Fourth of July remembered in September

This seemed like a lifetime ago since I'm just posting it now. It doesn't mean the memories have faded though - far from it. As you may recall, while Independence Day wasn't my favorite holiday growing up, it has now become a holiday that I wrap my family & I up with small town tradition and enjoy it to the fullest.We started the day biking in a caravan to the square. It's a bike ride I sometimes don't look forward to, a bike ride that I sometimes have to force myself to get through but a bike ride that was full of glee this time around. Our caravan was so huge that we were able to casually break into different groups; some powered through the ride focused with strong determination, some kept at an even pace and chit chatted their way to our destination while others strolled and absorbed the creek, the dry hills and the rows & rows of grape vines. Different attitudes but the same purpose - getting to the Independence Day Parade!
Then we staked our claim - took up space in the square, soaked up the sun, took in the sights & sounds and became one with the lawn. It was heavenly & exhausting intermingled and separate all at the same time.
How many times do you get to do nothing and everything simultaneously because you want to and not because you have too?!!!

I personally find bliss in occasions where I can contribute to conversations but in the same breath become void in thought and just be there - it's being comfortable with who I am amongst who I'm with...family provide me with that.

I enjoy knowing my daughters have that, too.

Our California summers were full of sights of helicopters overheard with water buckets. It was disturbing that this day wasn't of the exception...but it was our reality this summer.

And what's a family gathering without a friendly-competitive game of soccer :}
The "B's" celebrate a goal!
Then the culmination of an entire day's event ends dramatically with bright lights and booming significance. It's a blend of sounds mimicing destruction while displaying grand beauty.

The most satisfying part is having our secret parking spot where we can slip into right before the show starts and slip out right before the hordes of pedestrians! No, I would never reveal such a secret - but I will share one thing...Independence Day in Sonoma is a must!

An evening away

Instead of driving up to the snow, we drove down the coast and spent the evening at Pajaro Dunes. Dan has fond memories of this place growing up. He spent many weekends and one glorious summer down here when he was younger. Fortunately an evening here fell on our laps - unfortunately Kaitlin was feverish and spent most of her time laying down. We did manage a game of Bologna [upon Breana's request] and "Probe" [combination of hang-man and wheel-of-fortune].

O Great Spirit,

Play:



Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me! I am small and weak, I need your
strength and wisdom.
Let Me Walk In Beauty, and make my eyes
ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Let My Hands respect the things you have
made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make Me Wise so that I may understand the things
you have taught my people.

Let Me Learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock. I Seek Strength, not to be greater than my
brother, but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.

Make Me Always Ready to come to you with
clean hands and straight eyes.

So When Life Fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you without shame

{Native American Prayer from "A Grateful Heart"}

Welcoming December

We set out for the beach to watch the Lighted-Boat Parade but somehow found ourselves at Main Beach by the Wharf. Finding 'mishaps' like this to be happenstance, I drove down past the Boardwalk to park by this house. Every year this house always makes me laugh but it was always viewed in a drive-by. Part of me thinks of the Griswold's Christmas and I chuckle. Part of me appreciates the time & effort that it takes to pull something this together and I smile. I'm reminded to always keep my sense of humor and to appreciate what others have to offer - no matter how blatantly 'sweet' it is :) This was our first year to park by this house and soak it all in. Each of us saw different aspects of the light display to enjoy. Parking caused us to take the time to acknowledge what each of us found to be important which made the whole display - the whole picture - much more meaningful.For Kylie it was the blue Christmas Trees. For Breana it was how the reindeer looked like a horse (go figure!). For me it was the Nativity scene set upon the slope of the rooftop. For Brayton, well he soaked it all in one glance and returned back to his DS :) He was patient, I'll take it!
Pleased with out "visit" and our shared laughter we set out to the 'right' beach.

We parked high above the bonfires amidst the black backdrop of the night and chalked up the parade as cancelled due to the weather - not a single lit-boat in sight. Staying warm & dry in the vanagon we set for home. Could it be for real?! On our way home I was met by a stream of cars exiting the harbor! Luck have it, we found not only a lit-up-all-fancy-parade but a parking spot and a bench above the glistening water!
While I knew my camera wouldn't be able to snap a clear photo of the boats in motion, the shimmering of brightly lit reflections certainly captured the mood. With our eyes all excitedly lit up and our spirits warm by the lights, we headed for home. A perfect way to welcome December!

