Going Nuts!

On Saturday night Aaron and I took the girls to a Modesto Nuts baseball game. They are a minor league team in the area. (Pretty silly name for a baseball team...but it's because our area is well known for producing almonds and other nuts!)

We all had a lot of fun. It was cute to see Aaron explaining the basic idea of baseball to Grace. She enjoyed having him pull her arm back and pretend to pitch at the same time the real pitcher did. I don't know if Eve even realized that there was a ball game going on! She was distracted by all of the people in every direction; and loved clapping along with them when the Nuts had a good hit or made a run! Aaron an I were loving the fact that we were in a public place where we didn't have to keep the kids quiet (no one noticed them being loud because everyone was loud!) Most of all, I think we all enjoyed being in a new, exciting place with our family!

A Year Gone By

It's been just over a year since I started my blog! In celebration I've listed the "Top Ten" things that have changed since last July (in no particular order:)

10. Eve's hair...last year's "boy cut" is now full of curls.
9. Grace draws faces and people instead of scribbles.
8. The girls actually play together.
7. We live in a new house.
6. Less tantrums for Grace
5. More tantrums for Eve
4. Eve speaks
3. Grace is fully potty trained
2. I exercise regularly (and I'm really enjoying it!)
1. I feel like I have two little girls (as opposed to a baby and a toddler.)

I'm sure I could go on and on with things that have changed in a year's time; and I'm sure there are more important things than what I've listed...but this is what came to mind in the few minutes I had to write this posting. What a great year it has been!

Then

Now

Julyssa

I just had the most wonderful opportunity to visit my best friend Julyssa! I stayed with her and her family for five days in Arizona while my girls visited their Aunt Becky, Uncle Jason and cousins in Clovis. Poor Aaron was home alone catching up on a lot of work. I sure missed them, but the whole thing was great. It gave Grace and Eve a chance to bond with their cousins, me a chance to have fun with Julyssa and help her out (she just had her second baby and her husband Adam is studying for the bar exam.) Being away from my family also gave me a greater appreciation for them. I returned home feeling recharged and more mindful of my great role as wife and mother.

Julyssa and I had a blast. We talked, and talked, and talked! It was therapeutic. I also had fun playing with cute Nyomi (her 3 yr old) and of course holding her sweet newborn Dylan. It was such a good feeling to hold this new baby and stare into his knowing eyes. We also had the chance to do a little craft project and some shopping together...lots of shopping. One of the highlights of the trip was our photo shoot (although I complained about being the subject of Julyssa's photography!) Julyssa is an amazing photographer and in addition to her photo shoot of me, we spent some time taking pictures together (with the help of Adam.) It was fun because as we were posing for the shots we started getting really silly, and at one point we couldn't stop laughing. It was like a grown up version of us in high school!

I am so glad I went. I am very grateful to those who made it possible for me to have this little adventure.