Momcation 2019: Bradley House, Folsom, CA

Bradley House in Folsom, CA

The idea germinated at Bible study of all places, about two years ago. "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?" We all watched and listened as the ice breaker question bounced its way around the circle of women, landing momentarily ("the beach with a good book", "in bed all day", "trekking through Europe") before being batted back up and over to the next in line. When it landed on me, I offered up the first thought that came to mind, something about kayaking along the coast of Kauai (because of a failed attempt during our honeymoon due to a very seasick husband).

But even as the words left my mouth, they felt disingenuous. We had just welcomed Ryan into our lives, and I was struggling with this next level in our juggling act. (Still am!) The new school year had just started, which meant Wayne had abandoned me  gone back to work, and I was tasked each morning with getting four bodies fed, dressed, and out the door (which sounds so simple and straightforward... except I still have yet to master the learning curve). I had barely made it to the study on time, with the youngest two in tow (or maybe I was very late, which was probably more the case), and as I stood there, baby strapped to my body, rocking and bouncing to keep some semblance of a nap schedule while out and about, I kept thinking after my answer, "KAYAKING?? I absolutely do NOT want to go kayaking right now!" What I wanted to do was hand my baby over to the nursery workers and crawl into that dark space in the corner and take a nap. What I wanted was to be somewhere—ANYWHERE—that was quiet, and where I could be by myself.

And so my fantasy was born. That year, every time I dragged my tired body out of bed to nurse the baby, every time I wiped up one bodily fluid or another, every time I ran through the house—gathering jackets and snacks and children—to get anywhere semi-on time, I fantasized about this quiet place where no one needed me, and I could use the bathroom without little hands slipping me LEGO minifigures or picture books. 

Happily, when I confided in Wayne, he was so supportive in helping me actualize my getaway.(Cheaper than therapy.) And that's how I started taking (yearly?) momcations. Last year, I went to the most stunning bed and breakfast in Auburn, called Park Victorian. And this year—just this past summer—I went to The Bradley House in Folsom, CA.

I found the Bradley House by googling "cute bed and breakfast Sacramento area", and this place definitely was that. Built in 1859 in the historic area of Folsom, and then purchased and remodeled in 2015, this house retains its century-old charm but happily incorporates up-to-date amenities and comfort. Mike and Olivia, the owners and innkeepers (also new parents of a not-even-one-year-old and full-time employees of their other day jobs!) are warm and were so fun to talk to. He is your, you know, typical tattooed engineer, Swiss immigrant-turned-innkeeper. She is warm and boisterous and all-American. I think she would have wrapped me up in a bear hug if that weren't so inappropriate for an innkeeper to do. Instead, we chatted for almost an hour about kids, where we grew up, and their aspirations for their bed and breakfast.

During the first day, after I had leisurely finished my coffee out on the wraparound porch outside my room, I walked around the surrounding areas of Historic Folsom, where I was able to catch the tail end of a weekend farmer's market, and then poked around the many vintage and antique shops that line the main street, reveling in the fact that I was able to browse in these stores with lots and lots of small, breakable things! On the second morning, I went out for a run along the American River, pausing at whim to take in the scenery, unhurried in my brisk out-and-back. I ate out by myself and at odd times, on one occasion swapping out dinner for a loaf of really good bread and soft serve. I spent hours reading. I watched TV! (So this is "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo"!) I cleaned not a thing!

In one word, my weekend was self-indulgent, which I feel a twinge of guilt even just typing. But I suppose that this was the goal of my weekend—to simply enjoy some space for myself. Next year, perhaps I'll instill some sort of more structured time of planning and meditation, but for this past momcation, I'm thankful I was able to steal away and hunker down a bit before returning to the home front.

Here's my weekend in a pictorial nutshell:

Hello, City Bus!

Caedmon, like many little boys, has an obsession with all things motors and wheels—the bigger the better. You can imagine what it's like to drive down the street with this kid as we pass 3+-axled vehicles—trucks, big rigs, car transporters. He does not yet talk (much), but that in no way curbs his enthusiasm: "Mama! A-Mama! Eh! Eh! Eh! A-Vvvvvah! A-Vvvvvah!" And it only escalates if I don't acknowledge the grand splendor outside his window; he just needs to share this with the world!

Lately, we have witnessed a new emotion—pining. Whenever a bus drives by, Caedmon gesticulates wildly—flailing, grunting, squealing—and then my little piglet points desperately to himself: "Inside!" We've noticed it since our trip to San Diego when, walking along the streets of the Gaslamp and getting up close to the dense traffic around us, he made a discovery that probably rocked his world: people sit inside these great glorious machines. He's been wanting a part of this action since.

