Our hearts are full with 5 to love

name that tune.

2011-03-16T00:29:00.000-07:00

I have 3 daughters.

One is getting ready to start high school.

Which seems impossible.

And admittedly I'm a little choked up.

I have some very good & some very harsh memories of that time in my life..

Don't most of us?

I am so grateful every single day that my kids have different everything than I had.

And lets face it, the world is harsh.

Girls are mean.

Boys live in a crazy mix of ego/image/hormones & culture.

HOWEVER. Some things never change.

like how you aspire for your child to have better than you.....

I'll assume, you've heard the song.

Just the way you are.

EVERY SINGLE TIME I hear it, all I can do is pray that whomever is the one that catches the eye of my daughters this is exactly how they feel about them.

To love them just exactly the way they are. They are amazing. Their smiles. Their lips. Their laughs. They are so beautiful. Never ask them to change.

There are days when I just stare at them in awe. I am so blessed to be their momma. I almost can't even type because they feel so differently about themselves than I did. And it is the most precious thing in the world!

It starts with God. They know Him & He knows them.

And then there is their Daddy, who adores, loves on them all the time. Jokes. Hugs. Snuggles. He's an amazing Daddy.

I am so utterly grateful despite all the trial & ERRORS that for almost 15 years I've stayed home & gotten to raise this crew. There are amazing moms that both work & are fabulous moms, and I admire them so much, but this is my task & I belong home. Partially because, lets face it. 5?! And even still despite that, we weighted the cost & options a long time ago...without any help around (like family or hired in) it would be impossible. And I love it. Everyday. Even on the bad days.

It is a task above all else. Mothering. Its heartbreaking. Rewarding in nothing you can see at the moment.

Draining in every way.

I was pregnant or nursing for a decade.

let that settle in for sec

I miss those little ones so much! But my home & my heart are full! I love my children beyond anything I can describe, all equally but also somehow differently.

With my eldest almost looking me in the eyes these days...(which is crazy because I'm tall!)

It has brought so much of how little time I've had with her, to teach, model, cherish, encourage, guide...

But the other day a letter came.

Not an ordinary letter.

Her acceptance into a very prestigious & amazing high school. She hasn't made her final decision yet, but...

when I read the letter. It all came flooding in....somehow the things I did teach, model, encourage & hopefully cherish were seen. The school took the time to really get to know my girl. Her strengths & what she would offer their school as well as what they can offer her. The most amazing thing to finally see all those things we've tried to pour into her, are there & someone recognized it. Your an amazing person, beautiful just the way you are.

She's so beautiful

And I'll love you everyday.

historical. hysterical.

2011-02-26T22:28:00.000-08:00

Today was historical.

how could this happen?

white flurry?

We live in a cozy little town just inland from the coast & still close to sea level despite the surrounding hills.

Today. It snowed.

CRAZY.

And totally fun!!

it snowed in Carmel too.

I have never heard this happen in all my life.

awesome.

actually saw the flurries start coming down & ran outside-grabbed my red rubber boots on the porch.

My littles were out delivering girl scout cookies

[cuteness]

and OH my gosh they were caught in a snow storm!!

[not a storm but hey]

Ran a couple blocks with my umbrella to scoop them up

and bring em home

to play in the fun.

Yes, it was cold

[is that obvious? well, I was wearing flip flops and B was in shorts. so obvious or not, we're Californians. clueless.]

red rubber boots. :) macys additional 75% off sale price=less than $7.

THIS is totally foreign to us. wow. so glad he grabbed the camera while I ran off. love that.

"WHOA!" Little B in shorts. And classic-a mickey shirt. SO Californians.

more shock & awe.

proof the snow flakes are sticking.

I love this one. And I didn't take it.

trying to eat it.

see, snow storm. proof.

the wet & snowed on girl scouts, they just might be ready to be postwomen.

Rain, sleet, snow won't keep these girls from delivery!!

{notice the covered cookies, good}

turns out snow storms turn us all into kids... wish it'd happen again.

letting the snow collect in the umbrella to get a good look

we all went nuts. love it.

or dumped on

our cottage roof with snow on the eaves. makes me grin.

our neighbor came out to document too, but came over to our house because the kids are so cute! our neighborhood rocks.

even enough to make snowballs.

its really only lasted a few minutes, but since its NEVER happened before, it will linger a bit longer.

our fantastically historical snow day.

make friends. make this.

2011-02-26T21:16:00.000-08:00

Blackberry Cornmeal Cake

this is such a yummy & perfect change to morning muffins. It's also something I make to share too, wrap a piece in parchment send along with your kiddos to a teacher :)

It uses 2 baskets of blackberries...& I use an old enamelware pan I got long ago secondhand. A cast iron pan also works!

Serves 8

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/4 cup for sprinkling
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 large eggs
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 1 tablespoon for skillet
2 containers fresh blackberries (5.6 ounces each)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar. In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter; pour over flour mixture, whisking to combine.

In a 10-inch skillet (preferably cast-iron), heat remaining tablespoon butter in the oven until melted and skillet is hot, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven; swirl to coat bottom of pan. Pour batter into skillet; scatter blackberries on top, and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup sugar.

Bake, with a baking sheet on rack below (to catch any drips), until top is evenly browned, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool slightly, about 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edge to loosen; cut into 8 wedges. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Hope you try it. Its delish!

Got it from:
Read more at Marthastewart.com: Blackberry-Cornmeal Cake - Martha Stewart Recipes

sand between our toes

2011-02-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

a break in the weather.

lovely wonderful much needed rain....BUT

it keeps us indoors & in our little cottage the 7 of us tend to bump into eachother!!

