Wordless Wednesday - Driftwood

Still not wanting to go past his knees in the water, JQ decided to collect small pieces of driftwood instead. Also are there any Jim Gaffigan fans out there that have heard his joke about swim shirts? I had to smile at these photos of JQ in his "swim shirt". If you haven't caught Gaffigan's show check out Mr. Universe. Seriously funny stuff. He jokes about life as a parent, cosleeping, homebirthing...all that stuff that I can relate to. Good for a much needed laugh!

Linking here, here and here

What Is Black & White With Sand All Over?

Another day at the beach, I know! If it is any consolation it has been rather cold and rainy the past two days. It is totally apparent that Stella is becoming more of a toddler these past few weeks. She takes notes from big bro and is a quick learner my friends. The amount of sass coming from those sweet cheeks would make an impression I am sure. I say this now while its still in the cute stage...Hah!

Enter below, The Stinker Face!

She runs straight into the water then turns, running back up the beach screaming! Two seconds later she does it again. She takes my hand and we do it together (minus screaming for me!). I stack rocks and she knocks them down. She wanders, not ever looking back and I love her for every bit of it.

Linking to Small Style & Trendy Tots!

Also for any that are interested, 

 I'll have a product review on the blog in a couple days Kleen Kanteen and Pura Sippy Cups!

Stella Wore:

Dress- Gymboree (also seen HERE when Stella was 11 months old!)

Hair Bow-AdornMe Girl

Beginnings

This place is beginning to feel a bit like home! We are enjoying our first house guests this weekend "Popbee" and "Gigi" (aka my parents!) discovering new favorites to eat, shop, play and be seen at, as well as reconnecting with great friends. We are looking at this as an adventure, an experience, an opportunity. Tomorrow we will check out the farmers market just up the road and perhaps the beach if Mother Nature holds off on more rain, maybe even a date night for Mr. and I! Things are coming together and the kiddos seem to be adjusting well. JQ has had a couple of rough days but I am doing my best to make him feel safe and comfortable in his new surroundings (more on that later). With the holidays fast approaching I must remember Home is where we are, all together. Eating, laughing, playing. Linking up with Unknown Mami!

Arena Entre Los Dedos

Home again after another ocean trip.

The sun, sand and cool breeze, even the foggy mornings will be cherished until next time. Even the half pound of sand in my car is fine doesnt bother me (yet). Makes the beach seem closer in a way. Like we just left it an hour ago.

The little ones played and ran and laughed. Stella ate her body weight in sand and Joaquin ran from every wave that chased him. We discovered un vecindad con una carneceria y panaderia. We ate sweet breads and chicken teriyaki at a little beach grill. We stayed in my Brother in Laws home near Pleasure Point. It was a lovely time.
It is hard to believe it has been more than five years since Mr. and I moved from our sweet little beach community. Making the move back has been talked about a great deal lately. The babies aren't infants anymore. Although I have never left them with anyone other than family and never overnight. (Over protective much?) Mr. is feeling much better so... Why not be where we love?

Well. Didn't I just write about how much we love where we live now?
I mean, people move here from all over the state to settle and raise families. That is, after all, why we moved back here. To start a family. To be near our support system while the kiddos where small. 

So what would you do?

If you could live in a place that you love, that you wouldn't mind raising kiddos in but was many hundreds of miles away from your family and support system, would you do it?
Would you seek a bit more sun and leave a perfectly good spot in the shade knowing you could get burned?  I really don't know.
linking up with Lollipops, The Paper Mama & And Then, She Snapped

Finding Our Groove Again

We are back from the coast today and attempting to find our groove. The babies both seem just as happy to be home as they were to be at the beach and with family.

Stella was fearless with the ocean, walking straight down to the water and screeching with delight with each wave that crashed just feet from her. 

Joaquin is a sand lover. Laying his body down in the warm dry sand, letting it fall between his fingers and form a pillow for his head. Él estaba hablando en voz baja a lo
It was nice to be away. To be near the ocean.

