there was this one time...

goodbye summer 2015

With everyone's busy schedules this summer, we opted to stay somewhat close to home and escape the heat of Southern California. We stayed at an airbnb and drove between San Luis Obispo and Big Sur. Here we managed to spot some whales along the coast. We wish we were closer but we felt fortunate to see them at all! Such a treat. The beaches in Northern Cal are different than the ones we are used to in So Cal and Hawaii. But we did get a chance to see some seals, dolphins, whales and the boys went kayaking. We were spoiled by some amazing sunsets! 

View from the Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur. We were there early so the fog hadn't burned off, seemed a bit more magical that way, though. Also had the best pizzas of our lives at Big Sur Bakery later that day. Must go back! Sometimes traveling with 6 opinions, thoughts, expectations and feelings can be a bit tough. It seems like there's always someone who had something else in mind, a different agenda, a different meal. It's hard to please everyone. I've accepted that not everyone will be happy all the time which helps alleviate the pressure for me. This time together is rare and precious. I realize it won't be long til family trips with all 6 may dwindle to perhaps 4 or 5 of us. I tried to just take it one day at a time, storing little pockets of happiness in my heart, as I knew summer would quickly be coming to an end, and the routine of school and life would be knocking at our door. Thank you for the memories, Big Sur. 

Elsie

woke up minutes ago. I was on the couch with coffee and my book and saw her head pop up thru her doorway. she said, it's so nice not to wake up early. I couldn't agree more. then she comes to the couch to cuddle me and after a few minutes says, I cannot sit next to you when you drink coffee. peeyou. and walks away. there goes that moment.
lol

music and light

Chris got this Lomokino as a gift from our clients, yesterday was his first try at the camera and I love the results :) Hope he gets addicted so I get more videos to treasure! When Elsie watched it for the first time, she said, the music and the light are just perfect together :) love that. she's right. 

Elsie in March from Chris Waters on Vimeo.

 

 

the hub

i was grabbing my hardly used camera and running out the door, so i clicked a random picture to make sure there was a card inside. i almost hit delete when i realized, A the light looks really good in here right now, and B this is my hub. this is where i cook, organize my day, make lists, throw my mail, put most things that need to go away at a later time. it's pretty messy but then again, so is life. i love my hub and i love my life.

xo

happy new year!

it's 2012 and that picture was a few years ago. this is how i feel about time going by so quickly!
HA! we enjoyed our holidays at home in sunny southern california with friends and family. good times. alas, here are my 2 obligatory new year's resolutions: exercise and blog more. you know, same ol same ol :)

happy new year!

lump in my throat

...as I say my goodbye to the dear garden at 2peas. I can't believe that it's been almost 10 years since I stumbled upon the site, not knowing a thing about scrapbooking besides thinking it was a little hokey. It was then, as I sat in the middle of the night in our little apartment in Virginia, where I found the Black & White gallery (who remembers that?!) and my life was forever changed. I am in awe at what 2peas provides for the scrapbooking community and how much the little 'ol paper and glue craft has grown. I look back on the albums and albums I have filled with pages and I am so grateful to have been pushed and driven by the garden. I treasure the friendships I've made through this craft and opportunities I've been blessed with. This was a really difficult decision, and as my sweet husband followed up about it with me this morning, tears filled my eyes, and I couldn't help think, 'oh gosh, what have I done?!'

Love to you, sweet Kristina and the team over at 2peas. thanks for taking a chance on me in 2004.

milestones

i think one of the biggest milestones in our children's lives (besides getting thru the first year) is kindergarten. they go in so fresh and ready to learn and leave kindergarten reading and writing. to say elsie loves school is an understatement. from the moment she wakes till we are heading out the door at 11:20 (15 minutes before school even starts) she is asking if it's time to go yet.

i haven't taken a personal photo (besides my phone camera) since JULY. i'm pretty sure that's a record for me. i intentionally took the camera out a few days ago. trying to love it again. the process of snapping and going to the computer and posting is just so much for me. i don't want to spend my time doing all that. but then i get a gem like the one above and i say, ohhhh. and i'm happy.

cameron said to me the other day, what's going on with your blog mom? you haven't posted in forever. ahhhh i said, just don't feel like it. but thanks for checking, lol. he said, i always check mom. (awwww) my faithful blog follower. my almost 13 year old son. love you buddy. :) i'm pretty sure he's the only one who checks this these days.

summmmmmmer

it's officially summertime! i now have a kindergartener, 5th grader, 8th grader and an 11th grader! this time next year will be emotional- as caleb and cam will be promoting from elementary and middle school. eeeek! this was a few weeks ago. little elsie climbing up to her brother's bunk, wanting to keep up with him. they play so well together. love it. it will be strange to see this summer- how once i had a house full of 4 children wanting to go on forever adventures, where the summer seemed so long. now the older 2 will be busy with friends, sports and work commitments. strange. this growing up thing. makes me wish i could go back a few summers ago where i was pulling my hair out wondering what am i going to do with these kids today?! sigh.

as we get closer

to the end of the school year, it's a reminder of what lies ahead at the end of summer for her.

she will start kindergarten. we had her screening last week and it was so crazy to see her in the old classroom of her siblings, to sit in those little chairs, to be nervous over the questions they asked her. we've opted for afternoon kindergarten, as we did with the older kids, me wanting to hold on to our mornings together for as long as i can. (not to mention the both of us are not morning people) i love this bottom picture of her. one of her favorite rituals. vegging out. blue blankie. summer, please don't go by too quickly! tonight her big sister is going to prom. how is it that in 10 years we could possibly be doing the same with els? yesterday i realized, as i was sitting outside with elsie as she painted watercolor pictures, her big sis was out getting her nails done/painted at the same time. ten years apart. i love my girls.

go soleil

our kira soleil is nearly 16. she's made captain of the flag squad. and today PR'd at the 300 hurdles, qualifying for finals for her league! she does hurdles, long jump and pep. she's worked so hard, we are so proud! she also does prom and makeup and heels. but she also loves being surprised with fresh flowers in her room, a handmade card and watching disney princess movies with elsie. sometimes i shake my head in amazement at how different we are. she's a breath of fresh air. (when she's in a good mood! haha) we love her so! (always!)