Rescue Me (From my mother)

A forgotten post...

In early November our car broke down. The dealership rented us a Kia Sedona minivan overnight while our car was being repaired. Mark and I were in seventh heaven. Seriously. Over a minivan, you may ask? Yes. Seventh. Heaven.

First off, it smelled nice. It also allowed us to sit high off the ground, which is a luxury for two people who only ever drive around in a 1999 Ford Taurus. All the doors opened. There were multiple options for seating arrangements. We could change Isabella's diaper in the actual body of the car as opposed to the trunk. The windows were tinted and opened all the way down. And it was equipped with satellite radio. We referred to it as "our" minivan so much that Isabella believed it was really ours.

For a day and a half, we drove that minivan around town as much as we could : to the voting polls, the playground, the grocery store, to a play date... When we weren't driving it, we were talking about it. When we weren't talking about it, we were daydreaming about owning one. Maybe on some subconscious level I hoped that if we embraced the vehicle, welcoming it fully into our lives, it might love us back and want to be ours.

Anyhoo, upon arriving home from said play date, I parked the car in our driveway, accidentally locked the doors, then stepped out of the car to get Isabella out from the back seat. Yes, I did just that. I'd locked the keys, my cell phone, and my child strapped in her car seat in the car. It was a very warm day. Our landlord was not home. I ran frantically up the driveway to our neighbor's house and mercifully she was there with her son, Teddy. Not knowing how to unlock a locked door of a rental car (the "spare" key was fused onto the key chain with the primary one), holding a toddler captive, we were eventually told to call 9-1-1.

Within a half an hour of my locking Isabella in our awesome rented minivan, Cal Fire showed up, in all their glory, to rescue Isabella from the car (and from me). Cute Teddy kept Isabella entertained by playing peek-a-boo with her through the window.
As it turned out 2 of the 3 firefighters who had showed up were the ones who had come to our aid when Isabella had her seizure last year. They remembered her. I loved them all the more for that. They also didn't make me feel dumb for locking my child in the car. One even admitted to me that he done it to his two children--and had to call the fire department to get them out. I think at that point I'd fallen in love with them--all of them-- for who they are and what they do.

Isabella, of course, had fallen in love with the fire engine. She was more interested in the humongous tires than taking a picture with her rescuers--one day she'll change her tune. We thanked them later with a big plate of Chocolate Mint Brownies. Isabella has now had more personal visits from fire engines (3) than she has years of her life (2) and I think she thinks she pretty special because of it.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2010 was one of my favorites. My parents and my brother Dave and his girlfriend Janett came to our house for dinner. The weather was perfect and the feast was sooooo good. My brother took all of these pictures (minus this first one)and I think they are lovely. This first picture is of Isabella eating her breakfast on Thanksgiving Day whilst standing atop the turkey, brining in the cooler.

I neglected to change Isabella out of her pj's until some time after her nap and way after company arrived. Love that sleepy face and moppy hair!

Mom and Isabella (dressed).

Before dinner and the sunset, we took a walk on the property. It was cold and crisp and the light was beautiful.

Then we came in from the cold and ate. And ate. And ate. And ate some more.

Still eating...

Oops- a couple more of the farm... Tilly the calf.

Isabella deems Thanksgiving a success.

*Day after Thanksgiving photo bonus. Every time we go to my parents house now, Isabella reminds us that we need to wear our Cal shirts. I haven't told her yet that football season is over.

Halloween Parts I,II and III (Finally)

This post is dedicated to my parents because no one else on earth would want to see this many pictures of Isabella dressed as a monkey. So here it is, Halloween in 3 parts (and in reverse order):

Part 3: Trick or treating on Sycramore St. in Mill Valley. Seriously, this is the place for the goods.

Isabella loves Curious George. She too, is a good little monkey and is always very curious.

This was the year she got it. She loved dressing up. She loved going to strangers' doors and getting candy. She'd probably do it every day of the year if she could.

Then she met her soulmate: Toby from Thomas and Friends. The night could not have been better.

Part 2: Ward Halloween Party. Isabella and Allie. She loves Curious George too. And candy. And her pacifier. So much in common.

Allie: Jedi (sans costume), Scarlett: Minnie Mouse, Maya: Pink Princess, Isabella: Monkey on the floor.

She discovers the sheer joy of winning the candy bar walk game.

She was so distracted by her winnings that she and Allie needed a little assistance to keep the game going.

Mark, the mad doctor, was in charge of the donut on a string game.

She won the best costume award for the night.

Trunk or Treat

Our friends, Leslie and Maya

Tired little monkey.

Part 1: Stanley Lane Pumpkin Patch

Barrel full of monkey.

We went out for ice cream afterwards and she chose banana-chocolate chip, appropriately named, "Going Bananas".

She couldn't part with her little pumpkins from the patch.

Harvest Time!

She's only ever known the vines. Once when we were out for a run we spied a kitty cat on the property. When retelling her sighting to my mom a few days later, my mom asked, "Where did you see the cat?" Isabella replied,

"Outside. Just passed the vineyard" She's a true Napa Valley girl, where location is measured by proximity to a vineyard.



The workers begin in the middle of the night and work through the following morning. The tractor lights light up our room at night as they go up and down the rows.

Isabella doesn't like the sound of the tractors. Teddy (4) is our landlord's grandson and has grape juice running through his veins. Isabella loves him and will follow him anywhere.

The workers work amazingly fast sprinting down the rows. They have a bucket for collecting grapes that they push along between their feet as they cut the grapes with a small tool. They whoop and holler and laugh and yell for agua! agua! when they reach the end of each row because they are thirsty from working so fast.

Grapes! This vineyard produces 3-4 tons of 'em.

Teddy follows the tractors. Isabella makes sure Teddy follows her.

She helps the workers out by picking a few of her own.

Isabella eventually follows Teddy into the goat pen to play on the old oil drums. I guess they got tired of the grapes.