I love school buses

First Day of School

 Oh Boy.  Last year I sent them all off on the school bus together and they came home on the school bus together.  I didn't realize how good I had it!!  This year, Isaac leaves around 10 to 8 or a little before to bike to school.  We all leave about the same time to drive Nicole to school before the bell at 8:10--usually some or all of us are still in pajammies (as Heidi calls them.) Then we come back and Ryan leaves at 8:50 to go to school.  On Monday and Wednesdays we take Heidi to a preschool at 9:30.  Ryan and Isaac bike home together from school.  The second they get home we take off to go pick up Nicole because she gets out at the same time they do and ends up waiting a little bit for us . . . but she is o.k. with that because that gives her a little time to make a stop at the school library before heading home.  Then on Wednesdays Ryan goes into school early with Isaac and Nicole goes in an hour late, and the boys come home earlier in the afternoon than normal!! OH YEAH, then add trying to nap a baby in there somewhere a few times, and two little tykes that deserve some attention.  I LOVE (loved) SCHOOL BUSES!!!

 I walked the boys to school the first day of school and a few thereafter.  Thankfully a nice teacher we had met at our park remembered us when she saw our caravan and helped the boys find where they were supposed to line up etc. 

The instant we arrived home Heidi and Brett ran around the house excited to have the place to themselves and became best buds all the sudden.  They were playing outside and came in very excited to tell me they had found the moon. (see it behind them?  I had to lay on the ground to get the moon in the shot with them!)

Biker Bros.  These two have become each others best friends.  They were friends before but have become even closer after the move.  

Heidi turns four . . . just barely

Heidi was really funny as her birthday approached.  I still don't quite understand it, but she DID NOT want to have a birthday, or a party, or turn four.  What three year old turning four doesn't want cake, ice cream, balloons and presents!??  She also says she does not want to be a grandma.  I wish I could get inside that cute little head of hers!  We had to talk her into her birthday party.  She asked for a castle cake like I had made Nicole when she turned three and this is all I could muster up having been here 6 days.  I know it's ugly, but she doesn't!!  It was pink and there were sprinkles.  Once the cake and presents were presented she easily forgot about her previous party protests and enjoyed the lime light.  Over the course of the next week she kept telling me her arms and legs were longer and she could reach such and such now etc.  It was funny to watch her try to understand the process of turning one year older.

 One of her sweet friends from Albuquerque (o.k. we all know it was her mom) sent her a princess puzzle--her two favorite things for her birthday.  Thanks Claire and Lizzy!

It really happened

We moved.

Our flight out of Albuquerque was scheduled to leave around 12:30 and it got delayed until about 3.  We had ample time to explore the airport and take lots of pictures.  I felt like a traveling circus (which is becoming the norm around here) but the kids actually did quite well all things considered.

 Brett was so excited to go on the airplane all the way up until it started to take off.  Then he slunk back into his chair with a terrified look on his face and fell asleep in about 2 minutes.

 Heidi was my seat partner, and she loved every minute of her "mom is all mine" time.  First glimpse of the California hills.

 I wish I had a picture of all the kids pulling a piece of luggage or carrying a car seat as we entered and exited the airports.  My hands were full as well or I would have.  A man in the Oakland airport said "that's quite the herd! at least they all know what their doing!"

 After we landed we headed over to our new place to check it out--and they had our cars for us.  Darn, I was hoping to get to use the large and spacious suburban for a few days.

I'm standing at the front door looking in.  There is a front room sort of off to the right, then the room with the curtains is the dining room and the doorway beyond that leads to the kitchen and family room.

 Here I'm standing at the front door and turning to the right.  This is the front entry room where we will be putting the piano.

 This is the dining room . . . that doorway to the left (not the one straight ahead) leads to a bedroom and a bathroom and the garage.)  The one straight ahead to the kitchen and family room.

 Kitchen and slider out to back yard---to the left is the family room

 Kitchen view from sliding door

 Family room off of the kitchen

 Up the stairs to the right and down the hall is the girls' room and a laundry room.  Straight ahead is the master bedroom and to the left of the stairs is a bathroom and the boys' room.

Already figured out how to use the stairs

 Then we went to explore the park a few houses away.

Perks of relocation package--taking everyone out to dinner!

Saturday we went to a place we frequented when we were in CA the first time.  Natural Bridges.

 This looks kind of fun!  A little less scary than surfing.

 Then we headed to the pier in Santa Cruz to hit our ice cream cone shop that was once our traditional treat after beach day.

 and of course checking out the sea lions under the pier

      Monday our stuff arrived.  My job was to keep the kids out of the way.   After the kids were bored of watching the movers we spent time at the park, then I took them to see the movie "Planes."  Yes ALL OF THEM.  I know--I pulled out my superwoman cape for that one.  The guy taking tickets said "You brought the whole neighborhood!  Or at least a block."  Indeed.

 Curt and Brett breaking in the new family room with some book time.

 This is the last time I let Amber sleep on our chair.  She started rolling onto her tummy all the time right after we got here. 

 Brett was much happier once he got his crib to sleep in.

 Pulling all the toys off of her chair and grabbing her feet are a few of her new tricks.  3 1/2 months in this picture.