Ordinary Days.

So much to say, so little time for blogging.  With time I'll carve out a few more hours or maybe even a hour in the week to have to myself.  To work on things other than laundry and housework.  To create, to capture memories in the mostly blank baby books that sit on my desk and to pour over and organize the thousands of photos we have taken of our little girls.  Until then, I'm doing my best each day to savor the wild moments that make up our days.  The times when I feel like I can't catch my breath because caring for little ones demands a lot of attentiveness and action.  And I'm learning how to allow myself to say no to things that pull me from these dear tasks.

I know much love is shared in the moments no one talks about, the hair brushing, cup pouring, hand holding moments that children don't really remember.  But they do remember the care behind those moments.  The attitude in which I help, care for and answer to their needs.  If you catch me first thing in the morning, those responses are slow, snappy and tired...I'm learning to allow myself grace in those moments and simply the presence to recognize and the drive to simply start over.  Because not just each day is new, but each moment.

A thing called weather.

On occasion we get have a rainy day, and in Southern California it's nearly a license to stay home and do nothing but watch the drops fall all day.  And I need very little coaxing to be down for that.  A few months back we celebrated much needed wetness with a day spent in pajamas with the fireplace a blaze.  I sure hope more weather of the sort comes before summer hits.  Either way, I'm a huge fan of sunshine.  Vitmain D does my spirit a lot of good.

Our first home.

There has been a lot of excitement, anticipation and a few sleepless nights around here.

And the big news is...
we are homeowners,
for the very first time!

We picked up the keys on Saturday and I'm still pinching myself. 

We will be back in California is less than a year.  I've been decorating in my head for the last month while we signed and filed a mountain of paperwork.  Kevin was so patient and diligent with this process.  He calculated, researched and put in hours of thought into the process.  How lucky am I to have such a thoughtful husband?

We love our new place.  We can't wait to play in the backyard with Chloe and sit on our front porch.  I've dreamed my whole life of having a home with a porch.  A place to sit and sip tea.  It may not be a creaky craftsman porch but this one will delight me everyday. 

Needless to say, we are thrilled and feel so blessed to have such a beautiful home to return to.  Which also means, lots of trips to our hometown in the next year. 

Wise words.

I just got off the phone with this lovely lady.  My dear, very sassy eighty year old grandmother.  She goes by Mana.  I named her that when I was a babe.  Now even her hairdresser calls her Mana.  I was telling her,  I don't know how she did it, raising five children during a time when women did all the house work, entertaining and most if not all of the child-rearing.  I'm blessed to have a husband who in a pinch will throw together a delicious "breakfast for dinner" meal and is always willing to help out with bath/bedtime for our little lady.  I know I'm bragging, but he's amazing like that.  Tonight, I pulled off the dinner part.  Actually quite well, other than a oil burn to my thumb I cooked up my first ever pork chops; they turned out great.  And a side of sauteed mushrooms and kale.  Both staples in our home.  Oh and don't forget the applesauce.  I digress.  Mana reminded me that the one thing she regrets while raising her children was keeping a very clean house.  Those words first struck me as odd.  I take after her in my need to keep things tidy and organized.  She said, "Time spent with your children is never wasted." Time spent cleaning house, well eighty years later feels so insignificant.  She, I can tell you kept a much tidier home than I could ever.  The woman ironed sheets, underwear, socks...how, she kept up, I'll never know.  But it's refreshing to hear those words as she looks back on life and offers to me some sound advice.  Do your best, don't try to do it all. 

I'm just trying to turn off that need to "get back to work" all day.  A girlfriend recently told me, "Cleaning your house while your kids are awake is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos."  I laughed out loud.  I'm sure one day I'll find a happy medium.  And for goodness sakes Lisa, lighten up!  Thanks Mana.

Lay Baby Lay -printable. Available in blue too.

Ice.

The weather this weekend was such a surprise.  Last week was 92 degrees and yesterday we had rain, hail and plummeting degrees (well for the desert anyway).   Our little bloom is obsessed with ice.  She points at the freezer several times a day for us to fetch ice cubes for her.  She says it with the long drawn out, "Iccccee", I've gotta get it on video adorable way.  We've even resorted to freezing fruit for her to snack on for added nutritional value.   My aunt Lori gave me a tip about serving up frozen peas, guess what?  She loves them.  Fine by me. 

So you can only imagine her delight when Kevin brought in this snow ball of hail on Sunday.  She wanted to go out and see what it was all about.  It was a nice little venture outside after being indoors watching the weather gust at our windows.  It was a total lazy day.  We stayed home from church in our jammies and played.  I think the tree-toppling wind kept most Phoenix residents indoors.  But it was a fun novelty knowing that the summer's heat is right around the corner.  Every loves to warn us about just how hot it is going to be.  I'm a little nervous to be honest.

Thank goodness for this cozy jacket and boots our friends the Arciagas gave us.  Chloe wouldn't take it off even once we came indoors.  She twirled in front of the mirror and even colored while wearing it.  Too much fun.

In route.

This is my first mobile post. I guess we'll see how it goes. We are in route to Temecula, my stomach in knots. I'm so thankful for the company of Kevin's parents and our bloom, of course. We are making the trek from Phoenix. The miles in between are enough I hope, to let go of the anticipation.

I don't know what it feels like to go home, to where my mom once lived. Walking through the front door feels like the hardest step. To not be greeted by her hello, embrace or incessant giggles when she sees Chloe's face.

I told Kevin last night that I feel too young to be doing this. Going home to sort through my mom's belongings. Even though I'm thirty years old, I don't feel ready for this journey. I suppose you never are.

For now I'll enjoy the backseat view of the of the dry, brittle desert and clear blue sky.

If you are reading this, can you say a little prayer for me?