There you are Sun

These past weeks have been a little gloomy around here:( Probably, the ONLY bummer about living at the beach! May and June can be dreary. I am a lizard and I need my sun! I wanted my lizard loving pals from my old neighborhood, and their kids to come over for a day of slip 'n slide and snacks. They all showed up with yummy treats and bathing suits. And what did we have to offer? Gray skies. We popped open some bubbly and squeezed some OJ for Mimosa's...surely, our playdate doesn't need to be gloomy! And what do you know?!? The sun showed up! It only stayed for an hour, but we were sure to enjoy every last minute of it.

My babies are growing up so fast

This month marks Mason's 4th birthday and Miller's 18 month-day. I feel like the time is just flying by, I know that sounds so cliche, but it is true! I think the 4 year old age is my favorite thus far. Mason is a little man now. He is able to understand consequences, is easily bribed, and thinks his feet grow everytime he takes a bite of food! He loves to learn, ride his bike, and his latest obsession...DIRT BIKES. His Daddy & Poppy bought him a Honda 50 for his birthday. I was not happy about this. I just felt like he is too young and little. My husband assured me that he will be fine on it. I insisted on full gear and training wheels.



I realize that Mason is not your normal 4 year old, when it comes to balance & sports. He is extremely agile and fearless. He has been riding a bike since he just turned 3! He is one tough little kid. I know that I will be at the Emergency room many times with this one. Happy Birthday little man.


I have been putting off admitting that my baby is now 1 1/2 years old. I remember this is when the "terrible two's" started with Mason. Miller hasn't completely broked down into fits yet, but he is close! He is definitely not a baby, adores his older brother, and is soon to be my next "thrill seeker." He loves dirtbikes & skateboards just as much as his brother. He has even mastered the motorcycle noise! He babbles most of the day and I try my hardest to figure out what he says. I think yesterday, he told his Grandma that her shoes were "pretty." He can easily point out the moon, loves to watch movies (unlike his bro), and would eat cereal all day long with his Daddy. He is such a joy and has the best "kissy face" ever! Please stay little awhile longer Miller!!

Mason turns 4...ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Our lives changed for the better 4 years ago today (well yesterday). Mason turned FOUR. Really, where did the time go? I remember being nervous, anxious, and so excited for him to be born. Little did I know, that those feelings of parenthood don't go away. They just take on different meanings.

For his birthday, we threw a pirate-themed party. I wanted to just do something simple, so we could enjoy the day and not be too caught up in the details. Afterall, this is a day to celebrate, not stress!

We gathered up some pirate gear and off we went. Here are a few photos of the day.

Grandma & her scalleywags



The mate's proud parents






















The cake, made by Mason's super talented Grandma.


















Treasure chest filled with swords, telescopes, jewels, coins, and pirate snacks. For pirate snacks, I put mixed Pirate's Booty, Peanuts, Raisins, & Red Hots in a celophane pirate bag. I got all of the favors from www.orientaltrading.com















Pirate Snacks of Pirate's Booty, Peg-Legs (carrot sticks), Planks (celery & peanut butter), Canonballs (meatballs), and fruit.











And finally...the littlest scalleywag of the bunch.




Happy Birthday Mason! We love you bud.

Man Land

We went to heaven this past weekend...well, heaven it is for a family of waterskiiers, dirt bike riders, and lizards! They call it Man Land... I can even call it "Wo-Man land." It is true that it is a haven for men, but I loved it too.


You see...I used to love to waterski. I was even on the UC Davis waterski team back in my college days. It was my sorority, my social network, my "drinking team with a waterski problem." Going out to Cheyenne Lakes took me back, way back to the days where I could hardly unscrew the lid to my toothpaste because I was so sore, back to the days where my right leg had a mysterious bruise appear from the spray, back to the days where I chickened out on the 3 & 5 ball! But it felt GOOD! It felt great to get back behind the boat and have a good tug-a-war. I can't even tell you how I have missed it.

Mike is quite the skiier too, but what I didn't know about him is that he is a GOOD dirtbike rider! Really, for NEVER doing it...he has some skill. I am not going to lie, it made me super nervous to see him out there on that track, but I guess I have to get used to it. I have 2 boys that are sure to be mini-Mike's and be thrill-seekers like their Dad. Mason is already there. He would not leave the garage where the dirtbikes & quads were. I think it is funny that he loves the idea of riding a dirtbike but hates the loud noises they make! He is going to have to get over that soon.





I hope there are many more trips to Man-Land in our future!

