life – Page 25 – ~HB ADVENTURE~

January 11, 2014

Quick Update

This last week was going to be the week that we got back to normal, after being sick and Maggie having a big break from going to school. In a small way it was ‘normal’ in that Maggie went to school for those three days and our house hummed back into life without being decorated for a holiday. We were supposed to have my grandparents over for lunch, but they had to cancel. My mom was able to come down for a visit instead and while we were eating lunch, we got on topic of the most wonderful spa in the world that I had two gift certificates to. Before I knew it, I was packing up my bag to head to the spa, all while air-guitaring around the house, and headed out the door.

I went to the spa by myself for four hours and had the best time. I didn’t talk to a soul, read my book and ate big plate of noodles and veggies. I also got a body wrap….which I’ll probably never, ever do again. Barry had given me a huge package last year for my birthday, and I decided to try out the body wrap. I ended up feeling very claustrophobic and not exactly relaxed. Lesson learned. But huge thanks to my mom for offering to watch the girls and encouraging me to go. It was the most unexpected way to spend half a day, and very much appreciated. I’d typically be salivating over going to the spa, but I hardly had time to do even that….just a few air guitar moves while I packed.

The next morning my aunt, Nancy, came for a quick visit and we sat around talking and catching up. I didn’t take a single picture of her visit, but it was still nice to see her, since the holidays were a bit busy this year. My mom ended up taking Maggie to spend two nights in Anacortes and so after they all left, it was just Augie and me.

Having just Audrey around these last two days have been somewhat productive for me (during her naps) but I’ve also learned how involved Maggie is with our every move. I also think that Audrey really misses having her big sister as a play companion, too. While Maggie has been in A-Town, I have gotten play-by-play updates of what she’s up to (bowling, roasting hot dogs on a big fire, visiting Midge, playing train with Grandpa, etc.) and even though I get lonesome for her, I’m certain she’s having a ball. Audrey has also had a chance to swizzle her hands on some toys (markers, dolls, etc) that Big Sister usually keeps away.

We’re headed up to get Mags this morning….I miss The Little Biscuit.

audrey bell in front of house

audrey bell eating fire place
audrey bell_

audrey rainbow colors-2

January 5, 2014

HB Does San Francisco

I’m ready to be done with epic posts about holidays, years in review and vacations, but I’m not willing to let these times pass without trying consolidate events in some form of sequence. In early December, we joined Barry on a work-related trip to San Francisco for a week. We stayed in a very fancy hotel in the heart of the city and spent majority of the week exploring the Bay Area. In look at the pictures, now a month later, it is very apparent to me that I only busted out my ‘big’ camera when Barry was around or we were in our hotel room, juggling two kids in the city was enough to deal with, let alone take any photos of the experience. So, these pictures are a slim glimpse into our week.

My brother had sent us a detailed e-mail about some of the places that he likes in the city it was very helpful and fun to find different nooks and crannies that he loved. Tartine, also recommended by Cora, was a super yummy bakery. Since I love baking, and Netflixed nearly all Cake Boss episodes after Audrey was born, it was fun to go to a bustling bakery. Barry also went to Blue Bottle Coffee and stood in line for a tasty drip.

During the days that Barry was at his conference, I took the girls to a few different neighborhoods in the city: Bernal Heights, Noe Valley, Russian Hill, Chinatown . As a family we went to Golden Gate Park, Saulsilito, Fort Baker, Rodeo Beach, Ocean Beach, Lands End, The Wharf, and a few other places that aren’t coming to mind. It was fun to have a reason to get out and about, and staying in our hotel, although fancy, just wasn’t ideal.

Our hotel was right next to Chinatown and parking on the street was very, very challenging. We went with the choice to park in the hotel garage, valet, and it felt so awkward, but there really wasn’t another option. I have no doubt in my mind that the valet guys got a kick out of our little crew. With the exception of the first morning, we’d come down into the garage (because it wasn’t until the last day that I realized that all the other valet people had their cars brought to the front of the hotel…) with everything we might need for our daily adventure. They really were friendly to us, but every day I felt like a country bumpkin out of place. By the end of our trip, they wanted to hear all about where we were going and what we had planned for the day, often suggesting things that we might like or areas that were similar to what we’d enjoyed.

