A goodbye to Newport Beach

I had a three day no dessert streak FYI.

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But then I started trying to write something for my G-ma’s memorial…

And in you case you were wondering…See’s Maple Cashew Brittle is out.stand.ing.

I ate this whole thing in one serving.

With that, you may guess how well I was (not) coping leading up to my G-ma’s memorial. Normally I’d say writing about my feelings would be therapeutic, but I LITERALLY CANNOT WRITE when it comes to this subject. I tried multiple times in the weeks leading up to this to put something on paper to read and in the end I couldn’t do it.

I’ve deleted so many half sentences that it could fill a book.

The silver lining is that I got to spend some time with family.

We drove down to Newport Beach on Saturday.

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I’m a professional when it comes to packing for long drives on the I-5…but it still took us almost 8 hours. Oof.

We went straight to my G-ma’s house, where everyone else was, which was tough. I’ve known this place for all 36 years of my life…

I helped set up a little while Kyle took the kids to the neighborhood park. A park I grew up with as a kid and ran past as an adult, so many times. Whether or not my babes remember it, I’m glad I have the memory of them playing there.

Anyway.

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We went to Islands for dinner and it was perfect.

Our airbnb was less perfect, but that’s what you get for under $100, you know?

There was only one room, so we all went to bed at the same time (which was fine since we were exhausted after driving all day). Add the daylight savings time change on top of that sleeping sitch and you can see how Sunday was off to an interesting start. V and I were sharing a bed, and she decided she had to poop at 3:30 am…and then start the day. Ummm, no.

Alllllll the coffeeeeee.

So many good stories. She was so loved.

My cousins (above) and our kids (below).

Next thing I knew, it was 3 pm and we had to get back on the road for another 8 hours in the car…

THIS IS WHY WE GOT THE CAR WITH THE DVD PLAYER.

Seriously, it was the only reason we survived. Well, that and Zofran. No car sickness this time!! And believe it or not, after 16 hours of movies and podcasts, they haven’t asked for a single bit of media since we’ve returned.

I brought cake home from the memorial. And I’ve had dessert every night this week…

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Time to get things together, Elise.

And just so you don’t think I’m a total mess, let me end this post with a photo of my mom’s desk from when she was little.

We brought it back from my G-ma’s house and set it up in the toy room, and he has been doing his “homework” and drawing here for hours and hours ever since. It lights me up every time I walk past and see him sitting there. A little bit of Newport Beach we will keep here in Davis. <3