Flipping Out

9:00 a.m.
"I regret to inform you that the house you were interested in was leased over the weekend. Sorry."

This was how my Monday started. I'm blaming the lazy real estate agent for not getting our application in that we sent LAST TUESDAY. But I'm not really sure what happened. I don't think I've ever been turned down by a landlord and it felt worse than many near-engagement break-ups.

As with any break-up, hearing the news was followed by a breakdown of epic proportions--weeping, whaling, and nashing of teeth doesn't quite cut it. I had a pathetic moment. Real pathetic.

However, not completely unmerited. (There are NO OPTIONS in Visalia for rentals...there were a month ago when we were WAITING for confirmation about moving but now there are none. I was worried that all of our trips to visit family this summer would be cancelled because we would need to look for a house then move AND since we have to be out of our place at the end of June--landlord moving back in--we will be residing with a toddler in a hotel until who knows when)...Nightmare.

After getting a grip, I found myself staring face to face with 3:00. Does that happen to anyone else? You get some kind of bad news and then just reel out of control for what seems like 15 minutes but when you look at a clock you realize 8 hours has gone by?
My poor child. It dawns on me that he needs to get out of the house. Alright, I'll just take him to the park...

Well on our way to the park down the street, I did what any crazy person with a toddler at 4pm would do--I kept driving.
And driving.
And DRIVING.
Until we wound up in Santa Cruz.
And then I felt better.
Landon was happy to see the ocean. So was I.
We saw a few sea lions, and heard them barking.

Landon kept saying, "Puppy, scary" (pronounced SKAY-WEE) and wanted to get back in the stroller.
I kept thinking, "People, scary." There are some of the weirdest people you will ever see wandering around Santa Cruz. I had no idea.

The sunshine was lovely. I enjoyed the fresh air, and even some of the weirdos. Thank heavens for a change of scenery, even for just an hour, to gain a little greatly needed perspective.

The Torture of Moving

A particularly lovely shot of me being alone in the Marriott parking lot trying to haul all of my crap into the hotel, alone, with a mini Dennis the Menace. Alone.*

I've had a "terrific" 2-day whirlwind trip to Visalia to try to find a place to live. Good news: We found a house. (Thanks to Rod scoping out the landscape for a few weeks on the hunch that we might be moving to said locale).

Before I do a victory dance, let's back up a bit.

Tuesday morning: After finding out at 9:00pm Monday night that we were moving, and that Rod started his job the next day at 8:00am, I decided that I would need to take a trip to Visalia to find a house. Also, a little less earth-shattering but worth mentioning-- my favorite trash TV show didn't record on my DVR so I had to watch the slow-loading ipad version to get my fix of hating the "Provo Belmont/Arlington scene" on for the day, (did you guys know a Provo all-star is on the Bachelorette this season bringing disgrace to every Mormon?...of course you did) while I packed up lunches etc for the 3 hour drive I had ahead of me. (ugh...how's that for a run-on sentence?)


Then I went in to wake up the boss.
Morning mom. Not a bad way to start the day, I have to say.

After getting all packed and ready, I loaded the buddy up for the drive. Neck pillow and all.
That is where the cuteness stops.

To avoid boring you with the details, I will just skip to the low points. (Mind you--3 hr car ride. No husband. Multiple housing appointments. No nap.) We arrive to meet up with Rod at his new facility around dinner time (first day as an administrator...boy, did that man have swagger in the nursing home) .

As we get out of the car, Landon decides to throw a tantrum that can only be described as body possession by an ungodly entity...for (not exaggerating) 30 solid minutes.

I didn't take my camera out for that.

Imagine: Rod's first day at a new building, wanting to make a nice "administrative" impression on all the staff, and his 18 month old is screaming bloody murder in the nursing home administrator office, lobby, and front lawn (it seriously sounded like we were torturing him). Then we try to move the "display" out to the car and he flails so much that I have to set him on the grass so that I don't drop him while he does "log rolls" across the grass and concrete path, kicking, screaming, and punching.

(a far cry from this precious angel...)
**He finally settled down when I think he had no more vocal chords or energy left.
That wasn't the low point...But I won't get into the rest because it will sound like I dislike my child, which is absolutely not the case.

Wednesday Morning: Ah, a new day. Landon was exhausted (because he didn't go to sleep in the hotel until 10:30) and slept through my morning shower and "ready" ritual. When he did wake up it was a much better experience...
Since Rod had to leave early, Landon was happy to "help" me load all the heavy suitcases and take a ride on the cart.
Not too sure about all the moving business...

There were cuteness moments caught on tape. 13 seconds worth watching.

*I know it sounds like Rod is a bad husband because I had to do everything *alone* but work has been unusually demanding lately. He's a great guy. Promise.
**Landon is the bomb. (as you can probably tell...) I think if I were 18 months, 3 hrs in the car (which probably seems like 3 weeks in 18 month old time) and having to live with me while I stress out would probably be enough to send me into a tantrum as well...

