san diego, so far

i've been visiting my family in san diego this week and have been having a blast! ive gone swimming every day, went for a couple bike rides, got to be a passenger on my dads lil' scooter, see my grandma and auntie, go to the movies, visit the zoo, and managed to get really sick. i still have several days left in my vacation and plenty left to do, but i wanted to share a few photos of what we have been up to so far.

the adventures of a fox & a wolf {+ their pups}

today we went on a fun little adventure to montana de oro so the wolf could take photos of us and the beach. here is what i snuck with my little ol' iphone...

 

moving away

oh no, we aren't; but everyone else in my life is. you see, back in may, a week before mother's day and just after my pup was born, my mom went and moved herself down to san diego to help take care of my grandma. i was really devastated! my mom was the person i could go and see and talk to whatever about with out judgement and with love.

what was so upsetting about it is that for a very long time, she and i were not close. in fact, we didn't talk at all for a cold, hard year. back when i was a tween she had moved away and left my dad and it was really hard for me to understand and forgive her for. and since then i had resentment with her and we always butted heads. but about three years ago something happened {maybe i forgave her? maybe we both grew up?} and we became closer than we had ever been. so her leaving felt like she was leaving me; because i had never had that closeness with my mother before... it hurt even more.

we talk weekly on the phone and we have been down to visit her four times since she has moved, but i seriously miss her so much. i miss being able to pack up the kids and head over to her house to chat and have her love on her grandbabies. i miss having someone to talk to about anything in person {i'm not much of a talk-on-the-phone kind of person} and have a place to escape to when i need a break from everything else. so yeah, her leaving was {selfishly} so hard for me. i know she needs to be there for her mom and has her responsibilities with her; if/when the time comes that she needs me, i'd be there too. even if that meant leaving my adult children behind.

so ok, my mom is gone; i have my dad and brother so at least some family is still here.

well a few weeks ago i get a phone call from my mom that my dad has lost his job of twenty two years. yes, you read that right... 22 years! so after a few days of figuring out what to do my dad calls me and tells me that he has decided that it would be too expensive to stay here and that he, too, is going to move down to san diego. in a couple weeks! and as those couple of weeks are growing closer i'm growing intensely sad. wondering what my brother plans to do, i sent him a quick text tonight asking. his reply:

'leaving with him'

we've never been the type of family that has been close. but to know that my whole family will not be here just saddens me. they wont be able to watch my kids grow up {since it will be too far and few in between for visits} and i wont be able to have that organic closeness and conversation with them like i have been able to. my family is leaving me. they're leaving! it sort of feels like i am the parent and my kids are leaving the nest for the first time. ah, abandoned! that's the word. i feel abandoned.

oh how i wish we were in a place to pack up and leave with them too.

the adventures of a fox and a wolf {and their pups}

this past weekend, while i was all cozy on the couch under my blanket, blogging and whatnot, the wolf comes out all fresh and clean and says ‘get up, get ready, we are getting out of the house’. ugh. i haven’t even had my coffee yet and i had to blog and sheesh; i just got comfy! so i took a few sips of coffee, hit publish, and got my bum in gear.

i asked where we were going and he said ‘i don’t know, but we are going on an adventure.’ usually when he says that, we end up in wild places doing wild things and having wild fun. and that we did.

we packed some snacks and entertainment for the pups, hopped in the truck, gassed up and drove. we ended up on the beautiful hwy 1 and headed north. this is what our little adventure consisted of:

-hardcore music {as always}

-bry blasting strange music in her headphones {she is turning into such a teenager!}

-a ‘quick stop’ in cambria turned into a three hour tour of the town

-a yummy lunch at linn’s cafe where i ran in to an old time friend

-hemp yarn {that will soon become scrubby pads for our kitchen} at a cool hippie yarn shop

-antiquing where i found the prettiest vintage blue ball mason jar {for my awesome diy laundry detergent}

-being stuck behind one of ‘those drivers’ who speeds up, slows down, speeds up… on a windy road where we can’t pass

-antique elvis plate for $8!

-passing the elephant seals {and not stopping because there were 189732891891821 people looking at them}

-nursing baby in the back seat while bry & richard follow a trail {then coming back after two minutes because of poison oak}

-stopping at ragged point

-watching the sun set

-seeing my kiddos play together, laughing, giggling, loving on each other

-sweet kisses

-photo taking

-burning my tongue on a vanilla latte

-holding hands on the way home

here are some photos from the adventure

 

christmas 2012 with the fox & the wolf {pups too}

how was your christmas? ours was pretty great. we woke up about 730, had some coffee, and got to opening gifts. little guy, of course, had no clue as to what was going on, but he sure did like the tissue paper! thats what first christmases are all about, right? the wrapping and tissue paper.

after we finished up under our tree we headed over to richard’s parent’s house for more presents. they sure do spoil us! i can’t complain, though… i got a lot of things i love!

richard took some photos that i will cherish forever: my kids’ first christmas together {little guys first christmas ever!}

lovely, aren’t they? i sure do love my kiddos. they made out like bandits! of course, with parents and grandparents that spoil them some rearranging of the entire house is in order. our ‘spring cleaning’ will be happening this winter.

and here are some of my favorite presents:

-socks

-leopard print flats

-plaid button down flannel

-list pads and magnetic clips for blogging

-iPhone

-art

-owl plush

-infinity scarf

i got a whole lot of other neat-o stuff, but these pretty much top the cake. and of course my biggest gift of all was having my kids with me. such joy!

oliver shai

born at 9:06 am

7.1lbs 19.5 inches long

and simply perfect