Out of the fog

I look at other women and wonder where they get their get-up-and-go sometimes! Flu? Meh, they're cooking 5 course meals the day after. Family in town? Their houses are perfect, and they host a baby shower the next day. I seem to just be a little slow on the up-take with such things. =) I had the flu twice in the last 6 weeks after not having had it since college, and a lovely flat-on-the-couch cold got sandwiched in the middle for good measure. So with that and having family in town in between the cold and the flu (and actually overlapping a bit), I feel like I'm finally coming back from wherever I was.

In spite of it all, we've had some wonderful days here and there, and I'm enjoying my favorite months of the year. Jan-Feb-March are just the best here. Torrential rain, then beautiful, sunny skies and snow-packed mountains. Do we go to the snow or the beach today? What a decision! I need to "summer" in Seattle or something, because "winter" here is such a delight.

And now I'm ready to hoe-in and start sewing again! Why? Because if you hadn't yet heard, we just found out we are having a BOY! (See here for "the reveal.") So I've got burp cloths to make, a new diaper bag, changing pad covers, and if I really get ambitious, a hospital gown instead of the uggo stuff they have at the hospital. I plan to head to the fabric store on Tuesday and then hole up at a friend's during play group and sew-sew-sew as fast as I can!

Here's a glance at the last few weeks through the fog...

Blossoms beginning to peek out...
Steve with Lucy and my niece at the Getty... apparently bronze naked men make her shy.
The three cousins checking out the lily pads.
There's my pregnant belly peeking out at you... nice excuse to eat a little extra Valentine goodness.

The cousins celebrating Emma's NINTH birthday!
Our traditional Valentine's Day Mrs. Fields cookie cake with some wonky script on it. It was supposed to say "FDIC Insured." Oops. =)
And a quick trip to Down-town Disney, which Lucy thinks is just as good as Disneyland! A ride on the tram and a visit to ply-wood Mickey, and we're all set!

Good Choices

The other day, I realized that about 8-9 years ago, among the myriad of small, lame decisions, I made some lasting choices, and I'm still really happy with all of them.

Right before Steve and I got engaged, I bought these great blue couches. When I was looking, a salesman at the J.C. Penny Home Store was so completely snotty to me and said, "Um, I really can't understand what you're looking for." Obviously I found them elsewhere. Now the blue couches I was looking for are all over the stores and magazines (see this month's Real Simple!). Go figure. I re-covered them a year ago with the same color because I still loved them--they just needed sturdier fabric (and needed the stuffing not to be popping out). I love that I'm still happy with them.

(Sorry, best picture I could find with my couches... but isn't my dad cute with Lucy?)

My china! We chose a pattern called Beresford 2000, and I still love, love, love my china (the actual receiving of the china is a whole other story for another day!). I pulled out my tea cups to serve coffee and tea to the moms of our playgroup this week--because why not use them!
(Wish you could see the subtle pattern around the outside.)


My wedding ring. I still would choose this ring if I could pick out any ring in the world. It seems to fit me perfectly.

And my husband... would still choose him any day. He's vintage--he keeps getting better.

Blink

Is it just me, or does Christmas really just fly sometimes? It was so odd to go to Target today and see all the Christmas stuff off the shelves. So strange that the season should feel short, because it seems like they start putting it up in July these days.

The in-laws have been here this week to help out with some home projects, and then go to the Rose Parade. They did it right--got the La Mirada package where you ride a bus up to Pasadena and the tickets are all included. Sounded like a really sweet deal.

Mimi and I went out on an errand one night and saw this over at the Biola track... seems they were rehearsing for the Rose Parade just yards from my house!


Now on and forward into January. No resolutions this year, other than my perpetual resolution, which is to do better with birthday cards. I'm mostly feeling a maddening desire to clean out every single closet in the entire house and toss every other thing I touch. Not going super great, as I already started with cleaning out the toy box and threw out only a handful of things. Can't cure a pack-rate, can you.

Pre-school Playgroup starts back up next week, and will be held at my house this Spring, so I've been trying to figure out what to do with myself from 9-1 every Tues/Friday. This means I'm very open for lunches! =) The plan at the moment is to only do my grocery shopping on those days, and to have little projects I can do camped out at Starbucks or the Eagle's Nest. I need to work on Lucy's baby book (yes, I'm a bad parent), and a few other things like that. So onward we go!