Swimming in the hot tub.

Landon gives me this face more often than I would like...


Who likes swimming in a hot tub? This one does.

Grandma Sherri and Monterey Bay Aquarium

Last week, my step-mom Sherri came out to San Jose for a visit. We had so much fun and little Landon didn't want it to end. We decided to take a short day trip down to Monterey. As I have mentioned before, we have been in a bit of uncertainty in our lives, not knowing where our options are as far as no knowing where we are going to settle until the company lets us know when and where we are moving. So we have been trying to make the best of it, and enjoying all the fun things in the area as much as possible.
My outfit seemed like a good idea when I left the house...uh, yikes.
I love the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Its just the right size, not too big that you get museum fatigue but big enough that you aren't bored.









Jellyfish are so awesome, as long as they aren't swimming in the same water as you, right?




There is a reason my son is so animated...This was at our favorite Clam Chowder restaurant. Vivolo's Chowder House. Super Cheap, really heavy, delicious clam chowder. My recommendation would be to split your sourdough bowl of chowder because it is FILLING.

And don't worry I was TERRIFIED of a Tsunami the whole time we were there. This full blown paranoia is something I have recently adopted since becoming a Mom. Does any one else get ridiculously paranoid about death, accidents, and natural disasters since becoming a mother?

Some things we do...occasionally

Some of my favorite memories growing up are of when my Dad used to take me and my brothers on walks/hikes in the mountains and nature preserves in the Denver area. I love some good nostalgia, and since I'm terrible at doing holiday crafts, I am trying to drag my husband out for little family walks once a week or so for our own little family traditions. Luckily my cousin Melanie, who is practically a Bay Area native, introduced me to this lovely park/nature preserve (right off the freeway...you'd never know it) called Rancho San Antonio. Look at that GREEN?! It almost hurts my eyes. I love.
Dorky pic of me (probably should have put on some make-up)...but since I am the designated family photographer, every once and a while I like to prove that I was there too, you know? Look at Rod in the back, he's like "Hurry up! Let's get this hike over with!"
Did I mention we ran into God on the hike?
At the end of the walk, there is a little farm and usually the kids can walk up to the animals and see them. Landon loves this, but what this experience has taught me is that pigs are just kind of huge, disgusting animals. Sorry to you pig lovers out there, but look at this gal.
Even Landon looked amazed at her grossness.

This is Landon's favorite guy. Ah, the memories. :)

Pixar, wet shoes, and a canole {from ScarJo}

It all started out with a really wet, really unnecessary drive to Berkeley to look at a holistic-based culinary school. (I've been stalking this idea for a LONG time now and decided to take some necessary steps to give it a try).

Of course I picked the wettest day of the year. And wore mary janes for the occasion. Genius.

Anyway, after parking, walking (with a toddler in my arms) for 6 blocks in a driving deluge of rain with my inverted umbrella (which blew up because of the hurricane-like winds); I arrived for my "interest" meeting looking like a chihuahua who had been hosed down with high-powered sprinkler head, and a blue-lipped, shivering child on my hip.

The meeting was supposed to last an hour, but because my toddler wouldn't stop yelling and pulling glass items off the metal industrial shelving hanging around, the counselor I spoke to said, "You know what? I'm a little distracted. I think we should reschedule for a phone interview."

This, after the lady told me that she was a grandma and great with kids.

Hmmm. Wish I would have known that a phone interview was a possibility BEFORE I drove over an hour and braved the highway water slide to "check out the campus" during nap time. Love that.

The day wasn't a total bust. My friend from the BYU dance days has been working as an animator for Pixar (because he's amazing like that) for the last few years and, in spite of my swamp-thing appearance--he invited us to Pixar for lunch.
I think Pixar is maybe the next best place to Disneyland because they have all these life-sized statues and really cool sketches from all the great movies they make. Plus they have a really amazing food court with all compostable utensils and gourmet health food. Landon's happy and so was Mom.
Cute little pic of Emron and Landon. We ate lunch at said food court and in the middle of our deliciousness, one of Emron's coworkers came by and said, "Here's a Scarlett Johansson canole for the baby." I figured it was some inside joke that they had. Emron told me that Scarlett Johansson had been into to meet with casting (this delightful canole-giver was apparently in charge of casting) so we figured he was just making reference to the previous day.

Don't worry, Landon wolfed that canole down and even did the double "more"--saying it and the "more" in sign language--which I equate with something like, "More! Damn it!"
Me and Landon with the Incredibles.
Don't worry, the shark wasn't real.
He didn't quite know what to make of these.
Why is this so hilarious?
Landon was going crazy with the toy packaging.

After our little tour of Pixar and nice visit with Emron, he texts me to say that the canole actually was FROM Scarlett Johansson. She apparently sent it to casting as a "thank you" after the meeting. It was fun to have a little Hollywood experience even though I have been out of Hollywood for a few years now. If I had only known that canole's secured roles...