Dearest family and friends,
So here we are on a Saturday night. We visited Portofinos and The Red Lion tonight (two of our local restaurants) and people already recognize us! Sad, maybe, but exciting too! We really do love the area that we live in and the people we have encountered so far. We joined the YMCA in our community last week and are already known there as well! Overall, people are very sweet and welcoming so far. It definitely makes us feel happy and comfortable.
We both have had a full week at work already and love it! I am still in corporate fitness - it is very different than my last job, but I am really excited about it! The members have been so great and really excited about having me there. They definitely motivate me to motivate them! : ) Erik also really enjoys his work environment- the people, stress level and commute are all great so far!
We finally feel settled in our apartment, our jobs and feel like we have a better understanding and feel for the Charlotte community... at least more than we did a week and a half ago! We just got our internet today and have "skyped" at least 5 times today already! I am glad we can blog and stay connected this way as well. I sure am becoming "technologically advanced" now that I am relying on it as a way to communicate!
Love to all,
Love Kyra
Merry Christmas tree! 
If you look really hard, you can see my face in the bulb! How cool am I?
Stockings that Lantha made for us- hung by the "imaginary chimney" with care...
Our favorite place of our apartment... outside on the patio enjoying some fresh air year-round!
Welcome to the 2008 Carolinas' Thanksgiving Day Parade! (we're not sure why there are blue creatures holding the sign... but it works) Mom, are you so proud I took a picture of the sign?! Man I'm good.
Wife. Hubby. Love.
Dragon! My sister gets scared of these, especially when they blow smoke out of their noses. 
Probably the best part of any parade... marching bands! To all of you who really know me, you'll understand that this brought back some memories : )
Erik with the Wells Fargo stagecoach in the background... he was so proud! 
We LOVE (Nas)car down here! (the cool people call it "car")
Erik's favorite part of the parade... HAMBURGLAR! He is such a kid sometimes- love it.
What is a parade without clowns?!
These guys were called Liquid Pleasure- they are an actual nationwide group and were really good! They are singing at the presidential inauguration this year... fancy!
toobs - i thought you would appreciate this one- 17mph speed limit
this is erik pouting because he thought that his wristband (to get us into the DSBG) meant that we got to go on cool rides and rollercoasters!
pretty!
prettier! we went for a hike through the woods and came out here! 
polly wanna cracker?
or two?
pretty waterfalls randomly placed as well
and this is me being a bull (the shrub is shaped like it)
and erik kissing a llama/creature type thing
These first few pictures are from a "tropical garden" - it was the only indoor display, but it was gorgeous and made us feel like we were in paradise!
a shot of the group exercise studio
another shot of the studio
this is a little break/lunch/meeting outdoor area for employees to enjoy by the water- it's gorgeous!
sand volleyball
basketball/tennis courts
baseball/kickball field (I'm in charge of running all of the leagues for the employees)
a view of the building- there are about 1000 employees that work here
