Hosanna Hosanna We've Found Our New Home

Moved. Did it. Don't want to do it again for a long time. We are mostly settled in. Actually, not true. We have the basics done. And I am too lazy to unpack the rest. So it sits in the garage. I'll get to it later.

A few people have asked me to post pictures of the house on this blog, and I won't be doing that. Since its public, I'm just not comfortable posting pictures of my house here. Maybe I'll put them up on facebook later, or if you REALLY want to see pictures, I'll email them. Wait, let me clarify. I won't post pictures of the outside of the house, but later when I get the inside done, I'll post those pictures.

The house we are living in is kind of strange. The guys who owns it built it himself, many years ago, and there are a lot of quirks. I don't even know how to describe it. And not like good quirks necessarily. Some are good quirks. Like an elevator. What. You don't have an elevator? Anyway, the weird quirks are worth it for the location.

(I am having a really hard time typing today! I'm having to backspace like every other letter.)

The weather has been lovely. We had a big storm the first few days, but since then, it has been sunny and clear and beautiful! Our house is just a two minute walk down to the beach and the Marine Reserve, with huge tidepools. The boys and I walk down there pretty much every day. It's awesome. Jake says its like living at the aquarium. We love it! I love seeing the ocean every time I look out my windows, and hearing the waves when I go outside. Very soothing.

Starfish...
"...crab with two clamping claws"

We went to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival, which was so fun! Tons of vendors with beautiful artwork, crafts, and fantastic food. Usually at these things, you get the usual corndogs, funnel cake, pizza, blah blah blah, but we had marinated artichoke hearts, braised brussel sprouts, fried calamari, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin ice cream, clam chowder, all manner of sausages...and that wasn't even the half of it. SO GOOD.

Above: Erin with fried calamari, Wy with pumpkin ice cream cone. I do feed my child foods other than ice cream, although you might not think so from reading this blog.

Below: Wyatt eyeing dad's garlic-rosemary-artichoke heart-deliciousness, two seconds away from grabbing a handful. He is such a good eater. I love him.

Our new ward is pretty great. It is small and spread out, but so friendly! We felt like we were royalty! Pretty much every person in the ward came up to welcome us and meet us, and I got a standing ovation and pumped-fist cheers in Relief Society. Seriously. I've never felt so welcome anywhere. We are excited to be here. I know we will be put to work here; its good to feel needed!

Hollie's Wedding!

Congratulations to my sister-in-law Hollie and her new husband Matt Gille! They were married on September 25 in the Houston Texas temple. Yes, I know that was several weeks ago, but I just got my camera back from Jake, and wasn't able to blog about this until now. Sorry.

It was a wild and crazy trip for us. The boys and I flew up to San Francisco to meet Jake, and then the next day we all flew out to Texas together. We stayed with his Grandma Beaman for three days, flew back to SF together, and then I flew back to So Cal with the boys. Yikes. I don't recommend flying alone with two kids under two. Not fun.

It was a beautiful wedding. Hollie looked GORGEOUS, and they make such a beautiful couple. We were so glad we got to be there, we just wish we could have stayed a little longer!

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu

Tomorrow is moving day. Feeling a little sad, in a sentimental kind of way. Its rare, but this feeling always shows up when I move. Normally, I'm the kind of person who loves change. Even in this situation, when I would rather stay than go, I can't help but be excited for the change. I love moving for that reason. I know its weird. I'm pretty sure its genetic, passed on to me from my Granddad. But on moving day I always get a little nostalgic, a little sad to leave behind my life in this place. Once I get on the road, the feelings will fade. One thing I have learned over the years is to embrace feelings in the moment, so indulge me while I journal this.

Erin Fun Fact: I LOVE making lists. Love it. It brings me joy and relieves anxiety. It calms me down and get me excited all at once. Its like Diet Coke, but without the subsequent gas and bloating. Right now as I type this, I can see no less than 8 lists that are magneted (its a word now) to the fridge, and I know of several more sprinkled throughout the house. Thus...

Things I won't miss about living here:

1. The Santa Ana winds
2. The ____________ (fill in the expletive) 91 freeway
3. HOT, DRY summers
4. Traffic at every hour, every day (see #2 above)
5. Living without my husband

Things I will miss about living here:

1. Cheap pedicures
2. Disneyland
3. Wearing sandals year round
4. The lovely beaches where one can wear a swimming suit, and even get in the water, if one wanted to
5. Multiple political points of view
6. Sunshine
7. Affordable housing
8. Wide parking stalls
9. Strong church presence
10. Wonderful, loving, supportive family and friends

Yeah, I'm going to miss this place terribly. Don't get me wrong, I am excited to move up north. I really am. I mean, I still have my reservations, but overall, I am feeling excited and positive. I'm looking forward to what the future holds for me and for my family. I know that the Lord has guided us to the place where we are at this time. I have faith that He has a plan for us. It has been a bumpy road, and MANY times along the way, we've looked at each other and said "what have we done?! We just can't do this anymore!" But that's what trials of faith are all about: trusting in the Lord, seeking his guidance, acting on answers to prayer, taking leaps into the darkness. Not that I think the road is going to be smooth from here on out, I know it won't be. Our journey is far from over. But I know we are being guided, our hands are being held, and I am grateful for that.

So here I am, scared but full of hope. And dreading the 9 hour car trip tomorrow with the boys... :)