And not complaining but last week

(did you see Pebble Beach Pro -Am on TV? Gorgeous! you know, the one where Bill Murray FINALLY won!)

We'd had lovely chilly nights and sunshine days....til last Tuesday.

Anyway, kids are out of school & I'm thrillllllled to have them home & a break from routine. Movies, making dinner, baking, games. Yes, but still.

SO today after church, we headed to the store to grab things for an impromptu picnic. Funny, kids asked for salad. And 1 asked for salami & bread. T & I had salami, olives, apple, formage di affinois & hummus.

The lagoon and Carmel Beach is currently flowing out to sea. It only happens after large amounts of rain because so many wells feed off water from Carmel River. BUT today it was racing out! No trickle here....just fierce water rushing to meet a demanding sea. Amazing. And I had to stay right on top of my kids....because my goodness you don't for a second not respect the pacific.

The fun was looking through all the debris washed out by storm. Lots and lots of huge tree parts. Enough to make forts/lean-to' s galore. The best part was watching the kids, especially Boston totally intrigued by throwing sticks into the rushing water & watching as it sailed out to sea. So often this action is followed by "No, don't throw the stick/rock/whatever. Not here though, it was perfectly wonderfully boy haven to throw & dig & play with all the sticks he could get his hands on! Wonderful.

I didn't take pictures of it today because I wanted to relax. And honestly, I am on high alert when my kids are that close to very active waves (this is not usually the case), that & sand is the archenemy of cameras. I didn't need the stress. I was there to un-stress.

Something about the ocean, it has a natural way of soothing my soul...I love it. 2 Sundays ago, we drove by the same beach & it was FULL of seagulls. Thousands.....

But when we went over to "the quiet water" as Boston called it

I pulled out the camera & loved the landscape...

the mouth of a long river driven by storms to flow out to sea

Looks different on this side, but if you compare the above pictures, this spot is on far left side.

Kids dragged over "sea snakes": Long kelp that looked like Indiana's whip!

Charming Red Winged Black Birds nesting in the reeds

Beyond them is a favorite place in Carmel. Mission Ranch which has sheep grazing & looks out at hills & ocean.

well, I just had to. Just because.

Momma & her sweet Abbie

Kids jumping. Daddy had the camera & doesn't know to change settings ;) blrrrrrrr

heart. you.

2011-02-20T07:57:00.000-08:00

this was our valentines love this year....

a few pink pancakes to send them off to school....although the nagging that followed because homework wasn't finished could have canceled out the love I tried to spread :(

Boston's NO sugar allowed Valentines that mom made, not him. Oh well.

Little felt heart clips for the girls...(earlier post) and bouncy balls for boys

(let the record show, I went to Target to find a bunch. They only had little ones. What's so special bout that?! nothing. SO, we took our 3 bucks in quarters and got em out of the machine at Old Navy. Nope, not joking. I almost high-5'd myself at that genius act)

THEN a talented mom who ignored the NO sugar warning made these too cute to eat CakePop Bears. Love love them...and I let him eat it.

Is this the cutest. I {heart}him. Lots.

This was the row of valentines we made. Whoa the classes are big this year! 28 kids in each class! Yikes. And the sweet love notes in polka dots I grabbed here. Thanks Good Gravy!

{if possible it's always nice to link back, that's blog lingo for a thank you note}

Abbie's class.

She's on her way to spread the love....

AND somehow I also got assigned healthy snack in 1st grade as well!! No baking for me this year:(

But I just couldn't see myself making fruit kabobs again or just serving granola bars. Pink came to mind...

and pink strawberry applesauce could be much more Valentine-Y when cinnamon hearts are sprinkled on top! There, "healthy" snack it is. :)

self. portraits.

2011-02-20T07:36:00.000-08:00

Do you ever upload your camera

only to discover a few surprises?

do.

turns out my kids like to take self portraits with our little camera.

Here are a few beauties.

guess she's working on "her part". actors!

something lovely, no clue why...

there were about 50 like this.

I don't even know what to say. Weird. Bad. Good grief.

goodness.

2011-02-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

I read this post this morning from a blog I wholeheartedly love. Joyshope.com

If you've read Julie's story.... you love her. Then you catch up on her honest & crazy approach to all things blogland; and you love her even more!

It got me thinking about how many people effected me when I look back who I know never knew they did. When I experienced grace just by observing even as a teenager, it stuck out. Parents showing kindness despite my background. Being the new kid again, someone offering me a desk to sit at in the unknown world of new school. The compliment "your children are wonderfully behaved" offered by a total stranger when I'm dining out with my brood (most people steer clear of a mom with 5 kids. trust me.) Seriously, these things stick.

All that said, offer it yourself. Encourage someone who's not getting along with their husband instead of adding to the drama. Compliment the mom who's trying with all her might & just needs to know she's doing something right. Make dinner, nothing fancy and feed a teenage soul that needed to see a loving mom & dad in action. It all counts.

blogs.

2011-02-19T18:22:00.000-08:00

I've been in a writing slump.

Not because I couldn't think of things to write about...

Does that happen to you? You think of things all through the day to search-google-blog- find...

BUT

I've been struggling why and how I blog.

What exactly am I about.

OH that's a big question.....

And I think mostly because the world of blogs is just so darn GOOD!

I mean really, don't you stumble on a new one & think-

SHE is so good! Love love love this blog & then get lost into the world of some strangers inspiration for countless minutes of the day...

I do.

So, then I think why do I blog?

Well. Because I like to take pictures? I mean LOVE to take pictures? Random moments captured & archiving for my family my children to reflect someday on their childhood...

