Late Fall Color...

Our seasons seem to happen early and LATE here in northern California. When everyone is loving their cooling weather and spectacular autumn color we are often still experiencing 100 degree weather. When others are having the first snow of the season we may be finally cooling-to-a-tolerable-level temperatures. The flip and WONDERFUL side of that is when much of the country is still snowed-in in, say, March we will be having weather in the 70s and 80s. I never realized that I had a "winter" birthday until I was an adult because by mid-March (March 19th to be exact) it feels like spring is in full swing...

Wow, I am rambling. So back to autumn. We are just past our peak for color here in my neighborhood. There is still plenty of color but many of the leaves have begun to fall. While it could NEVER (ever ever ever) compare to the beauty of the north east, it can still be my little autumn wonderland.

Long shadows in the early afternoon.

(My shadow totally looks like "Elasta-Girl" from the "Incredible's" with long legs, WIDE hips and no waist? Maybe it is just me...)

Love this picture from the park.

"It's all going to work out, somehow," I thought this morning as the scalding water beat down on my back. The steamy enclosure mirrored my clouded alternating thoughts of, "There is always next month," verses "It was supposed to be this month." "It's all going to be all right," again crossed my mind.

You see, this is the first month I was really, truly hoping to get pregnant. I had sincere wishes that the tropical, Hawaiian air would mystically and magically cure our infertility. I dreamed it would mend whatever created the road block pre-Preston and is now slowing our current baby-making process. Even though we have been "trying" for months, until this last month I was still getting those panicky, desperate, feelings at the mere thought of having another child. But watching Preston play and fight and interact with his cousins ended those shortsighted thoughts. I DO want another child. I want Preston to be a big brother. I want to watch my kids (plural) play, and fight, and grow together. I want to be a mama, again!

Out of the shower I came. Out of my cloud of despair and discouragement and into my new sweater tights, brown tweed skirt. It is going to be alright. All will be well.

So here is to next month. Here is to more trying (can you hear Nathan cheering?). And here is to this less painful round of infertility because I have this:

MY snot-nosed, car obsessed, round tummy-ed, milk drinking, playground playing, book loving, squishy thigh-ed, Bugga-ball of love. And I am totally, utterly and completely grateful for him.

Here's to trying...

Thanks for the ideas ladies! I will most certainly pulling out my scriptures to do a little Thankfulness/Christmas reading (because that is what it is all about, right?) and looking for someone I can serve. In addition to those ideas I am doing this during nap time, listening to my new "Cool Yule" CD and desperately trying to finish Preston's Christmas stocking. I didn't happen last year so it must (MUST) happen this year.

Now, just because I posted again that does not mean I do not want more "holiday cheer" ideas. Please keep them coming and know that I am trying to make the magic happen here at my house.

(Oh and Kerri, it my very well have something to do with the fact that we are not spending Thanksgiving together. Can you do something about that?)

Where is my holiday spirit?

What is my deal, I ask you?
I got all of my Halloween decorations down (except that pillow case you can see on my couch with the Cheshire cat faces...) and put up the few Thanksgiving specific ones I have. I have been baking bread and pumpkin cheesecake pie. We had pumpkin spiced soup with prawns for dinner and have been taking crisp walks in the cool autumn air. I bought the "Cool Yule" CD from Costco, walked the seasonal aisles at Joann Fabrics and even explored (with my mom and grandma) all of the beauty that is Pottery Barn at this time of year. I am doing what I can to get into the spirit but I am having a hard time. A REALLY hard time.

So what are you doing to get into the holiday spirit? What is making you want to savor every moment that comes with Thanksgiving and Christmas? How are YOU making it special?

Are You Ready For This?

A*L*O*H*A

As I was trying to pick out which pictures to blog from our FANTASTIC trip to Hawaii I was also contemplating the best way to blog about it. Do I drag it out for a whole week focusing on each and every event or should I just throw all of the pictures up, add a few words for explanations sake and call it good. As you will notice as you scroll the latter idea won. I just don't think I could handle a whole week of Hawaii pictures. I am having a hard enough time focusing on the fact that THANKSGIVING is a couple of weeks away so I will try to make this short and sweet. ENJOY our trip to paradise and Mahalo for stopping by.

The beach located right behind Jessica's house had some neat lava rocks that acted a bit like a surf break for kids. Every once in a while the waves would make it over the break and become a beautiful little water fall. Preston LOVED it.


On Halloween we stopped by Pyramid beach to check it out for the first time. We also made it to a whole 6 houses before Preston was done. Ha Ha Ha. I am sure next year he will want to stay out a little bit longer (HELLO, can you say candy???)

The girls were totally in love with Nathan. Can you blame them?
Lots and lots of tiny Portuguese Man o' Wars.

Preston and Nate on the beach behind the house, Picture from Jessica's back porch, Me LOVING life, GIGANTIC snails that were all over every morning.

Preston oh-so-happy in his car seat, Nate with Luna, Another snail, Me

Kids, Kids, Kids (and Aaron)

Me and P at the aquarium, Nate and Pres on the swings, Pres and Nate tuckered out at Bellows (I have to tell you about Bellows sometime, seriously)

The clan at Bellows.

Signs you want to be sure not to ignore.

Sea water + A bit of a cold = Yummy

Becca Boo

The most adorable Naomi.

Preston and Becca watched a movie almost every night in their own chairs.

Preston in Naomi's cars seat, Me and Mr. P at Costco, Preston loving he park, Me getting a little exercise because Preston was too tired to walk back to the house, Preston loved the Power Wheels Go-Kart (who wouldn't?), Watching the Bugga play at the beach was SO MUCH FUN!

All swing sets should have a view like this!

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers, FLOWERS. All found right around Jessica's neighborhood.

Becca and Preston had so much fun together.

Alright, I am officially all tuckered out from blogging. As wonderful (amazing and fantastic) as Hawaii was it is sure nice to be home. Aloha and mahalo to Jess and Aaron. We love and miss you.

Good night.

Happy Halloween (the beach edition)...

I think I like it here...