Notes About Santa Cruz V

- You see guys like this dancing to no music in the middle of a busy intersection. I turned our radio to the rap station and blasted it for effect. But he was just dancing to the music in his head.  

- Some people say really rude things. I think they mean well, but many around these parts have no filter. Concerned citizens? Maybe. Total strangers? Yep. My baby does not have really big ears, and she does not need to grow into them. They are perfectly proportionate to her beautiful little head and you are mean.

- Dudes with no deodorant stand WAY too close behind you at the grocery store. Holy stench! (I said that. He might have heard me. If he did, he didn't care.) I might have mentioned before that stinky people were the hardest part about being pregnant in this town. Olfactory overload! 

- People have signs like this in their yard

- Little boys flash you as you drive home. We turned around so fast and found the boy's parents. He couldn't have been  more than 10 years old. I was so mad...what if Ada had seen it? Thankfully I was the only one that did, Matt was too busy watching the other kid slapping his own butt on top of a Jeep. 

- There are shops called things like, "Puff-N-Pass." Oh dear.

- We saw this on a walk, it made me feel bad for the guy! His car must have been broken into multiple times before.

- You can pick juicy, sweet, blackberries in your backyard!

- Guys in kilts go shopping at Trader Joe's

Oh Santa Cruz you are colorful & we love ya.

Notes About Santa Cruz IV

- This happens when you go to Costco.

Because, really, who can think of a better place to meditate than in the noisy food court? I took the video after Ada tried saying hi to them multiple times and they ignored her.
- Matt was in the parking lot of Kragen auto parts changing the lightbulb in our Volvo. A guy next to him was fixing something in his van, and they got to talking. He told Matt that he was starting a movement with a group of musicians traveling to New Orleans. "What kind of movement?" Matt asked. "A gypsy movement," he replied. Good luck with that buddy!
- Right after telling me that story, we saw this lady:

She had a fancy collection of scarves on her hat.
- You can find a group of people at Steamer Lane hula hooping at sunset to some crazy music. When I told Matt about how hilarious they all looked, he said, "Babe, it's called hoop dancing!" (Like I was the last person on earth to hear about this awesome craze that is sweeping the nation.) Evidently he's heard people on the bus talk about it.
- We were leaving the park and Ada was sad to go. She was crying as we put her in the stroller, and a mom said, "Say, 'Mommy I need a boob!'" I looked up at her and said, "Oh no, she's not nursing anymore!" Matt thought I was rude, but I thought she was crazy. So there :) I wondered about her three-year-old son as they walked away...ughhh
- Students at UCSC just protested tuition hikes by getting nekkid and laying out on a field, spelling out, "Free Education." These were not the type of people you want to see in their skivvies...I changed the channel when the news came on! Thank goodness Matt's classes are nowhere near the East field!

Millers Visit

Matt's parents came up to visit us last month and see our new home here in Santa Cruz! 

Ada showed them around town.

We took them to Steamer Lane, where a junior surfing competition was going on. They make it look so easy!

Father and son checking out the surf. I love this picture! 

 Oh Matty :)

They took us out to lunch on the wharf and then treated us to Mexican for dinner because I was too tired to cook. We all had colds and were wiped out! 

Thank you for coming Marc & Diana! And for watching Ada while I went to the adult session of Stake Conference. 

Who's going to come visit us next? :)

Notes About Santa Cruz III

Every night, around 9 PM, there is a silly horn outside of our back patio. It's like a little song, doo-doo-doo-doo-doo (can you hear it?). I have no idea who does it, or where it is coming from! Tonight, I walked out and turned on the light and looked around. Nothing. When I went back inside, the horn went three more times. I'll be staying inside from now on.

We went to a restaurant that we heard had incredible milkshakes. I am a very decisive person, and it was taking me FOREVER to pick something to eat! Matt was having the same problem. When our server came over, he asked if we had any questions. I said, "What is fakin' bacon, and why does chicken have quotations around it?!" He explained to us that everything on the menu was vegan or vegetarian, but not to be discouraged! It all tastes great, give it a chance, yadda yadda yadda. I was in the mood for a burger, not a cashew patty. So I ended up ordering a fried egg sandwich with gouda that was okay. The shakes were good, but I don't think we'll be going back there anytime soon.

