The Moving Truck

 

Our stuff arrived today in this MONSTER of a truck.  It's bigger than a normal semi, and we can hardly believe it fit on the street. The boys had a blast watching it from the front window and talking to the driver.  They were over the moon excited when he offered to let them ride in the truck to the end of the street. 

The driver was so cool, he let Beau honk the big semi-horn.  Beau pulled that horn and didn't let go for like 30 seconds... and then he did it again.  You can just tell by the photos that he was having the time of his life!

Too cute for words.

So everything's here.  We're relieved we had a great experience after all the horror stories we heard of moving companies swindling people, charging WAY more than the estimates, and holding your stuff hostage.  It actually cost us LESS than the estimate.  We're also relieved that all our stuff fit in Nate's garage and we don't need to get a storage unit.  We set up lots of our stuff, but need to get some storage containers before we can finish unpacking. 

Just in time for memorial day fun.  The boys picked cherries and strawberries at a farm today so we had fresh strawberry shortcakes with homemade shortcakes and fresh whipped cream. It was to die for.

Beau's Legotastic Birthday Extravaganza

 

The Birthday Boy, Beau

 

The kids all built with legos and had a great time at the party! 

Make a wish!

 

Beau's Lego Cake.  What a beauty!

 

Look how much fun these kids are having!

 

Everyone at the party made their own lego creation to take home.

Don't you just love my totally awesome storm trooper SUV?  Yes, he's carrying a gun in one hand and a hair brush in the other.  And that is his glitter pink commuter coffee mug :)

We're so happy we could help Beau celebrate his sixth birthday!  Happy Birthday, Beau. We love you bunches.

Quick Update

Sorry, I'm getting behind schedule. Things have been busy around here. I've been waiting to post to upload some photos, but that doesn't seem to be happening. So here's a mini-update sans photos.

We're helping Chaney with homeschooling these days, going to story time at the library, we helped with Beau's Lego-rrific birthday party, hosted a little b-day party for Lane, and cooking lots of yummy meals, and we had our reunion with California taqueria burritos. It was pure bliss. Meliss and I had a date to see that documentary called Babies, which we loved, and Lane got in on the Dungeons and Dragons game night that his brother hosts weekly.

 

I practically sucked my burrito down like a vacuum, I was so excited. I actually thought I should stop to go get the camera and document the momentous occasion for the blog, but I was too busy eating.  Lane came to the rescue. 

Here's

Uncle Lane with the boys. They gave him a fancy new set of dice, just in time for game night. Chaney wrote on his hand-made card "To My Awesome Uncle".  so sweet.

Lots of fun things we want to do soon - tons of different museums, the Oakland Zoo, and all sorts of other family fun. Our car arrived today and all our stuff is scheduled to arrive Friday. We'll see how that goes with Memorial Day weekend, which we're supposed to spend in Gilroy between our Clower and Grover families.

more soon, hopefully with photos...

Two Days In

We arrived just fine. Gabriela was an awesome traveler.

Two days later she had fallen down a flight of stairs, head over heels, right before my very eyes. It was quite traumatic for us both. I raced down behind her bent in half, trying frantically to grab her, but wasn't quick enough. Luckily, she didn't get hurt at all. But she cried, and so did I, and so did Auntie Meliss. Now, when she walks down the steps, she pauses and says "Go slowly!".

We weren't even here two full days and Uncle Lane spilled some beans to Chaney. Lane told Chaney he was leaving to pick up Uncle Noal's new pistol....just like his dad's. Chaney looked confused and asked, "My dad has a pistol???" Uncle Lane said, "uh, Chaney? I'll be right back." and went to tell Meliss. It ended up being okay and an opportunity for discussion about being safe, but, whoopsies.

Chaney and Beau couldn't be happier to have Gabriela around. Once our car arrives we'll be able to visit more family and friends.

22 months old!

Gabriela's language has taken off this last month. She repeats everything. The other day Beau asked, "What's so funny?!?" which Gabriela clearly repeated. Instead of just saying "book" to read something, she says "I wanna read book". Gabriela sings words to songs and asks for "mee-mee" (music) the instant we get in the car. She has also made up other words. For example, she says "nees" when she wants to wash her hands, which is very often. I think she might be trying to say "sink". She says "Chaney 'mau'" when she wants him to chase her.

Gabriela is quite the little counter. In English she says "two, four, five, six" mostly, and sometimes continues on to ten. In Spanish, she says "uno, dos, cuatro, cinco" and on and on until DIEZ! I don't know what she has against the number three, in either English or Spanish, but she won't say it.

Gabriela is getting the hang of birthdays after celebrating two in a row. She continues to wish her daddy a happy birthday spontaneously days after his big day. It's pretty sweet hearing her announce, "happy birthday, daddy!"

Gabriela's top incisor teeth finally poked through several days ago. Just yesterday we noticed the bottom ones peeking through her poor, swollen gums. Maybe this is the reason she's been kind of clingy lately.

The other morning, Gabriela was still in bed with her baby doll when she suddenly put the baby's hands together and sternly said, "No hitting!" Then, she threw the baby in the corner and said in a strong voice, "timeout! no!!" A minute or so later, she picked up her baby, kissed her, and said, "gentle". Now we know for sure that she understands hitting is not acceptable, and that she knows what happens when you hit. The unfortunate part is that she continues to do it. We're working on it.

