A world record- we woke up at 8:30 and made it to church on time! We all looked a little raggamuffin-y, but I’m so glad we went.
After church we went for tacos at the gas station down the road. We got to talk to some friends from church that we usually don’t have a lot of time to talk to, which was really nice. And the tacos were good, too.
Yesterday I bought a swing set with an attached fort for the kids on OfferUp. It was delivered last night, and Adrian and Jack used the tractor to put it together this morning. Pete and I started painting it, and later Danielle and Anthony came over with the kids and Julianna helped me paint it, too. We’re almost done painting it and I love it so much. It’s been really special to have the kids all help put it together and make it our own.
I went from morning routine to kid drop off to Cafe Eleven in Hanford to Danielle’s, where Julianna and I quickly ate both apple turnovers that I had picked up at the coffee shop. Anthony made pumpkin lattes for us to try that he might add to the menu, which was super fun. Then, we worked on a few things for the coffee shop.
I left to go to the doctor for a post-op appointment, and she cleared me for normal activity! Yay! My blood pressure was a little low, and I should still take it easy, but otherwise I’m good.
I headed back to Danielle’s where Julianna was asleep on the hard wood floor, haha. Danielle made us the best grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve ever had in my life, and we finished some business stuff. Then I headed for Selma to meet a potential client. A very interesting one.
Once I got home, the kids were already there. We read some of Pete’s new books and I went to the office to discuss a few things and record some content.
After we dropped the kids off at music lessons, Adrian, Pete and I went to Lowes and Home Depot. I told Pete I could lift him out of the cart because the doctor said I was healed. He was so excited! When we saw Adrian again, he exclaimed “Mommy’s healed!!” And he said it several times throughout the night- it was so funny. After picking up the kids, we went to the downtown building and boarded up a door that homeless people have been getting into. It was a team effort for sure- I held the board and light and Adrian screwed the screws into the metal door frame.
When we got home, Adrian changed the tire on the golf cart and we buttoned things up in the office while the kids fed the animals. It’s been a full day for sure. Tomorrow morning I’m picking up my mom and we’re heading up to shaver to meet another client and get some more content, so we’re going to sleep a little early. I’m so thankful for my comfy bed, and the weather has been so nice that we’ve been leaving the bedroom window open at night. It feels like fall.
We got to church early this morning to drop off Ava because she was volunteering in the 2-4 year old class, then headed out to pick up a couple dozen donuts before heading back to church. The weather was cool and I was even chilly at church for the first time in a long time. The worship music was great today. After church we briefly met for info about volunteering at the Jack o Lantern Jubilee, talked to some friends, then headed home.
I ordered Chinese food and Anthony, Danielle and the kids came over for lunch. We watched the game and hung out. Lupe and Sara and their kids came later. The kids played and the adults hung around, ate more chinese food, drank some coffee, and watched TV. We were trying to decide what we’re all going to be for Halloween, which ended up putting us down a rabbit hole of SNL skits on YouTube.
My parents came over toward the end of the night and warmed up some chinese for dinner. My mom used her cell phone to record the boys in slow motion jumping from the coffee table to the couch, which they thought was amazing. It was a lot of fun.
Everyone left and we got to bed earlier than usual, so I took the time to knit a little more on Pete’s blanket. I’m very slow, but getting a lot better.
Every night when I settle in to bed, it’s like jumping onto a cloud… I love my comfy bed, especially after a long day of walking around. When I think about the things I’m thankful for, my comfy bed is usually in the top handful of things that come to mind.
We took the kids to the fair a couple days ago. Wednesday. We went to the parade in the morning and then the fair in the afternoon. It’s a tradition that I love. I would go to the fair every day that it’s in town, but it’s expensive, hot, and crowded, so nobody will go with me and I would never go alone. Usually we go again for the Demolition Derby. The derby is one of those Tulare things that’s just so Tulare you can’t help but feel pride for our town while you’re there. Last year, the speakers malfunctioned when it was time for the national anthem, and the announcer said we would just say the flag salute instead. Right away, the whole crowd started singing the national anthem, quickly led by someone who was obviously not a singer, but it didn’t matter. It was something really special. No music, no direction, just hundreds and hundreds of people singing the national anthem acapella. That’s what you can expect at the derby.
So anyway. This year we found that it was sold out when we arrived, so instead, Adrian and I took the kids to a new restaurant in town- Braised, and got everything from appetizers to dessert. It was all delicious.
Afterward, Adrian and the kids stayed home and I went to my mom’s house, where some friends had gathered to celebrate a 40th birthday party. We chatted and had some coffee. It was nice.
This morning was really special. My mom and my cousin Natalie came over for coffee and we FaceTimed Grammy Jane on the east coast. I got to see Aunt Marie, Uncle Ed, Aunt Rosie, and Julie, Renee, and her kids. It was so sweet to see them, and made me really want to take a trip over there.
Later we drove to Hanford to look at a really neat house near the kids’ school. It’s a beautiful house, but I like where we live more. It would be hard to move to town after living here in the country, even if it meant a 2 minute commute to school rather than 30 minutes.
We went to a few thrift shops. I bought a Mexican Cookbook and found a $100 bill inside! I’ve heard some people stick money in their books, but I’ve never found any until today. It was quite a welcome surprise! I also bought Adrian a Hawaiian shirt. We’re going to Hawaii in January and I’m getting very excited! It’s going to be so fun and very relaxing.
