February had a lot in store for us. It was a wild month. We started out with a short visit from Uncle David for work. Will, Dave and the Complete Solar executive team have been trying to close a round of funding for ages now. First they seemed so close over the summer and the investment company pulled out in September (I think). It was emotionally devastating. But the company carried on and kept trying to figure out how to stay productive and profitable under more stress. In December the investment firm came back to Will wanting to restart talks. Will and the team worked hard to have the investment ready to be closed ASAP but soon learned this particular investment group (and all like them) move at a snail's pace.
I remember a call he had with some other business man in December trying to outline why the investment was worth the run around the investment firm was putting them through. And now we are in February and it seems like the investment *might* actually happen.
Adell claimed higher than she ever has in our olive tree. Colter was at the cousin's house in Mountain View for the weekend...and she was lonely.
In the first weekend of February we turned in the mini van. We have been a mini van family for over 14 years. We got our first mini van with Clare was 1 and a 1/2. I love the mini van life. It is the best kind of car. I will miss a lot of things about a mini van but for now I am grateful to not have a car payment.
I have been teaching a teenager Sunday school class since April 2021. These kids are fun and smart. It is a pleasure to teach them.
Adell and I were twins at Target!
I gave blood for the first time in 22 years. The very first time I gave blood (in 1999) it was for a boy I thought was cute who was helping with the blood drive. I sure didn't love it (almost fainted) and decided to never help with blood again. However, we are in a serious blood shortage and it seemed important to do my part and have my veins drained a little bit. It went just fine, no fainting, only hurt a little bit. I was more cold than in pain. Next time, sweat pants, blankets, and a heating pad for me.
I learned about the Evergreen Pear trees that are all over Northern California. They are not native but like everything, grow easily here. They have glossy green leaves for most of the year. In the fall (late, late fall...like December actually) the leaves turn red or orange and drop to the ground. Then they are the first trees to get blossoms (usually February). The blossoms smell awful...like dead fish. It isn't strong but you can defiantly smell it. After over a decade of seeing these trees in our neighborhood I finally looked them up.
Our church has dances for the youth throughout the year. First up is "morp" which is "prom" backwards. So the girls ask the guys and you go in funny costumes instead of fancy dress. Clare decided to ask her friend Austin. All of her girl friends asked their dates in a blitz one night driving around from house to house. Austin wasn't home so Clare waited and luckily got to make a fun poster and ask in a cute way. Adell came up with the "It's Morp or nothing" slogan from Nerf. It was funny! Clare made the poster and asked. Austin said yes and they are prepping for the dance in March.
My Dad died. I'll make a whole post for this. But here it is another curve for February.
While I was out in Utah for my father's passing Will took great care of our family. He got all of the kids to walk to church with him on Sunday.
He got Colter dressed and packed for Colter's one room school house field trip. Colter had fun learning about old timey education.
One Sunday we visited our old Stanford stomping grounds. A lot has changed but the campus is still as beautiful as ever.
All the kids stood on their birth year plaque where a time capsule is placed below each year.
We enjoyed all of the new sculptures around campus.
And enjoyed seeing our old favorites.
We took the kids to the first courtyard/student housing we lived in at Stanford. We moved into this apartment in August of 2004. 67 Olmstead Road #104. What a long time ago that was. None of the kids who visited with us today were born when we lived in this apartment. The two kids we do have are old enough to be in college themselves. Wild.
Wonders of wonders, miracles of miracles, the funding round worked! The picture below is Will hitting send on the email accepting the very last terms for the deal. It was a few weeks of bonkers negotiations where the bank kept trying to change terms. Will walked away once but the bank agreed to stop being dill weeds. Finally, 50 million in funding with Carlyle Global Investment Group and some smaller investors. It is a huge deal and I am so proud of Will and Complete Solar!
Real wonder of wonders, miracles of miracles, after over two years Will moved his "home office" out of our bed room and into Colter's room. I feel a little bad for Colt but I am SO GRATEFUL to have my bedroom back. Colter doesn't hang out in his room at all, just sleeps there, so it is a good arrangement. Office by day, bedroom by night.
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