Hosanna Hosanna We've Found Our New Home

Moved. Did it. Don't want to do it again for a long time. We are mostly settled in. Actually, not true. We have the basics done. And I am too lazy to unpack the rest. So it sits in the garage. I'll get to it later.

A few people have asked me to post pictures of the house on this blog, and I won't be doing that. Since its public, I'm just not comfortable posting pictures of my house here. Maybe I'll put them up on facebook later, or if you REALLY want to see pictures, I'll email them. Wait, let me clarify. I won't post pictures of the outside of the house, but later when I get the inside done, I'll post those pictures.

The house we are living in is kind of strange. The guys who owns it built it himself, many years ago, and there are a lot of quirks. I don't even know how to describe it. And not like good quirks necessarily. Some are good quirks. Like an elevator. What. You don't have an elevator? Anyway, the weird quirks are worth it for the location.

(I am having a really hard time typing today! I'm having to backspace like every other letter.)

The weather has been lovely. We had a big storm the first few days, but since then, it has been sunny and clear and beautiful! Our house is just a two minute walk down to the beach and the Marine Reserve, with huge tidepools. The boys and I walk down there pretty much every day. It's awesome. Jake says its like living at the aquarium. We love it! I love seeing the ocean every time I look out my windows, and hearing the waves when I go outside. Very soothing.

Starfish...
"...crab with two clamping claws"

We went to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival, which was so fun! Tons of vendors with beautiful artwork, crafts, and fantastic food. Usually at these things, you get the usual corndogs, funnel cake, pizza, blah blah blah, but we had marinated artichoke hearts, braised brussel sprouts, fried calamari, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin ice cream, clam chowder, all manner of sausages...and that wasn't even the half of it. SO GOOD.

Above: Erin with fried calamari, Wy with pumpkin ice cream cone. I do feed my child foods other than ice cream, although you might not think so from reading this blog.

Below: Wyatt eyeing dad's garlic-rosemary-artichoke heart-deliciousness, two seconds away from grabbing a handful. He is such a good eater. I love him.

Our new ward is pretty great. It is small and spread out, but so friendly! We felt like we were royalty! Pretty much every person in the ward came up to welcome us and meet us, and I got a standing ovation and pumped-fist cheers in Relief Society. Seriously. I've never felt so welcome anywhere. We are excited to be here. I know we will be put to work here; its good to feel needed!

Hollie's Wedding!

Congratulations to my sister-in-law Hollie and her new husband Matt Gille! They were married on September 25 in the Houston Texas temple. Yes, I know that was several weeks ago, but I just got my camera back from Jake, and wasn't able to blog about this until now. Sorry.

It was a wild and crazy trip for us. The boys and I flew up to San Francisco to meet Jake, and then the next day we all flew out to Texas together. We stayed with his Grandma Beaman for three days, flew back to SF together, and then I flew back to So Cal with the boys. Yikes. I don't recommend flying alone with two kids under two. Not fun.

It was a beautiful wedding. Hollie looked GORGEOUS, and they make such a beautiful couple. We were so glad we got to be there, we just wish we could have stayed a little longer!

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu

Tomorrow is moving day. Feeling a little sad, in a sentimental kind of way. Its rare, but this feeling always shows up when I move. Normally, I'm the kind of person who loves change. Even in this situation, when I would rather stay than go, I can't help but be excited for the change. I love moving for that reason. I know its weird. I'm pretty sure its genetic, passed on to me from my Granddad. But on moving day I always get a little nostalgic, a little sad to leave behind my life in this place. Once I get on the road, the feelings will fade. One thing I have learned over the years is to embrace feelings in the moment, so indulge me while I journal this.

Erin Fun Fact: I LOVE making lists. Love it. It brings me joy and relieves anxiety. It calms me down and get me excited all at once. Its like Diet Coke, but without the subsequent gas and bloating. Right now as I type this, I can see no less than 8 lists that are magneted (its a word now) to the fridge, and I know of several more sprinkled throughout the house. Thus...

