Having watched our kurapia lawn die slowly each year, we finally hired someone to install new fescue sod that promises to be both sun- and shade-tolerant, along with some creeping figs and more lava rocks. We also chipped in our own yard work planting a new fig tree and repairing landscape lights. The refreshed lawn helped prepare us for another backyard camping adventure with the Deas on Memorial Day, including a viewing of E.T. on our back patio. Our movie night inspired us to catch up on 80’s nostalgia with other vintage movies like the Goonies, Labyrinth, Back to the Future, Batteries Not Included, and the Sound of Music to prepare for our Salzburg visit. We also met up with Ala for hot pot, and our cousin Pam to check out their fancy new digs over tri tips and pool time. Our home projects this month included my new undercabinet lights in the butler pantry, and Westley’s GaoGaiGar to expand his growing gundam collection. My car was stuck in the shop for a drivetrain issue for a few weeks, so I drove our X3 loaner to check out Taffach’s Ethiopian fare, Estelle’s pastries, and Maya’s birria ramen for my lab lunch. With looming threats of rising tariffs and car prices, Melody also test drove an Ioniq 5 and 6 in preparation for joining the EV evolution. Nico’s recurrent cheek mass required a pricey work-up and nightly antibiotics that added to our checklist for the pet-sitter ahead of our Germany vacation. With Melody heading out first for her fellowship reunion, I spent Father’s Day weekend with Westley tiring ourselves out with a Black Ops 6 campaign and Rush Hour marathon to prepare for our 11-hour flight together. I can hardly wait.