Independence Rocks

how beautiful is this flag?

And the rock stars on wheels?

Here we have our local 4th of July Parade

where the entire town marches & rolls down Main Street.

Such a fun tradition

And lastly I must share the most
bomb-diggity party on the west coast.
Hosted by the crazy talented Dellars.
Yep, we were there.
And it was fantastic.

What a blessing it is to celebrate and enjoy
the freedoms we have in this country.
Yaaaahoooo. 
I love America.

Happy 4th Friends!

Just a little view of how we started off our day of independence.  We headed down to our local red, white and blue parade then made our way home for a bbq potluck to welcome friends and watch the kiddies jolly~jump to their heart's content.  Oh, and by far the coolest part of the day....not having to drive anywhere and watching the fireworks from our backyard with good friends and full tummies.

 Hope you're day was full of happiness in all the freedoms we are blessed with.

Beauty awaits

Earlier this week I was determined to get out for a hike in the mountains, but I felt like all the signs were saying STOP before the hike began.  We got out late, the sunscreen was a gooey mess of oil, and the little miss started the hike kicking and screaming....but then it happened.  We escaped into a world of beauty and wonder.  We stopped to admire the abundance of bright green clover whose delicate leaves were all shaped as hearts.  We marveled at the teeny-tiny pine cones that covered the earthy fragrance beneath our feet. We soaked in the sweet music of the forest.  The chirping of the birds, the rush of crystal clear waters, the clicking of life in the canopy of trees above....pure nature.

No matter what kind of day I'm having or what hellish mood I may be in, the outdoors holds a beauty that transforms my soul (and the spirits of my little one, too).  We walked and ran with curious eyes in awe of God's creation.  It blessed us beyond words.

Then I fell.  Going down hill.  With Maya on my back.  She came out of it unscathed (thank goodness) but my walk has been slightly altered since the crash.  It didn't ruin the hike, but certainly has made the last couple days seriously uncomfortable on my otherwise healthy body.  With a bum knee and a twisted ankle, I still say...nothing beats a walk away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  Just be sure to watch your step.

Oh, and Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Monday blues

got a great view of dozens of dolphins this morning by the beach

you don't want to know how I took this photo. really.

 

the view of the hills near our house as the clouds rolled in.

I love the shades of blue we saw this morning. 
They reflect my mood over the past few days though...which I don't love. 
Cloudy with unexpected showers pretty much sums me up,
maybe even some thunder storms blowing through.
Praying for a sunny forecast tomorrow.
For everyone's sake.

Love. Rain.

          

We have had the most beautiful storms passing through our city this past week and I have loved every little drop of water that has fallen.  As grateful as I am for the mild climate we live in, I really do miss the way my senses come alive with the change of seasons that are common in most other parts of the country.

So thank you stormy weather for showering us with water and excitement, we've been needing it.

Hope your enjoying the weather in your neck of the woods.

Missing this...

The sun is blazing this weekend and I am ready for the fall weather we splashed in 3 short days ago.

How about you?

Full of wonder

The local zoo is always a new and fun experience no matter how many times we go.

Yesterday's visit was no exception.

xoxo

So much to say...

...but for now, just asking for prayer.

Little Daisy just underwent surgery yesterday to remove a malignant tumor from her kidney area. It is such a blessing that they have removed the entire tumor, yet the battle is far from over. To read more about Daisy Love and support her and her family in prayer go to Pray for Daisy Love

Yesterday was a great success for our goal to raise money for St. Baldricks. I have so much to share and I will very soon. Promise.

From where I sit

...the day is looking pretty good. My Mr. watched our little one today so I could get some much needed "me" time. After stopping by the fabric store for an unsuccessful button run & stopping into the coffee shop for an afternoon chai, I settled down on a park bench overlooking the ocean and city before me. Just taking in the fresh air with my journal and my thoughts. In between journaling I threw out a little sketch of what I saw to remember the day and the moment.

It was great to have an hour without the musical tantrums, the temptation of the evil computer to suck my time away, or the nagging list of chores that constantly await. If you have the opportunity just to be still with your thoughts and your body, I highly recommend it. It makes for a much more sane mama & wife...at least in my world. I think my family appreciates me more when I'm sane, too. Go figure.

The staycation

The plan:

Camping in Sequoia National Park Monday-Thursday

The preparation:

None. Zero. Zip. Nilch.

The Decision:

Spend four days at home working on house projects, enjoying beautiful weather, beach days, exercise and one another.

The proof:

Beach day with picnic of:

ham & brie sandwiches on rosemary rolls

TJs barbeque chips (yummmmy)

fresh peaches, strawberries, blueberries with mint salad

(Sadly the window did not find it's way home with us)

Out on the town with my mr.

