Our first week in California

Moving is always a challenge. Exciting, but stressful.  Finding homes for your beloved nick nacks, cleaning endlessly and hanging memories on the wall.  By day three I was pretty exhausted.  Not just from the heavy lifting, but from the realization that this house will be our future full time home.  That I will be soon leaving the city I've grown to love and have been living in for the last 15 years.  I am not sure where all the time has gone, but memories created there have been priceless. 

Now moving forward and south, I am a bit overwhelmed by the pending reality that we are now embarking on. A new chapter.  I have no idea how it will play out or if I'll even like it. But it's a leap I can't imagine not taking. 

For me, and the planner I am, this will take a toll on my mental health lol. The uncertainty of it all. But I chug away, and drink lots of wine.

Hanging my clock I bought

at Hobby Lobby

The front porch

Having our giant weed cut down

Max and Oz enjoying the view

The back yard tear out. Making room for my garden.

The hubby getting down to work

Max helping with the heavy lifting

The Casa

Packing up shop, again.

It s that time again. Spring time.  The time where there is a constant drizzle of rain here in Seattle, and where the sun is stretching her arms wide in California.

I love this time of year.  Knowing that it is time to make our way south, and also knowing that when we return from California, Seattle will just be embarking on their summer.  The perfect homecoming.

I can't wait to get there.  Having my hands in the dirt, planting my first vegetable garden.  I am stinkin' excited. Can you tell!!!

a big ol' mess packing up

our make shift work station

hubby made me a built in dresser before he
brings all this tools to Cali.

Mama's room

So now for my dream room.  And yes I say my....

It has been a few years since the hubby and I have shared the same room.  Not because any love is lost, but because he makes a horrific noise when he sleeps.  And any of you who has a partner that snores, I feel for you.  It's so frustrating hearing your love one in a pure blissful sleep while you toss and turn. Or trying to rush to sleep because you know if he falls asleep first, your night is over.

  Nothing makes you want to suffocate someone more.  Anyways.  So, I dub thee, Mama's Master Room.  All girlie and all me.  And of course he can come visit when ever he wants.

I like clean lines, but not too modern.  I like a little bit of a rustic feel, mixed with a little romance.  

I will take some before and after shots after my vision is fully revealed.

I can't wait to sleep here!

more practice

So I convinced two more of my friends to let me capture them on film.  I figure no one really likes their picture taken so I was pleased they allowed me to do it. (you know how hard it is to say no to a friend)  I made it super casual and fast.  That way no one had time to get cranky.  But I tell you, trying to get a shot where everyone is looking at the camera or standing still.....near impossible.  But it is fun trying.

Looking at the finished product I can tell where I rushed or didn't give enough direction.  All learning points.  One I must drill home is to slow down.  Slow the F' down Gina.  Because when I am in a rush, I sometimes miss the moment.  The real candid.  Or I get a great shot and someone blinked and I rushed through it without taking more shots.

I can't wait till I have more victims.....

Cute families huh.

Family #1

Family #2

inspiration boards

I mentioned last year that we bought a house in California.  This was a big deal for us, buying a second home and not in our beloved Seattle.  Although it had been in the talks for some years, it was scary and exciting to actually pull the trigger.  Now we bought this house with the intent of moving once Max entered school.  This is purely my choice.  The hubby is ready to pack up ship and head south now. For me, I am not ready.  I am not ready to leave my friends.  I know this sounds co-dependent, and for the record I am working on it.  But my friends are my family.  They have seen me at my worst and weakest.  My most triumphant, and blissful.  They are the first I would call with great news, and who I would turn to if I needed a shoulder.  How could I leave them?  All purely selfish.  It isn't really about them needing me, but me needing them.  In Cali I have made some sweet friends.  But it is very difficult to build community and lasting relationships when you are only there a few months out of the year.

So anyways.  I apologize for the tangent.  We leave next week for our three month stay in California.  Our goal is to make our new house, homey!  We have bought a couch, and a big ol' king sized bed.  And I was so stoked with those purchases.  And how to create Max's oasis.  He will be turning three in June so I think it is time to get him a big boy bed.  I am a little reluctant because I like our jail, I mean crib just as it is.  It works and it is easy.  But he can't be a baby forever.  SO since he will have a big ol' room, I wanted to take advantage of the space and make it magical.

