Visiting with my dad

After spending a week in Tehachapi to visit with Peter's family I actually traveled in a plane (which I seriously dislike) last week to visit my dad in Sebastopol, CA. I took Sarah with me, and I think the reason I didn't have my usual panic attack on the plane is because Sarah was having one for me. No need to worry when someone else is, right?
Traveling with my dad is all about the food. It isn't about what you can see, but what you can eat along the way.
Just when you think he could not possibly eat any more--he does. And then? More. Absolutely unbelievable. And yet? Skinny as ever! Some things in life are just not meant to be fair.

We had clam chowder in Bodega Bay and then ate fish and calamari that night in a restaurant overlooking the bay. We ate to-die-for dim sum in San Francisco, where I had my first soft-shell crab. I had a "Black and White" shake at this burger type joint right off the ferry. It was there that I was tasted the most fabulous seared tuna burger ever. We had more calamari clam chowder in sourdough bread on Fisherman's Warf.
Can I just say that seafood is one thing I miss about California?

Sarah was traumatized by the buses in San Francisco and was repelled by the smells in China Town. I was forced to use my self defense, "Stay BACK!!!" with some freak while walking at night back to the hotel. Very good cultural experience for Sarah:)

Such a great break for me to have right before I started this term of summer school. And bonus--Peter was broken into his role of Mr. Mom while I fight through this six week Spanish class. The house was in very impressive shape when I got home. He did laundry for hours the day before I got home. I've gotta say ladies, I've utterly underestimated his hidden housecleaning abilities.
Guess that is what you get for being a control freak.

Who knew it really doesn't matter how the dishwasher is filled? Who knew my 13-yr-old son could empty it? Rebecca (8) is adept at mopping floors and John can actually clean his room. I know as a mom I have only done an injustice to my kids by not trusting them to do more.
Won't be making that mistake anymore:)

Note to my slaves--as I keep promising you about all those piano lessons--you'll thank me later.
Love, Mom

Loser Blogger

Well, it has been a while. I'm not gonna sugar-coat it though. This month has been tough.
So here is the short version.
For those of you who may not already know, Peter and I have been contemplating moving back to Tehachapi, CA for several months now. His dad is retiring and Peter, who has been working there remotely since we left, has had the opportunity to take it over. If you didn't know this, don't feel left out. We haven't wanted to share this with people until we had made a final decision.
This has been a very difficult choice. We love it here in Utah, our kids are happy and we are all quite settled in. The schools are great, we love our ward, it is beautiful . . . you get it. But financially we have a good business in California. We'll just say if I had a dollar for every hour we have spent in agonizing debate over this I'd be able to buy myself something pretty nice.

We settled ourselves into the idea of it. We told the kids to prepare to leave. We killed ourselves fixing all things broken in the house, installed a new light fixture, repainted the living room and bath room--basically gutted the house. Hauled stuff to storage, staged every room, touched up paint and got the house ready to show. I almost collapsed with exhaustion. Peter left for CA a few days before the virtual tour and some women in the ward came in and saved my life by helping me clean the bathrooms, move furniture, touch up paint, make beds--whatever I hadn't been able to do over the preceding 9 days of hell. Friday morning the photographer came, did the pics, realtor puts the sign up in the lawn. No one is happy.
Saturday morning I have a big yard sale. I've never had one before because Peter thinks they are trashy. But he wasn't here so, you know.
Saturday night we talked and realized we just couldn't do it. It just didn't feel right.
Peter got home Wednesday and pulled the sign out of the lawn.
I'm pretty sure our neighbors (ie ward members) think we are nuts. I don't really blame them.
We just got everything back out of storage on Monday and are still unpacking boxes.
But heh, my house looks really good. My friends think we should all pretend to be selling our houses once in a while. It is very motivating.
So that is where it stands. There just isn't a perfect answer for us right now.
Pics at the bottom of blog.