Happenings

     This weekend we had a new addition to the family.  Katie, Geoff's oldest sister, had her first child. Gabriel Jackson was born November 21st.  We are excited to meet him!

     Saturday, Geoff decided to change his brakes on his car.  He went and picked up all the necessary tools and went to work.  I went out and ran errands as he played mechanic.  I was on the task of making Granny Irene's fabulous dressing, but didn't have a roasting pan.  So, I went out to get the veggies and a roasting pan.  I got home and made the corn breads and crumbled the French bread for the dressing.  Geoff was still working hard, but finally finished and was successful!  He even took me to dinner and we were able to stop the car!
     On Sunday, we went to church and then met up with Geoff's friend Nick, his wife Angie and Nick's brother Chris to go on a hike.  We have been wanting to do this hike, but had been waiting for the weather to get cooler.  This was probably one of the hardest hikes, but the best hike we have done so far. The views were amazing.  Mount Miguel is only a couple miles from our house and we drive by all the time.  Now we can finally say we went to the top of that!!!  I told Geoff next time my dad comes, he needs to take him on the hike. Not me!  On the way down, I told Geoff maybe we can just drop him off!!  There are two points on the trail.  The first one is marked by a flag.  You can walk to that and get a good view and a good hike, but we thought we needed the whole experience!!!  So, we kept going to the cell phone and radio towers!  Awesome!!  When we finished, I was starving, so Geoff took me to Wings-N-Things!  When we got home, we got to work on making the stock for the dressing.  I bought a whole chicken, even though I only needed half, because of course, it was cheaper and I love chicken!  So, I had to watch a video on how to cut this thing up.  They sure make it look easy on the video!!  I guess once you know what you are doing it is easier.  Thankfully, I wasn't frying the chicken but boiling it, so who cares what it looked like!
     On Monday, Geoff was off to work and schools were out, so after my run I asked Geoff what his lunch plans were.  He had none, so I went and picked him up for a bite to eat.  We went downtown to the Lucky's Lunch Counter.  This was a cool little place and good!  Geoff had some more time to waste, so I drug him to the packed commissary!  But it was fun, and he got back right on time, perfect! Tonight, we had our Thanksgiving meal in San Diego!  I got some Cornish game hens to go with our dressing!!
     Thursday, we will be off to Pensacola for Thanksgiving and to see the new baby!

 Breads

                                                                      Chicken Stock

                                                                          Final Product

                                                            Pictures don't do the view justice!

 If you look closely at the middle peak that is where we hiked to.  You can barely make out a white tower up there! 

Our Lunch Place

November 12, 2014

     Today was the first appointment!  I headed over a little early just in case I got lost or something; okay really just nervous and scared!  As soon as I walked in everyone was so helpful.  They quickly got me in and ready.  It was so fast Geoff missed getting in the room with me.  The sonogram technician came in and started her thing.  She said based on her measurements the due date is June 25th!  That's my birthday! :)  She showed me the head, spine, and of course the heart beat.  The heart was going so fast 171!  I asked her if it was okay!  She said yes that was normal.  

     I then met with a nurse who discussed a few things like nutrition, medicine, and the next appointment.  Geoff finally found me and got to listen to the exciting random nurse.  I asked the lady if I should be taking prenatal vitamins and she's like yes.  All you need to do is ask the people in the front and they will give them to you.  Sweet easy; bam done!  I then had to go get lab work done.  The lady took so much blood I had to ask if I was going to still be alive when I left!  

     So leaving this place was crazy!  It took me at least 30 minutes to get out of the parking garage!! No joke!  It was crazy!  I sure hope it's not like that every time!!      

  

Los Angeles - Veteran's Day

     For Veteran's Day Geoff was off Monday and Tuesday.  I think he really wanted to take a drive up the coast to Monterey, but Jill can't say no to Norma and had to work on Monday.  I suggested maybe we drive up to Los Angeles for the weekend and explore around.
     We started out Saturday with Geoff taking me by the place my appointment would be on Wednesday, so I knew where to go.  Then we were off to LA.  The only thing I had heard about LA was the traffic was bad.  So far the traffic was decent, then about a hour in we started hitting some congested areas.  I'm sure its way worse on a week day, but still lots of people.  We made it downtown where we wanted to try The Original Philippe.  This place is supposed to be famous for French dips.  I've never eaten a French dip, so my first should be the best!  This place was packed with people.  They had 5 or 6 lines of people, but they moved pretty fast.  I guess when all you are making are 5 different kinds of French dip sandwiches you can get them out fast.  We ordered 3 sandwiches one beef, one pork, and one turkey.  My favorite was the beef and the potato salad!  After that meal, we needed to walk off some of our lunch, so we walked around China Town for a little.  This was an interesting place!