Kara had suggested to me a trip to The Golden Gate Bridge Fortune Cookie Factory. After looking on the map, and determining that it was only half a mile away, I loaded up the stroller with our bag full of things for the day, along with Maggie. I also strapped Audrey in to the Ergo and hit the pavement to find it, deciding that we’d hop into the car, and skip a stop at the hotel room, on our way back. Here’s the thing about San Francisco that I failed to think about: THERE ARE HILLS EVERYWHERE IN THAT DAMN CITY. That said, a simple half mile walk, while pushing a loaded stroller and wearing a baby was enough to do me in. And then to discover that the “forturne cookie factory” was down a random alley way, left me in tears of laughter. Kara and I, or maybe Kara with anybody, tend to have really interesting/fun/random adventures and so seeing two little old ladies behind a glorfied waffle machine was simply endearing. I bought $5 worth of cookies that would have lasted a lifetime, had I hauled them home. To say that I was sweaty mess by the time we got back to the hotel and car, would be an understantment. For the remainder of the trip, when I had difficulty gauging how far something was, I chose to drive when I had both the girls.

It really was a fun time, lots of great parks and areas that if I never had to leave that little patch, I’d be happy. More than anything, I became appreciative of where we do live and how convenient it is to do things near our home. I’m starting to have a deep, deep yearning to have a space that allows us to be a bit more wild and free, but living in the heart of a huge city for a week, I realized that our set up is pretty great.

And now for the pictures:

audrey bedhead sf

maggie audrey papa slide sf maggie barry park sf maggie dancing on wall sf park

January 1, 2014

2013 in Review

JANUARY

The first month of 2013 will forever be the month that we became a family of four (five if you count Sydney). Audrey Bell came into the world on the 20th of the month and everything before that, the not so fun ending to my pregnancy, seemed like a distant memory almost immediately. Maggie was smitten with her sister and has since proven to be Audrey’s biggest fan and fiercest protector. Other than having a baby, me finishing work, and a few other things, January was a month of hibernation and waiting.

FEBRUARY

We went to Skagit County to celebrate Grandpa Rhone’s 90th and realized that traveling with a newborn might be easier than traveling with a toddler (ha!). Maggie started nursing New Baby, permanently wore her tiara on her head and danced every single chance she got. The soundtrack of our lives became tiny baby cries, Maggie’s piano….along with her harmonica. That’s the sound of love, Baby, the sound of love.

MARCH

We gifted Maggie with a pair of tap shoes that she insisted on wearing everywhere. We also took Maggie’s annual birthday picture in anticipation for her invitations and party, which she planned on her own, asking for ‘marchers with instruments’. We went up to visit the grandparents and had a quick photo session in the daffodils, always a bit too late for the tulips.

march maggie birthday picture

APRIL

The tap dancing and harmonica playing continued to be a source of entertainment, we finally went to Harrison Hot Springs with my parents (and loved it!), and celebrated Maggie’s birthday exactly the way she wanted it. I also think March was the month that we started to get out of the house a bit more. Maggie started to take a 5 week ballet class and the weather started to become a bit more enjoyable. We also had to start buckling Audrey into the swing…

MAY

With May came the start of the time in the year where we fling open our doors and begin to use our backyard as an extension of our home. We bundle up and peel off layers as the sun plays peek-a-boo with us. No big trips for the month of May, but a few visitors here and there. Audrey started to spend lots of time observing from the Bumbo as the rest of us did different jobs. My Dad came down with Izak and Rich to update our parking situation.

JUNE

In February Barry had gifted me a stay at Chico Hot Springs for my 33 1/3 birthday in June and so we hit the road for about ten days and drove to one of my most favorite places. It was mostly a good trip, but unpacking and packing with two young children made for some weary times. My camera also died, which forced me to enjoy the trip in a different way, which was a good lesson in enjoying life, rather than focusing on documenting life. Barry picked up a long board in Missoula (love that place, too) and we busted it out on most pit stops. Chico didn’t disappoint in any capacity, if anything we wished we’d chosen to have more time there. The day after we returned from our trip, Barry did a triathlon, placing 5th in his age bracket (out of 100 or so). We also celebrated Kara and Ryan’s December wedding with a reception at the beach.

june barry chico

june barry race deception challange june chico maggie barry june chico maggie barry-2 june audrey portrait project

