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Back to the Magical Island

Posted by Carolyn on August 28, 2015 1 Comment

We are so lucky to have great friends who let us come along on their summer vacation.  This year was more fun than last, mostly because the kids are getting so much cooler, and we spent almost a whole week in Coronado.

Seriously, look at these cool kids.

bIMG_8282

Yes, I understand that not all of them are looking at the camera, but you can almost see all their faces, and they are all under six.

We get to stay at our friend’s dad’s house, and it’s an incredible house.  So incredible that people tend to look into the yard as they pass by.  My favorite part of this is that it’s an amazing house that looks like a daycare center when we’re there.  We have a bounce house set up, a working Mini Cooper, a multitude of balls and toys, and six noisy and active children.  It cracks me up to think about what people must think.

bIMG_8392This year we had grand plans of going to the zoo, or a baseball game, or something.  We did none of these things.  We did meet some great friends from Peace Corps for lunch, and my cousin and his sweet family came down for a day at the beach.  Other than that we just stuck close to home.

bIMG_8323When Michael, Michelle and Avalon were here, we got to take all the girls to the beach.  Michael took to older girls to build castles and play in the water when Michelle and I hung out on some chairs.  Harriet did this amazing thing where she seriously conked out the second we got to the beach – she did this every time we went to the ocean.  She never sleeps in my arms, so I enjoyed every second of holding her sweet sleepy self.

bIMG_8318We also walked to a cafe for lunch while Harriet took another nap back at the house.  I love seeing Alma and Avalon together.  They are sweet friends and sweet cousins.  My girls are also lucky that Avalon outgrows her princess dresses and hands them down!Kissing-Cousins-SmallWe spent a lot of time outdoors.  The kids took turns jumping, driving, running, making mischief, and having mini meltdowns.

bIMG_8296bIMG_8358We ate all our meals on the front porch.

bIMG_8331One night we had just finished dinner when I noticed that the sun was starting to go down.  I said, “Let’s go take pictures with the sunset!”  Oh my gosh, you won’t believe how fast we mobilized our 6 kids and got out the door and across the street.  The light was perfect.

bIMG_8436bIMG_8419 bIMG_8414I love so much that we are building memories for our children where they get to play and interact with these other families.  These friendships are important as they grow up.  It gives them a sense of where they come from and a confidence in where they’re going.

bIMG_8384And I love that we are building memories with these families.  The kids are all fantastic and hilarious.  Their parents are beautiful, wonderful people I’m happy to have as my co-parents.

bIMG_8464Some memories I want to make sure to remember, but might not make sense to the average reader of my blog:  forgetting that I was the saboteur, and “The slime’s de flickin!”

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Posted in: learned., nature, parented., travel | Tagged: Beach, california, coronado, kids, ocean, Parenting, vacation

New Dresses for the Girls

Posted by Carolyn on February 3, 2015 2 Comments

As part of my resolution to sew from my stash, I decided to make new dresses for the girls.  I used Shwin and Shwin’s Holiday Dress pattern for the bodices, and made some amazingly twirly skirts using my own mind.

And Then They Dresses at the Ghirardelli A day in San Francisco seemed like the perfect time for the girls to wear the dresses.  They were perfect – short sleeved, colorful, twirly, and fun.  They had the added bonus of making the girls super easy to spot in a crowd.And Then They Dresses Alma And Then They Dresses HarrietI was able to use some of the more random fabrics that I didn’t have any ideas for – ahem scissors – and also some of my cherished favorites.  Both dresses have the purple flowers and matyroshka dolls, but the rest are unique.  I love Alma’s mashallahs and Hattie’s bee sleeves. And Then They Dresses Sisters And Then They Dresses Trolley WorkAlma’s dress has two big sparkly blue bottons.  Harriet’s dress has the one leftover sparkly button, and a cute pink bubbly button. And Then They Dresses Waiting and Marching And Then They Dresses at the beach And Then They Dresses Waiting for Cable CarI loved making these dresses.  They were really quick to sew, and really fun to wear.  I’m planning on making a couple like it for an upcoming silent auction at Alma’s school, and maybe a few for the Etsy shop.

Also, check back tomorrow for more photos of our time in San Francisco!