Things I won't miss about living here:

1. The Santa Ana winds
2. The ____________ (fill in the expletive) 91 freeway
3. HOT, DRY summers
4. Traffic at every hour, every day (see #2 above)
5. Living without my husband

Things I will miss about living here:

1. Cheap pedicures
2. Disneyland
3. Wearing sandals year round
4. The lovely beaches where one can wear a swimming suit, and even get in the water, if one wanted to
5. Multiple political points of view
6. Sunshine
7. Affordable housing
8. Wide parking stalls
9. Strong church presence
10. Wonderful, loving, supportive family and friends

Yeah, I'm going to miss this place terribly. Don't get me wrong, I am excited to move up north. I really am. I mean, I still have my reservations, but overall, I am feeling excited and positive. I'm looking forward to what the future holds for me and for my family. I know that the Lord has guided us to the place where we are at this time. I have faith that He has a plan for us. It has been a bumpy road, and MANY times along the way, we've looked at each other and said "what have we done?! We just can't do this anymore!" But that's what trials of faith are all about: trusting in the Lord, seeking his guidance, acting on answers to prayer, taking leaps into the darkness. Not that I think the road is going to be smooth from here on out, I know it won't be. Our journey is far from over. But I know we are being guided, our hands are being held, and I am grateful for that.

So here I am, scared but full of hope. And dreading the 9 hour car trip tomorrow with the boys... :)

I can see where this is headed!

Today during torture time, I mean, tummy time, I had to acknowledge this:

Yep. The poor kid is already losing his hair. Here's the thing. My boys were born with such luscious, long, thick locks. But by two months, they start rubbing their way to massive bald spots. The problem is, what should I do about it? I hate to shave his head. First, because I LOVE HIS HAIR. Its awesome. He looks like one of those treasure trolls. He even has a face like a treasure troll. Big, wide open eyes, button nose, chubby cheeks...If I dyed his hair hot pink he could be a treasure troll for Halloween. And the second reason, because I don't want to take clippers to a little tiny baby, with his sensitive, soft baby skin. It would scare him to death. So I'm at an impasse. I do need to make a decision soon however, before it turns to this: Sorry its blurry. This is the only picture I could find. I am really a horrible photographer. This is Wyatt. Basically the whole back of his head was bald. I would try to give him trims to minimize the difference between hair and no-hair areas, but it didn't really help. I kept thinking it would grow in, but it never did until I shaved it all off. I think the new hair growth itched, so he would always rub his head when he was on his back. The above picture showing the result of such actions. I'm ashamed/embarrassed I let it get so bad. After I shaved it off, it came in nice and thick, no more bald spots.

I don't know what to do with Micah's hair. It kills me to shave it off, but it is starting to look ridiculous.

Other Micah-journal stuff: At his 2 month checkup he weighed 11 pounds 1 ounce, 23.5 inches long. Average. Average. I think he looks chunky, but its just because I've never had a baby who weighed in above the 10th percentile. At any point in time.

This is just a cute picture of Wyatt from the other day:

I love LOVE LOVE my boys!

Be Prepared!

Susie's house almost caught on fire today. Really, really scary day. Wildfires came within a few hundred feet of her house; she and the rest of the neighborhood were evacuated. Fortunately her house did not receive any damage, but it really got me thinking. How prepared am I in the event of an emergency? The thing that frightens me is that I am not prepared at all. While Susie was telling me about running around her house, trying to grab what she thought she needed, all I could think was how unprepared I am for such an event. I started mentally going through my house, trying to remember where we keep the important documents, pictures, what clothing would we need, what supplies I would need for the myself and the boys, where I would go, etc., etc. It really freaked me out. The leaders of the church are always telling us to be prepared, have an emergency kit, and to have a plan. And in my stupidity, I keep putting it off. Especially lately. We've been so transient, it was so easy for me to say, well, I'll take care of this once we get settled. But emergencies don't wait for us to be settled. It was a very eye opening experience. Needless to say, getting a 72 hour kit and an emergency plan put together are at the top of my to do list right now. How prepared are you?

