We arrived at Los Angeles International airport Tuesday morning at 7am local time. Fortunately it wasn't earlier, as customs don't open until then, and for us, the less waiting time the better with the kids. We got lots of nice treatment across the airlines seeing there were 5 of us, and in all the customs/security lines with prams. We always had barriers opened for us so we could join a short queue, take short cuts and get sorted faster. Nicer for the other people in the line too, especially when we finally arrived with sleep deprived children who didn't want to be in the prams!

Jonathan's mum, er, mom met us with Carl and our hire car. The car is a Hyundai Sonata which has plenty of boot space (phew) and fits all three car seats across the back (extra phew!!!!). We stopped for breakfast, seeing as Silas ate so little for breakfast on the plane and the little boys slept right through it, and avoided some of the traffic congestion while we were at it. Silas had the largest kids $3.99 (+ tax) breakfast he could ask for with pancakes, bacon and eggs. There isn't really bacon in North America. What they have a thin strips, about one inch wide, which look almost exactly like someone generously cut the rind off a regular piece of a bacon rasher, the rind where there are strips of meat between the bits of fat. I will have to take a picture. Naturally, they are called bacon strips ;)

Once we were in the car with full tummies, the kids fast went to sleep for our drive out to Lancaster. Silas fought bravely for a while, talking nineteen to the dozen and was very intrigued because I said to Jonathan not to drive on Carl's tail. First he asked me if it was a kangaroo's tail. I said no, no tail. Then he wanted to know if it was a dinosaur's. I told him no and not to worry, I didn't mean it. He must have thought about it for ages because he eventually said "Mum, why did you say the tail was getting squashed?" So I had to explain it properly by then! :) We were constantly being overtaken as we stuck to the speed limit (65miles/hr) and continue to be wherever we go, evidently speed limits are less heavily enforced here!?

Jonathan's mum has got everything she could for the kids - a giant box of wipes (by giant, I mean 900 wipes, 10 packets of 90), toys, portacots and bedding, towels, blocks, playdough galore for Silas....Silas is most especially delighted that he has an airbed, something he spied Uncle Mark staying on two weeks ago for the first time. He also has a red Cars stool that lights up for the bathroom/basin, and a Cars quilt/sheet set, so he's quite happy. As per usual, he has settled in and made himself right at home!

Haven't done much else, just settling in the first two days. Last night we went to Ramone's Mexican Restaurant, Jonathan's request. All his family came and then we called by his uncle Bob's place afterward and Silas got to see his plane, albeit in the dark. Jason was here when we arrive and his wife Julie arrived today, she was in the Phillipines visiting her family. Josh is coming for a few hours tomorrow as well as the rest of the extended family that live here, as it is Thanksgiving tomorrow. The great debate in the Carlson family is whether or not to have candied yams. Jonathan's Nanna loves them and has always made them at their place, but almost everyone else passionately dislikes them. Jonathan's mum says when it is at her place (as it is tomorrow, God willing) there will be NO candied yams. They are yams (think sweet potatoes) caramelised with marshmallows and brown sugar apparently...I think I'm with the nay side.

There are a few snaps in the photo gallery if you're interested.

Hope you are all well.