Christmas

We had a fantastic time on our tour through Central California. Lucy had a grand first time in the snow. We thought she'd be all done in 5 minutes, but she was out for more than 90 min and wanted more.

I thinks he likes it. =)

Geeky Cracker hats at Christmas. =)
At Aunt Amy's on the trampoline on Boxing Day. =)

Sadly Lucy picked up a flu bug from her cousin and was sick last night. She's totally fine now, but today was my turn. I still feel pretty lousy, hoping that a night's sleep rights the world. I must take a moment to praise my husband up and down... since Lucy first got sick, he has been uncomplaining, cheerfully picking up the slack and then some. I had the day pretty much to myself to sleep and recover. What a good man!

From the Homestead

Vacation finally begins once we all get settled in at Grammie's house. It is probably my favorite vacation destination. Good food, good company, childcare, a place to just be lazy and comfortable. It has been beautiful here because of the rain--blue skies and autumn leaves and green.

Let me back up, though. We did our "get one free" trip to Sea World the other day for Steve's birthday. Perfect day! Gorgeous weather, no one there, well-behaved kid--doesn't get a whole lot better than that! I stinkin' love Sea World--that Shamu never fails to impress. This is Lucy looking at a heron standing on a Walrus' back.

Back up to Tuesday, this was Lucy's "Christmas program" with her pre-school playgroup. They all lined up against the door at Mrs. Katie's house and recited Psalm 23, then sang "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing," and "Heark, the Herald Angels Sing." Correction: the other FOUR children did all this lined up nicely against the door. Within seconds of this picture, Lucy bolted from the stage. But then she couldn't resist reciting from the sidelines.

It was a very long, very busy week which included the memorial service for my college friend, Jason, who was killed in a car accident a few weeks ago. So needless to say, it is just delightful to get to Grammie's house and be with her and "Grumpa."

Yesterday we visited with my grandfather and Aunt Cindy before Grandpa Mick and his wife headed out to AZ for Christmas with her family. We had a nice time, but I have yet to forgive my Grandpa for giving Lucy a harmonica for Christmas.



Today we are thinking of a quick trip to the snow, if we ever get off our duffs, so that Lucy can see some real snow. Tonight is a get-together with my amazing best friends from high school. Then hopefully we will get to see my dear cousins for aebleskiver before we head to San Luis Obispo on Christmas Day.
Merry Christmas, all!

Joy and Sorrow

This Christmas season has been so strange and surreal. It really has been one of much joy and much sorrow. So much joy--a friend who miscarried earlier this year is now pregnant and doing great! Another friend accepted a referral to adopt a son from China! Another friend has two days to go before their court date to adopt their two precious children from Ethiopia! Great joy!

And great sorrow. A friend from college was killed in a car accident last week, as a young driver evaded the police and led them on a high speed chase. The car smashed into Jason's car, ending his life instantly.

And then updated news that a friend from high school is losing his wife quickly this week. She has battled cancer for 23 months. They discovered it just as she was about to deliver their third child. She delivered early so that they could begin treatment right away. A year later, they celebrated his birthday, and the end of her treatment. Only days later, she began to lose feeling in her right arm, and discovered that the cancer had spread to her spine. It looks like this is likely the week they may lose her.

And at home my dad's friend and field boss who worked on our farm for years and years lost his senior-in-high-school son to a car accident only days after his son's best friend was killed in a car accident.

But in the midst of all this I think I have never been more aware that God is who he says he is. Sovereign. Good. Unfathomable.

And in the midst of it all, one of my great joys is watching Lucy delight in the Christmas season. She has been a fan of all things Christmas throughout the whole year, and to watch lights going up and decorations making appearances has lit her up! We go as a family to Home Depot just to look at all the Christmas kitch. Most wonderful to my heart, though, is hearing her little voice singing "Heark, the Herald Angels Sing." Glory to the newborn King indeed!

Home again, Home again

Oh, so wonderful to be home! I won't say "in my own bed," because we had a SWEET bed up north. My in-laws parked their trailer out front and gave us their room--they have one of those amazing Sleep Number mattresses, and MAN it was nice.

