I was very worried that William would have nothing to do once Mark started school and no one to do it with. However, prayers have been heard and within the two weeks we have been here, we have made some very fortunate connections.
Last Wednesday I took William over to the Claremont Library. There, he struck up a friendship with another little boy who was about a year and a half older than him. The age difference didn't seem to matter to either of them. They both enjoyed running crazy around the library while me and the other boy's mom tried everything to get them to stop. While me and the mom were chasing our sons, we started a conversation. In this conversation I mentioned that I just moved here. She then told me about this great "mommy and toddler" summer program on Mondays and Wednesdays that needed more sign ups or else it would be canceled. This program is a pre-preschool program with classroom activities on Mondays and fun field trips on Wednesdays and it runs for 6 weeks. The best news is that the whole program is only $10! I couldn't believe it! She told me how to register and we exchanged phone numbers. Later that week, I ran into her again at the supermarket. She actually remembered me and came up to say hi! We talked for about 30 minutes and made future plans to have a little swim party at her house in the coming weeks. We start the pre-preschool program on Monday. I'm very excited!
We have only been here for 2 Saturdays so far, but Mark and I aren't wasting anytime going on outings and getting to know California. On the first Saturday we went to Griffith Park. We saw ponies, went on a train ride, and saw the train museum. I used to go to Griffith Park when I lived in California as a young girl. It was great to visit with my own child. All my childhood memories were coming back. It was easy to remember how much I loved it as I watched the excitement in Will's eyes. We had a great time.
Today, our second Saturday, I convinced Mark that we should go to the beach. He had met another student at Western who was married with a two year old son (Cody, Trish, and Wesley) who had mentioned that we should all go to the beach. So, Mark called him up and we all met at Laguna Beach. Cody also invited another first year student who also is married with a two year old daughter (James, Rachel, and Addy) to meet us there as well. We had a great time. Not only did we all have two year old children, we are also all pregnant and LDS! With all of these things in common, it was easy to connect with each other. It was also great for William to play with kids his own age. I was personally proud of Will. He is a few months younger than the other kids, but he was the only one who wasn't scared of the waves. He loved running and jumping in the water while the others were a little more hesitant. Mark got to splash and play as well with the guys as I got to sit and talk with the girls. We made future plans to get the kids together and hang out.
Heavenly Father is looking out for us and hearing our prayers. We have been so fortunate so far in our time in California. Things are looking very positive!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Move in Day and Cockroaches (again)
Mark and I are very lucky. We have the support of both sides of our family who are always willing to go above and beyond to help us out. Moving to California was no different.
A week prior to our move, we moved in with my parents as we packed up our apartment. When truck loading day came, all of our friends came and helped load us up. The whole thing took about 2 hours. Best of all, Mark's parents, June and Robert, and our close family friend, Donna, drove to California with us to help unpack and to watch William as we got things in order. My little brother, Mac, also came with us and lent his muscles to the effort.
I had contacted the Elder's Quorum President in our new Claremont ward and he recruited 4 others to help us unload. This was quite a sacrifice because we came the same night as the Lakers/Celtics playoff game. With all the help, we were unloaded and almost completely unpacked in two days.
Everything went very smoothly EXCEPT when we arrived, we found unwelcome tenants already living in our new kitchen. What is worse than dead cockroaches? LIVE COCKROACHES! Yep, to my complete horror, we came across several cockroaches in our kitchen as we were moving in. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't do bugs. Seriously, I don't do bugs! I was on the verge of telling everyone to put everything back on the truck, we are going back to Arizona. But, I couldn't do that. The good news is that, Mark called the apartment office and they got us an exterminator by the next day. After that, the sightings have been few and far between, but I'm always on the look out.
