Thursday, October 14, 2010

Ferris Wheel

And here it is, the draw of the night.

Some of you know that I am not a big fan of heights, so going up in the ferris wheel wasn't gonna happen for me! I stayed on the ground with Scott, and Greg took Addie up. I wasn't sure what she would think of being up so high....









She wasn't sure either, once she got closer and realized just how high it was.


















Buying the tickets, and she's STILL checking it out, and not so sure.






Addie ended up liking the ride, even though she wasn't tall enough to see out of the car very well.











I enjoyed being on the ground with Scotty, who was making this face at me.

**Sigh**
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Grapefest Petting Zoo

Feeding the goats













Eww! Have you ever had a llama lick your hand?

















Love this picture! Addie and the goat.










Scotty and I watched from outside the gate, but he wanted in.
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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

New friends and Addie's first day of school

God's blessings continued on move-in day, when many men came to help Greg unload the truck. Additionally, one of the guys who was a friend-of-a-friend lives in our same apartment complex with his family. He invited us all over for dinner that night!

So our first night, we went over for dinner at the Worsley home. Their four kids were super excited to meet Addie and she liked them right away. During dinner, Mrs. Worsley (that would be Heather) invited me and Addie to join a casual group of homeschooling moms who were getting together a few times a month for group school days and field trips.

Since we were planning to start homeschooling Addie through a Kindergarten curriculum once we got settled, and since we were going to be part of a great co-op group in California before we left (and were so disappointed to be leaving that opportunity behind), we were THRILLED to be invited to this group. Heather let us know that their first day together, a "get-to-know-you" day, was planned for the next week, so we were just in time!

The day for "TEACH" (that's what it's called) came, and we realized that even though we hadn't started a formal curriculum yet, we were taking Addie to a school day, and that meant this was her FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

So we had a special breakfast of pancakes and broke out the "You Are Special" plate, both were accomplishments since we were barely unpacked yet.










Then a "First Day of School" picture

















or two.

Addie is carrying her school/art supplies, and her "me" box. Each child brought a box with five items that tell something about them. Addie's included:
-A rainbow box because she likes "all the colors" (not one favorite)
-Her favorite bed-friend Piglet, which she got at Disneyland
-A little butterfly made of pipe cleaners because she likes butterflies and because Meemaw made it for her
-a magnet showing Los Angeles because that's where she moved from (and it's all we could find to represent CA)
-A little book she made herself with the letters of the alphabet because she loves books and writing letters.
-Her play baton- because Leo on Little Einsteins has a baton too and that is her favorite show and she loves to conduct.


Here is a group shot in Shaleah Channell's living
room - headquarters for the day

We played games and did art and had lunch, and each child took a turn introducing themselves and telling the group about their "Me Box." Addie did a great job when it was her turn- she was quite the little public speaker! She actually did such a good job that I was shocked- I think she gets some of her daddy's ability to talk in front of a group.

So, this great little group of homeschoolers will be something you hear a good bit about in the future. We've already gone on one field trip and are about to go on another tomorrow! I'll be posting pictures soon, so stay tuned!
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New Home-

Here is a picture of the chaotic mess that was "moving in." Boxes everywhere, stuff everywhere, messes everywhere...


We are almost all unpacked now, but not quite put-together enough for me to post pictures yet. I will soon, though.







Here is one of my favorite things in the new apartment- our master bathroom! Though we have less space in the livingroom and kitchen than our old apartment, we have our own bathroom, and a good-sized one at that! Here is the big 'ol floor that I had to get rugs for.













The kids room- beds assembled, but still chaos.
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Our Big Trip to Dallas

Well, when it came time to leave, Niki & kids and cats and one FANTASTIC Mother-In-Law loaded on a plane and flew to Texas. We were greeted by Kathy Kropf, the hostess with the mostest, and her welcoming van. We were then taken to her welcoming home and loved on. God was so good to provide for us such a nice place to stay!