I was so delighted to get home and head to our last Mugs of the year (that's our moms' group at church). I brought a fantastic potato casserole (thanks, Mandi!), and just enjoyed the company. The next few weeks are surprisingly open. Lots of little things sprinkled in, but thankfully not super packed. It just felt good to put my suitcase in the garage for awhile. =)

I can hardly believe we all were smiling in this picture! Don't you love the little black jumpsuits all the little girl cousins have?

JJ on the floor with ALL of the kids! What an aunt!

The girls having brunch together.

This is pre-Thanksgiving at a Potty Reward outing. Notice the double-fisted spoons.

The day after

Oh, the yummy goodness that is Thanksgiving. I'm so grateful that our family enjoys each other, and gets along. On both sides, too, which I think is rare and wonderful.

So today we are all still around, with the exception of an on-call brother-in-law, so the kids are playing in various parts of the house while lazy adults sit on our hineys. Presently I am tucked into bed to keep warm (it's freezing here! What a nice change!), while Lucy is playing with Steve's grandmother's dollhouse. I love hearing the little stories that come out of her mouth while she plays.

I am wondering if I will ever be hungry again. The moment there seems to be an ounce of room, I seem to find some bit or piece of something yummy. Cold dark-meat turkey, a slice of summer sausage, a bit of the roll that I left half of last night, some apple cobbler. Apparently I am grazing and preparing to hibernate. This is when I wish for a detachable stomach. Kind of like a vacuum cleaner bag. Just pop a new one in and continue to inhale. =) I'm hoping for a nap-time for Lucy so I can get a little nap. I still haven't quite forgiven her for waking up at 6:00 this morning--or for the head butt that landed squarely on my nose.

Getting ready to go North

We head out tomorrow early, early. Looking at Google traffic, I'm glad we made this decision. It was RED all the way from our house up to the Grapevine, which means a 6 hr. drive would've taken more like 8 or 9. So tomorrow we should have smooth sailing if we leave early. We've done it once before, and it's nice to just fly. That said, we are trying to pack up the car and get the house in decent shape before we leave. Sadly I feel less than industrious, so I'm hoping I still pull it all together in time to get to bed early.

Baking in the oven is my favorite apple crisp. I'm a little bummed because I had quick oats and not regular old fashioned oats--the latter really makes a better crisp. But it's also hard to go wrong with brown sugar and butter. It's my sister-in-law's favorite dessert, so I am bringing it for Thanksgiving. I've never been a huge fan of pumpkin pie, so I'm glad there will be something yummy there for Jen and me.

I'm so looking forward to Thanksgiving. I am always sad when I hear of people who don't like turkey. It's just one of my favorite meals (if the turkey is made right--dry turkey is icky). I love the stuffing and turkey and rolls especially. The green beans are good. Everything else is ancillary. And leftovers are part of the wonderfulness of it all. I always read these magazines that tell you what to do with leftovers, like casseroles and stuff, but I'm like, dude, you just EAT them. Super yum 2nd time around.

Out of steam! Goodnight, all!

Much better

Wow, I was cranky last night. MUCH more ready to be thankful this week! Starting with the unbelievable smell coming form my oven. Chicken roasting with peas, onions and mushrooms. And on the side (give it a chance, now): brussels sprouts sauteed with bacon and onions.

I cheated and pulled out the Christmas tunes today, because it was overcast and is supposed to rain soon. To me that is the beginning of "winter."

Here's something I'm especially thankful for this year:

The week's air quality

This was what the air looked like last Sunday when we got back into town. You can't see all the ash all over the parking lot from this shot. It's kind of washed out.

This is what it looked like on Monday morning. The wind was blowing everything beyond us out into the ocean. The rest of the week was somewhere in between these two as the winds died down.

This week is full already. I'm finding myself committed to lots of small things that are causing me to head in lots of directions, so this week is a busy one, and not sure how it will all play out. I'm trying to get my house in order in the midst of it all, as we have people staying at our house while we are gone for Thanksgiving. They are gracious and wouldn't care if the house was messy, but I like to have it clean (or at least cleaner than it is presently). Plus, I prefer coming home to a clean house after being gone. Oh, to have the days back when I hired a Biola student to clean twice a month! Maybe someday. Just feeling behind on lots of things when I'd been working to get ahead.

Ugh, not a promising way to start out a week devoted to being thankful! I promise, it's there under the griping. It'll come out this week, I think.