It's funny that he's only recently made this connection, because we've been reading a book with him called Hello, City Bus! for the past year. In it, little animals wait in line and ride the city bus across town. (Spoiler alert: they get to their destination. It's riveting.) But I guess when you're two, and your world is not only new and unfamiliar, but also filled with a bunch of UNTRUE stuff (like little animals who wait in line and ride a city bus across town), it takes some time to figure out what is real and genuinely awesome. Riding the city bus is one of them.

And so a few days ago, we, being the amazing parents we are, cleared our morning schedules to make our son's dream come true. We looked up bus routes and times—or I should say, Wayne looked up bus routes and times, because this little suburbanite gave up with the maps and time tables and handed it over to her husband. (This is why, despite the fact that I can swim really well, I would make a sucky partner for The Amazing Race.) After counting out exact change for fare, we were off on our adventure... to Target! And if you ask Caedmon, I'm sure he'd tell you it was the best day, which is all that matters.

(Actually, he'd probably just grunt. But you get the idea.)

Here comes the bus!

We are getting on the bus! (Though the real reason I included this picture is because it captures the good hair day I was having. These are few and far between and must be celebrated.)

This is the face of a boy whose dreams are being actualized.

Contentment. Right here.

After our trip to Target and a scarfed down lunch at L&L (hurried, in order to catch the bus—who knew bus-riding could be so stressful?), Caedmon excitedly announced the bus's approach: "Mama! A-Mama! Eh! Eh! Eh! A-Vvvvvah! A-Vvvvvah!"

"Are we done yet with this selfie business? I want to get back to my window."

And then it was time to say, "Goodbye". I look a lot more distressed than Caedmon, but what you can't hear is Caedmon's whimpering as he points to his chest: "Inside!"

So sad. Next time, Buddy!

We All Scream for Ice Cream (Especially Caedmon)

Gunther's Ice Cream in Sacramento, CA

A couple of weeks ago, we took a trip to Gunther's.  We love this old-fashioned ice cream parlor that is as much a proverbial Shangri-la of sugary confections as it is a fixture in iconic Sacramento.  As if we need an excuse to go, I had an Entertainment Book coupon that was about to expire, and who can let free ice cream go to waste?  Plus, I thought it would be fun to capture Caedmon's first taste of ice cream.  Well, his second. His first was a hilarious contortion of his face in response to the unfamiliar freezing temperatures in his mouth, but without a camera, the moment was lost.  This time, we were armed and ready.  Wayne voiced his concern, though.  "Are you sure you want him eating ice cream at this hour?  All for the sake of a picture?"  "Don't worry," I reasoned.  "He doesn't like it. I just want a picture for his scrapbook."  

Oh, how I was wrong...

No, thank you.  This is new and strange.  I do NOT want to try it! 

I'd really rather play on this window ledge and bombard the people in the next booth with my cuteness.

Nevermind that there's a placard that says, "Parents, please keep children off the window" that Mom didn't see until way later... Oops.

Okay, I'll give it another try...

Oooh... that's good!

I need another bite.

And another...

What do you mean, "That's enough"?!  

Crying and screaming ensued, but we brought it upon ourselves, right?  We took him outside, which always does the trick.  And though our evening dissolved into a slight meltdown, I would say it was a rather happy ending... Not only did we get our fill of ice cream for our stomachs, and I, fodder for my scrapbook, Wayne and I were able to witness the likes of a budding love story, because if this boy is anything like his parents, he will be blissfully entangled in this sweet, creamy romance for years to come.

Okay, I'll play on this bike rack... I'm easily distracted.  But Mom, when's my next ice cream cone??

ArtBEAST in Sacramento

I am so excited to have found ArtBEAST in midtown, an open studio art space for kids to explore, make art, make a mess, and have fun.  It's also a nonprofit establishment, with ALL proceeds going to Tubman House, a local transitional living program offering coursework, childcare, community support, and counseling to help young homeless parents and their children get back on their feet.  What a noble and worthy endeavor that makes me feel that much better about coming here. While Caedmon is having a blast, I also know that we are making a small contribution toward a greater good.  

And Caedmon definitely had a blast.  

In the courtyard, he was free to play with water, among many things.

I loved this giant wind chime-esque construct that offered raucous clashes and clangs with each satisfying swat of the pole.  Still, I wondered... are we just teaching Caedmon to hit things with sticks?

