Southern California 2013 - Part 8

Last day at condo, back to San Diego

Our final day at the condo we just relaxed and enjoyed the condo.  We spent some more time swimming, playing volleyball in the water with a beach ball (no worries, none of us have aspirations of professional beach ball careers!)  To put it quite bluntly – we stunk!  But we laughed a lot and had a great time!

We played a game of the Disney version of Apples to Apples.  Kalel couldn't read all of the words so we played by the pictures.  He is a quite the competitor!

  

Then we loaded up the car for our drive back to the San Diego.  Unfortunately, when we were ready to leave, Tasha got her finger shut in the car door! 

Finally on our way back to San Diego and to the Hunzeker’s apartment.   Since Zane had an early, exciting day in the morning at his first day of work, we headed to bed early.

Tasha and Zane’s apartment was very cute, but they were seriously lacking in the furniture and lighting department!  They had their bed, and they had a futon (which was used as a bed in the spare bedroom) and an air mattress in the loft – none of which were very convenient for just sitting around and visiting.  The most comfortable spot to sit in the house was the stairs!
 There was no overhead lighting in any of the rooms except the kitchen and bathrooms. Knowing that they were temporarily short on money, Kim and I took Tasha out for some inexpensive - yet functional furniture.  We found two adorable lamps at the Good Will and then picked up a card table and folding chairs that they could use as a dining room set.  Four plastic patio chairs worked well as a makeshift sofa (with the plan to move them out on the patio once a real sofa arrived).

The most fun purchase was a ficus tree that Tasha named Cleo.  The trunk actually braids itself as it grows!  I think she will enjoy sitting out on the patio caring for Cleo.

In the early afternoon we noticed that a young boy was going into the apartment next door.  We said hello and soon discovered that he was just Kalel’s age!  We invited him to go swimming with us and had a marvelous time throwing a football and playing Marco Polo.

Kalel ended up playing with this neighbor boy all the rest of the day!  They had tons of fun!  We met his mother who we found to be extremely kind and helpful.  After spending considerable time visiting with her I felt a lot better about leaving Tasha when we came home.  This neighbor offered to show Zane and Tasha around and she also said that if Tasha ever needed to she could borrow her car during the day. 

Zane came home all excited about his new job!  I’m so happy that he likes his job!  After dinner at IHOP and lots of great bonding, we headed to bed.  The next morning, after loading up the van, to spend time constructively instead of in mourning since we were leaving, we watched make-up tricks on youtube. 

It was SOOOOO hard to leave, especially since Zane was at work and Tasha would be alone for several hours.  I honestly felt like I was totally abandoning her.  Deep down there is no doubt in my mind that this will be a fabulous experience for both Tasha and Zane.  I know that they will grow closer as they lean on each other.  It will be a great adventure for them.  I hope they meet some fantastic friends.  I just miss them so much!

The trip home was uneventful – except for the part where Kalel got sick on the plane again.  How could he right all of the rides at Disneyland without problem, but not be able to fly? 

 It was nice to get home, however this trip was one that I will never forget!  The time that we all spent together as a family created memories that will sustain me and make my heart happy for a very long time!  Speaking of happy, on the plane on the way home Kalel told me, “All of us wore a different dwarf on our shirt at Disneyland.”  I agreed and he continued, “but none of us was (the dwarf) Happy”.

Again  I agreed and then with childlike candor and knowledge of the wise he proceeded to say, “that’s cuz BJ was Happy in heaven”. 

Well said, Kalel!