N 40º47' W 77º51' or bust: Sometimes visitors make this place feel a bit more like home

So, it may have been awhile...but on our behalf, much has been going down this side of the Rockies (would have said Mississippi...but my folks in AR would have to say the same).

But speaking of Arkansans... three of our favorites--Mom (Ann), Kevin, and Shannon--were just here for my birthday! (Dad's not big on cities. If St. Louis gets to him, we couldn't imagine what SF would do!) It was their first time in California, and thus, SF. And, I must say, showing them around proved to us that this place isn't so ugly...Well, I guess we never said it was ugly, but it's hard to see past most people to find the beauty here. Regardless, showing Mom, Kevin and Shannon around revealed to us that over the past year and half we have found some pretty sweet spots that we truly enjoy.

We took them to Chinatown of course. But, no one was game for our Pho experience! We went instead for some awesome food in Little Italy where we chowed on pasta, ravioli and lasagna. Mmmmmmmm.... We took them to see all the cool views that we've found around town, dragged them through the forests of Marin County where we escape to pretty often, out to the coast at night to see the huge winter waves. We even picked up some super yum food from a taqueria in the Mission. Kevin was schooled in what a hipster is... I think he can solidly say now that "now, this is truly a hipster..." or "that kid wants to be a hipster but looks too ____ (insert boyish or girlish here--since we all know that real hipsters defy gender)." Everyone got their "shopping on" as E would say. We were all overwhelmed by the crazy downtown mall, but Shannon found some deals at Old Navy, Kevin found some at Performance Bike, and Mom found hers in Chinatown.

Then, Sunday night, we chilled here at the house and E and I celebrated our first Thanksgiving together--so very lucky to have family with us to have turkey (E rocked his first bird...YUM), white sweet potatoes (yeah, we don't know what the hell is going on with Cali veggies most of the time--when cooked, apparently white sweet potatoes turn green...really?!?!), and corn muffins (ahhhh yes, predictable). All followed by the longest UNO game I think that any of us have EVER played... Marathon no doubt.

By Monday, we were all exhausted, and E and I were thrilled to have seen three amazing people and so thankful that they came all the way out here to see us. Spending time with the folks was an amazing refresher...

So much so that we found the courage to go ahead and make the big purchase... We bought a truck! And all 267,000+ miles are happily ours! It's a sweet truck that hasn't taken much adjusting to fit into our lives (in fact, we took advantage of it today and got out of dodge for a quick hike...yeah, we can do that now...crazy). And now, we're just one step closer to the next chapter in our lives...perhaps central Pa again?!?

Our hike in Marin: