Last week of work before vacation

WEEK 5

This week I have done a lot of baking.  There is a Christmas party after church on Sunday and I have volunteered to bring some goodies.  This is one of my favorite parts of Christmas – baking!!

Tuesday was our 3 year anniversary!!  We celebrated by going to Calafia – it is a local restaurant that only uses local produce and products.  It was Delicious!!!

I babysat Nealon Brodine on Wednesday and we bonded (that has been the highlight of my week).  We went to get bagels, to the library, to see the ducks and the train and swung by trader joes.  I also had my first Wal-Mart experience here – not so good.  Wal-mart anytime isn’t that much fun, but Wal-Mart at the holidays is TERRIBLE!!  Congestion, long times, grumpy people, etc.  Never again!

We had a breast-feeding seminar this week as well – a lot of learning for one week – but that was our last class – so we are experts now (pause NOT).  We got the crib mattress this week, got the pack-n-play set up in our bedroom and I packed out hospital bags – so we are officially READY for this little girl to come (I mean are you ever really ready?)

HOORAY because this is Patrick’s last week of work before the New Year!!  This means we get the next two weeks to hang out and relax and enjoy each other and California before the new addition to our family arrives.  We are really looking forward to it.  There is so much that we want to see – for example Half Moon Bay (the beach) and he hasn’t really been able to explore downtown Menlo Park very much, maybe San Fran… who knows.  Lots of options.

Patrick’s Christmas party for work was Friday.  It was a lot of fun.  They had it at a traditional Chinese restaurant (I am talking the name of the restaurant was in Chinese characters with the English translation next to it in smaller letters).  They served multiple courses of traditional Chinese meals – it was very good.  We used our chopsticks the whole meal.  They had a drawing after dinner and Patrick pulled the 37” TV and I got a Starbucks gift basket.  After the dinner and prizes there was a “famous DJ in this area” – it was awesome because all of his bosses were out of the dance floor – none of the younger people in the company really danced, but upper management did.

This weekend we kept the Wood girls (yes, all 4) while Britton and Elizabeth got their weekend escape to Napa.  So jealous, but it was fun to hang out with their girls for the weekend.  We spent Saturday at the park and had a picnic and then decorated cookies that night.  It was exhausting, but fun!

Have we really lived here for a month?

 Week 4

First attempt at DMV – Fail!  Got there and the computers were down.  Luckily I was able to get the inspection of the car done so I got about half way there.  Also, I found out there was no need to drive all the way to San Jose (30 minutes away) that there was one in Redwood City (15 mins).  I went back to the DMV on Friday and got the Honda registered (in the nick of time – they only give you 20 days), but discovered that they want to re-charge us the sales tax on the Murano since we have not owned it for a full year.  The taxes here are at least 4 times what they are in SC.  Welcome to California!! Bad news is that we have to go BACK to the DMV again next week to take our drivers license written test (yes! They make you take it again, even if you are holding a valid drivers license).  No matter how much I plan I can never get in and out of the DMV in one trip.  I will give the California DMV this – you can make appointments online and it goes so much faster (wait time less than 5 minutes). 

This week I went to Buy buy baby with my new friend Melody to use my gift card from the wonderful women of SWB.  It was awesome to have a mom there who could tell me exactly what we will NEED right away (Melody has a 19 month old little girl – Charlotte – who is my buddy).  We walked in and started grabbing stuff and filling up the buggy and luckily the amount worked out perfectly – I actually made $2.04.  We feel a lot more prepared (stuff wise) and Melody dropped a lot of knowledge about the items we were buying – when to use, why to use, etc.  She is great!  That evening we had Community group– it was awesome!

 I also had the pleasure of joining Elizabeth and the girls at their Ornament decorating party.  They each had a new friend joining them.  At the party I made friends with one of the moms who is half French and she was giving me some cooking tips and some recipe ideas.  She told about this pasta dish with a creamy white sauce – I made it and it was super good.  That same night Patrick had a date with “littles” (Wood girls) to their class (Britton was out of town so they asked Patrick to go in his ...Uncle Patrick’).  They had cookies and milk, played with play doh and read stories.  They all had fun!

We are officially library cardholders, which is exciting.  The library is a couple blocks away and I have already spent a good bit of time there.  It is very kid friendly!  I did my first grocery-shopping trip where I walked and carried my groceries– I am now a local.  I will say this… I can’t wait to have a stroller to carry the groceries for me.

