7.31.17 - July joy statuses

7.23.17 - WallBQ

A couple weeks ago Doug changed his FB profile picture to him in front of a big wall, and he said something about how it would make a great wall ball wall. Then Dyl and Jack responded basically saying we should have a WallBQ (wall ball game followed by a barbecue) and bam, it was planned.

So today Jack and I packed up the girls and drove to Berkeley. Jane slept the entire drive, bless her. Clara didn't fall asleep until the very end, but she did a great job just hanging out in the back watching the world go by. I didn't even give her the Kindle for the first hour or so.

It was great to get out of the triple degree weather here and spend a day where the high was 74! Good wall ball and walking around weather.

Sadly, the old wall ball wall is closed. Both entrances to that level of the parking structure were gated and locked.

Long live the wall (pic from spring 2010)

However, everyone adjusted just fine and played against a wall in the parking garage itself. Sunday near campus there were no cars there except our own anyway, and this way everyone was already in the shade, a nice bonus.

Shaded, parking garage wall.

While the wall ball games got underway, Henry, Erin, and I took the girls for a walk in the double stroller. Jane fell asleep, and Clara enjoyed the front seat view of campus. I don't think I've been on Berkeley campus really since I graduated. It was a bit nostalgic.

We stopped in Memorial Glade and Clara explored everywhere, with the very helpful Henry chaperoning her. Meanwhile Erin held the umbrella we brought in place so that Jane could lie in the grass and still be in the shade.

Checking out those polka dots.

Jane chilled like that for the better part of an hour, and we all got a chance to talk a bit more. Clara kept calling Erin "Julie," I guess because they both wear glasses and Clara hasn't spent much time around Julie yet. It was cute. Once Jane started fussing we packed the girls back up and headed back.

Enjoying the grass.

We returned to the parking lot wall in time to watch the final wall ball game, in which Kale beat everyone, of course. It's been years since the last wall ball game and, frankly, most of us have gained weight and moved to a more sedentary lifestyle, but Kale still looks exactly the same.

This is what defeat looks like.

After the game was over we all visited in the parking lot for a while and Kale told us about how he proposed to Fitzy! It was a sweet story about using a board game they love, Twilight Struggle, to sneak a card to her that said "Will you marry me?" They are getting married next July and I fully expect an amazing first dance as they are both very good swing dancers.

Then we all migrated to Doug's for the barbecue potluck. Jack took a long way around so we could drive past some of the places we had most enjoyed when we lived in the East Bay, particularly Zachary's pizza. It was surprisingly nostalgic and I was also surprised at how many different places had memories for us, including some with Neil. Anyway, it was a nice little drive.

This place is in Jack's joy inventory.

Doug's house was charming as ever - more so, actually, because in the years since we've been there he has painted the rooms different cheerful colors and he has a massive bike rack on one wall for 4-5 of his bikes plus several friends' bikes.

When we first got there I was getting frustrated because despite feeding Jane and walking her around, she wouldn't stop fussing and I couldn't really visit with everyone and I felt as if she was probably irritating people. I tried to get her to sleep in one of the back bedrooms as she'd already been awake a couple hours, but she wasn't having it. For a bit, Dylan rocked her and she seemed to chill, but then she got pissy again. Finally I asked Jack to drive her around and try to get her to fall asleep, otherwise we'd need to leave because hanging out with a screaming baby isn't fun for anyone.

So Jack took her for a drive and Henry was very helpful in following Clara around (who wanted to hang out with someone's tiny dog outside), and I did get some time to visit with Kale and Senta and the Odoms. That was pretty nice. I also got a chance to eat some excellent salad and bbq sausage and other potluck delights. I wish I'd taken a picture of that excellent spread in Doug's cheerful sunny kitchen. More pictures! Oh well.

Jack stayed out for a long time, which was generous of him, and when he did get back it was about time to pack up and go anyway. Before we left, Henry, Kale, Doug, and I decided to plan a Tichu visit to our place in August. I hope that happens, I am already looking forward to it.

Jane is ready to leave!

Once we left, at first Jane was pissed off to be in her carseat again but she fell asleep as we hit the highway, and both she and Clara slept the entire way home. Side note: I also appreciate how Jack pretty much always drives unless he is truly exhausted. I dozed a bit myself.

Overall a great day. It's always nice to remember how many friends we do have in the (broad) northern California area.

