Sweet buddies

The little miss has a wide variety of imaginary beings in her life including her friends Vanilla Twirly Whirly Vanilla and Chocolate Ice Cream (whose daddy I refer to as Mr. Fudge). Since I've been trying to figure out what they might look like for the past several months, I decided to do a sketch of how I imagined them and what do ya know...the little miss confirmed it, I was right on.

They come over every week for a few days at a time to play, eat dinner and have slumber parties. They really are the easiest houseguests ever and I just love having them over. I'm diggin the beehive style they've got and am tempted to try and create some chocolate and vanilla dolls for the fun of it.

Thanks girls for being such good friends to my little miss!

for all the beauty...

and blessings that surround my life every minute of every day. What a gift this life is.

Wishing you a day filled with gratitude and happiness.

xoxo

Birdie birthday

Yesterday we were invited to celebrate another birthday child, but this time with birds all aflutter. There were birdie cupcakes, paper birds to decorate, bird-watching binoculars and little feathered creatures perched in the trees watching over the festivities. It was a thing of beauty, but most beautiful was the birthday girl as she enjoyed her day.

Happy, happy birthday little friend!

A little R&R

Last weekend our friends Kim & Ben invited us to a big sleepover at their house along with another couple that always keeps us in stitches. Their house is around a hundred years old and has a third story room that would satisfy any teenage girl's slumber party dreams as it is equipped with three built in full size beds, has vaulted ceilings and a window with a view.

We had such a great time eating apple pancakes, going to the farmer's market, the park, hiking, playing bad mitten, eating homemade pizza, staying up late discussing our incredibly important opinions on life, parenting and religion, celebrating a birthday child and soaking up the Santa Barbara sights, oh and eating some more. It was such a fun and relaxing time.

Thanks guys for sharing your new home with us! Looking forward to our gathering.

xoxo

A preschooler's loyalty

The little miss has been a mama's girl as of late and prefers not to let me out of her sight. So last night when I wanted to go for a run with Bri, the protests and whining began.

LM: Mommy I want to go with you (as she permanently attaches herself to my leg)

Me: You are going to have dinner with daddy and then go to the library (in my excited~it's going to be so much fun~kind of voice)

LM: But I want to go with you. wah, wah, wah....

Me: (Lightbulb moment) But you and daddy get to have a date night. You can dress up for dinner and we'll light candles and you can have a special dinner just with daddy.

LM: (Running back to her room in a flash). Yeah, yeah, yeah! I'm gonna dress up and have a date night!

Me: Happy sigh as I lace up my shoes.

Mission accomplished.

Date night

(photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil website, click to view)

at Cirque du Soleil.

Last night my main squeeze invited me out for a date filled with wining, dining and jaw dropping entertainment. After a wonderful dinner at JiRaffe we headed down to the big tents on the beach for some acrobatic action. I had never been to a Cirque du Soleil performance before and really didn't know what to expect. It was phenomenal! Each act left me astonished at the talents these performers have. From the high wire to contortionists to incredible balancing acts to the live band throughout ~ I was in awe from beginning to end. I walked away with a new appreciation for physical discipline of the human body. The way these people moved there bodies was, well....inhuman ~ but so inspiring to watch.

Ironically, the name of the show was Kooza which also happens to be the name our little miss gave to her first "baby". I figure she'll be some kind of marketing genius when she gets older. That or she'll just have children with really scary names.

To my Mr:

Thanks for treating me to such a fun night! I am so lucky to be traveling through life with you and am grateful for your loving spirit.

Candy shmandy

These girls are all the treat I need.