Friday, July 13, 2007

We're finally settled!

We are finally settled into our new place in Alameda, California. Our place is about half the size of our old place but we were somehow able to squeeze ourselves in! It only took 2 yard sales and several trips to the DI and Goodwill. We definately don't miss the HOT weather in Utah. We are enjoying the cool breeze and warm weather here. Today the kids and I went to Pixar and got to see where Ben works. The kids enjoyed the lifesize Monster's INC, Finding Nemo and Incredibles characters. I can't believe that Ben calls Pixar work. Pixar is equipped with a swimming pool, soccer and volleyball courts, ping pong tables, barbeque pits, cereal and peanut butter sandwiches on hand at all times, all art and film related classes, and exercises classes.

CJ is having a hard time adjusting to the non-LDS society. The other day at the playground she met someone and asked her,"Are you in my ward?" I told her that not everyone is LDS here. I still don't think she gets it because she still says to me when she meets someone,"I wonder if she is in my primary class?" Mia is frightened by crowds of people. At the pool she met her first crowd of black people. They were all girls and were drawn to the kids immediately and wanted to play with them. Mia would have nothing to do with them no matter how hard the girls tried. She did the same thing at Pixar today and froze up because there were so many people around. We definately need to get this girl out more! Xander is definately a charmer. Wherever we go there is always someone adoring him and telling me how cute he is. He loves to wave to everyone and is into everything dumping things out and spread it all around. One of his favorite things to do is climb up onto the banana chair. The other day he climbed up one end and flipped over the other! He is such a boy. He is so cute when I give him graham crackers. He takes them into his hand and trys to crush the them as hard as he can. I see his face getting red and his arm shaking from pressing so hard and it cracks me up.


3 comments:

Andy Porter said...

I'm glad to hear that you are getting settled in.. Pixar looks like so much fun. Can we have a tour if we come and visit?:) We miss you guys already and it is so nice that you have a blog to update us. Joe took a look at it and said,"we'll it looks like we are going to need a blog now." We are feeling the pressure from you overachievers. We wish we could be missing this hot weather, especially since a water well broke in Eagle Mtn. so it's off limits to water our lawns. Lovely eh?
We miss and love you!! Good luck with everything!
Love,
Andy

Abby Marie said...

CUTE! good job val, I love the blog. PIXAR looks way fun....even just to visit! CJ is so sweet...she'll be a good example to a lot of the kids around there!

Abby Marie said...

CUTE! good job val, I love the blog. PIXAR looks way fun....even just to visit! CJ is so sweet...she'll be a good example to a lot of the kids around there!