7.12.17 - CO July Trip - the rest of the visit

(Written 7/22/17)

I'm glad we decided to stay a full week for our CO visit. Between the length of the trip and all of Kristin's help, we had enough time to do most of the things we'd talked about before getting there. Jill had wanted to play Paper Game (so did I), Everett really wanted to watch Interstellar with me, and I really wanted to play Quiplash with everyone. We hoped to play Tichu too, although we were skeptical it would happen, as it usually doesn't.

Well the day after Field Day (Sunday), we got the girls ready and drove down to Tejon for the afternoon and evening. Kristin watched the girls and we were able to play Quiplash for a couple hours, and it was as funny as I'd hoped. At one point Everett named his character "Ed's goatee" so I named mine "Ev's goatee," and whenever we voted the same way on a question we made a big deal about it. At another point the room code was MOME, so someone named their character that, I named mine "MO' MONEY" and Everett named his "MO' PROBLEMS" and Eric the DJ (who had come by) named his "E MO MONEY," so again we all joked that we were teams.

There were definitely parts when I was crying laughing, although sadly I can't remember most of them now. I know Neil won a round by saying that Willy Wonka's bank statements included an entry for "Billy Bonka's Vanilla Factory." Everett won a round saying the Bible should be renamed to "The Life of Jeezy Creezy." During one game, Bryon named himself "Last Place," and his answer to the final round question was "Don't vote for this! I want to lose!" He won, of course. Jill played too and, as I hoped, she really enjoyed it. Even Dad stayed and watched for a long time and laughed along. There's something very appealing about a game where you can just sit on the couch as you play.

The leisure of Quiplash.

We played Quiplash again I think both the next day and the day after. Eventually Sola got in on it and even Rocket (with his Aunt Jennifer's help) played some too. So I'd say it was a hit!

Anyway, after a lot of Quiplash that Sunday, Neil, Everett, Henry and I played Tichu, but Neil and Henry completely stomped us.

But Everett keeps a positive attitude.

Then Dad took Neil and Emily to the airport to go back home. Everyone wished they'd be in town longer but it was still great to see them. Side note: that was the first time everyone had met Emily, and she was a hit! Friendly, easy to talk to, and she laughs so easily, which I love. So that went well.

When we went home that night the girls fell asleep pretty easily and slept in the next morning. It was a huge relief. Amazing how much better the entire day is when you get enough sleep.

The next day, Monday, we stayed at the ranch. Kristin came up to help out and eventually the rest of the family joined to hang out. The weather was spotty with rain off and on frequently enough that it was hard to get out and do things. Even so, Sola, Henry, and Jack all got some time with four wheelers and dirt bikes, and later Henry and Jack did some trap shooting while Everett and I watched and commentated from the truck.

Everett telling Jack he's supposed to shoot the clay pigeons.

Everett decided to stay the night at the ranch with us so we could play Tichu one more time before Henry left the next day. Jane cooperated and slept in her swing for almost the entire game, and Kristin was putting Clara to bed for a lot of it too, so we played nearly uninterrupted. We drank Diet Coke and ate Hershey's bars (from the ranch s'mores supplies in the upstairs kitchen), and Henry also warmed up a bunch of leftover ribs. Dinner of champions.

Everett trying to keep Jack from looking at Henry and non-verbally communicating their strategy.

Jack not at all sure he should've called Tichu.

Everett and I were winning by quite a bit, but we didn't quite finish the game before Jane woke up -- we were over 900. If I had just remembered to call Tichu on my very first completely overpowering hand (the 1 and a huge straight and the dragon!!) we would've already won. Alas.

The next day (Tuesday), Henry headed back home. We all went to Tejon and for a little while Clara enjoyed the backyard, particularly climbing up the slide and then sliding back down by herself as well as watching Sola on the trampoline.

I love this photo.

But the girls, who had slept terribly the night before, wouldn't really go down for naps either. I was getting pretty frustrated but the day was saved when Kristin took the two of them for a very long walk and I was able to sit on the porch swing with Everett and chat with him, Jill, Dad, and Ellen and have a glass or two of wine. The weather was great too - not raining, but overcast so it wasn't too hot. That porch swing is one of my favorite places to be.