So if you hate summer so much, why are you going to the Desert?

We are in Palm Desert the rest of this week. Why, in the name of all that is good, would we go to the desert when it just turned to Fall-ish weather here? Because it is just sooo beautiful! Steve's folks have a time-share out in Palm Desert, and have invited us to come each year for as long or as short as we like. The place we stay is just amazing and comfortable and beautiful. We've discovered that there is a surprising list of very cool things to do there, and every time we've gone it has been fantastic. The photo above is from a hike we did pre-Lucy out in Joshua Tree. I'm hoping we can take her on a short hike this time, as she really seems to love hiking.

Oh, and the a/c is fantastic, and doesn't show up on my Edison bill. That's why.

I'm Jennifer Earle, and

Sarah Palin stops in La Mirada

I love that I still get to decide what Lucy is for Halloween. I especially like the Family Theme costumes. Our neighbors across the street were the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and Alice. We did a few houses in our neighborhood, then headed off to the sauna that was Candyland at Biola. The one all-girls' dorm decorates their hall in Candyland decorations, then the girls that want to participate dress up their door and hand out candy that's donated to the floor for the event. It's a huge event, and I loved seeing how creative the college students are with their costumes. My favorite was the Minnesota Grannies. Especially cute when an accent is part of the costume.

But here's the scary part of Halloween for us. And this isn't even including the enormous spider that made an enormous web right by our walkway. (We left him up, since he decorated for me.) About 3:30 we discovered a little water in one bathroom, and about 2 inches of water in the other. La Mirada has city trees lining the street that interfere with the pipes, but we are not allowed to take them down, nor does the city claim that the roots have anything to do with the entire city's plumbing problems. So as I'm cleaning all this up, (are you ready for this--not for the squeamish), I discover a plastic bag that was housing something in the bathroom that is full of baby cockroaches. Yep. Happy Halloween, everyone. (They're all dead now.)

But in all, a fun Halloween. And now, Happy Reformation Day to you all. I think I will pull out our Pope bust and our Martin Luther bobblehead to decorate. (I do indeed own both of these items, FYI.)

Once

Tell me just by looking at this picture that you don't want to see this movie. I mean, really. We bought the sound-track. Obviously, we had to. I have this void in my life where I know music fits. I hear lots of music that just pains me because it's so cliche, so poorly done, so overdone, so underdone. But the music from this film just settled into my soul. The movie was beautiful and simple and quirky. The perfect way to begin my weekend.

Mii Fit!

This isn't me (Mii), but it's a picture of my favorite Wii Fit game. Seriously, when I'm working against the clock trying to get those flippin hoops to spin! spin! spin! I don't notice, a.) that I'm sure I look like Cloris Leachman (see here if you don't know what I mean), and b.) that oh-my-goodness, I'm exercising! When I run, I may generally enjoy it and feel good that I did it, but I definitely feel like I'm running.

This thing really appeals to my OCD side (inherited from Dad), in that I want to try juuuuust one more thing. I have no problem getting to 30 minutes (they count all minutes that you are actually doing an activity, not the time in between), and just when I think, "Well, I'll wind it down," Lo! A new activity is unlocked! So I must try it! And then, well, I ought to "cool down" with something I know. And I certainly can't quit on THAT lousy score, so I must do it again! So before I know it, it's midnight on a day I professed to be tired, and I feel fantastic. Will see how the year progresses with this thing. Prospects are bright.

Jenny is smiling

I freakin' love my birthday. It's a chance to celebrate things I love, to indulge a little and relax a little and have some fun. Friday was Birthday Part One. Lucy was at "playgroup" and so I went and got a pedicure, something I haven't done in years. As I told my mother, I "relaxed the hell out of it." (Then my mother promptly reproved my language.) Then off to my new very favorite ever store, Ann Taylor Loft to spend my squirrelled away pennies (some of which came from my recent opportunity to work a bit) on updating and replacing some dying wardrobe items. Oh, what fun! And 20% off to boot! After a lovely time at Bible Study and gift opening at home (Wii Fit takes the cake!!), we went to bed to prepare for Birthday Part Deux...