Several of you may be wondering how it was traveling with our cats for the first time, and I have to say that it was wonderfully un-eventful. They were sedated, and stayed mostly calm (even when we had to take each out of their cat carriers for security screening at Burbank airport!). They talked to us a bit when we descended into Dallas, but it wasn't bad! The kids also did really well and it ended up being an easy trip!

Greg, meanwhile, was left to drive all our belongings in a 26' Penske truck, pulling our car on a dolly, half-way across the country. He decided to bring a travel companion and took Scotty's new bear- a birthday present from Meemaw.
He left on a Tuesday night (after going in to work for a few hours!) and was aiming to make it to Phoenix. Sadly, the car dolly blew a tire outside of Blythe, CA and shortened his daily progress. It was an easy fix though- a phone call to Penske and a repairman was there within a few hours, had him fixed up and back on the road.

The next day he began taking these pictures:
Bear on Route 66, somewhere in Arizona.














The painted dessert.
















Bear says "Hello New Mexico!"















And arriving in TEXAS! (Bear was pretty exhausted at this point after all that driving!)






Greg arrived on Thursday afternoon and we were so glad to see him safe and sound!
We stayed with the Kropfs for several more days until our things were moved in and we were unpacked enough to live in our new apartment. We had a lot of move-in help from Texas friends old and new- what a blessing! Then we looked around and realized this was for real- our new life in Texas.


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Monday, October 11, 2010

Last Dinner with the Kropfs

A few nights before we left, the Kropfs were kind enough to make us dinner and have us over. It was so sweet of them, but pretty sad to go over for dinner one last time.

In honor of such a special event, I brough out my very best outfit for Brooke.

A little background for you folks: since early in our friendship, Brooke and I have had a running joke about black T-shirts. Brooke is of the opinion that a certain "type" of person wears a black t-shirt with the name and/or face of a country music star on it. I am of the opinion that I have one of those shirts and I do not smoke cigarettes behind the high school, nor do I have a mullet.


I do not wear said shirt ever, I just have it. Well, for our last supper I pulled it out of the back of the closet and put it on. I could barely contain myself, waiting for Brooke to answer the door. Here is her reaction.

Another special moment from our last dinner together- Grant and Addie praying with us before the meal.

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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Good-Bye to the other Spanglers

In the midst of all of our good-byes, we had a very quick visit from Greg's brother Mark, and his family. They had to come to LA for something else, and brought Greg's mom with them so she could be with us during the move. We had to say our good-byes to them too, since they were moving to France just a few weeks after we moved to Texas! Mark & Jess will be in France for about a year, doing language study in preparation for heading to Cameroon as missionaries. They brought along our niece Ally, the oldest of their four, so we got to see her too!







For some reason, Scotty just was delighted with Mark! He couldn't keep his hands off Mark's beard and he laughed and laughed.




















Ally & Addie say a little good-bye.
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The Kids Say Good-Bye Too

Scotty tips his hat to all the good people in California.



















Addie & Jacob playing on the mattress in our empty apartment










Grant came over on our last night to say good-bye to Addie. They both said they understood Addie was leaving, but were pretty matter-of-fact about it all. Grant gave Addie a gift for the plane and they hugged good-bye and that was it.

Addie did cry a little as we were taking off from LA, and said she missed Grant. But she dried up pretty quick. She's mentioned several times that she misses him, but hasn't been overly upset about it. I'm kinda glad- I miss everyone enough for all of us, and am not ready to be trying to cheer her up!
We love Grant and can't wait for him to come visit!

Friends

Addie & Nate












Gary- you make this face at my camera, I put it online.











Me & Ruth











Quincy
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More Party Pics

Me and Brooke











McKenna and Claire


















TJ and Chaya











The kids crowd around for some 'Angry Birds'
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More Party Pictures

Some more pictures from our good-bye party


Brooke & Ashley- the hostesses with the mostestes









The amazing tiramisu cake. A-maz-ing.











Scotty & Jacob











Krista & Lori- friends since highschool, saying good-bye after all this time.
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