Some January Fun

Usually, January is a big ole blur of post holiday blahness for me, but this year, our January kept us hopping. It started out with a bang, as we stayed the night over at our friends' home in the valley for your New Year's Eve. Their kids & ours had a blast as you can see, and they banged pots and pans together in the front yard at midnight to welcome in 2011. Shaw family, we love you guys!

But even more exciting than that moment, was Dan and I actually went on a little get-away trip to Morro Bay & San Francisco for our 14 year anniversary. I must say that was all made possible because of our sainted niece, Rhaquel, who flew out from Washington and watched our girls for 4 days and 3 nights. And when I say "sainted," I'm barely exaggerating, this girl is a gem! The girls keep saying that they miss her, and believe me I miss her too! It was an awesome blessing to have peace of mind that our kiddos were in good hands and to be alone with my husband, absorbing the beautiful weather in Morro Bay, and then the eclectic sights of San Fran.

Funny thing is this, I definitely have reached a new phase in life as I enter into my mid-30s. When I was younger, big cities like San Fran & L.A seemed so inviting to me. They were places that were full of life, energy, and possibilities. I have to say that now as I reflect, Morro Bay was much more enjoyable to me than San Fran. It was scenic and beautiful and very calming. The What once seemed glitzy and glamorous to me now struck me as a bit gritty and over-priced. My youthful independence & sense of adventure have been replaced by a concern over the amount of germs that had passed through the San Francisco transit system bus I sat on, and I kept thinking, man strollers would be tough to maneuver in this place....

Oh man, having kids really does change you, doesn't it?

PS
That plate pictured above is the "anniversary dinner" my girls prepared for us. Move over Emeril....