Today we had our last play date with Henry and Hannah before they move overseas again. We wish them the best of luck on their new adventures!
Cowabunga Dude!
That big change I was so anxious about last year ended up being an easy-breezy walk in the park! I love California and have quickly adapted to the laid back OC lifestyle. Our new home has led to a big promotion in my responsibilities: I now carry the title Head of Security. While this major life change has been wonderful in so many different ways, we certainly miss life in balmy Southeast Asia.
Our 2011 adventure started in early January when we packed up all of our belongings and boarded the long flight to Los Angeles. Along the journey, we moved house, re-acquainted with friends (and met new ones), hosted visitors from around the world and started pre-school.
Our new digs are great! We live in a wonderful family-oriented neighborhood with lots of other dogs that I can taunt and harass. There are also gaggles of kids everywhere, which makes for lots of fun for Sam and me. In fact, my new Bestie lives next door and regularly visits with treats on his way to play with Samantha. Bransby and Jessica love it here too. They have already made a number of close friends and enjoy taking Sam and me for walks to all of the playgrounds scattered throughout the neighborhood. As well, they look forward to Sam being able to walk to school in a few years.
I have very much enjoyed all of the friends and family that have come to see us this year. Besides lots of visits from Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins, we had close friends visit us from Munich, Singapore, Denver, San Francisco, Camarillo, San Diego, Seattle, Houston, Chicago and Portland. Some highlights were Utah trip with the Whitton Clan, The Getty Museum with the Ruffs, Ariel’s Grotto Princess Breakfast with Cousin Bean, Disneyland with the Hallmarks, Pageant of the Masters with the Gentry and Pohly families, Happy Hallow with Great-Grandparents, Phwa Phwa and Po Po, Catalina with Grandpa, South Coast Plaza with Vanessa and lots of summer barbeques.
Like me, Samy has also adjusted quickly and is quite the SoCal American Girl. She loves going to swimming lessons, wearing flip-flops, playing soccer in the backyard, getting mani/pedis from the two big girls next door, running wild with the three neighbor boys, eating soup dumplings with old friends from Singapore, watching Dr. Seuss on Jessica’s iPad and riding the red bike at school. She is a super happy kid who never misses a beat.
Jessica and Bransby are also doing great. They both have had a very active year. Jessica has been focused on settling into our new life and being a super mom to Sam and me. Bransby has settled into his new role at work and is also plugged into a workout group that meets every morning at 5:30. He did not compete in many noteworthy events this year (except the Santa Barbara Triathlon with Winston), but is planning on a number of good challenges for 2012. While they miss their old life in Singapore, I can tell they both love being back home in California.
We will be spending my and Samantha’s first American Christmas at home this year with Jessica’s family and will most likely be with Bransby’s family to ring in the New Year. I am so happy that I did not get left behind (like last year when they went off on holiday) and will get to join all of the merry festivities.
Tail wags and puppy kisses,
Boomer
PS: There is a lot of excitement in the air as Sam and I are going to have a new brother or sister come July 2012. We can’t wait!
