dancing in the desert

sadly my blog is again mighty behind but i'm sure if you actually know me and are reading this you are well aware we have moved to edwards air force base in the high desert . . happily still in cali. it has been a change. any move is really. life quickly picked up speed. calendars and schedules seemed instantly filled. these peeps sure like to be social!

i have silly amounts of stories to share and even more pictures. i just got a new phone and computer - both of which i am trying to learn. tonight, though, i discovered a blogger app so i downloaded and figured i'd give it a quick spin. not sure what options i get for formatting but hey at least a post is getting created! plus i recently came across these pictures from our first month here and had to get them posted.

as seems to be my trend out here, i'm up late squeezing in some 'me' things and i really should get to bed. so, for now i say cheers to restful night, cheers to apps that actually do make things easier, cheers to new spaces and learning curves & cheers to sweet lovely friends and family who help keep you 'you' even from far away!

me–right now

 

today is mother’s day & this is how it began for me.

 

it has been a lovely day.  an easy day overall.  a delicious day (oh how I love good food) with a little sun and sand and the waves of the pacific.  a day that I’ve been able to spend with my sweet little crew.  and right now I’m able to take a little time for myself to get back to my blog that I really have missed.
(thanks for waiting for me)

so, where am I these days?

well, right now I’m almost a month into being 35, sitting on my cozy bed with my computer, blinds open, sunshine filling the room, rockin’ my new glasses and my pretty-cool-if-i-must-say-so-myself purple highlighted hair.

I just like where I am right now – or maybe it’s ‘who’ I am.  I’m pretty comfy in my skin . . . and feeling pretty great after finally getting back into working out just this past week.  (started the T25 program after following a friend’s awesome success)  it had been too long.  yah for getting your body moving and being strong!

I have some new growing interests that I am anxious to find time to explore and learn more about.  I’m am looking forward to researching and becoming familiar with essential oils and signing up an Independent Rep with  dōTERRA (dōTERRA International, LLC produces and distributes exceptionally high quality CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils)  at the end of the month.  it’s something I want to incorporate into my everyday for my family and to learn well enough to share with others.  I also am hoping to get started on the curriculum for Lactation Educator Counselor and later for Lactation Consultant Certificate (thank you Stephanie for answering all of my questions!).  and I also have my eye on a Postpartum Doula training program.  I think all three would work so well together and be an awesome fulfilling fit for me.  bonus that they all work pretty much anywhere.  It really feels good to find some things for me and a new focus to discover & learn & explore.  things have been quiet with my little etsy shop but it’s still fun and hopefully will grow this year too.

we move in five weeks from today – on father’s day actually.  I haven’t even had a chance to write about that yet.  our calendar is so full (covered in different colored pen and lots of post-its . . . my attempt at flexibility) trying to coordinate everything and pack all of san diego we can and time with sweet dear friends, some of whom are also moving this summer.  first a quick move update . . . ends up chris is kind of a big deal!  he was selected for test pilot school (TPS) last fall.  he had submitted his package and was waiting to hear if we’d be moving to Navy program in PAX River, MD (where some very special friend live nearby).  the higher ups at miramar ranked him #1 out of the miramar applicants (first high five) and then his name came out on the TPS list (second high five) so we started to make our plans  . . . wait, hold up . . . he was selected for the Air Force program at Edwards AFB (third high five – sort of).  as should have been expected it was time for a new plan.  Edwards AFB is in CA, about 3.5ish hours NE of San Diego in the steamy desert.  yes, quite a new plan.  we weren’t exactly excited about it everyday last fall (ok, maybe that was just me) but we are actually really looking forward to this new adventure for our little family and chris is just stoked for this new challenge and training.  he’s pretty happy that he gets to earn a master’s degree while he’s there too.  so, after five busy weeks we are planning to have a special might-have-to-order-two-entrees breakfast at cantina (our absolute fav spot) before we drive ourselves  up to our new home.  we’ve been calling it jet school for anabelle.  it will be quite a change with target and trader joe’s about 45 minutes away.  we’ll be living on base which will give us much more space, a yard, and free air conditioning!  we’re only there for a year so my brain and pinterest boards are full of easy-to-do and easy-to-take-down ideas for this new space and new adventure.  I’m hoping to home school anabelle for the year and crossing my fingers I can find the right spot to keep up their swimming lessons.

