What am I supposed to do with this face?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Fun with friends
Over Christmas break we spent a lot of time with our favorite friends--Kevin, Sonya, Emerson and Quinn--so I thought I'd post some highlights.
We spent New Year's weekend together in Idyllwild where we enjoyed lots of Wii time in our jammies, beautiful walks in the woods, and yummy dinners at night. We even found a little crusted snow to go sledding on!
Little Quinny just couldn't keep her hands off Soren:-) We couldn't figure out why he was so upset until we saw that she was gripping his ear!
We've had fun doing park dates, sunset beach walks, and tidepool explorations.
We love our friends!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Wisdom from the French girl
So my mom has requested that I post little updates of my progress on my "new year's theme" throughout the year. The first thing that comes to my mind is a delightfully inspiring book I recently discovered from my mother entitled Entre Nous. It's subtitle: "A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl". Sounds like another book glorifying this lofty ideal we Americans have of the French. Yes, sort of, but so much more. I haven't yet finished the first chapter and already I've had to stop and try to breathe the author's wisdom in. I don't want to overwhelm you with all its goodness at once so let me just take my time and post little excerpts that speak to me in my quest for an authentic and graceful life.
"If you strip away the stereotypes and contradictions about her, one of the fundamental qualities associated with the French girl is her sense of self possession. She is entirely, unequivocally self-contained. She is focused on living her own full life, following her own agenda and cultivating her actual self, rather than reinventing herself or pining away to be someone she's not. Throughout her life, she invests herself in learning and experiencing, not to change who she is, but to become more fundamentally and more fully who she truly is."
"If you strip away the stereotypes and contradictions about her, one of the fundamental qualities associated with the French girl is her sense of self possession. She is entirely, unequivocally self-contained. She is focused on living her own full life, following her own agenda and cultivating her actual self, rather than reinventing herself or pining away to be someone she's not. Throughout her life, she invests herself in learning and experiencing, not to change who she is, but to become more fundamentally and more fully who she truly is."
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
New Year's theme
Stop striving. Let go. Be you.
I like to call them themes instead of resolutions. It's like a concept of growth that I'd like to focus on for the year. And at this point in my life it's about time I start learning to embrace my unique identity and gracefully grow into the wonderful person God created me to be. I'm so sick and tired of getting caught up in our society's current rat race for perfection and glamour in every area of our lives. This competition of facades is spurred on by Facebook, Twitter, and yes, even personal blogs. It seems that so many women around me are just striving...for a thinner body, trendier clothes, a nicer house, more friends, a perfect-looking life online. I'm tired of trying to keep up.
This year I want to begin to relish what things in life make me come alive. My son, my husband, sunsets over the ocean, a good run, my quirky church community, an inspiring book, laughter and depth with friends, silence. I've wasted far too many years trying to be an ideal that I'm not. It's time to stop striving and start falling into my own beautiful skin.
I like to call them themes instead of resolutions. It's like a concept of growth that I'd like to focus on for the year. And at this point in my life it's about time I start learning to embrace my unique identity and gracefully grow into the wonderful person God created me to be. I'm so sick and tired of getting caught up in our society's current rat race for perfection and glamour in every area of our lives. This competition of facades is spurred on by Facebook, Twitter, and yes, even personal blogs. It seems that so many women around me are just striving...for a thinner body, trendier clothes, a nicer house, more friends, a perfect-looking life online. I'm tired of trying to keep up.
This year I want to begin to relish what things in life make me come alive. My son, my husband, sunsets over the ocean, a good run, my quirky church community, an inspiring book, laughter and depth with friends, silence. I've wasted far too many years trying to be an ideal that I'm not. It's time to stop striving and start falling into my own beautiful skin.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Coming home...
So after 10 days away, I couldn't wait to unload the car and head out to watch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs. Oh my goodness, it did not disappoint! The beauty of the sky, the warmth of the air, and the intoxicating smell of salt water swept me up into overwhelming gratitude for our home in San Diego. It was the perfect homecoming.
Christmas.
Get ready for a long post of storytelling! We just got back from 10 days up at my parents' house in the Central Valley celebrating Christmas. It felt like we didn't do anything but relax, but now that I've compiled our pictures I see that we--especially Soren--had an eventful trip! Besides laying around, drinking coffee, and chatting with family by the fire, this is what the rest of our trip looked like...
We took walks almost daily around my dad's vineyard and experienced some incredible Valley sunsets.
My dad took Bran and Soren to John Deere and Soren got his first toy tractor (with many more to come, I'm sure). What a treat for my dad who never had a son!
Soren got re-acquainted with his Uncle Scotty and Aunty Dani and just laughed and laughed.
Bran and I took advantage of free babysitting and enjoyed a getaway in Shaver Lake where we snowboarded, relaxed at a B & B, and woke up to fresh snow in the morning! 
We know Mamae loved being with Soren at least as much as we loved the break.
Soren had his first Christmas! 
It was a bit overwhelming for him, but we sure loved watching him get all kinds of "big kid" toys like a golf set, a basketball hoop, and an "autographed" Chargers football.
And surrounded by all of his new toys Soren had the most fun playing in an empty basket!
Soren made friends with Cooper (Scotty's nephew) who is just 2 weeks older than him. It was hilarious to watch the two meet by staring at each other and grabbing each other's faces! It made me wish Soren had a friend his age close by.
And one of my highlights is getting to see all of my extended family at Christmas. Of course Soren had fun charming them as well!
We so enjoyed just soaking up quality time with my sisters, brothers-in-law and parents. That is what makes Christmas for me.
We took walks almost daily around my dad's vineyard and experienced some incredible Valley sunsets.
My dad took Bran and Soren to John Deere and Soren got his first toy tractor (with many more to come, I'm sure). What a treat for my dad who never had a son!
Soren got re-acquainted with his Uncle Scotty and Aunty Dani and just laughed and laughed.
Bran and I took advantage of free babysitting and enjoyed a getaway in Shaver Lake where we snowboarded, relaxed at a B & B, and woke up to fresh snow in the morning! 
We know Mamae loved being with Soren at least as much as we loved the break.
Soren had his first Christmas! 
It was a bit overwhelming for him, but we sure loved watching him get all kinds of "big kid" toys like a golf set, a basketball hoop, and an "autographed" Chargers football.
And surrounded by all of his new toys Soren had the most fun playing in an empty basket!
Soren made friends with Cooper (Scotty's nephew) who is just 2 weeks older than him. It was hilarious to watch the two meet by staring at each other and grabbing each other's faces! It made me wish Soren had a friend his age close by.
And one of my highlights is getting to see all of my extended family at Christmas. Of course Soren had fun charming them as well!
We so enjoyed just soaking up quality time with my sisters, brothers-in-law and parents. That is what makes Christmas for me.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A romance in the making?
It all started in late 2008 when my dear friend Sonya and I got pregnant a few months apart. I was due in April and she in July. I was painting my nursery blue and she was collecting adorable girl clothes.
First came Soren Gabriel...and then Quinn Michele.
They began by just playing next to each other.
Then Soren started reaching for Quinn's hand.
Then Quinn started liking it. 
And now they're just buds.
Our families are loving the match so far....
First came Soren Gabriel...and then Quinn Michele.
They began by just playing next to each other.
Then Soren started reaching for Quinn's hand.
Then Quinn started liking it. 
And now they're just buds.
Our families are loving the match so far....
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