Exploring!

So I know some of you know what is going on with crazy us and some of you don't... so.... what's the story!?!

Well you all know the last move was a bitter one, and unemployment lasted MUCH LONGER than we would have guessed, we actually ended up in San Diego for over a year! But thankfully last month Dan was offered a full time, salaried flying job! He took it of course, after 17 months of unemployment we would have taken almost any job almost anywhere. (It wore me down enough that we actually thought about applying for a job in South Africa!) So here we are RENO! We drove in a week ago Thursday and that was the first time I had set foot in the city. Dan is enjoying the new flight department, we are enjoying a pay check, and soon we will also be enjoying medical insurance! The company that hired Dan is owned by an individual, who is wealthy enough to have an airplane to fly their cats to the vet in Sacramento when they want. :)

So that is the story!

Now to the exploring!!

It can get pretty windy here (I LOVE wind), so the kids and I headed out on foot the other day when the wind was blowing!! The river was a draw, I had to remind Jake a MILLION times to not get in because I did not want to get in!! :)
Leili is all about elephants and was so excited to find one at the park! :)

I am not sure what they are all doing in this picture but I like it anyway! We found the giant Indian head at the park too, it was a monument for Washoe Paiute, and Shoshone.

More adventures to come!!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

We Are Here!

Nevada welcomed us out in the middle of nowhere!

We made it safe and sound, we are settling in nicely, the house we rented sight unseen turned out good, and we have internet now! Hooray!
The drive was beautiful we split it into two days, the first was a little long but the second was not too bad although we did not get to drive though Mammoth because chains where required! We had quite the envoy, Dan in the truck pulling the Honda, Daddy in his Jeep pulling a trailer and the rest of the crazy bunch bringing up the rear in the van! Our own little circus!

We have found all the important things so far, the Reno Temple, Church, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Target, the co-op (more on that in another post!), Goodwill, but darn it I have not been to the library to get a new card!!

The mountains are beautiful to look at, I look forward to seeing the area green this summer! I know everyone calls this the littlest big city or what ever but so far I am lucky to have maps on my phone or I would not have made it home (several times)! I am just letting Dan be my driver for now!

The kids where all excited to have snow the other day, it covered the ground and then melted a few hours later. Win, win!!

I am still drowning in boxes, although this kitchen is oh so cute and original to the house (60?) it is small and we are missing the added space of a finished basement we had in CT. But it is our own and we are discovering all our long packed treasures (and a few things we are wondering why we packed)!!

Thank you all for your love and prayers!

XO

On the Road!

I could not resist to share one more with you all! Our family is quite familiar with moving trucks, and Leili is most definitely ours, she is IN LOVE with the truck! She even said "truck" for the first time!

We'll just call her Dad's little sidekick!

All Packed UP!

Back when we unpack!
XO

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

KALE!

Don't fall over, yes posts two days in a row! I guess I'm on a roll!! :)

So... we LOVE kale, yes it is true. Fern will eat the whole pan if we'd let her, and now Leili has found the love too. What 20 month old eats raw kale?
She stole my kale this morning when I was cooking, I asked her to show me the kale and this is what I got! :) I should have know better, "do you like SEE food?".
Why was I making kale for breakfast? I told you we LOVE kale! But seriously we have found a new favorite breakfast, Be Bop Breakfast! We are all a little addicted to watching Cookus Interuptus, it is made by the gal who wrote my favorite cookbook.

The purple on is my first copy, the pages are all fallen out and stained. Then a new edition came out and I got it for Christmas!! LOVE!!
So go make yourself some Be Bop Breakfast!



And now I need one of these!!

Leili Faces (and Dan too)!

Grumpy?
Silly!

Important work to do!!

It's February!!

That means LOTS of celebrating at our house!!!

On the 10th Riley earned his yellow/white belt in Jui-Jitsu!
You have to enlarge this photo and see his proud smile!

Sorry out of order, Valentines was all full of love, although I only got a picture of breakfast. I did not get a picture of my cute kids (I made them each something to wear), or our fun dinner and valentine giving with Mary, Novella, and Koa. Nor did I get a picture of the yummy fondue dessert we all enjoyed. oh well.

And FEBRUARY 11 was Riley's 10th BIRTHDAY! How can it be! He was stoked to get an old wooden military footlocker from Grandpa and us, and grandpa gave him this padlock so Riley received a little privacy (even if he still has to share a room with Jake and Fern and deal with Leili's frequent visits)!

10!

Oh The Posts That Need Posting...

Yes I am behind, things are just moving at a breakneck pace and so lets dive in!

Lots of scouting going on here, Riley is moving up to Weblos this month! After he completed all his Bear requirements he was able to work on a couple extra things, most exciting is that he earned his Whittling Chip. Yes that means my child can now carry a knife! He was very proud of himself and yes we did give him his own pocket knife.
And it is RACING time again! Jake is in a different pack than Riley so you'll see more racing next month!
Jake's car is the orange one in the crate with the other Tiger Cub's cars!

Jake's car did pretty well, unfortunately the race came when Dan was traveling so mom had to fill in a little! :)

Jake was quite happy, he tied for 3rd place! Although he was bummed to not get a trophy he was glad for the patch!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

What's Up?

Well first off I have quit my day job and am now a fashion photographer...

and Riley has decided to become a movie maker...

and Leili is our grateful drama queen (she said thank you for the first time today)!!

What are you quiting your day job for?

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Pictures...

Thanks mom ;)

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Leili's Faces!

This gal cracks me up!

Video complements of Riley!

A Recipe by Riley...

Tonight Riley taught us how to make Banana Boats!

First you cut the side of the banana, kind of "V" like, then fill with goodies, I did chocolate chips and a couple marshmallows!

Wrap it all in foil,

then put it in some nice hot coals! Cook for just a little bit...

EAT! YUMMMMM!!

My marshmallows did not melt (yes they are vegan but they have melted in other things), the chocolate chips were melty. Bananas and chocolate are SOOOOO good!!!

The End.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Poem...

I wrote a poem for Riley last night, well not wrote it sprang forth from my creative brain... errr or annoyance! :)

~

Riley, I LOVE YOUR GUTS

But sometimes you make me NUTS!!

~

It's all true, all of IT!!

Just playing a little...