I’d Marry You All Over Again…

 

::  I’d Marry You All Over Again  ::

This week marks our 16 years together and 11 years of marriage {whoo hoo}! I wish I could tell you that we have some spectacular plans to celebrate… but that’s surely not the case {not with a recent move, four kids, and the beginning of our homeschool journey}! It’s sort of fitting, however. I feel like we’ve passed the initial excitement of being freshly married, the tumultuous first years of getting into a groove, and even the “seven year itch!” We’re settling into a cozy, quieter type of love. The kind where you feel safe with the other person, and supported no matter what crazy ideas you may have. The type of love where you’re secure in the feeling that the other person is in it for the long haul…truly through sickness and in health, good times and in bad… in joy, as well as in sorrow. The kind of love where you are content and happy just having a peaceful date night at home {as long as there’s a happy ending involved… whether it’s ice cream or the steamier kind}! It’s a wonderful type of love…. [Read more…]

Balboa Park

:: Balboa Park ::

This summer has been one of big change and big family events.  We have had my In-Laws sell their family home of 30 years move a couple hours away, as well as two of my sister’s have recently given birth to healthy baby boys.  With all of this celebrating, we have had quite a bit of extended family time.  Some of this time has been spent meeting in San Diego for both the baby shower and birth of our latest nephew, Sebastian.  Because Mason and Madeline are the older cousins and have a tad bit of energy, Shane and I decided it would be a wonderful idea to sprinkle some scenic family time at some of San Diego’s most iconic and historical spots. [Read more…]

Let’s Get Our Kids Outdoors!

:: Let’s Get Our Kids Outdoors ::

One of the greatest gifts of having this blog, for Nicole and I, has been the online community of other bloggers we have met in the past eight months. Not only have we gathered helpful advice and guidance from these accomplished women… we have also been exposed to their wealth of knowledge and talent through reading their personal posts, freelance writing pieces, and photography. It’s been incredibly inspiring!

One of our favorite local bloggers is Michele from Fun Orange County Parks. In addition to her amazingly helpful blog {where she highlights local places to play & explore}, she also contributes thought provoking articles to the OC Family Magazine. This month her story made the cover {Congratulations, Michele}! I was thrilled when contacted by her a couple months ago when she asked permission to use bits and pieces of my post {Family Time} to quote in her article! 

 

{click the image above for a digital version of the July, 2013 issue of the OC Family magazine}

 

[Read more…]

Quest for a Simple Life {revisited}

 

A few months ago, when I wrote, “The Quest for a Simple Life” I wasn’t sure if there would be a part two. Both Husby and I felt in our hearts that there was a different path our family was to pursue… a risk to take with greater rewards in the end for our family… but we didn’t have any definitive plans. We knew we just had to trust… and do the “foot work” {as one of my best friends explained}. So, that’s exactly what we did. In the past six months, we’ve taken two long road-trips to Mammoth Lakes and five trips to our local mountains. At last, our path was revealed! I’ve been so eager to share with you our plan… along with the excitement {and uncertainty} that lies ahead for our family of six.  [Read more…]

Orange County Charity Book Project

 

Ladera Ranch portrait photographer Paul F. Gero has launched the 6th Annual Kids of Orange County Charity book project!

This project has been widely popular and the charity benefactor is CHOC {Children’s Hospital of Orange County}! So far the project has raised nearly $50,000 for CHOC by the 100% donation of the session fee. 

Paul and his wife Nicki organize the project — Nicki handles the marketing and scheduling of the project, while Paul handles the session planning, actual portrait sessions, image production and viewing presentations. Over the course of the last six years, Paul has photographed hundreds of children, including Nicole’s children, Mason and Madeline.

Here are a few images that Paul took from Mason’s first session in 2008, for the original Kids Book project…

 

Paul again photographed Nicole’s family late in 2009 when Madeline joined the family… [Read more…]