THIS GUY was at the farmer's market last night! Oh my goodness. This was a moment where Matt & I just looked at each other and died laughing.

Check out the little girl in the hat watching them!
He was holding this girl's hands and touching her forehead, maybe he was transferring happy energy to her? I have no idea. It was too hilarious not to take a picture (or two) of. I don't even think he noticed! Dreadlocks, beard, no shirt, low-rise purple velour pants....oh dear. 

Also, driving in this town is BANANAS. There are so many pedestrians and cyclists that you have to be on the constant lookout for them, they really sneak up on you! I have had not one, not two, but THREE bums jump out in front of my car. Thanks for the heart attack guys. Not only do you have to worry about these hazards, but the roads themselves are insane! I remembered that from coming up here on Spring Break when I had my permit. My mom had me drive! haha There are one-way roads, unexplainable forks, blind hills you come up and have to sharply turn to avoid hitting a telephone pole, an intersection you come through and suddenly face oncoming traffic while the road shifts to the right...I could go on and on! Needless to say, I drive VERY slowly and cautiously around this town. 

Halloween!

Ada's first Halloween was a fun one! We went to a pumpkin patch right on Highway 1 to get our pumpkin. It is absolutely gorgeous!

Ada discovering pumpkins, she would say, "Puh-puh-puh."

Looking out over the pumpkins to the Pacific!

This picture cracks me up, Ada looks like she weighs 300 lbs. and I'm trying to lug her around!

Momma and her little flower

 

We carved our pumpkin to match Ada's 3 teeth in the same places :) 

Matt had to work the night of our ward's trunk-or-treat, so Ada and I went together anyway. There were some great costumes!

We have such an awesome ward, they were so sweet and helped out with Ada so I could eat and let me hang out at their trunks. Made me feel good :)

(I was a gardener with the flower I grew...took some explaining since I kinda look like a cowgirl)

When I was leaving the house, I ran into my neighbor and we talked for a while. She said multiple times how pretty I looked, and I thought, "Hmm...I'm wearing one of Matt's shirts and braided my hair, nothing special!" Then I realized that every time she sees me, I don't have make-up on! HA! I'm always coming home from running, the pool, or getting the mail and I don't have make-up on. I thought that was funny :)

Ada finally fits into the shoes Sean got her for Christmas, they look so cute on her!

On Sunday evening, we went over to the Kruger's house and hung out with a bunch of families from the ward. It was so nice to get to know some more of the women who are in Primary & Young Women that I don't see in Relief Society. It is so nice to talk with others who have been in your position and can give you encouragement! Thanks ladies!

Visitors!

Last month, Nana & Bobba were heading up to Sacramento to pick up some dishes from Betty Rae (Nana's sister) that belonged to my great-great grandma Ada Bundy, who my Ada is named after. Since they were heading up this way, they dropped my mom off with us for the weekend then came back through to get her and spend a day with us. 

It happened to be during a CRAZY heat wave, so we naturally headed to the beach.

It was record-breaking heat, 101 degrees on the beach. Insane! We were standing in the freezing water and it felt so good! Even Ada didn't mind being dipped in it to cool off.

When Nana & Bobba came, we went to eat on the wharf at Riva's. I had the crab sandwich and it was SO GOOD! The view is gorgeous.  

Ada loves her sippy cup and chugs the water just like her momma :)

We then walked down to an ice cream shop on the end of the wharf and all appreciated the cool down!

I love Bobba & Ada in this picture :)

I just love sitting back and watching everyone with Ada. It's so fun to have a little break to observe her with others!

It was so nice to have everyone...can't wait to see you again!

Notes About Santa Cruz II

- Every Sunday morning, on our way to church, we pass a group of about 25 people at a park. They are practicing Michael Jackson's Thriller dance.

- Walking down Pacific Street with Ada, I passed by an old man with long white hair and a long white beard. He said, "Hello sweetheart! How are you?" I made a loop around going to stores, so fifteen minutes later when we passed him for the second time, I said, "Hi again!" He looked at me like I was the crazy one, and then said, "Hello sweetheart! Do you have toes?!" to Ada.