Because I like to write? Well, this is true but mostly I like to document. Does that make sense? I have always loved the idea of journaling. I 've done it many times through my life mostly the down time when it has helped me sort out what's troubling me. But I like the looking back...I seem to be so distracted all the time (care taking of this brood) that documenting it means I have perspective.

Because I have ideas and I want to share em? True. But then that takes time...all you bloggers that prep, take pictures, edit them, upload and write the most amazing tutorials, seriously? I'm just bogged down by the process. And that gets filed away into the "maybe some day" file.

So, here is is.

I like that the world in which I live is all that much closer because we find like mindedness through just sharing our day. Or ideas. Or life.

Ultimately that's what blogging is...and that connection, sharing somehow enriches each of us simply because.

Because each of us has something to offer, to share, Thank God.

So, whatever it is that I have to share, this is why & where I will....

no words

2011-02-01T10:50:00.000-08:00

Literally.

There have been no words.

Last week, in a month where we are financially truly struggling, my computer died. Without warning.

do they ever warn you?

And I was first slightly optimistic (you could also call that denial)

Tried all the patient waiting tricks....no good.

Called my trust wonderful apple guy

he's who I call for anything/everything.

(I cautiously don't like to bug him with incessant bombardment of inquiries but this was big)

and for the record, he never acts like I bug him, he's so patient.

He didn't sound as optimistic...in fact he said

"Hmmmm"

not good

I sobbed. and sobbed.

"Not this month" I cried!

not when so many other things are going wrong.

not my precious connection with the world and with my blogs and pictures and with ....lalalalala.

2 days later, with my plea to save my photos PLEASE.

see...I had had the thought to back up only the week before, using TimeMachine.

only, I didn't think it had worked. and I hadn't wanted to bug him, by asking if I had done it wrong....

Hmmmm.

He called, with good and bad news.

Photos saved

"thank you Jesus...and Bob"

but my machine was done.

and gone were my fonts, my bookmarks, my downloads

but still I was thankful.

then, turns out when I handed over my hard drive

I HAD BACKED UP!!!!

funny thing is, I had spend several days mourning

see you can't check your back up without a computer..

I was ever so thankful..but still a bit sad.

He came by with my "stuff"

(he actually handed me my old hard drive! ha!)

I am grateful my photos are saved.

I am thankful for friends that rescued me by offering to let me use theres.

I am content in knowing if all else failed

[which it didn't]

after a week of weariness

finding things to be grateful for when all I wanted to do was throw a pity party worked.

There are no words.

i'm still editing away..but here are some favorites

2011-01-05T11:18:00.000-08:00

no longer spoiling any surprises..

Here are a few pictures I love from portraits this year...

oh how I wish I had a picture of my man & I like this...magical.

Serious sweetness with these 3. And OH the beauty

the colors of them & this rich wooden door/stone is lovely

OH yes please, more love

so much happiness happening on this face. amazing.

charming, a little cautious & then

the personality came out! Introducing spunk, cool & ball of fun.

This family, oh the eyes....unbelieveable.

I could talk all day about this wonderful family & their unique beauty

but then just look at the parents.

This is precious...

the road we as individual families walk...

how we all fit together & uniquely love...

FAMILY.

it is always an honor to take pictures, thank you for giving me that honor.

i love it.

post Christmas decor

2011-01-04T16:25:00.000-08:00

Indeed the cleansing has begun.

Nope, not making one of those weird resolutions that includes a "cleanse".

ewwww.

BUT of course the stuff must come down

and go OUT

and as much as I love all the decorations & merry-ment.

TRULY, I do.

Getting it all out is just...cleansing!

However, the cards are up??!

YES, please.

I love love love my christmas cards and they will stay for a while past the Holidays...

They circle my dining room

(this is the "hub" of our little cottage)

and are clipped up but no tape, no pokes, no piles.

Because I like to see each and every one smiling at us & don't want them with holes or stickyness because they all get put into a book each year.

I've strung up natural twine, with little swag here & there

using clear push pins into my molding.

I know, shame. Oh well.

And then get a bunch of those smaller (not teeny) clothespins

and spray with adhesive & then glitter away!

I do this into a box outside.

It SMELLS. And I'm pretty sure

using logic of what I hear bout fumes

Its not so good for you.

But it works.

I love this brown/copper color...not at all red/green so I don't get sick of is so quick!

AND

it is sparkly & cheerful

instead of simply holiday

but that's just me.

The other part I re did was the mantle.

It kinda made me sad taking it all down...

and I figured,

why should I have to?

After all it is still winter, right?

So.

I left up and redid it for winter...

I had made those pompoms from the ever darling book

Farm Chicks Christmas

Moved over the JOY ornament

erased the Merry Christmas

and voila!

Winter it is!

thanks for checking in....

I'd love a note if you've stopped by

flash vs. no flash. it's no question.

2010-12-28T09:15:00.000-08:00

great tips on some photography questions I get a LOT.

what can I do to get better pictures. I found someone who agrees with me & here you go...

http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/12/snap-even-more-photography-tips/

just found it today from one of my favorites...The Lettered Cottage.

even though I don't claim to know much, this really is helpful for anyone because most snappers (snappin cameras) just turn on the camera & take what they get. sometimes, its just about capturing that moment. all good! really.

BUT if your trying to get something you see, you NEEEEED to turn off that flash. None of us look better under flash. Truly, and if you notice in low light situations it just makes the person or thing in front look whited out, an everything behind it dark. No good.

and then

there's the problem of keeping up with the flash. As in, your trying to get that birthday candle blowing out an its all happening so fast and the flash won't keep up so you have bright white-out, followed by dark dark white out again. No good.

