30 days of smiles: Days 24 through 30!

That'll teach me to do a '30 days' challenge without factoring in the vacation and time away from a computer. Whoops!

The trip was great! MUCH needed. Honestly, there was a whole lot of stress around it and way too much of my mind was wrapped in worry at making everyone else happy... Yeah, yeah: lesson learned (though I may need a reminder next time around). We are SO glad to be home.

We spent some time playing in the park and eating amazing food in Ashland on the way down to California. We spent a night with Aunt Ronda in McCloud, Ca on the way down and on the way back home.

No pix of the festival!? I know! How did that happen? Also, pix of many people are lacking. I tend to forget to whip out the camera when I am preoccupied. ;)

Time in Shasta was incredibly healing... so was time with family and friends. The icing on the proverbial cake was soaking in the hot springs at Stewart Mineral Springs (on Mother's Day!) the afternoon before we came home. Words cannot express how much I needed that "reset".

This is probably my most scattered post so far and I apologize for that. I'm gearing up to be away from home for a week (and my little one... *sadface*) for a doula training. I'm trying to conserve some energy and ready myself, but I am failing miserably. Surely, I will have tons to post about when I return! 

30 days of smiles: To Be Continued...

I've got the pix, I've got the will, but the time and computer access are close to nil. ;) We're on vacation in sunny (and HOT!) California. We're visiting family, friends and just generally enjoying ourselves. This is the first trip we have taken as a family in... sheesh, I dunno how long. I'll post and catch up as soon as possible! Stay tuned!

SPRING (& an ode to Winter)...

SO so so so so much has happened since December. I swear, I never meant to take this long of a blog break, but I suppose life got in the way. Just to catch you up:

We moved! We decided to leave the coast of Oregon and settle inland about 50 miles just on the edge of Corvallis in a community called Philomath. It's small. It's all American... It just may be the safest feeling place that I have ever lived. We love it. We do miss the coast on occasion, but we resonate so much closer to the vibe that is Corvallis and we truly couldn't be happier with our decision. Here's a glimpse of one of the perks of our rental house: SUNROOM! We spend every morning (and much of the day) in here. We drink tea/coffee, do arts and crafts, watch the birds swoop in for snacks, play cars on the floor, color; etc. It really is a little slice of heaven. Note the playground just outside of our back fence. Baz is head over heels!

We've had visitors... One of which indulged the Bazlet in a serious jam session:

Ben began a new job (which he loves!) and we have taken a few breakfast dates to enjoy some alone time to connect.

We said goodbye to a very special animal friend... Actually, said goodbye to 2. My snake, Shiva, made his way out about a month and a half before my sweet kitty Shasta.

Breakfast dates were made possible by a little someone beginning preschool! That's his preschool building just past the trees. It is set at the edge of a gorgeous park and has a fab playground out back. Again, he's in love. Loves his teachers and making new friends. Working on learning the ways of school life and finding his place in the group.

Baz GREW!

...and grew some more!

I've found little bits of my spirit self that had been neglected and hiding... Feeling so much clearer.

Got some tattoos...

Matched by a Sister-friend!

Took a spontaneous trip to Cali to visit friends and fam (and my fave mountain: Shasta!).

Connected with a niece/cousin that we hadn't yet had the chance to know.

Spent time with cherished friends (& fam; many of whom shy away from the camera)...

and decided that we just can't live without a sweet kitty friend (okay, that's all me... I'm missing my Shasti, but I'm ready for the next adventure. We welcome our new kitty this Thursday!).

Okay, yeah... so, a lot has happened in the past season... much more than I have listed, surely. I feel like I hit the major points spot on, though. Looking forward to sharing the next changes. Feeling grateful for Ms. Amelia for kickin' my butt into blog action by requesting that I get to posting and expressing that she has missed my bloggy presence. Send us some "get well" lovin'. We've got a nasty cough/cold brewing in our house. Sun has been popping out for bits and we really want to get outside and take advantage of the blooms and light!

August, where's that break?

Ugh. Just ugh. Computer that we put our photos on... failing. Computer I am typing on? Geriatric & without iPhoto. Hence the lack of posting. Fail. I'm blaming it on that bumhole Mercury & his inconveniently evile retrograding ways.

