Spring-a few of my favorite things

It's the first day of Spring and I'm remembering why we live in Southern California.

It's been beautiful the last few days.

The girls have been playing outside until we drag them inside because it's dark and chilly out (yes it still gets chilly at night).

Some of our neighbors have tulips and daffodils that are blooming.

I love Daylight Savings! (even though I'm one of those folks that gets "totally messed up" by that ONE hour because I can't fall asleep before midnight).

It means Summer is getting closer and I'll have Reagan home for a couple months!

We've been using the grill again!

Strawberries are in season.

Cold season is almost over!

The Summer here can be pretty warm so we enjoy as much of Spring as we can outside.  So, today we are working on getting our yard in shape.  The weeds are nearly as tall as the trees.  I'm not joking.  I may take pictures, but I may be too embarrassed to post them. :D

I hope you are enjoying the weather where you are! Happy First Day of Spring!

My fourth daughter

No, I'm not pregnant.  Nor will I ever be again.  But I do have a fourth daughter.  One that travels with us wherever we go.  She even has a carseat in the van, and a seat at the kitchen table.  Have you seen her in our photos?  I bet you have.  She's everywhere.  (No, it's not one of the dogs either).
Can you see her in this picture?

She's tucked under Brian's arm.

It's Kayta.  Skylar's baby.  

She's quite the little mommy....

Sometimes I even get to babysit. ;)

Ode to Fall

It's my favorite season.

And it's here!

Kind of.

The calendar says "First day of Autumn" on Tuesday (the 22nd). Yet, ironically it's supposed to be one of the hottest days of the year. I suppose that's what we get for moving to the high desert.

Every Fall I miss the change of seasons that we experienced in Virginia. Fall used to mean an end to the humidity and a whole bunch of my "favorite things" were about to begin.

Like apple-picking (and drinking cider, and making pies, and apple bread...)


And the pumpkin patch (and pumpkin pie, and pumpkin bread, and pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks...)


And the LEAVES! It's one of the things I miss most about Virginia. We don't get a change of leaves here. (So if you are reading this and live where the leaves DO change, enjoy it...and then take some pictures and send them to me) !



And of course football, cinnamon candles, sweater weather, chilly nights, crackling fires, Thanksgiving, and great Fall produce.
Ah, I can almost smell it now.

It's coming. I know it is. Most of it anyway.

Until then, I will pretend that the "chill" is not my AC, and I will burn my cinnamon candles in protest of this heat wave.