We are HOME!

It's been a LONG time and a LOT has happened! We are finally home, living with Anne and Bob in Normal. We've been here for a little over a week and so far, so good. But ask us in Jan and we might feel differently! :) We (and I mean the Wettsteins and Meiss') are hoping and praying that Ted's house gets done soon so they can move in!

We made it home the Wed before Thanksgiving so we were extra thankful that we got to be with family for the holiday. We were able to celebrate with 3 sides so we really got to see everyone! All went well but as they were Thurs, Friday, and Sat, we got a little tired of Turkey!

Since Derek transfered with his job, he started right up on the Monday after the holiday. He actually had training up in Chicago for 3 days and started in Peoria on Thurs. He thinks he will enjoy working there. It is a much smaller office so he will be able to have more relationships with his coworkers. It is a drive but he did sometimes have to be on the road that long in San Jose so there are definate pros and cons. I don't have a job yet but am looking. I am actually willing to work anywhere. Well, not ANYwhere! But I'm not limiting myself to only an x-ray tech position. So if anyone knows anything? :)

So a little about the trip home. We decided to actually make it a trip vs. just driving home so we made a few stops along the way. We went to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, saw the Rio Grande in Albuquerque (which was NOT grand, more like Rio Tiny), Hoover Dam, and the Oklamhoma City bombing memorial (this was awesome and very moving). Vegas was big, the stip goes forever, or at least thats how it felt! We stayed at the MGM Grand which is the largest hotel in the nation and we snuck the cat in in a backpack! Yes, we did. The parking lot was probably a mile and half away from our room and we or shall I say I trucked her thru the parking lot, the hotel LOBBY, casino, hallways, and elevators to get to our room. Derek had to walk behind me to make sure she didn't get out! We went with the mentality of sneaking her into hotels that we don't ask, they didn't tell so we didn't Really know if it was wrong! We saw a Cirque de Soliel show which was really neat and I won $20 playing slots! I put $2 in and won $20. It was so funny! I was just playing to say that I did and I won! The Grand Canyon was breathtaking, of course. I had never seen it before but Derek had. We got there just in time to see it and then watch the sunset. Pretty cool! Pictures will follow in a different post because I'm not one my computer.

The Sun is setting in California

Wow. We are moving THIS week. It's so surreal. I dreamed of this day (and these upcoming to the actual day) wondering how I'd feel. Wait, thinking that I would only feel excitment. Which I really really do but I also feel kind of sad. I mean this is where we started or at least thats how I feel. I want to memorize it, here, the streets, where we like to eat, shop, I want to remember so that when we visit it won't be all new and we can point out places to our kids. But I know that I won't remember, at least not everything. So this week we are visiting our fav. places to eat that aren't in good ol' IL (and because everything is packed and there is a lack of food :)) and doing things that we won't be able to. Like going to the beach to watch the sunset. We went to Half Moon Bay yesterday, sat on the beach, and just soaked it all up. Derek LOVES the beach, loves that it is just an hour away so he's a little sad about being many many many hours away in IL. Here are a few pics.
So Beautiful!

We both got Nor Cal sweatshirts from Nor Cal! Cause aparently people out here are very proud of the fact that they are from NORTHERN Cali vs Southern Cal. Like it's 2 different states.

This is actaully the first time I put my feet in the water at Half Moon Bay. The Pacific Ocean is FREEZING! Always. Even in the summer.

It Has Begun!

Packing has begun (and our apartment is a mess) !!! Less than 2 weeks now and we'll be on the road again! Crazy! In 2 wks, we won't even be in the state of California! Weird. We are planning on leaving Friday the 21st and getting home the 26th! Just in time for Thanksgiving! We're both really excited and can't wait to get home!

What a Man!

Finally Derek has been getting home at a decent hour. I'm so glad to see him at night even if that means I need to think of dinner! :) However, the week that he worked crazy hours was also the week of my birthday. (And when I say crazy, I mean crazy....like 92 hrs in 1 wk!) Anyway I did get to have a quick lunch with him on the actual day but we just celebrated yesterday. So what did we do?