Gabriela's Goodbye Party

Keady's mommy Rhonda was so sweet and thoughtful, she organized a goodbye party for Gabriela. It was a nice send-off for Gabriela, and provided a chance to really say goodbye to the other kids. Thanks, Medina family!

Keady's Daddy blowing up balloons for the kids. They were a total hit!Rhonda brought so many snacks for the kiddos, and even made a tropical yummy punch and had color coordinating dishes and plates and napkins and cups! She knows how to party :)

Everyone sat at the table and waited patiently for their yummy s

Gabriela talking to Keady about their snacks

The kids listened to fun kid songs en español. Gabriela clapped and danced along with the music.

Some of Gabriela's friends from daycare. She's been with these guys since they were all little tiny babies. This is Aadi.

Keady trying to get her balloon!

Gabriela always talks about Alex

Thomas - what a doll. I'll miss hearing him proclaim, "BYE BYE, BELLA" as soon as he saw me walk through the door.

Maria Teresa and Gabriela dancing

Ring Around the Rosie

mmm, yummy cupcake and so color coordinated!

Kissing Chase goodbye

We Love You Gabriela

What a sweet party Gabriela had. She had the chance to say goodbye to all her little friends. She is enjoying looking through the pictures and seeing all her buddies.

Last Few Days in DC

Our last few days in DC feel like they were ages ago, and not just last week. My dear friend Katie had us over for dinner at her cute new townhouse. This was a really hard goodbye. I guess it's not every day that you find someone's wallet, track them down, and then hang out with them for the next four years, while they turn into your bestest girl friend you've got.

Thursday night, my supervisor Kathleen and her husband hosted a lovely goodbye get together for us. So much delicious food, wine, and good company.
Gabriela enjoyed the food, the people, the kitty, the fishies and the puppy. So much excitement!

Kathleen, Tracy, Lisa, me and Cara

Elevation Burger

We've been on the east coast nearly five years and missing In-N-Out Burger every moment. What are the chances that we discover Elevation Burger only three weeks before moving back? People, you are going to shutter at the mere thought, but I have to say it: Elevation Burger is WAY better than In-N-Out.

Knowing that our California Peeps would not take this news lightly, we vowed then and there to make a repeat visit for the sole purpose of documenting it for the readers. We went back alright, but unfortunately forgot our camera. At first I was really upset, but then I realized it just meant we'd have to return one last time.

So here it is from the outside. Convinced yet? Neither was I.
Elevation Burger seems to be very similar in concept to In-N-Out, although they do have more options for toppings. We kept things classic, going with the "original" toppings, but added carmelized onions for a little animal-stylesque burger, and tried the balsamic mustard. Mmm, balsamic mustard was a good call. Can you see the "protein style" option?

Before we get to the actual burgers, I want you to know that I looked like a complete crazy woman taking pictures of every sign in the building with a giant camera around my neck. But I did it for you. French Fries cooked in Olive Oil.

Here is the menu. It's a little more complex than In-N-Out. You can get veggie burgers, half veggie, half beef, and they even have salads. But seriously, who orders a salad when you can have a burger, fries, and a milkshake?!?!? Notice the vertigo burgers, up to 10x10... why would anyone ever do that!??!

Proof that Elevation is just a tad more hippie than In-N-Out, which I totally love.

More details on the Elevation Burgers.... And now, what you've all been waiting for - pictures of the actual food. Let us begin with milkshakes.

Get a load of this thick, creamy and delicious chocolate banana milkshake. That's right, you can customize your milkshake. I like vanilla with fresh strawberries. Lane has tried chocolate banana and also chocolate shake with oreo cookie. The shakes kick In-N-Out's ass. It hurts me to say this, but it's true.

mmmm.

One cheeseburger and one hamburger, succulent, fresh, and totally out of this world.
(and check out the super top notch quality pickles!)

Deeeeelicious french fries.

I'm going for it.

Crazy-Neck Elena gives it the A-OK.

And now for the cheeseburger...

And there you have it. We checked the website and Elevation Burger is making its debut in southern California soon. The the turf wars will begin. I'm already a convert (or traitor, depending how you look at it).

Oh, and for you DC Peeps, the owner told us that they sometimes run promotions for Facebook fans where they'll give you advance notice of when you can get a FREE Elevation Burger, also known as the Double Double for you In-N-Out fans.

Last Wednesday on the East Coast

Last minute packing
mother's day massage
cash in on b-day mani-pedi gift certificate (from last July)
come home to find movers nearly done
rest on the couch (and wish I had bon-bons)
go to happy hour with Lane and his work friends
pick up Gabriela
dinner with a dear friend
Look around at empty apartment

WARNING: Your heart might melt when you read this!

Gabriela got the sweeeeeetest mail ever today from her cousin Beau. She's been asking about him all month and asking to call him, Chaney, and Auntie 'Liss. She now understands that when we get off the airplane we'll be going to Uncle Nate's 'ouse. And, apparently Beau keeps asking when Gabriela will arrive.

Today, we got this letter from him:

Dear Gabriela, I think that you are so cute and nice
that my cheeks get red. I can't wait.

We can't wait either, Beau. We are so excited that we're arriving just in time for your birthday!