The Voice of the Sea Speaks to the Soul

“The waves of the sea

Help me get back to me.”

--Jill Davis

There is something soothing about the ocean, and the beach in general. Sometimes my body, mind and emotional well-being seems like it is tied to the beach. My sanity craves it. It had been way too long since we have gone, but Jared and I decided that is exactly how we wanted to spend our 5th anniversary. We loaded up the car and my little boy and headed down to Stinson Beach. This was Christian's first visit and I wish I could say that he loved it, but...he didn't :) He hated the sand. He didn't want us to take off his shoes and he wouldn't touch it unless it was with a shovel or other toy.

Even though Christian wasn't a big fan, it was exactly what Jared and I needed. We laid in the sun, relaxed, played in the water and just let it rejuvinate us.

This is Christian before we headed out. I caught him in the middle of saying "I Love You". Heartwarming.

Don't you just love his crazy hair? Can you count all of his cowlicks? He can thank his mama for those.

He is such a faker. This is him pretending to cry. Jared calls this his pirate face.

He hates the sand. Well...I saw a hole that someone had dug, about 2 feet deep, and threw him in to enjoy it. Someone start saving money for his therapy, please.

He loves his Dad!

I love this picture. I think he looks like a little man.

I love this picture. I think he looks like a little man.

My two loves.

He is learning to blow kisses.

All tuckered out.

I love the beach. I loved spending the day with Jared and Christian. I loved soaking up the sun and listening to the crashing waves. I feel like I can face life again. I am so grateful for the beauty around me. I can't wait to go back.

Hoooome, Home on the Range

*Setting* My office at work. An older lady and her son come in to process a bank wire. Since the amount is over $15,000 and going to a third-party (an Escrow Company), I will need to involve our one-time wire group. I fill out all the necessary paperwork and let her know that since it's after hours, the one-time wire group will call her Tuesday morning to ask her a few questions and then they can process the wire for her.

Lady: Well tell them they have to let it ring.
Me: What?
Lady: Tell the people calling that they have to let it ring. The phone is on a tree and it'll take me a while to get to it.
Me: (sure that I must have misunderstood) The phone is on a tree?
Lady: Yes! The phone is on a tree in the pasture. Right now I am living in a barn while I am waiting for my modular home to come. That's why I need this wire.
Me: Well, that's a first! (Looking at the son, who didn't seem to think what she was saying was all that crazy!)

Lady: *Laughing* Yes! The phone is on a tree in the pasture so tell them they HAVE to let it ring. Since it's so far out there, I won't hear it ringing, but the cat will hear it and come and get me out of bed. It's kind of a saggy bed though, so give me a minute to get out of bed and put on my thong flip-flops and get out there to get the phone.

So I send a note to one-time wire with the instructions that they HAVE to let it ring because the phone is on a tree...in the pasture, but don't worry THE CAT will let her know when it is ringing.

On Tuesday a girl from the one-time wire team sent me an email saying they couldn't accomidate my request and asked that I please call the lady and conference her in with the group. When I called, with her on the line, I said, "I was requested to conference in a client" and the rep said, "Is this the cat lady?". Oh yeah, the story had gone through the entire department :)

The rep she talked to totally phished for more info. I found out she lives in the barn, her stuff is stored where the hay would normally go. She has a water trough in there where she bathes and if she needs to take a shower, she drives down to her friend's house. He asked her if it got cold in there and she said that it did, but with it warming up, it'll be good because it'll keep her warm and warm up the water in the trough for when she bathes.

Best. Day. Ever. I wish she was my grandma.

Help!

I have so much to catch you up on! Easter, Mother's Day, a 10 day trip to Utah...but I can't seem to concentrate on anything right now.

I love my job, but I hate working. I want to be home with my baby. Having 11 days with him just made me realize how much I am missing everyday. Is it wrong to make selfish decisions...stupid financial decisions...if it means that I can hang out with my kid and watch him grow up? I don't know anymore. All I know is that my heart hurts.

San Francisco

My brother in law Jon had heart surgery last month down at the hospital in Stanford. Before he went in, we all went down to San Francisco for the day! My sister in law Jen and four of her kids also came down from Utah. She came to San Francisco and also played Mom to Jon and Morgan's kids for a few days. Jared, Christian and I drove down with my sister in law Jamie and her kids. It was a lot of fun! Our first stop was The Japanese Tea Gardens in Golden Gate park. In all my years of living here and visiting San Francisco, I have never been here. Let me tell you, it was an absolute treat. It was quiet, peaceful and absolutely breathtaking. I apologize in advance that most of the pictures are just of Christian...I can't help myself sometimes!