A Sunday in our Beach Town

You'd think we went away for the whole weekend by the way we spent our afternoon on Sunday. 5 hours felt like a glorious vacation. The time was full of sustenance - nourishment not only provided by a delicious meal but by family & appreciating life.It was the combination of the change of scenery and the permission to not work on our home projects that allowed us to enjoy this day.

It was being able to appreciate the beach town we live in - in all its Autumn grayness with the crisp air snapping at your exposed ears amidst crashing waves - sometimes it's that simple.

The end of this 'vacation' was spent watching "Paris Je T'aime". Eighteen vignettes one after the other that expressed varying degrees of love & all its possibilities.

A great way to end the weekend and start a wonderful new week.

Thanksgiving

It was a Quijance Thanksgiving w/ Auntie Millie staying in town for an extra week which added to our love of being with family. This year, and every year, we have many things to be thankful for. From the top of the list, thankful for Mom & Dad's (and Auntie Millie's) safe return home from their trip, all the way down to the bottom of the list...

for cousins we see often yet feel like it's not often enough...


for picking up a song by ear and sharing it with those who can appeciate it...


for the simpleness of childs play...
and for the amount of lego items a boy can fit in his pockets...


for a fun & friendly game of '3 flys up' in the same cul-de-sac that my sister's & I played '3 flys up' 30 years ago...

and for a friendly game of Quiddler...

Father's Day - BEGIN style

We planned our gathering for Father's Day just a few days before. It was happenstance. Dan was given a bottle of 1964 French wine from a friend who just returned from a trip to France along with an incredible 'slab' of filet mignon. The 4 of us would have had to feast for a whole week so we called the troops over. The 'beauty' just kept on unfolding; a dear friend of Dan's parents, Ted, was going to be in town for the day so we included him in our gathering of gluttony of food, wine & laughter. The sun was out, the air a tad cool but perfectly calmed the heat from the previous days thus making sitting outside enjoyable.

*

*

*

*

*
*
*

Then the piece de resistance was a surprise visit from Dan's Mother! She came into town with Ted! It was the piece that made the whole day complete - with my Parents, my younger sister, Tisha, & her family with all 3 of Dan's sisters & their families and a dear family friend...how else should he spend his Father's Day?!

Now this gathering originally started small; my Parents and Dan's sisters & their families. Luck went our way when just the evening before Tisha & her families' plans changed for the afternoon - Dan, felt like a lucky man.
The meat was delicately moist - BBQ'd to perfection, the food was yummy, the wine was incredible - so full & smooth - the garden in full bloom and showing off its best for all - conversation filled the air and all were happy.


Another friend of Dan's Dad, Jacob, made sure a bottle of his reserve Chadonnay made the journey from Sonoma with Ted, too. We were thrilled to just have Ted spend the afternoon with us - little did we know that he was going to deliver such prescious gifts to us; a day with Dan's Mom and a bottle of Jacob's wine!
To really make his Father's Day complete, Dan, of course, made sure that Tiger joined our hearty feast!

Each Friday

For the past 6 years, we celebrated each friday

by being thankful for this beautiful world we live in

with the help of a beautiful teacher who shared her love of music with us.
We said good-bye to these blessed fridays with sadness. We look with hope to the new beginning ahead of us knowing that we're moving forward with a strong foundation and deep appreciation for the seeds that were planted & nurtured.

We will always carry with us your passion for the violin & of music and thus will in return share that love with others.

Grateful for...

- choosing to take the time to go to Dan's soccer game and watching him score a hat trick + 2!
- Spring skiing!
- sister's Carne Asada :P slurp~slurp!
- California weather!

Grateful for...

~ a sister knowledgable in fabrics, notions & sewing!
~ treks to the fabric store with the K's & B's in the backseat giggling away!
~ rainy days w/ gray skies that have a pinch of blue trying to poke through.
~ creative minds.
~ my family of 4 working together like a well-oiled 'machine'.
~ missing friends to a point where you realize how much you like them ;)
~ our game table!
~ a daughter who is deeply determined.
~ a daughter who makes sure life is never dull!

Grateful for...

...Dan's witty sense of humor while driving home late at night.
...how chatty Kaitlin is in the morning.
...how helpful Breana was today with cleaning her room & folding the laundry.
...the way the young lady at "Sweet Spot" was patient with Breana's hesitancy to order on her own.
...Kaitlin's creativeness with her button jewelry.