Turn off your flash, steady yourself and snap. No need to worry about it blasting the person out or camera not keeping up.

The other plus is, it looks a whole lot more like what your actually looking at!

here's a quick (as in I just looked thru my photo library & grabbed these)

of the difference

fine. BUT not what I was really looking at, or very birthday wishes time.

that's better, the candles have life, she is not blasted white out & when she moved in to blow, she also came more in focus.

No flash.

Amen.

get crafty; Heart Clip Valentines

2010-12-16T11:15:00.000-08:00

no. It's still December. promise

We were talking the other day about how to quickly fulfill all the gifts for the season without breaking the bank.

And this came up.

BUT

it is a valentine idea.

so, no I'm not getting ahead of myself, promise.

I just posted because someone wanted the 411 to alter to make gifts for Christmas for their girl scout troop.

This is a step by step for Heart Clips I made this last Feb for my daughter's class.

SO simple to make

quite cute I think....

I did not use the temple for the hearts, I free handed by cutting red felt into small squares, folding in half & then cutting a heart like I did in elementary school

...allllll day lllllong......

used the scraps or strips to cut small squares

put the squares inside the clips

{bought those at a beauty supply store 100 clips for about 8 bucks!}

used fabric tac glue

added the heart to the top, so the clip is in between

the drying 2 pieces of felt

turned them upside down to dry...so glue wouldn't leak on to my table ;)

sweet as pie.

displayed here on two cutie girls....

a while back. {not related to Christmas}

2010-12-07T23:12:00.000-08:00

we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium

and even though we've been there so many times {like 100+}

for some reason this trip, it all was mesmerizing for the kids.

I love that.

AND

the usual stuck in a corner to only see a curled up ball-o-octopus

was in a new mood.

She decided to be entertaining!

AND

because you can't use flash and it is small quarters with lots of peeps (with cell phone cameras, I mean honestly, surely not one of theirs they were pushing on me for turned out)

ew....that sounded 'tog snobby, sorry.

anyway

she was fabulous!

And the pictures show the crazy neat-O creation she is

(yes, I know it was a she because they told us)

so cool huh? She was moving along the glass....

who gets to see this? crazy stuff. mesmerized kids. huge crowd. I love my camera.

the eye of the beast.

Then she just dashed across the "scene", like she flew but obviously in water.

AH mazing. Wild. Fantastic.

Here they gave her a ball with food stuffed down a small hole in the ball. It is a challenge that evidentially they do to stimulate the creatures. She leaped up to grab it, then here she is "working" the ball (can't see it)

guess the "working" out got to her... made her turn white spotted.

Truly a fantastic & amazing 10 minutes of watching an octopus in a whole new light

(but without lights or flash)

splendid show!

here is a peek at what I've been up do.

2010-12-06T16:47:00.000-08:00

more to come!

let me be the first to say...

2010-11-30T23:40:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

{other than Costco of course,

they said it in August :( but poo on them }

and then I say this today

and I LOVE IT! So darling! And very "in" but who cares.

very cheerful, huh?! Love this. And love it even more because we get CAROLED! Oh that makes me filled with Christmas Glee like nothing else.

Just imagine, home.

Making dinner, cleaning up, folding laundry.

A knock at the door, open & my yard is full of people singing me Christmas Carols, that's cheerful!

But this is my favorite.

I'm thinking of something wonderful to do with them.

Not sure yet.

But I love them!

found them here.

She gets the credit, I just did the "blog-lifting"

Thankfulgiving.

2010-11-25T11:20:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for...

a million things

but

mostly

this guy.

Who makes my world & life wonderful...

Cutest Couple 2010

2010-11-24T08:15:00.000-08:00

doesn't this just make you swoon?

dreamy isn't she?

I love LOVE old pictures.

And this darling couple just steal my heart...

Last month they celebrated 67 years married.

67 years since this day!!

Cutest Couple 2010, right?

They are my grandparents...Alice & Weber.

I have love notes he sent her back during the War.

{he doesn't know that, he'd flip}

but long ago-like when I was 15! My grandma in one of her getting rid of moods

[she's a neat freak, he's a pack rat]

She gave me a stack of old letters....

his nicknames for her

how much they missed eachother

dreams of their life together when he was done with service.

Before kids

before grand kids

before great-grandkids.

Just imagine for a second.....

This is my grandmother's oldest brother & her sister who died at age 3.

I never knew this story. Ever. It kinda shocked me, see I have always loved true life stories.

Always.

As a kid instead of reading me a book, I'd ask for stories to be told to me...

I learned a lot.

{side note, I still prefer a biography over fiction any day!}

But I never knew where my mother got her name....Doris.

This little chub of love would have been my great-aunt.

Thank heaven there's a Heaven. And I'll meet her...

stinkin cute.

me : "Grandpa, you were so CUTE!"

grandpa : "what's this were business?? I still am!"

ha!

Hands down cutest couple 2010....as seen in July 1944.

Cheeseball Recipe

2010-11-23T18:35:00.001-08:00

just incase your looking for it...
http://lifeasachefswife.blogspot.com/

Cheeseball Fans here you go!

one of those talks.

2010-11-22T18:24:00.000-08:00

I had to do it today.

UGH.

Breaking down & sharing

"when I was a kid...."

to prove my point.

One of my "little blessings"

had made a "remark" along with

a sneer

a chuckle

about someone

at school that is a bit strange

a bit different

a bit annoying

and has less than them.