Naturally, we were very worried on how this big move would affect William. We have been praying that the Lord would help him through this and adjust quickly. The Lord hears and answers prayers! From the moment he walked in, William claimed this apartment to be his. He ran inside and exclaimed, "Oh wow!" He immediately took to the stairs like he's been doing it all his life. He ran into his room and spun around in the big space and laughed. He was having trouble sleeping soundly a week prior to moving, but hasn't had a problem yet since we moved in. I think seeing his toys and things out clued him in that this was his new home. Between upstairs and downstairs, he has a lot of space to move toys from one room to the other and organize things just the way he wants them. He has been so pleasant and positive during this whole experience. A complete answer to prayers!
A week prior to our move, we moved in with my parents as we packed up our apartment. When truck loading day came, all of our friends came and helped load us up. The whole thing took about 2 hours. Best of all, Mark's parents, June and Robert, and our close family friend, Donna, drove to California with us to help unpack and to watch William as we got things in order. My little brother, Mac, also came with us and lent his muscles to the effort.
I had contacted the Elder's Quorum President in our new Claremont ward and he recruited 4 others to help us unload. This was quite a sacrifice because we came the same night as the Lakers/Celtics playoff game. With all the help, we were unloaded and almost completely unpacked in two days.
Everything went very smoothly EXCEPT when we arrived, we found unwelcome tenants already living in our new kitchen. What is worse than dead cockroaches? LIVE COCKROACHES! Yep, to my complete horror, we came across several cockroaches in our kitchen as we were moving in. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't do bugs. Seriously, I don't do bugs! I was on the verge of telling everyone to put everything back on the truck, we are going back to Arizona. But, I couldn't do that. The good news is that, Mark called the apartment office and they got us an exterminator by the next day. After that, the sightings have been few and far between, but I'm always on the look out.
Naturally, we were very worried on how this big move would affect William. We have been praying that the Lord would help him through this and adjust quickly. The Lord hears and answers prayers! From the moment he walked in, William claimed this apartment to be his. He ran inside and exclaimed, "Oh wow!" He immediately took to the stairs like he's been doing it all his life. He ran into his room and spun around in the big space and laughed. He was having trouble sleeping soundly a week prior to moving, but hasn't had a problem yet since we moved in. I think seeing his toys and things out clued him in that this was his new home. Between upstairs and downstairs, he has a lot of space to move toys from one room to the other and organize things just the way he wants them. He has been so pleasant and positive during this whole experience. A complete answer to prayers!
Apartment Hunting and Cockroaches
Being on the verge of poverty, I hoped we could actually benefit from the housing market slide and get more room for lower rent. In Arizona, we could practically rent a four bedroom house for what we are paying in mortgage for our 2 bedroom condo. So, my hopes were high when it came to looking for a place to live in CA. I was thinking that we could find a little 3 bedroom home and we will be as happy as can be. Apparently, no one told California.
The rent in California is so high, it would make you blush. As I explained before, our student loans allow very little for rent (about $1040 per month). Which, in Arizona could get you a small house. However, in California, that will barely get you a studio apartment. I wish I was exaggerating, but I'm not!
Mark and I took 2 trips to CA to find a place. I was signed up on every apartment finder website available to find the best deal. I also looked on Craigslist. On Craigslist, I found scam after scam. People trying to rent places that they don't own and businesses that say they will find you a great place but for a small fee. Lesson I learned, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Our goal was to get a 2 bedroom apt or condo with laundry hook-ups and within 20 minutes to Western. According to the people at Western, the best places to live are in Chino Hills, Claremont, Rancho Cucamunga and the worst places are in Pomona and Ontario. However, The average rent for a 2 bedroom in the suggested areas is $1500 per month+ utilities. This was way out of our range. So, we had no choice to look in Pomona and Ontario. Still, even these place in not-so-nice areas, were running about $1300.00 per month + utilities. Lets just say, apartment finding went quickly from "exciting adventure" to "depressing reality".
