Mild Winter

As the East coast is getting hammered, we are having such a mild winter. There really isn't much to do but enjoy the beauty and pray for rain. 

 It sure is nice for adventuring. We frequent a nearby orchard once a week to stock up on fruit and run around. The kids and I love the grounds, there is a large fenced in grass area, and never anyone else there! We have the whole place to ourselves and the peacocks. These bulbs were pushing through last week.

 We went on a nest hunt and found 3 on the property. I didn't have my big camera that day but my phone did pretty well. This was about a foot wide!

 My daphne is now blooming, this was last week's promise. It's sweet smell is intoxicating! I better stock the bathroom up with a bouquet;).

 Our hill the other night had a spectacular orange sunset. The photo doesn't do it justice but I love it nonetheless.

 This tree is just up from "mud mountain" on the property. The other side has a knot in the roots where a little squirrel must live. This live oak is one of my favorites.

 Our garden skeleton from 2 years ago. It screams potential but we are concerned about the drought and water rationing. The smaller nap garden by the house is easier to manage, water, etc, but doesn't produce the volume that we enjoy that prevented us from buying most produce from May-October! I'm craving that but debating if it is the best way to garden this year...

 2 days ago the high was 73. It felt as warm as this photo looks. Snapped this shot on a walk around our hill that day.

Spring like volunteers coming up... Looking so happy and ready for spring... BUT IT'S JANUARY! Enjoy the beauty and Pray for Rain, that's all we can do!

Backseat

blogging hasn't been a priority these days. I have been working every night from 8-10pm which isn't a huge ton but it does displace other chores, hobbies, etc. It has been really fun to work with the public, teaching a baby nutrition class, as well as getting more referrals for more pediatric work. I just LOVE my line of work!

I also love Chris's line of work as it allows me to be mostly stay at home! We have had a total blast with the rocket launcher!

And this here is mud mountain... I don't think I have spent this much time in the field through the winter time. We have covered every corner and the mud pit really seems to be the favorite hangout spot.

Lil Miss loves to run, pick up sheep poop (gross!) and chase after chickens.

And ride the tire swing.

Life is good! Kinda a boring blog update but that's what it is! What else is new?? Owen is on cold #3 for the season, the RN strike got called off and negotiations were made that were very favorable. I found a new home for Peepers, which is deserving of a post soon as well. I keep on making lots of food here and it keeps getting eaten. Some days I feel like a line cook but I wouldn't have it any other way. Arabelle continues to eat everything and Owen has really expanded on his preferences. We have made some commitments to his nutrition and it has been going really well. 

That's a little tangent for the night. Off to have my tea (or wine? hmmm decisions) and head to relaxation and hopeful slumber.

Working it

Blogging has taken a backseat, and as my journal and scrapbook I always feel a little pull towards it. Especially when I'm sitting at the computer...

After 6 weeks of "light duty" exercise and back exercises I'm on the mend. I started running last week, and even hit a yoga class (what!!??) over the weekend. Things are good. I mention this as my evening times of exercise used to be filled with crafting over the holidays. I guess it was a convenient injury!

So the cardio happens during the day now, as the evenings are filling with clients! I'm taking 5 right now from a long to do list of returning calls, emails, researching, and prepping for a class I'm offering next week. There is something shifting in the work world for me. It's pretty awesome. I'm hoping to pay off those student loans this year with the influx of business. Wouldn't THAT be really neato?! I think so! Or at least make enough from my private practice to pay the loan payment... Let's start there!!

Ok, Hope those new years resolutions are going strong! We are a week in! Ha! At the yoga class the instructor spoke of making a resolution daily. I think more like an affirmation or setting the daily intention... for example, "I will be positive today, in all ways" or "I will attract more calm people into my world today". Those are kinda nice! I really like the idea of starting over every day. It just resonates with me. The mornings. The quiet. The new day. It is pretty inspiring in itself, starting over. Just when you are feeling overwhelmed or tired or both you go to bed and wake to something fresh. I sure hope you feel that way in the morn. Or at least when you read this!

Top 10 Memories of 2014

(In no particular order!)

1. Owen running around like crazy with the free ranging chickens. Especially when he was getting chased by Peepers. Hilarious!

2. Ara eating literally ANYTHING you put in front of her, notably garden tomatoes off the vine, beans,  and her current favorite mandarins from Graham's Pear Shed.

3. Owen trying new foods recently, somewhat motivated by the bribe of Chris or I doing a backwards somersault. (Corn, salmon, fresh fruit!!!)

4. Meeting James Taylor. Yes. Oh yes. That happened this year. It was AMAZING!!! I kissed his cheek, talked to him, and sat next to him for 15 minutes. In case you missed out on knowing that tidbit of information. AND I've been mildly obsessed with him for 15+ years. So....