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Posted in: created., pinterest projects, sewing, sewing for my daughters, travel | Tagged: Beach, california, children, kids, sewing, sewing for my daughters

Coronado, the Enchanted Vacation

Posted by Carolyn on September 1, 2014 2 Comments

aIMG_3019We got to spend a couple days in Coronado with some of our favorite friends.  Tyler and Leia were amazing to invite us to spend some time at Tyler’s dad’s house.  We thought it would be fun, but had no idea how wonderfully beautiful it would be.  The house is literally across the street from an incredible beach.

aIMG_3114And down the street from the beautiful Hotel Del Corondo.

aIMG_3062Did I mention we were there for the Super Moon?

aIMG_3071We spent two nights, and just spent our time relaxing.  We had grand plans of seeing the pandas, but didn’t.  We spent our time on the beach, in the yard, having drinks, eating amazing cheese sauce, playing, and just enjoying everything.aIMG_2986 aIMG_3015 aIMG_3025 aIMG_3036 aIMG_3051 aIMG_3085 aIMG_3105 aIMG_3130Thank you Leia and Tyler!  And Mark and Jenny!  Let’s do it again!

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Posted in: gave thanks., learned., nature, travel | Tagged: Beach, california, grateful, gratitude, kids, Parenting, photography, travel

Friday Gratitudes 31 & 32

Posted by Carolyn on August 20, 2014 Leave a Comment

20140801_123249[1] 20140801_163307[1] 20140804_114128[1] 20140809_085809[1] 20140809_194400[1] 20140809_210358[1] 20140810_200826[1] 20140811_145418[1] 20140811_172537[1] 20140812_204843[1]Friday the 1st: Deterings

Saturday the 2nd: Swimming

Sunday the 3rd: Edison

Monday the 4th: Parks

Tuesday the 5th: Dad

Wednesday the 6th: Friends

Thursday the 7th: Parents

Friday the 8th: Vacation

Saturday the 9th: Family

Sunday the 10th: Beach

Monday the 11th: Beach

Tuesday the 12th: Sleep.

Wednesday the 13th: Mom

Thursday the 14th: Pedicures

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Posted in: friday gratitudes, gave thanks., gratitude, one little word | Tagged: Beach, california, cousins, family, friday gratitudes, grateful, gratitude, one little word, photography, vacation

At the Beach

Posted by Carolyn on July 8, 2014 1 Comment

Beach 1On Sunday Alma said, “Alma beach?”  Which means “I want to go to the beach.”  Jesse and I looked at each other and shrugged.  Why not?  Let’s do it.  We had been busy working in our garden all weekend, so we deserved it.

Beach 5We packed up and headed out.

Hattie napped on the drive to the ocean.

Beach 4It was a beautiful day.  Sunny, warm, not very windy.  As perfect as a day at the Oregon coast can be

Jesse and Alma flew the kite.  Alma and I played in the water.  Jesse and Alma played in the water.  Hattie ate handfulls of sand.

Beach 3We had clam chowder.

Alma and Hattie both napped on our drive back to the valley.

Perfect.

Beach 2

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Posted in: nature, parented. | Tagged: Beach, children, kids, Oregon, oregon coast, Parenting, Sand

Summer Goal # 5

Posted by andthenthey on August 21, 2012 1 Comment

To the beach.

We woke up on Sunday morning and decided it was a lovely day for a trip to the beach.  I love the beach and the ocean more than almost anything.  I didn’t want Alma to make it to 8 months without having seen it!  Since it’s only about an hour away, we just did it!

 

Alma was fascinated with watching the waves come up on us.  I held her and walked into the ocean just up to my ankles and she loved it.  She also loved it when we would dig in the sand.  She didn’t get a chance to dig herself (we’ll save that until she stops putting everything into her mouth), but thought it was pretty cool when we did it.

 

 

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Posted in: gave thanks. | Tagged: Beach, Coast, Oregon, Pacific, Parenting, Sand, Summer manifesto
If God said, ‘Rumi pay homage to everything that has helped you enter my arms,’ there would not be one experience of my life, not one thought, not one feeling, nor any act, I would not bow to. -Rumi

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