First Day of School 2013/2014

Today is the first day of school in Wheatland School District - the district base occupants fall under - seems as good as any schedule to follow.  I have been seeing "first day of school photos" on Facebook. 

I decided to blog our first day of school photos. It seems appropriate our day would be a bit non-traditional. Unschooling at it's best.

 Arielle is entering her Junior year in high school. She is planning to get a driver's license and hopefully find a job or start doing a lot of babysitting once she can drive. She has big plans for the summer and needs cash.

 Stacia tells  all she is "almost in 3rd grade." Almost, as she  didn't finish the last lesson of her math book and will not claim 3rd grade until she does. Yes, I HAVE explained  many "real" teachers don't finish the entire text book each year. We plan to continue on her charted course.

 Alexander (Alex or Zander) is eleven and  entering 5th grade. Now that he can read, I expect to make great progress this year in language arts.  He made great strides in the past year figuring out social situations. We will continue to help him understand the strange world around him and work on impulse control. He's done great with the travels and move....believe me there is much about America to cause sensory overload....he's doing fantastic.  There have been moments when he's done the twirling and flapping hand thing during this move - I joined him.  I do thank God for blessing us with Zander.

Nolan is 14 and entering HIGH SCHOOL. ACK....I have only two in elementary these days. Nolan has really stepped into the Alpha Male Offspring role on this trip and with this move. He's a joy to spend time with and we see a moral compass developing in him which will serve him well in the years to come. 

We're going to have a delayed start this year....maybe a rolling start. We look forward to exploring CA history in the next two years. We plan to continue learning Japanese. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

We Found Water

Our "fast ship" arrived today. This is 450 pounds of things we had kept to use until the last minute in Japan....Michael's bike, my electric hot water pot, our WOK, the laundry hamper, and the ceramics I bought in Korea. ::grin::

We decided to go explore a "pond" we caught sight of driving in from TX. The plan was to unpack the boxes when it was hot....we never  got back to unpacking. ::snort::

This gentleman told us he was fishing for salmon but they weren't running yet. SALMON? This is not a POND - this MUST be a river. We walked back up the boat landing and began to look for a better access to the river.

Stepping through the grape arbor was like stepping into another world. We found the river. I want to explore with the kayak. This is 4 miles from our home. It's not the ocean - but it IS water!

Arielle is not impressed with Yuuki's response to the water.....

We enjoyed a picnic, a talk and watching the younger ones attempt to fish with bits and pieces they found along the bank.

Michael took care of Yuuki's dirt problem

 

On the way back to the house we decided to go into town. We changed the oil in the van - twice! They used the wrong oil the first time.  We went to Lowes and bought window blinds.

I noted we had to be close to New Earth and Michael agreed to drive over to find it. YES....I was HAPPY to see the variety of things at this store. Due to prices I plan to continue to do most my shopping for staples via Vitacost....but I could buy yogurt made with almond milk, non-dairy ice cream, VEGENAISE and they had a selection of non-dairy cheese. I didn't buy any - but now I know it's there.

 Dinner was at home and was yummy....and afterwards we enjoyed our backyard....The girls did their nails, we played games, cooked s'mores over charcoal and sat in the hot tub. We talked about our favorite parts of the past couple of weeks. Tomorrow  BreAnne will go back to OR. She promises to be back for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The boys can't make it out - maybe they'll make New Years.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Monday in CA

We slept in this a.m.

We had another person show up trying to serve the past occupants of our home.

The highlight of the day was springing Yuuki from the Doggie Prison Hotel. She was VERY appreciative!

I don't know that I'd ever seen her so happy to see Michael and me. She jumped, she danced, her tail wagged like a wild whirlybird.....

She repeated the scene when she saw our house and then the kids. They had her on a special sensitive stomach diet and said she didn't throw up once....so we bought some and will see if this helps her "issues."

