✂Mixed Bag✂

Hi everyone! I hope you're enjoying your weekend!

I've been in a baking mood lately, 

so that is what is on the agenda

for today. I'm going to make an 

old favorite, and hopefully the results

will be decent enough to share with you soon ;)

In the meantime, here are some random pics from the archives,
beginning with one last "batch" from our trip to Oregon. (Sorry. I couldn't resist.)

Does anyone know the "Breathing Space" section in Oprah magazine?

This reminded me of it :) We loved driving up the windy mountain road

in Oregon that led to this view.

Then again, there are no shortage of beautiful views in Yachats...this photo was taken

from Horizon Hill, where you can see the town and ocean stretching out before you.

Nonni and Poppi thought it would be brilliant to take one of their chairs up there so

one can truly enjoy the view. Aren't they smart?

Nate relaxing :)

I had to share this photo of Nonni, because I think it is so gorgeous of her :)

I love to play with different camera shots and ways of editing...especially 

if the picture is less than perfect, because then it becomes a (fun) challenge

to try and salvage it!

A mini-photo session with Liam...

I didn't say they were good though! :P

Some random pics that don't "fit" anywhere....

Yay! You've made it to the end! You are now an official member of the

Small House by the Sea photo club. I hope we didn't bore ya too much! :D

Thank you for stopping by!

Momfession: Beach Day

Ok, this is my confession to you....because I am definitely not
(and probably never will be) "the mommy who has it all together."
Although I do try and torture myself occasionally by trying! :)

Our two-week vacation spent by the most gorgeous stretches of ocean
I've yet seen? Near the beach? The glowing sand and surf? Well,  um...

we only made it to the beach one day.

How is this possible?!?! I'm not quite sure. While there were one or two
"mini-visits" to the beach near Nonni's house, there was really only one official,
stay-for-hours, pack-a-lunch-and-every-child-related-item-we-own-
so-as-to-avoid-catastrophe beach day. Truth be told, there are so many wonderful
ways to spend our time there, with all the beautiful scenery begging to be driven by,
the bay front with all the cute little shops,  and so on. Luckily, thanks to my hubby, we
got some pretty cool pics of our day there, and it's one I will always remember
for all the fun we had.

Here are some of my favorites :)

"Home Again"

Wow! While I would love to say that we just got back from Oregon
(because it is so beautiful there!), things have gotten...um...a little behind :)
But, I can say we did have a nice time by the sea!

Things were a little hectic at times, with the kids getting used to
a new place, new sleeping arrangements, and so on. It didn't take long
for them to get used to the "green house" (as Addie called it), and for it
to seem like our little home in the two weeks we spent there. I love the
backyard, the fact that there is always a fresh sea-breeze invigorating
everything, and that it only takes a short 5-minute walk to get to the ocean!
It is a magical place, and I can understand why Nonni and Poppi love living
there. Thank you N & P for letting us stay at "Casita del Mar!"

There are two events that I want to share that have happened in the (long!) interim
since I've posted. One is that I was blessed to celebrate my fourth wedding anniversary.

(My lovely anniversary present--a Pyrrah necklace with a charm stamped from an 18th c. wax seal)

Four years is not long, and it's seemed to go by so quickly--but it's amazing what one can

(hopefully!) learn in that amount of time. I feel like I've learned a lot more about my life

in these past few years than I ever have. 

I think from the moment I met Nate, I've been learning. Learning about friendship, trust, 

and love. I have to admit, I never thought I'd meet my future husband online! But it was 

such a beautiful way to get to know a person, because essentially you are left to only one 

thing, and that is your words. The first time he ever wrote to me, I recognized something 

familiar in him...his words spoke to me, and his honest, reflective way of seeing things 

touched me. 

We quickly became friends, and bonded over so many things. I learned that no one

EVER in my whole life could make me laugh like he did.

We've lived some of the best and worst of our life experiences with each other, and of

course that is a connection that can never be undone. When we lost our first baby early in 

the pregnancy, a week before we were going to be married, he is the person 

that got me through. From the very beginning, he's been there for me 110%--even

when I was scared, pulled away, or pushed him away. He believed in everything when I

couldn't. The best things in my life today are because of Nate...and my heart will never, 

ever stop thanking him for that.

The second thing is that my little man Jakey turned two. So that means we currently

have two 2-year-olds and a 7-month-old (until Addie can close the small gap when she turns

3 on October 15th!)

As you can see, he was born a quite peaceful baby :)

From day one, he and his sister have been like two peas in a pod. For the most part ;)

We called him our "Buddha Baby"--always happy to just hang on and see what's coming

up next.

Of course, he's had his fair share of devilish/little monster moments, like anybody...

but boy do we love him.

Happy Birthday, beautiful boy.