In my previous life, before Steven and before my children, I lived in LA and worked in the movie industry. I did all sorts of set jobs from being the underpaid PA (production assistant) to a scenic painter, sign writer, muralist, art director, set decorator, props assistant, and so on. One of the first people that I met when I moved to LA was Rob. We ended up becoming roommates. I hadn't seen Rob since I moved away from LA, which was about 10 years ago!
For our little reunion, we met down at the beach and the kids played like crazy! They got along so well and we had the best time. When they finally left the next day the boys were all so sad. We had to promise them that they would see each other again soon. The best part for me was standing back and watching us both as parents. We kinda looked at each other laughing about how much life has changed. I remembered driving down the freeway in LA singing ABBA songs out the car window with a megaphone (where did we get the megaphone anyway?). He laughed and reminded me about how I used to sleep in a tent in my room. Now here we are 10 years later navigating tantrums and car seats. It's awesome.
Sayer was so funny, he was standing at the water's edge and, all of a sudden, said "Mommy, you want to see something so weird?! My feet are disappearing!". Ah, simple discoveries...
Other than the joy of seeing an old friend there was a little extra magic added to our day. All morning pods of dolphins kept swimming by just beyond the breaking waves. It was so beautiful! I wish I had a longer lens so I could do it a little more justice.
Thanks Rob and Ryan! It was a blast. Can't wait to come see you guys in LA!
lee-ann says:
love the photos!
(07.13.09 @ 08:33 AM)
Rob says:
I love these photos, thanks! Ryan and I had the best time, we'd like to see you all again real soon...
(07.15.09 @ 03:32 AM)
Francesca says:
Wow, your photos are awesome!! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!!
(07.16.09 @ 02:29 PM)
We're gonna rock, we're gonna roll, we're gonna bop, we're gonna bowl! Yes, Grease 2, that's exactly the kind of geek that I am. And now that I have outed myself, if I can find a way to work Cool Rider into a post later on you know that I will!
The lighting in the bowling alley was terrible and I didn't have a flash so I just took a few snaps. The main thing that everyone needs to know is that I wiped the floor clean with all 3 of the guys and emerged victorious!!
The lighting in the bowling alley was terrible and I didn't have a flash so I just took a few snaps. The main thing that everyone needs to know is that I wiped the floor clean with all 3 of the guys and emerged victorious!!
and at the end of our lovely days here, we see this from our living room. This is one of those moments when I wish I had a tripod.
It's official, July has begun and we're on vacation! I would have
blogged sooner but I have been busy decompressing...and it has been
great! I always work like a fiend in June getting myself ready to leave
for the month of July and this past June was no exception. So, here we
are on July 6th and I just now took my camera out of the bag.
We are spending the month of July in central California near Santa Barbara. The weather is amazing and I can see the Pacific Ocean out of all of the windows of the house. Today we spent the morning at Santa Barbara's botanical gardens. We were here the summer before last and loved it.
We weren't sure what to expect after the fires that ravaged the area recently (claimed 80 houses!). Nature is amazing though, everywhere where we saw fire damage we also saw new life sprouting up.
On some of the trees you could see where the fire just singed the edges.
I loved this little cactus. It looked like a little man with a hat on.
As
we were heading out, Finnian found a little snail crawling across the
path. I told him that he should rescue him and take him over by the
pond. He carried him carefully in his hands and then watched him for
about a half an hour, even kissing him goodbye when it was time to
leave.
For dinner we decided to put together a little picnic and head down to
the beach. Steven and Sayer boogie boarded and jumped the waves.
Finnian isn't so sure of the waves so he hung back with me. He wouldn't
even let go of my hand for the first half hour but slowly started to
ease in and warm up to it all. I showed him that we were on dry sand
and that meant that the waves weren't coming close. We were far away
from the waves really but he will still freaked. Before we left though
he was running around and even went into the water with Steven.
It was a great evening. The kids buried Steven in the sand, Sayer
buried Finn in the sand and they built a beach city out of driftwood.
The kids indulged me and let me take crazy pictures of them.
This is one of my favorite pictures of the day.
and then it got even better...
and then, as it always goes with these kinds of moments, it quickly
deteriorated into wrestling. What is it with boys and wrestling?!
happy family
Today we're headed to the playground and then bowling! Vacation rocks.
We are spending the month of July in central California near Santa Barbara. The weather is amazing and I can see the Pacific Ocean out of all of the windows of the house. Today we spent the morning at Santa Barbara's botanical gardens. We were here the summer before last and loved it.
