Redwood Canyon

So here it is...

My sister was in town and we wanted to show her the redwood trees without having to drive 17 hours to northern california to bask in their glory.  Lucky for us there is a little patch of them just 30 minutes away down in Carmel... even luckier, we have friends that have already done the hike and wanted to go with us.  Now.... I'm not a hiker, maybe I thought I was once in high school when I was trying to impress some boyfriend, but I am not a hiker.  So as we started our journey into the forest straight up hill for the first half mile, I assumed the role as "the complainer".  You know if this was a movie I would be the first one to die or killed so that everyone else could eat my body to survive.  Fortunately for everyone I survived. 

 Nothing like a little starbucks frapaccino for Mrs. Preggers to get the hike started. 

Once the path evened out we crossed multiple streams (or it could have been the same stream that we crossed multiple times) to get to our destination. 

 Of course Teddy had to come with us.  He had to be rescued once by Auntie Em but rode in the backpack just fine with Miss Iz.




The trees were beautiful!!  It was almost as if they were reaching to the sky to touch the clouds. 

We found a little clearing to sit and eat our well deserved lunch.

 I absolutely love these three people in this picture with me!!  I can't get enough of them and unlucky for them, they can't get rid of me.  


For a brief moment I thought to myself.... well this is really peaceful.  I would love to come here by myself just to get away.  Then fear slapped me back into reality as I realized I'm afraid of everything.... the dark, that creature from "The Village", big foot, ghosts, sexual predators, being alone, noises I don't know where they came from, spiders, and anything else my active imagination could conjure up while sitting there alone.  

The two little girls seemed to enjoy this adventure too.  Izzy and Teddy took a little nap on the way up and Miss Edi took her little nap on the way out.  They both played in the dirt, leaves, roots, and sticks.  All in all, I'm glad I did it.  I'm glad I didn't get killed and eaten along the way.  I'm glad that Amanda (and maybe Josh) wanted to take me hiking again.  I'm also glad that I got to be a visitor amongst the gorgeous redwood trees!

 See Edi's little finger on the right?  She couldn't understand why or how Izzy was asleep.  She also tried several attempts to casually-accidently wake her up with a long stick.  

 Josh, the Army guy, decides to climb the trees to test Chris's, the Navy guy, theory that the branches are stuck in holes in the trees as he watches from the ground.  Not sure who is the smarter of the two. 

 I love this picture.  Not because me and Emily are in it but because Edi could care less about the trees or anything else going on around her but there are some really cool sticks out here.  

 Yup, passed this "little" guy on our way back.  He was taking a little sun bath on the side of the mountain. 

Edi was done.... for the next 20 minutes.... until we stopped for coffee and smoothies and then she was awake for the rest of the day.  Glad she wasn't my kid that day.  :)

birthday wishes, mommy wishes and sisters

My daughter turned two last week and, if she could communicate better, I think she would say I threw her a great party!  We painted canvases, ate pizza, enjoyed cupcakes, rode bikes around the cal-de-sac and celebrated with our closest friends.

The kids paintings were brillant!!  While each one finished and headed for a slice of pizza my daughter continued to paint and paint..... and paint.  Three canvases later I decided I better clean it up or she would be there all day.  She was in the zone.  She focused on all the colors and filling all the white space of the canvas to insure a beautiful final product.  The last canvas was a half paint brush half finger painting masterpiece.  I was thrilled to see how much she enjoyed my idea of having a painting party.

Turning two also brought on a gift of a new bike from me and Chris.  It's not the normal "pink" that I tend to pick for everything but a brilliant purple.  The surprise and excitement in her voice as she peeked inside the torn wrapping paper and said "a biiiikee!!" was enough to know we made another good choice.  She rode her new bike along with all her friends of the neighborhood.  She was looking more and more like a big kid.  One day I know she won't want to be "pushed" on the bike anymore and will ride off without me or Chris.  When that day comes..... I will buy a bike for me so I can ride along side her.  ;)

Now that her birthday is over and there is nothing else to plan for, I'm feeling a bit empty.  Not sure what to look forward to now.  My sister is here which has been great.  Keeping busy with her has left me humble and laughing constantly.  There is nothing like a sister.  There is nothing like having that best friend your whole life.  While she is not a "kid person" she sure does a good job at being an aunt.  She will play it off like it's nothing but deep down, Izzy will be the only kid she will ever love as if she was her own.  The way Izzy says "Emi" just about melts my heart every time.  And you know Emily has made it into the club when Izzy screams "EMI HELP!!" as she twist her little body on the carpet to get out of a diaper change.

So I'm not sure what Izzy wished for when she blew out her birthday candle but I wished a million wishes for her in that single second.  I'm looking forward to another year of more smiles, more days of getting dirty, more little laughs, more learning, more exploring, more hugs and kisses, more milestones and new experiences for both of us.

 A little help from her best friend, Ella. 


::

So it has taken me two weeks to write this post.  While I am all caught up in my head with my writing, my fingers are falling way behind.  Right now I'm enjoying the last few days I have with my sister and that is way more important. 

busy busy busy

To those of you that follow my blog... I'm so sorry I have been neglecting it lately.  My daughter is turning two next week which is bringing a gushing fountain of emotions from me.  I am overflowing internally thinking about big girl panties, learning letters, getting a job, going back to school, terrible twos, no more crib and the yearning to have a second baby.  I have all these dreams but I think I have so many that I get anxious on which to reach for first.  How do you handle prioritizing your dreams?

:: The Lake

(This will have to be a two part or maybe an even three part blog about our adventure to the lake.  I took soooo many pictures that I want to share them all).

It will be hard for me to put into words the joy, peace, and excitement I had from going to Lake Burton and having my daughter there along with me.

The moment we pulled on the gravel driveway my heart was lifted and Izzy couldn't resist the invitation to the water.  My intentions were to just show her the lake, finish unpacking the car, and then take her swimming.  Her plans were different.  I had to take off her shorts, she took off her shoes and then slowly stepped into the lake.  She took about 10 steps, turned around and said "bye shoes!" and that is how our stay began.

"Bye Shoes" was so fitting.  We spent the next 6 days walking barefoot in the grass, along the stone path, around the cottage, and, of course, in the lake.  My face hurt so bad because I could not stop smiling.  I was there, finally, in my happy place.

 Our great friend Ms. Midge.  She is such a great part of our family and a ton of fun to be around. 

 

 Me and Miss Iz enjoying our first tubing ride.  Well I enjoyed it, Izzy enjoyed the first five minutes and then wanted to get off.  :)

The week kept getting better and better.  Izzy enjoyed her first of many boat rides, her first s'more and a trip to Cleveland, GA to adopt a cabbage patch baby from Babyland General Hospital.  While the trip didn't go as what I had hoped, we still left with a baby and the stroller that she had screamed for the entire time we were in the "hospital". 

Introducing Choloe Teresa Bonine!