It sounded harmless.

It truly wasn't a strong or hateful thing.

BUT

it was enough.

It ate at me for days...

I had started to talk about it with them

and just couldn't formulate what I knew I needed to say.

See.

That girl

(just like the one they made fun of)

was me.

In school I surely was strange annoying and had less than most.

I moved almost every year

I didn't get invited to birthday parties

when I did, it was an eye opener into

"normal kids lives"

I had a job by 12.

I rode the city bus if I wanted to go to a friends house.

I cleaned houses on weekends to help out.

I was "that girl".

Tears rolled.

But my explanation made my point.

Each of us has the chance to make someone's day

either bad

good.

And I know their heart was changed even if just a bit

to have compassion for everyone around them

the strange

different

annoying

less cool

less fashionable.

Don't you agree we all have that opportunity everyday?

take it.

when you wish upon a book store...

2010-11-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

on my list of wishes are these I found around blog land...

saw this & it made my heart sing....what lovely ideas to inspire creativity

{beyond playdough}

and make things to welcome the season...

I always need this kind of inspiration!

The dreamywhites gal shows us some goodies she's made here

found this goodie here

why do I love the?

well, because I am a wish-I-were-a-sew-girl. I want to make things that I see in lovely store and w/o a manual, I'd be stuck paying retail forEVER.

A different blog I can no longer recall (SORRY) showed this as the book "currently reading"

spend some time looking at this inspiring (better said than coveted) book here

Yep. She's the author of this lovely Christmas-ness & has a blog too.

what's gets you in the mood to create??

busy is no excuse

2010-11-13T16:10:00.000-08:00

I've been busy,

with kids activities

{in the midst of Nutcracker rehearsals}

with laundry

{hello, that's a staple}

with blog world

{who do you follow?}

with food blogging

{no, not cheating-just my alter ego}

with Christmas Card pa-rousing

{lets be honest, I started that months ago....}

and with taking family portraits for other people's Christmas Cards...

which makes me incredibly happy

for the second year, I actually "worked" and have taken 4 portraits so far...another tomorrow.

here's the balloon burster about taking these...

I can't share!

I can't show off all the lovelies that are keeping me busy when that might be a card in your slot!

all I can say is, this is the kind of busy I like....

in San Francisco with kids...

2010-11-11T11:04:00.000-08:00

There are lots and lots of things to do in the beautiful city of San Francisco

with kids too.

I love the city,

but like any other big city, there isn't a lot of places to run & play without having traffic or fears involved.

well, inside Golden Gate Park is a beautiful & very fun park.

it is right beside one of the old Carousels

here, they can run

climb

slide

twist

these little bowl things with a little motion spin you around like a top!

cement slide. Which sounds harsh, but everyone uses cardboard scraps to slide. Actually quite fun...and fast!

This rope pyramid thing is crazy fun... and quite a task to climb up with camera in hand.

playing tag.

with Daddy.

fun.

not my favorite combo

water

sand

but of course my boys were drawn right to it!

my man. I love watching him play with his kids. Seriously make me crazy in love....

how we celebrated 14....

2010-11-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

Family dinner....few days early. Daddy was out of town for work on her actual birthday.

ugh.

But after all the activities of the day, we sat down & had dinner together.

Blessing she is, indeed.

Sisters: Abbie made her a card. I love both these gems! And we got a special birthday cake, just for her...I always make em, but she had a special request for princess cake.

So, daddy is out of town and lots to do to make it special.

Kenzie wanted to bring cupcakes for her class.

{yes, she has 6 classes. But one of the teachers was cool with it!}

So night before we made Almond Cupcakes with Honey Frosting. OH YEAH.

Sleeping beauty...

she woke up and daddy called her to wish her birthday love from far far away...

and his bed head is just to fun not to blog.

OH my lovey dovey-ness.

she loves nothing for breakfast. I know, not healthy....but she does eat every morning. I make it easy for her with good healthy smoothies. And she does like eggs. And oatmeal. And fruit.

Our plan.

Take her & her best pals up to Valley Faire (good shopping ;)

long Friday night to shop and then dinner....just good ol girl time!

Here's the cute little goodies.

{bracelets. pack of gum. aviators.}

Marisa Mackenzie Lindsay

OH gosh and this was her best little pal when they were just months old.

I have a zillion pictures of these guys as toddlers.

And their first day of kindergarten.

Couple after.

THEN nada.

Til this...and he wanted a cupcake

a cupcake for a picture.

bribery at its best.

Aren't they darling!!!

the girls.

Got there around 4:30, off they went.

one more cheesey picture before spending their wads!!

little makeover at Nordstrom mac counter. YEah!

Dinner at CPK because Kenzie can't get enough of their Thai Crunch Salad.

Can I just say I love these girls. They are sweet, fun, sport stars, and great friends.

lots lots of stuff. mission accomplished.

I love you Kenzie, you are so my girl.

A Thanksgiving Project

2010-11-01T21:49:00.001-07:00

indeed it is the most wonderful time of the year.

a time to be Thankful.

[what a concept!]

and a time to look outside our "daily" at all the blessings....

I wanted to share a project I did last year for Thanksgiving. I have a very "extended" family...

aka lots of add in's/ step-/ half-/ ex-

family members

And last Thanksgiving my darling chef & I hosted Thanksgiving for anyone that is "linked" to us.