Eventually my friend Jen and her incredibly smiley 6-month-old James joined us. Jen even brought lemon cheesecake (which was excellent) because she'd been practicing different recipes to make a great cake for her mom's upcoming birthday. We drank and ate on the back porch and then moved inside to play paper game, also with Sola and Jennifer (Jill's sister). James was surprisingly cooperative while we played, and Jen is a pretty good artist, which makes it more fun. Jennifer is also fun to play with because she compliments almost every single drawing she receives as well done. She's just such a cheerful laid back person.

Jen and incredibly smiley James.

Finally, on Wednesday we somehow managed to watch the nearly 3 hour movie Interstellar all the way through. Everett had been pushing me to watch it for months but it was enjoyable to watch with him. It was a pretty thought-provoking movie and I was glad to watch it on a (bigger than my laptop) screen with decent sound.

That day I also did the annual kid interviews, which were fun. Sola's interview was kind of through-provoking too, because she's about to start high school and I can still remember pretty clearly the summer before I started high school. Not long after the interviews I went on a long walk with Jill and the dogs and we talked about it, and we both think Sola seems pretty well equipped (in terms of friends and her own maturity) to deal with whatever comes up. Guess we'll see.

On a final note, I think staying at the ranch this trip worked out really well. It gave us time in the morning to get up and get going without things being too crazy, and it gave everyone else a break from the chaos of little kids around all the time. I didn't mind the drives back and forth either, because mostly the girls fell asleep and Jack and I had a chance to talk with each other one-on-one. Plus it's a very pretty drive. And staying at the ranch gave us a bit more control over feeding Clara with a bit less worry about cross contamination or other issues. Spot on, good choice. I expect next time we're all out we'll stay there again.

Clara has plenty of legroom on one of the drives from the ranch to Tejon.

7.8.17 - CO July Trip - Field Day

The girls didn't sleep well the first night, and all of us were exhausted by the next day, but that just made me all the more glad we decided to stay at the ranch. Otherwise we would have had to get everyone up and ready to go and then trek to the ranch for field day. Instead we were already there!

Dad et al started arriving around 10 am to get setup and soon the ranch house was bustling. There were a lot of balloons to be filled with helium and tied. Dad used them as markers for the front gate and the road to the house, so people who hadn't been there before would know they were going the right way. Jill and Dad had (wisely) chosen not to cook everything themselves this year. Instead Jill bought a bunch of Costco rotisserie chickens and sandwich trays (both tortilla wraps and croissant sandwiches, **yum**), potato salad, lots of chips, and other fun delicious summery food. And of course there was tons of Diet Coke.

At some point while everyone was getting ready, we transferred Jane to the baby swing Jill bought, and Jane loved it. In fact the entire trip she probably spent hours in that swing every day. So helpful.

Chillaxin'

Miss Kristin also came up to help with the kids. She was very attentive to my concerns and instructions about what specifically Clara can eat, and she even cleaned out a kitchen cabinet to store all of Clara's food, and brought me duct tape to mark the cabinet "Clara's cabinet, please stay out." I really appreciated how seriously Kristin took the celiac issue.

While everyone was enjoying a very delicious lunch, Kristin ran into the nearest town to pick up a few more things (like whole milk and frozen fruit for smoothies). In the time she was gone, almost everyone went down to the corral for the beginning of field day games. Jack took Clara (in her lovely sunhat), and I stayed at the ranch house with Jane. I was pretty happy to sit in a totally quiet, cozy living room while Jane slept in her swing. My only regret was being unable to videotape the games, but Everett happily took on that job (and did great). So I was later able to watch video of sack races, 3 legged race, relay race, and balloon toss.

Franklin's parents help him with balloon toss as Dad oversees his good works.

When Kristin came back, I fed Jane one more time and then walked by myself down to the corral. I got there in time to see the end of little kid hot potato and all of older kid hot potato. Not too long after I arrived, Jack took Clara back up to the house so Kristin could watch her while he took a much needed nap.

Clara was also pretty tired.

I stayed at the corral and got to give a try at balloon stomp (which I was terrible at) and play RPS (which made me laugh pretty hard). Before balloon stomp Dad actually drove up to the house to see if Jack wanted to participate, since Jack now has a history of coming in 2nd place (both SSROs plus 2016 field day). But Dad said Jack looked so exhausted Dad didn't want to wake him. Instead Dad made himself a rum and Diet Coke and then came back down to continue.

The little kids just don't really get RPS.

Matt won adult RPS.

