Moss

Look at this beautiful photo! I took this pic on a walk near our local beach. We are blessed in the PNW with lots of rain...and moss. I din't use to like moss, especially the kind in my lawn. But, it is beautiful and prolific here. I have started to notice all different kinds and all the various places it grows. I enjoy watching it seemingly disappear in the sunny summer but then magically reappear in the fall. It never really left. The vibrant colors draw me in. I'm loving moss. 

5 other things I'm loving...

Iced green and mint tea

Succulents

Rustic garden art

Mary Kay lip gloss

Sauteed zuchinni

20th Anniversary

In January Cam and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. We spent a beautiful morning hiking a local nature trail that we had never been to. The hike started up high and went down through a forest of trees. There was a stream that ran along the trail too. The hike ends at the beach....our favorite place. 

The beach was empty and the view was amazing. You can see the Olympic Mountain range across the water. 

It was freezing cold but the hike back up got us nice and warm. Actually it got Cam nicely warmed and it got me hot and sweaty and breathing hard. It was a 1 mile straight uphill and I am not in as good of shape as my billy goat husband. I took the opportunity to stop and look at moss and ferns and birds....and anything....to catch my breath. 

After our hike we went to lunch at our fave spot. The view was gorgeous! 

20 years!! That's a good solid amount of time to be married. 

What I've learned about my marriage in 20 years...and am still learning.

It takes work. We put time and effort into making our marriage strong. 

When you feel disconnected from your spouse, say so, and do something to reconnect. 

We love each other AND we annoy each other.  Being annoyed doesn't take away from the love. 

It's the little things that mean the most.

We are still learning about each other. 

It's okay (and beneficial) to have time apart or alone. 

You have to be the "soft place to land" for each other. 

Shared history is important to both of us.

For us it's better to go to bed mad. In the morning things will feel different. 

Say sorry even when you don't feel it. 

Take time to hold hands, kiss hello and goodbye and sit together. 

Be each other's biggest cheerleader. 

Zip your mouth. 

Make time for dates. 

Show appreciation for one another. Verbalize it. 

Laugh together. Be silly and crazy and wild. 

I'm excited for the next 20 years and beyond. It's work but it's worth it. Happy 20th to my favorite, my person, my partner, my love. 

Writer's Block

I've been absent from my blog. I've tried to write here and there but mostly I've just posted pics of our family and tried to keep up with major holidays.

I'd like to write more. But, I'm blocked. I like it when I can just say what is in my mind. I call it "off the cuff" writing. I don't plan it and it's fun to just start and see where it takes me.

Part of the reason is that I've added work to my life. That creates less time for writing. That's not the whole of it though. Really what it comes down to is this year's presidential election. The results hit me like a sledgehammer in the gut. I literally couldn't breathe. In time I could take small breaths and leave the house without sobbing. But I couldn't write. I couldn't say anything because I couldn't say EVERYTHING!!

I have always had friends/family that didn't vote the same way I do. It never bothered me too much. This year was different. This year I couldn't reconcile that people I knew...and loved would vote for such a person. I still can't.

This has caused me deep grief. And anger. And turmoil. And caused me to pull back and inside of myself.

I miss writing so I thought that maybe if I just wrote about why I'm blocked I could begin again.

Now...some beautiful peaceful photos I took on a nature walk.

Part of getting my mojo back has been to spend time outside in nature. 

There is beauty in the world.

Sissy's 9th Birthday

Sis was LUCKY! She got to celebrate her birthday while we were at the beach just after Christmas. She loved it...and now says that we have to go every year for her birthday. 

9....NINE!! This sweet little baby girl is getting so big. She loves American Girl Dolls and spends most of her time playing with them...doing their hair...dressing them.

Since we were away from home Sis got to go pick out a cake. She picked an ice cream cake. Yummy! for dinner she requested a nacho bar. Lots of toppings to choose from and so delicious. 

She got lots of new AG doll things. Very fun! 

After her birthday at the ocean we planned a bowling party for her friends to attend. Bowling, pizza, cake and disco music with lights. Woot! 