JULY

We spent the 4th of July at a cabin near Mount Baker with a group of friends, but the day before we enjoyed a gathering that Barry’s mom and dad hosted at their house. Aside from visiting family and friends, according to our pictures, we spent July at home and in our yard. Maggie became Lion Girl every night and charged from one end of the yard to the other, while her sister laughed and we commentated. I also started the project of taking a portrait of Audrey each day in her 6th month. Barry got a new truck, after driving a tiny red car that he never fit into. The night that we took the truck for a test drive we drove it to Seattle and ended on top of the Space Needle without a diaper or wipe in sight. Thankfully nobody pooped or puked. Very fun night and the truck has been a great addition.

july grandmother

july sister love

AUGUST

The Adventures of Lion Girl continued with the heat of August, a game played during Special Time every night before bed. We also went on some epic tricycle rides, with Barry learning to long board. Maggie spent hours riding her tricycle this summer. The first weekend of the month we helped to celebrate my mom’s birthday by going Fake Camping at their house for a couple nights. We set up our tent and set up shop and it was the best way to do it this year. Trying to go real camping this year didn’t appeal to us with an infant, so the safe haven of my parents place was a perfect mesh of that. We went swimming/SUPing at Trafton, and aside from me having a bit of nervousness about Maggie on the board with Barry, it was superbly beautiful. My mom’s simple request to have us all together for this event is a tradition that I’ll probably eventually take on as my own. The end of Audrey’s portrait project came, but I think the month of taking intentional pictures each day taught me a lot about photography. August also was the month that Barry’s grandmother passed away. She was a firecracker of a woman and is greatly missed.

august audrey portrait

august jumping

august fake camping

SEPTEMBER

September is one of my favorite months, maybe its the teacher in me, but it is the shoulder season before Summer ends and Fall takes over with the cold breeze. This September was full of bittersweet moments, however. Maggie started preschool three mornings a week and it was a rough start, with tears of sadness for her most mornings. Our calendar was full each weekend with Barry’s birthday falling on the same day that our friends Jeff and Allison got married. Maggie rocked it as a flower girl in their wedding, she was so brave and awesome. Audrey, as usual, was easy going and spent lots of time with Uncle Brian that weekend. Barry ran the Skagit Flats Half Marathon with a new PR. My mom and I hauled the girls around to different points and we were able to cheer Brian and Barry on. Fun race.

OCTOBER

Another trip to Harrison with my parents and brother, it isn’t Chico, but it is darn close. This time around, Barry and I took a night and went out to dinner at the fancy resturant. We’re not really go-out-to-eat people, but it was really great to have nice conversation over some yummy food and drinks. I also branched off for a walk of my own one morning along the lake. It was a swift walk, but going untethered sometimes feels so good, if only for a few minutes. Halloween happened. Maggie insisted on being a pumpkin, after origianlly planning on being a duck, and Audrey a lady bug. My mom’s quilting habit overflowed into our house and I tried to get some pictures of the girls with one as a background….it was chaos and hilarity all rolled into one. Maggie started to wear my necklace to school to help with her sadness about being there. It helped immensely and she became more confident about the experience.

NOVEMBER

Two Thanksgivings, a trip to Disneyland, and more bike riding was November in a nut shell. We also shot the annual Christmas card, which was a fun challenge. November was full of fun, we fondly look back on our trip to Disneyland as our first kid-centered vacation and it was delightful, shockingly so. Most likely our fullest month of the year, and finally feeling like we’ve hit our stride. Audrey crawling, crawling and Maggie ever present to keep her safe.

DECEMBER

Another full month with a trip to San Francisco, gingerbread house decorating and Christmas to celebrate. We joined Barry on a trip to San Francisco and stayed in the heart of the city at a fancy hotel. City living was really fun and interesting for the week that we were there, but the best times of the trip were the ones where we found places to run wild and free ~ the beach, parks and quiet little neighborhoods. When we got back from our trip, we took some time to visit grandparents and finally get our own home ready for the holidays. It snowed and we welcomed the couple inches with some playtime before it melted away quickly. Christmas was fractured this year, maybe it was our trip to California, or family not all being present, but good lessons for us and the need to start some of our own traditions in the coming years. We had the sweetest, most special time Christmas Eve morning with Maggie opening a couple presents from us and Sydney. We gave her a necklace to go with her ballerina music box and after she opened it, she stood and looked at it and then quietly hugged Barry and then me. After she put it on, she went and stood/danced in front of the mirror with it. Audrey mostly enjoyed ripping paper from leftover presents, but swooned over a particular baby doll and the photo book we made her. Barry and I didn’t exchange gifts, with the idea that we’re due for Spring Fling with each other after Audrey stops nursing. I love our little family with every little ounce of my heart. Great year.