Made it!

A lot of things have been happening around here, such as getting here. These things have also prevented me from blogging, things such as not having Internet service because when AT&T couldn't verify our address they just canceled our order, having a now very mobile toddler who loves keyboards, going to Ikea or Target or somewhere similar every other day, and oh yes, moving cross country. I had hoped to blog through it all with a fascinating blow by blow of every mile driven and broken piece of furniture and fight with the movers. Instead, I was a little lazy and a lot busy. But, after all that and more, we made it. We are officially residents of San Francisco! I have the library card, and drivers license, to prove it!

I have lots to catch up on, but for now, I want to show you a series of photos that capture how my sweet Gracie has changed since leaving Boston. She was on the cusp of walking and communicating (talking may be too strong a word) when we left, but she is doing both now and the change is amazing. She is so busy! These are not great photos because they were taken with my phone, but you can see the serious business of using car keys to "unlock" door hinges. I don't know where she got it, but whenever she can her hands on my keys she heads for the doors. This is just one of many of the goofy but delightful things she is up to these days.

More on bears and weddings and road trips and fog and unpacking and spectacularly helpful family and new baby boys and old friends and Steve starting fellowship and missing Boston and seeing the Pacific Ocean on Sunday mornings walks soon!

Back!

Well, kind of. I haven't had a chance to transfer any of the photos from our recent adventures, but here's a quick run down on what we've been up to.

We packed up everything, and Grace slept in the closet while the movers loaded everything to take to the shipping pods. They only broke our desk drawer and now I'm having a to hassle with them to get it back. They promised to fix it, but now they aren't being so cooperative because they accidentally undercharged us and I think they're hoping to work out some even trade. I'd love to do so, but this requires calling me back! And mailing me the drawer to my desk! But I digress. Sarah was a giant help during load up day and in the time it took her and me to go get pizza, my dad and Steve got the pods loaded. And the thunder and lightening started just moments after we got back to the empty apartment.

Oh, the empty apartment... nothing in it except camping mats, the linens we're giving to Goodwill, a bunch of plastic Easter eggs for Grace to play with, and the broom. New favorite toy? The broom. Gracie would point at it and demand to be picked up so she could hold the broom and drag it around the room. Poor Cinderella without any toys.

We spent our last few days in Boston visiting our favorite spots until we were chased inside by smoke from the wildfires in Quebec (weird). Then, instead of enjoying our last day there with some friends, Grace and I had to make one last trip to the pediatrician because she had hand, foot and mouth disease, a virus common to young children that causes red blisters on - wait for it - the hands, feet and around the mouth. Her poor little tonsils were so swollen and blistered, she was pretty unhappy. And the blisters all over her face were perfect for travel and wedding pictures.

Fortunately, our trip cross country was much easier than expected. I was more than a little concerned about flying alone with an active toddler, but it all worked out well. She fell asleep in my lap without struggle, and even slept for our entire puddle-jump flight from Denver to Bozeman. We had a long wait in Bozeman for our ride, but a nice gentleman with an electric guitar played some music for Gracie. He tried to show her how to strum on the strings but she was far more interested in the buttons and dials.

Then, our ride turned up and we headed down to Chico Hot Springs for the wedding of the year. It was a wonderful time, Steve's travel drama notwithstanding. Started out great with Grace getting 86'd from the saloon. More on all that, plus pictures, soon!