A Place of Love and Beauty

Our normal routine on Thursdays is to roam around Target. It gives us something to do, the kids like to look at the toys, and I make a fool out of myself as I try to steer those darn carts with the additional two seats. But payday isn't until next week and I figured I needed gas more than I did a new top. So we drove to the Temple and enjoyed the grounds.

As we pulled into the parking lot, my niece said, "We're going to go on the steps and see Jesus. I love Jesus. I give him hugs and kisses." It was too cute.

While playing tag around the fountain, the garbage man drove by. Without any inclination from us, he slowed down and waved as the kids squealed with delight. "Two garbage trucks!" they yelled. We saw one when we were leaving my sister's house.

We took the steps up to the terrace, which we got all to ourselves (not many visitors walking the grounds on a Thursday morning at 10:00). The kids found the big lights but thought they were huge microphones. A few songs were sung into them.

My niece was more willing to let me take pictures of her, than The Lime was. Each time I said, "Say cheese!" she would do a cute little pose.

Finally The Lime cooperated long enough that I got two good shots. I think this one is work desk worthy.

Last was a visit to the Visitor's Center, so we could see Jesus. The sister missionaries let us listen to the recording and the kids just sat there and took it all in. I wondered if there was even the tiniest recollection of things that happened before they came to earth, since they were being so reverent. The sisters offered to show us a video but lunch time was around the corner and I didn't know how long the reverence would last.

It didn't last long. We went to the back of the center and The Lime was trying to climb into the displays they had, which was the perfect indication that it was time to head back home.

But we'll be back.

Looking Around the House

My co-worker is a hip, older Grandma who listens to the same music I do. She found a radio station that plays an array of alternative songs, some from the early 90's to current hits. On Friday, Better Than Ezra's "Good" came on and I was taken back to 1995.

My great grandma had recently passed away and this song had just been released. As I listened to the song on Friday, I remembered listening to the song, standing in our front window, staring outside, thinking about MooMoo.

I haven't seen the "old house" in over a year, mainly because it still makes me extremely sad to know it's not ours anymore.

My dad needed me to drop something off at an old neighbor's home and I put it off as long as I could. As I took the "long way", I drove by my best friend's old house, the Barbie house (it was once bubble gum pink and baby blue but is now purple), Red Devil (the homemade BMX park that is now fenced off with "No Trespassing" signs), The Keesis' home, Nathan Besse's house, the Hernandez household, finally stopping at Danny and Jose's (my destination). The pink flowers that our old neighbor, Nasir, planted, were blocking my view of the "old house". I dropped the things off for the neighbor and pulled onto the street, catching a quick glimpse of our house. The only good thing about it was that it doesn't look like it did when my parents moved, so cosmetically, it isn't my home anymore. Then the tears started flowing and they flowed for a good ten minutes.

I thought about all the things that have changed (hate that word), the people that have moved on, and just wished to go back to 1995 when things were so "good".

Making Something Out of Nothing

Earlier in the week, LaVor and I threw around the idea of going to a car show on Saturday. Then on Thursday, he told me his work was participating in the Coastal Cleanup this weekend, and that might be a fun activity to do instead of the car show. Unfortunately, he called me last night and said 1) he'd be working late and the baseball game we wanted to go to wasn't going to happen and 2) he had to work today (Saturday). Whomp Whomp Whomp!

The Lime and I woke up and were getting ready to make his weekly doughnut shop visit when I heard him in the kitchen saying, "No blue one! Pink one!" I was going to the bathroom and yelled out, "Ok! We can get a pink one!" Next thing I know, he's standing in front of me with a red/white/blue sprinkle doughnut and a raised maple. LaVor had picked them up this morning, before he headed off to work at the buttcrack of dawn. What a guy!

When we called him to say "Thanks!" , we found out he was still in town, waiting for UPS to deliver the part he needed to replace. So for the next hour and a half, The Lime was in hog heaven driving tractors with Daddy, to help pass the time. Then the big brown truck showed up and ruined all the fun...LaVor was off to Turlock.

The Lime and I had to run out to my parents house but I decided to take the long way and stop off in Niles. Several weeks ago, during the Niles garage sales, we stopped in a store and I saw the cutest red necklace. I've been wanting a necklace like this one for years but decided not to buy it. It's been on my mind since then and so I thought, "Why not see if it's still there!" Sure enough, it was! And so was the blue phone The Lime found when we first saw the necklace. He had to call everyone he knew before we could leave the store.

Just across the street from the store is the train depot. They had an old railroad car that The Lime climbed up and down and all around on. He even tried his hand at pulling the handcart (I swear I saw it move). He kept asking where the choo choo man was but didn't quite understand when I told him he only works Sundays.

I'd say, for having our original plans messed up, we made the day a pretty darn good one.

Way Up in the Sky

There's been a lot happening in the sky around here in the last couple of weeks.

On my way to work one morning, I was taken back by the beautiful sunrise that was hiding behind some clouds. I was annoyed that I had my camera with me the day before but had taken it into the house (for safe keeping). Surprisingly, my little phone did a decent job.

Then last week, The Lime and I were outside, while he enjoyed his popsicle, and I noticed the sky changing. I quickly ran inside to get the camera and by the time I was back outside, it had drastically changed. The colors were richer and more vibrant and we "oohed" and "ahhed" while I clicked away.