My little pruner helping me in the garden

Wilderness we missed out on. Lovely days we did not.

Hope you're enjoying each day.

Beach buns

Gotta love being four and fancy free

How does your garden grow?

We have gotten so much enjoyment out of watching our garden grow this spring. We have already harvested lots of lettuce, beans, zucchini, brocolli, beets, a few strawberries and some parsley and have loved nurturing the growth of life and sharing the results with our neighbors and friends. My "gard"en dog stands at her post as I shuffle through the greens.

As big as our plants have gotten, some of the tomatoes are not looking so hot (I think because of the foggy weather). Their tips are brown and curling and some leaves are yellowing with brown spots. I cut back on the water to see if that would help and I think it has a little. I'm hoping once the weather gets sunnier, the girls will look happier. Still, I'm loving the food we're producing and looking forward to watching our "butterfly garden" flourish with flowers. The girls and I planted the seeds a few weeks ago and are watching all the seedlings pop up here and there.

Last week as we were out picking produce, our neighbor stopped by and we gave her some zucchini and parsley. Within an hour, she came knocking at our door with this tank of dinner...

complete with crockpot and all.

What a great neighborhood we live in!

Fun on the farm

Today the little miss went on a field trip with her preschool to The Painted Pony Farm where the kids had a blast holding chicks, making ice cream, feeding the farm animals and milking the goat. The farm is an absolutely beautiful place and you can just feel the love that has been put into it. What a dream to raise a family there as this couple has done with their kids. The only question I left with was ~ who enjoyed it more...the children or the parents?

Thank you Farmer Pam for the wonderful day!!!

Tea time

As I had posted a few days ago, I have not gone out of my way to really get to know our neighbors outside of a wave or 3 sentence conversations. Yesterday I changed that routine and had a very impromptu tea for the ladies that live near me. It was a nice way to break the ice and get to know a little more about everyone. I invited women who are all a bit older than me which I enjoyed and it was nice to hear their input on parenting and life.

It was a great start to new relationships!

My next big plan for our street...a neighborhood potluck

Wildfires in May???

This is no bueno. Really. The smoke is blowing far and wide from the Jesusita fire in SB and I am just sitting and praying for the safety of the firefighters and all of those that are kicked out of that most comfortable place they call home tonight.

Summer's feeling like it's already here so tonight it was chicken salad sandwiches for dinner. Not my best creation, but it sure felt good to have a light meal on a hot day.

What's your favorite summer dish?

Our ahhhhhhhh day

Today we got to celebrate our anniversary with the help of my irreplaceable parents via marriage. While they stayed and played with our girls, Matt and I got out for a day in the sand, surf and sun.

We started out with a stop to collect some new toys. Matt hooked me up with a softboard & wetsuit and while we were there he couldn't resist the 9'6" Patagonia board that was calling his name. Once we were all outfitted we headed for the waves. It's been about 6+ years since I've even attempted surfing, so I was happy to have actually gotten up on a wave, especially with my arms feeling like cooked spaghetti after all the paddling.

Next stop was up the highway a few miles at one of my favorite beaches where we spread out the blanket topped with Bellinis (champagne and peach juice), curry chicken salad sandwiches, stuffed grape leaves, the best kalamata olives on the planet, quinoa salad and fresh pineapple. We soaked up the sun until it put us both into napping bliss with only the sound of crashing waves as our music. This in itself was an anomaly as there is absolutely NO napping when on the beach with a dog or the kids.

After we got our beauty rest we were off for a hike in the mountains. This was no ordinary hike. This trek took us up the very same trail where we shared our first real conversation alone together. It was the one moment in my life when I had THAT feeling of knowing he was the one. Wish my memory had recalled the trail itself cause it kicked my a@# today and made me realize what a difference a few years makes. Definitely need to hike more.

The day couldn't have been more fun, more relaxing, more perfect.

xoxo

7 steps to birthday bliss

Step 1~

stop and smell the birthday bouquet

step 2~

get out for some needed exercise

step 3~
keep your mind young and active with complex decisions

step 4~
spend time with people that make you smile inside and out

step 5~
eat. good. food.

step 6~
do something daring (i.e. painting your house the color that you like even though it has been voted least favorite by anonymous ballot holders because you know it will look rad)

step 7~
soak up the beauty of the day in whatever form it may come
and be grateful for life's gifts great and small

Rain drops keep fallin

Oh how I just LoVe cold and rainy days here on the California coast. There's nothing like sipping some hot cocoa or a creamy latte while watching the sky drop it's blessings down on our dry and thirsty land. The three year old pinball child doesn't quite get the idea of a mellow day indoors yet and is constantly wondering why the park is not an option today, nor was is yesterday, or the day before that.....no wonder we're a little on the crankie side lately.