to be missed...

(follow-up to previous post)

alright, i can't help myself.  i just can't stop thinking about the things i'm going to miss when we leave this place behind.

• the sound of a 6-lane freeway
• living plant life around me year-round
• the weather
• the WHOLE FOODS just 10 minutes away
• the temple just 10 minutes away
• the large, fantastic youth program
• a shopping center within walking distance
• no yard to take care of
• the smell of the ocean
• parks everywhere
• the weather
• the zoo & wild animal park
• ethnic diversity
• farmer's markets daily
• the short drive to vegas
• charter schools w/ free books

did i mention i'm going to miss the WEATHER?

not to be missed

i can't believe the count is already down to 5 months before the move.  it seems like we're still getting used to this place.  and almost on a daily basis i'm asking myself how i'm going to leave this place.  i love it here.  it's no secret.  the view of the waves, as i turn the corner to head up the hill to the hospital, takes my breath away.  doc macgyver rides by it twice a day.  i don't visit nearly as often as i should.  but i know that we'll soon be on to the next adventure.

so, in trying to stay positive as i plan for august, here are the things i will be glad to leave behind:

• neighbors talking right underneath my window at night
• loud garbage & recycle trucks in the early AM
• the not-so-lovely sound of the freeway as i try to fall asleep
• washer & dryer in the garage
• a kitchen sink with NO pull out faucet
• a bathroom with NO door
• the temperature of the Pacific Ocean
• non-existent laundry room
• a tiny kitchen

i know.  they're such minor things.  but i'm trying to find the silver lining.

like father, like daughter

we had this for dessert last night:

 

here is what was left after marz said she was finished:

 and then she asked for another...

p.s. these were taken indoors, at night, hand-held with NO FLASH!  i LOVE my new camera!!!

experimenting

we are nearing the end of one of our science books.  yesterday the doc did an experiment with the kids.  saturdays are supposed to be his day to do experiments, but we've been such slackers about that since we moved here.  i'm hoping we can get back on track.  the current book we are in is all about land animals.  the chapter they read was RODENTIA.

did you know you can order all sorts of lovely goodies online through science websites?? i was so excited!  so here they are digging through owl pellets to find small bones that resemble what the owl ate.  they were less excited than me.

united in purpose

i know.  2 posts in one day.  crazy.  but josh groban just posted this link to his FB page and i had to share.

WATCH HERE

sure they all have the financial means to do whatever they want (unlike the rest of us).  sure it stinks that it takes tragedy to bring everyone together.  but i still like to see it.  and i love to see people using the resources available to them for a good cause.  perhaps no financial gain will come as a result.  perhaps no one will be helped in the end.  after all, it's just a video.  but it's nice to see everyone excited about one thing at the same time.

let me know what you think.

WAIT! how old??

click HERE to see what i was looking at this morning.  i still have a hard time believing i have a kid old enough to attend this year!!

as good as it gets

okay, background changed.  this is as close as i can stand to get to a valentine's theme.  there's red here.  that counts, right?

music to the ears

today an email from our realtor contained this phrase:

"you can call the utility companies and have the gas and electric shut off in your name as of friday"

WOOHOO!!!



p.s.  is it february already?  i guess i need to change my background.  i'll get right on that...

faces

my MiL has one of those mirrors that magnifies your face about 502 million times.  marz decided she would experiment...

FIRST technology challenge

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a company that was founded by an inventor to give kids more exposure and inspiration with the engineering and technology fields.  they operate day camps and summer camps at their homebase in new hampshire.  but what they're best known for is their annual competitions that involve robots and students world-wide.  they have different levels that accommodate kids ages 6-18.  the kids get together on teams of 3-10 students, along with a coach (usually a parent) and spend several weeks building and programming a robot.  then they take it to competitions.  this is luigi's first year participating and he seems to have had fun.  his team has competed in LA, SD, and vegas.  they are judged on community involvement (gaining sponsorships and fundraising), teamwork, points during competition, a notebook (where they have to track their whole process), and presentation at the competition.  it's a great all-around learning experience.