I am writing this blog post because I see that I have not updated my blog for 4 months, and I feel if I don't write something, I never will again.

So hope this counts.

...PS: We've finally feeling settled in CA, the kids have stopped asking to move back to MD. Everyone seems to be happy here, except the kids are freaking out because in Maryland, you start taking a second language in 7th grade, and here, you don't until 9th grade. So Aspen who is in 7th grade this year cannot take a second language whereas her friends in MD will be taking either Spanish or French. Jade benefited from having taken Spanish in MD, so she is the only Freshman taking Sophomore-Junior-Senior Spanish.

However, Jade is also freaking out because her Spanish class here is "SO EASY" because she already knows most everything the kids here are learning. Both Aspen and Jade have been complaining about how easy every class is and that they are not learning anything new in school.  Andrew plans on applying for a program in MD next year, so the kids worry that if they move back, they will surely be academically behind. If we do move back to Maryland, there surely will be a problem with Aspen being a year beyond in her second language class. And Jade not learned enough in Spanish class here to catch up with her peers in Maryland.   I didn't know how much gap there could be in public education from state to state. We have been told Maryland schools are top notch, and now I am realizing how much my kids have learned while in Maryland.

On the other hand, I took Kirin out of traditional school, and enrolled him in a charter. He is in 4th grade, but is taking 6th grade Math and Reading, and they are still very easy for him. He takes 5th grade Science and Social. I still feel uneasy about having him advance two grade levels, but he seems to be much happier with the materials.

This house that we moved into has really nasty carpet. The landlord cleaned it before we moved in, two days after we move in, all the spots came back up. It's pretty gross looking. I miss the house we have in MD with the hardwood floor and stinking brand new carpet we put in for our tenant with a dog!! (Shaking my head)

I surely love living in California. The farmers markets are wonderful, everyone is so physically active, lots of bikers on the road. The sunshine makes me happy. I love living in the West Coast.