It's not you, Santa Barbara.... it's me....

We did it.....we moved away. (tear...smile...)But we went out with a bang! Our final weeks in our beloved Santa Barbara were riddled with good times. We tried to squeeze a ton of "one last...everything" before we left. One last game night with the Ingrams, one last run with Anna, one last storytime at the library, one last trip up to Knapp's Castle, one last dinner with the Wirths, one last Nite Moves, one last hiphop class with Jos, one last play date with Vanessa, one last surf day, one last girl's night, one last guys' night and finally one last barbecue with everybody. A "Goodbye-becue" if you will.


Our friends and family totally came through and helped us pack up 7 years of life in SB and shove it in 3 trucks and a trailer. Thanks Mom, Dad and Chris for making the trek for our big moving weekend! I think Chris spent a total of 11 hours in Santa Barbara before he turned around with a full load of Monley matter.




Selah helped Anna pack up all the toys.



"she's a maniac...maniac..on the floor!......"


Finn picked the weekend we were leaving to decide he wanted to touch the ocean. This is seriously the first time he has ever willingly walked toward the water to intentionally feel its wetness. It was pretty awesome to witness. He loved it! He didn't jump head first in the waves or anything, but he splashed and giggled and happy-screamed for at least a half hour. We had to pry him away when it was time to go. I'm glad he left with a love for the ocean.




The sensation of his swim trunks getting wet was so foreign to Finn, that he insisted on going commando. Whatever floats yer boat dude. It must be nice to be 3!


Friend Giovana and Finn had a great time together at the goodbye-b-q. Aren't they cute?


Our final night in Santa Barbara was so fun and will go down in the memory books for sure. It was spent with good friends, good food and a few shenanigans. We sat in a lazy circle on the floor of our tiny, empty living room with close friends until late that night - nobody wanting to make that first move to leave because it would mean saying goodbye. It touched my heart. We will miss you friends! We will miss you Santa Barbara.

Now it's off to start a new Monley chapter. Its time to house-hunt (finally!) and for the new principal of Capitol Heights Academy (Woo hoo Nate!!!!) to jump in and do his thing. I am so proud of my wonderful husband. He landed the job 4 days before we left. How's that for timing!

So, stay tuned for Life With the Monleys - the Nor Cal years.

Monleys- out.