I am missing my house......

Especially the kitchen....

and the all the windows that kept everything brite.....

California is beautiful.  The beach is wonderful. So many things to do (of which we haven't just yet) Wish I could have transplanted the house.  But that would make life too perfect.  And if you have  a perfect life, then you are dull. Things happen so that life stays interesting.  I wish for perfection..... but if it actually happened then I would become like a stagnant pond.  Never doing anything.....Never moving or evolving..... and just breeding mosquito's (-: 

Since moving the house isn't going to happen.  Then it just needs to be taken, so I can continue on with my life here. (and do those things, of which we just haven't yet....)

I just haven't been feeling the blogging bug lately.  Sorry.  Not that we haven't done anything...... visit to Colorado, Fourth of July, Beaches, etc.  I just don't have the desire to put all that we've done out into the "blog-o-sphere".   But I know that there are a few of you who are actually interested in what is going on.....  so here's what's going on, not in any particular order.

Zach's been playing basketball.
Jake's been playing soccer.
Jayla's been playing volleyball.
Tanner is starting football this week.
I am busy with all things Relief Society and children.
Dans been BUSY with work and scouting. (and going to the ESPY's. SO COOL)
Beach days.
Park days.

So there you have it.

The end.

Here's a little bit of a run down of the last week....
Tanner and his class gave speeches at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.  The students were put into units with the same topic.  They were then "judged" by a panel of 3 experts.  One being an Editor from Houghton/Mifflin (?) a High School English teacher and a Professor at California Lutheran University (this school is located right around the corner from us, seriously)
Tanner did a great job!  His group was given the highest score.

I decided that Jake and I would take advantage of the fact we were there for free, so we wandered around some of the exhibits.  Reagan Library is only 10 min from our house..... it is SO cool!

Here's Reagan's Air Force One.  We weren't allowed to take pictures inside. It's dated but still really awesome to go through.  Reagan LOVED Jelly Belly's so there is a container in each compartment. (I knew there was a reason I like him so much). 

This is his L.A. motorcade.

This is Marine One..... Ginormous!

This is his resting place.  We saw a few other little exhibits, because the main part of the library is being renovated until Feb. of 2011.

Here's "Super Star" Jayla.  Her 3rd grade did a play called "Vacation to Mars".  Since we came in so late in the year she didn't get to try out for a part.  She was a WONDERFUL venutian back up singer!

Zach also was in his kindergarten play of "Chicken Little".  He was Ducky Lucky.... and a darn good one.  Jake said it was the best Chicken Little play he'd ever seen!  I agree!

Now that Dan is the Scout Master we are supporting him in all the court of honors and things he has to attend.  Here Tanner is getting a patch for something they did at their Camporee.  He is the only 11 year old scout at this time so they are including him in the older scouts.

The 2 above pictures are of Jayla and Zach getting an award for student of the month at school.  Tanner got one too, but it was a surprise and I didn't have the camera out to catch him.  All of their teachers had such wonderful things to say about them.  The school, students and teachers have made it a great transition for the kids.

The pictures below are of all the kids at Chuck E. Cheese.  We went there on Sat. before Zach's birthday to celebrate as a family.

Zach's birthday landed on Memorial Day this year and some friends invited us to go to the beach with them.  It was everything I wanted it to be!  (-:  Sun, water, playing and fun!

Jake walked around most the day looking like he had a 5 o'clock shadow of sand.  He didn't want me to wipe it off, so it stayed.

After the beach Zach wanted to go to Chili's for dinner .... and of course we did.  Then we took him home for presents and cake.

Out of my comfort zone.....

I'm normally not one to get all spiritual on this blog, or in general.  Not that I don't have a strong testimony of Christ's gospel, but probably more because it means SO much too me, I keep it personally in my heart, because I don't feel eloquent enough to express it and give it justice.  Well I'm stepping out on a limb because I feel I have to.....

During the last few months our family...... I should just really say me....... has relied upon the Lord more than I have ever had to.  I knew that moving would be difficult in all aspects of my life.  Leaving family, friends, and just the comfort of having been in one place for 10 years.  All I can say is that Heavenly Father is always mindful of us, our situations, and our needs. 