She invited boys and girls. At first she wanted to have an AG party but I told her most of the boys probably wouldn't want to come to a doll party. So she decide on bowling and everyone had a fun time. 

More cake...actually cupcakes. 

Happy birthday to my sweet tender hearted girl. You are a good friend and have such a heart for anyone that is sad or in need of a friend. Your social conscience is very strong. You ask many questions about homeless people. You think about them and want better for those you see struggling in our city. You often ask if we can give them something to eat and drink. I love that about you. 

You loved playing soccer...both outdoor and indoor this year. You are the fastest girl out there. By far. You haven't even reached your full potential for speed yet. Look out! You still cartwheel through the house...and wiggle and dance. You also sing LOUDLY all day long. This annoys your brothers but you do have a great voice.

You have a wonderful sense of humor and you like to laugh...especially funny is potty humor. Oh grief. You have a great time playing with your brother George. The two of you love to build lego and forts and play outside together. 

And like I said, you LOVE AG dolls. It's really fun for me too. 

You are a beauty, inside and out by baby girl. I love you and cherish you. XO

Winter at the beach

My mom and her husband rented a house at the beach just after Christmas. We've never been to the coast in Winter and it was AMAZING!! We spent the days cozied up walking the beach, playing in the tall grass, watching the storms roll in, and sipping hot drinks while enjoying the view. We loved it and can't wait to go back again. 

The sun was a welcome sight. Storms would roll in and it would pour rain and then it would clear up again. 

It was cold but with hats and warm coats we were nice a toasty. 

Braver souls (kids) could get away with just a hoodie. 

These two had more fun than anyone else. Cousins! They each got new American Girl Dolls for Christmas and they played, and played dolls. They would occasionally go outside to play on the beach but then right back inside to the dolls. 

We loved watching this stump. As the tide came in and out the stump remained. Every kid...big kids too...climbed it. 

Grandpa loves the beach too. 

There were trails all throughout the beach grass. The kids had a blast running and playing. 

Dogs love the beach too. 

We enjoyed yummy food and fun drinks. And lots of great family time. 

Time with Nana and Bumpa was the best!!

This family loves the beach. 

Christmas 2016

Christmas and the long break from school were lovely. The little kids and I attended an art camp the first two days of the break. Really fun way to start of the holiday.

The rest of the break was shopping and prep for the holiday, movie watching, cooking baking and just hanging out together. 

Christmas Eve we walked over the Cam's parents' house. So nice to live within walking distance! We gathered for a meal and gifts and fun.

Christmas day we spent at home....just the 7 of us. It was quiet and strange but still nice. The kids loved their gifts....and so did I. I'm so lucky! We had a "Cam and kid" favorite dinner of ham and cheesy potatoes and caesar salad. Then a rousing game of Yahtzee!!

The day after we were in for a treat! Off to the ocean....pics to follow. So fun!

46th Birthday Celebration

Oh how the time is flying by....I'm so behind on my blogging life.

Working, plus this busy sports family is keeping me from my chronicles here.

December is a packed, busy, celebratory, fun, stressful and crazy month.

I think the next thing to post about is my birthday. Oh! I LOVE my birthday. It will be fun to relive it here today.

Early in my birthday week I got to spend an afternoon with my mom. It was SO FUN! My mom had just retired and so we had a double celebration. We went to a long leisurely and delicious lunch and then browed the shops nearby. Loved this day!!

On my actual birthday we attended church. I truly love to stand in church holding hands and hugging my loves while singing and worshipping.

After church we stopped at my fave cupcake shop. Yummy!

Happy Birthday to MEEEEE! A pink champagne cupcake!

I have been wanting to visit a nature preserve near our house. I seized the opportunity of a captive audience and we headed out for a rainy adventure. Hey, on your birthday you get to choose!

The scenery was beautiful and the falling rain on the water was music to our ears. 

I love all the moss that grows in our area. 

After our walk we came home, warmed up, dressed up and headed out to dinner. 

We love our dinner tradition! 

Lots of time to chat and eat yummy food...and make funny faces.

I think this pic is after the boys were done eating and very full! 

Birthday number 46 was great! I'm already looking forward to my next fun day.