Sweet Domestic Bliss

Check these babies out -

 

Craigslist and salvaged from the yard (thank you Tyler and Candace).  Brings the grand total to $65! 

What's really ridiculous is we've lived here for over 2 months and we only just got these last week. I've had very gracious parents who have let me bum laundry off them for the last year and half, but it's feels like way more than a chore when you have to dedicate two days a week to get it all done.

I feel like I have a whole new life...

Pismo Monarchs

A couple of weeks ago, we headed up the coast to check out the monarch butterfly sanctuary in Pismo Beach.  In a small grove of eucalyptus trees, a few thousand butterflies stop every winter on their migration route.  We took a ton of pictures, but not too many turned out.  Apparently, by observing the few dozen other photographers there, you need a two foot lens to get the job done...

 

After butterfly gazing we went down the beach to play around a bit.  Of course, we took lots of pictures of our favorite subject

And, for when you're bored on the drive home -

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!  I can't believe it's already the 9th.  Makes me feel like such well wishes are a bit too belated.  But, hey, I didn't resolve to solve my procrastination problems this year.  Maybe later...

Anyway, I did make my standard resolutions - read more, write more, exercise more.  But I'm also trying to focus a little more on service this year.  I'm not sure how this is going to play out yet, but if there's something I can do for you - let me know.

On New Year's day, we enjoyed two very different sides of life.  My very dear friend, Hank, was visiting and arranged for a dinner at an amazing restaurant, Inn of the Seventh Ray.  After driving way down Topanga Canyon, we arrived at the most beautiful restaurant setting I've ever been to.  We dined on the patio, surrounded by trees lit with twinkle lights, fountains amid flowers, and the trickling of the creek only a stone's throw away.  The food was incredible - diver's scallops, chicken sous vide, salmon with chorizo, and blueberry cake with ginger ice cream.  If you're looking for a memorable evening, I highly recommend it.  The atmosphere was so relaxed and elegant, it made for a wonderful evening catching up with old friends.

Now for the other side - Josh, Corban and I spent the morning in a bit more, shall we say, "rustic" setting.  Okay, honestly, more "redneck."  We went out to Ojai to shoot Josh's rifle.  We were going to meet up with some of the fam to fish, but we were, ahem, misguided. (Josh went to the wrong place).  But we had a good time anyway.

Note:  This gun was NOT loaded.  We really aren't as stupid as we look.

A Visit from an Dear Friend...

First - a tangent...
The last two days have been amazingly productive ones.  Here, I am sitting, the dishes done, the house clean, the laundry folded, and myself showered.  Since it is such a rare occurrence to have all this at once, I felt that I just had to mention it.  It's nice...

Last Sunday, Garrett, one of my oldest friends, came by to have lunch and catch up - face to face for once.  Garrett and I went to high school together for freshman year, then he moved to Calabasas.  Then he moved to Texas for college, and in the last 8 years we have seen each other twice.  This visit was one of them.

Some friendships, truly, are amazing.  Despite not seeing Garrett for 5 1/2 years, it felt like we hadn't missed a beat and I am so grateful for that.  He's been a listening ear and a source of encouragement for a long time.  Thank goodness for free long distance calls.

I hope it doesn't take another five years for us to get together, but even if it does, I know our friendship will still be strong.

By the way, if you didn't know - Josh is amazing.  He entertained Corban the whole time so I could enjoy myself.  My husband rocks. 

Family Photos

Last Friday night Josh told me that he wasn't working the next day.  (Not working on a Saturday has become quite the rarity).  So, we decided at about 8:45 pm that we'd take family photos the next day for our Christmas card and what not.  So, at 9:30 I headed to Target to try and piece together some, at least, semi-choreographed outfits. 

We went to Rancho Sierra park and my sister-in-law, Megan, was gracious enough to be our photographer with such short notice.  This has to be one of the shortest family portrait plannings ever, but the day was beautiful, and Target came through for us, so we ended up with some nice shots.

 

My absolute favorite.  I admit, I'm pretty partial to pictures of my boys.

Really, I don't think we were supposed to be tromping around off the trails in a State Park, so don't report us to any park rangers.  

Thanks again to Megan.  You did an awesome job.

Change of Scenery...

Well, it's been just about forever since I posted, but I think I have a better reason this time than laziness.  Early in November our family officially ended our days as apartment dwellers and moved into a little house.  Now, when I say "little," I'm being quite literal.  It's 640 sq. feet - 300 less than our apartment.  But all the benefits of living in a house far outweigh the size issue.  I won't list all the joys of "single family unit," but my favorite, by far, is letting Corban play in the yard

hiding between the trashcans

sampling dirt

Sorry everyone, but I can't help but do a bit of bragging.  My kid is just so dang cute -

 Yes, face full of dirt, but I still think he's beautiful

Pumpkin Patch

So, I've been excited to take Corban to the pumpkin patch ever since last October, when we didn't go (I wussed out, citing something like "my C-section scar still hurts like a mother...").  Anyway, no excuses this year.  We were watching Charolette that morning too, so we had more-the-merrier fun.

I had this vision of Corban happily tromping through the pumpkin patch, but this is the way he looked for the majority of the morning...

He was just so SERIOUS.  Charlotte, on the other hand, had a blast -

bustin' some Charolette moves

Isn't she great?  Such a cutie...

We really lucked out and the morning was beautiful lending to some great photos

I think a piece of my hair blew in front of the lens on this shot

It was a wonderful morning and I'm looking forward to making this a family tradition.  And at least we got one smile out of Corban