Our move has not been easy, by any means.  The stress has been so overwhelming at times (finding a suitable home for our family, adjusting to a new job and just adjusting to our new surroundings) but I have always known that this is what the Lord has had planned for us.  So while my logical brain was saying "this is too hard. It's so much easier to forget about it". My spirit has been pushing me to move forward, because as the scriptures say "this too shall pass". 

We have opened up a new chapter in our lives.  We are trying to make new friends, and find our way in a new environment.  There are times where I feel that I have to keep moving forward or I will be sucked down into the depths of unhappiness.  What a motivator!?  But, a motivator none-the-less.  The Lord, again knows this.  Thus, He has seen fit that Dan and I "put our shoulder to the wheel" and keep us out of trouble by giving us something to do in His "work force".  I have been called as the 1st counselor in the Relief Society Presidency and Dan has been given a call as the Scout Master.  We both are feeling TOTALLY unprepared for these new assignments.  Quite honestly, I think that Dan feels more unprepared than I.  We both know that these callings came from our Heavenly Father, and we will surely learn more than those that we will be serving.  But, it doesn't ease our feelings of inadequacy.

Because of my testimony I will do what he has asked me to do.  I know that as I continue to rely on Him and  follow His promptings I can be like clay in His hands and be molded into the person He sees me as.  All I see in myself is just a huge blob with no idea how to become a work of art. 

I will trust the Lord.

Ramblings......

* I have a love hate relationship with renting.  I love that when things break, I don't have to find someone to fix them.  I hate that I have to wait for someone (landlord) to decide when those things should get fixed.  I can't decide how much time or money I want to put into decorating, when we don't know the length of stay (at the very least 2 years).

* I love California weather. But I haven't really been able to enjoy it.... still unpacking boxes... finding places for things... organizing...school....etc.

* I like working out ( Gold's Gym), but I miss LifeTime.  I was SPOILED!

*Think its funny when people in California say..."Yeah...it's more expensive to live out here.  But, you get paid more too!"  They have NO IDEA.

*Likes that where we  live (the city) that everyone seems to have lived here for a LONG time.  Perfect strangers will randomly give me all sorts of info, as soon as they find out we are new.  Like where the good beaches are, shopping, playing etc.  There are SO many people that have lived here for 40+ years.

*Thousand Oaks is beautiful!

* I really like the kids' school.  I was worried .  I loved Southeast and how things were there.  But, the kids here are REALLY friendly!  They have made it an easy transition for the kids.

* I like our Ward.  It is BIG, but again, because of the lack of "movement" here.... everyone knows we are new and has made an effort to stop by our house and introduce themselves.  I still can't name them, though.  There are A LOT of members here. 

*I think it's funny that one of the first questions I've been asked from people that live here is..... "So have you run into anyone famous yet?" My response...." No... I probably won't, unless my kids actually run into them.  Are there  famous people that live this close to me?"  Here's who I know that lives within a 15 min radius .... Joe Montana, Will Smith, Wayne Gretsky.  All their kids go to a private Christian school within 10 min of where I live.  Kardashians live in Calabasas.... not too far down the 101 Hwy.  There are apparently others, but I really don't think I would  know them if I were to see them on the street or in a car.  I am retarded like that....


That's enough of my rambling...... FOR NOW. 

Ok...  so my last post I had put a whole bunch of pictures on, but they didn't all show up.  THEY ARE NOW THERE!  Check them out in the post below........

Our Trip to Santa Barbara. First off I'm having issues with blogger so, just look at the pictures and I'll give you a run down......

Saturday, April 17, 2010, Dan decided we needed to do something fun as a family.  Since it was kind of last minute we decided on Santa Barbara.  It's about an hour from our house.  It was a beautiful day!  We really just hung out at Stearns Warf and the surrounding beaches.  We walked the pier and took a little taxi boat over to the next pier.  Those are what the pictures are of us on a boat.  Tanner and Zach were the only ones that wanted to help the captain drive the boat.  Jake and Jayla were a little leary.  We rented a 6 man bike "thing" and pedaled  around the beach.  We got a lot of fun comments with the two boys sitting in the front baskets.  When we passed people the boys would yell.... "passing on the left!"  We teach our kids good bicycle safety.  And then if there were girls they would say "Hellooooo Ladies".  I did NOT teach them that.... I blame it on their dad (-:

We had a wonderful day and will definitely be going back there!