Last night we went to a paint night at The Barn down the street. It was so nice to hang out with friends! Anthony and Danielle, Travis and Vicki, and Lupe and Sara came with us. Lupe and Adrian had fun comparing their hands and acting extra brotherly. I’ve been getting a word from God that Adrian is going to win. It’s been a while now that I had an overwhelming feeling that he’ll win. I thought maybe the lottery, and have even been bothering him to play. When I sat in the kitchen and watched Adrian with his new “brother”, it seemed clear to me that this is how he won. In the midst of the uncertainty, pain, and confusion of what’s going on with his dad, he gained a brother that was already a close friend, eliminating any awkwardness or introductions. His kids are our kids’ age. They settled right in to cousin mode. It’s just been such a blessing all the way around. It’s a win.
I woke up with Pete snuggling in between Adrian and I this morning. We both snuck out of the room and had coffee in our comfy chairs before the kids woke up. Then we hopped into action to get ready for the fair parade.
Thankfully the duplex we’re renovating is near the parade route, so we parked in the front driveway and walked to meet my mom and dad in their usual spot. My dad always goes the night before and ropes off a section of grass to save our seats. Anthony, Danielle, and the kids met us there as well. The kids ate donuts and tons of candy from the parade participants.
After the parade, we all ate lunch at Chilitos, then headed for the fair. Ava was happy to see her friend right away and hung out with her for a little bit in the ag section before meeting back up with us. She also made some connections with the Oak Valley 4H sheep club, hoping to sell some of her sheep in the future.
The kids had a blast. They rode rides. They did fun houses. They played a few games. And they walked away with big plastic guns and swords, and extremely stained clothes from snow cones the side of their heads. I love the fair. It’s a Tulare thing that just seems so nostalgic. It feels like going back in time.
After the fair, we headed home and I went into the office to touch base with the girls. Then Danielle came over and we discussed some digital marketing options for their coffee shop, The Well. It’s tough starting out a new business and I had learned about some easy resources from Five Mary’s Farms, so I was happy to pass those along.
I finished writing an article for the Tulare Magazine about midnight, which was the deadline, and sent it in. It’s about the recent improvements in Downtown Tulare. A movement which we are deeply rooted in.
Finally I’m in bed, but I’m so excited about a meeting I have tomorrow with a huge company, that I can’t sleep. I can’t imagine what they’ll ask me and how the meeting will go. It’s going to be a learning experience for sure. Just the fact that the leading company in our industry is interested in Guest Equity at all is a huge win for us. We’re on the map. We need to start acting like it.
Dropped off the kids and headed over to Starbucks for a half sweet pumpkin spice no whip! Haha.
When I got to work, I hit the ground running. I mostly sat at the computer all day. Perfecta cleaned the house today, what a blessing. So by the time I made it back inside, the house was clean.
After school the kids and I headed over to check out the progress on the duplex and then met Adrian for some ice cream. The big kids headed home with him while Pete and I went to wash the car and vacuum up his mini wheat mess in the back seat.
We came home for a sec to relax before heading to music lessons, then a treat at Cora cake, then back home again.
I took a bubble bath and put in an order for donuts to be delivered in the morning! Good day.
I was so tired, I slept in until 6:30, so I missed my morning routine… but it felt so good to sleep in.
After taking the kids to school, I stopped by the office for a sec before heading to Shaver to look at an upcoming cabin. It’s a biggie. Before heading home from Shaver, I stopped at a cafe for some avacado toast for the road.
We had a meeting with an insurance company for our direct booking website. The meeting was on Zoom. We’re playing around with the idea of starting our own insurance company, but the company we met with seems promising. We’ll see what happens. I’m embracing this moment because it seems pivotal. We’re at a spot where we’ve already grown so much, and we’re on the edge of exponential growth again. It’s exciting to be here.
Ava went to vaulting practice, my mom picked up the kids from school and brought them home/took Ava to practice for me. I picked her up after practice and signed and paid for her to go to a competition in Vegas at the end of next month. She’s really excited.
Jack made croissants and he made me one with a “K” on top. It was delicious.
I overheard Pete tell Pip, “Come here Pip, give me a hug and a paw shake.”
Adrian brought home Taco Bell for dinner and we ate at the table and went to bed early. Everyone has been so exhausted lately! They’re long hot days for sure.
We slept in. We were still on time to school and everything, but I didn’t have time to go through my normal Bible study and comfy chair routine. To make things even weirder, I made tea instead of coffee. It was delicious.
After dropping off the kids at school, I picked up my mom and headed to town for an oil change and car wash. Then, we got coffee and toast downtown and took a smoothie to my dad who was working in the field, then headed back home.
When I sat down at my desk and opened up my email, I was shocked to see an email from Vacasa, a leading company in our industry. The email was an inquiry on whether we’d be willing to sell Guest Equity. This acquisition attempt breathed new life into me. Being noticed to a point that Vacasa would rather swallow us up than compete with us is really flattering. I’m so curious what they would offer us, so we’re chatting Monday. I feel like we just graduated from small potatoes to slightly larger potatoes.
After school we stopped at “Grandma-bucks” where the kids ate chips and drank grandma-style coffee, basically really weak coffee that’s mostly sugar and milk.
This morning after the usual morning routine, and dropping the kids off at school, I headed for Bass Lake to look at a property we’re going to manage. On the way I passed a school and just felt instantly thankful that I was heading to the lake instead of stuck in a room for the rest of the day.
On the way home, I met Gemma at another property in Visalia and we walked through with the owners. It’s the cutest casita and guest house in Visalia, I’m excited about all the properties we looked at today.
I helped Pete with his homework… that was interesting. This boy is way to talkative and busy to focus on homework. Its so interesting how intelligent he is, but how resistant to learning academics. What a goof.
We’re making some improvements to the Tiny Homes, so Jacob came out to discuss what was needed. It’s going to be fun to revamp those.
I’m almost finished knitting Pete’s blankie. It’s been a long process but I’m loving it. I’m grateful that I took the time to learn to knit when I was recovering from surgery.
The Good Stuff