Fun with the West Cousins

Addison and Isla met some new family members over the weekend - their 3rd cousins Ryan (5) and Connor (2) who were visiting from Northern California and their mom, my cousin, Jennifer.  They made the drive down while RJ, their dad was traveling and we spent a weekend of gorgeous weather and fun together.  Everyone met up Friday night at our favorite family friendly neighborhood restaurant, Cafe Stella (which we have taken to calling "The Club" since we're there so often!) for some drinks and dinner.  The place is perfect for kids in that it's open and airy, a bit noisy (to drown out the kids of course) and there's a great patio outside for little munchkins to run around and explore when they just can't sit still.  We typically get our drinks and then take turns following the girls around, who inevitably chat up everyone they can find and sometimes join a table or two, but were extra excited because there were two new partners in crime.  We parted ways eventually and prepared to meet up on Saturday.

After the Farmer's Market in the morning, DJ and I took the boys AND the girls (after Grampa took the whole crew to the Museum of Natural History to see the butterflies alive exhibit) and headed to the beach while the "grown ups" went to the Wine Tasting Festival downtown.  Grant had AMAZING VIP comp tickets that got everyone in for an afternoon of wine, beer and food tasting under the sun.  We were more than happy to give Jennifer a much needed break while the cousins had fun playing and getting to know each other.  DJ and I decided 4 is way easier than 2 - there's more of them to keep each other occupied, and the beach worked out great!  Addison is getting very brave on the boogie board, and Ryan was REALLY into catching waves.  Little Connor is a TANK and I had so much fun carrying him out into the waves - he wanted nothing more than bog waves crashing on him, it was great!  When we got home we literally stripped then down, hosed them off and turned them loose in the yard so we could prep for everyone coming over for dinner that night.  We had a fun party, complete with dancing kids, and celebrated both Dan's birthday and Jennifer and the boys being there.

The next morning we met for brunch before Jennifer and the boys hit the road to head north again.  It was so great to see them and have the kids meet.  We're hoping to do it way more often now that we're in the same state.  Thanks Jennifer, Ryan and Connor for coming to visit! See you soon!

Snack time!

Addison sleeping under the stars

Princess Isla

Week 5!

We can't believe it's been over a month since we've landed in Santa Barbara. To say it's been a whirlwind is a massive understatement, and though we miss family and friends back in the mini-apple, we couldn't be happier that we're here. The fact that we've eaten dinner outside EVERY single night that we've been here for dinner makes us instant converts - it's amazing! Warm but mild, no humidity and no bugs. We're finally starting to feel semi-settled into our new house, which couldn't be more perfect for us. The cardboard moving boxes are slowly starting to disappear and the framed photos, artwork and decorative things in general are making their way off the floor and onto walls/shelves/tables. My entire family has been instrumental in our transition, from letting us crash for a week to physically moving us into the house, to taking the girls for the day so we can get work done, to making initial grocery and Costco runs, to loading up the extra furniture that didn't fit and hauling it away to storage to building a perfect swing-set for the girls in our yard, we couldn't have done it without each and every one of them. There has been lots of family time, beach time, farmer's market time, outside in the yard time and some relaxation thrown in there as well. It's been so nuts that I clearly haven't kept up with the blog, so my apologies to our family afar. Here are a few pictures that capture some of the moments during our transition. In no particular order...

Addison on a day of adventure with Gramma Pam, at the place where Gramma was house (or estate!) sitting

At the beach with Oakley, the son of my childhood friend Catherine!  It was bizarre meeting her baby after not having seen her in, oh, about 20 years.  The ironic thing is that she and her husband live in Minneapolis now!

Pic from family photos before we left MN

Addison at one of the pools at the estate

New swingset in our yard

Our patio - many hours spent here

patio at night - love the lanterns!  Thanks for strategically placing them Dan :)

Naked snack time

Elizabeth's office

Ahhhh...the best farmer's market ever, a Saturday morning tradition

Our last night in MN

More Addison and Gramma adventures

Moving day - glad that's over!

Beach house with Oakley

Shot of our dining room into the kitchen, pre-furniure

First of many dinners on the patio - love the cardboard boxes!  Again, glad that's over.

Our cute little house

The Final Countdown

We are currently T minus 3 days from our official departure from MN to CA.  The last month or so has been a blur of DJ traveling back and forth between his new job in Santa Barbara and here and me wrapping up my tenure with Target and juggling the girls solo, getting the house prepared to go on the market, putting it on the market, facilitating showings, getting it sold, organizing packers, movers and all associated logistics, purging closets and making runs to Goodwill, categorizing belongings, scheduling shut-off of utilities here, ordering new utilities in SB, signing the girls up for their new daycare, getting in last doctor and dentist appointments, saying goodbye to neighbors, co-workers and friends all while attempting to maintain somewhat of a normal existence in terms of the girls' routines and day to day life.

While we are extremely excited to begin this new adventure and chapter of life for our family, we are also sad at the thought of leaving the life we have in Minnesotaa and the things we love about it. That list includes:

• Warm summer rains and sleeping with the windows open
• Peonies and lilacs
• Change of seasons
• Crisp fall weather and the smell of bonfires in the air
• The first snowfall where everything turns quiet and white
• Fantastic restaurants, theater and culture in general
• Crazy and cozy cabin weekends with friends
• A very involved and loving Ba and Nana down the street
• Best daycare provider across the street 
• Amazing neighbors and community

There's also a long list of all that we're looking forward to in Santa Barbara, but I'm sure you'll see that pop up here in a future post. :)

Addison had her big dance recital last weekend and will be enjoying a few key playdates with her best buddy Claire over the next few days.  They both did GREAT with each of their dance numbers, and Addison actually had to be guided off stage after the curtain dropped, big surprise!  Such a performer.  Isla had her 2 year check-up yesterday and is healthy and right on track at 26.5 pounds and 31 inches, compared to Addison's 25 pounds and 33 inches at that age.  Short and stocky!  The weather has been gorgeous here with temperatures in the mid 70s, making it perfect for lots of playtime at the splash pad or in the water table in the front yard.  Tomorrow morning the movers come bright and early to start packing, Friday they load, and Saturday we all fly out!  DJ and I are staying in a hotel Thursday and Friday while the girls sleep over at the Barats.  So we get to have a much-needed little reprieve before the next wave of activity ensues.

There may not be much action here on the blog for several weeks as we get settled, move into our new house in the 21st and I start my new job on the 25th, but check back to see how we're faring as Californians!  

One last look as I'm walking out of my building at Target

 Cheese!

 Family picture day with Leah P!  Stay tuned for those shots

 Lunch after pictures - the girls were still in smile mode

 On our way to the dance recital!  Addison loved he makeup :/

 With best buddy Claire before the recital

 After the recital all Addison wanted to do was eat massive amounts of apples!

 Giving hugs to Gus

 Isla at her check up

 Giving love to Nana and Ba