We weren't sure what to expect after the fires that ravaged the area recently (claimed 80 houses!). Nature is amazing though, everywhere where we saw fire damage we also saw new life sprouting up.
On some of the trees you could see where the fire just singed the edges.I loved this little cactus. It looked like a little man with a hat on.As
we were heading out, Finnian found a little snail crawling across the
path. I told him that he should rescue him and take him over by the
pond. He carried him carefully in his hands and then watched him for
about a half an hour, even kissing him goodbye when it was time to
leave.
For dinner we decided to put together a little picnic and head down to
the beach. Steven and Sayer boogie boarded and jumped the waves.
Finnian isn't so sure of the waves so he hung back with me. He wouldn't
even let go of my hand for the first half hour but slowly started to
ease in and warm up to it all. I showed him that we were on dry sand
and that meant that the waves weren't coming close. We were far away
from the waves really but he will still freaked. Before we left though
he was running around and even went into the water with Steven.
It was a great evening. The kids buried Steven in the sand, Sayer
buried Finn in the sand and they built a beach city out of driftwood.
The kids indulged me and let me take crazy pictures of them.
This is one of my favorite pictures of the day.
and then it got even better...
and then, as it always goes with these kinds of moments, it quickly
deteriorated into wrestling. What is it with boys and wrestling?!
happy family
Julie says:
It looks like you guys are having fun. You take the best vaca pictures
(07.07.09 @ 12:29 PM)
It's happening, fast! My babies have turned into big boys. It's so bittersweet. I love seeing them grow up but as they shed little bits of their babyhood I do feel a sense of loss. It's a little more profound with my youngest. He has left the paci behind (we weren't sure that would ever happen by the way). One day soon he may also stop asking for his lovey blanket.
So, for now, I am trying very hard to stay in the moment and really enjoy them. I know that we are supposed to be role models for them but in a lot of ways they are great role models for me. I watch them and I see that they really live in the moment and they are so emotionally available and love (and cry, fight, argue...) with their whole hearts. They love me, too, so completely and without reservation or strings. I try and take a cue from that too.
So, here they are, my sweet big boys...
So, for now, I am trying very hard to stay in the moment and really enjoy them. I know that we are supposed to be role models for them but in a lot of ways they are great role models for me. I watch them and I see that they really live in the moment and they are so emotionally available and love (and cry, fight, argue...) with their whole hearts. They love me, too, so completely and without reservation or strings. I try and take a cue from that too.
So, here they are, my sweet big boys...
Valeria says:
They are so handsome, I just love their skin, their eyes... So sweet!
(06.15.09 @ 06:14 PM)
Angela Yegyayan says:
These pictures are awesome! They are gorgeous boys. I know how you feel about the "growing up" thing. I feel the same about my now "little man" Jack. It's sad, but wonderful all at the same time.
(06.27.09 @ 09:40 AM)
Maybe it's my Irish heritage or the fact that I don't like hot weather but I love cloudy days. I like sweaters, jeans, boots, scarves, hoodies and layers. I do not own a single sundress or a pair of shorts. I love mist, fog, moss and lush greenery. I think I could be perfectly at home in the Pacific Northwest. I live in Texas though, which is the land of the sun for sure, the very hot sun. For a few perfect months right before and right after the difficult summer we do have beautiful weather. We get amazing springy days and some very nice cloudy ones too.
We have some property about an hour and a half from our house. Right now it is just a beautiful piece of property without a house but Steven has been hard at work planning a future house. A few weeks ago, on a perfectly beautiful cloudy day, we stomped around "the farm" (as we call it despite the fact that there are no animals there) and tried to pick the perfect spot for the future house. We even picked a spot for the boy's future treehouse too. The house will look out onto this pond.
Sayer shares my love for hoodies but, unlike me, the hood always has to be up and it has to be completely zipped up too.
Picking the perfect spot...
One of the boys' favorite things to do is tackle their Daddy.
A little collage from the day.
So, what about you? What is in your heart on this Love Thursday?
Ashley says:
We secretly desire 40 acres of property to build a house, a studio, a school house, and have a large garden that I'm sure I'll hardly work in because of bugs. But we want a little (ok, big!) escape from city life.
(02.26.09 @ 01:09 PM)
shawna says:
I definitely want to have a "farm" someday. I just have to decide if I do in fact love clouds enough to stay in the PNW. I like them a little bit more when they are less frequent. You're always welcome up here in Seattle if you need your cloud fix!
(02.28.09 @ 02:07 PM)