- While in Salvation Army, I was looking at the vases and dishes. A guy walks up next to me with a look on his face like he is holding in the most hilarious joke you've ever heard! I look at him and he points to a bowl and says, "Is it a pinata?" Then proceeds to die laughing. The guy is beside himself! This made me crack up and all I can say in between laughs is, "You never know!" 
- I was at the park pushing Ada in the swing. She loves to swing. A teen mom came up and put her boy in the swing next to Ada. She called out to her friend Lightning. Then she said, "Hey Skittles, will you come push him while I go get some water?" Skittles was a nice boy with spiky green hair and a dog collar around his neck.

- While in Costco, a man was quacking at Ada with a Donald Duck voice. I wish I had a picture of her face! It was one of, "What are you doing/I don't know you/please move away from the shopping cart!"

Since I don't have a picture of that face, here's a pretty cute one :)

Moved to Santa Cruz!

We packed up the important stuff...

And made it to Santa Cruz in one piece! 

Ada loves her new home, this picture is of her the first morning here.

We are almost out of boxes and I'm looking forward to hanging pictures on the walls. It's such a crazy process, moving. The day after we arrived, I put some books on my dresser. Just having them lined up and in some sort of order amidst the boxes and chaos made me feel better.

We live right on this lagoon. Ada likes watching the ducks land on it in the evening.

Having fun watching the guys from our ward help Papa unload our truck. 

I was so impressed with how many guys showed up. They didn't know us before we moved here. Not only did they give of their time, but many brought their young sons along. It was so neat to see these good fathers teaching their sons about service and the true essence of charity by their own examples.

I was thinking what I would say if anyone asked us who helped us move in. I would have told them that they were my brothers! That's what we truly are, brothers and sisters in Christ.

Some notes about Santa Cruz:

- I have seen more beards and dreadlocks in my one week living here than in the rest of my 26 years on this planet!

- Everyone in our ward has been so welcoming and sweet. They have gone out of their way to help us, include us, and make us feel important. The next two years are going to be wonderful because of them.

- We are so close to the ocean that the difference in temperature is staggering. It will be 72 during the day and then 50 at night. Brr!

- We saw a Mystery Machine today, it looked exactly like the one from Scooby Doo! Although Matt said that the guy needed to repaint it, it was looking a little "Shaggy" har-har! 

- I also have seen more people dancing and talking to themselves in the grocery store than anywhere else I've been before!

Santa Cruz!

We are going to be a banana slug family (such a fierce mascot)!

Matt has been accepted to UC Santa Cruz to finish his Bachelors Degree in Business Management Economics.

We will be moving up there in September and will be there for two years.

This past weekend we took a trip up north to take care of business. We took a tour of campus & saw giant redwoods that looked fake. And deer wandering around. What kind of a place is this?! It felt like we should've been camping. Not to mention the whole campus looks over the beautiful Monterey Bay...so gorgeous. I think it must be the most picturesque college campus ever!

Matt met with his counselor and we mapped out the next two years of classes. It was nice to meet with a competent counselor that knows her stuff & cares about us...not just getting us out of her office.

We ate at the Santa Cruz Diner (any Diners, Drive-ins & Dives fans out there?!) and it was SO YUMMY! We'll probably frequent that place when we move :)

The next day we went to Capitola Beach and walked around.

It is such a cute area that feels similar to Avila Beach.

Then we went to the famous Boardwalk which was a lot creepier than I remember it being!

Weird how your perception changes once you have a child :)

Ada making her nose bounce up and down with Poppa after walking around.

On Sunday we went to church at the Capitola Ward. It was small because a ton of people were out of town. Everyone was SO friendly and telling us to live on this side of the river so that we'd be in their ward. Just how we tell everyone to live on this side of Patterson Road so that they'll be in 3rd Ward :) The Bishop and his wife spent a long time talking with us and telling us which areas are good for a family to live in. We felt so welcomed and hope we can find a place in their ward!

After Sacrament Meeting we headed home and this is how Ada looked most of the time:

The drive really isn't that bad, it took us around 3 hrs. Still on the California coast and close enough for weekend trips home. We are looking forward to this new adventure & lots of visitors once we get settled up there!