Month One

We've been back on the Central Coast for over a month and still feeling like we're on vacation.  Maybe that's how life is when you go to the beach 2 or 3 times a week.  Even with school and homework and making new friends, it still feels like vacation.  Perhaps it's because Peter is still in Oregon (he'll be back on Wednesday!).  Or perhaps it's because we've been away from the coast for so long.  I wrote about some of these feelings on my other blog; it's not a bad thing, per se, that it doesn't feel like home yet.  It's just unexpected.  It might even be a little refreshing.  I haven't decided.

Here's some photos from the first month.

After school and homework, it's playtime.

Birthday party!

The beach, practically deserted on a Friday afternoon.

Backyard fun (we're hoping to get a basketball hoop and a trampoline in the nearish future)

Time with Mike and Zabrina.

Mail from Ian Ball (of Gomez)

All-School BBQ

Bible Study Fellowship homework

LA visits

Ian Ball show

It's not a bad drive to-and-from LA...

 Cousin time

Month 2 is gearing up to be just as busy and exciting!

What We're Reading

I was inspired by my friend Melissa to write a little blog about the books we've been reading lately.

Since not being in school, I have been able to read so many more books for fun over the summer and since the kids went back to school.  Of course, we're all reading the Bible.  Currently Psalms, Job, and Matthew.  The kids and I go to Bible Study Fellowship, in which we are studying the whole book of Matthew in depth from now until the end of April.  As it is my favorite of the gospels, I am super excited about it.

As for other books, I read too many to name this summer, but a few that stand out to me are:

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Divergent books by Veronica Roth

Currently, I'm reading Book 1 of The Passage Trilogy and loving it!  And I am anxiously looking forward to the newest Dexter novel and the final installments of Game of Thrones.


Jeremiah is currently reading the Lord of the Rings.  I'm impressed, as I had only read the Hobbit by his age and didn't read the Trilogy until 8th and 9th grades.  Other books that he's been interested in lately are the Charlie Bones books and Margaret Peterson Haddix's The Missing series.  He's also still a big fan of The 39 Clues series, Andrew Clemens, and Carl Hiaasen.  I actually really enjoy Hiaasen's books for youth and have read a few of his books for adults too. He's a very engaging writer!  I recommend him for ages 10+.

Alayna is currently a Judy Moody fanatic.  And she loves Calvin and Hobbes and Garfield comic collections (we own a bunch of both).  I'm trying to peak her interest in the Little House books, but so far, she's a no-go.  Maybe in the 4th grade...

Both kids really enjoy the Origami Star Wars series by Tom Angleberger.  It is a cool series.

Peter isn't a huge reader, but he mostly likes to read biographies.  Last I checked, he was reading a bio about Nirvana.

And there you have it!  I'd love to give a shout out to both Multnomah and San Luis Obispo county libraries for serving us.  All this reading would not have been possible without them!

What are you reading?

Our Labor Day PDX "Staycation"

So, Peter bought me tickets back in June (for my birthday) to see Death Cab For Cutie on August 31.  They are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their album, Transatlanticism (in my top 10 albums of all time).  This was before we knew about the whole moving back to SLO thing.  (I mean, we knew it was a possibility, but we had been going on with life as if we were staying in Portland.)  I knew I didn't want to sell the tickets--I had to see the show!  So, despite moving less than 2 weeks before, I hopped on a plane back to PDX to see them, and have some quality time with Peter (the kids stayed with my parents).  It was a wonderful two days and two nights in our "second home".  We are so blessed by our community of people there.  We packed a lot in to two days, but it wasn't enough.  I can't wait to go back!

Crater Lake from the plane

You know you're close when you see this (Mt. Hood)!

He was waiting at the airport for me (with flowers).  Love him!

Death Cab at Edgefield!

My favorite song from the album

Peter's favorite song (just a snip, as my battery was almost dead)

Us 

Brunch with Eric and Ellen (Peter's)

Mine

Worship with Imago!

Headed downtown

My nemesis

Sistaaaas

Dinner with neighbors

Cloud cover over SF

Other things not pictured:
Staying the night with Luke and Kat in their new home, with the phantom fire alarm
Hanging out for an hour after church with our Home Community
A Powell's Books excursion
A night of wine and beer and healthy snacks with my friend, Jess.

I love you Portland; and the awesome people who dwell within you!