Well, well

Well, well here we are again. I haven't documented much of our life lately, and the more I procrastinate the more overwhelming it becomes. It has been 6 months since we moved to Monterey County and our life is so full here. I really do love it. However, this means I need to be better about documenting, because there seems to be so much more of it to do. I'll try to catch up a little. I don't want to forget any of it.

Most recently, Kingsley has started preschool and loves it. He is lucky enough to attend with one of his best friends, Aiden (who lives across the street). Aiden, his big brother Cole (1st grader) and their cousin Ian (Kindergarten) show up at our house around 8 am and scramble around, check out toys, and play in the tents and closets. Once Aiden's Mom comes by with baby sister Siggy in tow (she's 3 weeks old!), the boys hurriedly find shoes and backpacks (and Charlie must be pried from breakfast) and we all walk to school. I love it. I love that we live in this neighborhood, with instant friends, with a beautiful school just around the block.

The only downer---and I knew enough to expect it---is the illness that often comes with the beginning of school, especially the early years. Kingsley has missed a full week of school this week (which is only two days for him, but still), not to mention 2 highly anticipated play dates. We have a tour of the Monterey Fire Station booked for tomorrow and I've been avoiding even mentioning it for fear that we won't be able to go. Oh the disappointment! Kingsley's reaction to not going to school and seeing friends is so much worse than any symptom he is experiencing--I am sure of it. I hope illness doesn't last too long, Kingsley's disappointment is truly heartbreaking. We will get back in the swing of things soon.

Thistle Be Fun!

Well, well I have a lot of catching up to do.

We start with the weekend of May 15/16th.

We spent a day at the Castroville Artichoke Festival.

Castroville is just northwest of here and is considered the "Artichoke Center of the World".

So, we thought we better go check it out.

This is a post heavy with pictures, but I always post with the boys' grandparents in mind.

Plus, there was so much to do!

First, the parade!

Fabulous dancers in fabulous dress.

Kingsley's little bit 'o' heaven.

Lots of cars, lots of them.

I am beginning to realize that no festival around here is complete

without cowboys.

Dancing horses!

You should have seen some of these performers, so incredible!

Festival fun is never complete without jumpy houses.

Different jumpy houses for different ages and likes.

Mini-train ride.

A big hit.

Even though we are active members of the Children's Museum in Monterey,

the boys loved checking out their booth and activities. Some cool stuff!

Rides!

Of course.

Festival music and dancing in the straw.

All done.

Kingsley's favorite car of the parade.

I did not take pictures of any artichokes!

In addition, I did not snap any pictures of the varied and creative (not to mention delicious)

ways in which artichokes were served and available for purchase.

We sampled deep-fried artichokes and an artichoke burrito which were heavenly.

We purchased 5 artichokes for $1 and sauteed some up for dinner.

A fun, and filling, day.

Oh yes, a word about the post title.

"Thistle be fun!" is the motto of the Artichoke Festival.

Artichokes are thistles, don't you know?

(I didn't.)

Do You Know The Way to San Jose?

Well, now we do!

We visited Happy Hollow Park and Zoo this past weekend.

What a fun place for little guys.

The park just re-opened after being closed for a couple of years due to extensive renovation.

We approve.

We enjoyed a gorgeous day, sunny and warm.

We visited some of the animals.

The boys enjoyed the many play structures.

A favorite park feature for the parents: The Jail, where parents could drop off

their children for up to 30 minutes---just enough time to enjoy a cup of coffee sans kids.

OK, just kidding (a girl can dream).

Riding the carousel.

The Crooked House.

Kingsley's favorite and a first:

The roller-coaster ride.

More fun rides.

Charlie just made the height requirement for The Frog Hopper.

They both loved it.

Following Danny the Dragon's sparkly green footsteps.

Someone didn't want to leave.

But, then the boys found sticks and all was well again.

This was truly a "Happy" place and we plan to return.

Next time we will fit in a puppet show and see some more of the animals.

And, hopefully the Danny the Dragon ride will be up and running again.

It is so good to be back...

living by the ocean again! This past weekend we headed to Monastery Beach (monastery pictured above), which is part of Carmel River State Beach. It is beautiful.

There were several pretty paths winding down around the shore and cliffs.

The boys are thoroughly enjoying Papa time on the weekends. Jeremy is home so much more and we have time for fun outings such as this.

The flowers gave the ocean a bit of competition on this hike. Truly a pretty time of year here.

Charlie being goofy. Oh how he loves Dora. So much so, she needed to be in the picture too.

All of her.

We are having a blast exploring our new home and surroundings. Come join us any time!

A Few of My Favorite Things

New home: Calla lilies from the front porch.

Moving is rarely fun for most of us. In my case, I seem to go through a bit of a grieving stage each time we move. This period usually lasts a month, maybe two. It involves, of course, saying good-bye to friends and family, familiar places, favorite haunts, daily rhythms dictated by one's home and location (where the mail is delivered, for example). But it also means saying good-bye to the house we lived in...our home. We have never owned a home, and yet it has always been a little sad to say good-bye to the places we have called home, the places in which I tried to create a home. I suppose these last few moves were made more difficult due to having small children. Not so much the acts of packing and physically moving, but saying good-bye to places where milestones were reached. In our last home Charlie learned how to crawl and took his first steps. Kingsley transitioned from crib to bed and transitioned out of diapers.

So, as superficial as this post may seem, it is a tribute to the things I loved about our home in Hidden Valley Lake and some of the things I love about our new home. I am also fully aware that Goofball and Butterball may never have memories of either place---so why not jot some of this down?

Plus, part of the process of moving is not only saying good-bye to one's house, home, city and community, but also embracing one's new dwelling and surroundings.

More personal and person-filled posts to come....

New home: I am a sucker for six-paneled doors. One of those details that I think makes a big difference.

New home: I am very much loving our "spa" like master bath.

New home: I was tickled, yes tickled, to find this vanity in the guest (boys') bathroom. I love it. Complete with Lightning McQueen cup, of course.

New home: I love the stone floors and pattern. A bit cold, but easy to clean and easy on the eyes.

New home: I am enjoying the big kitchen, pretty granite counters---so easy to clean (recurring theme?).

New home: I LOVE the sink--stainless steel, big and deep and check out that faucet!

New home: I am still wondering who needs six burners, but I'm determined to use all of them (just maybe not all at once).

Previous home: The dining room's dark terracotta wall.

Previous home: Our deck, back yard and the skyline (last sunset before moving).

Previous home: The gorgeous sunsets beyond the hills and mountains (back yard view).

Previous home: The exterior detail, teal dots and trim. So long 19013.

Previous home: The stone path leading to our front door. Such a pretty detail.

Previous home: Stone detail continued into the drive way.

Previous home: Another view of the teal dots and trim.

Okay, I'm letting go now.