I "wore" Stella in the carrier to and from the beach and on walks. Our Sutemi pack seems to be growing on her and she is happy, singing and talking to me as long as we are moving. At just under 19 pounds my 5'2" frame will be able to wear her for a bit longer. The infant back I had previously does not even compare in comfort to this new one I found second had.

Joaquin heard a train whistle as soon as we pulled into the house driveway and would not stop looking for and asking to go see the train. So the ever indulgent parents that we are,..we took him to see the Skunk Train. We visited the gift shop, had lunch in the Depot and watched as the train pulled away the engineering blowing the whistle. It was the best, mostly because JQ was so happy. He even wanted to walk down the tracks to "go find the train" after it had left. Next time we will take him on the four our round trip ride into the forest.
Mr. and I both agree I was meant to live near the ocean.
Mi corazón está ahí, al lado del mar.

Getting Away

I don't expect we will make a habit of spending our anniversary weekends away with the babies in tow. However, this past weekend that is exactly what we did and it seemed to work out. A warm, mellow beach and a lot of room service. As for relaxation? Not so much. Funny but we usually return from weekend trips exhausted. Still. I wouldn't have skipped it!

We stayed at The Dream Inn in Santa Cruz. It was very hip. I would describe it as a retro modern surf motel, if there is such a thing. Surfer Magazines and bean bags in the room, hot chocolate and a snack basket in our room upon arrival. My kind of place. My brother in law prepared us fresh abalone and enchiladas for our anniversary and the babies played in (and ate 'Stellita') the sand. It was the perfect little getaway.

More Of The Beach

We LOVE the ocean and beach so I am thrilled that we can spend time so close to it right now. Because of my husbands work we have a small place in the City. So it is a relatively short drive to Santa Cruz and Rich, Joaquin and Stella's Uncle. Lucky for us he was able to take the day off and spend it with us on the beach (which is where he works anyway). We relaxed, played, ate some sand (well, Joaquin did) chatted and saved a man and a handful of swimmers from a runaway catamaran (long story). It was the perfect day that ended too soon. Here are a few photos from last weekends visit. Oh and I was there too, just behind the camera as usual.

El Mar

This past weekend was Joaquin's first trip to the ocean. Of course he loved it as much as I thought he would and his uncle Richie loved him as much as I thought he would. Can you believe he hadn't seen Joaquin yet! Unlucky for us my camera was acting funny and the GREAT picture I got of Richie holding Joaquin was over exposed. arrrgh! But here it is anyway....(we miss you Rich!)

The ocean has always been a love of mine. I played in it as a child and play in it still. I have lived by the ocean and far from it. My happiest memories are near the ocean or in it. As soon as Keeners put his little toes in the sand the smile started. He wouldnt look up after that,...just stared at his toes as he moved his feet around in the sand. He smiled and screamed at the ocean and stuck his arms out in excitment.

He is as I have mentioned before, a water baby. My brother in Law lives five blocks from the beach in Santa Cruz and is enjoying every minute. He too is a fish and absolutely loves that Joaquin seems to be as well at six months old. :) Rich will probably be the one to show him how to surf and body board and I really hope he does. Joaquin and his uncle Richie will be fish together, in the sea...

Even though the time fly by way too fast we enjoyed it very, very much. After a day at the beach we head north on the Cabrillo Highway to Pacifica. Beautiful drive along the water especially with the fog rolling in. WOW. We picked this spot because it left only a 30 minute drive into San Francisco the following morning were my husband would be playing baseball in Golden Gate Park. Our room had a fantastic view of the ocean and the hillside and in the morning we could hardly eat our breakfast because we were watching dolphins and whales right off the shore. Two whales were playing and eating some 100 yards of the beach, back and forth right in front of the restaurant. Then a bit later a few dolphins showed up and starting playing in the surf. It was hard to pack up and head into the city but was an amazing start to the day. I know that Joaquin may not remember this first trip to the ocean however I will remember. I will remember this trip and the many more to come. My husband and I are already planning a trip to Pacifica again and it wont be to soon!