Transitioning back ...

After Vegas we drove both vehicles back to the San Diego area to finally move into our new house! There isn't much in it, but the kids are adjusting.

Piglet's fave spot is on the carpet next to the door:

Whheeeeeerrrrree's Bailey!?!

There she is! She loves to sit upstairs and look down on people - how appropriate, huh!!

Michael put together the new patio dining set ...

Piglet with her new weeny dog for Halloween:

... and he also put together the new BBQ!!

We had our first tarantula visitor last night (thankfully outside!) and I thought I was going to die!! Hopefully they are as docile as wikipedia says they are :/

We are LOVING the weather and the quietness in our new neighborhood - it is a drastic change from Okinawa!! We're still waiting on 2 more shipments to get here!! Our Oki shipment should be any day ... the long temp storage stuff - well .... who knows!!

Michael's 30th Birthday!

After closing on the house we drove back to Vegas to pick up the bebes and to celebrate Michael's 30th birthday!! Steve and Jan took us out to the restaurant Tender at the Luxor to celebrate!

Michael and his dad:

Me and my hubby:

The Luxor at night:

Michael's current favorite beer - Dos Equis:

Steve and Jan put us up at the Aria for a couple of nights - its a new casino in the City Center on the strip. It is probably one of the NICEST hotel rooms I have ever been in!! (it is located behind the NY NY signage):

We saw Carrot Top after dinner - and had a GREAT time! Michael even got to take a shot of Crown with CT during the show b/c it was his birthday!

Even though we were constantly on the go during Michael's birthday week, it was still a great night of celebrating!!

New Homeowners!

We FINALLY own a house!!

No more base housing during this tour!!!

It has been a long time in coming!!

We're a little excited, can you tell!?!

Michael in front of our first new home:

Right before we unlocked the door for the first time:

Looking out through the plantation shutters at our view from the family room:

another view of the family room:

The entry area and the dining room:

Just outside the deck door looking out:

The golf course/mountain view:

I LOVE this garden tub!!

Michael's half of the walk-in closet:

A huge kitchen to cook in!! We don't have to shimmy past one another any more!!

the golf cart:

The view from the second floor deck:

Michael looking out the window in the soon-to-be media room!

Looking over the balcony from the media room down to the lower level:

It is really ours!!!!

WHOOP!!!!!!!!

Back Stateside!

We have been traveling fools the past month!! We flew into Sea-Tac where my parents picked us up - we were able to get my car all fixed up after spending 3+ years in storage at my brother's house! Here are some pics from our stay up in WA:

Bailey adjusted better then ever expected - she really loved the windows:

Michael grilled out a few times for my parents:

Piglet found Bridget's (my parent's old dog) former look-out spot in the front windows:

We got to see some fierce Hungry Hippos being played between my parent's and Taylor. Piglet found another best friend:

Piggy LOVED the vast expanse of yard to run in!

We got to see Taylor's amazing acrobatics off the diving board:

... and his contemplation skills at work:

Michael before we got in the water:

Everyone cooling off!

Piglet made herself queen of the pillow pile:

After WA we drove down to Vegas so Michael could see the Mustang and so we could buy a second vehicle from Michael's dad!

Here is Michael assisting in the kitchen:

Jan and Steve took us out on Lake Mead in their new boat! Steve, our skipper for the afternoon:

Michael drew the short straw and got the cool lifejacket :P

Michael skiing!

Jan slalom skiing!!

Jan's dog, Tipsy, getting her treat that we brought for her!

Pigdog and her treat ... she really liked the frosting!

chomp ... chomp ... chomp!!

Bailey stayed hidden most of the time ... beneath the comforter:

Piggy playing with the stuffed tiger:

Us on the boat with the new arch bridge behind us at Hoover Dam!

During dinner at Pierros!

... new best friends! Jan and Steve kept our kids while we drove to San Diego to close on our house - Thank you!! We came back and these two were inseparable!