Our mini road trip this spring break.We stayed in a yurt at Lake Cachuma.One of those last minute vacancies where we benefit because it is difficult to make plans months in advance. I imagine as my kids get older or I become more organized, plans may come together sooner than a week before. But not yet.
Admittedly I have wanted to check these out for awhile. I honestly don’t love sleeping in a tent on the ground. A yurt feels like a compromise.
I also believe in letting the kids run wild, with little distraction, and learning how to appreciate nature.So when we woke up and Paul started sketching his point of view I was thrilled. When and where else will he see this? I want those sorts of experiences for my children as much as I want them for myself.Joe loves to let them rock throw whenever possible into water. At the lake, Henry was into the really heavy rocks that would make a big splash.
We squeezed in a trip to the local zoo. As a family, we agreed gorillas are fascinating animals. Olivine and I could watch him eat grass all day, while Henry has a pretty good impression of his face.We also weren’t going to pass up the giraffe feeding.Their tongues are amazing and surely intimidated Olivine, who at the last minute didn’t want to give her lettuce to the giraffe.On the way home, we stopped along PCH to check out waves and dolphins and surfers. One of the best ways to stretch your legs. Hello Pacific Ocean.
I am grateful again for a family that completes me. I could really be anywhere (advice I recently overheard Joe giving to friends who are moving to the Coachella Valley) and truly the company is what matters. When we are busy with the day to day I can loose sight of how happy I am to have this team. I can confidently give thanks a year after loosing my grandfather. I still miss him like crazy and wish he was around to see this growing family. Life has a strange tension when it comes to love and loss and grief and healing.

My family and I needed this spring break. Even if it was short.

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

This morning I met the baby of a dear friend. He is handsome and very content.I must share a peek of her nursery that has touches of her craftiness (handmade curtains) and her mother (handmade blanket)

while Miss Olivine sat on the floor snacking and listening to all our catching up. This afternoon we invited over friends and headed to the Farmer’s Market for extended play.It was a day gathered with friends and that is one of my hopes for spring break. Time to gather together and just be present.

beginning our busy week

bunny on the door (thanks Paul)baby wearingbrothers blowing bubbles and swinging at them for random pointsbiking around the marina, but taking a break to watch fishingand one of our favorite places: the baywhere Olivine wore her new ballerina-ish bathing suitbasking in the sun, on Grammy’s lapboys brought boogies boards
baby eventually fell asleepand I had to lay her down, she gets heavy, but thankfully she didn’t budge.Boys started burying each other in the sand
busting open shells, hoping seagulls would come close enough to touch
and spending an unbelievable amount of time side by side, playing.
Because Joe has a huge project due tonight, he missed most of our day, but he drew us a comicand tomorrow he will be able to relax.

We went to Grandpa Royce’s where we had lunch and cupcakes.There was an egg hunt out backwith boys dressed like twinsshaking the eggs to guess what’s inside.This much fun is always followed by a good night’s sleep.

We drive up the hill and Joe jumps out to hide eggs, while I take a quick detour helping to build the suspense.

Not having a yard has forced us to become creative. We love this view and there is the perfect sized garden perched on the corner.

They searched high and lowfar and wide
up and down over and underHenry was the big brother who helped Olivine.She willingly reached behind flowers, so excited at each colorful egg her eyes could find.
I do like to day dream about other places, as they get older, that would be fun for an egg hunt. For now, this is more than we could ask for.

We were lucky enough to spend time with these dear friends.We went to Pasadena last weekendand enjoyed perfect weather.They are the type of friends that feel like family.These two are so similar.India turned seven
so of course we had cakeand the kids had a blast.
Then yesterday they swung by our place.At the end of this month their third is due. These are friends from SF that migrated south before us. Fellow teachers and parents and vegetarians who we can chat all day long with. We had burritos in the park,
flew kites,
and looked at the sunset.
The next time we gather we will be a ten person posse.

has finally arrived. I bought this bottle two weeks ago and it has been sitting in the back of the fridge, waiting for this celebration. A ten day vacation with family. What a treat.I picked the little ones up early so we could eat lunch and take a nap together.
Paul was on a field trip (a fellow momma took this picture- thank you Mimi) visiting a farm and holding a chick.Later on they played divers together
and I found that all day I was smiling. Good Friday, indeed!

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Joe is taking a science course that has mandated field trips as homework. Luckily, they are local and free. This morning it was a trip to our local lagoon.They had binoculars to borrowwhich little ones love.A close up look at the animals and plants, plus plenty of mud.A morning under big, puffy clouds. Home in time for lunch and naps.