Typical Colorado, in the middle of what had been warm weather it started to rain, so we took a break. A bunch of people piled into the back of the pickup and Dad ferried them up to the ranch house. For a little while Ellen, Bryon, a few others, and I stayed in the barn and chatted and watched the rain. Eventually Matt came back in the pickup to get us. We got back to the ranch and got to enjoy a bit more food during the rain break.

We went back to the corral and watched the kids (and some adults, including Dad) have a water balloon fight and a color fight. The color fight was genius - not too hard to clean up, much less gross and more fun to watch than a food fight, but the same overall principle (try to keep your white tshirt as white as possible). In both fights, Everett got on the bullhorn (at my urging) and told everyone to attack Dad, who every easily outran a pack of children, but it was fun to watch.

Dad demonstrates stylish water balloon throwing.

Franklin doesn't care what happens, he's just glad to be here.

After that the kids were going to do a water gun fight, but by then I was so exhausted I decided to walk back up to the ranch house and take a nap myself. Normally I have a hard time napping when there's so much going on and so much visiting to do, but I made myself so that I would have energy for karaoke later. I was glad I did. Jack was still sleeping in the king bed when I got up there, and rather than disturb him I decided to wind down on Clara's mattress on the floor (which itself was very comfortable too). I passed out and I am pretty sure I was out for over two hours, no problem. Man, it was great to know someone else was taking care of our kids so Jack and I could both catch up on sleep. Now that's a vacation.

By the time I woke up people were getting into dinner (the rotisserie chicken, a whole lot of ribs, and similar food from lunch). Various guys were dirt biking and going trap shooting. Jack was up by then and off happily zooming around on the big dirt bike (forget what it's called). Some kids were playing on the gigantic swing Dad had rigged up, and others were playing giant Jenga (which I later found out was a homemade set) on the patio. Clara was happy to hang out on the (now very baby proofed) balcony. Jane kept baby swinging away.

This is a double reflection shot and shadow photo!

Side note: love the balcony now. Last year the railing was far enough apart Clara could slip through it, so I was always nervously watching her and trying to keep the balcony door shut. This year they had fixed it and there was no way she could get out, so I could let her go in and out of the house without a problem, and she could be outside without anyone having to follow her around. I hope someday we have a house with a balcony like that.

After dinner Eric the DJ got karaoke going. The first hour or two was mostly the kids. In fact the very first song was Julian's, and he chose "Paint it Black"! Unexpected. Then there was the Pokemon theme song and lots of kids' movie songs, especially Moana. At one point 5-6 kids were singing "How Far I'll Go" from Moana, and I actually found it really moving. It's partly because I find that song moving anyway, and it's partly because Sola was singing it pretty passionately and I was thinking about one time over four years ago when Sola and I were driving down the highway with the windows down belting "Let It Go" from Frozen. Something about the connection there, and Sola's sweetness and how fast she's growing up and how much I like the song they're singing made it a Moment for me. I even felt a bit misty eyed. Anyway it was sweet.

Rocket karaoke's in his pajamas.

The kids dominated karaoke for a couple hours and then (at my request, actually), Dad told Eric there would be no more kids' songs, and the adults took over. Everett, Emily, Neil, and I sang "Jumper" with Ellen to start. Then there was some song where I gave my mic to Neil and Emily and tried to share with Everett instead, but he wouldn't, and we started wrestling around for it, and Dad joined in, and all the while all three of us were still singing (through laughter). We were very out of breath by the end.

I had to stop to go feed Jane, but that worked out well for me because despite my nap I was still a bit tired. I sat alone with her in the upstairs kids room and she fed while I finished the last episode of Turn Season 3 (which was epic). Jane took quite a while, but I was so into the episode it was fine.

buh buh BUM

Then I got to hand Jane back off to Kristin (who had miraculously gotten Clara to sleep in her own bed despite the loud karaoke music), and I went back downstairs and enjoyed s'mores and many more karaoke songs before bed. And I didn't need to worry about videotaping any of it because Henry had that covered most of the night.

Ellen is amazed/disgusted by Eric the DJ's incredible singing voice.

AND, when it was all finished, I didn't have to haul back down into town before bed. Instead my kids were already asleep and Jack and I were able to just go upstairs, change, and pass out.

It was an exhausting but wonderful day.

