From coast to coast

Hi, everyone

We are now in Daytona Beach, Florida for the Daytona 24 Hours race (Linda, Jerry, Larry, Patti, I'm about to call you!) because Stefan is driving in it. He'll be racing for the Ganassi team but I'm not sure who his teammates are... I'll try to update that information as soon as I ask him.

Unfortunately, the kids and I will not be there for the actual race because (I know it will sound odd) Clara has a birthday party that is (seemingly) the equivalent to the social event of the season for the little girls her age. And given that we just moved and she needs to make more friends, we decided it was most important that she gets to go.

Which will bring me to the very uncomfortable position of having to fly with the kids by myself. Bad enough I already flew over here trying to conquer my airplane-phobia, I now have to fly back completely straight because of the kids. Jeeezzz....

On Stefan (dad): He is having the best time re-doing the house although he hates living "under construction". The house is constantly dusty, so some days there's a lot of coughing going on, but our office is finally set-up so he has a place to reside... for those of you who know him well you can imagine the depth of his happiness...!

I hope to someday have him write in this blog (doubt it) and update everyone a lot more than I can, mostly because I feel funny speaking for him... Should I threaten to write horrible things on his behalf?? hee hee

Oh! Almost forgot: Kelly went back to stay with her mom because she was missing her friends too much.... ...Christmas was great except we missed Kelly so much... ...we spent New Year's
at our friend Donnie and Donna's house... ...almost all the floors are done at our house... ...the roof started leaking here and there after the bad California rains... ...we watched in disbelief the news about the Tsunami... Bala's (Stefan Jr.) birthday was good, but his official party will be in the next few months because Christmas can really steal the thunder from a December 23rd birthday... ...more updates to come later...

He never promised me a rose garden...

... but surprised me with one.

Here is a photo of a rose from our garden. We've never seen roses this big... so it's in a Pepsi can for size reference!

Just a rose from our garden. We have so many, in just about every rare color: peach, light pink (in photo), lavender, white... just amazingly beautiful... 

This is our house, this is our house on drugs...

I just know these pictures will excuse us from being socially retarded at the moment... It really is as bad as it looks, and although I (Gabriela) can adapt easily, it has been a true test of our marriage, if nothing else has been...

So please excuse our lack of contact, greeting cards, thank-yous or whatever else may have bothered any of you. We are literally in a mess! At times Bala (Stefan Jr.) has said "I don't want to move anymore!" in tears and truly spoke for all of us... dogs included, I think...

OUR KITCHEN (great floor, huh?)

The other side of the kitchen, leading towards the back of the house and the laundry room... 

The dining room...

The unlivable livingroom (look Ulla, we closed in the hallway!!) 

SJ's current "office" from one side... 

...and the other side 

Our future office 

Happy on the beach in mid-December... 

We finally moved!!

Indeed. After all the threats, ideas and dreams to move, we finally did it. We are now living in Los Angeles... actually, Sherman Oaks. Personally (Gabriela speaking) I'm not used to this side of Los Angeles, as I've always liked the other side of the hill better, and goodness knows I've never wanted to be called a "valley girl", but since I'm not much of a girl anymore and we're actually on top of the mountain, I can say "we look down on the valley!" tee hee hee...

Anyway, so here we are. Stefan has been home most of this time (with the exception of a 6 day trip) which makes it about 84 solid days he's been home. And, YES we still get along fabulously!!