As in

[yes, now it gets confusing]

my brother-in-law's ex-wife from is 1st marriage & her son from her second marriage.

my dad & his wife & their (my half-sisters) along with his (my dad's) out-laws

aka my moms parents!

cousins

aunts

uncles

parents

great grandparents

in-laws parents and siblings.

it all added up to over 40 people which can get rather confusing!

for my decoration I made a family tree to help everyone know just how we were all connected

now I say this because not everyone has a "Straight Shooting" Family Tree

you know, the ones with a trunk and two branches on either side going straight up.

some of us have lots of "off shoots". thats the kind way of saying _______

and everyone who came really liked seeing just how we all were connected & related.

cut out a bunch of lovely Autumn colored leaves with my Cricut.

Different sizes & tried to make them colorful but not distracting

took a board from the hardware store (they called it a specific name I can't remember but basically it is particle board that they get by the plywood & cut for me)

Then I covered it with canvas by pulling it tight and stapling it on the back edges

took plain ol' craft paper

which I bought whole sale in a huge huge roll!

you can get this too, either ebay or find someone that has a florist contact or buys butcher paper.

it is expensive (like $50 a roll) but lasts forever!

then I took long pieces and twisted it into branches and used pins to keep them in place without pushing them flat

leaves added in some sort of order to help make sense of 40 random people! ha!

Colors were kept together for families or spouses. And since everyone had either a relation to myself or my husband we were the trunk (brown on bottom) and our kids are the green leaves under

Then just go with it!

Have fun & keep that Thanksgiving spirit of family alive even if it doesn't look like a typical branch

;)

Color.

2010-10-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

Do you dream of Christmas Cards all year....like me?

well things like this inspire me.

A wall of color!

all these are envelopes, papers, cards etc from

Paper Source

this store is lovely!

pumpkin patch with my little pumpkin.

2010-10-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

I love that we get to wander through the lettuce, beet, turnip and green bean rows to get to our pumpkins.

This has to be one of the blessings of living where we do.

we road the hay bale tractor over to the patch... did I mention it was the same day as my #1 birthday & daddy was outta town & I was running solo all day? And about 15 minutes behind on everything. So we missed a little bit of the fun :(

off they ran to find their pumpkin... don't you just love that! they hop & jump over the vines...

this is why we love pumpkin patch pictures. well. pictures.

my camera took a furlough day I guess. so bummed.

but THEN

I remembered I have my handy dandy iphone equipt with hipsmatic. I love love love this app!!

then we suddenly had to go. can you guess why?

Feeling Fall....

2010-10-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

It has finally started.

I am usually more on the "ball" but I just didn't feel it yet.

I know, weird.

But I finally feel & am in love with Fall.....

oh, the cozy time of year!

so here is a bit of inside Fall decor

I swiped the chalkboard from my chef.

He had it at The Kitchen from restaurant decor...

I thought it would be too big, but I actually like it's "over size ness".

Added a very cool oak twig wreath a friend gave me :)

then I drew on it with chalk

BOO

and a spider creeping down....but not creepy.

Little orange....not too much so its Fall ish not Goulish.

Bit of tulle hung on chandelier and a kiddos craft from school

Sparkly Spider!

Boo! Made from 3 pieces of paper into pennant shapes

love these orange snacks....

Good Ol Popcorn Balls!

Pedestal with pumpkin & last years Pottery Barn "F" Christmas ornament with cupcake papers from Michaels & Paper Tissue banner just bunched together under my cloche.

last little bit. We have such a small house, there is hardly anywhere with room for "just because" surface

But I made this spot look like a dining room buffet I like in PB catalog...

find inspiration anywhere & make it with what you have

btw the pic of B isn't suppose to be there.

its placed there because it fell off the wall & I don't want it distressed "on accident".

Happy Fall!!

follow up

2010-10-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

well. Its been funny thinking about how I will merge my need for consistency & streamline.

I went out & look at my stack of calendars.

silly me put some inside my "tax boxes" as if IRS would be convinced of our honesty by looking through my calendar archives.

ha!

I'm sure instead they'd laugh in my face.

but here you go.

feel free to laugh at your screen.

a stack. OH my. But if you wonder why I kept em......

honestly. That was 1994. And I had forgotten we had to change the day of our wedding...

ol la la, night at the marriott. ;}

one of my busiest months. check out '05.....

a note. from '92!!! we had been dating for couple months....and yet I knew to save a little (probably huge back then!) love note. See, not wondering why I have these saved so much now?!

Oh and this marks today. 14 years ago. My baby girl was born. Tuesday morning 5:54 am after 2 days labor.

Am I crazy?

yes, thank goodness.

calendar debacle.

2010-10-13T22:04:00.000-07:00

I may need professional help on this one.

It all started with the Sierra Club calendar in high school my step mother got me.

I loved it & used it to keep me organized. Everything was in there!!

except addresses.

had to have another place for that....

My best friend on the other-hand had organizer after organizer after organizer. REally!!

I honestly sat her down one day & told her she had a problem.

She'd get as far as filling out the "emergency information sheet" & 1 week full...then that was the end.

repeat.

(like +85x!)

I on the other hand stuck to my week by week calendar. It had lists in the back, kept track of "you know" and

homework etc.

Then I moved on to Mary Engelbreit (sp?) loved those. Kinda cute, now I was married, very fun.

Stayed true to what worked.

Added in Dr. appts, milestones, hubby work schedule (obscene back then, still is) and who to add to the ever growing CCL

(Christmas Card List)

Then all of a sudden I needed a wall calendar, but oh I need one to carry with me too..ugh! I couldn't break my habit so I added in a wall calendar not instead of week by week.

Great for me & as family grew so did need to color coordinate per person, label ages on birthdays so not to embarrass oneself in getting a 2 yr old gift for 4 yr old. Etc.