Last night, while I was making dinner, we heard a jet fly over our house. About ten minutes later, we heard it again. This time, we ran outside to see it and discovered there were two jets. Although they were far away, they sounded like they were in our backyard...so loud! The Lime and I watched them over and over again as they prepared to do a flyover for the Raiders opening game.

Eleven years ago, things in the sky changed. After September 11, when I saw a plane, I would mentally prepare myself for it to crash. Our old house was below the final descent for the Oakland airport so we had planes over us all the time. Paranoia struck and I was convinced we'd have a plane hit our home. I still have dreams (nightmares?) of horrific terrorist lead plane crashes in our area.

My thoughts and prayers are turned to those who were in the sky that day and lost their lives, as well as their families, and those that had to witness it firsthand. I hope the last are able to look up once in a while, and find something beautiful.

The 3-Day

I always know the seasons are changing when the Susan G. Komen 3-Day comes around. It's hard to believe that the Avon walk was two months ago and in two days, the 3-day will be over, too!

My sister has worked her bum off this year to reach (and surpass) her goal of raising $2300. The walk is worth it in the first place, but when you really have to earn your money, it makes it that much sweeter.

My parents joined The Lime and I as we traveled across the bay to cheer Kari, Lori, and Cathy on.

The Lime decided to start the festivities early on and draw on his face with markers, about two minutes before we were ready to walk out the door. He was p.r.e.t.t.y. proud of himself.

The weather could not have been more perfect! The sky was crystal clear and the sun was just warm enough but not hot where it could interfere with the walkers' experience.

As we drove to meet my parents, we had to pass my sister's house. The Lime had a hard time understanding why we were driving by and not stopping. He kept asking where Auntie was and I had to remind him we were going to cheer her on as she walked. We tried practicing, "Go Auntie! Go!" but he got a little shy in front of the other ladies.

We spent a few minutes taking lots of pictures with everyone before Kari, Lori, and Cathy went to enjoy their lunch and complete the remaining 8 miles of the day.

On our way out of the area, we stopped off for lunch. Except that The Lime hardly ate his but he did take a good picture of Omi. I probably shouldn't let him touch our camera and he might be the reason why I've been getting error messages on it. But he loves doing it and he is pretty proud of himself when he does. So as long as he continues to take cute pictures, I don't think I'll stop him.

I'm so proud of Kari and can't wait to hear how the rest of her weekend (40 more miles!) went!

Getting It Together

I've been a procrastinator my entire life.

While still in school, I had assignments that I had known about for weeks, sometimes months.  But when would I start working on them?  The day before they were due.

I have wedding cake consultations months in advance and always think, "It might be smart of me to start some of the components now."  But do I?  Nope.  I literally work up until the last second before I have to absolutely leave the house to deliver it.

So it isn't a surprise that I am just now finishing some things around the house.  Some things that I've wanted to do since we moved in (6 years ago).

When I started Culinary School, I was given a crazy amount of cooking utensils, including a knife set.  While in school, I always kept them in my knife case.  But that wasn't so handy to keep in my kitchen.  Then we get married and added LaVor's knives to the mix, yet we still didn't have a "home" for them.  Finally, just before our wedding anniversary last month, my mom called me and announced she had found a knife block for us.  I'm so happy to have them in one place and not laying out on our (extra large) window sill in the kitchen!

Only downside is that there's only one slot for a Chef's knife but we have two.  Whomp whomp whomp!

The Lime will be turning three in 5 months.  Therefore, it has taken me that amount of time to finally put something on his wall.  I see the cutest nurseries on Pinterest and blogs and think, "Am I depriving my child?!"  So I'm taking baby steps and have finally arranged something so he doesn't just have to stare at white walls anymore.

I'm anxious to see what else I can get done in the next 3-6 years!

Pre-Labor Day Festivities

For the last couple years, my family has gone up to Old Sacramento on the Saturday before Labor Day, to enjoy Gold Rush Days. After we saw everything, multiple times, we decided to switch it up this year.

Half of the gang went river rafting and the other half went to Chalk It Up! in Downtown Sacramento.

The weather was perfect and a nice difference from previous visits where more time was spent sitting down, cooling off, rather than enjoying the sites.

There were people doing amazing work with chalk and pastels, all over the place. Our little Picasos did a great job adding some confetti and streamers to our birthday picture.

The drawing lasted maybe ten minutes and then it was off to the crowded playground.

Some kids were rockin' killer mullets. Those same kids were rude and didn't know how to take turns. When I told The Lime that we don't play with kids like that and we needed to find another activity, the mullet boy ran off.

We waited at the table while the Dads got lunch from the food trucks.

We were relieved to see Grandma at my Uncle's house, since she had been in the hospital just that morning. Good thing she doesn't look at this blog and won't have to see this picture.

Claire was the best and played with the kiddos the entire night.

The Lime and LaVor went for a swim which was mostly just The Lime jumping in, climbing out, jumping in, climbing out.

Then we had dinner and waited too long to have dessert. Everyone split as my sister and I were bringing everything to the table. You snooze, you lose, I suppose?

It was great to be able to see my sister's new place, Aunts, Uncles, Grandma, and some family that I haven't seen in maybe...twenty years!