PS Susie got some great pictures from her camera (this one was from her phone). I'm sure she will post them on her blog soon.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

We're moving! Hooray! Yippee! Jake's temporary assignment in San Francisco has officially been made permanent. We are moving in three weeks. We were able to rent this really cute little house. I love it. Its right on the water, close to the church, has a big back yard, and I am so excited to move in!

Jake was a busy boy this week. His honey-do list included the following items last week:

1. Get a job

2. Get a house

3. Get a car

He did all three! We got a new car on Friday! Its a hybrid Toyota Highlander. I absolutely love it. It is so nice having the room for both boys and leg room in the front at the same time. Plus trunk space. Its weird driving a hybrid, because it doesnt feel like its running when you start it, but I am getting used to it. Wyatt is in heaven. He follows me around the house, asking "new car? new car?". He has this huge grin while he rides in it. And now he can't reach his brother and rip off his blanket, snatch and throw his pacifier, and try to rip off his feet. Wyatt has a thing with baby feet. Very strange.

I tried to get Jake to do the "toyota jump," you know from those old commercials "I love what you do for me...Toyota!" and then the person jumps with arms overhead, legs kicked back, and then they would freeze frame that moment? Well, he wouldn't do it. It would have been a great picture, but you'll just have to create the mental image instead. Maybe Susie will pose for me next time I see her.

Time to start packing!

Behind all this fog is a sunny day...

We got back from San Francisco on Friday night. Whew! What a week. Four people, one hotel room. Very few naps.

Great trip though. The kids did pretty well on the flight, but getting through the airport was a nightmare!! We barely made it through, even with two adults. Geez Louise, I hate carseats. They are the most cumbersome, awkward, heavy things ever. I have to fly alone with the boys in a few weeks, and I am already getting panic attacks. I don't know how I am going to get through the airport by myself. I'm not worried about the flight, just getting to the gate. I only have two arms, but I have two kids, two car seats, whole lotta luggage, stroller...arghhhhh! Can I request a golf cart please?

But anyway, the kids and I spent the week looking for a house to rent. Not much luck. We found ONE place that looks promising, but there are other people interested in it, so say a prayer and cross your fingers that the landlord wants to rent it out to us! But that was about it. Nothing else that I could imagine unpacking my stuff in. Hmm. While not house hunting, we hung out on the (very cold) beach, took walks, went to the Marine Reserve, and to Golden Gate Park. I wish we had more time (and my beloved double-stroller), there was so much fun stuff to do! Its a great place for kids. However, all my previous apprehensions still hold. It was even colder and foggier than I anticipated. Houses are expensive and tiny. There aren't many young families. BUT, after spending a week there, I feel much more comfortable about the situation. Not at ease, but more comfortable. I think it will take me awhile to adjust, but I will get there. There ARE a lot of great places to eat...

Its still not a for sure thing, but its looking that way. I'm so excited to move for the third time in a year! Hooray for packing and unpacking, having stuff break, get lost, furniture get scratched, dented and broken (thank you Heber 5th ward young men)! ;) Seriously though, like I said before, I really just want to get settled somewhere. The facility where Jake works is very nice, and the staff are great. He really likes working there. Happy husband=happy wife!

I didn't get many pictures because I forgot, as usual. And I was usually carrying Micah in the sling, trying to keep Wyatt from leaping into bodies of water, so I had no hands left to whip out the camera. Sorry.

This is the beach in front of our hotel. This was right before Wyatt ran directly into water, and then spent the rest of the day whining because he got wet.

At Golden Gate Park in the city. Beautiful, super fun place! I wish we could have spent more time there. Anyway, we got ice cream cones, and most of Wyatt's ended up on his face, neck, hands, and clothes. We got a lot of worried/panicky looks from elderly women. What? That's what baby wipes are for!