Life in a California town…

We are a day short of our first month in California.. and we are adjusting to life in California.  The first few days of school were really hard for the girls.. and while they still miss their old school and friends they are starting to acclimate to life in California. That makes it sound so easy.. It’s been super hard dealing with the emotion of it all.  You know – getting yanked out of your comfort zone and all things familiar?  But we are growing individually and as a family.  We are learning about what we like and don’t like and how to rely on ourselves.  And you know the saying “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!”

Here’s a synopsis of firsts..

• First day of school and late to the start of school (ugh – thanks Mom).  We now get to school 30 minutes before the first bell…
• First time working a school dance.  Both girls are in student council (ASB) and worked the back to school dance.  Rylee’s favorite part was working the Bouncy House and Shelby’s favorite part was sticking her head into a bucket of whipped cream to get a gumball!
• First time getting notified of a White Cobra snake on the loose..  Yep, only in Cali!  Someone had a rare, poisonous, while albino nasty snake that got on the loose in a neighborhood near school.  Thank goodness they caught it!
• First time with lockers.  We got the book locker combo’s down.. has a bit of a challenge with gym locker.. but that seems to be going okay too.
• First time for Mom to work in the school office.  I will be doing this every other week on Thursday afternoons.
• First time running in a cross country meet for RYlee.
• First time surfing on her own surfboard for Shelby.
• First trip to the Beach and to the Dog Park – Bode.
• First time to relax on a weekend – Dad!

We have a really nice new family that moved in next door.  They have 2 boys, 7th and 10th grade, and the mom teaches Pilates!  Thank goodness because the neighbor at the end of the drive got mad that we accidentally took her trash can!!

Life is crazy busy with school, homework, sports and continuing to adjust to the new house, figuring out where everything is, and trying to settle into some kind of rhythm.. so no new unpacking done yet.

That’s all for now.  Here are some pictures of the house.. and of the girls.. we miss and love you all.  xo

Pics of the house

California

We have lived in California for 10 days and if you would like to know if the boxes have all been unpacked and everything has been put and away and organized – the answer is a big NO!!!!!  So pictures for now will have to wait but here’s an update on some things we’ve done this past 10 days..

• Registered for school
• Attended Orientation at Colina Middle School and found out where our lockers will be.. and how many locker combos we need to memorize (for book locker and gym locker).. and how much time we will have between classes (UGH!).  Fortunately the office staff is nice for now (but absolutely NO comparison to the school secretary at Upland!!)
• Visited Santa Monica and customized Converse sneakers
• Went Stand Up Paddleboarding in Malibu and saw Dolphins!
• A Surf lesson in Malibu (yes, I did both with the girls) and saw a Seal!!
• Met some Amgen families with middle school kids (but no neighbors yet.  We live behind two other houses.. and seems like folks drive right into their garage..  “Dorothy- we’re not in West Chester anymore..”
• Gone out to eat ALOT (because I barely have time time to wipe my butt let alone get food in the house).  We are experts now in where to get the BEST cupcakes and frozen yogurt!
• Rylee has golfed twice.  She has also run twice with a x-country running team of which she is now a proud member! The Thousand Oaks Flyers (www.toflyersxc.runnerspace.com)
• Shelby has decided she LOVES surfing!  She has practiced soccer 4 times with two different teams and is playing in a tournament in Santa Barbara this weekend.

So, yeah, it’s been a little busy.  This week we will be busy preparing for school which starts August 27th! 

We will be practicing the @#*!! locker combinations… buying supplies… cleaning out the locker … and shopping for some cool California back to school clothes.

We miss our family and friends SO MUCH!!!!  But we are making the  best of California.  It is beautiful weather.. 

Stay tuned.. will try to post Photos next (in my spare time – lol!!)