Pictures: Cam and Deb's 20th, Gabbi and Reuben overlooking Lake Tahoe, swimming in our pool, gondola at Lake Tahoe, Brent and Val infront of our orange tree, Kerry and Mandy celebrating our 20th with us at The French Laundry in Napa.
It's still really, really hot here. They say it's a warm spell and should cool off soon now that it's fall. They're right. Today it cooled down to 33 from 36 degrees. Thank goodness for the pool.
Things we feel good about:
- I passed my driving test. I was actually nervous that I might fail after 27 years of driving
- We have finally found a piano teacher. We tried a few out but for some reason or another (Reuben's cat allergies, not being able to understand what the teacher said) things didn't work out. I have never seen so many houses with 2 grand pianos side by side
- We bought an electric piano which we're all enjoying
- We have a babysitter named Mimi. The kids like her and she babysits one night during the week and occasional weekend nights
- We discovered The Co-op - the best grocery store going. Great cheese and meat selection, lots of organic, locally-grown products
- We had Cam's business partner Brent Klassen and his wife Val Steinmann here for 2 days. It was nice to see people from home
- Cam and I attended a house concert/benefit concert of our neighbour who is a concert pianist. She's also the mother of the two kids that Gabbi and Reuben play with. You can check out her website at http://www.laradownes.com/ Turn on your volume and enjoy listening to her play
- We're starting to settle into a routine; this is demonstrated by usually watching a nightly episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm
- I've been doing some rehearsing with a really good church choir. Unfortunately they sing at an 8:30 am service - a bit early
- Cam continues to enjoy cooking and since he doesn't have to 'come home from work' I enjoy that he is the one that prepares our evening meal
- Our bikes are getting ridden daily; our single vehicle is not
- We're in the works of planning visits from other family and friends. Brian and Marianne Hiff arrive tomorrow. Yay!!
- We are looking forward to our vacation in Santa Barabara the first two weeks of October. We will be at the same spot we were last year and we'll miss our Swedish friends whom we met last year
- The brand-new Target in Davis is about to open in a couple weeks
Things that are a bit more challenging:
- We found out 2 weeks ago that our medical insurance is still a ways from being sorted out
- I'm trying to get medical reports from our doctors at home
- The kids have had to do lab work for the medical insurance (the doctor here couldn't believe it either)
- Our networking of home computers still causes frustration after having technicians here five times and having our main computer's hard drive completely rebuilt
- Some things around the house need updating but I keep reminding myself that this is like living at a cottage (My apologies to those of you with posh cottages)
- Reuben and I had a bike crash a couple weeks ago. We ended up with me and my bike on top of him on top of his bike on the side of a street (better get that insurance in place). Thankfully just some bruises
- It's expensive here. Our grocery bills have gone way up
