Goodbye Pleasanton

Well the movers come tomorrow and we fly home to Kentucky on Tuesday. I can't believe this day has finally come. It is bittersweet, but I am extremely excited about moving back home.

As this is my last entry from California, I decided to take a quick break from packing, cleaning, and giving Hayden a bath to blog about some things that I am going to miss about the San Francisco Bay Area.

1. The Weather. It is so beautiful out here. Perfect weather. Warm and nice during the day, but cool of the evenings.
2. The Foothills. Where we live, Pleasanton, runs along the foothills. Just rolling foothills or mountains for miles. The coolest part is when the cool air comes rolling over the hills from the bay in the evening.
3. Downtown Pleasanton. It has such a small town feel to it. Everyone is so friendly and it was so nice to just sit out on the patio on Main Street and people watch. We also enjoyed every festival downtown. Our favorite parade would have to be the Christmas parade. It reminded me of what a small town Christmas parade should be. Floats, bands, children and Santa.
4. Just the bay area in general. It is so beautiful out here and there is just so much to do. We have been hiking in Yosemite, snow skiing in Tahoe, and a drive down the coast to Pebble Beach. I could go on and on, and it will take me forever to organize all of my photos.
5. The most important thing that I will miss are the women from my Play Group. Each of them have been such a blessing for me. My life is forever better for having known them. They will definitely be my friends for life.

Trever and I have met so many people who will be dear friends forever. We are so fortunate and blessed to have had this opportunity. We are truly thankful.

Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts as we travel home. Thank you for sharing each moment of our life here in California. I hope you will continue to follow us as enjoy life home in Kentucky.

4 More Days!

Well, just four more days until our big move back to Kentucky. I am really looking forward to it. I think I have gotten a lot of stuff packed, but then I look around and I get so overwhelmed. My kitchen is officially closed! Trever and I packed the plates and pots/pans about two nights ago. I am finishing up the small stuff today. Tomorrow will be a huge day of packing. Then Sunday we have a potluck party to go to with Trever's work. Monday the movers come and Tuesday we fly home. Hard to believe just four more days.

Last night I had a last mom's night out with the girls in my play group. We had appetizers and drinks over at one of the mom's house. It was such a beautiful night that we just talked and talked until we realized it was after 10:30 p.m. I will miss them all very dearly. Such sweet, beautiful and intelligent women. I am proud to call them my friends.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we prepare for our move and for a safe trip home. Thank you.

8 More Days

Just 8 more days until we land in Lexington, Kentucky. I am really looking forward to being home in our own house. We were only in our house a year before we had to move out to California.

I am in full packing mode. I have nearly everything packed. Poor Trever has been working so late. I think he is excited that this Friday is his last day. He has two weeks off before returning to work in Georgetown. I know he is really looking forward to that.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we continue to prepare for our move and for a safe flight home.

Can't wait to see everyone. We have missed all of our friends and family. We love you all.

Fun Day with Mom

Yesterday Trever had to work so Hayden and I went downtown to the Heritage Festival and then to lunch at Chuck-E-Cheese. Hayden had a great time seeing the animals at the little petting zoo and then eating at "Cheese Cheese."

Look at my new Rainboots!

The other day I bought my niece, Reagan, a pair of leopard print rainboots with pink trim off of a mother in our mom's group. Well Hayden loved them. So Friday we set out to find him some "boy" rainboots. It hasn't rained in Pleasanton since February so rainboots are not just lining the shelves at Target or Wal-Mart. I was able to find him a pair of black rainboots at Wal-Mart. He had to put them on immediately and wear them the rest of the day.

4.0

Last night at 9:00 p.m. we experienced another earthquake. Luckily, this one was only a 4.0. Originally it was reported as a 4.2, but downgraded to a 4.0. The epicenter was just 19 miles north of Pleasanton. The news called this earthquake a light or shallow one because it happened 10 miles underground.

I know most people here in California are use to them, but I will never get use to that feeling. Trever and I were in bed watching a movie and felt a slow rumble and then BOOM followed by a small rumble. I would say it last about 8 seconds. Hayden slept right through it. At least living in Kentucky you have a storm that my trigger your senses that a tornado is near or coming, but you have no warning or sense that an earthquake is going to happen.

The news keeps talking that this is just the beginning before the "big one" hits. Please let me get back home to Kentucky before the "big one" does hit.

Fun in the Sun

This morning Hayden and I went to the Livermore pool for Toddler time with his friend Kaia. They had such a great time.

A Year ago today...

A year ago today we started this great adventure in California. Who would have thought how fast a year goes. Hayden has grown so much this past year. He was only 14 months old when we moved to Pleasanton and now he is 26 months old. We have all grown as a family. This adventure has made us closer than we could have imagined. We have had to depend on each other. I am truly blessed by this experience and it is very bittersweet that we will be moving back to Kentucky on September 30th.


The day before we were to leave for California I snapped this picture of Hayden saying good-bye to Sadie. I love this picture.


This was one of the very first pictures we took in our house here in California. Look how little he looks. Makes me sad that my baby is now a little man.

1st Experience with Indian Cuisine

Today for lunch Trever's Assistant Manager and his family took us to an Indian restaurant, Bombay Garden. As Trever has told me, this whole California "adventure" was to experience new things. I have never eaten Indian cuisine and I have to say it was really good. My favorites were Naan (flat bread), Channa Masala (Garbanzo beans in a special blend of spices), Palak Paneer (spinach with homemade cheese and spices), and Spinach Pakora (deep fried spinach with spices). Hayden enjoyed the Mango Ice Cream.