Time for Tenn.

Eva was such a great little traveler. The only exception was the fear that she developed, at 42,000 feet, of the airplane lavatory. It terrified her to pieces, she screamed the first time she looked at the toilet. Then she continued to scream until I unlocked the door and let her get out. No amount of candy bribe would get her to consider going back in, so she waited until the airport to go. Actually she is particular about bathrooms, some just don't measure up to her standards. We have been out and had to go "really really bad" and when we get to it, she will just refuse it based on looks alone. Other than that we had no problems traveling. From our home to stepping off the plane in Nashville we traveled almost exactly 2,000 miles.

My Dad picked Eva and I up and I was able to get a rare photo of my Mom and my Dad with me. From the airport, my Mom left with her best friend Belinda and Eva, my Dad, and I were off for a couple hour drive to where he lives. We stayed there two nights and had a really good visit with him. We just hung out, perfectly happy doing nothing but being. My Dad is seriously awesome, completely without pretense, he is the most authentic human being I know. I miss him a lot. He took us to Papa's Friday night and then we spent two nights there, just me, Eva, and Papa. Being at Papa's is like being in a time capsule for me. So many wonderful memories there, so many amazingly awesome childhood summers I remember. I took a whole bunch of pictures of pictures on the wall, those same ones that have been there forever, or as long as I can remember.

We ate at the Cracker Barrel three times, I love it there. We don't have any here in California, so it was a real treat for me. I remember driving west on Interstate 40 through Texas about 15 years ago, somewhere near Amarillo there was a sign that said "last Cracker Barrel going west, last chance!" I just looked it up and now they have them in Arizona, still none in California though. I wonder how many meals we had at Cracker Barrel with Meme? She loved that vegetable plate for sure, and so do I! Thank you Daddy and Papa and Aunt Teri for that yummy treat.

My cousin Leigh invited my aunts, uncles, and cousins over for an open house on Saturday. It was just dreamy to see everyone there, I didn't want that day to end. The food was great, the visiting was great but definitely not enough, I wish I could have had more time with everyone. Leigh truly blessed me by opening up her home and inviting everyone, it was so so good to be there.

Sunday I went to mass with Papa and Aunt Teri, we endured Tennessee's share of the hurricane Ike which was a whole morning of big wind followed by a rainstorm. My Dad then took me to my Uncle Dayrel's [my Mom's oldest brother], we spent the day together and I said goodbye to my Dad that evening [sob]. The last couple of days, Eva and I tagged along with my mother and her friend of 50+ years, Belinda. The highlight was a visit to see my Great Aunt Merle who is my grandmother's sister and looks somewhat like Granny did [important note: if my Uncle Dayrel offers to drive you somewhere, give him a hug and very politely say no thank you]. Aunt Merle told us stories of things that she and my Grandmother [also Eva] did as girls. That visit was sweet but also heartbreaking, as Aunt Merle just lost her son JH a month ago.

Uncle Dayrel and Aunt Ruth gave me copies of two cd's that they made. They include old family pictures they have compiled. I love them. They're just like gold and treasure to me.

Staying with Belinda and her husband CJ was pretty terrific too, they treated us so good, made us feel so welcomed. Belinda even made me a special treat, biscuit and chocolate for breakfast one morning, mmmmmm. Granny always made it for me and Renee, it was our favorite.

I won't soon forget the 3:30 a.m. serenade we received from CJ. For a few days, Belinda had asked him to play a song for us and we seemed to always become distracted with something else. We didn't expect to see him so early in the morning as we left with Belinda who took us to the airport. There he was in the kitchen with his guitar, he sang something like, "everybody's leavin' town." I'll say it was memorable, and very very cool.

Tony took six days off work so that I could make the trip, I told you he was awesome! So now it seems like a dream. I still can't believe me and Eva did it! It was sweet. I know we moved away when I was five years old, but something about Tennessee still pulls at my heart, it just feels like home to me and I will keep missing it and all of y'all too.A million thanks to my Mom, Daddy, Papa, Leigh and Trent, Aunt Teri, Uncle Dayrel and Ruth, Belinda and CJ. Thanks to everyone who came to see us too! You were all so good to me and Eva, we love you! Thank you from my whole heart, I hope to see you soon.

Zoom Zoom Zoom.

The world is moving so fast right now and down time is scarce. I had planned to have a great post already about my fabulous trip to Tennessee but instead I lament not having the time to make it happen! Words are faster than pictures, so here I type just so you know it's on the way.

Our other goings on:

Soccer season is in full swing, we were on the soccer field for eight hours Saturday because it was also picture day. That was a very long day! I enjoy it [but I am secretly counting the weeks until soccer is over].

Sarah has a cute new short haircut!

Eva's going to be three years old next week! Oh my baby!

Hurray for fall!

Holy California!

We arrived home safely early this afternoon. I can't wait to share my photos and stories of our Tennessee trip with y'all.

One fun tidbit; just as we drove onto the freeway out of Sac International, we came upon Arnold Schwarzenegger [I'm 99% sure based on assumption, a good guess, and some here say] with a 3 car motorcade and 2 CHP moto escort. It was funny, welcome to California...meet the Governor!

The road down to the river. I'm tired. Hasta mañana.

I Am Not A Satellite.

It feels like Friday is the only day that belongs to me. Nearly no driving, no answering to anybody but Eva for five full hours. It's magical.

We celebrated Sarah's birthday this week. She had such a great day. Tony's sister Carmen and the boys dropped by for cupcakes and ice cream and so did his Mom and Dad. Thanks to everyone who called her to wish her happy birthday, she raced to the phone every time it rang...knowing it would be for her, you made her feel so special.


Sarah came home from school today with a "guess what happened to me today?" Then she smiled at me with a big hole where her tooth used to be. Her second lost tooth! Her second lost tooth that she could not produce for me! This one she said she took it to the restroom to wash it and dropped it down the sink! What will we tell the fairy? She may be suspicious now, with us begging for treats and having no teeth there under the pillow!

A big development in my world, my littlest one has also started school. She is going two mornings a week for three hours and so far she is loving it. It falls heavy on the parent involvement so I will be spending a fair amount of time with her and I'm looking forward to it. I may even find some time to help in Wyatt's or Sarah's classroom a little bit. Yay for me!

Our Tennessee trip is fast approaching. You would not ever believe how much I am looking forward to it. Eva has expressed her desire to ride on a green airplane, I told her that I hope it's green too. I can't wait to see my Dad, my family, and spend away time with my Mom. Sometimes I feel like a satellite, you know being so far from family, but I'm trying to shake that.

Too funny. My kids decided the other day that it was a fine idea to dress up in as many pairs of underwear over their clothes as possible. At first they let me look at them, even posed for photos, until I mentioned to them that in the future the photos just might come in handy for something like, oh...threats...bribes. They ran away from me screaming as fast as they ever have before.


Tony has been making salsa, with all the tomatoes and peppers we have in the garden now. He is making lots of it and freezing it for the chilly days ahead. He made some for a meeting we attended last weekend and I think he is getting a [well deserved] big salsa ego. He received so many compliments on his fabulous concoction, one woman even called it "the holy grail of salsa!"

Here's to a great weekend! Cheers!