at the same time my heart aches to leave some very special ladies, some sisters I have found out here in on the west coast.  I know there is always skype and plane tickets and I’m definitely thankful for unlimited texting.

we are renting out our condo and have our first customer coming to view it this friday (better hide some more things in closets and cabinets!).  the work to get our place ready has helped the move sink in a little.

my girls – oh the awesome, busy, crazy, wonderfully joyful world of a & e.  these girls fill me up, wear me out, and make me fall in love with everyday of getting to be a momma – their momma! 3 is still sprinkled with it’s spicy challenges for anabelle.  she’s always looking for papa and wants so badly to make her own decisions.  (this pic is the day chris came home from training in texas and surprised anabelle at pick up from school)
she is doing great at school (even though she almost always gets sad when it’s time to go.  she’s reading three letter words and doing simple addition.  she’s also pretty great at puzzles and nearly the entire Frozen soundtrack.  emilymae is putting words together and reading/singing the last word of sentences in books and songs.  she is still the occasional milk monster and likes waking up in the middle of the night.  these moonlit snuggles won’t last forever, so for now I try just to kiss her little cheek, rub her head, and hold her close.  if momma milk is what comforts her and makes her feel safe then I am lucky enough that I am the one who makes just what she wants.

unpacking things, dressing up, singing & dancing are all big hits over here – not to mention tappers (aka tap shoes).

our favorite song right now (other than ‘let it go’) is three little birds.  sometimes I’ll hear anabelle sing it for emilymae if she’s crying.  emilymae is picking up the words too!

anabelle is just finishing up her first soccer season.  oh 3 year old soccer.

have you ever had a chance to see three year olds do jumping jacks?!  it’s pretty great.  and yes, that is anabelle trying to teach emilymae with full face paint from a morning at the wild animal park.  she went to school like that too. 

chris and I are trying to find time together.  days are full.  nights are sleepy.  schedules are always shifting and changing.  he was away for several weeks in texas learning the t-38 and will be gone several days this month for extra flight time – we miss him but I understand that it’s his way of filling himself up before we leave.  he had a dining out this past friday.  a chance to get dressed up and be out together.  in my opinion the party was a bit ho-hum but we definitely enjoyed our time together (and I felt like my outfit was awesome – thank you christal and rent the runway!).  we did the squadron event thing and then went out for a chocolate-banana-peanut butter milkshake, sweet potato fries, and a mojito for him.  of course both our littles woke up within 30 minutes of getting home but still, it was a great night together.  I sure do have quite a incredible man all of my own and he is smittin’ with me.  oh so blessed and oh so smittin’ myself!

 

we had a little trouble with the lighting but forget that – my dress had pockets!  so fantastic!

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hoping I’m back to writing very very soon.  thanks for checking in!

ara & emr

friendship is important, awesome, special – doesn’t matter how big or small you are.

emma’s momma & i are buddies which is how anabelle & emma became buddies.  that’s kind of how it works when you’re a wee one, right?

leng and her little emma are just lovely girls; so kind and creative and talented.
we had lots of fun playdates this summer together:

emma’s first haircut . . . followed by delicious mr. frosty!

 

 

swim dates in the gorgeous sunshine.

oh girls!

 

 

(leng, thanks for the great pictures!)

fun at the discovery museum.

 

 

and then this fall the girls started dance class together.  what a sight!
that will have to be a different post all on its own.

*dance sneak peek*

 

off to school

i feel like i am so so behind.  i swear i blog every single day . . in my head.  i’ve lost count of how many time i’ve had to consolidate my notes on posts to write.  i do miss it, that little snipit of quiet time, but lately we’ve just been too busy or too crazy or too awesome or too sleepy – you pick.  today i’m determined to at least get a tiny one in.

this one starts with a recent favorite picture of mine.  i think photography is pretty amazing and i’ll admit i do get pretty stinkin’ excited when i capture an awesome shot like this one all on my own.  yah me!

ok, back to the actual post . . .

so, anabelle is in school.  it’s a small montessori school close by recommended by a friend.  she goes monday/wednesday/friday from 1-4.  i was a little anxious the week before she started, wondering how we would both do.  well, we both did great!  she made it really easy on me and i was surprising confident that we were both ready.  as for interrupting emilymae’s nap – she was not as big of a fan about the new schedule change.

