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| Check my stride out. |
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| "Can I get back to running please?" |
We found a way to escape the gloom in santa barbara, the Santa Ynez River. We found sunshine & a swimming hole. Perfect start to our day.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
Productive Weekend
I love clearing out unused, unloved, & not needed items. So as I was looking around our house and shed I realized that we are holding onto many items that are not serving any function anymore. The kids have outgrown many useful items, items that were once used multiple times a day. It's crazy how in as little as 4 years you can acquire such important items but now all they are doing is bogging down our very limited space. So I asked Eric how he would feel about having a sidewalk sale (we don't have a garage so I made up a new term). We had a lot to do in a short amount of time. I busted my butt collecting, cleaning, and pricing every item. I set the alarm for 4:30 on Saturday morning. I was one of the few people who welcomed early birds. We advertised for a start of 7am, I wanted to start early in hopes that we would finish early, but that didn't happen.
All in all the sale went well but I didn't sell one of the HUGE pieces of furniture that I was hoping to sell. Now what? I guess another round on craigslist. Saturday was taken by the sidewalk sale, I was pooped out that night. Sunday was a slower day but none the less we worked very hard all day in the yard and shed. We harvested all our carrots, which later turned into delicious juice and a first harvest on the zucchini . We planted all new carrots, beets, basil & lettuce. After the gardening we went to the shed, we probably overhaul this 4 times a year. I must say I've never seen this shed look so clean and organized.
A weekend like that feels so good but it sure is exhausting.
Below are photos taken at the Memorial Weekend I Mardonnari street painters who transform the Mission Plaza into an art zone. It's truly a must to experience.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Full Force
Hello Spring Time~
I was very fortunate to take Bodhi on a hike today all by myself. Like the good ol days that Bodhi and I had together. Now there are far and few between our solo outings.
Ruby joined Milo at his preschool Seasons. This is usually a hot topic on school mornings whether or not Ruby will stay with Milo. Today was one of those days, she insisted on packing her backpacking with snack items, lunch and her cuddelies. It was hard for me to say no, Milo was begging, she was begging. Annie the teacher said they would all love to have Ruby today. So I took this quiet opportunity to hike with Bodhi, certainly a favorite old past time of ours.
Enjoy, spring is showing up in so many beautiful ways.
I was very fortunate to take Bodhi on a hike today all by myself. Like the good ol days that Bodhi and I had together. Now there are far and few between our solo outings.
Ruby joined Milo at his preschool Seasons. This is usually a hot topic on school mornings whether or not Ruby will stay with Milo. Today was one of those days, she insisted on packing her backpacking with snack items, lunch and her cuddelies. It was hard for me to say no, Milo was begging, she was begging. Annie the teacher said they would all love to have Ruby today. So I took this quiet opportunity to hike with Bodhi, certainly a favorite old past time of ours.
Enjoy, spring is showing up in so many beautiful ways.
A favorite spot, Rattle Snake Canyon. It has everything, hills, grass, chaparral, pines, shade, sun, creek crossings, rock hopping. I love this trail. Happy Hiking!!!!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Costa Rica
Hola Amigas y Amigos.
We are home from a wonderful and oh so perfect multiple family vacation. The Lymans, The Coulehans and Papa D and Lydia all made the cross country trek to Santa Teresa Costa Rica. The journey was long very long, 19 hours from door to door. We started off with 2 plane rides a 4.5 hour and 2.5 hour then our last mode was a 5 hour long shuttle van ride across mainly old, skinny, and very bumpy dirt roads with small stretches of pavement. I must say, the kids did wonderful. I can't believe how well they did. One meltdown in the Los Angeles airport before our redeye flight out and then one on our return home when all Ruby wanted to do was sleep but she couldn't get comfortable so she was cranky and fussy. All in all they were excellent travelers.
The weather was perfect, 90 degrees almost every day, probably about 85% humidity, the skies would shift from clear blue to puffy cloud coverage to great big lightening and thunder storms. Although we only had 2 intense storms and they mainly took place in the evening we still enjoyed the rumbling thunder and down pour of rain from our beds.
Our daily rhythm went something like this, wake up super early 5:00am to 5:45. Crazy I know but the sun was rising as early as 4:45 so the kids woke very early every day. Once they were up it was go time, we did some play time in the house, like coloring and chasing, reading books, helping in the kitchen. At around 7:30 the heavy layer of sunscreen was applied and off we all went, some went on walking adventures to look for local wildlife which included anything from iguanas, red bugs, lizards, squirrels and some of our favorite finds were the monkeys and all their babies. Others went out to the 80 degree pool, some went to the beach which was right out in front, others went fishing or yoga or surfing. Due to the intensity of the sun and heat we all found ourselves resorting to the ocean or pool. The kids all improved so much on their swimming skills. As parents of such young kids who are learning how to swim it was such a joy to watch their progress as the days passed. Preston and Paisley started off with some trepidation while Milo and Ruby had too much confidence, but by the end they all had gotten over their fears and just had the time of their lives. Jumping off the sides, diving down for rings, swimming and floating comfortably with their floaties. Most of the time they all had smiles on their faces from ear to ear. After our morning adventure we would reconvene at the house for lunch and rest time. As the kids were resting the adults either took rest too or they found their own time to explore. At this time the fishing enthusiasts would arrive home with their daily catch, sometimes it was as little as 2 fish and sometimes it was as many as 9 fish. Every day the fishing crew changed. Dad and Lydia went everyday so sometimes Donnell and I would join in and other times it was the boys. Once they got home with our dinner Geoff usually got started on the amazing Sashimi and/or Cevichi. I gotta hand it to Geoff, he prepared the most amazing raw fish that I have EVER tasted. He brought me out of my vegetarian mode. I am now as my friend Cathi uses, a vegaquarium. Thanks Geoff for the great afternoon fish plates and thanks Dad for hosting the fishing trips.