 Lunch break!  We paused in our play to munch on the lunch I had packed.  In the background, on the left, you can see the sand pit area where kids can transport sand in different containers and pour it through hanging sieves and funnels.

Inside, different rooms invited children to paint on easels, sculpt with clay, crinkle crackly paper, and bake cookies and partake in high tea on play kitchen sets. On the top floor, there was an infant area that was gated off from the rest of the older kids, allowing for safe play for the littlest ones.

A mini ballet barre offers stability...

an opportunity to make funny faces...


and when no one is looking, a comforting snack.

Caedmon loved climbing up this plush jungle gym...

and sliding back down on his tummy.

Even Dad had fun!

Here, Wayne made a game for himself by tossing boiled wool balls into a basket across the room.  (There were no other kids in the area.)

In the basement, there was a stage complete with costumes, along with puppets, a fort, a tin spaceship, and musical instruments, including a piano and guitars!  Yes, it smelled a little like pee down there, but .... it's okay?

While Caedmon was too young to fully enjoy most of the activities at ArtBEAST, I think he still had a rocking good time. This is definitely a place where he can creatively grow, and I am so, SO excited that we have a venue like this in Sacramento!  We'll be back most definitely!

feeling ugh...

allergies. up until this point they have been manageable, but today, it's been debilitating. i feel like i have a severe cold, and my throat doesn't just itch anymore, it HURTS. and i know i don't have a cold and that it is, indeed, allergies, because i've felt this way twice in my life before, all instances happening in Davis/Sacramento while visiting Sam/Wayne, in which my symptoms would vanish as soon as I stepped off the plane back to San Diego.

ahhh... San Diego... my sinuses miss you too!

a fair weather fan

I am tired of this cold and gloom. Having lived in San Diego for so long, I have been so spoiled as to expect "winters" that last a month and then dissolve into the usual warm, sunny flip-flp weather that has become my climate norm. But this is not so in Sacramento (my poor flip-flops are gathering dust and cobwebs). And while I know it could be MUCH worse, I am a wuss when it comes to cold, so please, just be sympathetic.

Cold weather debilitates me. This is one of the reasons, if not THE reason, why I don't enjoy skiing, even though my dad is a fanatic and we grew up visiting the slopes numerous times each season... On swim team, as a kid and even as an adult, I was always the last one in the pool (or in the ocean, when I was triathlon training), negatively anticipating that moment of icy daggers puncturing each inch of my flesh (let me exaggerate). My coaches would always be yelling at me to get in, succeeding only after threatening me with extra laps, or pushing me in, which did happen on several occasions.

And so in my first Sacramento winter, I have been a shivering ball of misery. Yes, we do turn on the heater, but I can't control the climate outside, which has been gray and prickly for some time now. Perhaps I am like Superman; depending on the sun to give me life, energy, and initiative to venture out of the house. I've even stopped running(!) because I am waiting for the sun to shine.

I realize, though, that the sun can't always shine, and it's irresponsible of me to put all things on hold until it does. I am a fair weather fan. Literally, but also metaphorically. And so today, I decided that I would bundle up, brave the elements, and face my storm... and run.  I have to get used to it sometime...

all smiles!

The high point of my day was going to see my dentist! (This either means my day was really sour, or that my dentist is a superstar. Luckily for me, it's the latter).

This was my first teeth cleaning after a year and a half (!), since I didn't have dental insurance while I got my teaching credential, so I was pretty stoked to get my teeth all spruced up (yes, I'm one of those people who LIKE the dentist). And this was also my first time at Laguna West Dental Care, where Wayne is also a patient.

Everyone, from receptionists to x-ray technician to hygienist to doctor, was SO nice and genuinely caring! I chatted with Dr. You (dad to Kelly You, whom Wayne knew growing up) for a while about his kids, church, Southern California, etc. And he told me I had GREAT teeth! And Avonna, the hygienist, was extremely thorough with my teeth and kept me entertained by telling me stories about Dr. You and his wood-carving adventures. AND she gave me a bulging goody bag stuffed with all sorts of dental fun, including a magnet in the shape of a tooth! And before leaving, the receptionists even gave me a $10 Starbucks card as a thank you for choosing their practice!

