Gratitudes

 I have been overwhelmed lately with gratitude for all kinds of things, both the small glimmers and the big things. The last few weeks have been.... We're all healthy and well and there is laughter in our house but at the same time, there's a lot of reality and having to do hard things. The world is hard and life is hard and  But it feels manageable I think because there are so many things to be thankful for. 

I love this little cart. It started as a prop for Averson's Harry Potter birthday and now it sits behind the dining table and holds games, craft supplies, and cookbooks. 

Averson's newest obsession is kandi and I am here for it in all it's campy glory

Our first PRIDE event and our first drag show!

Apparently escape rooms are our new Fathers Day tradition. Super grateful that we came out unscathed and still liking each other

I'm so grateful to live somewhere I can dip in the river whenever the spirit moves me. This was an awesome spot and a great way to kick off the season

Eli's NINETEEN

NINETEEN! Eli is now the same age as I was when C and I started dating. I simultaneously love it so much, and it's such a trope but I can't believe that my little adventure buddy is a full-blown adult. He's working full-time on a construction site and still part-time at Oakley, so he's exhausted but happy to be making a little money. We don't see him much, but when we do it feels like hanging out with your cool friend who knows trendy new things. 

The older he gets, the more that I appreciate his unabashed enthusiasm. He loves what he loves and he doesn't hold back. He was thrilled for us to all go out to dinner for his birthday and even more thrilled to go to Wu-Tang with C and I. I just like this kid an awful lot (even if he'd prefer I not call him a kid anymore)

 

Sydney's Fifteen

 

Sydney Sunshine. My sweet girl, who has been 15 since the day she turned 3. She remains the most strong-willed, outspoken young woman I've ever known and I am often struck speechless in awe of her tenacity, her resilience, and her quiet fortitude. She is the personification of ten toes down and often speaks with the confidence of someone three times her size. She is quick witted and clever and, to quote her first grade teacher, funny in a way that you know you shouldn't laugh but do anyway. This year has been wrought with challenges for her in nearly every facet of life, but she remains kind hearted, silly, and driven. I want to remember that this is the year that she taught herself to play my dad's old guitar, that she learns songs in ASL for fun, and that she writes the most amazing letters. 

Off to a country festival with her friend and in her new boots

A little birthday magic. I scored her a Labubu that wasn't fake AND she got the color that she wanted!

Speedy McLegs

 My dad used to say, frequently, "Our ancestors did not survive by running or swimming away." He meant it in that some people are meant to be fast and adept at endurance activities (ie runners) and others (aka Us) lift heavy stuff. But lo and behold. Someone must have run or swim at some point because Averson is FAST. They finished out the track season with a First Place win for their relay (4x1) and top ten for high jump and long jump. I love it so much even though I'm back to running around like a crazy person to make sure I don't miss my kid's event. 

Staycation Part 3 - Winchester Mystery House

 When we first moved to California, my mom started talking about taking a trip to go see the Winchester Mystery House. We never made it and then when she moved here, she wasn't in any space for long drives or walking any distance at all. It's far enough away to not be convenient, but not far enough to warrant a "vacation." BUT, it's the perfect daytrip to cap off a staycation! 

All five of us went and it was SUCH a fun day. So fun, in fact, that no one complained about the nearly six hours we ended up spending in the car. The house was super interesting and not cheesy at all, we had a really good lunch there, and there was something for everyone to really enjoy. I'm so fascinated by Sarah Winchester and we all have our theories on what actually drove her to build the bizarre house. I'm sure she was maybe "eccentric" but I also wonder if part of it was because she was making sure that she could keep her staff employed without appearing to be giving them charity. She treated them all so well it would be weird if that didn't motivate her, at least in part. 

Spooky basement where apparently a ghost with a wheelbarrow is regularly seen

Stained glass windows that survived the Great San Francisco Earthquake

Door to nowhere (one of many)

The most gorgeous indoor garden room 

Sarah Winchester's bed. She was 4'10" and everything in the house was built to those dimensions. It made a huge difference in things like doorways and handrails! She also had custom "easy riser" stairs in all of her areas of the house, which were nearly, but not quite, ramps. It was kind of a mind fuck to use them if you weren't careful. 

Staycation Part 2 - Go Touch Some Grass

While it wasn't a full blown camping trip, it was a day spent in the dirt next to water and that's about as close to heaven as I get. I packed poorly in the interest of "just get out the door" so I didn't have a book or my knives or anything, but I had my goofy sidekick and my favorite ride or die and it was as delightful as I hoped. 

This one is a little mountain goat with absolutely zero fear of slipping and falling into cold running water

And also a butterfly whisperer

 

Staycation Part 1 - Broadway!

Part of Averson's birthday present was tickets to go see The Six on it's tour in San Francisco. We got a great deal on a nice hotel literally across the street and got all decked out for a mid-week show. They've been listening to all the songs, but hadn't seen any of the choreography. I decided not to do any prep, so all I knew was that it was about Henry the 8th's wives. I was blown away. It was SUCH a good show and we had a great time just the two of us. Averson did my hair, helped me pick a tiara, and we ate a fancy dinner complete with a giant gourmet milkshake (not pictured but still appreciated) Afterwards we were the first to the stage door and Averson managed to get autographs from five of the six queens (including her favorite, Alize Cruz/Katherine Howard. 

Could they be any cooler?

The next day we got breakfast at a diner that I realized was the same one my dad took us to on our last trip together. Averson said the breakfast changed their life it was so good. Then we wanted to go thrifting so we hiked too far in a neighborhood that was...not family friendly. But Averson was a trooper and didn't even bat an eye after the third "don't step in that!" and was rewarded with some very cool new vintage t-shirts. 

 It was such a great trip and I'm so grateful that I got to have a solo adventure with this one. As it worked out, we're taking each kid to a show/concert solo this year and I'm pretty sure it's going to have to be a new tradition.