A Taste of Fall

Fall in Santa Barbara hasn't been been very fall-ish. In fact it's been down right HOT. 

Well hot for Santa Barbara. High 80's to low 90's isn't coastal. 

It's a sticky mess. So off we went . . .

Ah, so much better! Utah was the perfect remedy for getting a taste of fall.

 Hard to believe this will be covered in snow soon!

Trying out the acrobatics:

 It took her forever to flip over! Like forever.

Afternoon delight!

Gearing up for our 3 hour hike at Sundance

The views were just amazing!

Absolutely no filters needed.

Nothing but nature in all its' beauty.

 A little snack for the trail:

The turn point:

Sophia and I spotted a friendly creature:

And no trip to Utah is ever complete (at least for me) without a couple of noteworthy signs.

Jealous

Dear Daddy,

Today is the 3rd year I am wishing you happy birthday from afar. I sit here thinking about what I would have written in your birthday card. Most likely it would have been, "Look who's GREAT at 78!" I would have called you this morning to wish you the best day.  I would have asked you what your day was going to entail and where dinner was going to be. But, instead I am just thinking about these things I would have done. I have really come to hate past tense.

I daydream a lot about you. When I run, I think about how extra special my life would be if you were still here. I have many life scenarios that will never come true. I often wake thinking you are not really gone. I also worry a lot. I worry Sophia & Kalista won't remember you someday. I miss all your worldly advice. I miss having you as my sounding board. I miss you.

I heard a revised version of a song the other day and I thought of you. The lyrics to this song in its' entirety have a different meaning. But I watched a young man sing a portion of this song, who's interpretation was of another. I was so touched by his rendition and found I truly related to his version/meaning:
I am jealous you are in a better place. I am so jealous of those elements of nature that still feel you. I am jealous Heaven has you. I am jealous I can't be with you. I am so jealous it hurts to breathe. 


JEALOUS
I'm jealous of the rain
That falls upon your skin
It's closer than my hands have been
I'm jealous of the rain

I'm jealous of the wind
that ripples through your clothes
It's closer than your shadow
Oh, I'm jealous of the wind

Cause I wished you the best of
All this world could give
And I told you when you left me
There's nothing to forgive
But I always thought you'd come back, tell me all you found was
Heartbreak and misery
It's hard for me to say
I'm jealous of the way
You're happy without me


Happy Birthday Daddy

I love you,

Jennifer

August Recap

School is back in session and I have been reminiscing about the few weeks preceding 

this annual event. I already long for summer 2016.

Sophia & Addy

I just love how these two pick-up right where they leave off.

Different schools...not a problem.

A precious moment of girl talk bonding.

Me and my munchkins!

Not so munchkins, I guess, huh?

While daddy was doing this:

We did this:

Shopping trip!

Cooling off at Menchies

Enjoying Dad's catch:

More beach time!

Why I love SB:

Glamping at El Capitan Canyon

(Way different from last summer)

 Pretty sure this "cute" livestock was the source of David's poison oak.

I won't share those photos. Your'e welcome.

 Just me and my shadow.

Makes me think of this old post.

Missing my Jeannine's breakfast buddy:

So cheers to summer 2015.

Now hurry up school and be done already!

And now the madness begins...

Oh the day finally arrived . . . School started. Ho hum.
My second grader took off without me giving her a proper hug and kiss.
My kindergartner was nervous, excited, and didn't stray far.

And of course, packing lunches had me back into creative mommy mode:

And now the obligatory first day of school family photo:

You would think I was going back to school with all the "stuff" in my hand. 

Back-to-school paperwork was no joke! 

So the madness of a crazy schedule begins. The duties? Here are just a few: Wife, mommy, chef, chauffeur (different pick-up times and different swim practice times), PTA Board member, school room parent coordinator, classroom volunteer, homework & Kumon sergeant. Is it June yet?! Oh and that other job of being a nurse. Huh? Didn't know I had a paying job? Well I do. My kids are always shocked when I tell them I have to work. Luckily it's from home because there is no other way it would work out. I know, a nurse from home sounds odd. In a very brief nutshell, I chart audit for the hospital. I have been doing this particular job for over 7 years now. Tidbit: I have been a nurse for 20 years of which 13 were spent in the operating room. But being a nurse is no longer a priority. The laundry list of duties listed above is why my heart beats. I will take the crazy busy of family life over a "career" any day.

"La, la, la, la, la. I can't hear you."

These. Three. Words.

I realize I fall within the minority for what I am about to proudly admit, but I am just going to be honest: I AM NOT READY FOR SCHOOL TO START.

There, I said it and I meant it. Summer break was too short. And no, it's not because I had my kids in a camp every week and therefore didn't see them. In fact, they were with me almost all summer (minus 3 camps for Sophia and 1 for Kalista). 

And before any judgement is passed: MY KIDS ARE NOT PERFECT NOR AM I. They are not angels. But they are not devils either. They are just kids who laugh, roll their eyes, play, give attitude, cuddle, bicker, and love. And I am just a mom who loves the dickens out of her kids but who also gets equally frustrated and is ready to pack a bag and run for the hills. Or maybe just a local bar. I'd even settle for hiding in the closet with a bottle of wine. Our family life is not made of rainbow unicorns. And with all that being said, I hate seeing this:

Every year I want them home longer. I think school days are too long (yes, too long) and the school year is too long as well. People think I am nuts, but I wish school let out at 2:00. That's right. Two o'clock for every grade. Wishful thinking on my part.

There may come a time when my kids don't want to hang out with me anymore. And that makes me sad. I hope I am wrong. My sister-in-law has 3 grown sons and I love how they love to hang out with their parents still. I have asked her for the magic potion, but she swears she didn't use one. So I am crossing my fingers the girls follow their lead.

And in case the thought of home schooling came to mind, let me give one main reason why it won't ever happen:

And to all my friends who don't have the same thoughts, I do understand! So this one is for you: