Better late than never!

Here are some photos that I was too busy to post. Just looking through them now, and thought everyone would enjoy! Here is Samantha's first band concert, rockin' the clarinet. She is enjoying band!


Next, the kids enjoying the January temperatures in the 70's! Rare, but enjoyable!

At Long Last...

Wondering what I'm talking about?? For all of you who see us often you know what a strange, topsy turvy month this has been. Let's say 3 months actually. It started in October officially. My dream was to move to Sebastopol to be closer the Jason's work, and to have some space. A little bit of land... Online real estate hunting was the only step I'd really taken. I had seen this house posted for about a month and then one day the price was lower. Not low enough, but at least lower. That piqued my interest, since I hadn't really thought twice about that house.
I jotted down the address and stuck it in my pocket one rainy day. My friend Debbie and I were planning on going antique shopping in Sebastopol, so I drove by. It wasn't very far out of the way. The address took my off of the main road, and down a long driveway to this odd looking house. I liked the location A LOT! Not too sure how accurate the online information was, we just backed out and left. When I got home, I called the listing agent and got a call back almost immediately from an awesome lady. She showed me the house the next day.
Jason and I loved it, put an offer in and waited. It was about a week and the bank (bank owned foreclosure by the way) said no. They were sending the house to auction. This was not a conventional courthouse auction. The nice thing about this is that you didn't need CASH to purchase the house. It was about 6 weeks from the first time we fell for the place to the auction on Dec. 7th.
Meanwhile my dreams are getting bigger, I've moved in mentally! Auction day, we get the house! BY THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH! Great. 45 day escrow, no problem. We post our house for rent, find renters sign a lease. Great. 39 days go by, get an extension, 45 days go by. Not looking too good. Feb. 1 we have to move out! Give our home to someone else. Half our stuff is packed. I've been ready for 2 months.
TODAY, signed. Keys? Not yet. 6 days left, and we have to be out. So, hopefully we get the keys Friday.
What a ride. And that's the short version.

Random Stuff!!

Pictures from Hot August Nights. The first is me in the van following Jason in the new 1966 CHEVELLE we bought!! Love it!! Bought it at auction, live on ESPN2!! Crazy! The second is a good shot of it in front of our house...

School is in!

Poolside, right at the end of summer

Soccer has started! Go Dark Wolves!!!

Coach Jason whipping them into shape!

Travis' team is the "Late Thunder" Why? We don't know why!

Samantha is trying out my new air brush!~ She didn't actually paint that!

Samantha and Travis went back to school on August 20. It has been going very well at their new school. Samantha is enjoying having PE everyday, and learning Spanish. She is also looking forward to choosing an instrument to play in the band.

Travis is going to Apple Blossom and already knows several boys from his soccer team. This is a very exciting year. We have always hoped to have them going to school in the Twin Hills district, and just making the move to "make it happen" is an great step. We hope to someday be living in the area closer to Jason's work and the new schools.

Samantha's 10. At the beach in the spring, playing in the sand with the boys.

Travis lost his two front teeth. One's coming in, and he looks so different without his baby teeth!
Gee, do you think I need to worry about those gorgeous green eyes? And she starts Jr. High this year...
Looking more and more like Daddy everyday!! 
I surprised Jason with an indoor skydiving "jump" for our anniversary. This place is in Union City, and he really had fun! Next time, I'll do it too! They say it's ages 3 and up!

So long summer!

This was the last day of school, Samantha with her friends. She'll miss them when she moves on to Twin Hills!
Family camp, Travis on the climbing wall.
Samantha made it to the top! This is one of her favorite thing.
Getting ready for archery! They went through a lot of instruction, and they all did great!

All right, I know that it has been awhile since I posted. Things have been crazy and this is the last thing on my mind. (Ok, literally this is never on my mind.) Today is the last Friday of summer and my associates and I have a delivery to make to Trader Joes in Fairfield. 

The kids have been patient while I worked on my murals! Which is wonderful because the deadline loomed and my stress elevated! Yesterday, we did manage to go shoe shopping for the munchkins after I finished working. What a weight of my shoulders!

Samantha and Travis started soccer practice last Monday. Sam is U-12's this year, and Travis is U-10's. The competition increases! Jason is of course coaching both teams, in addition to being Travis' den leader for Cub Scouts. (More on that later.) Plus, he's working so hard at the shop, taking on more responsibilities every day. 

Travis had two camps this summer for Cub Scouts. He also became a "Bear" at the end of the school year. We all attended Family Camp where there were a lot of activities to do! Twilight Camp was 5 evenings (5 hours each) at a local park. Full of activites and acheivements. We also got to see him do a skit with his den. So cute!

Back from Disneyland again

Yes, again! We upgraded to season tickets and now we are able to go all year. This time, we visited some new friends, Christine and Tom Balch. They were so great to let us stay. Way better than any hotel I have been to! So relaxing, comfortable bed. Tom went with me (Michaela) to Classic Industries in Huntington Beach. He waited patiently while I shopped, and let me drive his 425 horse Charger home. We stopped to see his project cars and then they fixed us dinner. 

Sunday, Jason and Ray went to Disneyland with the 4 kids, and didn't get home until dark. Debbie, Chris(tine), (her daughter) Andrea and I lazed around. Tom got the the '73 Porsche 911 warmed up and he let me drive (Kermit) to the store. When we got back Chris let me drive her Ferrari. I'm in heaven!

Monday we all went to Disneyland and then drove home. Whirlwind, but wonderful. Meeting new friends and hanging out with old ones! 

Thanks Tom and Chris!!