Thanksgiving...no family and California style

Just being honest here, we were hoping for an invite to join someone for a nice warm, family style, Thanksgiving meal.  We have kinda lucked out in that area the last few years.  But that didn't happen, which is OK too, but we decided to take a drive and head to the beach instead.  We packed a picnic lunch and went to Santa Cruz.  It was just over 2 hours away, the weather was nice, about 60.  The water was chilly, Adam did say if he'd had his suit he would have gone in though.

We visited two beaches, Capitola first.  And there was lots of people surfing in wetsuits and plenty of people on the beach with the same idea as us. 

We actually made a uturn not far from home and went back for the sand toys, which I'm glad we did.

Trying hard to get a Christmas card photo, but I'll keep trying.....

took a little walk on the pier that you can see from the earlier photos

We visited another beach called Natural Bridges.  The kids are walking with Adam here on the rocks.

 

Of course, being with more family would have been better, but hanging out just out little family was great too.

Big Sibling class

In preparation for the baby, we took the kids to the hospital here in Lodi where we'll deliever and attended the sibling class.  It seemed to be helpful for Brennan before Quinn came, so we thought why not.  And Quinn really enjoyed herself some baby....and Brennan was in one of his moods and was being Brennan.

She loved holding the baby and wrapping the baby and she was all up in there when it was time to take off the shirt and diaper.  This was all on her own, with no help from me.

Brennan and Grandma Linda observing from the back row.

Finally warming up a bit.

We headed up stairs to see a room, and we also got to see a brand new baby, he was less than an hour old. 

Home Sweet Home......

Just wanted to post a few pictures of the new place.  It's really nothing special, but I'm sure you may have been wondering.  For the proximity to Adam's work, (about 45 miles round trip to the south), school for Brennan, the cost/month and size; for what is available for rental in Lodi, we did good. 

 

Front entrance, there is a bedroom (babyroom/guestroom) and Adam's bathroom (guest bath) on the left and the kitchen is on the right.  Front closet on the left, then master bedroom on left.  On right just past the seated bench in foyer is the kitchen table and living room.  The stairs to the second level are right behind the bookcase, and the sliding door for the backyard is there too.

Kitchen, on the smaller side, with a gas stove -have not gotten the hang of that...- the counters are tile with old/poor grout, so that is a bummer for wiping/cooking etc.  The cupboards are also very high, I've never been one to worry about reaching the top shelf, but as you can see the step ladder in these last two photos, it gets used atleast every other day, so no sense putting it away.  For about the first 2 weeks (when the kitchen was operational) it was up and open in the middle of the kitchen, like it was a fixture.  In this photo the fridge is on the right, then dishwasher and sink.  The sink has a nice window over it which faces the west.  But I guess it's a skorcher in the summer, so I have already put a curtain over it.

Here is the backyard, we have a nice corner lot, which I'm thankful for.  Not really the time of year for playing for the kids, but it will be nice in the months to come. 

Brennan and Quinn have the upstairs.  This is a loft area, which we have turned in to the toy room.  The bedroom they share is through the door and they have a bathroom there too. 

Big room for the kids, the first 2 weeks were hard; they did not want to sleep upstairs.  They were afraid, monsters etc.  That fear has come and gone thankfully.  Now they just don't want to sleep cuz they are having fun talking to each other.  I'm not sure what size bed we'll get Quinn, but that time is coming soon for her to be out of the crib.  For sure a twin will fit, but a full size bed would be nice for her to have too.

Looking down from the loft area.  The kids are down below engrossed in PBS.

Here is the master bedroom.  It has some of the baby things in it; just to help with the transition of the new addition, and company visiting using the front room, it was just as easy to set some of these things up in here for the time being.  There is a walk in closet and I have the bathroom in this room, it is left of the bassinatte. 

Kids bathroom, they have the largest bathroom, but that's ok, I'm actually enjoying having my own bathroom.

 

With the pictures of Brennan biking, there was the garage/front of house.  Not a lot of storage in the garage, and I worked so hard to make room in there for the van; and then it just barely fits.  I get out of the van several times when I pull into the garage to view if the door will be able to close without taking off the back of the van.  So that was/is a little annoying.  The laundry is also in the garage. 

 

Home Sweet Home.  Adam really likes his new job, so it's all worth it in the end.

Training Wheels

 

We took the training wheels off his bike on Sunday.  By the end of the day he had dad running behind him to catch up.  And he was ear to ear with a huge grin.  He says he needs help starting (but he has done it a few times) and his dismount is a little ackward.  But so far so good, and he only has one speed....fast.  So we'll keep practicing in our little circle, we're not ready for him to be on the real road.  (I tried posting video, but it didn't work)

I like the smile on his face in the last photo, he was really proud of himself.