Episode CXCVI: Seasons

The Norrises have lived in California for 10 months now, which means we've experienced all four seasons. After living in a geographically boring place for many years (Dallas), we've made the most of our new geographical settings, as seasonally appropriate.

First: in winter, we went up the mountains and enjoyed the snow.

In spring, we stayed around Riverside, hiking the hills and mountains while the weather was cool and the hills were green.

In summer we went to the beach.

We also returned to the mountains.

Cabin Number 11

In the fall we headed to the desert.

Cabin Number 12

Photo of "Comet A3" (center) from the cabin's backyard hammocks

And now we're getting excited for Round 2 in 2025.

Episode CXCV: New Home

On April 6, 2024, we moved into our new home in Riverside, CA.

So far we're all very happy with the home. It is close to work/school, has huge yards, avocado trees, lots of space to play, and backs up onto a running/hiking trail along a canal. I guess the architectural style is Tudor Revival-ish, with nice high ceilings and an island vibe out back.

One of the family's favorite spots

Our backyard "river" (The Gage Canal)

Both kids have their own bedrooms, but spend most of the time in each other's

I was too lazy to take a bunch of new pictures of our house, so instead here are some professional photos from the agent who sold it to us. 

"What is your favorite part of our new home?"

Daddy: "The diving board"

Mommy: "So much storage, including a 2nd fridge"

Elliot: "A lot of fruits to eat off our trees"

Lydia: "The hill for racing balls on"

Episode CXCIV: Total Eclipse

Meg and I made last-minute plans to travel back to Dallas for the total solar eclipse. My parents were kind enough to watch the kiddos for a day while we flew there and back (in just 18 hours!)

Photos throughout the eclipse taken with identical exposure settings

First we took a red-eye flight (11:59 pm - 5:00 am) to DFW. We stopped by my lab to pick up some items from my lab members who have remained at SMU. We then had brunch at our favorite Tex-Mex location (Torchy's Tacos).

Then on to the main event: total solar eclipse!

We found a nice grassy area near DFW airport and camped out. The moon slowly made its way across the sun. Clouds floated in, threatening to block the view. We cheered them to move along. And they did!

Selfies - before and during totality

The totality lasted for ~4 minutes, and was worth the trip! Darkness fell. Street lights activated. Birds flew away. Motorists got out of their cars.  

One minute the sun was a tiny fingernail-sliver of light, the next minute it was blacked out. Suddenly we could see the corona, the sun's outer atmosphere, which is usually invisible due to the sun's brightness. 

Total eclipse, corona visible

After watching the sun return back to its normal self, we walked over to DFW to board our return flight, bringing us back home in time to put the kids to bed. There was a long TSA line full of people with eclipse T-shirts and solar viewers in their pockets.

Time lapse of us enjoying the eclipse. Bursts of 10 photos taken every few minutes. Identical exposure settings throughout.

Episode CXCIII: January Holidays

January 2024 was our first full month in California. We took advantage of a few January holidays to get out and about in Southern California.

The most significant holiday to me was my birthday - my 40th birthday 😬

To celebrate, I took on the challenge of the American Ninja Warrior obstacle course (as if to prove I was still young and physically fit).

A good time was had by all - kiddos, adults, and grandparents. Amazingly enough, we sustained no major injuries- not even to my 40-year-old body.

The family was off of work and school in honor of MLK day, so we took a 2-hour hike of our local mountain (Mount Rubidoux).

Halfway up

View from the top

We took a weekend afternoon walk to our local public orchard - a very Riverside thing to do.

We also took a weekend walk to Poly High School. We are temporarily living in a rental house which just so happens to be next door to Riverside Polytechnic "Poly" High School. Which is where my grandma went to school 73 years ago!

Poly in 1951 (it's Alta!)

Poly in 2024 (it's us!)

Finally, we are just now opening some of our remaining Christmas presents that we never got around to due to our busy moving schedule. This is a game that the whole family enjoys, and indeed is probably the first game that both Elliot and Lydia get equal amounts of enjoyment from. 

Episode CXCII: Move to California

The Norris Family has successfully made the move from Dallas, TX to Riverside, CA. The first step was getting all of our belongings packed into a giant moving truck.

The truck was as long as ~4 houses on our street.

Then the whole family got into Meg's car for a road trip across the country. We took our time (four days in total), stopping at three National Parks along the way.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Preparing to descend.

Here we go!

At the bottom of the cavern.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, New Mexico.

Saguaro National Park, Arizona.

Overall, the kids did great. We spent most of each day driving. Kids napped and slept well in the car. 

Nap time.

We ate lots of fast food.

We kept driving west until we hit the ocean!

Greetings from California.

Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve.

We arrived in Southern California just in time for Christmas with the family.

Traditional Shearer family walk/frisbee around the block.

A few weeks later, I flew back to Dallas to pick up my car and to pack some precious things from my lab. Most importantly, deep-frozen cryopreserved worms that need to be kept at -80 Celcius (-112 Fahrenheit). So I stocked an ice chest full of cryopreserved worms plus 30 pounds of dry ice, and once again drove from Dallas, TX to Riverside, CA. This time the trip took less than two days.

My lab's most precious possession - worms!

All packed into the back of my Mini Cooper.

Both trips were successful, and The Norrises are now settling in to our (temporary) home in Riverside while we look to buy a house.