March 2026 (Walk For Life, Double Date with Pastor, Isaac Birthday, Project Hail Mary)

Two things you might notice--we don't do things as a complete family as much anymore, and at the same time, Manny and I go out more often. It's more challenging to align schedules, with the kids getting older. At the same time, Manny and I are more able to get out together more now. We're of course also going out alone to have some quality time. We had Peruvian food for the first time together (I've had it maybe two or three times before way back in college), and then Mediterranean which we have often together.

Our pastor has been a big part of our healing journey. He and his wife suggested we go on a double date, so we went to a nearby Chinese restaurant. He said later that he had wanted to try out my "go-to" Taiwanese place if I had one. I did, and I was about to suggest it for next time, only to find out that after 28 years of going there, it has closed. I'm really bummed about it! I took my mom and aunts there, college friends, of course went as a family, but alas, it is no more. Anyway it was a good time, but I find that I open up fairly easily to him and his wife, and I probably said a lot without time for context. 

This year is a big one for blockbuster releases. Included in that was Project Hail Mary, based on the book. I'd read it last year, or listened to the audiobook actually, because I seldom can sit down and read without interruption. I had also read The Martian by the same author, which you probably know was adapted into a movie starring Matt Damon. This one starred Ryan Gosling. I really liked the movie. Sci-fi is one of my favorite genres. Certain scenes were well worth watching on the big screen. I cried during certain parts of the book and then during those same parts in the movie, so I guess the plot and heart of the novel translated well.

Manny and Lucas participated in the Walk For Life fundraiser again this year. I usually stay home with Isaac. Raising money for crisis pregnancy centers is not about politics for us (and shouldn't be), but about raising funding for women who need or want prenatal and postnatal care and providing options for them that won't come down to money or hardship. 

The big deal for March was that Isaac became a teenager! There's a lot I want to say, but I'm trying to be more mindful of the kids' privacy. I will say the eating program has been working, and he started wanting to build a PC (but still hasn't completed buying the parts yet). He wanted a black and white chocolate drip cake. I thought about attempting the drip icing, something I've never done before, but decided to just buy the cake in the end. Naomi came home for the weekend, and we all went to Olive Garden to celebrate. The waiter folded origami gifts for us, which was sweet. They went to Isaac for his birthday. 

Lucas and Manny at Walk For Life

Out for Peruvian food after church

For some reason it won't let me upload the photo of us with our pastor and his wife at the Korean bakery, so here's our wonton soup from the Korean-Chinese restaurant lol

For Pi Day I wanted a small wild blueberry pie, but only found a frozen gluten free one, which wasn't bad.

Mediterranean food with Manny

Coach sleeping on Pluto

Birthday berry shake for Isaac

Squeezed into a smaller table at Olive Garden

paper swan and I think a cat

Huge drip cake

Birthday boy

Movie date

Had some okay beef noodle soup after the movie

October 2024 (NAMI Walks, Food Pantry, Lucas Fall Festival, Monster Dash, Comic Con, Comet Watching, Big Bounce, Tears for Fears, No Costumes)

In October, I did the annual fundraiser walk for NAMI as part of my friend's team. Another friend actually joined for the first time, walking with her organization separately. We had a bit of drama when a flock of geese wandered into the road. My friend's sister ran out there to round them up and redirect them away from traffic like the elementary school teacher that she is.😄I would not recommend doing that, though! 

Isaac didn't want to join me for the walk, but did join me for the Monster Dash 5K run. He was one of the first kids to finish (though he was one of the older kids, too). As such, he always has to wait around at the finish for me, but he's good about that. It was pretty hot, so we didn't wear costumes, though that was encouraged. The plan was to go to a small Comic Con afterward together, but he was tired, so I dropped him off at home. My Ghostbusters shirt did double duty. I'm so glad I went, even if alone, because I got to meet DJ Lance Rock from Yo Gabba Gabba, a kids' show Naomi used to watch and got a small autographed poster for her. I also got her an autographed graphic novel version of The Circuit, an autobiographical book about Mexican farm worker life that she recommended to me years ago. Then they did a Peanuts panel which was fantastic, and there was a Peanuts booth selling a ton Peanuts merchandise and collectibles. Sadly, the seller said it was his sister's huge collection, or really just a small part of it, and she had passed away. So they were passing them on to fans like me while giving the a portion of the profit to charity.