I found a real estate agent who agree to help us find some condos to rent, but she either kept showing us places out of our price range or total lemons. She showed us one place in Pomona which was completely filthy and in disrepair. The patio was completely overgrown with a tree that was home to about a million bees (although she said that it was a great place for our kid to play). Our search was getting farther and farther away from the school and more and more unappealing. One place we looked at didn't look too bad. It was just a little out of our budget, but a good size. However, as we were walking down the stairs after viewing the bedrooms, I noticed a bunch of black spots on the living room floor. On closer examination, the spots turned out to be cockroaches. Yep, about 100 dead cockroaches all over the ground. Needless to say, we didn't get that one.
Then we found it! There was an apartment complex that came up on one of my web searches when I first started looking. It was in a good location and a good price ($1149 per month). But, I didn't take it too seriously because it didn't have laundry hook-ups. However, when Mark and I checked it out, we were quickly impressed. The unit was a large 2 bedroom townhouse with a bathroom downstairs and upstairs. Lots of storage closets and the walls were not white, but a pretty neutral color. Best of all it seemed to be very clean and only 5 minutes away from the school in the city of Claremont. We liked it, but it wasn't exactly perfect. It didn't have central air conditioning and no in-unit laundry. But, compared to everything else we looked at, we hit the jackpot! We happily signed a lease and celebrated with dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Bucca di Beppo.
Once I was willing to prioritize what was needed in an apartment and what was more of a luxury, I began to enjoy the experience. Mark and I really felt good about the place we found. We think it will be a good home for us even when the baby comes. Move in day is June 14th!
The rent in California is so high, it would make you blush. As I explained before, our student loans allow very little for rent (about $1040 per month). Which, in Arizona could get you a small house. However, in California, that will barely get you a studio apartment. I wish I was exaggerating, but I'm not!
Mark and I took 2 trips to CA to find a place. I was signed up on every apartment finder website available to find the best deal. I also looked on Craigslist. On Craigslist, I found scam after scam. People trying to rent places that they don't own and businesses that say they will find you a great place but for a small fee. Lesson I learned, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Our goal was to get a 2 bedroom apt or condo with laundry hook-ups and within 20 minutes to Western. According to the people at Western, the best places to live are in Chino Hills, Claremont, Rancho Cucamunga and the worst places are in Pomona and Ontario. However, The average rent for a 2 bedroom in the suggested areas is $1500 per month+ utilities. This was way out of our range. So, we had no choice to look in Pomona and Ontario. Still, even these place in not-so-nice areas, were running about $1300.00 per month + utilities. Lets just say, apartment finding went quickly from "exciting adventure" to "depressing reality".
I found a real estate agent who agree to help us find some condos to rent, but she either kept showing us places out of our price range or total lemons. She showed us one place in Pomona which was completely filthy and in disrepair. The patio was completely overgrown with a tree that was home to about a million bees (although she said that it was a great place for our kid to play). Our search was getting farther and farther away from the school and more and more unappealing. One place we looked at didn't look too bad. It was just a little out of our budget, but a good size. However, as we were walking down the stairs after viewing the bedrooms, I noticed a bunch of black spots on the living room floor. On closer examination, the spots turned out to be cockroaches. Yep, about 100 dead cockroaches all over the ground. Needless to say, we didn't get that one.
Then we found it! There was an apartment complex that came up on one of my web searches when I first started looking. It was in a good location and a good price ($1149 per month). But, I didn't take it too seriously because it didn't have laundry hook-ups. However, when Mark and I checked it out, we were quickly impressed. The unit was a large 2 bedroom townhouse with a bathroom downstairs and upstairs. Lots of storage closets and the walls were not white, but a pretty neutral color. Best of all it seemed to be very clean and only 5 minutes away from the school in the city of Claremont. We liked it, but it wasn't exactly perfect. It didn't have central air conditioning and no in-unit laundry. But, compared to everything else we looked at, we hit the jackpot! We happily signed a lease and celebrated with dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Bucca di Beppo.
Once I was willing to prioritize what was needed in an apartment and what was more of a luxury, I began to enjoy the experience. Mark and I really felt good about the place we found. We think it will be a good home for us even when the baby comes. Move in day is June 14th!
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