Post Category → just life

catch-up: the girls in SF

The girls and I went to San Francisco the last Saturday they were here. (Oh, and William, too, of course.) We toured a Queen Anne style home, saw the bridge, drove up and down exceedingly steep hills, drove through Chinatown for that “Wow, am I in Beijing?” feeling, and ate wonderful Italian pastries. It was fun.

Camilla had the camera the whole day, since I’m really bad and she’s really good at such things, and it was lots of fun to download the pictures yesterday and see San Francisco through her eyes:

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home sweet home.

home…

Yesterday afternoon, we were dropped off at our front stoop — suitcases, strollers, carseats, and all. Home.

I walked through the house and was amazed at their welcoming tidiness, considering the ridiculously early hour at which we departed 18 days ago (and the crazy, hectic, hot day of packing which preceded it!) I thought, for the millionth time, how much I like our little house and how blessed I am to have this quiet piece of charm in the middle of Silicon Valley.

I also noticed that the perennials I planted several months ago are all but dead, thanks to 18 days of no water. (Things no one on the East Coast has had to worry about this year.) I hope I can coax the poor things back to green leafiness.

Jameson tripped happily from room to room, exclaiming in each one. “My bedwoom, Mama! Awww!”

We got home around 5 PST, and I was more hungry and tired than I ever remember being. So we jumped into our van and headed into Palo Alto for good ol’ Thai cooking. Followed, of course, by Red Mango. I struggled to keep my burning eyes open, and when the exhaustion was so bad I was sick and dizzy, I asked Ryan what time it was.

6:30, was his reply.

I could have cried. Please, just let me go to bed.

I managed to stick it out for two more hours before climbing between my very own sheets, in my very own room.

Of course, after making myself lay in bed for as long as possible this morning, when I got up, it was still only 5:45. That’s what ya get for going to bed so early, I guess.

…sweet home.

Green is my favorite color. Did you know that already? I only mention that because I can’t begin to describe the beauty of our first ride through lush, verdant farms 18 days ago. I couldn’t stop exclaiming. In fact, I continued to exclaim every single day for 18 days. I am probably alone in this, but I was thanking God continually for the abundant rain that kept New York beautiful, just for me. I can’t get enough.

I also can’t get enough of neat rows of corn; of small, humble houses tucked away in that corn; of hostas and day lilies, cone flowers and gloriosa daisies; of moist, sweet air and loud cracks of thunder; of wide open skies that turn pink in the evening. There are just some things I love so much.

In particular, I love a certain white house with a red roof, wrapped in a porch that I’ve painted countless times. I love a certain hallway, lined with too many shoes, that got painted a perfect salmon color the week of my wedding. I love a certain kitchen that feels like I belong, even though I can’t find a single thing anymore. I love a certain screened porch that’s quiet in the mornings and the site of a party of sorts every night. And I love knowing that upstairs, there’s my parents’ bedroom, where the door is always open (so to speak), and the bed is an invitation to sit and talk — or just to sit and be.

I just wish these two homes were not so far apart. I wish I could hang diapers in a row on my clothesline, and then walk to my mom’s for lunch. Wouldn’t that be perfect?

Just about.

so far

The night the girls arrived, as we were standing around just visiting, I noticed Jameson looking at me, then Camilla, then back again. I could see a light go on in his mind, and sure enough, he finally piped up, “Look! Two Mama-heads! One, two Mama-heads!”

He also confiscated mints from the girls’ purses while they slept the first night. We found the contraband under his pillow the next morning.

That kid. I love him!

*****

So far, we’ve had walks and errands, picnics and playgrounds, naps and laundry, and LOTS of backyard play. The girls have humored Jameson by playing whatever ball game he desires.

big happenin’s

:: Liana and Camilla are arriving tomorrow evening. Do you know how excited I am? Of course, there’s the usual yay-my-family-is-coming sort of excitement. But it’s a bit more, too. I love having a huge family, and I love being the oldest — except for the part about being grown up, out of the house, and across the country when the youngest set is still growing up. Way too sad. So getting to spend a whole month with my youngest sisters is an extra-special blessing for me. I can’t wait for all of the special and everyday moments we’ll share this month.

:: William plays peekaboo. It’s so cute. You’ll have to take my word for it, because I don’t have the video, but it is over-the-top adorable. So is the bit of babbling he’s been trying out lately. Oh, that boy is the sweetest!

:: I’m not usually trying to find ways to ditch my kids. I actually love having them around. That’s okay, right? Occasionally, someone will communicate their deep pity for me when William screams his head off in the arms of a total stranger. You know — you poor thing, you never get any break. As my friend at church said, “Well, that’s kind of what we signed up for.” Yup, and I love it. All that said, when Ryan offered to take not just Jameson this evening, but William, too, I jumped on it. I’m beat. I’m now also totally lost. What to do, what to do? (I opted for the just sit option.)

:: I’ve been slowly working my way through Why We’re Not Emergent, and am loving it. I don’t have much to say about it right now — simply that it’s nice to put words to my gut instincts (which these guys do), and I’m realizing anew how much I love ancient boundaries. (There. I managed to not even rant. Not even a bit.)

:: My two sisters are coming! And did I mention that they’ll be filling my house with violin and piano for a whole month? Do you know how much I miss a house full of music? (Because, no, I don’t sit and play the piano all day. And yes, back home there is always someone playing something. Always.)

:: I shall now continue my restorative sitting.