August: birthday month and summer celebrations

August was very full and very fun. I celebrated my 33rd birthday about 33 different times! It was so fun, and I seriously recommend it. It literally took all month to spend time with almost all family members and a few friends.

School has started, we camped another trip, Owen can ride a bike without training wheels, we went to our first baseball game as a family, and Ara hasn't worn a diaper since July. We have been living it up!

The month flew by and I know that September is going to as well. I've jumped into business with my adopted sister Jaclyn and we are launching our product in a month. And our FIRST product arrives tomorrow!!!! We are both giddy with excitement.

I never want to blog because I feel like I have to. I know I have neglected this sweet page for a while, because, let's face it, something has to give! A few things have been giving as some hours have been re-directed towards the new venture. And I'm fine with it. I'm not taking any less photos or creating any less memories, don't you worry! Weekly updates used to work well for me but the other business is also linked to a mom blog so there is other writing going on at times. You can find me there under the pseudonym "Zin" after Zinfandel~ my "happy place" drink. If you're a mom and want to check it out, www.ginandzin.com is where you go! We post a new mom interview every Friday...You could be next!

We started the mom blog first as a way to bring women together and share their stories (so not really for the male crowd, but we do have a some Dad readers!). Since we were working together so often already we decided to create a new partnership, a collection of products that would bring us joy, with our target market being chicks like us! Coffee cups, wine glasses, totes, towels, etc.... Those fun little useful splurges we make that brighten our day, so why not create our own and share those as well?! Our website is in the construction phase, but I will happily send you there in the future!

I'm going to share a few photos this month, lots of fun!

me and michelle, friends for 21 years, also birthdays 5 days apart. We sang "happy birthday to us" that night!

 a concert in the park is one of our favorite summer events, photo taken before the music started.

 camping up at cisco grove we all rode our bikes 3/4 of a mile to the camp store for a sweet treat. Riding that far and back with my little family was no small feat and I am thrilled to be entering into this new phase!

He ditched the training wheels!

We went to a restaurant in Truckee that I used to go to with my family on our vacations growing up. Full circle.

 Lots of this going on.

 Special birthday lunch and movie date with one of my faves at one of the yummiest restaurants, Totem. Then we went to see BAD MOMS with Jac and laughed our booties off!

 Papa had a fiesta, enchiladas and even mango margaritas! YUM! The kids made up games and played hide and go seek while the adults caught up.

 We went wine tasting for Chris's bday about 5 years ago and ever since I've wanted to go again. With the help of 4 sitters (!!!) we were able to steal away for 4ish hours together!
Findleton winery- yummmmmmm

 Divitorrio had lots of port and chocolate to sample~ (not pictured, Dan)

 We had a fantastic lunch on the patio at Grace Patriot. What a hilarious happy day~

 Mom and Wynt spoiled me and went to Magpie in Sac. We waited at the bar and then had a fantastic dinner on the patio- ahi, salad, and pasta..... MMMM!!!! SPOILED!!!!

The Brittons came over here and brought all the fixins for a yummy taco night dinner for yet another birthday dinner! It was so tasty and fun to entertain but not cook anything! Thank you gals!

This party was not for me~ but for my niece baby Kenzi! She will be here in 4-5 weeks and we are all SO EXCITED!!!!

Austin was in town and Kim and I had planned a date to go to the Argonaut, we all ate grubbing food, walked along the river, and laughed at ourselves.

  This past Friday night we went to our first family baseball game! We got there early and Owen had a total ball checking out the stadium. Arabelle was really interested in Digger (Dinger, the mascot), and really enjoyed the music. She would dance for the short snippet and then be moody when it stopped.

Owen would cheer on the players by their full names! It was a total riot. Ara was melting down the last hour or so, and would alternate between awake and pretend asleep. I didn't mind too much, the snuggles aren't going to last forever.

The next few weeks we are home, less travel, less packing, less heat, less moving, less on the go, more grounded.

The next few weeks mean more babies (for my sister in law and close friend), more business growing, and a shift in to-do lists. 

The next few weeks is fall... Just in time for lots of change!