Middle Trail Tale

We are thoroughly enjoying our holiday in Northern California. The air is cold but still we have been venturing out for long walks. Little ones need to run, explore and sometimes "eat it" in the dirt.

 At least that's what this little man did before I could get a picture. Joaquin's style most often includes a dirty knee (or two) so this is seriously a real style post!

He loves Middle Trail in Upper Bidwell Park. Do any of you know it? It is fairly flat and takes you along side a small lake. I have come to realize, aside from the occasional slide, Joaquin prefers a good walk and bit of adventure over a playground.

Linking to Small Style!

Joaquin is Sporting:

Sweater-Thrifted

Polo- Old Navy

Cords- Osh Kosh

Shoes- See Kai Run

Insta-Christmas

We are officially on holiday with family & friends.

There will be lots of food, wine, conversation & celebration in the next two weeks. I am looking forward to every.single.bit of it.

Merry Christmas & Feliz Navidad!

Linking to Life Rearranged for InstaFriday!

Rain + Kids = ?

 With so much rain for such a long time (it seems) I am open to pretty much any indoor activity that keeps the little ones busy and happy these days. Playing on my bed. Bouncing a (almost completely flat) ball back and forth in the hallway, pillow forts, singing, dancing and a lot of cuddling. In all honesty...kids need to be outside! To run, jump, kick, climb, explore and learn. JQ is just getting to the age where drawing and play dough is fun, thank goodness! But those activities don't fill a day for him. He has SOOO much more energy than that. Is that a boy thing?

Thankfully Stellita has become much more active and engaged and curious. The two have started to play together, sharing toys, giggles but not yet nap times, dang! JQ has tried to wrestle (playfully of course) his baby sister too..Although she thinks it is hilarious and gets a case of the giggles, Mommy just isn't sure yet!

 Stella is getting more mobile too. She gets on her hands an knees and rocks back and forth. (Precursor to crawling, no?) Today she pulled her self over to the crib rail and was peeking over at JQ and I. My Mr. says she will be crawling in less than two weeks. I think he is right!

We are linking with MamaLovesPapa again for Small Style which has been a lot of fun. Although "dressing" our children is such a small part of what we Moms do, why not make it fun and share, network and communicate with other Moms at the same time. Thank you Morgan for this opportunity.

On Miss Stella

Dress: Hand made by her GiGi (aka my Mom)

Onesie & Sweater Tights: Old Navy

Shoes: Gift (Robeez) 

On JQ

Overalls: Hand me downs (OshKosh)

Collared Shirt: Old Navy

Mixed Forecast

It is a beautiful morning even if it is a Monday. The sun is shining through our windows as we eat our breakfast (strawberries & cereal for JQ, Gerber fruits and snack crackers for Miss Stella and coffee & a bagel for yours truly.) Exhausted from the weekend I tend to be oddly optimistic on Mondays.
I am quickly running out of indoor activity ideas so this weather forecast (although a mix of rain and sun) is exciting! Living in a small-ish town has not afforded us a ton of indoor activities for rainy & cold days when we just can't stand to be at home any longer. We have even gone to the mall to simply let Joaquin walk/run in a large expansive area. (we are not big time mall go-ers) Believe it or not Barnes and Nobles (with it's train table in the kiddie area) has been a great go to place when needing to get out on winter days and on occasion I can even sit, relax and do a bit of reading myself while JQ plays. With more days like today however I don't believe we will be making trips to the mall to walk, that is until the temps reach 110 in July!

Staying In, Staying Dry, Getting Cozy

So much for the sunshine that the weatherman forcasted. It is cold and misty outside. Beautiful to look at through the windows while enjoying the fire.

A Hat For Baby

While rummaging through the hall closet the other day I came across all my yarn and crochet hooks. In Baltimore (while snowed in!) I had started a blanket for Stella but had not picked it back up since being home. Inspired by some of the yarn colors I decided to make "Lil Miss" a hat, but could not for the life of me remember how to get started. I looked online for instruction but that was impossible. Who can read a crochet pattern anyway? (I am not one to follow a pattern or recipe to begin with ...) Well yesterday morning I woke up and just suddenly remembered! Is it not strange how the brain works, or seems not to sometimes! Anyhow in no time at all I had made Stella a hat. I think it is adorable as is the baby wearing it. Don't you?!

Joaquin has a hat now too and with a bag full of yarn and a week full of freezing temperatures ahead there is no telling what I will come up with. Happy Crocheting people!

Rainy Days

The rain has started falling in California and Joaquin and I are stuck inside. Flash flood warnings, mudslides, power outages you name it. Winter was not going to creep in on us but rather arrive with a bang!! It has been fairly easy keeping my little man entertained so far. We dance and sign as always but have also started walking (with help from me holding his hands) and turning the pages of books. I sat smiling yesterday as Joaquin chatted in his own little language and turned the pages of his Baby Einstein book. Before he would struggle to get the pages apart or turn from the first to last page or just pound on the cover. I have a feeling it is going to be a long winter inside especially now that he is trying to walk and with my husband being away. Wish us luck y'all and pray for a few sunny days a week so that we can play outside!!