By this time the kids are back in the pool or down at the beach playing till the dinner bell was rung.
The kids would be in bed close to 6:30-7 every night. With all the sun and water play they did all day every day they were so tired that they had to go to sleep even if some protesting took place.
I wish I had everyones photos to share but I don't yet, once I get them all I will repost a link to a finished photo album so that you can look through our whole trip. We had an absolute perfect vacation, happy and healthy children playing hard everyday and as for the adults we too were so happy and playing hard every day as well.
A huge thanks to Papa D for making this trip happen, thanks to Donnell for locating Villa Paraiso property and just an overall Pura Vida to all. We will never forget this vacation.
We are home from a wonderful and oh so perfect multiple family vacation. The Lymans, The Coulehans and Papa D and Lydia all made the cross country trek to Santa Teresa Costa Rica. The journey was long very long, 19 hours from door to door. We started off with 2 plane rides a 4.5 hour and 2.5 hour then our last mode was a 5 hour long shuttle van ride across mainly old, skinny, and very bumpy dirt roads with small stretches of pavement. I must say, the kids did wonderful. I can't believe how well they did. One meltdown in the Los Angeles airport before our redeye flight out and then one on our return home when all Ruby wanted to do was sleep but she couldn't get comfortable so she was cranky and fussy. All in all they were excellent travelers.
The weather was perfect, 90 degrees almost every day, probably about 85% humidity, the skies would shift from clear blue to puffy cloud coverage to great big lightening and thunder storms. Although we only had 2 intense storms and they mainly took place in the evening we still enjoyed the rumbling thunder and down pour of rain from our beds.
Our daily rhythm went something like this, wake up super early 5:00am to 5:45. Crazy I know but the sun was rising as early as 4:45 so the kids woke very early every day. Once they were up it was go time, we did some play time in the house, like coloring and chasing, reading books, helping in the kitchen. At around 7:30 the heavy layer of sunscreen was applied and off we all went, some went on walking adventures to look for local wildlife which included anything from iguanas, red bugs, lizards, squirrels and some of our favorite finds were the monkeys and all their babies. Others went out to the 80 degree pool, some went to the beach which was right out in front, others went fishing or yoga or surfing. Due to the intensity of the sun and heat we all found ourselves resorting to the ocean or pool. The kids all improved so much on their swimming skills. As parents of such young kids who are learning how to swim it was such a joy to watch their progress as the days passed. Preston and Paisley started off with some trepidation while Milo and Ruby had too much confidence, but by the end they all had gotten over their fears and just had the time of their lives. Jumping off the sides, diving down for rings, swimming and floating comfortably with their floaties. Most of the time they all had smiles on their faces from ear to ear. After our morning adventure we would reconvene at the house for lunch and rest time. As the kids were resting the adults either took rest too or they found their own time to explore. At this time the fishing enthusiasts would arrive home with their daily catch, sometimes it was as little as 2 fish and sometimes it was as many as 9 fish. Every day the fishing crew changed. Dad and Lydia went everyday so sometimes Donnell and I would join in and other times it was the boys. Once they got home with our dinner Geoff usually got started on the amazing Sashimi and/or Cevichi. I gotta hand it to Geoff, he prepared the most amazing raw fish that I have EVER tasted. He brought me out of my vegetarian mode. I am now as my friend Cathi uses, a vegaquarium. Thanks Geoff for the great afternoon fish plates and thanks Dad for hosting the fishing trips.
By this time the kids are back in the pool or down at the beach playing till the dinner bell was rung.
The kids would be in bed close to 6:30-7 every night. With all the sun and water play they did all day every day they were so tired that they had to go to sleep even if some protesting took place.
I wish I had everyones photos to share but I don't yet, once I get them all I will repost a link to a finished photo album so that you can look through our whole trip. We had an absolute perfect vacation, happy and healthy children playing hard everyday and as for the adults we too were so happy and playing hard every day as well.
A huge thanks to Papa D for making this trip happen, thanks to Donnell for locating Villa Paraiso property and just an overall Pura Vida to all. We will never forget this vacation.
I forgot to mention in my notes from above that my cousin Adam and his girlfriend Ingrid who live in San Jose Costa Rica came to the house for a couple of days. We had a great time with both of them, thank you for taking time out of your busy costa rican schedules to come stay with us, you made those days very special.
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