9.26.14 - Crafts and cool weather

Today was a lovely day. Sarah drove up to visit last night, and this morning after breakfast we used q-tips to paint some fall trees for thank you notes for the Long-Distance Housewarming party Mom had thrown Jack and me a week or two ago. I love doing crafts, and it's even more fun when I can visit with a friend like that, and when I get to use the Ikea table and chairs Jack picked up and assembled for us earlier this week.

After awhile she and I took a break and got a small lunch at one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants, a sushi place, near downtown Sac. The weather is so much cooler now: only going up to the 70s instead of the 90s. I love it. Some leaves are starting to change and fly around too.

After lunch Sarah drove back home and I continued with the thank you cards, mostly while watching Once Upon a Time. The show is just okay but it's enjoyable enough and easy to only glance at (instead of eyes glued) while working on the cards. I do enjoy the character of Regina a lot more than I used to. She's kind of a BA.

9.25.14 - The weather is finally changing!

After a summer with far too many days over 100 degrees, the weather is starting to tip off at only 90 something. Still not good enough but an improvement. But today is sure to be cooler than that, because:

Also there are other signs of fall finally coming around!

I absolutely love fall. Easily my favorite season, but especially after a summer like this. I can't wait until the weather is cool enough to justify a Starbucks hot chocolate instead of a frappuccino. :)

Some of the best things about movies.

When a character says exactly what you want them to.

Kid Snippets

During my Colorado trip last week, I got to visit Rocket, Sola, and Harrison, and all of them cracked me up at different points. Here are a few samples:

Jill told Rocket she was going upstairs to take care of a few things, and when she came back down he either had to have finished his lunch or he'll get a spanking. After she went upstairs Rocket told me he'd rather have the spanking then finish eating. I told him to go tell Jill that. As he got off his stool he said, "Okay. I will try not to cry, but I might cry. But then I will just say GET BEHIND ME TEARS!" and when he said this last part he leaned toward me with very wide eyes, so emphatic. It was hilarious.

At one point Jill and I were talking about how delightful snow days are, and Sola (11 years old) pointed out that they are also dangerous because of falling icicles. She stated, matter-of-factly, "I have to watch Rocket and Zoey and make sure they don't play under the icicles, because they don't know what it means to be killed."

One evening Sola read to me from the Calvin & Hobbes book I got her for her birthday. Harrison (12 years old, amazing memory) came in and asked us to turn to page 194 because that's the strip where Hobbes says "Heck no!" For whatever reason Harrison thinks that's hilarious, and I think it's amazing that he remembers the page number.

9.18.14 - My Sept CO visit

Before Dad started renting out his house in SF, he and Jill and Rocket would visit every month or so and I could just drive down and see them. Now they never come out, so I went to CO for a visit. As a bonus, that means I got to visit Julie et al as well and meet my new nephew, Malcolm!

D'awwww

I had chances to visit one-on-one with Dad, Jill, and Julie at different times, which was great. I got to enjoy the front porch swing in beautiful (read: not flippin' 100 degree) weather and see the leaves just  start to turn in CO. I also got a whole bunch of new (to me), free maternity clothes from Julie, plus I bought  afew additional ones at the local thrift shop. I am sitting here as I write this feeling very comfortable in stretchy shorts.

During one of the days of the trip Mom was in MO throwing Jack and me a long-distance house warming party. I got to Skype with her and Merlene and Aunts Teresa and Linda. It was really fun. I showed them my baby bump and they flipped over it, that was hilarious. For awhile Zoey skyped with us too and Mom showed her all her toys waiting at Ja-ma's house, and Zoey named the colors of different puzzle pieces. She's such a cutie.

It was great to see all the kids, too. One evening Sola read to me (and Harrison and Rocket) from the Calvin and Hobbes book I got her for her birthday this year. She does all the voices, it's great.

Jill picked me up and dropped me off on the 1.5 hour drive to the airport. We got to talk (I got to talk) the whole way, and it's always nice to get one-on-one time with Jill when Dad and I don't completely overtake the conversation. 

After she dropped me off I went to check my bag and the car seat Julie & Denny had given us. The baggage guy saw the empty carseat and asked, "Did you lose your baby?" I smiled and rubbed my stomach and said "The baby's right here!" He laughed. "Oh so you're just getting ready, saving a few bucks." "Yep." "So when do you get to meet your little friend?" "March 1st! And we find out the gender in 3 weeks." And he just smiled. I asked, "So do you have kids?" And he said "No...not yet!" But he seemed very happy. It was a really enjoyable conversation.

I have a few cute kid anecdotes but I think I'll save those for a separate post.

9.11.14 - Friendly support

Yesterday my program director surprised me by having a beautifully wrapped gift for Jack and me to congratulate us on our pregnancy. It was a baby blanket and some odds and ends, all in gender-neutral purples and yellows, so soft. It was really nice.

On a whim, Shannon bought us a chair at a garage sale that reminded her of Harry Potter that she thought we'd like for the nursery. It's really cool - quirky and painted an interesting aqua color. I'm just too tired to take a picture right now.

My mama is throwing Jack and me a long-distance house warming party on Sunday, at which guests will bring gift cards to help us replace the furniture we had to toss earlier this year. It's such an unconventional, creative, sweet gesture on her part, not to mention on the parts of everyone participating even though we can't be there with them. It's very touching. :)

9.5.14 - Jack is a good listener.

The past few days I've been rambling to Jack about a few different political and social topics I've been thinking a lot about, and he's listened very attentively and inserted exclamations and agreements and jokes. It means a lot to me that he is a good listener and a good friend.

9.4.14 - Science jokes

I was looking through science-ish photos I'd uploaded to FB quite awhile ago, and these ones made me giggle all over again:

9.2.14 - The moment you realize you're a freaking cat!

This video made me laugh so hard Jack came in from the other room to see what's going on:

Also, today Neil read a news article that really got him down, so he watched this video and felt better. Hahaha.