What do you think?

The bed I found on Amazon.  I thought the cave below would keep him busy for hours letting his imagination go wild.  The canvas art is from Ikea and will look super cool on the main wall.  It is HUGE.  The other stuff is just knick-knacking shiz that I think would add some cute character.

What think?  Too busy?  Flat? Boring? 

Or, amazing?

Currently { a link up }

link up and follow Harvesting Kale

This weeks words, Declaring, Saving, Demolishing, Sniffing, and Despising.

I am declaring a few things.  That my clothes will fit me properly and that I won't want to wear spanx with jeans anymore.  I am also declaring that I will get pregnant before Max turns 3.  Not sure why that's my timeline but it is. (this may also be problematic in my clothes fitting).  And I am declaring that the next three months in California will be awesome!  Which I know will not be a problem.  It is setting up to me a great time!  Max is declaring to do things on his own.  Brush his own teeth, go to school, and snuggle (which he has been declaring since he could speak).

I am saving my money for new furniture for our California house.  I want a king size bed and a new couch.  Other than that we are pretty set.  Just a few visits to Hobby Lobby,   World Market, and Homegoods and I will be happy happy happy!

Max is demolishing everything.  Demoing puddles, cars, buildings, Ozzie and his mother.  I am currently only demolishing twix bars and loads of carbohydrates.  The white devils that they are.

Max has also been sniffing things now.  Before I would try to make him smell things like flowers or his feet.  He usually only copies the motions, but now he actually takes a big inhale.  "That smells good mama".

I am starting to despise the battles that Max and I are having.  Thankfully they aren't all day or everyday, but they are enough to wear me down.  I know he is finding his independence, but damn child-my way or the highway! Got it?  Well no, he definitely 
doesn't have it and probably never will.

TapOut!

I feel for single mamas and applaud the fact that their heads don't explode.  Since we have been back from Panama, the hubby has been in California tending to business.  This happens occasionally where he is gone for 12 days, but for some reason, these 12 days are seemingly lasting F.O.R.E.V.E.R

I read on Facebook today an apology from a mom who had a bad day and was less than a stellar parent. She apologized for lack of patience and grace.  Her apology resonated with me. I had that day today as well.  Where I yelled a little to loud and my gaze was just a little too harsh.

But we are embarking on three people! Three, where they start to test you.  Your strength, your follow through.  Your will to live.  Like they know exactly where to go and poke you to make you explode.  Too many days like this and I am ready to climb in a cave.  I keep looking at my watch.  Is it 8:00pm  yet?

But then I feel horrible.  That awful parent guilt that is almost worse than the initial poke you received from the monster.  But this is what I think happens to parents when they don't have that break, that time to themselves where they are not answering questions, feeding food that doesn't getting eaten, changing diapers and clothes while trying to defuse the tantrum that is ensuing as you are doing so.  Pleasant stuff I tell ya.

But back to my original sentence.  I feel for single mothers.  Those who don't have a constant partner in the ring.  Someone they can tapout with.  Some one you trust.  Where you can leave/run out of your house, as fast as you can to grab a drink or perspective. My mother was one of these mothers, and I can tell you I didn't make it any easier on her. And sadly for us, we have no idea what sacrifice they gave until we are fighting the same battle ourselves.

But of course with the bad, comes the awesome.  The moments I hear him talking in his room to his cars, or Ozzie, repeating the same phrases I use with him daily.  "I know honey" is the one he is using a lot these days.  It kills me every time I hear it.  I think he has little idea of the context, which makes it even more wonderful to hear.  Sweeter even, if that is possible.

So, as I go to bed tonight, I too, like the Facebook mama, will wish for a better day tomorrow.  Where I can be better, more solid, and a champion for my son.  Every day is a test, I just hope I can slide through it without to many ripples.

"cooking" in ozzies food bowl

a crap ton of cars

movie night

fun at the aquarium

Kale smoothie 

koi

buddies

nom nomo

P.S of course all these pictures are of him being charming and cute.  But we all know how fast that shiz can change.