On Wednesday I picked up the “littles” from school and we watched Polar Express – It was a BLAST!  I love those little girls!

Patrick got to come to the doctor with me this week and hear the heard beat.  She said everything looks great (baby is head down, etc).

 Friday night we went to Stanford to see an Art/Engineering exhibit that one of friends was apart of – it was really neat.  The students had two weeks to create anything they wanted – so all of the projects were very interesting.

 We spent our entire day on Saturday in a birthing class (9-5) – it was LONG but informative.  Patrick kept joking that he hoped I would go into labor so we could leave.  We are happy to have it behind us, but do feel like we learned a lot. 

Sunday was our big Christmas service – it was with both church sites.  It was called lessons and carols.  There was a choir and musicians/orchestra and we sang carols and then after the songs someone read scripture and it went like that until the sermon.  It was a great sermon – reminding us the reason for the season.  Patrick ended up playing in the intramural championship with RUF and they won.  So now he has a championship shirt!  Lucky guy, one game and he is a champion!  After the game we had some friends over for dinner – our first time hosting in our new home. 

Nesting

Week 3

So from here on out I think the blogs will be much shorter…. Life might not be as exciting and interesting as the first couple of weeks (maybe once the baby comes).   
Patrick was out of town Sunday to Thursday in Waller, Texas for a business trip.  The trip went really well.  I kept busy unpacking and hanging out with the Woods and some other new friends.  While Patrick was gone…I finished unpacking the house (got the last box unpacked on Wed), got the nursery mostly set up, set up the internet, made some meals for the freezer and did a little baking – oh lets not forget… watched a TON of Christmas movies.

I had my second doctors appointment – still love my doctor – she is more like a friend than a doctor – super easy to talk to.  She recommended/ strongly suggested us doing a “practice run” at the hospital so we know where we are going and can feel comfortable and in control in at least one part of that day.  So on Sunday after church and lunch we drove over to the hospital and luckily they were pretty slow – so a nurse showed us around.  We do feel more comfortable and confident and actually know where to go.  Also, it is nice because the hospital is about 5 minutes or so from our apartment.

We picked up the second car when he got back – so now we are officially all moved.  Sadly, we learned this week that we have to register both cars within 20 days of them first being operated in the State AND get new drivers licenses.  BAH!!  What a crazy rule.  We were not planning on doing either of these things, but they force you to become an official resident.  So, next week I will spend some serious time at the DMV – oh the sights of California. 

This weekend we got our last two pieces of furniture, car seat and snap and go stroller.  The Woods donated a couch and Patrick began building a bed frame (hooray for being able to get out of bed without assistance).  We also got our Christmas Tree!!!

On Saturday we finished setting up and decorating the nursery (It is nice to finally nest).  We also took the Wood’s big girls (Mary Walton and Shelby) to a parade in Redwood City.  It was so much fun!  They got to see Santa and fireworks – we had a blast!

Week 2 on the West Side

Thanksgiving week – This week was our first week in our apartment. 

After setting up the bed the next big thing to unpack was the kitchen.  Monday I had my first big grocery shopping adventure and then we had community group, which was just game playing this week. 

Tuesday WE GOT OUR FIRST CAR!!  This made us really feel like we live here.  I had my first appointment with my new doctor.  She is great!

Wednesday I helped Elizabeth with Thanksgiving prep and we made these really cute cupcakes for the kids in the shape of Turkeys.  

Thursday/ Thanksgiving we spent with the Woods.  They had some students over as well as some people from church.  We were in charge of making the mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and whipped cream.  It was kind of a potluck meal (everyone brought their food that made Thanksgiving special for them) and it was so DELICIOUS!!  Thursday night we decided to do some Black Friday shopping.  We waited in line at Target from 8-12 and got a TV.  It was actually really fun.  We made friends with the people sitting behind us.  They brought bored games so we played Apples to Apples, cards, pictionary, etc.  We were maybe the 20^th people in line – so when the doors opened at 12 we were in and out in about 20 minutes.  

Friday we set up the crib and then headed to San Francisco for the Macy’s tree lighting – we decided to take the Caltrain for the first time.  We went a little early so we could walk around Union Square before the lighting.  The festival was fun.  They had an ice-skating performance by Johnny Weir, a few choirs singing and then SANTA did the countdown for the tree lighting.  We ate at a little diner downtown called Mel’s drive-in on the way to the Caltrain (it obviously wasn’t really a drive-in).  

