the apple city

HOM and i are back at a favorite place at a favorite time of the year! 

thankful that we are able to visit again. 

polar bear penelope

wheeee we're goin' places! my little stethoscope mascot from J2 which in full disclosure i hereby confess i hustle for unashamedly.

home goods

where, as J2 says, you end up buying what you didn't know you needed.

cuppa joy

we have a cuppa together, HOM J2 and i, with A in tow. how pleasant, i think. to have left the tumultuous years behind and to have reached an understanding as adults. how pleasant to see your daughter grown into such a strong generous kind and faithful adult! my cup is full today.

cognitive dissonance

the glitter the frenzy the carols-on-a-loop the kisses-and-love

and

the bruised reed the smoldering wick (in)justice and pain

seasonal dress

the neighborhood decor is clearly keeping in with tacky, i guess.

day trip! to merced!

we accidentally chance upon the town christmas parade when we visit for lunch. not to mention three separate craft fairs. with a thrift store and a thrift store that calls itself an antique mall (cue <eyeroll>). and just a 50-minute drive away. a distinct improvement on the christmas fair, if you ask me.

34

glad. grateful. amazed. winded.

i would still choose you again!

babysitting

peeing the baby

changing it

talking to the baby

distracting the baby

walking it

looking at the tomatoes

trying out the swing

repeat from top

mealtime

A swimming in puree.

A swimming in chicken fibers.

A swimming in avocado.

A swimming in yogurt.

HOM and i think to ourselves: feeding an infant sure was different back in the day.

advent

the sermon today is about the first christmas all those years ago back when the political situation was oppressive national morale was low and cultural identity was fractured and the child was born who brought a new and different hope.

what do we look forward to at advent today? the speaker asks. good reminder that, i think. time to recall that it's not all black-friday-cyber-monday deals seasonal carols and all that dreamin' of a white christmas stuff. there's also that little (and deep) matter of the fountain that washed away my sins.

i can look forward to the second coming, i think. although that is rather too abstract. what i look towards at christmas is really easter. because of that fountain.

cambria christmas fair

HOM and i and J2 and Ji and A join the hordes gawking at three million little gawdy lights and drinking over-priced hot chocolate and eggnog-from-a-carton. cambria is picturesque cute even if the fair is a little overhyped. the drive takes three hours each way BUT the in-n-out burger fix on the way home is delicious.