I love the fall!

Mason and his cousins enjoying the chance to play in the leaves last fall.

The last couple of weeks, it's feeling like fall, and I love it! Our neighborhood is full of mature maple trees and other species with great fall color. Driving down Florin (west of I-5) is one of my favorite past times lately, with all the beautiful color! We Californians don't really get much in the form of seasons... here in Sacramento, mostly we just get summer and winter with a real short adjustment period in between. So I am going to enjoy the autumn while it lasts. So beautiful!

A Day Off

Yesterday, I had the first full day off since before Marissa was born. As I pumped breast milk in preparation of my day off, I got more and more excited for what was in store. Hooray for days off!
And what a great day off it was!!
Landon and I took Landon's dad, Gary, down to Berkeley for The Big Game. Landon's dad didn't have the opportunity to go to college, and he gets such a kick out of being able to participate in events related to being a college student or alumni. Landon took him to a game a few weeks ago, which he loved even though it was raining and generally pretty miserable to be outside.
The day was beautiful. Perfect day to be outside, really. My kids were with Landon's mom (who, as I have pointed out more than once, is super awesome), having their own sort of special day. We walked all the way up to the stadium from the BART station, which was invigorating and wonderful. There was a lot of excitement all around, with entire families of generations of Cal Alums gathered to watch Cal take the Axe back from Stanford.
The game was great. The first half was sort of flat and not all that exciting, but we went into halftime with a lead (always good). Coach made some great adjustments at the half and we came out looking like a different team. There were some awesome trick plays, some regular plays pulled off with great athleticism and finesse, and some super awesome defensive stops. We got the Axe back handily. Pretty awesome.
During the game, the announcer was pushing attendance at the Cal Women's Volleyball game V. USC later in the day. Anyone who came from the football game could get in free with their football ticket stub. I really wanted to go, but wasn't sure about how my mil and fil would feel about staying for a few extra hours. Landon talked to his parents and got the okay for us to go to the volleyball game. It was also super awesome! We started out great in the first set, but then after a few unforced errors, we were sort of digging ourselves into a hole. We dropped the first set and then went down 24-16 in the second. No sooner than Landon had commented on the futility of that set, we rallied back and won the second set 30-28. The last two sets were won pretty easily by us... The final was 25-6.
While in Berkeley, I got to enjoy a La Burrita burrito, although they messed up my order and gave me a carne asada instead of the pollo asado I ordered, but it was yummy nonetheless. I really enjoyed walking through the campus along Strawberry Creek. I enjoyed being back in the bay with it's beautiful (perfect?) weather and like-minded people everywhere. I had fun at the football game and a BLAST getting to watch our women's volleyball team come back with some awesome playing. Just a really fun day!
Oh! And on the way home, I got some Krispy Kreme doughnuts and an ice cold rootbeer. What a great day off! I am so lucky!

A Really Long List

In an effort to move those pictures from yesterday's post farther down my screen, I am going to make a long list of things for which I am grateful today. Because, as I pointed out yesterday, just the mere thought of that guy makes me itch all over. Plus, it's a good exercise in what I am trying to accomplish here.
Today, I am grateful:
-- for my husband, Landon, who is so wonderful and loving and funny
-- for my two kids, Mason and Marissa, who bring me more joy and love than I ever knew was possible
-- that Landon and I appear to be past the worst of our crunched finances (hooray for selling the BMW!)
-- that the holidays are upon us. I love this time of year!
-- that Landon is not at a large firm that is seeing big layoffs
-- that Landon is busy at work, which means he has some job security in this time of uncertainty
-- that our friend, Gavin's, home was spared in the Tea Fire
-- that I've had the opportunity to befriend and get to know my step-niece and her wife in the last month
-- that my family is in good health this year
-- that I am getting better at being a housewife
-- that I get to have a day off on Saturday with my husband
-- that my mother-in-law can't wait to take my kids off my hands for a whole day
-- that my children are healthy and happy
-- that my brother, Devin, is someplace safe this year
-- that my brother, Devin, is finally getting help with his life-long struggle with addiction
-- that my brother, Devin, is finally getting an education and some job training so he will be marketable when he leaves rehab
-- that I have been able to resolve my cognitive dissidence with my family and our polar opposite political views
-- that my siblings are all still employed and keeping their heads above water when so many others are not right now
-- that I am able to continue to learn how to be a better mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend and human being
-- that I live in a country where I get to actively voice my opinion on anything I choose without being imprisoned or otherwise punished when I disagree with the government or the majority
-- for my talents and intelligence, all of which make my life easier and more enjoyable
-- for really good dessert (not everything needs to be profound, right?)
-- for chocolate
-- for my camera and the hours of enjoyment I get from taking photographs
-- for good wine and a nice buzz
-- for bubble baths (mmmmm... bubble baths)
-- for good health care so I don't develop crazy, out of control hpv infections (and here I thought I had moved past that... oh! the itchiness)

