From small town Indiana....

.... to the 4th largest city in the US. But we DID it!

We've been here for 5 weeks. We made it in just days before the big girls started school- K, and 2nd. They are pretty well settled in-- making new friends, getting invited to dance classes, playing nearly every day with our neighbors-- and although a BIG adjustment from private to public, no major problems yet.

I certainly miss the Christian aspect of school back home (can I say 'home' when this is... 'home' now?), and we are still trying to find a church home. We found one that has an amazing kids area, and great music, but the message (and deliverance) has just been 'ok.' We have a couple more to try, and thankfully, the kids don't mind the bouncing around.

The boy sits 6th on a waiting list for the preschool we want him to attend. Not bad-- but I'm ready, and he certainly is ready. There is only so much car-playing, and a little decorating, we can do in a day.  Plus, I desperately need some one on one time with Norah. In the meantime, he's obsessed with the iPad, and PBS kids. I caught him trying to ride a scooter down the slide yesterday.....

We did join a MOMs group, and that's fun! They have tons of planned activities-- sometimes I'm gung-ho for GPS'ing AND mapquest'ing and, inevitably, getting lost trying to find these places-- and other times I just want to hang out at home and get the house in order. I'm generally a home-body, and one of my greatest passions is decorating.... so that has been winning most days!

Some things that are different here: It's HOT. It's a short 5 minute walk to/from school. We don't have a mailbox in front of the house, it's around the corner with everyone else's. It's HOT. Garbage picks up twice a week, and they walk the can back up to the garage. Driving is different- the expressway exits are different, the stoplights are different, there are a MILLION interstates, with a SQUILLION cars on them. Did I mention that it's HOT?!

We survived Jason's first international trip while here..... barely, but we survived.

Back to decorating.... I think I'm going to blog some of that as I get the rooms done. I love it, simply. I have a nice, empty palette in my new, pretty house. THE WORLD IS MY OYSTER! Pics to come. :)