I have joined the four week challenge to simplify my house. A follow up to my last summer adventure in de-cluttering. I will be including some photos along each theme. This week is the shelves and I was able to free my eyes of some small, but serious eye sores in my house.

The first impression matters and when you step into my apartment building you are usually greeted by this:

but I am trying to have it look like this more:

Then there’s the bookcase

the top is a regular mess. Our place to just dump, stack, and generally misplace items.

But not after my cleaning.

I can finally see the calendar I love so much.

This sort of project motivates me to create more space and form better habits.

in age
in experiencein discovering our purpose
and yet different
and that makes this afternoon and our catching up, while our children played, so comforting.

blow bubbles inside and outside.
drink water in the shower.
put puzzles together.
learn the alphabet.

ZERO fish that Paul caught in the ocean.
But he did catch seaweed which I thought was appropriate for a vegetarian.
ONE family style, blueberry, baked pancake
ONE bottle of yummy wine
TWO fell asleep (together)
THREE children reading
THREE new teeth for baby girl
FOUR hours Joe spent with the boys outdoor at a kickball game
FIVE who slept outside in tents last night (me and baby were not in that count) SIX mile walk this morning
all while a baby girl slept soundly in the stroller, keeping me company.SEVEN times of reading the same story means I officially have it memorized.

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.

A super generous gift from my aunt and grandma is the annual pass to the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. We had free time and healthy babies so of course we went. My aunt is the one who talked us out of going to the zoo even though we really wanted to see the hippos. She explained it would be too hot for the little ones in the summer to go to the Safari Park (and after this afternoon I would agree), so we will be going back this summer for the zoo. Bonus: this week is the last week of the Safari Park having a butterfly garden open.

We loved the tram ride and seeing the animals up close in such open spaces. We learned about the animals they put back in the wild.

There was a ton of walking and the sun made one little girl fall asleep

looking just like the lioness.

We saw the baby rhino and baby gorilla, but the boys loved the brushing of the goats.

It was the one animal they were allowed to touch.

Joe loved the giraffes and I was in love with the amount of space these elephants had to walk around.

After five hours at the park, everyone fell asleep in the car.
After dinner, we noticed some animal inspired drawing

and playing as they acted out being baby elephants.

A fair amount of driving to head to San Diego

but worth it to see a Grandma who is still hanging in there.

We always take dessert and flowers as presents

and this time we actually stayed the night.

There was a definite love fest going on

while these two played ball (boys were playing with the dog in the backyard).

So glad we visited.

Where did the moon jellies come from?

Why are they in the lagoon?

How long will they be visiting?

Where did my little baby go?

Why can’t spring break be longer?

a flower

to share

to eat

or smell

so sweet

Thank you for the gift card to Chuck E. Cheese (a thoughtful gift from my grandpa at Christmas- a family gift)

We have never been

and I can admit it wasn’t crowded and I was still overstimulated.

Joe on the other hand, spent a great deal of time at skee ball, which is where all the tickets came from.

We met up with friends

and ate pizza and played and ran around without shoes (really??) to climb up into these tunnels.

Olivine played a couple games

but had just as much fun stacking the coin cups.

We are pooped!