We are Family...

If there's any family that can sing that song "We Are Family"...I got all my sisters and me, it's Reva's. Some day I'll see all those sisters again and it will be glorious. I miss them terribly, even the one I haven't met yet, Sabrina. Here they are with my mom and Allan visiting on their way to Alaska. I'm soooo jealous.

REECE!!

Even though, so terribly sadly, I've never met my little nephew Reece I could just EAT him up! Look out little buddy.

Elk

Five years ago some dummy took a revolver and shot (ten times) and killed Big Daddy, the patriarch of a beloved elk herd that used to gather peacefully in the meadow by the little lake in Bear Valley. They locked up the evil idiot, but the herd wasn't 'heard' from again until just the other day when some young bucks ventured down to graze upon the tasty field. They were gorgeous and their crown-like antlers (still had a little fur on them... but you can't see it with the picture quality here) gave them a dignified and regal air. I almost felt like kneeling, which I should have done because lower down I might have gotten a better 'shot' of them. They were VERY far away and even with my 500mm and cropped sensor it was hard to get close enough. But you get the idea.

A little dip

On the one day it wasn't sub zero outside, the kids dressed up in their swim gear and announced it was time to go swimming. I was eager to go too. When we got to the community pool there was a class going on in the big pool so we had to wade in the baby pool until the class let out. Thing is, the baby pool is not heated and the water was like ice. And although Ben and Zoe looked even cuter with purple lips to go with their suits, they were shaking too much to play. And holding Zoe was like cuddling a Popsicle which I had to do because she was burrowing into me for warmth. Finally, when the class let out we ran into the big pool and sighed with relief, even though it was only marginally warmer than the baby pool. We should have gotten the hint that maybe it still wasn't warm enough outside when we spent an excruciatingly cold hour there and not a single other soul showed up. At least we lived that day in a way no one else did... there's something to be said for the unique quality of that time. No one said childhood OR motherhood should be comfortable. But it IS fulfilling.

blocks, walks and heroine

My morning walk is just the drug I need to keep me going through the rest of the day. It's an addiction really. And I know it is because when Steve goes on trips and I'm without my walk I spend the time shaking in the corner while the children have to puts cold compresses on my forehead and constantly put on and remove thousands of blankets while I shake uncontrollably in the corner. Or maybe I just forget to take my heroine. :)

Either way, I'm grateful for my alone time with Kali (and with myself). It's usually the only time I have to think my own thoughts, the only time my brain is not devoted to constant interactions with the kids. Which I love too. There's never a dull moment. Here Steve gets to enjoy those NOT DULL moments as he plays blocks with them and take pictures in the early morning.

Lizard Wizards

Our next door neighbor found a bearded dragon at work and brought it home for his kids. Ben was so excited. He and Hannah played with that thing for hours. And that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. They now play with crickets, rollie pollies, garden snakes and other lizards the cat drags in. It's nice to see Ben have someone with whom to share his passion. And I mean that in a purely all things creepy crawly sort of way. He'll see Hannah's beautiful honey colored eyes through the lizard some day soon enough. But I'm not ready to witness that kind of passion in him yet.

NOT ponies

It was Mother's Day fun at the Equestrian Center where we were repeatedly told that the ponies pulling the carriage were MINI HORSES, NOT ponies. Well try explaining THAT to a two year old, when you don't believe it yourself- kind of like explaining about Santa Claus :)

We even went on the big horse ride too. But then we were told they were thoroughbreds, NOT just horses. :) Okay, that part I made up.

Plus it was nice to have Grandma there to celebrate Mother's Day. I think she had fun too.

Transylvania - Tehachapi... uncomfortably similar words

Sometimes the mornings are so foggy here in Tehachapi that it's like walking out into your own private cemetery. But hey, who said you can't build a summer home over a cemetery? We've even made friends with the poltergeist! We've just had to make it clear how annoying it is when it rearranges the kitchen furniture. It was funny the FIRST time.