Birthday Fun!

We had a super fun day yesterday. Nate got me some beautiful flowers and planned a day to Julian. It is a little historical town about an hour away. It is crazy because you have to take all of these little winding roads to get there. We parked and got lunch then walked around the shops. They are famous for their pies and apples, so we got some Cider and Apple pie. It was a really fun place to explore. I have pictures on facebook, the link is http://hope.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2030366&l=5b6bc&id=11402844

We went out for dinner with Mike and Joni and spent some quality time with them...with Thanksgiving and the busyness of it, we haven't seen them all week and we missed them!

Thank you so much for all of the birthday calls and messages...I miss everyone!!!

Busy Busy!

So this weekend we had a very fun impromptu trip to LA. We were hanging out with our new friend Kelly, who is from Grand Rapids and went to Calvin! We met her at Church and she is super sweet. We went to Church, then to Soupplantaion for some lunch. At lunch Kelly mentioned that the American Music Awards with in LA that night, so we decided to go. It was cool...we stood across the street from the Nokia theater, which is next to the Staples center where the Lakers play, and watched stars get out of their cars. We saw Beyonce, Rihanna, Kid Rock, Ryan Seacrest...who else...oh Slash? I didn't know who he was but Nate did. Anywho, it was cool. I have never done anything like that before. We decided next time something like this happens we will get tickets and go! We are also (we meaning Kelly and I, Nate might not be into this) going to try to go to Ellen, and any other shows we can find. It is really cool being close to such a big city!

Tonight we went to Dave and Busters, which is a giant Chuck E Cheese for adults. We went with some fun people from work and got dinner and played some games. I tried dance dance revolution and was terrible. We did trivia, boxing, racing and won some tickets. It was an experience!

Thanksgiving is coming up! What is everyone doing? We are going to spend it with Wade, Michelle and the kids. We are excited to spend some time with them! I am going to make Mashed Potatoes (your recipe mom :) ) and Applesause (Also from you mom). Maybe I will try some sweet potoatoes. We will see.

Hope everyones Thanksgiving is wonderful!

Habla Espanol

I started my Spanish class on Monday...it is hard! I really enjoy it, and i think I will learn a lot...but it is so much to take in! I have the class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 - 9:30, so I work until 6 and go straight to class. It makes the days really long, and by now I am exhausted and want to sleep! So that is what I am going to do!

So what is your favorite thing about Fall? I miss fall...the leaves and cool weather, but tomorrow is suppose to be 77, so I cannot complain! I think my favorite part is apple picking.

A whole new world!

Here are some pictures of our life! I hope you like them!

http://hope.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2029937&l=72782&id=11402844

Home Sweet Home

So things are really starting to feel like home here. We are settling into a routine with work and exploring the area. Nate has gotten to know the area better by traveling around for work. I have made my first good girl friend (other than Joni of course) which is great for me. We went to Target tonight and shopped! I am feeling really good about my job, I just am starting to feel like I am a part of it and not just a spectator. I really love the people I work with and am enjoying it more everyday!

We don't have much planned for the weekend yet, I would like to go to Julian, which is a town close to here that is famous for it's pies, and we could go apple picking there. We will see! There is a newcomers lunch at the church we are going to that we are going to check out. Anyone have anything cool planned for the weekend?

Mexico!

I had the wonderful opportunity to go to TJ yesterday with Flood Church. It was so wonderful to get to see the culture, and to walk to Mexico! We parked on the America side of the border and walked across to the Orphanage. It was so different once we crossed the border. It is horribly sad the need that so many people have.

At the orphanage we played with the kids, did face paint and some arts and crafts and cooked them lunch/dinner (they only eat twice a day...so it was somewhere between the two) I read many Spanish books to a little girl, although I don't know Spanish, so I don't really know what I was reading, or if I was saying it even remotely right. She seemed to not care. That is her in the picture, the kids love having their pictures taken, because they get to see them on the screen!

The orphanage was a very nice orphanage. The one that the church goes to usually is in much worse shape apparently, I hope to go to that one next month. Going to Mexico makes me want to learn Spanish even more!

We ate in a taco shop on the way back, it was good! While we were eating 4 little kids walked up to our table and asked for money at different times. It is so sad and hard, because how do you give money to everyone? There were so many people asking for money or selling Chiclets or some other small candy...also, you don't even know that the money goes for food or something for the kids...So I offered one a taco. He said no.

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to go, we are so close to Mexico! I got to meet a lot of cool people my age from the church, and that was so fun! To see pictures, go to http://hope.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2029601&l=ca6f5&id=11402844

Other news...Nate got up on his board in Del Mar on Friday and has gone a few more times since then with a few different people he has met. He is really enjoying surfing!

We had a great Halloween party for the kids at school on Friday...we postponed it because of the fire. We had a costume fashion show and contest, lots of food and dodge ball. The kids play Dodge ball every Friday...I love Fridays! They are so much fun. This is a picture of the staff I work with on the right, and kids on the left :)

Today we are just relaxing...maybe watching Transformers...going to church tonight and hopefully going to American Gangster with Mike and Joni tonight!

Have a good rest of your weekend!