December Daily #6

This, my friends, is the orange tree in our back yard.

This living-in-California thing is still so very new to us.  

Citrus trees bearing fruit in December, roses still in bloom and our back door wide open each morning as we drink our coffee are just a few of the reasons we are extra thankful this year.

December Daily #5

Friday, I'm so happy to see you!

Night swimming + tree trimming.

Oh, yeah...early bedtimes for all.

Cheers!

December Daily 1, 2, 3 + 4. (oops!)

One of my most favorite friends reminded me to get my act together and put up my December Dailys. 

I'm so glad she did.

ONE:

This is our 2nd year with a fake tree, and I'm just gonna throw it out there, it's AWESOME.  No watering, no needles, no stringing Christmas lights...just beauty!

But we are lucky enough to get the tree cutting experience with my folks.  The twins are going to have wonderful memories of all of the trips to Apple Hill. 

TWO:

Proof of a Christmas project happening in my home!

With a busy little dude, the projects are fewer than in years past.  But I'm trying!!

THREE:

We had 2 rainy days this week.  

Much needed rain.  

Felt like fall.  

In December. 

I love California.  

We love California.

FOUR:

Outside play in December.  

Glorious.

And This Concludes our Weekly Colt Pics

School Days

I mentioned on Instagram the other night, something similar to the thought that is seemed like just yesterday my twins were growing in my (very large!) belly, and now, well now they are starting kindergarten.

In California.

Which is cray.

Totally freaking crazy.

Our circumstances have changed so much over the last 2 months.  

Never did I imagine on the morning of our 1st day of kindergarten, we would be lathering up the sunscreen and walking to school.

Walking to school is so fun!  

(In spite of the rather warm weather this week!)

Lila broke down in tears the night before because I told her she needed to wear socks + shoes to school.

'BUT MAMA I GET SO HOT! I DON'T EVEN LIKE SOCKS!'

And on and on and on.

She got up at 5:30 the next morning ready to go.  I pulled her in bed with me and made her go back to sleep for a while.  At 7 when I rolled over towards Lila, her eyes were wide open.  She was wearing an enormous smile, her beautiful smile, eyes lit up and said: 'I'm ready to go to kindergarten now!'

Much to my surprise, the twins were placed in the same class.  

As a result, neither were afraid of this experience at all!

But as I kissed Lincoln for the last time in his classroom, he said to me:

'Mom, so you're going to wait outside that door the whole time until we are done, right???'

The last 5 1/2 years with Lincoln + Lila have been my very best days.  

I left my career of teaching to stay home and be taught by these 2.

The hardest job I've ever had.  

I'm so thankful, so incredibly thankful for Brian.  

He has given me the opportunity to be with these kids full time from the beginning.  

And here we are starting the next chapter.

Go and dominate kindergarten Lincoln + Lila

You've got this!

Weekly Colt

Saturday Night

Brian told me on Friday his one goal for the weekend was to catch a sunset on the beach.

And since the beach is practically in our backyard, we were happy to oblige.

Well not practically, but 8 minutes from our house.

So practically.

At lunch on Saturday, we were discussing those beautiful pacific NW evergreens we hold so dear...

Yep, we miss those.  

(A lot.)

But behold the beautiful Pacific Ocean!  We like this a whole too!

Isn't it funny that it's the same body of water we lived by for the last 15 years?!

Same, but oh so very different!

When we got in the car to go home, Lincoln said,

'That was the most fun ever!'

Who knew a year ago we would be here?

Who knows what the next year will bring?

Just know this for now...

Come visit!