3 different things about California (well there are loads but the main ones we've noted this week!) - although its a wine region they don't have screw top wine bottles, you can't buy bath sponges and you also can't buy baby changing mats.
It all started well a week last Thursday. The kids were absolute stars on the plane. Sophia sat quietly and made clothes peg dolls, drew pictures and watched the same episode of Little Einsteins about 100 times! Tommy found it a bit harder to sit still and didn't like wearing the headphones for the tele but was in general very well behaved too.
However its been a hard first week. Ste and I have visited IKEA about a million times but we still have a very empty house with only beds, a dining room table and chairs and a sofa bed in it. We have fortunately received our air freight so at least have some of the kids toys, some clothes and a few pans (we lived for about 4 days with just one pan, 3 cups and some plates!). We've all been quite jetlagged but Tommy has definitely been the worst and we've only had one night so far were he hasn't joined us in bed in the early hours! Hopefully though the worst is over and we're all settling down to our new time zone.
Mum came over with us for the first bit and was great as she looked after the kids whilst we tried to get things organised. The park at the end of the road is fab and the kids have already spent many happy hours with granny playing in the sandpit. Ste and I meanwhile have seen the inside of IKEA, supermarkets, Walmart, the bank, the internet shop etc etc. Still hoping its all about done now.
The real disappointment so far has been the Rivermark area where we are renting our house. Far from be like Cambourne it is a pretty much non English speaking community where I really cant see us fitting in all that well. However I suppose we only have to live here and can go elsewhere for things we do. Still its a disappointment non the less.
Ste starts work on Monday (happy birthday to me!) and is feeling pretty nervous about it as am I but I feel the quicker we get into real life the better. I have the grand plan of the park and then Santa Clara library to pass the day, providing I can find my way in the car! We went to San Francisco zoo yesterday and I drove back which was fine but I did have Ste sitting next to me telling we where to go - def need a sat nav!
Food has been a real nightmare since we got here in that the kids will eat practically nothing. They hate the bread and since they both live on cheese sandwiches this is going to be a bit of a problem! The highlight of my week was finding baked beans and robinsons orange squash is a tiny dusty corner of Safeways. They may have been hideously expensive (the squash was $6, over 4 quid!) but I could have cried and happily bought them and skipped out the shop - small things!
We're all feeling a bit home sick, probably me the most, followed by Sophia. She keeps saying things like 'I can't go to my best friend's houses can 1?' very matter of factly but it makes me feel sad! She really needs to make some new friends so we've got to get out there and start doing stuff. Have lined her up a ballet class for next week as a start.
The weather is lovely although deceiving, we've all managed to burn ourselves a bit as even when it doesn't feel burning hot it obviously is. Need to make suncream part of the daily routine. Tommy in particular is not keen on this. When you approach him with a suncream bottle he runs away screaming 'no burn me, no burn me!'
Anyway best go and sort the kids tea out (they are out exploring with daddy!)
Bye for now xx
It all started well a week last Thursday. The kids were absolute stars on the plane. Sophia sat quietly and made clothes peg dolls, drew pictures and watched the same episode of Little Einsteins about 100 times! Tommy found it a bit harder to sit still and didn't like wearing the headphones for the tele but was in general very well behaved too.
However its been a hard first week. Ste and I have visited IKEA about a million times but we still have a very empty house with only beds, a dining room table and chairs and a sofa bed in it. We have fortunately received our air freight so at least have some of the kids toys, some clothes and a few pans (we lived for about 4 days with just one pan, 3 cups and some plates!). We've all been quite jetlagged but Tommy has definitely been the worst and we've only had one night so far were he hasn't joined us in bed in the early hours! Hopefully though the worst is over and we're all settling down to our new time zone.
Mum came over with us for the first bit and was great as she looked after the kids whilst we tried to get things organised. The park at the end of the road is fab and the kids have already spent many happy hours with granny playing in the sandpit. Ste and I meanwhile have seen the inside of IKEA, supermarkets, Walmart, the bank, the internet shop etc etc. Still hoping its all about done now.
The real disappointment so far has been the Rivermark area where we are renting our house. Far from be like Cambourne it is a pretty much non English speaking community where I really cant see us fitting in all that well. However I suppose we only have to live here and can go elsewhere for things we do. Still its a disappointment non the less.
Ste starts work on Monday (happy birthday to me!) and is feeling pretty nervous about it as am I but I feel the quicker we get into real life the better. I have the grand plan of the park and then Santa Clara library to pass the day, providing I can find my way in the car! We went to San Francisco zoo yesterday and I drove back which was fine but I did have Ste sitting next to me telling we where to go - def need a sat nav!
Food has been a real nightmare since we got here in that the kids will eat practically nothing. They hate the bread and since they both live on cheese sandwiches this is going to be a bit of a problem! The highlight of my week was finding baked beans and robinsons orange squash is a tiny dusty corner of Safeways. They may have been hideously expensive (the squash was $6, over 4 quid!) but I could have cried and happily bought them and skipped out the shop - small things!
We're all feeling a bit home sick, probably me the most, followed by Sophia. She keeps saying things like 'I can't go to my best friend's houses can 1?' very matter of factly but it makes me feel sad! She really needs to make some new friends so we've got to get out there and start doing stuff. Have lined her up a ballet class for next week as a start.
The weather is lovely although deceiving, we've all managed to burn ourselves a bit as even when it doesn't feel burning hot it obviously is. Need to make suncream part of the daily routine. Tommy in particular is not keen on this. When you approach him with a suncream bottle he runs away screaming 'no burn me, no burn me!'
Anyway best go and sort the kids tea out (they are out exploring with daddy!)
Bye for now xx
Loving the 'no burn me!' comment!! As if he'd rather do that than be creamed!! Bless him! We're missing you all very much and I wish more than anything that I could push some magic button to fast forward you a few weeks! But it will get better my dear! And in the meantime revel in the small triumphs ($6 is a small price to pay for some familiarity!!). On that note, have got the package down to 2 kilos so will be down to Papworth tomorrow to get it posted! Fraser sends Sophia lots of hugs!! Keep smiling!!
ReplyDeleteLaura xxxxxxxxxxx
Missing you like crazy and already planning my next visit. I have bought sponges and I'm looking into that changing mat. I will also investigate bringing food in the hand luggage. Pops has bought a large box chocolate fingers. Wont tell you the price!. The ballet class sounds great. I look forward to hearing about it. Hope your birthday is good Sian and you don't get lost on the way to the library. Good luck with the first day at work Steve. Hugs and hisses to all of you. Stay positive!
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