Saturday we explored Ikea and Costco and got a dresser for the baby’s room. 

Sunday Patrick left for Texas for a business trip at 6AM.  I went to church and then made an advent wreath after church with some other families.

West Bound

 We have officially moved to California!


So we got here late Friday night, and without any real hiccups.  The only thing was that our flight was delayed about an hour so we arrived in California around 11pm (2am EST).  We were exhausted, but so happy to finally be here and be able to rest for a few days before having to think about unpacking.  Of course, Patrick and I got a cold the week we have to move, but we were able to make it through and get some rest on Thursday night.  We need to send a shout out thanking our friends and families for all of their help in our move.  From packing the pod, preparing for the garage sale, offering to bring us a meal, taking furniture off of our hands, finishing clearing out the duplex, etc.
We ended up getting rid of almost all of our furniture because we couldn't fit it all in the pod.  So all we brought is our bed, tv stand, crib, dresser and 2 bookshelves (that were taken apart).  We have already begun searching for furniture and will hopefully find a couch and dinner table soon.
Friday night our bodies were very confused with the time change, but luckily by Saturday night we had pretty much adjusted.
Saturday we took it easy.  Woke up watched football (all day), saw our new apartment, and drove around our new city a little bit.
Sunday we went to church.  The message was great - talking about the Sabbath.  After church we were invited to eat lunch with a group of young adults in the church/graduate students.  It was a really good time and we got to meet a lot of people.  For dinner the pastor's wife Mindy came over and made dinner with Elizabeth.  We had a mini dinner party! Tomorrow Patrick starts his first day or work
Monday – Patrick had his first day of work.  Everything went well.  He spent most of the day filling out paper work and then the second half of the day in a meeting.  He doesn’t have a computer yet – so there isn’t much he can do.  He did make a friend at lunch who introduced him to the Greek restaurant next door to his office and then they played ping pong at the office.  Apparently most people bring their lunches and play ping pong together at lunch time; which Patrick LOVES!!  Patrick learned at his afternoon meeting that he was going to be taking over a project and will have to go on a business trip at the end of the month (they are making him jump right in).  We decided to go ahead and just jump right in…. so we went to the Downtown Menlo Park community group with a group of people from church.  We had a great time and made some new friends. 
Tuesday – Patrick had day 2 of work.  It went well.  I hung out with Sarah Brodine and we kept 2 other kids from church and she showed me around downtown.  I did a little grocery shopping with Elizabeth, and when we were taking the groceries to my apartment I met our neighbor.  We also took this time to go on a date night.  It was really fun!  We went to a pizza place (Howies Pizza) at the Town and Country.  After dinner we went to Starbucks to sip on a warm beverage and chat and we learned that Menlo Park is a sleepy town.  The Starbucks closed at 9.  That will be a little bit of an adjustment.
Wednesday – Patrick had work, played ping pong and had prepare for a meeting with clients in the next day – it was a late night at work.  I spent some time at our new apartment and unpacked the few boxes we had checked on the plane.  It made me feel accomplished.  Elizabeth and I cooked most of the day preparing for students to come over for dinner.  It was fun – always more fun to cook with someone else.
Thursday- Patrick had another late night at work (we think this wont last forever once we get in the groove).  Today was a real relaxed day for me – I didn’t do much.  A lot of Craigslist shopping.   At night Patrick hung out with Britton and some guys from church and I went to see a movie with Katie and her roommate, Kate. 
Friday – OUR STUFF ARRIVED!!!  We have not unpacked yet because Patrick had to work but we plan to unpack tomorrow.  Some new friends from church have offered to help, which is awesome.  Hopefully our car will arrive tomorrow.  We are happy it is the weekend and so excited to move into our apartment.  I did go walking with another new friend today. 

Saturday- First we hit some garage sales and got some furniture for our apartment.  We had to leave just about all the furniture behind, except for our mattress, crib and a dresser.  Two of our new friends helped us unload our pod (we got it done in an hour and we are on the second floor – They rock) and we started unpacking (the bed was the first thing – so nice to be in our own bed again).  We got take out at a Chinese food restaurant in downtown Menlo Park (highly recommended by friends) and relaxed.

Sunday – Second Sunday at church.  Met some more people – reconnected with some other people we had met when we came to visit.  Our community group merged with another community group and had a Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving meal together – it was a feast of sides.  It was a really sweet time.