Happy Birthday, Pops!

Uploading photos has been slowing down my blogging lately. Life has been full, we have both been working more which has been a little hectic but we are grateful for our jobs.

Dad's birthday was earlier this month. We asked him to host as we did last year but of course we brought all the fixings!

My cute and silly dad has a bunch of rabbits in his yard. He gets older produce from the store and feeds them. It is pretty ridiculous! He sent us photos on Easter of the bunny making it's appearance.

They are his pets. Here he's showing the kids the basking rabbits in his yard.

Ara had to wear her party skirt

Cousins playing in the yard

They don't need toys, just each other~

We had so much fun celebrating a FUN, WITTY, HANDSOME, LOVING, and THOUGHTFUL Dad. What a fun Papa!

T ball playing Kid

A few months ago I was chatting with my hairdresser/friend about our sons doing t-ball. We were both kinda on the fence. But we decided to do it and also request being on each other's team. She happened to know a few other kiddo's on the team which was great. We didn't but have really enjoyed getting to meet other people with kids the same age. I even knew one of the moms from my RD internship; she was one of my professors!

The school where practice and games are has a play yard nearby. Ara loves this.

Owen's first game was missed due to us being in Monterey. So we were jazzed for his real first game. He may or may not have had about 18 people there cheering him on. 

Ara and Zo had a ball at the park as well.

Mama J was there

Owen started out as catcher, which was funny as they don't practice being catcher at practice! He wouldn't move or bend his body very well, it was pretty funny!

He loved having an audience. This kid was in his element!

Zo and Ara were happy in the Arms of lovely Owen cheerers.

We all had a great hour! It was so special to see our boy play tball, 2 years out from his last heart surgery. It was a full circle moment for many of us, realizing how quickly that time has passed, and how well he is doing now. We can't wait for his next game!

A few days in Monterey

We had a beautiful getaway, just us four!

One of the highlights was the morning and lunch at Earthbound Farms Farmstand. They got their start growing raspberries and have expanded across the US now. The gardens here are just for show and are used in their super yummy cafe.

The kids felt at home here, as did I.

Chris is pondering a copycat of this garden design. Yes please!

These two!

The Aquarium was a total blast. The second day was very crowded but we stayed about 2 hours. We knew which exhibits we wanted to return to, and we found the touch pools which we didn't stumble upon the afternoon before.

Upper deck outlook and family photo, one of my favorites from the trip.

Ara was too scared to climb into the giant clamshell.

We all got to touch a manta ray! Those are Owen's excited/nervous clapping hands.

Brave sis!

Learning about kelp was hands on. We all enjoyed the touch pools. I remember doing that when I was a kiddo.

I'm not sure what this was called but every 30 seconds there was a huge dump of water over the glass. It was loud, beautiful, and fun. Ara was not a fan at all. She said she wanted to go home, as she was watching the water crash down.

Outdoors

I tend to do a few Spring has Sprung posts.  Each spring seems better than the last! There is nothing like the small seedlings peeking through the dirt, the dew coating leaves, and the peeking peonies. Nature is pure magic, we are so in love with our field time. Usually 3-5 ever day we go down "to the field". 

We discuss our highs and lows nightly at the dinner table. It has been fun to see Arabelle's growing understanding of this concept. The other night she said "My high was going to the field with Owen. And you guys." Hearts melted, for sure!

 The kids jump, I forage stinging nettle for tea. Last night dandelion greens were in the sauteed vegetables. How I love to forage!

 Look at those stingers! Ouch! But very high in iron and vitamins.

 Peonies emerging

 Seeds in for the early stuff: radish, carrot, chard, bok choy, lettuce. They are all about an inch tall now.

 O helped, my sweet boy, using a sharpie to make the signs. His penmanship is improving, and he is reading! We are thrilled to witness the synapses fire.

 My sweet girl hanging with mama. We sit, race trucks, forage, snip lilacs and bamboo, and dig for worms.

This beast was in my raised bed for 5 years. We are changing up the bed orientation to increase surface area for more growing and this artichoke had to come out. It was a bear but I removed it, and split it into many other plants. Hopefully they will thrive, but I'm not sure if I will get a harvest.

 Mud day. We did not plan on it, and we rarely wear cream or white around here... OOPS!

Laughing at dad racing his motorcycle around the prop.

 They had the best time, we had a ball watching them play in the mud and dig for worms.

 I forget I planted these a few years ago. They sneak up and surprise us!

 Property bouquet of hellsbores, sage, rosemary, daffodils.

 These kids are pretty energetic together! So fun to watch them grow up together. Being so close in age can be a little challenging but they consider themselves sisters.

 Heart warming

 One of the few of us lately. Lots of our kids, which is good!

 The old garden site will be home to solar. Whenever the company gets their act together. Come on, people! It is very tempting to just fold the plans and plant a berry patch there. Hmmmmm.