california vs. iowa

Okay, it's not really "vs.", but there are quite a few differences... ;)
So what's different (for the whole week we've been here)?
Well:

• Today it was 61 and sunny (after the ridiculous fog cleared up around 11am...but more on that later)
• Our backyard is GREEN :)
• I haven't touched my winter coats since I unpacked them to the closet .
• Sales tax is 9% here....which makes a big difference when you're grocery shopping...and on a budget! That $8 can make a difference...
• Vents are on the ceiling... I have to say, I really like this. It's nice to get a blast of heat when you're laying in bed at night and it's chilly (yes, it does get into 30s and 40s at night...key word: chilly, not cold).
• Gas is currently $3.39 a gallon (versus, what? $2.78 in Des Moines? Again...every penny counts) it cost us $62 to fill up the van today (yikes!).
• There aren't "super stores" here..ie: Super Target, Super Wal Mart..... (Jess informed me of this when she and Nate were here last weekend) they don't allow them because they take away from local business (as convenient as Super Target was :), this makes alot of sense).
• I can see the mountains from my backyard.
• They have some serious fog advisories here! Seriously, no joke....schools are delayed or have "start plans (ie: plan A, plan B)" in place in case of the fog. It is seriouly crazy stuff. I could barely see the backyard this morning. I guess it's because we are in the central valley and the fog gets "stuck" between the mountain ranges or something like that....anyway, I guess I'd take that over snow and ice :)
• Schools looks like compounds because of the "outdoor hallways". The elementary school across the street from us looks like a compound....I am not a fan.
• Houses don't have basements.
• We have to get a smog test on our car
• Groceries are so expensive! Example? Velveeta costs $9!
• Okay....everything out here is expensive...
• This is more of a neighborhood comparison, but the park near our house has some scandalous grafitti all over it...I'm thankful my daughter can't read at the moment (I'm sure grandparents are loving me for sharing that right now) :) Our neighborhood is actually pretty good, but there is a "sketchy pocket" a few streets down...
• Even numbered houses can water lawns, wash cars, etc on Wed, Friday and Sunday only....Odd numbered houses on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays....and NEVER between 8am and 10pm...they have weird water restrictions that will take some getting used to...
• You can't spray down your patio/driveway/walkway....you can only sweep or rake (something about "impurities" getting into the soil and that's a big deal b/c we are in a big agricultural area).
• In N Out Burger ;)
• Did I mention it was 61 degrees and sunny today?? :)

Okay, there are alot more differences, but this is what I've got so far ;)
In family news: Adelyn is loving having an actual toy room (I totally am too!), Mason has pink eye in both eyes (great), I still have to unpack my shoes (I have alot of shoes), but I'm not sure where to put them....this closet is smaller than our old house.
We like our neighbors. One of them is an animal science professor at the local community college. He has a huge, fluffy, gorgeous dog named Shiyanne....she is so pretty...and loud ;)
We are LOVING having a kitchen table. The house is coming together... it's hard since we can't paint, but I'm trying to add color with accessories, but not breaking the bank :)  We have this weird "alcove" in our wall that I can't quite figure out what to do with. It's above the "tv alcove".... it's deep and big....I'll take a picture later and get ideas because I just don't know...
Anyway...that's all for now :)