Taking a 2 week trip to Cali to spend some time with the fam and with some dear friends. Stressed about trying to squash everyone into short visits so that I can see all of my lovelies. Extra stressed that I probably won't get to see a couple of loved ones that I very much want to see and have missed on previous trips (lOOking at Robertito & Pegalicious). Meanwhile., I'll keep taking photos and somehow manifest a wholly functioning computer in the next few weeks. Eventually, I shall catch up.

Big summery, sunshiny, blessings to you all!

Adventures in green & blue.

My fam spontaneously hopped in the car over a week ago and drove to Oregon in hopes of finding a place to relocate to. We didn't tell anyone we were going... heck, we didn't know we were going until the night before. It is just time. Time to be where we want to be. Time to be where our souls surge with joy simply because the air is pure. Time to move forward and live a new adventure; to journey into the present with our dreams intact. And so we were welcomed sweetly into the home of long time friends who are more like family. It has been magic. I am so humbled at being accepted into their space and given shelter and a safe space from which to manifest our new place of residence. So so so completely grateful.

Ben jumped back in the car a few days ago to get home to packing and Sebastian and I stayed behind to continue our apartment/house search. We have found the perfect rental just 2 blocks from the ocean... keep your fingers crossed for us. We should know if it's ours in the next couple of days! How will we get home? Perfectly enough, my sweet friends have a family engagement in the Sacramento area at the end of this week. We're hitching a ride with them and then spending some time with friends and family in Davis/Sacramento for about a week before hopping on a train back to Salt Lake. After that will be a feat of furious packing. We are moving to Oregon in early to mid May!!! And so, a tiny view of what is in store for us... Blue skies, blue waves, sand, sun, greeeeeeen & a healthy dose of RAIN!

McBride family forest @ Daisy Hill:

A bit of calm achieved... Trusting what is to come.

Tiny sandy footprints and a very fast boy:

Mama Ocean...

Very BIG smiles.

The Living Desert!

Our Thanksgiving was nice and low key. We started out with no plans to make anything other than a little something here and there as we desired it. We ended up with a full meal: wild boar, brussel sprouts, honey ginger sweet potatoes, cranberry chutney, french bread and a bit of wine & chocolate. Perfection. We spent the rest of the week lazing a tad, chasing the dog, wishing we could destroy the Elmo's Potty Time video after seeing it at least 10 times, hot tubbing, eating delicious food (including an awesome indian feast!) and enjoying fabulous company. Sebastian had loads of fun drumming with Grandma Myrna, playing with his "Old Grandad" Terry and keeping Uncle Andy (Grandma & Grandad's chihuahua mix) from kicking Murphy's butt. Oh yes, and Ben helped his mama prune her olive and grapefruit trees... that was big and much appreciated work. A friend of Myrna's gifted us with free tickets to The Living Desert, so we made time one day for a visit.

Sebastian was happy to be on the carousel... until it began to move. He proceeded to try to climb his way off and ended up riding draped over my shoulder. Weird... he ususally loves carousels. Maybe the music wasn't to his taste.

There is a fantastic little butterfly and hummingbird habitat on site. We spotted this tiny hummer's nest.

Here is one of 5 species of butterflies featured. They also had a "cocoon nursery". We were fortunate enough to watch one butterfly work it's way out of the last of his cocoon.

We saw some big cats mating... but it was over before I could even think of the camera. I did catch some camels exhibiting some strange behavior. Not sure if they were wooing each other or playing.

I got up close and personal with a goat names Sonny. Wise eyes?:

I think this might have been my fave part, though. So regal!:

Oh wait! The roadrunner was pretty awesome, too. He was kind enough to pose for the camera:

The turtles basked:

And the plants did, too:

I'd love to have a cactus garden like this, but I have no desire to live in that climate. Ben totally loves that heat. I am more of a Sequoias and Sea sort of girl.

Check out the thorns on this tree! Sorry for the blur...

We had a great time. Plus, we worked our legs walking around for about 4 hours. Good good times. If you find yourself down that way, make a stop at The Living Desert. I don't think you will be disappointed.