So I think I just had a reality check. I feel like I was a little negative in my last post and I feel like I need to take a step back and clarify. I've really been struggling lately feeling so stressed out and overwhelmed at everything going on in our lives and I think will it all I've just been a little down. But in thinking through it, I realize that in the long run this is so silly. Why am I so stressed out and complaining about moving and changing jobs, apartments, friends, etc.? Sure it is change, and change in general can be tough, but seriously, what am I complaining about?? We are so fortunate and blessed to have so much and just having this opportunity for new experiences and growth is so wonderful. I feel so grateful that we have a roof over our heads, clothing, food, our health....everything we need. I guess I just feel like amidst all this chaos and stress I finally had a realization that I need to change my attitude and show more appreciation for all the Lord has given us--which is more than I could ever ask for or possibly deserve. It's crazy how quickly we can forget our blessings and so easily dwell on our challenges and I'm really hoping and wanting to do better at that. So I just wanted to apologize for my silly negativity and say how grateful I am for all that we have--no matter how topsy turvey life may seem at the moment!
Leaving my heart in San Francisco....
So in the next couple weeks, we'll be leaving this.....
and moving to this.....
Let's just say things have been a little crazy the past few weeks with lots of big difficult decisions on our plate! I guess the biggest news of all is that Dan was offered a great job opportunity in San Diego and so we are actually going to be moving down there over the next couple weeks. This has all been quite unexpected and it has been so tough making the decision because we are so so happy here. Dan's job has been great, we couldn't love the city we live in more, and we just love all our wonderful friends here. So even though San Diego is a wonderful place and one we definitely wouldn't mind living in someday, when this great opportunity came up it just took me by surprise and it was really tough knowing what to do. We thought about it a ton before we decided that the job in San Diego would be so great for Dan--not only would it mean an awesome promotion but it would really help him grow and learn so much in his field, hopefully opening lots more doors in the future. Plus, we thought it might be nice with me not working right now to live in a less expensive place where we could get more for our money. So we accepted the agency's offer in San Diego and Dan informed his work here that he would be leaving....that's when things really got complicated. His agency here gave him a very appealing counter offer and it was so tempting to stay, since we didn't really want to leave in the first place and since a promotion here would mean we could be a bit more financially comfortable and not have to move and leave this city we've grown to love so much. But in thinking about it over and over again it just didn't feel right. It was one of the hardest decisions I've tried to make in a really really long time, but for some reason it just kept ending up that we didn't feel quite right about staying here. I feel so torn and I'm having a really hard time with this move, but I think everything will turn out alright in the end and it will be a good thing for our family. San Francisco has just become home to me and we've had the most wonderful, exciting year here. I will never forget how special our time here was and all the amazing experiences we had. I made Dan promise me that we would come visit all the time....and who knows, maybe we'll end up back here again someday. I just had no idea how much I would love it here and how much this city can really become a part of you. But I know that we will love San Diego too, and that in time it will start to feel like home. I am really excited for Dan and proud of all his hard work that has gotten him where he is at now, and I am thrilled that he'll be in a job that will challenge him and make him happy. Plus, looking on the bright side, who can complain about living just a short distance from a real warm beach and enjoying that SoCal sunshine all the time???!! Maybe I'll finally get a tan! :)haha Doubtful! Anyhow, the plan is that Dan starts his job in Encinitas this coming Monday and then he'll come back and move us the following weekend. Then a week after that we're off to the Caribbean for a vacation--hopefully I'll survive til then! I need to stop stressing and start getting excited, but I sometimes think I hate moving more than anyone in world---ahhhhhh! Oh well, somehow we'll get through it. Wish me luck!