An Eggcellent Easter

I think all the stars were aligned, all the angels looking down, all of the rays of sun must have been shining down on our home on Easter Sunday this year. Really, I can't remember the last time I have had that much fun at a Holiday gathering. Don't get me wrong, I love my family and we usually throw a pretty good soire, but there was just something different about Easter this year. Maybe it was because it was the 1st Easter we have hosted...EVER! Maybe it was because the weather cooperated with warmth, the birds were chirping, and the flowers were blooming. Or maybe it was because my family made the best spread of food we have had in a long time. Everyone in my family has some sort of culinary expertise. My Mom is great at trying new recipes, tweaking them and saying..."I just threw it together." Much like this Angel Food Cake layered with lemon curd, berries, and topped with a cream cheese coconut frosting. Then she goes to her yard, picks fresh lavender & Meyer lemons and wa la... a picture perfect dessert.


Everything my sister makes is delicious, whether it be a double chocolate cheesecake or a beautiful Minted Fruit Salad, she has the talent too.


My Aunt...well she is the queen of green salads. This year was a mix of greens, goat cheese, & fennel.And ME...well, I didn't cook at all! Somehow I got out of it! I ran down to Panera Bread and got delicious Tomato Basil, 3 Cheese, & Whole Grain loafs to make delicious sandwiches on. I find it hilarious that everyone thinks I made all of the food this Easter... I guess I should keep my mouth shut, right?

My favorite part of Easter was watching the kids hunt for eggs. Even Miller got into it this year. He was VERY slow. He had to open each egg and shove all the candy in as soon as he got one. This gave all of the older kids an advantage! haaaa

I hope that this Easter is the 1st of many more wonderful holiday memories at our home. I know my Nana would be so happy to have us all at her home enjoying it. I miss her.

A day in the life of Spring

I love Spring...there is something just so exciting, fresh, & new about Spring. Maybe this is why it is the time of new birth...a time to dust of our feathers and dive head first into whatever may come our way. For us, our new endeavor is gardening. I have always loved to dig my hands in the dirt. Thanks Mom & Dad for showing me the way to pull out a weed, cut back a palm, trim back bushes, & plant a tomato plant. I feel like we just got thrown into gardening haven. Our home is surrounded by fruit trees, rose bushes, ferns, you name it...we probably have it. There are endless areas to throw a plant in the ground and see what happens. That is the part I love about it, the uncertainty, excitement, & accomplishment of growing something from a seed, or tiny plant into something we can eat or view just for it's pure beauty. I was walking around the yard today and it just inspired me. The pomegranate tree has the most bright red flowers on it, ready to become a sweet but tart fruit.

The fig tree's electric green leaves have such a distinct shape

with beautiful fig buds getting bigger every day.

And the yellow plum, with it's bright white flowers ready to make way into sweet yellow goodness.

I am not sure what this beauty is, I am thinking it is an apricot or peach, the bees are loving the sweet nectar coming from these beautiful pink flowers.

And here is the start of my tomato garden. We have so many gophers, so we dug out a space behind the shed, hoping it will give these plants a chance to grow! We already had some sort of critter try to eat one the other night, so we wrapped the cages in celophane to keep them away and provide some extra heat for them to grow.

My next blog will be about all the nasty bugs we have come across since we started our gardening/composting expedition.... and let me tell you, that is the part I am not quite digging about the garden:)

A cup of Health

I have been sick... my goodness, this one lasted a whole week! I even went to Urgent Care on Sunday in hopes that the good 'ol Doc would give me some magic pill to make my relentless cough disappear. Haaa... who was I kidding? I just had the same virus that everyone else has been walking around with. All I came home with was some cough medicine with codeine. Which, I might add...is the best cough medicine in the world! I am sure my husband can agree, since I am now not waking him up a few times a night coughing up a lung.



This brings me to my attempt of self medicating. I have tried all the home remedies out there, like Hot Totties to put me to sleep, baking soda/salt tinctures up my nose to clear me out, hot steamy showers (no...not the one's you are thinking of), Riiii---cooooo-laaaaaa's, etc etc etc. Finally, I dug deep...really deep....back to my old days as a juice bar girl at Ki's in Cardiff. Those were the days...ok, I am daydreaming. Do you want to know what I did??? I JUICED! I remember being sick and having Ki, herself make me up the most delicious fresh squeezed juices and saying to me...drink this and you will feel better. So, I made fresh CARROT APPLE GINGER juice. And...WA-LA.... my cold was gone! This could have been some sort of coincidence, but I am thinking it really did the trick. It was my life saver, my lucky star, my pot of gold...heck, it was my cup of HEALTH.



If you want to try it for yourself, this is how you make it. (you will need a juicer for this)



~1" piece of fresh peeled ginger

~a few apples (leave the skin and everything on them)

~a few carrots






Run it through your juicer (in that order), and you got yourself a delicious sweet & spicey cleansing drink loaded with Vitamins A & C.


Mason even loved it.













CHEERS TO YOUR HEALTH!