5. Traveling around California: Tahoe, Cisco Grove, Morro Bay, Bodega Bay, Escondido, San Diego, Disneyland, Glamis.

6. Owen shining through his hospital stay, making it through like a champ, and having so many family members and friends holding our hands and hearts the whole way.

7. Starting monthly dinners out with Chris and I. We have a fantastic sitter JUST for this purpose. It is quite fun to go anywhere just us!

8. This year Ara crawled and walked for the first time, and now runs and dances everywhere. Witnessing the developing child is just mind-boggling sometimes!!

9. Cousin time! Owen and Ara have had so much fun playing with their cousins Zoey, Mat, Elise, Ava, and Lily this year. Tahoe and Morro with Aubins and Disney with Mat was a magical experience for all. Hearing Zoey say A.Mae and Owen for the first time was super special!

10. All of the time spent with our close family. We have created so many memories this year with our family and we are beyond blessed to have most of them live closeby.

11. Life is good. This was really hard to actually narrow down into 10 memories.

Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind, Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine, quiet though come floating down, and settle softly to the ground.
Like golden autumn leaves around my feet, I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories, sweet memories.

Happy New Year, May the year ahead be light, shiny, happy, and healthy!

Homemade holidays

This This Christmas was just awesome! I've decided not to break down every last celebration as I usually do because I'm seriously pooped! 5 Christmases in 2 weeks is a lot, plus fun work parties and other family birthdays leaves the kids hungover on toys and other homes and is just hungover. I kid!! We have gotten a glimpse of decent sleep (talkin a 5 hour stretch once a week, wahoo!!) I'll take it!

This year I really attempted to make some gifts.... Last year with a new baby and limited mobility and owen on lock down I did a heck of a lot of online shopping. That happened this year as well but I also got crafty like it was my job !

Homemade sauerkraut 

Mens shirt toddler frock and bow

Granola & bean soup mixes

Nanas reversible apron

Room scents to boil

Vanilla Rosemary lemon & thyme mint (from the property of course;)!

Vegan tart chewy and beautiful

This post was fun to put together but the crafts were more fun! I would like to say I met my goals but I didn't... I wanted to make a few frocks, a few sleeping bags, but the evening time was limited. So much fun to share homemade goodies!

Merry Christmas!

Some of my favorite moments... With more to come!

That Magic Moment

To quote the drifters.... there are many a magic moments these days. The magical moment last night was when Chris and I emerged from each child's bedroom with them on their way to dreamland. It's that feeling of relief, exhaustion, and happiness that comes when the beloved kiddos are asleep simultaneously. Let's face it, it is still kind of rare! And last night, they stayed asleep until 2 ish so we had some adult time! (not that we stayed awake that long, let's get REAL! We were up until a little after 1030).

I truly appreciate the teamwork on nights when Chris is home. The 3-4 nights a week that bedtime is my solo responsibility I really miss him! In all truth most nights I'm thankful that we have 2 babes and no more, ha!! They work me, challenge my energies like no other, even though I know I will look back on these nights (hopefully soon) and laugh at how busy they "were". But for now, it's a little chaotic, a little emotional (not just the kids, ha!), and not always smooth.

I really (don't) love when people tell me "She should be sleeping through the night by now" or "Why was he/she awake?" I really don't know. Believe me, I have changed the routine, changed the jammies, burned sage, eliminated foods, done my version of cry it out ("figure it out" I call it, with short timed amounts of some crying/talking yet not hysterical/escalated crying).... It gets better for a little while then gets loco again.

I'm pretty convinced that poor sleeping habits are genetic, as cousins were not good sleepers either...

The other magic moments lately...

Ara's receptive language is blowing our minds daily. She follows directions very well. It's super fun to ask her to "go grab the green toy," "follow brother into his room," "Grab your shoes please!" "Give brother a hug/kiss" Her words so far are: uh-oh, hi, bye, diaper, dad, mom, dog, pop,  hot, hat, tick tick tick (tickle)... Not a lot of talking but wow it is seriously magic to watch her understand what you're saying!

Owen really enjoys the Christmas spirit, and learning about different holidays and celebrations. He is thriving at preschool, always commenting on the weather and nature. I just love his observations "Mom, it's such a beautiful morning....Mom, look at the moon. Wow, what a gorgeous sunset today." He always asks us "How was your night, mom? and Where are we going today?" He is very inquisitive... "But what would happen?"

I may complain/describe too much about the lack of sleep happening over here but as silly as it makes us it's proportionate to the love and enjoyment that these littles provide. So that's a BIG plus!!