We've been skunked......and unfortunately, I'm not kidding
Okay so today was not a good day. As I was feeding Cal this morning at 6:30 am, Dan took Cruiser outside to go to the bathroom.....unfortunately, on their way back to the house the pup had a little encounter with a seemingly cute and harmless baby skunk crossing his path. (I know right??---skunks in the middle of San Francisco????? Seems crazy, but in case you didn't know, there are tons of racoons, and skunks, and all sorts of creatures meandering the city streets because of all the parks close by and the climate.) As Dan started to scream Cruiser's name to try and get him not to go any farther, in the blink of an eye the little skunk just raised his tail ever so slightly and sprayed our dog. Dan came into the baby's room and announced to me that cruiser had been sprayed by a skunk and I thought he was joking. Then I saw the panic in his face and all of a sudden out of nowhere, caught whiff of the most incredibly potent and disgusting smell in the world permeating through our house. I wanted to choke and die. What a nightmare!!!!!!!! Needless to say, Dan did not make it to work for another two hours while he scrubbed our dog over and over again with every homeade concoction we could find on the internet for removing skunk smell from dogs while I simultaneously did everything I could possibly imagine to reduce the awful odor that was everywhere. Cruiser hadn't even touched anything except in the bathroom, but it didn't matter. The smell was unstoppable. After Dan finally,had to give up and leave, I continued to bleach every surface in the bathroom, boil vinegar over the stove, spray every air freshner in our house, flung every window open (even though it was pouring rain) and tried many many other attempts to get the smell out. Luckily, it has finally improved a little as the day has gone on, but it is now 8:30 at night and we are still bathing our dog relentlessly and trying to air everything out. Our entire apartment building reeks!!! Even when I left the house today with the baby to run errands I still smelled skunk all over us everywhere we went. Seriously, a perfectly good day ruined!!!! The poor dog has been in his kennel the entire day silent, knowing how awful a predicament he has gotten us in. Luckily he is losing his smell slowly so maybe we can give him a little love tonight. Poor little guy.
Well, moral of the story.........never, ever under any circumstances underestimate the power or a skunk and steer clear my friends, do NOT let this happen to you! YUCK!!!!!!
Weekend Getaway to Napa
Over the MLK holiday weekend, we decided to do something we've been wanting to do forever--go to Napa and visit the wine country! We were so excited to finally go and to make it even better, the Carpenters came with us too! We had the best time sightseeing, eating delicious food, staying overnight in a super cute bed & breakfast, relaxing in the jacuzzi, and shopping. It was such a fun weekend and we made some wonderful memories. Sorry there are so many pictures, but there were just so many fun ones it was hard to pick!
Our first stop was in Sonoma. We saw this cute little Sonoma Traintown that had all these little rides and fun things for kids. They also had a train you could walk through and play on. It was really cute. After that we walked around downtown Sonoma and got some lunch.
On our way from Sonoma to Napa we stopped at the Domain Carneiros Winery. We had someone recommend going there because it was just beautiful and modeled after an old French Chateau. It really was amazing and we had so much fun walking around it and seeing the vineyards. 
Since we don't drink wine we felt a little out of place :) but we still enjoyed seeing all the beautiful sights at the winery. It was so fancy and Liz and I decided the chateau needed to be our house someday.
Olivia decided to do a little wine tasting even if the rest of us were going to pass....:)
A view of the vineyards from the chateau
Cal was such a good sport on the whole trip! He just hung out in his car seat most of the time and enjoyed rides in his stroller.
Cal and Dad enjoying our hotel room! It was such a cute little place--we just loved it! And breakfast in the morning was delicious!
Here we are at the Oakville Grocery. It is this cute little market just north of Napa with all sorts of gourmet foods. So fun!
On Sunday we took a fun walk and saw some more beautiful vineyards.
Matt & Liz lovin' the grapes :) (ask Liz for a more detailed explanation....)
Point Reyes & Dinner at The Cliff House
A few weekends ago Dan and I decided that we needed to get out more and see more of this wonderful city/Bay area. So we ventured out to Point Reyes National Seashore to do some sight-seeing and enjoy the great outdoors. We didn't know much about it so unfortunately we didn't leave ourselves enough time to do all the things we wanted to do there, so we just took a beautiful drive and a fun hike before we had to head back home. The sites were amazing and it couldn't have been a more beautiful day. We had so much fun and are looking forward to going back and seeing the lighthouse next time and doing some whale-watching.
That night we met up with my Dad and his new wife Julie (who were in town for the weekend) and they took us to an amazing dinner at Sutro's at The Cliff House. It was such a fun treat and the food truly was delicious. Not to mention the unbelievable views we had of the waves crashing up against the Cliff House right at sunset! So beautiful! Thanks Dad and Julie for the fun evening!
