Dude Ranch

There is a stranger sitting at my dinner table in the buff. Don't think he's from these parts.

Wait a second, he does look a little familiar.

Why, it's just a local trying a new look! We'll let him stay since he's eating his veggies.

Lovin' the Lake

We have been lucky enough to move into a city that has a beautiful man-made lake to which all city residents may have free access. It is AMAZING! Beautiful beaches, lifeguards, snack bar, free concerts, summer camps, boat rentals including party boats, and you can fish here for free and your membership pass acts as a fishing license. It's like a dream.

Here we are one evening after Adam came home from work.

The homes on the lake front properties are beautiful and only add to the scenery.

The things I appreciate the most is that the lake is even closer than the beach and my kids will actually swim in this water. We get our piggies wet in the ocean, and , truth be told, my kids are still terrified of the waves (workin' on it) but now that a heat wave is moving through the area, we are enjoying really swimming in the cool lake water. Oh, it is a dream.

Whether at the beach or the lake, Baby Jo always has the most fun, hands down! She cannot get enough of the sand.

(sand on Mommy's piggies)

Diving for it.

We are so grateful for our beautiful lake!

I'm hunting wabbits...

How darling are these little pieces of wildlife! I see them everywhere... at the park, the lake, the In-N-Out drive-in. They have definitely adapted to this highly populated area of the country. I caught this one by discretely hiding myself behind a park picnic table.

The kids quickly spotted it.

Lu LOVES animals and must pet them whenever she can, which is hardly ever.

If you look closely, you can see Mr. Bunny running away from overzealous little Lu. Another disappointment.

We still think they sure are cute though!

Legoland...

You hear about everybody coming to California to go to the beach and to Disneyland, but a rare jewel of a theme park down here is the amazing... LEGOLAND! Well, it's like a Lagoon times 10, made out of Legos, and much cleaner. I guess it's pretty international with parks in Europe, etc. Lego is a Danish company but apparently has connections with Volvo because, if you drive a Volvo, you can park right up front.

We are so lucky to have had family visiting so much. It has made the transition so much easier! Our Grandma and Grandpa came and are the ones who took us to the park. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa.

The kids with a lego guy.

Coming out of an egyptian ride reminiscent of the Buzz Lightyear ride where you shoot at things.

Baylub on a speedy water ride with Grandpa. The park offered lots of water rides including a little water playground and even a separate water park. Amazingly enough, here on So Cal in the middle of July it was FREEZING. You may notice the kids are in jackets and long pants and even then, we were chilly.

The park had lots of very large sculptures made entirely of Legos. That was pretty fun to see.

Baylub was too small to go on many of the rides and Lulu could ride even less. They did have this darling little Duplo land just right for toddlers. The best thing... no lines! The whole area was more of a big soft playground. Here are the kids caught in jail.

Despite the cold, we just had to have an ice cream. Lu wanted pink (because she wants everything pink) and Baylub got chocolate.

The kids didn't get a nap and we spent all day in the park and when kids are ornery, sometimes they want really strange, irrational things. What's the strange difference between these two pictures?

You may note that Baylub's hat is on Bob the Builder (who is made entirely out of Legos). He just had to have the hat up there. Why? I don't know and I'm pretty sure he doesn't either. He just wanted it that way. I love these two.

No pictures of Jo, but she deserves a big high-five for being the sweetest most well behaved baby in the world. She chilled in the stroller and was as cute as can be.

We had a blast. Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa!

Worth a thousand words...

We finally have a camera! More pictures of our new life to follow, most definitely!

Sticker Shock

So here are some price comparisons that have made my jaw drop.

(these are estimates from my memory, so I may be a little off)

Regular whole wheat bread:

Utah- $2.99

California- sometimes over $4

Aerobics classes (not a gym membership):

Utah (through BYU)- $48 for 12 weeks

California- $175 a month

Pre-School through the school district:

Utah (Orem)- Free

California- $1,200 a year

Pre-School privately run in a neighbors home

Utah- $75 a month

California- $250 a month

Rent for a small 2 bedroom condo:

Utah: $675 a month

California: almost $2,000 a month!

Yeowza! After all these disconcerting numbers, it's things like this that make me smile and feel a little better.

All The Wrinkled Ladies - More Things to do when you're bored

Big Events Part 2

We have moved our big family into a teeny tiny apartment. Here are some of the things I have been grateful for the last few weeks while trying to move.

1- Adam got a job. A construction related job at that. I am so proud of him and so grateful for this incredible tender mercy. He works for a small construction scheduling company in Laguna Hills in Southern California.

2- Cabo San Lucas. My first time to Mexico was amazing mainly because I was there with Adam and with my sweet baby sister and her darling friends. I have never felt the ocean so warm. It was a graduation present from my parents. And as luck would have it, we lost our camera so, no pictures. Just imagine paradise and pretend that I have of picture of that here because that's what it was... paradise.

3-My family. I can't imagine trying to move far away with nobody there to help pack, clean, and babysit. I am so blessed.

4- Our clean apartment. We have felt extremely blessed and guided to find this place to live.

5-Our new ward and other friends that showed up in numbers to help us move in, most of them having never even seen us before. I have gained a new appreciation for the role of the Elder's Quorum has in helping people move. Their help was indispensable.

5- Laundry on the balcony. Our washer and dryer are in a closet off of the balcony which means I get to do laundry outside surrounded by palm trees, lemon and orange trees, other foliage and wonderful so-cal weather. It makes me smile every time I'm out there.

6- Purple trees. Right now a certain tree is in bloom here that has this deep lavender blossom, so strikingly beautiful. I love it.

I could go on. We have been so richly blessed.