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

6 Days and Counting

In just 6 days this will be the local beach that we will be at maybe everyday. We will pull out of Dallas on Wednesday Dec. 31st. Our plan is to get to So Cal on the 3rd of January. It should be quite an adventure. We are gonna take lots of pictures along the way to document, so stay tuned.

Hotel! Motel! Holiday Inn!

We got out of Seattle just ahead of the big one on Wednesday night but we only made it as far as Centralia before we were forced to stop and evaluate the situation. After a quick discussion we decided to get a set of chains while they still had some, get a motel room and give it a go in the morning.

Finances being what they are we decided to go all out for the luxury of Motel 6. $49 +$3 for wireless internet and tax came to about $54. We asked for a non-smoking room. In fact, we ask for a room as far away from smoking as possible. What we got was a room that smelled like they converted it to non-smoking 10 minutes before we got there. While there wasn't actually a sweaty, chain smoking 450lb man in our room, it smelled like it.

Trying to make the best of a bad situation, we striped all the covers off the bed put down our own sleeping bags and turned off the heat to keep the smell down as much as possible. Then, the satelite TV went out. Three kids, two adults, a very stinky, very small room with no TV is a BAD combo. We turned to our old friend, the internet. Quickly we signed up for a netflix account and started streaming cartoons straight to our room. Underdog saved the day. Best $8.99 I ever spent.

My Favorite Christmas Movie

My favorite Christmas movie of all time is White Christmas! I don't think I've missed seeing this movie every year since I was 11. I love everything about it, the cast, the music, the story but most of all I love the memories this movie has given me. I hope my kids grow up loving it like I do! What's your favorite Christmas movie and why?

Looking Forward to........

Last night Eric decided we should all draw 3 things we are looking forward to in our new adventure in Southern Cali. Here's what we came up with....

Eric

Surfing

Palm Trees

New Friends

Brandi

Sunshine

Warmth (which means flip flops everyday)

Disneyland, Legoland, Seaworld

Amara

Beach

that's all for now, she's struggling

Sully

Seagulls

Ocean

Boats 

Finn

He just had fun stabbing holes in paper with a pen but I know he's looking forward to:

Being outside more

Sand

Ocean

We are all struggling making this change but we appreciate all the love and support you are all giving us. Please know that just because we look forward to these things doesn't mean we won't miss all the fun things here we've done with all of you. We look forward to lots of visitors in our new home.

Times are a Changin'

After working at the Seattle Times for 6 years it has come to an end. Eric was given the official word last Friday that his last day will be December 12th. We are sad and terrified but excited at the same time. Eric has more talent and charisma in his little finger than most people posses. I KNOW that he can do anything he puts his mind and passion into. It has been a joy to watch him grow as a cartoonist and person the last 6 years. We will never regret making the choice to have Eric follow his dream. This place and these people have become our family, but times are a changin' and we feel a pull to move on. It won't be easy but this is our time to make our dreams come true! We love you all and will let you know where this adventure takes us.

2 Ninjas and a Softball Player

Ok- So better late then never. We had a fun Halloween. We did the annual tricker treating with our friends around their neighborhood. Then we went to the ward Trunk-r-Treat cause I got to be in charge this year, then back to our friends for candy eating, dancing and post Halloween pizza feasting. It didn't rain and it wasn't freezing butt cold. All in all it was a fun evening!