to dumb down our cable. We no longer had Disney, Cartoon Network, Food Network, all the news channels and saddest of all Nick. Sully was turning into a TV addict. All he wanted to do was sit in front of SpongeBob. Don't get me wrong, I think that show is stupid funny like everyone else but it was getting bad. It's like Meth for kids.

So after the initial withdraws, which were NOT pretty, we got used to PBS Kid shows. I love PBS Kids shows! Curious George, Martha Speaks, Word World they actually learn something from those shows.

When we moved into our new place I called the cable company to set up service. I told them just basic! They questioned me, offered me specials but I stayed strong! Just the basic! The night we got here the cable guy was here setting us up, 3 days later when we unburied the TV and plugged it in, to our surprise, we had extended cable, which means....... SpongeBob was back in our lives. I let it be for a week while I unpacked and let the TV babysit the kids but when I called the cable company to tell them of their mistake they told me that our cable is spliced with our next door neighbors so for now we have to have extended cable. We have extended cable for the price of basic. What are you complaining about you ask? That's all the kids want to do when they are inside and unfortunately unless I can go outside with them here, they can't play outside. It's making me crazy! Why couldn't I have taught my kids to love piano or reading?

Oh SpongeBob..... how can you be so good and so bad at the same time?

My view on the way to school

As most of you know my kids now have to be at school at 7:45 am. Disgusting! That means my alarm goes off at 6:45 am. For anyone who really knows me you know how much I hate the early morning, always have always will! But the one things that makes it a little less painful is my view as I drive down my hill to get them to school.

A Cloudy Day in So Cal

We had to drive to Irvine the other day to pick up a friend at the airport. It was a cloudy day, cloudy....... huh! This is what Southern Californians consider a yucky, cloudy winter day. I am still dumbstruck by the beauty here.

Swimming with Dolphins

Brandi and Lisa found an amazing beach that the locals try to keep secret from the tourists. While they were there the kids were out boogie boarding having a awesome time enjoying the sun an surf. Excited, Brandi gave me a call to tell me about it when out of nowhere on the phone she yells, "OH MY GOSH!! OH MY GOSH!!" Thinking one of the kids was just swept out to see, I say "what! what!" and Brandi replies, "I just saw a freaking dolphin jump out of the water behind the kids!"

Great Slideshow

I was thinking about taking a bunch of pictures of San Clemente to introduce you all to our new town but I came across this one put together by the city. It give a really good idea what it's like here.

Go here for the bigger version....Click here

Learning to Surf

Already, life here has been full of firsts. First time I've been surfing, first time I've been out in the ocean with seals and check out the pictures below. That's salt collected around my eyebrows. How crazy is that! I think it's cool, makes me feel like a true local but Brandi thinks it's disgusting. Speaking of salt, it collects in your hair, makes it really stiff and causes it stick up...check it out in the pictures above.

San Clemente: Week 1

Now that we've been here a week I thought I might share a few of our first observations and impressions.

The weather here really is amazing. It does get chilly in the evening sometimes but you won't see me complain.

Surfing is everything here. It seems like everyone does it. It's a lifestyle, not a hobby. Surf shops everywhere.

People are very friendly and seem happy.

It has a very cool old beach town feel. Not by accident either. They are very resistant here to chain type restaurants and businesses. In fact, west of the freeway the only major chain you can find it one Starbucks. Luckily there are a few things east of the freeway, like Wal-Mart.

People here seem to live with the sun. They are up early with the sunrise. School even starts early here. 7:45am for the kids. And things get really quite after dark, almost eerily quiet.

We've had one day now where the "marine layer", a term previously unknown to me, hung around all day. It looked almost like a Seattle sky....almost.

The tap water here is nasty. No one drinks it.

People here really are easy going and laid back, except for the occasional agro surfer.

Surfing is a seriously exhausting.

Two FANTASTIC donut shops.

One amazing taco joint just down the hill.

LA has razor wire around the road signs on the overpasses. It makes you feel like you are in a war zone.

More later...

First Time at San Clemente Beach

We went down to the beach as a family here for the first time today. It was a bit cold at 55-60 but the sun was shining and it was a lot of fun.

We had a great breakfast out on the balcony this morning. Actually, it was the only table we had.


Check out our view!! hehe

We made it!

Hey all you Through the Gray readers,

We just wanted to let you know that we have made it Through the Gray and into the sun. We reached our new place yesterday at about 4pm. Our new landlords welcomed us with open arms and peanut butter cookies. They seem to be very nice. They even left us with a beautiful plant and a "Welcome to your new home" card. We then unloaded the truck until 6:30pm, took a break had some dinner and then back to unloading. I think the unloading wrapped up around 9:30pm when we then ventured out to Walmart to get the basics. By 10:30pm everyone was in tears and ready for bed. As soon as we get unpacked and get back to some routine I am sure it will start to be fun but for now, there is just alot to do.

As soon as we have some pictures we'll post them, but for now just know that we are here missing all of you!

Across the Highest Bridge through the Tallest Trees

Down the Drain to the mouth of the Rogue