We settled into our AirBnb, basecamp for a few weeks before our new house closing. Couldn’t complain though — it was a brand new place by the bay and the owner was just so nice and accommodating with our situation.

E loved this little loft.

Can you spot our Zojirushi? Most prized appliance. :))

The place had three bedrooms so actually a good amount of space and then this little second loft with an interesting collapsible ladder that led up to an office space.

Parking was pretty rough, as is expected in this area, but three cars added to the complexity.

More takeout! Trying new places but also making the rounds on some of our faves…

Only Mommy gets excited on expensing kale chips. ;-P

Went to a home and garden show downtown to see what vendors we might need for the new place… Took a stroll around Rady Shell as there was an event going on that day.

More outdoor therapy. :) The steps down from Sunset Cliffs aren’t always open so we had to go down when it appeared we could.

Mommy loved her morning runs around Crown Point and the bay…

We didn’t pack in our bikes and brought them along as there are lots of trails around.

We biked some pretty long stretches with playground stops along the way.

Sunset break.

Matcha by the ocean break.

Taco break.

Vertical garden idea possibly for our new (much smaller) backyard?

More food pics, haha.

When you can’t decide between a turmeric or matcha latte…

More morning run scapes.

Our first time at Hadilao…

It’s a bit overrated, we thought. It was worth a try for free, haha, and the performances were fun but probably wouldn’t go out of our way to come back! Though our new place is like super close to it…

Though it’s a time where it seems like just a holding pattern, we’ve been appreciating each moment and always practicing gratitude.

Took a breather from packing before it was crunch time and we had to clear everything out.

Nature is the best therapy.

Coach has interesting training techniques.

Some more eats. Trying new places while enjoying the old w/ our very generious per diem. ;-P All our kitchen stuff is packed up. Mommy misses cooking a bit, though…

View of the lakes early morn.

Last run on these trails, sob. #nofilter

This was the view that sold us, especially Daddy.

Every.thing was emptied out…

Farewell, 8855. You’ve been so good to us!

Next up: moving into our AirBnb close to E’s school by the bay for a few weeks as we wait for our new house to complete. Not the most family friendly area but good for a few weeks’ staycation (including over MLK)!

Then it was back to wrapping up the last few weeks of the year…

Where else can you sail in December? :)

Some hiking…

Some b-day celebrating…

And then LOTS of packing… That was our sad Christmas tree for the year with one lonely ornament as we packed everything else up.

The containers arrived… We were still on pins and needles, awaiting a closing date as our current house had sold and we had to leave by end of the year. The bad news came that our new place wouldn’t be done until later in January. This meant we had to put everything into storage for less than a month, move out and then wait until our house was complete. Wasn’t what we wanted to hear but we just had to accept it and move forward. Thankfully, the builder offered to cover all storage, moving, temporary housing AND food costs while we were “displaced”.

Loading up.

Elias’ growth wall. He is going to miss this place… So many good memories, especially during lockdown.

On the bright side, we got to try some new eats on the builders’ tab… like this new Japanese cheesecake place.

Boba and dessert.

Another Japanese cheesecake place.

IYKYK. :)

Christmas was super bare bones… But the Reason for the Season didn’t change. And despite circumstances, we’re grateful for our Savior, whose birth we celebrate — lowly He came in unideal situations. (What do we have to complain about?) He is unchanging and ever our hope.

Youngest to oldest…

TX friends were in town — long story but they are sibs to our future neighbors (who have already moved into the neighborhood)!

And we met their newest addition to the fam! Her mom was one of our wedding planners and when we got married, they had just had their oldest who is going into high school. Has it really been that long???

New neighborhood playground that we only had like a couple of weeks to try out, haha.

These two are always happy to be reunited since they don’t go to the same school anymore.

Safari play date.

We found them more fascinated with the ducks. :P

Save the chubby unicorns. :))

Jumping attempts.

This made us think of a Pokemon and its trainer. :D

This tree is like, really, really old.

Slushies AGAIN??? When will the parents learn? Never!

More sunset mountain moments to savor before we leave…