Into the woods...

We've been trying to get out on hikes a little more with the children.  They love to explore just like us.  This weekend we hiked around the base of Mt. Diablo in an area called Mitchell Canyon and Donner Canyon.  Out and back, the hike was about 3 miles.  Just enough for our family as the weather was getting cold.  There was a lot of mud... lots and lots of it.  A little bit of snow way up at the top of the mountain, too.

I didn't bring my regular camera instead we just brought our phones.  

I changed my blog title

The other one was too wordy.  This one works for a variety of reasons.

Here is the inspiration, "Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue." John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra. 

Another equally important inspiration:

Pajama Day

Dave worked at preschool this week. It was pajama day. How fun is that for a dad? Tons of fun, of course.

I am so thankful for this time we have together.  So very thankful.

Big huge happy heart for a little tiny baby boy.

Good news!

35.

Celebrated my 35th birthday in Las Vegas.  Ate at Bouchon.  Watched the Beatles.  Walked down the strip and saw the sites and then some... only there for 2 days (if that) and that's all.  Done.  Home now and I'm glad I am... and, yup, I missed the babies terribly.

Oh and I saw a quarter of Led Zeppelin the other night... and, yup, that was unf*%$'in-believable.  So, sure I heard Black Dog and it was way, way slowed down but, um, yup, I've heard it by the one and only Robert Plant.

Yep, it was a good birthday with a good man... thank you, Dave for holding my hand during our "first first class" flight and dealing with my need for shoe fashion in Las Vegas... I love you.  We had a time and it ain't so bad... 35.

The sun came out today...

and I feel much better now... no cold, not much of a cough, barely a need for tissues actually. That's all.

LED ZEPPELIN

LED ZEPPELIN
Originally uploaded by pramit

The greatest rock and roll band ever lives!

Halloween

The little ones went out with Daddy up and down the cul-de-sac and came home with a boat load of sugary sweets. Ryan couldn't wait to open each piece of candy as it was given to him. Not a good thing really. Ashleigh could have gone longer. Again not necessarily a good thing. I stayed home and answered the door to all the local ghouls and goblins. Ah. It's so great living on a street in a neighborhood where this can happen. So great.

The tricksters:



Our door (yep, that dried out corn stalk stuff came from our garden... woohoo):


Ashleigh's 1st pumpkin:

Dear God...

If there is any way you can use your influence in this situation I'd appreciate it. Please let the reunion concert of Led Zeppelin (if it does actually happen) go well enough that they decide they want to do a world tour that includes San Francisco (or well anywhere on the west coast) and please, if it isn't too much to ask, let me get tickets (and they don't even have to be good seats just somewhere inside the same arena). Thank you for all you do... Amen.


P.S. Oh and one more thing... make sure this man's hands are kept pristine until the band gets to the U.S. should you decide on taking me up on my first request up there. I know I speak for at least a few million others. Thanks again.

belated...

a self portrait (which i rarely do but in the scrapbooking world this is oh so popular) taken on my 34th (gulp) birthday... pretty much tells you how the day went... yup, that's ryan's feet down in the lower left hand corner and yup, that's ashleigh recovering from a very olympic worthy pillow dive...

Do you hear that???

Listen... a bit closer, just a bit more, ouch! not that close!

If you heard it (and that it would be silence) then you realize that both of my children are taking naps at the same time... a feat that does not happen very much anymore. I think both of them are either feeling a bit under the weather or they really are both very tired.

And I know that this moment in time won't repeat itself soon. They are both so little still and I treasure these days so much... for time does go by quickly and they do indeed grow up fast. From Ryan's soft, ultra blonde wispy hair and soft smooth oh so kissable cheeks to Ashleigh's big ol' smile and voracious laughter... I treasure it all.

And days like today I treasure... because it's days like this that make me a believer... and I know for a fact that God does exist. Miracles do happen... my children are both napping.

You know I'm a dreamer but my heart's of gold...

Well, simply, we moved… in a ridiculously short time frame and a frenzy of packing paper, tape guns and piles of cardboard boxes we did it and survived.

And can I tell you something… I love it here.

I love the quiet streets, the cul de sac, the Trader Joe’s just a half mile away, our overgrown backyard and this wonderful sunrise we get to experience every day when the sun comes over the mountain top… unbelievable.

I love that a trip to Ikea means a view of The City or The Bridge.

I love that when I think about plans for this house I don’t have a time frame in my head… a stopping point… a cut off date… it’s a wonderful feeling to know that we’re home.

And this gypsy woman inside me has finally come to rest.

I am home.