another aside

Landon recently discovered that I have this weird, psychosomatic response to things that gross me out. . . they make me itch. I think it's akin to the whole idea of something making your "skin crawl," but if something really grosses me out, it makes me itch, especially on my scalp.
There aren't a lot of things that make me itch all over, but Landon is making the most of talking about the things that do. Like, the ants that colonized the top of our electrical plug, laying eggs and generally overtaking the spot (because it was so nice and warm?). Or the homeless guy with a maggot boot. Or that guy from Indonesia that they call the "Tree Man".

Sometimes, I lay in bed at night grossing out big time over the Tree Man. The smell. The bugs that are probably colonizing all the disgusting folds in his warty skin. Just the general dirtiness of the whole thing. It. Is. So. Disturbing. Yuck.
I'm itching all over just thinking about it right now.
So last night, Landon was trying to creep me out. And I started thinking about the Tree Man. I had to know if he was getting better, so I wouldn't have to lay in bed at night thinking about all those disgusting warts. Turns out, he's getting better, but he'll always have some warts. I found this a little disheartening for a couple of reasons. First, that poor guy has disgusting warts all over his frickin' body. Sure, he can use his hands again, but they don't really look like hands. They probably don't feel like hands either. To him or to other people. Second, I will never be able to just forget about the Tree Man because he'll always have those awful warts.

I know it's probably not very nice of me to be so grossed out by this guy's pitiable condition (it's not like he has the warts because he's gross or something), but I just can't stop itching when ever I think about it. It's like the feeling I get when I'm walking on the sidewalk at night in Hollywood and you just can't help stepping on roaches. Lots of roaches. So. Glad. I. Don't. Live. In. LA. Gross.

Some Photos That Make Me Happy

Great Family = Great Friends

After spending the day out at my parents' home, I am feeling very grateful for my amazing family. Being the sixth of seven kids, I was never in need of playmates. I learned to share everything from a young age and how to let go when things don't go as you may have planned. Being part of a large family comes with many unique blessings that only people from big families understand, and I am no exception to that. I think for which I am most grateful, however, is how my family members are also my closest friends.
Having four sisters is pretty. . . interesting. It must have been hell to have five daughters because, let's be honest, parents worry more about their daughters. But, I am particularly grateful that I have so many sisters. I doubt very much that we would be friends if we weren't sisters, but because they are my sisters, they are my best friends. We are so different in so many ways . . . and there are definitely moments when I wonder how we manage to get along (particularly during election season) . . . but they understand me on a level no one else does. They are my fiercest defenders and would do anything they could to help me out. They love me even though they know how difficult I can be to love. I imagine that we will be close friends for the rest of our lives because that is just how important we all are to one another. It's pretty awesome.
Since I had kids, my giant family has presented even more blessings. As I pulled into my parents' driveway this morning, Mason noticed that the cars of his two aunts were already parked out there. He was overjoyed as he saw his favorite cousins pull around the front of the house on their tricycles. The three of them played for hours together, never tiring of the others' company, and I think they would all be perfectly content to do so pretty much any day of the week. They just love being together and look forward to the next time they get to play.
None of my siblings decided to have a large family themselves (well, I guess it's yet to be seen with the youngest), but because we have all stayed close, our children have been the beneficiaries of being part of a large family. With 19 grandkids and counting, everyone has playmates who are better than your average friend because they are family. And our great family just seems to equal great friends!