7.7.17 - CO July Trip - Arrival

(Written 7/16/17)

Early this year, Dad suggested we come out to visit on or near the 4th of July. I was hesitant because I knew I'd be traveling with a two-year-old and a baby less than two months old. But when I learned that Jack really wanted to go, and when Dad suggested we stay at the ranch house (plenty of space, less issue with the girls being loud in the night) and that Miss Kristin help watch them, it seemed more doable.

The girls were really as cooperative as I could expect on the trip out. Our Uber driver was cheerful and had a big car with lots of trunk space (thank goodness). This was also our first real test of the double stroller Dad and Jill got me for my birthday, and it was fantastic. So much easier knowing Clara can't run off, plus it's large enough to carry several of our smaller bags.

Clara was her cheerful, inquisitive self at the airport. Jane started fussing as we were walking to the gate, but I was able to sit off on my own and feed her without much trouble, which was nice. Jack and I enjoyed our homemade gluten free bacon egg muffins as a late breakfast.

Jane slept almost the entire flight, and when she did wake up she just fed and then relaxed. Couldn't have asked for an easier time with her.

Clara did well too. She fussed a bit when she had to wear her seat belt, but the Kindle got her through. I had gone ahead and splurged the night before on the Pango Playground app (a whopping $3, but it's the first time I've paid for an app), and it was well worth it because basically everything she touches in that app does something. Keeps her busy quite a while. Plus the app has pleasant background music. Nothing too grating, like so many kids apps. Yes, we are big fans of Pango Playground.

Behold!

Neil picked us up, which was nice because he was only going to be in CO through Sunday, so we got a decent amount of time visiting with him on the drive back. Plus we hit some bad traffic, and I have to sit in bad traffic I'm glad the driver is Neil, who is both more patient than most and more humorous in his impatience. The girls slept most of the way, but at one point Jane did wake up and need to eat, so we just pulled over and I fed her while we all visited some more.

Sleeping most of the way.

When we finally got back to Tejon, Henry, Jill Rocket, Sola, and Harrison all came out to greet us and help us move our bags inside. Miss Kristin was there and ready to watch the girls, but I wanted to give Clara a little time to acclimate before we took off for dinner. She seemed to fit in pretty quickly and happily, and to my delight all those home videos of the family seemed to help, as she knew Everett, Neil, Papi, etc.

So all the adults left for dinner at The Warehouse. I enjoyed talking mostly with Dad, Jill, Neil, and Emily, but also with Neil and Jack. Ellen and Everett were at the far end of the table from me, and while I didn't get to talk to them as much, I enjoyed watching them quote things like Tommy Boy in unison. I was roamer, which almost always ends up being the right decision as I get to try all the food and we usually still have food leftover anyway.

Grungy outside, pleasant inside.

Then Jack and I (and Henry in his own car) drove the 40 minutes or so to the ranch, where we were staying. Jill had very thoughtfully already bought a pack'n'play, a baby swing, and a whollle bunch of gluten free food for us and had it sent up there. We set up a mattress with soft pillows and blankets in one corner of the master bedroom, and we put the pack'n'play next to the king-sized master bed, and there was still plenty of space because the room is so large. I let Clara watch the beginning of 101 Dalmatians while Jack and Henry unloaded the cars (which were filled with supplies for field day the next day, mostly chicken and ribs). They kept an eye out for bears.

I got the girls ready for bed: put Clara in PJs and a night time diaper and we brushed teeth. Put Jane in PJs too. Despite warm days it was actually a little chilly at night; I was glad I'd brought footie pajamas for Jane. I got Clara to sit in her new bed with her animals (Bobo, Owl, and Elmo). I then turned out the lights and sat on the master bed to give Jane her last feeding.

In the darkness I could just make out Clara very silently coming up to the foot of the master bed and putting her Marauder's map blanket and animals on the bed. Jack told her no, she needed to stay in her own bed, and she went back without much fuss. When I finished feeding Jane, I moved the laptop I'd been watching so I could put Jane in her pack'n'play, and there was Clara, standing again at the foot of the bed, in the dark, silently staring at us, with her blanket and animals back on our bed. It was creepy and also kind of adorable. We decided to let her share the bed with us for the first night (since it's king sized it's not difficult to share with a toddler). She mostly seemed to want to sprawl across Jack (lucky me). And so ended the first day of our trip.

This pic is actually from the next morning, showing our cozy sleeping arrangements.