once upon a time, we went to chico

*scroll down after this post, i added pictures to my posts from this week.
once upon a time,
we drove to chico.
i vow to never.
ever.
drive anywhere longer than 3 hours away while nursing a baby.
i can't read in cars.
it makes me car sick.
so i took pictures.
the following occurred.
salt flats. classic driving landmark.
i still don't know what it really is.the pork loin ate a cheeseburger.

right through the wrapper.

and 5 days later we found three bites left in the once was scout master's work bag.

gross.

we would stop,

feed,

change,

gas.
only to have both children need to be changed again within 10 minutes of leaving our previous stop.

these kids.
i love them.

when we left,

it was summer.

we went through the worst construction you could ever imagine.

it added 2 1/2 hours onto our trip.

totalling 14 hours in the car.
horrid.

and we still had to drive back to come home.

i almost cried.

sean got to hold the magic wand.

we were the end of line.

it was awkward.

trust me.

you drive 200 yards while holding a duct taped stick and see how it feels.

awkward.

that's how it feels.

i remember thinking that the construction was over when i took this picture.

oh, how i was wrong.

it was not.

where i started my college career.

and where i met sean.

i love this town.

we stayed in aunt judi's cabin.

i loved how it felt.

and i thought this spiderweb was beautiful.

every morning.

i just had to look at it in the light.

insert picture of stacy here.

she was standing right next to me.

brennan stole a piece of cake.

and officially had the DIRTIEST day of his life.

no joke.
insert jen, ryan, stacy, and gavin.

i drove by my old sorority house.

funny how it looks like our house we just bought.
i always loved that cute little alpha gam house.

and then came the reunion.
and no,

facebook didn't ruin the thrill.

i thought it would.

but it didn't.

and it wasn't even mine.

but i could tell,

it didn't.

and it won't.

social network or not.

there's nothing like people in the flesh.

dancing shoes were on.

music loud.

free non-alcoholic beverages.
they surely lost money on us!!!

(jen's husband thought sean was getting plastered b/c he went back to the bar so many times. until he found out sean was getting cokes.)

insert luis's house and family, and chico steve,

we saw them too.

the wonderful ysasaga's watched our children while we "reunion-ed."

bless them.

brennan learned to use an ipad.

then we drove home.

and it felt like fall.
it changed in 4 days.

funny how that can happen.

to us too.
interesting what makes you love a place.
the people.

the places.
the food.

the traditions you have to hit to try to recreate the things you loved.
but it's never the same.

just a hint of what it was
which might not be so bad.

leave it to beaver

just remember,
there are NO stupid questions.
how do i fix this??
spray?
weed wacker?
edger?

i feel like i'm in leave it to beaver.
but in color.
i hope the neighbors haven't seen me in my underwear yet.
after living in a basement for 3 1/2 years,
i sometimes forget that people can see in my windows now.
especially at night.
oops.

it took 5-46 gallon bags of grass to call this baby of a yard mowed.

i did not mow it.

but it took 2 hours.

i am both proud and ashamed to say i had someone else mow it while the once was scout master was at work.

i've never been so glad i've paid someone to do something in my life.

well, maybe as glad as when i paid someone to give me an epidural.

that was pretty great too.

note: no baby was harmed in the mowing of the grass.

cake thief

the weekend before we moved into our house we drove to california.
for the once was scout master's 10 yr reunion.
brennan stole a piece of cake.
we were at a park.
i was chatting with friends and "watching max."
sean was "watching brennan" and talking to old friends.
next thing i know,
the pork loin is walking up to show me his cake.
i look around.
sean must have friends that are having a party.
this is what i'm thinking.
but he appears to be on the complete other side of the park.
at which point i realize,
brennan has walked himself over to some kid's party.
and picked up a piece of cake.
or he stole someone's cake.
whichever.
we laughed.
for a long time.
and let him eat his cake.
i just hope he said please and thank you.
have mercy.

BACK to the future

the house is officially ours.
max puked on the floor to christen it.
carrots.
bright orange.
wiped right up.
and my blog is officially BACK in business.
computer fixed!
glory be.
the once was scout master parked his car in the garage for the first time tonight.
apparently, there was frost on his window this morning.
he immediately cleared boxes to make room for his car.
and now the fun begins...

Missing: PANTS

I haven't brushed my teeth today.
I haven't showered.
And I can't find the box with all of my pants.
I did find my shoes, which was determined yesterday to be the thing we might never find.
On Sunday I had the brilliant idea to make waffles.
I used our very last egg that had miraculously made the move safely, milk, and bisquick.
We were out of every other breakfast food, seeing as I havent been to the store in almost two weeks.
When I find my kitchen under all of the boxes I'm making enchiladas.
Creamy ones.
So I go to make the waffles.
Can't find the oil.
Used a tsp of evoo I found in a glass holder.
I was feeling like a genius.
Then they were cooked.
I scrounged up butter.
But no syrup.
We looked for syrup for 20 min before we decided to just put cold butter and whipped cream on top.
I found the syrup last night.
In the box with the vegtable oil.
And it made me laugh.
Out
Loud.

Adding to the list

Garbage cans for two more bathrooms.
Spaghetti containers.
The one that are air tight and make things look so nice and tidy.
Sheets for king size bed.
After 6 1/2 years of marriage we each have claimed one side of the basement and ordered a king size bed.
I remember thinking that people with king sized beds were so unromantic.
Not true my friends.
Not true.
Bath mat for kids.
New vacuum.
That won't suck my carpet so well.
I will miss it so much.
Children's motrin for the upstairs.
After going up and down 3 times last night between 11pm and 6am, we added a second bottle to the list.
Downstairs toilet bowl cleaner thing.
Toy bin for the backyard.
I'm pretty sure none of these are necessities.
I wish I had pictures.
It's just not as exciting without pictures.

The cowboy room

Max is alseep in our closet.
Her room is brighter than a cheerleader with pom poms.
Brennan is scared to go out in the yard without us.
I think the freedom overwhelms him.
Or the lure of all of the toys I've had boxed up for the last 8 months is keeping him in.
It's like christmas in our front entry.
Or maybe it's like that hoarders show.
I've assigned the scout master to curtain duty in the cowboy room.
Max's room is the cowboy room.
Except he's not the scout master anymore.
Brennan's room will be the cowboy room, but for now it's Max's room.
Curtains, must have curtains.
Now, where is that curtain rod from their old room...