Memorial Day Weekend

May 30, 2014 (10.75 months-ish)

Memorial Day weekend was a great 3 day stretch for us as a family, getting to be at home in Davis was needed. Not only were we able to enjoy more time hanging out and getting home stuff done instead of traveling, but we were also able to take in some Davis "attractions" as a family too. On Saturday we had to get some chores done around the house early in the day so Sierra made sure she helped out as much as she could. She has watched her Dah Dah work on bikes since she was born (but now he has his little girl and birthday gift bike stand to assist him).

Later on in the afternoon, we headed to meet some other families at the UC Davis Rec pool. We biked over on bike paths and pulled Sierra in the trailer, which is always fun for us. Sierra submerged 5 times and was seemingly unfazed by the experience. Almost as if she purely and wholeheartedly trusted whatever Mah Mah and Dah Dah had planned for her. She came above the water completely unshaken! Yes, those free swim classes did do something for her! Marleene and her kids were there, as well as Emily and her crew and Linda and her kiddos. Sierra really enjoys observing all of the kids playing around and doing "big kid" stuff.

Saturday morning we took the bikes out to go by the horse stables and dairy cows for Sierra to meet. We brought carrots along so the horses would come "say hello" to us. Sierra was intrigued by the majestic (not so majestic while they were eating carrots) creatures. Next stop COWS! They were very accustomed to people. We reached out our hands and they immediately started licking us; reaching out their long, scratchy tongues to lap up any salty sweat they could. Gus strongly discouraged my behavior with Sierra, but I wanted her to feel the texture of a cow's tongue when it licks your hand (it was so memorable for me when I was young). After leaving the friendly cow herd, by happen chance we ran into Marleene and Linda as they were crossing the crosswalk in town. What luck!?! We later met up with them at the park. Another friend of ours was there with her family too. Davis is definitely a family town! Sierra expanded her hugging circle to their daughter (who is just a few weeks older than her). Family (check), dogs (check), new best girlfriend (check).

On Memorial Day we took some time to thank some special people (Bill Pieper, Ian Pieper, and Karl Pieper for all they did - as well as all of the others who serve(d)). I took a jog with Sierra and the dogs, Auntie ("Giggles" she is always giggling around Sierra) Lyn stopped by, and Sierra did some more work around the house with Dah Dah (who might I say did a whole butt load of "to-do list items" this weekend).

On Tuesday morning, before I went into work, I went to a play date with some other moms at an indoor "play cafe" and hung out with Sierra for about 1.5 hours. The bike ride over was probably shorter than the car ride would have been. It was great to watch her play with the other kids and it's great to hear about what other moms' thought processes are. Construction began on the 50W so Auntie picked up Sierra from daycare and met me at home. It is so nice to have a social support network of family around.

Grandpa Jeff came to town to visit from Costa Rica!!! Wow what a difference a few months makes. Auntie and Grandpa picked Sierra up early and spent some QT with her before I got home. Auntie was also cooking dinner when I arrived which was so unexpected and overwhelmingly nice (since I literally had no idea what I was going to feed myself tonight). We all talked for quite some time after Sierra went to sleep. It felt really nice to reconnect again, and also to see Lyn so happy with her dad around. It was really warming to me. Both Grandpa and Lyn mentioned how much they appreciated the blog... so when they left I decided to post a mid-week post. What can I say, I am inspired by their compliments.