We went horseback riding in Half Moon Bay!!!! It was so awesome! I had mentioned once before that would be something I would want to do and he remembered! It didn't matter that neither one of us had been on a horse in many many years or that he was/is kind of afraid, he set it all up! He's such a great husband! We packed a picnic lunch to have on the beach before. He got wine, cheese & crackers, grapes, and dessert. The weather was awesome; it was a BEAUTIFUL day. It was about mid 70s with hardly any wind. Perfect weather for the beach!


We were on the horses for about 2 hrs thru trail and beach!! It was like a movie....riding on the beach....can you believe it? :) It was so cool because obviously it isn't something that we'll be able to do next year! They gave us hardly any direction which made Derek very nervous and he already was! He said he didn't really like it for the first half but once we got to the beach, he felt more comfortable. I loved it the entire time but man oh man our butts are sore today!
After wasting some time downtown, we headed to dinner at a brewery on the beach. We sat outside, sipped some beer and enjoyed the sunset! It was a perfect day! I told D that he set the bar high! What's up for next years birthday? :)



A few pics of the day. Are there enough Mom?

A little wine, a little cheese

Beautiful!

Our horses!

Me & Susie Q

Derek never found out his horse's name or whethere it was a boy or girl!

Sorry they're out of order! I can't figure out how to fix it! I hate that!

I'm single?

Not really. But I do slightly feel like that. Derek has started a 2 wk crazy busy schedule. He has to work to midnight or past every night and he has to work both weekends. Not it will sort of feel like I am. I understand that people have to work. I read blogs with women whose husbands are doctors and their schedules are Way worse than his. But come on, they are doctors, saving lives. Derek is an ACCOUNTANT! I'm pretty sure he isn't saving any lives with his work! A business- maybe, a life- not so much! :)

It really makes me want to be home. I'm pretty sour about this much working but I know he doesn't like/want it. I think that if we were in Il I wouldn't feel quite this upset cause I would have family and friends to keep me company. There isn't really anyone here. Maybe I'm kidding myself. I do have to work a bit more than usual so that at least should keep me busy. Well, its a little less than 2 months now. Can't wait!

The Office or Jon & Kate?

The other day, Derek and I were in Target. As we were walking by the DVD section, I paused to pick up the new season of "The Office". We are new fans and have been playing "catch up" viewing seasons 1-3 just these past couple of months! We LOVE it! So funny! Well, we do have a slight problem with the time it's on......the same time of Grey's Anatomy!! Grr! We have watched Grey's from the beginning and we also love that. Ok, me more than him but he likes it. So back to the story. We haven't seen season 4. Hence, me picking the DVD up to inspect it.

I'm looking at it and Derek steps next to me. I hear....

*GASP*

I look over to see what he's gasping at. And he's holding the DVD of

Jon and Kate plus 8!

He's a big fan. A big fan. Well, so I am! I started watching the hour specials and made him watch with me. However, he didn't like it. Being the good wife I am, I forced him to watch it! Now he loves it! We both do! Every Monday he comes home from work and says

"Is it a new Jon and Kate?"

with this excited voice! It's great! He loves to repeat the funny lines the kids come up with!

Who doesn't remember "Daddies have weiners!" Love it! I can't wait til Caroline is spitting out hilarious lines like that! Although not that in particular! :)

Laborless Labor Day

We had a Great Labor day! We packed a picnic lunch, a beach blanket, books, and headed down to Capitola beach. It's a beach that we had never been before. It was super nice. The town was just like you imagine a cute little beach town to look like. Ideallic (spelling?). We left early cause we knew that it would be busy and it was. It was a beautiful day, 70s, sunny, breezy, couldn't get any better. Since we left so early to get there we decided to leave early (and because Derek was getting burned!). We decided to drive up along the coast to Half Moon Bay. BEAUTIFUL. You have the ocean on one side and green foothills on the other. We rolled the windows down and were cooled by the ocean breeze. Even though we are excited about moving home, we are definately miss that! Theres just no place to do that in IL! :) Here a few pics of the day.

Eatin' lunch.

Can you see D's reflection? :)

How about the windsheild reflection? :)

On a side note. Derek was reading my blog while I was sitting next to him. I have to apologize for my poor grammar! I have a very bad habit of NOT proof reading my blogs.....and it shows! I write like I think and it doesn't always come out making sense! So I'm sorry and I promise to work on it. But please don't expect perfection cause you won't get it! :)