A Taste of Albany

We're Here!  (and I must admit, I'm kinda in love with the place.)  

Last night the boys and I took a drive around the city to take some pictures of things I've noticed from the first 10 days we've been here.  

Because of all the rain this spring there are wild flowers everywhere!  

Especially these white daisies.  There are fields and fields of them.

Albany is famous for all the beautifully preserved victorian homes in the old midtown area.

Jacob is learning a lot more about trains and planes around here.  It's so cute.  

This train goes through the middle of town, a few minutes from Stephen's office.  And when we're at the park by our house, several small planes will fly low overhead to land at the private airport across the way.

The downtown is quaint.  

Lots of fun little shops and some restaurants that I look forward to trying out.

Someday I'll have to try something other than this amazing bbq place.  

We've already been there 3 times.  It may just be the best bbq EVER!

I love how much of the history they have kept around.

~The bridge over the Willamette River connecting North and South Albany~

Oh, how refreshing it is to just breathe the fresh air, look out at open fields, and see the incredible clouds every day.  

We're SO not in LA anymore.  No more concrete jungle. :)

We plan to stick around here for a while.  We're keeping our eyes open for lots to build on someday.  Here is one we already love in a beautiful area of North Albany.

For now, though, we are happily living in our little town home.  

Stephen has been going in the office a bit and getting a feel for everything while he waits for his official Oregon license.  He plans to start next week.  Jacob is adjusting a lot better, after he had a few rough days.  As soon as we got his room put back together he seemed happy and comfortable- and excited to see his books and toys again!  He's almost back to normal after a double ear infection and sinus infection.  *Sigh*  

My boys are champs.  I love them both and am so excited for this new adventure.

There's No Place Like Home.

These Make Me Happy

The last week in California was mostly filled with packing, stressing, and more packing. But we did get a few chances to escape to the Beach. Stephen had the fabulous idea of doing a final photoshoot at the beach by the newly painted life guard towers. 26th Street in Manhattan Beach is a favorite surfing/playing spot of ours. I will surely miss it.

Two of my favorite Beach Babes

...Jacob...

...Gigi...

Jacob will sure miss his best {girl}friend.

Happy...

Dad's Day!

Just want to tell my own Dad and also Stephen how grateful I am for them both.... Love You!

WREBS this Weekend

Stephen's taking the Western Regional Examining Board licensing exams

Today thru Monday.

This is it....I mean, really IT!

Go STEPHEN!!

IPhone Funnies

For months all Stephen said was "If only I had an iphone..." and he'd finish the sentence with something great. Well, he has one. And I have to admit it has come in handy more than I ever guessed (except for the time he was late for a VERY important interview due to a faulty map app that led him to an snowy vacant lot.)

Anyway, we recently uploaded these pics and videos from the iphone. I am greatly appreciating the camera and video capabilities for those funny/random times.

For example:

While driving the dark streets of Beverly Hills one night, we came upon this gem of a house.

I think Tracy Jordan from 30 Rock might live here.

Yep, those ARE greek statues and buttresses on the roof.

Four long legged adults trying to sqeeze into the Tea Cup ride at Disneyland.

The only Senior Citizen Special sign we saw in the store, and where was it? Right over the funky underwear.

This face at the Pizza Factory.

Jacob's kix bum after a long car trip to Utah.

The day I chose an AWEFUL parking spot.

Stephen's tungsten wedding ring snapped in half while swinging his keys in his hand.

Me hospitalized for a ruptured ovarian cyst. I guess I'm smiling here because the pain finally went away.

Video of Jacob taking his first steps on Halloween Night.

Watching The Fray and other amazing artists at a Grammy Foundation Concert.

Stephen's view from the graduate's seats.

Now all I hear him say is "If only I had an ipad..."

Upgrade

Packing is exhausting. Especially when you have a husband still going to school to finish things up and prepare for his final licensing exams, and when you have a toddler who won't keep out of the boxes. But it'll all get done somehow or another.

We did find a place in Albany. And it IS an UPGRADE! We'll be renting a townhome for a while and I am so excited about it. There are things about this 1950's LA apartment that we've been really grateful for, but a whole lot of stuff we are excited to leave.

Now, I'm not complaining- just telling you how happy I am to someday soon....

Have a dishwasher. (Ah, the possibilities with 40 extra minutes a day!)

Have a bath without the sliding shower doors that are impossible to clean and make bathing an infant a painful task.

Have a kitchen counter that isn't tile (also impossible to clean- seriously who thought of this?)

Not live on an incredibly busy street: Noise, dust, street sweeping tickets, DANGER!

Have a fenced-in backyard.

Have a washer and dryer. Though I will miss the spanish soap operas at the laundromat. :)

Have cellphone reception in my own home! PLEASE!

Perhaps enjoy some AC maybe?

Have our own 2 Car garage...

And an extra bedroom!

Let's hope all this extra schooling is worth it.... haha.

Hooray for moving!