This summer has been a ride, and I've been avoiding this. The post where I mention that Mark was laid off a month and a half ago. RIF=reduction in force. His whole team. I couldn't even really put it into words until now, it just sucked too much, to be honest. The day it happened, we knew some people were being let go, but he felt good about his job, and his position. I had taken the train with the kids and some friends downtown to the Children's Museum. We had a great morning - and when Mark called, I assumed he was at lunch, wanting to chat. He called from outside the museum - knowing we were there, he walked the 12 blocks to come find us. I won't forget that moment, so thankful I was with my friends that I could leave the kids to run outside and be with him, wishing he didn't have to go through this, feeling so sad for him, and so glad that we could be together right at that moment. We spent the rest of the afternoon getting lunch and riding the train home.
And then we went on vacation.
And then we went on vacation.
There have been some lovely ways that the timing of all this has worked, the first being that afternoon Mark was let go, the second being that we went on vacation two days later. Road trip to Colorado (those pictures will come later)! So, the plus? We've had a lot more time with Mark! The kids are enjoying him (even though there was a stretch where everyday felt like Saturday). The not-so-plus? We are still very much in limbo, and Mark is ready to get back to work.
Near the end of our time in Colorado, however, I applied for a part-time position at UT, in sort of an angsty place of wondering what comes next for us and the unknown. Three weeks later they offered me the job. So this past week I find myself back at work! At the counseling center, part-time during Naomi's school day, 4 days out of the week and will be 9 months out of the year. Ideal. Right now, I'm seeing the positives in timing: Mark can be with the kids while I'm starting this new gig. I'm working a little more now at the beginning than I will be regularly, and that will be helpful to be paid more. Micah has a spot at Naomi's old school in September. This is a job I would have wanted even if Mark hadn't been laid off, I just would not have been looking for it. I see these things and believe that God has a plan for us. Even though it is still unknown.
The weekend before her birthday we celbrated with friends...
the requisite Carrot Cake - with chocolate cream cheese icing this year (Mark came home, saw this, and said it was time to start telling Naomi "no". Hey, when its your birthday you can choose whatever cake/icing combination you want.)
There was a pinata, decorating fairy wings and crowns, and...
...a Teepee!!
Naomi's actual birthday was the following weekend, after we arrived in Colorado. Here's the birthday girl opening her present from us - a real necklace with a dragonfly. 
The kids loved running through the woods and looking at the trees...
On the way home we found ourselves driving through San Francisco at dinner time. So, Fisherman's Warf it was...
After food, a walk along the warf, and almost losing three of four children, we headed out.
A very tired bunch of kiddos.
Last picture from the plane ride home. Wonderful travelers.
The point juts out into the ocean, there is a lighthouse (which I'll have to make the trek to another day - it was not really kid-friendly) and a place where you can watch for the tiny white specs way out in the ocean that mean WHALES are migrating by. There are some old ranches there, quite a few grazing cattle. We loved walking on the beach.
Micah likes to get the guitar stand and pretend its a microphone.
Her class was the Clocks in the performance of Cinderella...Naomi was the number 12, and got to do some extra special jumping at the end to warn Cinderella about midnight.
She had some lovely admirers come to watch her performance...
I've seen pictures, but they just don't do it justice - it was beautiful. So were the views looking back into San Francisco.
At this point, we were all ready to find our hotel, order some pizza and not be in the car. I love these car trip pictures though - the kids were really great, but we were definitely all packed in!