anabelle’s first week of school was the beginning of december.  that friday they had their holiday program scheduled.  her teacher told me that even though she probably wouldn’t know any of the songs she could stand next to her classmates (it’s a small group) and try to sing along or maybe dance if she like.  i’m pretty sure they did not realize how seriously anabelle would take them up on the offer to dance.
here is a peek – it was hard not to giggle out loud.

it’s a little long but pretty great.  go anabelle!

this month has been dinosaur month which anabelle loves (she’s a huge fan of dinosaur train) and friday is pajama day!  she’s pretty much stoked about it.

we had a few set back with potty and a few epic heartbreaking meltdowns after birthday treats were given during snack (whole cupcakes and birthday cake – quite a shock to the system for the little girl who can splurge on a handful of animal crackers or 3 chocolate chips).  i was that mom and had a little chat with the teacher to come up with an anabelle alternative.  Ii hadn’t thought of all of the celebrations that go on at school – birthdays, valentines . . . we just got a notice that we have a mandatory activity due by feb 6th of making a valentines container for our child.   not to mention the 14 signed but not addressed valentines we have to make sure we bring for the party.

oh.  right.

can I please put in a request for sugar free festivities for anabelle?  can it count as an allergy or something?  yes, i know. lame.  i won’t be like this forever.  you didn’t see the sad meltdowns.

overall, school is great.  i’m just still feeling like a newby.  don’t know the teachers very well.  don’t know any other parents.  i only hear two speaking english at pick up time. 

anabelle is learning a lot.  new songs. phonics.  even started ‘join together’ (addition).  she almost always has a huge grin as she come out when she’s dismissed and I love it when she shows me her work that she has in her backpack or tells me stories about the day’s activities.  a fireman came by today!

mail day is a lovely day

many of you know i heart etsy.

even today i snapped a picture of emilymae sporting three different etsy items all at once.
(hat, hoodie, skirt)

well, i've been wanting to create my own etsy shop for months and months (truthfully for years) and i finally did it!  friends & family - may i introduce to you . . . .

thanks to everyone who has been cheering me on while i tried to create this, while it was all just scribbles in my notebook, and especially my muggy who has always supported my ideas & creativity and helped entertain a not sleepy emilymae while i tried to put the finishing touches on my shop and actually write this post.

click my logo above to check out the shop and click here for the ‘about’ section which will explain some of my thoughts leading me to this project.

i only have five items up so far but you have to start somewhere and since saturday is small business saturday and i wanted to join the party with my own small business opening!

i’ve talked with chris several times about the concept of ‘figure out what you love and find a way to get paid for it’ so this is my own attempt.  at some point i’m also going to figure out how to market myself as an etsy personal shopper (to help narrow down the endless choices for those slightly intimidated by the world of etsy) and doing the design and formatting work for photo cards (thanks alisha for letting me help with your holiday cards in the past) and photo books (you know those cute abc books with pictures of your little ones that you see on pinterest?  i love doing that sort of thing!).  holler if you might interest in any of those ‘services’ or have suggestions for marketing myself in those areas.  thanks!

well, here i go!

usmc ball 2013

i met this boy in december 1999 thanks to his awesome sister (yah chi-o!).  he invited me to his first usmc ball in 2001.  i followed him around for years, got to marry him in 2006, and just last week we went to our 12th ball together.

(i know that doesn’t add up - he was deployed for the ball in 2010).

- back in the day with a  ridiculously special couple

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my parents were just here for a week (such a great visit – that’s another post to write) so we got adjoining rooms at the hotel and they watched our girls while we had a fun evening just being us.  thanks mom & dad!

we were calling it the ‘hotel party’ for anabelle.  she packed a bag full of toys and picked out new pj’s at target on the way, actually two pair.

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love this shot of ema trying to get back to me.

this was chris’ first year in his new uniform.  sort of weird sometimes to stop and think about how experienced and senior he is now.  he’s an expert at what he does and i’m so very proud of him.

i love being kids together and having kids together!

luckiest girl in the room

this year i rented my dress and jewelry from rent the runway.  if you’ve been thinking about trying them i totally recommend it!  the reviews on there are so helpful and the whole process turned out to be super easy.  this dress was so comfy!

we had a yummy room service breakfast picnic all together before my parents had to head back to florida.  was a busy, full, fast week.  so miss them!
these little ones had a great time too.  anabelle is in love with her new nightgown (her first) and emilymae enjoyed playing with whatever she could get her hands on.

 

happy birthday marine corps and thanks m&r for EVERYTHING!