Stress Case

Hello from LA!! I am FAR from settled, but we finally have our internet set up...so I had to take a few minutes to blog. I still haven't unpacked my camera battery charger so sorry, no pics of our new pad. Now I thought after the move was complete I would have less stress in my life. Well, it turns out there's MORE:

-we are still searching for a second car (Mike's Camry died right before we moved)
-I have been trying to figure out which school to put the kids in...only to find there is NO room to transfer to any schools, so they must go to their home school (hopefully it will be okay)
-we have been living without the internet for a entire week
-I don't know how to get anywhere (today I tried to find Walmart and...I'll share the rest of that story in it's own post)
-I still haven't got my Christmas cards out OR finished my shopping (and the stores here are crazy busy)
-we are still living out of boxes, which makes it very frustrating when you need to find something specific (like the kitty litter liners)
-I don't know anyone, so I can't leave my kids with a sitter...ahhh!
-AND worst of all, I haven't decorated for Christmas YET!!!

Christmas Decorations

Here are MY Christmas decorations:

You can feel sorry for me now...

I Finally Saw TWILIGHT!!

Okay, so I HAVE to write a review on the movie I was SO excited to see!! I thought....it was great. I'll have to admit, I wasn't sure about it as the movie started, but as it went on I really enjoyed it. Yes, it was a little cheesy and yes, it was a little unrealistic, and yes it was even a little low-budget. The cast wasn't quite what I envisioned, but I bought it. And oh was that kiss amazing or what?! Mike was laughing at me because I couldn't stop talking about it:) So I DID read the books and I still liked the movie--go figure. Can't wait for the next one. Oh, and I saw a preview for the next Harry Pottry movie...yah, I can't wait--I know, I know, I'm such a teenager.

I'm Thankful for Thanksgiving

So I grew up in Canada where Thanksgiving has nothing to do with Pilgrims and Native Americans, BUT I LOVE American Thanksgiving. I love that it's not all about presents and/or chocolate!! I love all the stories and songs about the Mayflower and Plymouth rock (oh, and I learned about Squanto this year--I love that Jordan is expected to know things in 2nd grade that I have never heard of). Here is my list of things I am grateful for this year (of course I can't list all of them, but here are a few):

I am thankful for...

...my kids--they really are the best (and cutest) kids.

...my parents--I miss you guys every day.

...my hubby--seriously, he puts up with a lot and still loves me.

...my sisters--I wish I could hang out with you guys all day.

...a home to live in--hopefully I won't be homeless in a week:).

...our kitty--when she is not destroying my furniture or attacking my kids.

...our trampoline--which gives me time to watch Y&R.

...my kids' teachers--who put so much work into making my kids excited to learn.

...church--without it I would have no hope or peace.

...Ember who does my hair--did I mention I'm all blond again with a smokin' haircut:)

...my friends--who remind me that I am not only a wife and mother but a person too.

...my computer & interenet--seriously, do you think I could live without my daily fix of blogger and facebook?!.

...good tv--ahhh...Y&R, 90210, The Office, Lost.

...pictures--taking them , looking through them...remembering.

...good books--the ones that occupy too much of my time!

...restaurants--because sometimes I just DO NOT want to cook.

...a good night sleep--ever since having babies sleeping all night means SO much more!

...healthy kids--nough said.

...Target--where else would I blow off steam and spend all my money:)

...Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthdays...any reason to throw a party!!!

My Sea Turtle

Last week was Tyson's last week of swimming lessons. The last 3 lessons he actually went in the water without Mom, so we think it was a success.

That was quick

So we just got back from LA about an hour ago. Here's a few hilights from our wonderful weekend:

We saw about 50 houses, 3/4 of which were total CRAP!!

We drove a good 6 hrs there, 5 hrs home.

We spent all day Saturday and most of Sunday in the car--driving from house to house to house to house...

We listened to Kya cry because she didn't want to move (oh my gosh, this just broke my heart)

We listened to Kya cry because she didn't want to leave Daddy on the way back--this is what she said: "But Mom we learn at church that our families are going to be together forever, but our whole family isn't together now"--so sad

We went for a swim in a really loud, really cold pool

We stuffed the whole family in a tiny rental car because it had GPS

We didn't get to see Twilight...grrr

Christmas Pics

My friend Susanne took some awsome pictures of the kids for our Christmas cards. I'll share a few, but you'll have to wait to see the ones I used for the cards:)

The Tortoise and The Hare

I had parent/teacher conferences for both the girls yesterday. They both got glowing reviews from their teachers and had excellent report cards. I was amused to hear both their teachers emphasize one DIFFERENCE that the two girls have:

Jordan

Races through her work often missing details. Because she rushes, her work is often messy and even illegible.

Kya

Very maticulous. Works slowly, being very careful not to miss a single detail. Takes her time on her work which often results in not quite finishing it all.
If you had asked me a year ago, I would have predicted opposite results. But now, it is SO true. Kya is always the last one done her dinner, she is completely content sitting on the couch relaxing all day. Jordan on the other hand is always racing through one thing to get to the other. She is also very competitive and could never be too busy. Can you guess which one is more like Mike and which one is more like me??