     We then wanted to see the Hollywood sign and check out the Griffith Observatory.  On our way to the observatory, we caught glimpses of the Hollywood sign.  The observatory was packed; there was no place to park.  We finally found a place on the side of the road.  It was extremely hot and I was not about to walk all the way back up to the observatory, but we walked to a bridge where you could see the whole city.  It was really neat.  I'm sure the view from the observatory was way better, but I wasn't in my hiking clothes!  They did have some trails around there to hike; should have worn my hiking clothes!!

     We drove down Beverly BLVD to check it out and go to this place I had read about called The Grove.  It was this big open air mall.  We go in and try to park and the garage is practically full.  It was cool, each level told you how many spots were open on that level.  We decided to just go to the top, since that's where the most spots were open.  When we got out, we noticed that we could see the Hollywood sign from there!  I look over the edge and saw The Price is Right trailers.  I thought that it was a place trying to say they had good prices, so you should go there, but as I looked over it was the CBS studio! LOL  We walked around there for a bit and looked at the huge Christmas tree, Gingerbread house and strolled through a few stores.  They even had Santa and reindeer flying across the street!  We did get this amazing shake from this place at the mall.  It took the lady forever to make it, but made me feel like I was getting my $9 worth!!  I was so sad when it was gone!

     We then decided to drive down  to where we were staying, Marina Del Rey.  We checked into the hotel and got our welcome cookies!  We got to watch the last quarter of the Aggie game.  Who would have thought all that craziness could happen!! WOW!
     We went out and walked around the area of our hotel.  There were stores and restaurants all around.  We had fun shopping around the stores.  We then went to the Yard House to have some beers and watch some more football.  I finally started to get hungry, so we decided to order some food.  I had the best fish tacos!!
     Sunday morning we went to check out Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier.  It was a nice walk with great scenery.  It was crazy how many people were out there.  You had people playing volleyball, riding bikes, walking, running, playing chess, playing football, playing at muscle beach, and even street hockey in a parking lot.  The Pier had a carnival on it and lots of people.
     We headed back home.  On our way, Geoff made a detour to Escondido to the Stone Brewery.  This was a really nice place.  The food however, I was not in the mood for!!  I was starving at this point and wanted something and was not in the mood for duck!  For those of you that know me, when I get hungry and I can't have beer, watch out!  So, Geoff had to have his beer and we left.
     All in all LA is interesting; pretty glad I don't live there!!

   

AmazeBalls!

     As I sit here and think about the past month, I think about how crazy life really is.  It seems it has been a whirlwind of activity, but a good amount of nothingness.  Seems like a great balance.  Things in life happen and I feel like for a reason.  A good friend of mine was killed 2 years ago on October 15, she was taken way to early from many peoples' lives.  It's fitting that on this day I take a pregnancy test and how much I felt like she was with me when those two lines showed up.  Even though I was too dumb to realize it at first; she was there.  This particular morning I trip while running, but felt like I was pushed to hit the grass instead the concrete sidewalk.  As I lay there with my face implanted in the grass, I can't help but cry and say thank you for everything.  So that afternoon I take a test and its positive, which I don't realize because the line was so faint.  The next morning Kara asked if I did the test right.  So here I go reading the directions; you should do that before.  It says even if the line is faint you are pregnant!  UHOH!  She convinced me to take another and same result!!  It was so special to me to find out such awesome (amazeballs :)) news on that date.  I know she was up there saying "way to go JiLinda!!"
     So the rest of the story; I then go to the doctor and take their test and it comes back negative.  My trusty friend Kara says Jill those things aren't as good and don't test a strong enough level of hormones; wait for the blood test results.  So, that was a Friday and, of course, I would have to wait till Monday.  The lady calls on Monday and confirms.  Geoff by this time is working away at Camp Pendleton, so he has to settle for a text!  I actually wouldn't get to see him again for a week.  He was supposed to get back later than me, as I was going to be going to Texas, but just in case, when I left I left him a Welcome Home Daddy on our dry erase board!  He ended up getting home early!! :)
     It was pretty cool that I ended up going home and got to tell Granny Janny and Grandpa in person!!
     So I'm pregnant; just by a little, but pregnant!  I have been feeling good.  I do get a little tired at times, but that could just be the fact that I have a hard time sleeping and I get up at 4am to run.  I feel like I forget everything, but seems like I've always been like that, but way worse!  I cry.  I've never been a crier but wow, the past few weeks I've been crying.  Something so small just makes me bust out!  All in all I feel great.  Excited yes, but scared!  When I walk home from school with kids talking about sex, drugs, drinking, and cussing every other word; it makes me wonder why I would want to bring a kid into that kind of environment.  Yes, I know I wasn't perfect in life; we all make mistakes, but I just hope our child can make the right choices.  All I can hope is that me and Geoff can instill enough values and morals into our child as we can.  That with God's help we can make sure our son or daughter will live their life the right way and follow in Christ.  I know this will be a challenge with all the obstacles in the world, but I think we are ready for the challenge.
     So, I guess I will have a new subject for my blogs!  Should be interesting! :)
B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+ B+