I took Lucas to the fall festival for his school. It was fun, but I think they should do more group activities. The students don't really get to know each other at the events. I rode the big trikes with him, but everything else he did alone. We did go to Big Bounce, a giant jumphouse pop-up, with Lucas. It was fun, but the parking cost more than the event ticket. 

My 80s music friend also had a birthday in October, so I took her to see the Tears for Fears concert film, which was enjoyable. We saw them live a few years before. I think theirs was one of the best live performances I've seen. For Halloween, we didn't dress up (except I put bandanas on the cats). The kids have mostly outgrown that now. I just made some fun treats and put out candy.

Also in October, I continued coaching Lucas's class, and we did a month of flag football. Isaac and I also looked for Comet A3 which could be seen with the naked eye. Naomi spent Halloween at her roommate's house in Sacramento. Her roommate's father runs a big neighborhood laser light show.

O. and I at the Walk

Geese blocking traffic before my friend's sister went out to save them

It was a hot day. Glad they had this cold water station out.

Had burgers and went to visit my friend's mom and her dog afterward.

Volunteering at the food pantry packing food

Fall Festival

Riding trikes at the festival

Shooting some hoops

Rock climbing

Monster Dash 5K starting line

Finished! (We ran around a community college campus)

Snoopy!

Always have to see the new droids

Big Peanuts booth. I got a few ornaments.

With Francisco Jimenez, 82, the author of The Circuit

Ahsoka Tano (I think) and Mace Windu

With DJ Lance Rock!

Peanuts panel

Not a statue! Amazing Optimus Prime cosplay that no one knew was in this part of the library.

Out with Isaac to find the comet

I think this was the comet, according to the app I had

Others saw it, too

Big Bounce

Took Melissa for her birthday

Flag football for Lucas's class

Bat cat

Candy Corn Coach

Was a way to use up my candy googly eyes

Naomi's roommate's dad's show

September part 1 (Lucas starts school, visits, book launch)

Lucas started 7th grade online public school in September, after Labor Day weekend.  We went to the Beach Boardwalk as a fun day before he had to start school.  This was my first school year not putting together his curriculum and teaching him directly, though for the first couple of months I had to sit with him through many of the lessons.  The program requires a learning coach to guide the student at home, though at Lucas's level he's much more independent.  He had a ton of homework, something new to him.  It was overwhelming for apparently many students this year, as I heard the programmed became more challenging and perhaps amped up because of the great increase in enrollment, likely due to Covid. We could not get Lucas an IEP (an individualized education plan for those with special needs) yet until they could put together the testing, so he just had to power through those first two months or so. He's been working very hard and doing pretty well, even in his art class which is his least favorite while I would have loved to have taken art in the 7th grade.

I did continue to meet up with friends, but as Delta had hit harder, I became more cautious again, and tried to meet outdoors or outside when possible. I prefer one-on-one interactions over being in large groups.  Our friend and former associate pastor held a party in the backyard for his book launch party. His book is a fast and good read about his battle with cancer. Even though he has been on hospice since around that time, he is still with us, still ministering to others, and raising some wonderful kids.

First visit to the barber since the pandemic started

Chinese pepper steak and pork and spiced bean curd

Pluto wondering what he's doing with a Sparkling Ice

Homemade shakshoka (a Turkish breakfast)

Out for a vegan breakfast with my vegan friend

Pluto cuddling (sorry for the picture of my foot)

Homemade hot and sour soup

Took Lucas to see Shang-Chi

Sept 11 Memorial.  Twenty years already.

Korean ribs, corn, yu choy, and hot links

At book launch party for our friend Pastor Dan

Tomato harvest marking the end the tomato season for me

Out for breakfast with Melissa

Love when Pluto is in a cuddly mood (excuse my foot)

Using the science kit to teach art

Roses from Manny, just because