YW Camp Ritchie - 2010

Last weekend I got to go to Girls Camp for our stake. I was only there one night, but boy was it great! It has been a long time since I've had that much time without Adam. In fact, apart from my 2 days in the hospital in January, this is the first time I've been away from him for that long. It was so nice to get to sit and chat with women I love and to have a chance to make new friends. I definitely found some kindred spirits while there and am so glad I did. On Saturday afternoon I hiked down to the lake to see the swimming and boating area. Let me tell you, it is definitely a 'hike' and not a walk. And with my fear of heights, I was pretty proud of myself for doing so well. Saturday night all the different levels of girls did skits, as well as the cooks and leaders. Sunday at camp was exquisite for me. We had sacrament meeting there and I swear I was in tears the entire time. Its hard to describe how I felt . . . close to the Savior, loved, empowered. So, while it was a tiring weekend, I came back feeling spiritually full and rejuvenated. Camp Ritchie is beautiful and there is just something about being so far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. The quiet, the fresh air, the way you need to rely on everyone around you a little more. It has a way of tearing down the walls we usually have up in our day to day lives. In that way it is like being in the temple for me; the stresses and burdens of life seem to be lifted for a brief time and I am able to feel so much closer to Heavenly Father and the Savior.

Oh how I love these ladies!! We are each so different and compliment each other so well and love each other so much. Thank you ladies for all you've taught me!
(San Jose South Stake YW Presidency - left to right: Kim Ramirez (2nd counselor), Heather Judd (president), Tina Davis (1st counselor), me (secretary)).

Summer Happenings

Summer has swooped down upon us and I have hardly even grabbed the camera to document it. We have been making lots of trips to the parks (especially those with water squirting out of the ground in some form), but I never seem to bring my camera. The weather has been mild so far - a few days in the 90s, but mostly 70s and 80s; so I'm a happy camper.
Here are a few things I actually did manage to capture:

Adam helping daddy fix his toys:

Picnics! This is our 'usual' spot at the Rose Garden under our little favorite tree (just the right mix of shade and sun):

Homemade Strawberry Jam. My first attempt ever and I like it!

A bucket of water + lawn + 2 year old = FUN

The one below is one of my favorites:

Every time I look at this picture I think "splooooosh!" in my head:

Anybody in here??

I love the shadows on this one; the trees and his hand in the bucket:

Running up the hill at the airplane park:

And now, close your eyes (wait. . . read this first, then close your eyes) and imagine fabulous pictures from 2 trips to the beach on foggy mornings, BBQs with friends and running through sprinklers. Because that is what you'd be seeing now if I had actually brought my camera along and used it. But, sometimes life just needs to be lived, and without camera in front of your nose. Especially during the summer.

I want a (small) farm and a lifetime supply of Claritin

For the past six months I have been daydreaming almost daily about how I want to have my own little piece of land. Not really a farm, but something large enough to grow a good sized garden, and keep a few chickens. Space for my kids (and myself) to wander and explore with their shoes off, dig in the dirt while I tend to the garden, experience the quiet, steady rhythm of caring for plants and animals, have the satisfaction of eating food that they watched grow, run through the sprinklers on a hot day, sit in the yard and watch the sun set. If this sounds like a romanticized version of reality, its because it is. I've never tended a garden or raised chickens, but I would sure like to try. And every time we get to visit anything even remotely like a farm, Adam seems to agree that it would be peachy-keen to live like that always.

He loves (loves) chickens:

And goats:

And horses:

And climbing fences in general:

And grinding his own dried corn to feed the animals:


And how could I forget, the tire swing!

I mean, shouldn't a boy look like this every day at nap time? Tuckered out.

Well, if it isn't our time to have our little piece of land yet, I'm grateful for places like the Elkus Ranch near Half Moon Bay and friends like Heidi, Manny and Atticus that got us together there for their yearly Sheep to Shawl event (Happy belated birthday Atti). And, until we get our own little corner of the world, I'll work on stocking up on Claritin, because I think I'd prefer my fairy tale without the sneezing and itchy nose, thankyouverymuch.
Here's to daydreaming!

Happy Birthday Justin!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful man, husband and father. We love you and are grateful for moments like these:

In honor of his birthday and Father's Day, I did this:

(which is, I baked a yummy homemade coffee cake in a dish that was far too small. But it was still tasty.)
And we went out and did this:

(picnic dinner at the Rose Garden)
If you want to read some of the many reasons I love Justin, go here.

Two years in the life

We celebrated Adam's second birthday in conjunction with his good friend, Charlotte, who is only a few days younger. It was a fantastic day spent at the park, playing with balloons. . .

singing Happy Birthday. . .


blowing out candles. . .


eating hot dogs and cake. . .



opening presents from many generous friends. . .


and basking in the general glow of a 2 year old's birthday celebration.

Yes, he clutched those balloons the entire afternoon including through opening the presents.
It was such a wonderful day spent with many wonderful people. Thanks to all who came and all who were there in spirit. We love you.
Adam is such a joy. My life has changed unimaginably since he came into our lives and I would never want to go back to life before him. Not even for a second. He is a breath of fresh air, a pure motivation to continue the long journey of slowly, ever so slowly, becoming better. He is patient with me, loves me and trusts me. Reminding me of how I want to treat myself, him and everyone else around me.
Words aren't enough.
I love you Adam.

Adam, just hours old.

Adam, 1 year

Adam, 2 years

Bumps and Bruises

Adam and I got to go up to Tahoe with my parents to visit family a few weeks ago.

Adam of course enjoyed himself immensely; soaking in all the extra attention, playing with an endless number of reachable light switches and a trip to the park. And I managed to keep myself busy completing a puzzle by myself! There was one piece missing from it - and Uncle Marvin managed to find it literally 2 minutes after I had taken the whole thing apart. Figures. It was a week of celebrations; Mother's Day, my mom's birthday, my aunt's birthday and Adam's birthday all falling within a week or two of each other.
I don't know what it is about Tahoe, but every time we go up there Adam manages to incur a bleeding injury. And both times it has been his lower lip. I think the lower lip-gravitational force at high altitudes must be dramatically increased. But this time I at least managed to avoid getting any blood on my white sweatshirt - vanity first, or wait, is it safety first? Who knows. But bumps and bruises on this kid are definitely not a rare occurrence. His legs, in particular, are always littered with little bruises from his many trips and stumbles. And yet whenever I see them it makes me happy, because I know he is living life and learning. It is so easy to try to keep your children and yourself in a safe little bubble where no one can get hurt. But having Adam has taught me many things, and one is that I'd much rather be an active participant in my own life and get a few bruises than sit as an idle spectator and remain bruise-free.

Happy Hollow Zoo
Adam's first amusement park ride. He was on the verge of tears for the first spin around the circle, but then warmed up to it.