These little people in the San Diego clothes!  You are going to be Cousins!!! :)

Geocaching... Success or Failure...

     I know it has been a long time since I have written, but just seems like nothing really has been going on so I just don't write!  I know I have had some funny things happen, but I can't seem to ever remember them all!!  We have been spending time going to movies, eating, and drinking, of course!  Two of the best movies we saw were Gone Girl and Equalizer.  Wow, if you need a movie to see, those are two winners!  They opened up a Fillippi's Pizza Grotto near where we live, so we decided we must try it out.  We have eaten at the original one downtown, so had to see if it was just as good.  It did not disappoint at all!  Only thing that was disappointing that night was the Aggies!!  There was a group behind us that had just won their Freshmen Volleyball Tournament.  Their families were all there having a good time.  Brought back some memories!
     I recently found out I was being inducted into the Orange Grove Sports Hall of Fame... LOL... Really is this a honor; I'm not too sure but sounds cool!!  My dad and Grandpa have already been inducted so its cool to be the third Seidel inducted!  I had a trip planned down south but missed the ceremony by a few days, so dad accepted the award for me. 

     Geoff had to go work in Camp Pendleton for a week, so I went home to see family and friends.  It was sure nice to be back in the good old South Texas for awhile!  I got to see some volleyball.  Sure was nice to get to see the girls play!  I think I was the bad luck charm though; they lost both games I got to see.  I hadn't seen Granny Liz since she had her toe removed, so it was nice to see her.  It was their anniversary, so bam I was there for that too!  Got to see Hilmer after his little accident as well.  He had to get a defibrillator put in his heart after his heart stopped and he ran into a tree.  He seemed to be doing pretty good.  I haven't been to the fair in 12 years, but had to make an appearance.  Bailey and her family were there, so in order to see them I had to go to the fair!  I even got to see her classroom; which she quickly kicked me out of for being too obnoxious!!  Sounds like me!  It was good to see all of them!  It was Kara's birthday on the weekend, so after the game we had a quick birthday drink or more.  Spent the weekend catching up, relaxing, playing with the kids, eating (cause she makes me) and beach time.  Always good to spend time with all of them.  It was nice getting back to home. 
     When I got back, I jumped right into subbing everyday.  Some days are so boring; I sit there and think is this really what I went to school for, to babysit!  It's not like I'm really teaching, just babysitting!  Oh well, easy money.  Geoff had is hail in Coronado on the beach.  The admiral has been gone so long, Geoff never was hailed.  It was a nice beach and great weather. We played cornhole, visited, and ate pulled pork and BBQ. 
     We tried Geocaching this weekend.  Now we had tried this before, but we have never have actually found one.  We are 3 for 3 in California though!!  YES FINALLY!!  It is actually fun to do; if you can actually find them!

I did get to take all 3 kids to the park alone!! Watch out and no one cried and everyone was accounted for!!  Couldn't get all three perfect but oh well!!  We had a blast!! :) 

 Trying to take a picture, since we took none! LOL

Our first Geocach found!

Sunset on the beach!