Here he is trying to grab the camera.

And you can't tell, but right here he is watching my sweet neice Katherine make funny faces at him.

Isn't it gorgeous!?

Here we have Jared, Jon and Morgan walking. Soooo exciting, I know ;)

I told my nephew Andrew I wanted to take a picture of him. Not sure why that resulted in him with his hands on his hips, I think he learned that from his little sis Katherine ;)

I have no words.

Do you ever feel like you are NEVER in any of the pictures? That's how I was feeling, hence this gorgeous, crooked, lazy eye picture of yours truly!

Awwww.....love this guy

Dare we even ask? It actually gets even better....

Again, I have no words. Jake and Jon...the sweetest couple?

Butt shot! Okay, I just loved this entrance. It was so ornate and beautiful I just had to get a shot.

The stroller gang. My neice Chandler couldn't take it anymore - I think she pulled her hood over her eyes so she didn't have to witness all of the goofiness going on.

My gorgeous nieces...well at least some of them. From front to back we have Brooklyn, Sydney, Katherine and Amy. Eat your hearts out.

Five of the six siblings.

Afterward we all went to this delicious Chinese restaurant for dinner.

Oh man, these pictures aren't in order anymore. This is from the children's park we went to before dinner. It was a really cool park and Christian had a blast!

All the adults that went.

We had the best time and I am so glad that we all decided to go. Even though having Jon go through surgery was scary, stressful and emotional, being able to spend time all together (mostly) really helped to put things into perspective. I am so grateful for family and all of the people I love. I am thankful that I get to live so close to so many people that love and support our family.

Christian's First Birthday- Part 2

Since we didn't have a huge combined birthday party - we decided to go up to Jared's mom's house for a second birthday celebration with his family! Here are some pictures of the cakes before we left to go up to Penryn :)

It's a bundt. A What!? A bundt. Oh, a buun. No, BundT. Oh! It's a cake!



Look at those delicious cakes!



Here's the big guy getting ready to blow out his candle...aka...spit on the cake!

We decided to just strip him down and give him a bath after. Doesn't he look excited to try it?

Christian was a little hesitant, so being the Dad that he is, Jared stuck his foot in it AND made him eat the cake off his toes! *rolling my eyes*

Mmmmmm.....

Christian just isn't a super messy kid. He preferred to be fed bites than just dig in with his hands.

We waited to have his party until my sister in law Jen and four of her kids got into town. It was totally worth the wait!

PUZZLES!!

Oh, this was a hit! His Aby got him a Mickey Mouse backpack. Freaking adorable!

We had such a great time. I love my little boy and I am so grateful to be surrounded by friends and our wonderful family.

Christian's First Birthday - Part 1

For Christian's 1st Birthday we decided to just keep it low-key and have a family birthday party. Since our family is HUGE and we didn't know what to expect with the weather, Jared and I decided to break up the parties. A small party with just my immediate family, and then a second party up at Jared's mom's house a week later (when my sister in law Jen and four of her kids were in town). It was a little hectic and so I am not sure that we will do it this way again, but we really did have such a wonderful time!

Dad and Aunt Bethany with the Birthday Boy waiting for his special dinner. We made delicious spaghetti, my parents made a fresh salad and Beth brought DELICIOUS cheesy-garlic bread.

Here's CJ playing with his ball

My parents got Elaine a gift to open too so that she wouldn't freak out when Christian was opening his. It worked like a charm!

This is a little turtle that makes noise and teaches kids their numbers and letters. It was an instant hit!

He got tons of great books from my parents and Brooke and Beth.

Aunt Brooke got him a nice green frog shirt which is hiding in the bottom corner of the picture. I have no idea what I am doing in this picture, but please ignore the cleavage ;)

This has to be the best gift of the night. Aunt Bethy got him his very own TV REMOTE! He loves playing with, and losing, ours, so I am so happy he has his own that we can distract him with.

Here's another winner from the night....the BOX that the slide was in :)

And here's a picture of our little family!

I cannot believe that I had NO pictures of Christian with his first birthday cake! I know we took video, so maybe I will have to load part of that. The short story is that although he liked the cake, he liked being FED the cake more. He got really cranky when we put him on the table to play with it, but if Jared was giving him bites...oh man, he could not get enough! I am so grateful for my family and their generosity and willingness to celebrate such a great day for my little boy.