This afternoon we went to see Plane.  We picked up our mail box keys and the mail that had collected while we were gone. Lots of wall decals. ::snort::

We discovered Winco - and I experience quite a bit of culture shock. I've decided not to say more until I can process it a bit better. I was not appreciative of the attention one or two of our daughters garnered. I smiled big when Stacia broke into chorus' of "Jesus Loves Me" as we walked through the gauntlet. ::snort::

We've enjoyed having Bre with us today.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

More Wedding Photos

Julie, my sister friend from WA, shared photos she took at the wedding.  Her perspective was different from others. I'm thankful to all who took photos and shared. 

Practicing coming down the stairs before the wedding - KICK - step - nice and slow

Some may be wondering about the black hair fripperies....Arielle and I purchased them in Korea. We weren't sure we'd wear them but in the end decided it was a fun touch. Hats were essential formal wear in the 1940's.

Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles were escorted in to their seat. Then our daughters. Michael and I began the procession down the stairs. This is a beautiful, historic hotel.

Then came groomsmen - Julie got some good ones of our sons

Nolan 

Zander - so determined to get this right - and he did

Jared 

Jamin - Best Man 

Josiah as Groom 

 Stacia was very intent on walking to the beat, getting down the stairs, and flinging flowers. Being in this wedding will be a treasured memory for her. She loved everything: dress shopping, wearing grown up jewelry, hair fussing and the ceremony. She WAS nervous. 

Shelby's parents walk her down to Josiah

A charge

Josiah reads his vows - Phil 2 - good passage son! 

Shelby reads her vows - Monopoly wars to continue in this branch of the Gherkin family me thinks

Mandy and I light candles (Josiah in the front) table and then groomsmen

Josiah and Shelby light unity candle

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Back in CA

797 miles today! 13.5 hours - it was a painfully long day,  but we're "home." It really doesn't feel like home. My heart didn't want to leave TX....but I know within weeks this WILL feel like home....and it never really feels like home until we have visitors. BreAnne is here - but we haven't been here while she's been here (we've been traveling).  She will be here two more days - maybe it will feel like home by Wed. when she leaves and our household goods arrive. ::snort:: 

We made two major discoveries today. We WANT to go back with the trailer to the Flagstaff area and explore for a week or two. It's a long days drive away - but we proved we CAN do it in a day. Two days if I drive it alone with the kids. ::grin::

The second discovery is that the Mojave Desert is EXPANSIVE. It goes on forever.....we found the white sands of CA.

The sun shining brightly made the sand sparkle. I was surprised to see how many mountains are out here.  This sign creeped out the girls. 

It was fun to drive through parts of CA the kids and I have not driven through before. We have much to explore in the next couple of years. 

Now we're back in Northern CA and enjoying SITTING and playing Stacia's Princess Candyland. Michael tromped me in Acey Deucey.  

Shoot! The spa's chlorine level is still so high we can't use it tonight. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Cali or Bust!

The day began early when I said goodbye to Mom and Dad and Beth and Julie. An hour later we said goodbye to Krista and left the hotel. Krista stayed until check out and is spending a couple of days with Jamin and Jared. 

These girls are ROWDY sleepers

 Jamin and Jared left their own special goodbye for us to discover. 

Our goal is to do the three day trip back to CA in two days. Today we drove 836 miles (and change); 14.5 hours and ended up in Flagstaff, AZ. We are going to plan a trip to come back and spend a week or two exploring this area before we leave CA. 

It's always a bit "iffy" to pick a hotel sight unseen. We've done well with Comfort Inns and Suites....they were full. We booked quality. This sign may have been a hint.... ::snort:: 

The girls have christened this the "cute retro hotel"....Michael points out it appears to be an old Holiday Inn....and I am pulling out the Clorox wipes....BUT they ARE incredibly friendly and helpful and the location is great for travelers. 

We have another 800 miles and change to drive tomorrow. I'll have to blog about our final day in TX another day. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...