About Corra

One of my first posts was about Corra being burned. So I thought I would update today about Corra.
At the end of May or very beginning of June, Corra fell into the fire pit where her parents had been burning brush and branches the day before. There were no visible coals, but she was burned pretty badly. She had 2nd degree burns on both her hands and arms with some 3rd degree burns on her left hand. She spent a few days in the burn unit at the Shriners hospital (hooray for Shriners Hospitals, by the way. What an awesome organization!). She had to wear dressings for weeks, developed a nasty staph infection, and was just miserable for a while.
But Corra has healed beautifully. She has been wearing pressurized gloves to promote healing and reduce scar tissue since her burns were healed enough to not ooze or weap. Every time she's been into the doctor, they have been amazed at how quickly and how well she has healed. They said she would have to wear the gloves for a year. Last week, they told her that she didn't have to wear either of the sleeves on her arms, and that she only needed to wear one of her gloves (on the left hand where she was burned the worst). They said that if she keeps healing this well, she'll be able to stop wearing the other glove too in a couple of months.
I am so grateful that Corra was not hurt worse than she was. How scared we all were, waiting to find out how severe her injuries were. I am so, so grateful for the top-notch care she received at Shriners, all of which had no out-of-pocket cost to my sister's family. I am grateful for Corra's healthy little body working so hard to heal itself so quickly and so well. I am grateful that she has come through such a traumatic event with no lasting effects emotionally and minimal scarring physically.
I am just so grateful.

Landon is Great... Give Him Some Chocolate Cake!

While I'm on the subject of people who give me hope and make me think that maybe not everyone is a total a-hole, I'd like to talk about Landon.
Landon is smart. Landon is thoughtful. Landon tries really hard every day to make good choices for himself, his family, and for everyone he knows. Landon has integrity and courage. Landon is a good man, and I am lucky to be his wife.
I am grateful for his strength and his courage. I am grateful for his selflessness and willingness to make great personal sacrifices to benefit his family and our future.
Landon and I are both very opinionated and strong-willed, which does not always bode well for harmony in our home. Fortunately, we mostly agree about life's little details. I think I would do well to argue less and listen more, but don't tell Landon. An opinionated, ornery girl like me has a hard time listening sometimes.
I love Landon so very much. I am glad we both stuck to it over the years (ten years now!).

my friend Laura

Today I am grateful for my friend, Laura. Laura is a religious girl from Texas. When our friend, Gavin, told us he was seriously dating a religious girl from Texas, Landon and I were a little worried. Not that we stereotype or anything. But anyhow...
Yesterday, I was feeling pretty despondent over the fact that 52% of California voters voted in favor of amending our state constitution to add that the state will only recognize marriages between a man and a woman. I feel very bothered that a majority, small though it was, wants to write discrimination into our CONSTITUTION. I was sad and discouraged and also a little scared. You know, the whole tyranny of the majority thing. It's scary. I was really struggling with the hold that religious zealots have over our country and even have over a state like California that is supposed to be so progressive. And I was starting to really strongly dislike religious folks. Which is hard when you're from a family of pretty religious folks, whom you love. I was having some cognitive dissidence, for sure.
Then this morning, my friend Laura has posted on her Facebook page that she is ashamed of the discrimination and bigotry. So Laura and I started talking about the various and sundry ways people have used and continue to use both the Bible and God as evidence of why it is okay for them to do awful things. We talked about how people use their religion to cover their own ignorance and bigotry. We talked about all the crazy things that are deemed perfectly acceptable in the Bible, and how easy it is for people to pick and choose the ones they personally agree with. In the midst of this conversation, I stopped feeling so despondent and so angry. I started to feel hope because here I was talking to a religious person who is thoughtful and loving and Christ-like. Someone who really does try to live like Jesus taught in the Bible.
Today, I feel so very grateful that there are people who can simultaneously believe in religion AND believe in treating all people like people deserve to be treated. I am grateful for my friend, Laura, for helping me feel hope again that we can overcome the hate and the bigotry that is being legislated all over our country.