Oh, San Diego, how I have missed you!
The Bud Clidgesdale with our little family.
Waiting to watch the sea lions do "Thriller."
This looks like something out of Hilights magazine: "What's wrong with this picture?"
This never happens... clearly she had eeked every ounce of fun out of the day possible.
This one is worth clicking on to see the original picture... I love my camera!
We ate junk all day (shared ice cream, popcorn, churros and lemonade), and then ended with burgers from Islands with Rybear and "Shaaaaayell." What a wonderful, perfect weekend. Only one more Birthday Fun item to go: The traditional birthday cookie from Mrs. Fields, free this time because our Valentine cookie was so bad that they gave us a gift certificate for the next one!

So many thanks for the well wishes. I think it's funny how I always forget that birthdays come with love from others, too. I'm glad God put you good people in my life!

And the days go by.

100° yesterday, 95° today, 79° tomorrow, 72° on Friday.... this is the kind of decline I prefer, thank you very much.

Four packages are taunting me on the kitchen counter, saying "Open me! Open me!" But alas, I must wait. Three. Whole. Days. We are off to Sea World on Saturday to celebrate that 32 years ago, I graced the world with my presence (hee hee!). And that 32 years ago, the 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams for the first time in many years. Do I really have to tell people I'm 32? Crap.

Tonight Victor Davis Hanson came to Biola, and I think very few people had any idea what an honor it really was to have him here. I got to say hello to him, that I was Marshall's daughter, and that we were pleased to have him here. Being Marshall's daughter gets you places, you know. =) Steve stayed for the lecture, and said it was very good.

And one for the road: here is what the hair looks like when I do it in the morning, just for the record. This generally lasts about 4.23 minutes.

Genunie delight at picking peppers (not a peck, nor were they pickled) with Grandpa (or Grumpa, as he is sometimes called).

Sewing photos to come... I hope.

Happy Autumn

New month, the month of orange. Rain forecast for Saturday, a fun lunch tomorrow, friends coming on Saturday for dinner, dinner out with my brother and his friends tonight. Happy, happy!

I don't have any pictures from the weekend, but we had a lovely time up in Fres-YES. Tri-tip at a high school foot-ball game, and then up to Tracy for my niece's first birthday. Great time with family.

Get ready, oven... fall is coming!

Happy Autumnal Equanox -- Summer Reading Review

Happy, happy day for me! Crowned with hot chocolate and Dancing with the Stars. And a nicely empty Downtown Disney.

This summer I blinked, and suddenly found myself in not one, but two bookclubs! I used to vow that I hated book clubs because I got stressed by the deadline, but I'm finding that it's especially enjoyable this time around. I generally can find the books on audiobook, which is an excellent way for me to keep doing my other beloved or mundane activities and still get to sink my teeth into a good book. (Hooray for Audible! If by chance you decide you want to try it out, let me send you a referral!)

Current books are:
Three Cups of Tea-- about an American that builds schools in Pakistan, and I'm loving it so far.
Predictably Irrational -- non-fiction about how we do decision-making. Surprisingly quite interesting, though I generally don't care for non-fiction for my leisure reading. I like me a good story.

Recent books:
Street of A Thousand Blossoms -- really, really enjoyed it. About two (well, 3) families in WWII and post WWII Japan.
East of Eden--a second of many readings for me. This is in my top 10. I hated Grapes of Wrath in high school, so don't let a bad Steinbeck experience scare you away.
Into the Wild--about a guy who goes to Alaska to "find himself" and dies trying. Really enjoyed it, and liked the movie quite a bit, too.
Water for Elephants--about a Depression Era circus. Really enjoyed it, too.

So far so good, eh?

Some non-book club books I've read this summer:
John Adams (David McCullough)-- This was actually for a former book club, and I got stuck at first. Very glad I finished it, as I really liked it. LOVED learning about the interesting timing of Jefferson and Adams' death.

The Kite Runner -- Very difficult scene early on in the book, but despite that I really loved this book. I loved the author's reading as well... though not a trained voice actor that I know of, I felt he delivered the cultural inflection that I know I would've missed had I read the print version.

I re-read a few of my old favorites, too, which were super fun. My 4.5's and 5's are generally books I would love to re-read.

Okay, now for un-related pictures, for fun.

Some fabric that I think I MUST have. MUST MUST.


The colors didn't show up how I wanted in this one, but loved these rows of potted geraniums.
This right here is the face that just gets to my heart.