I LOVE friendly people and good hygiene and goody bags! And... I know this post sounds more like an excerpt from yelp, but really, Laguna West Dental made my day! Here's their info, in case anyone is in search of a denist in Sacramento:

Laguna West Dental Care
9098 Laguna Main St. #8
Elk Grove, CA 95758
(916) 683-7300

(Angela and Clark, I hope this post made you happy! :) )

Squeeze Inn

There's this legendary little burger joint in Sacramento called Squeeze Inn. I call it legendary, because it has all the markings for legend-status:

1. The place is an old establishment (I don't know exactly when Squeeze Inn opened, but from the dumpiness of it, it looks like it's been around for a while).
2. As alluded to in point #1, it is dumpy.
3. The place has been featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

Actually, that's how I was introduced to Squeeze Inn, by Guy greedily stuffing this whopper of a burger into his mouth... and I knew I had to have this burger too.

So Wayne and I finally made our way out to Squeeze Inn last weekend (this was precluded by an unsuccessful attempt a while back right after I first watched the episode and we were all on fire to find this mouth-watering burger... only to learn that they close on Sundays. This thwarted our quest up until now). Anyway, so we got to Squeeze Inn at 1pm, hoping to pass the lunch rush, except apparently, at Squeeze Inn, it's more like as unrelenting rush, because even at 1pm, there was a line out the door. But we were on a mission, so we got in line.

During this wait time, we got to take in this place and it's surroundings. Squeeze Inn is indeed a tiny little place that you have to squeeze in to. The inside consists of the grill/kitchen area and the counter, and an area right in front of the counter that is just wide enough for one row of hungry people, waiting for their orders. Oh, and Squeeze Inn is orange--the whole exterior! Very fun, indeed! We also noticed that the falafel place right next door was completely empty... poor falafel place.

So we waited and waited in line, slowly inching our way along the outside wall of the restaurant and then up the steps, through the door, and finally, to the counter, where we placed our order of 2 cheese burgers and an order of fries! Done? Nope, the wait continued as the staff had to prepare all the orders before us, and judging by the number of people packed into the tiny space, waiting for their food, we had a long time to continue waiting.

And wait we did... we played games, Wayne quizzed me on the Pac 10 teams (Cal, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Oregon, Oregon State, ASU, Arizona, Washington, Washington State), we stared out the window ("wow, look how long the line is now"), stared at the walls, stared at those sitting at the counter, scarfing down their burgers... and then, "Cecilia, your order is ready." We both actually CHEERED! Someone commented that we sounded like we had won a prize, but that's exactly how I felt! "Cecilia! Oh, my goodness! That's ME!!!"

We grabbed our food, couldn't help but smuggly smile at those still waiting in line as we passed them on the way to our car, and then proceeded to DEVOUR our burgers that COMPLETELY lived up to the hype! Squeeze Inn burgers are known for their "cheese skirts" which is created by sprinkling melted cheese onto their burgers while still on the grill, and then covering with a lid so that the cheese melts and bubbles around the patty, creating a little skirt of cheddary goodness! The meat patty itself was thick and juicy, perfectly grilled. There was plenty of lettuce, pickles, and tomatoes--no skimping on the fresh ingredients. And the sesame bun!!! A good burger is made a GREAT burger by its bun. This bun was not just sprinkled with sesame seeds, it was EMBEDDED--ALL OVER! (Like a pimply teenager. yum. :) ). I ate almost the whole 1/3-pound burger (stopped short of a bite, just so I wouldn't feel so bad about eating a whole burger).

So yes, as you can tell by all my all-cap words and the length of this post, we are fans of Squeeze Inn. The wait was about an hour (!), but it was well-worth it. And I would readily do it again for another legendary, cheese-skirted burger.

brrr...

... it's cold in here! There must be some toros in the atmosphere!

... that, or I'm experiencing the first signs of Sacramento fall. Probably the latter.

This feels like San Diego WINTER. And what's worse, it came from out of nowhere... I think I'm going to die.

Zinfandel Grille

Wayne and I had dinner at Zinfandel Grille tonight. Wayne ordered the sirloin steak special, and I, feeling particularly adventurous and highbrow, ordered the seared sea scallops with pesto risotto. I LOVED my dish (scallops were very large and meaty! Even wayne liked them, and he's not a seafood person), and now I think my new thing is scallops... or at least new thing to try at different restaurants. I still wouldn't say it's my favorite, but it is what intrigues me at the moment.

Our meal tonight...
Wayne's special entrée : $24.95
my sea scallops: $22.95
cup of clam chowder: $3.95

paying only $5 for our meal after using the entertainment book and opentable dining certificates: priceless!

(note: this is not my actual dinner. my own picture didn't turn out, so this is the closest thing i could find on the internet. mmm, but doesn't it look yummy?)