Summer sabbatical...

As H was marching through the leaves at our front step and then picking them up and crunching them in his hands, I was lazily thinking of all the autumns before this one. And then I suddenly realized - it is AUTUMN! I am not sure quite how it happened but I managed to take a summer sabbatical from our little blog. We spent the summer celebrating and traveling, cooking and cleaning, and having many family adventures, big and small. I hope to post pictures and stories over the next few weeks so that I can remember all of the things that have transpired over the past few months and so that those of you who are reading can know what sort of sunny black hole we fell into.

Until then, enjoy the beginnings of fall. H, J, and I certainly are. We have spent a good amount of time this weekend at the park or at the window watching the wind blow through the leaves in the trees. As the craziness of a new school year swirls around us, we are doing our best to stop and appreciate the beauty of it all as opposed to being swept away, as so easily happens with time.

Orange you glad...

H and J celebrate our bounty.

One of the amazing things about our little home is the abundance of fruit in the backyard. We have an orange tree, lemon tree, fig tree, pear tree, apple tree, apricot tree, cherry tree, and a quince tree. I love the fact that H can go out in the backyard and pick an orange and eat it. I did not grow up in a climate where that was possible and so it seems completely magical to me. H really enjoyed the time he got to spend with J this August. Much time was spent enjoying the wonderful outdoors in our yard, neigborhood, and city.

Family Portrait

H needed a family portrait for his classroom and our wonderful and kind neighbor took a few photos for us. So, for those of you who haven't seen us in a little while, here are a few photos to keep you up-to-date.

To Come Home to Yourself

May all that is unforgiven in you
Be released.


May your fears yield
Their deepest tranquilities.


May all that is unlived in you
Blossom into a future
Graced with love.

~John O'Donohue

Tahoe!

My first experience with Tahoe happened many years ago now and it involved a long journey, a very tired pick-up truck and an unexpected pit stop in Truckee. I swore I would never return. But lo and behold, after J took a fishing trip this spring swearing it was a stunning place worth revisiting, we took our first family vacation. Armed with some great locations from a Tahoe veteran we spent our wedding anniversary enjoying beautiful lodgings and the amazing outdoors. Thank you to each of you who helped us have such a wonderful family adventure. We really needed one.

Daddy goes fishing

We picnic while daddy is fishing

Trying to keep ourselves interested as the fishing continues

Just loungin'

What a cool park on the edge of Lake Tahoe

An unexpected dip in the lake

H loves the water

And has no sense of self preservation when it comes to water

Geese!

Donner Lake in the morning - cold but fun

Exploring with Daddy

These pinecones are amazing. And there are so many of them!

So beautiful

Figuring out how to use a straw

Last bit of fun before we head home.

Blues Boy

Sunflowers