System still working, one on wall- sit down before end of year & transfer all necessary info to new year. Then sync wall & week by week calendar that stays with me and only gets written in pencil. OK.

Did I mention I have used the same week calendar for a decade? My friend Laura (SUPER ORGAniZer!) gave me one & it made my heart sing...

anyway

THEN.

suddenly with no warning 2 weren't keeping me on my toes. There was no where for addresses I needed constantly & whos info was trapped at home in a drawer.

I tried to keep lists in it, forgotten in the car, etc etc.

enter

iphone.

It has it all, it does it all, it doesn't get left in car, it won't accidently put brother in laws birthday on the wrong day for 3 years in a row, it is handy dandy.

but alas.

I am devoted to paper.

(no, really I am. I just can't let go)

So last year I screwed up. I had both wall & week by week & then added in iphone.

Organization overload.

So this year I did what anyone in my shoes would do.

Procrastinated.

Until I had to order my week by week well after the new year. And I let go the wall calendar.

guess what I've been missing in my life.

my wall calendar! The visual helped every single day. Guess what doesn't get synced as often as I should, my in iphone w/ week by week. But my lists are there. My addresses are in iphone. My reminders are in my iphone. My kids can't look for themselves. Im a wreck.

So...I already ordered my wall calendar. I can hardly WAIT.

I've missed it.

But what to do about my week by week???

I'll miss it?.

I won't need it?.

These things honestly keep me up. Its a commitment for a year!!!

And as you can see, its been over 20 years, I'm kinda dedicated.

Did I mention I've also saved all those calendars?

They really are something to behold,

or at least roll my eyes at myself for thinking I was so busy, what did I know!!

maybe I should pull em out just to peek back at myself?

do ya think??

wanta see??

watching.

2010-10-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

some days when busy defines me, all I want to do is watch.

Watch them become who they are before my eyes.

See them shine, risk, and relish their childhood.

It brings me back to how much I love it & why it is all worth it.

handwritten words.

2010-10-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

I highly recommend adding a bit of hand writing into your home. It is something that is so individual & shows growth in your child as well. And as it seems, gives them a sense of pride.

its darn cute.

Kenzie made this recipe, Cheese Danish from Back to Basics

(you have heard I'm a Ina fan ;)

she decided after making it,

to make adjustments to the recipe.

These notes are inside the book...for whomever makes it next.

Abbie's words of love to her momma...

So sweet & so Abbie. She LOVES to write notes to me & I hope she never stops. This one was so cute, folded in half with one side writen & one not. It seemed artfull, so I put it behind glass, just to love her back a bit.

Behind this book on the counter is a list of each of the kids

First Day of School Lunch Wish's

on first day of school their lunch is anything they wish

(somehow they always are quite sensible!)

and I especially love that I have all 4 of their handwriting in one place. This will be a keeper for always...

first dance. Fever may have hit....

2010-09-12T13:51:00.001-07:00

first dance of the year.

first year of middle school.

first born son off to middle school.

AND then,

they had to add in that the theme was "Celebrity"..

I thought no biggie, we can just avoid that all together!

til...

8th grade girls all getting ready at our house tell my 6th grade boy that he should go as JB- they say "you totally look like him".

I was wrong.

He SO went with what they said.

Eerie.

Parker & his bud Sam

OH boy!

Gorgeous & wonderful girls...and the promoters of this.

Lindsay, Kenzie & Marissa

The group. Aren't they adorable!??

the attitude is astounding.

He's "getting into character" I guess....

Fav shot of the night.

Some flash

High ISO

night sky

kids growing before my eyes..

reminds me to savor every. single. moment.

the girls faces tell it all...

few token 8th graders.

James. JB (Parker). Sam.

first 6th grade dance. wow.

I think this one looks the most like him.

Does it?

I'm not very knowledgeable of this Justin fellow...I think I'll need a quick 411.

Middle School Dances make you thankful. Not to be young.

But they had fun :)

BTW thanks a lot Danielle for starting this idea in the first place.

my wish.

2010-09-12T13:18:00.001-07:00

I know. I'll get over it. Kinda.

My little man started preschool last Tuesday.

He has been ready for a while. Not me though.

I was not.

The last one, off to school.

He had his backpack (his bubba's from preschool)

and he's my buddy.

my baby.

my little man.

I have so many wishes for him....but each one of them means he'll grow up. each one.

and I'm not ready for that.

this day was hard enough.

can you stand that grin as Daddy walked him to the porch for his name tag? I can't get enough of it.

I held on tight. He was unusually quiet.

But he strolled in...hung up the pack in his cubby and headed outside.

checking it all out...tried a little of everything & smiled.

I had to go.

I didn't want to.

But it was so sweet to see him walk & grin & in my heart I know he doesn't get it but he made a big independent step to stay & play with his new friends...a step toward my wishes for him.

I couldn't wait to pick him up! He looked happy.

Guess he's going back...

if you know me. you know that first statement at the top is a nice idea. And totally not true.

vote.

2010-09-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

vote for your favorite new shot.

then I'll tell you my favorite.

Road home...

2010-08-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

the road home.

This is mine, its a 1 mile stretch from hi-way to town.

Fields of lettuce, strawberries, celery greet you on both sides

It is lined with walnut trees

HUGE

OLD

timeless walnut tree that have seen a lot.

my road home greets me & my family knowing soon we will be back where we belong.

Long ago when my MyLove and I first started going to church in Monterey we met on Thursday nights in a family's home for bible study and couple group. We had 1 little baby- they had 2 boys and hoped for a girl. They had adopted one son & thru much effort was able to birth one also. But they knew they'd need to adopt a girl since having another on their own wouldn't happen. Great story. Great family. Nice home.

many years have pasted, we still see them from time to time.

they have a middle school daughter.

