Our favorite things...

about our new home in California.

It's been almost two weeks since we moved in, and we have the art on the walls and the best spaces defined.



The front yard is kind of cute and I really like the front entrance. The lights are really pretty - now we just have to figure out why they don't work. (One of several quirks that we've discovered).



Inside, the front rooms are a lot of fun. The living room is cozy and light. It will be lighter when we have window coverings that open and close - someday.











The dining room is our main eating space and I think the refinished furniture looks nice in this space.


















We all like the kitchen. We can be in here (everyone), and it's not too crowded. Plus, it's right off the family room so we are all together even if everyone is not right in the kitchen.

















Upstairs is the space we all love! The den and "Kid's Lounge" are right off the bedrooms and this space could not be more perfect. Another great thing about this space is that we can have a movie night, and then literally crawl to our bedrooms. No flights of stairs to climb!















I've been working in the gardens this weekend - it's literally a jungle out here. Fortunately, I cannot exhaust myself with a one-weekend overhaul, because I am limited to one trash can of yard waste a week. So, I might have the gardens tidied up by Christmas - and I can be okay with that. Thank goodness for the longer yard work season here.






















We have so many roses (and a fountain)! Oranges, Reds, Whites and Yellows. I think that there's even an hibiscus plant. And now we know that this is our Orange Tree. A friend of mine let me know that oranges often ripen around Christmas in Florida, so we'll keep watching these green balls of fruit.




This is the children's hide-out - right between two large climbing trees. One child has already gotten stuck (we'll let you guess who).



The yard took Brian 10 minutes to mow (with the push-mower) yesterday. He wasn't super impressed ... but it gave him more time for football - so he couldn't really complain.



And I have to show you this - we live on a big hill, and there's the wilderness right outside the front door (behind Brian's truck)! Apparently this means that there are critters that check out the neighborhood. We have been lucky thus far and have not had any encounters. I'm sure if we do, you will know about it. And I would've shown you some of our lizard friends, but they are super quick and not photo-happy.

This is our California home, and we are pretty happy to be here. Oh yes, and we would love for you to come visit.

Writing about it always helps

Bella is just like her Momma in so many ways, and perhaps Grandma could have predicted this and maybe even hoped for this as payback.

Today, Bella and I had a disagreement about bringing dried leaves into the house to use for coloring patterns. I suggested she might have better luck with a newly fallen leaf that had not turned crispy. (The nerve!) THEN, I had informed the children that there was no afternoon snack because we were eating dinner earlier tonight. (Oooh, the evil eyes!)

I ran upstairs briefly and returned to the kitchen to find this note with this picture waiting for me.


"daot batr me" (Don't bother me!)
"Its not far" (It's not fair!)
"My Mom seid I hafto Goto My Rom. I throw a Big fit."

This may be why Brian thinks that one little girl is plenty.

Maybe 10 minutes later, Bella returned to the kitchen with signs for her bedroom door. Including translations of "Closed," "Open," "Leave me alone," "Don't hurt my feelings" and "Please knock." She was talking to me again, because she needed my help tying the knots in the string that these signs needed to hang from.

I also can't hold grudges very long.

The Tooth Fairy Arrived!

Last night, the Tooth Fairy visited our home for the first time! Austin finally lost a tooth. At 8, he was somewhat miffed and wondering if he would ever lose a tooth.

Last week the excitement began, and then the worry that it would hurt. But being the brave soul that he is, he pulled it out himself yesterday morning. His smile was so big coming off the bus to give me his announcement -- He was so proud of himself.

I was worried that the Tooth Fairy would forget -- nighttime is a tough time for older minds to remember these things. Then there was the question, "What does the Tooth Fairy bring?" Then, the question, "What if he tries to hide it somewhere as a 'test'?"

The Tooth Fairy got 'delivery jitters', and requested the assistance of her husband. Although removed from the original baggie, the tooth was where it was supposed to be after all, and the gift of 3 speical coins was very well received. Austin knew right away (in the morning dark even) that he had 2 half dollars, it was the gold Sacagawea dollar that threw him. But once he read it's value, he was thrilled and couldn't wait to tell his teacher. (Phew!) His words "And this is just the beginning!"

Happy Day!

Look Momma -- 2 wheels!!

Two weeks ago, while visiting Gram in Minnesota, Logan asked us to take off his training wheels. Gram ran up and down her road hanging on to Logan with all her might. And now, after several nights of running up and down our sidewalks, and using all of neighbors front yards as landing pads (sorry!), BOTH Bella and Logan are training wheels free and loving it!



Of course, scrapes and bruises are part of the course. Today, Bella is proudly displaying 3 bandaids, and she applied 2 on Logan's legs (for good measure). Logan's biggest scrapes occurred while running after Bella while she was riding - oh well.


Oh - and Logan's greatest excitement now that he's got the 2 wheels fairly under control - skid marks on the sidewalk. That's fun! Especially when I'm running behind him just in case .... and screeeeech!

We found Gold, Momma!

Spring cleaning in the garden before Brian mowed the lawn, and all of the children decided to help me. What fun, digging in the dirt! The hastas were the best because of the exciting budding leaves that waited for their reveal just under all of the dead leaves. But after awhile, even the hastas weren't that interesting for the children.

It looked like rain though this Saturday afternoon, and I really wanted to finish the backyard cleanup. So, the children ran to play in the front yard as I finished the last couple minutes of work. I heard their excitement after just a couple of minutes, and then Logan rounded the corner of the house. "Momma, Momma! We found gold Momma!!" "Wow buddy, okay I'll be there in a sec. How exciting."

Not really thinking what it could be, I finished stuffing the last of the dead leaves in the yard waste bag, grabbed the bag and my shears and headed to the front of the house.

With shovels in each of their hands and a wheelbarrow with the first shovel fulls of the grandest treasure, the children's faces were simply in awe of their find.

Alas, I had to break their excitement. "I'm sorry guys. This is actually sand...and it belongs under those flagstones that you moved. Let's put it back okay?"

I wasn't mad --- how could I be? To the children it was treasure. Right under our front landscaping all this time, and we hadn't even known it!

We all worked together to put the sand back and the big rocks and soon they were racing on their bikes and coloring our sidewalks with beautiful butterflies and flowers.

They are truly our treasures!

Boing Bunny for Bella

I finished the "Boing Bunny" hat for Bella! Hooray for me. I had no idea that making ears be the same size would be so tricky, nor making a triangle nose on a knitted hat. But Bella is thrilled : ) and so am I.

What should I try next? Anyone want a hat?

Our Frogs

I started knitting this year, and am so excited about 3 whole completed projects. My first project was supposed to be a pink scarf for Bella...it ended up being a wide pink purse for Bella. I got a little carried away with the width, and ran out of yarn with a scarf that was only about 2 feet long.

My second project was a frog hat for Logan. Besides being a little tight, he loves it. That went over so well that I decided to make a similar hat for Austin. Austin's hat fits Brian. Sizing is not as easy as I thought!

Logan's Frog Hat
Austin's Frog Hat

Now I'm trying a Bunny Boing Hat for Bella... we'll see.