It seems our summer started off in a whirl and we merged right into the school year full steam ahead. We moved twice this summer. First into a friend's rental house in Rowland Heights and then again when our home purchase in Lake Elsinore closed. We moved into our new home the day before school started so you know we were running! We also made a trip to Lake Powell with the Smith side of the family, went to a couple swim dates in Long Beach, attended a Dodger game, and have spent most of our time unpacking and fixing up our house.
HOUSE!!
We were lucky enough to be able to purchase a new home for our family. We could not justify the cost of Long Beach foreclosures and so decided on Lake Elsinore. We bought a very clean foreclosure that sits on a huge (by cali standards) lot. We now have 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and loft to our names!
We are loving our house. I spent the first week and a half covering all the shelves in the kitchen with vinyl flooring. It took some experimenting, but in the end I got pretty good at it!
Nate got out all his tools and hung ceiling fans in the house. Those seemed to be a hot commodity for the previous owners as they had taken them all out. The monster one in the living room was a pain to put up. We were laughing because on the box it said it was a "5 minute fan"... try 55 minute fan!! It looks and runs great now though.
Nate also switched out the kitchen faucet for me. The previous one leaked and looked like it had never been cleaned. I am loving my goose neck faucet now!
Our yard is dead, but that is okay with us for now. We have grand plans for the front and back yards, but will have to wait until it isn't quite so hot around here. The first couple weeks we were her the temps ranged from 102-111 everyday. We recently had a nice week in the high 80s, but as of today are back up over 100! When will it end?
Brandi, my best friend from growing up (also know as Aunt Brandi), moved in with us a couple weeks ago. She has been a lot of fun to have around. The kids love her! She is working over the Ortega in San Juan Capistrano in a medical lab. She plans to stay with us for a few months until she is ready for her own place.
SCHOOL
The kids school is incredible! Such a change from the Long Beach schools we are used to. Rice Canyon was just built 8 years ago. The classrooms are larger than the standard, and there are a few more kids in each class (mostly due to so many new families moving in over the summer) but the teachers and principal are fantastic. The teachers are really gearing the kids for the responsibility of middle school. The kids favorite details of the school are, of course; the huge grassy sports field, the fact that every grade level has its own computer lab, and the fact that they can actually bring home the library books that they check out. Like I said... way different to LB!
Cyanne is loving 5th grade. This is the first year she has a male teacher and she just thinks that is the coolest thing ever! He is very strict, but fair with the kids. I like his style! She is doing fairly well in his fast paced class.
Foster is in 3rd grade. He is struggling a little with the fact that there is daily homework as well as weekly homework. Over all though he is liking school much better.
Ressa started kindergarten! She is loving the half days of school and is excelling in getting her homework done. She is very motivated to do well. She has these little flower clips that she won't go to school without. Her teacher makes a comment everyday, and I hear about it every afternoon... followed by her princess giggle. Tina makes the clips and sells them online. I would suggest anybody with girlie girls check it out! http://www.princessjanesbows.blogspot.com/
Ammon is loving having the house and my attention to himself. We hang out every morning while Ressa is in school. He has gone on a couple mommy dates with me too. His favorite was the first day of school when I took him to IHop. We had blueberry pancakes and he was all smiles! He has also been getting into all kinds of mischief. He found a sharpie the other day. In the time it took me to use the bathroom, put on yoga stuff and put up my hair he had colored all over himself and one of the couches. Fun!
DOGS
Daisy had puppies when we were in Rowland Heights. They were adorable! Foster just loved that he got to watch them be born. He has told everybody about how cool and messy it is. It was the first time I have been part of that process. It was actually very cool. She was a great mom!! Her puppies left the house a week and a half ago. They went to friends of ours. They will be very happy girls!
The day the puppies went to their new homes we picked up the doberman puppy we were waiting to adopt. She is adorable! Her name is Jackie. She is all legs and with any luck she will be a big girl. Her parents were huge! She is really sweet with the kids and calm for her age (10 weeks this week). Ammon pals around with her all day. She mouths a little, but is really good not to bite. Sometimes I look out back to see his hand or diaper in her mouth and them walking down the patio... nothing like holding hands. This new addition doesn't have Gretchan too happy, but she is getting along just fine. Daisy enjoys her play buddy for the most part, but has definitely showed poor Jackie who is boss. Jackie loves to cuddle with the kids and Nate. She likes me during the day, but once Nate comes home she is all his.
I think that is everything this time. I will try to be better about posting now that we have settled in some. I owe a lot of you phone calls too. Will try to start calling this week. Finally have a home number so will be able to really talk instead of rush off the phone due to minutes. Hope everybody had a great summer and will chat soon!!