I've seen their son picture at Boy Scout office wall on Eagle's Nest.

seemingly they've done well.

The other day I was leaving the mall from back

to school shopping and saw, as usual & somewhat annoying to me, another "beggar" waiting on corner for handouts

for money

for who knows what

it erks me

not a lot

just a little at the audacity that our hard work should gift their habit.

what do I know but its honest.

My heart stopped.

I knew his face.

I'd been in his home.

It was their son.

Begging for money, for who knows what.

All roads are not the right path...

Pray for him.

God knows his name & wants to lead him back...

home.

2010-08-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

can you leave comments?

or does it not work?

since I can't check,

if you could kindly let me know...

I'd love to hear

Bragging rights.

2010-08-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

this kid can ride.

Yes, she has a trainer & has been at it for a few years....but she has a gift. And somehow it shines on the back of this beast.

It all happened after about 2-3 years of her begging for horse lessons. First of all, where? And then with whom? And the biggest question, how much?

I waited til the request didn't just dissolve & go away with boredom in waiting...it didn't. And then I started asking around, which lead to a summer camp. After a week of "camp" my shy, slightly unengaged, good student but cautious & with rare glimpses of self-confidence peaking through changed.

Like, overnight.

We went to watch her & she was so proud, she didn't ask if she was "doing ok" or "should I do____" or wait for someone else to lead the way. Nope, she was independent. Strong. In control of something far bigger than her & ready to lead. She listened intently to direction & then, just did it. And has continued to blow our socks off since...

I have braggin rights you see, she's an amazing kid.

Dear Pioneer Woman,

2010-08-20T10:48:00.001-07:00

You rock. In the big sense of, you helped change someone in the world's day today. So from way out in coastal California-thank you. I juggle 5 kids & a man that needs my ever loving attention. I adore just about everything about that "blog thing you do"....why? Because it makes me relate to someone and kinda mentors me through that place of "why didn't anyone ever teach me how to do this thing called mother/wife/household". I've loved photography for as long as I can remember but only now as a 36 year old did I ever realize I could have focused on that in college....no one ever told me. And it didn't fall into the lawyer, nurse, teacher, accountant, engineer category so I thought it was like majoring in ceramics. Bummer. The good news is, blogs have changed my path & given me that education I missed out on. I have learned so so much from you (and other blogs as well!) and from the depths of my heart-thank you. It its the thing that makes me eager & focus on something I enjoy, which I rarely allow myself to give time to. A crew of 5 will do that to ya. But when something "clicks" no pun intended, my heart soars!! You've given me those moments & I thought you should know.

I also love to cook, well, to be honest, I love to eat. Which means I married right, MyLove is a professional Chef & we love being in the kitchen together. I am always asked," How do you cook for him?? Aren't you nervous". To that I say, nope, if he doesn't like it-he's a chef-he can cook for himself! Besides after 18 years together, we're pretty tight. Biggest bonus, because the profession has a wack schedule, is I've never had to cook a holiday meal & if I am craving something, ANYTHING, I can ask for it. Kinda like a kitchen genie.

So Mrs. Ree, thanks. I adore your candidness & honesty. Your sharing & perspective & skills are appreciated.

Have a splendid day....in in case no one has said it today, you rock.

Ada in Coastal Cali

PS really sorry about your iphone. truly. Dangit said on your behalf. That's Steve J, wouldn't you think he'd use bullet proof glass or something??

PSS yes I realize you get loads of emails/fan mail/introductions to strangers & don't expect a response. still cool "talking" to you ;)

kinda quiet around here...

2010-08-19T21:08:00.000-07:00

I admit. I'm ho hum...

I guess its fine. Of course I will get back in my groove...I always do.

They are back to school.

like everything in life

I try to apply

The Pollyanna Approach

BE GLAD.

in everything that comes into your life

find something to be glad about...

my glad part is they love it.

We have fantastic schools

& really neat teachers

& the miss their friends

& I think deep down they like getting back to the routine. Deep. Down.

Adore. My 1st grader
Honestly, this should be an advertisement for freckles. Sweet 4th grader.

my 6th grader starting middle school & leaving me with a lump in my throat...

Eek. I've heard it all week, "what happened to Parker? He's SO handsome"... from all the moms!! Best part of this kid is his heart. He's spent his first 3 days of school not hanging out with his pals & buds he missed all summer, nope, a new kid. Just because he wants that kid to like school & not have to eat alone at lunch or be sad.

Yes, he's handsome & thensome.

Good gravy its all down hill. Is she going off to college? Nope this beauty is starting 8th grade. Last year, big kid on campus, thinking about what she wants in life & lots of big stuff. I'm already missing her...And she's stoked having little bro at school with her. Makes a momma swell with tears, I mean pride.

Madeline & Paige in class first day
Tradition. Only a few are missing, grown & off to BVMS...and B is standing in. That kid is something else.
Proud Daddy & Momma.

feels like I just took this pic with Kenzie a minute ago...

(2 years ago...:(

And today...what a change, eh?

Our fearless Chief. Mr. T is awesome! And always out front waiting to greet the kids

now I'm off to find a life.

cool pix

2010-07-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

so...

I've taken some cool pictues lately.

I say that in humblest of ways...

I do. not. want to sound boastful, but I saw these & thought "COOL!"

sand.
dirt.

water.

me, smile.

OH, and BTW you can click on any pic on this-here blog to see it bigger...just in case you wanta :)