"My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."
Clarence Budington Kelland
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My Dad never dictated how I should live my life but gently guided it. He never forced but encouraged.

My dad has always been my wise friend, my confidant, my sounding board, my compass and my hero.

My dad loved hearing me talk and oh how I loved to talk. As a child I talked endlessly. I remember my mother saying more than once, "Why do you talk so much?" But my dad just listened. He listened endlessly to my constant chatter or he pretended to...I would never have known the difference. :) I would sit on his bathroom floor with my two curly pigtails and watch him shave and suit up for his work day. I would sit there and tell stories about the comings and goings of my little life... nothing was too insignificant and my dad listened. He listened and listened.

He made me feel so important.

He made me feel like what I had to say somehow mattered and that my opinions were worthwhile. I have heard my dad say many times that he never thought of his children as kids, but rather adults in small bodies. He would take me on motorcycle trips, hikes,and we would go on endless runs all the while forging a relationship that I will cherish until the end of time. I have never stopped talking to him and my dad is still listening.

He celebrates my triumphs, he is worried for my concerns and his heart breaks with my trials. He loves my children and he loves me...no matter what.

My dad plain and simply lives his life, I watched him and he is my hero.

That same pigged tail little girl would ask my mom how she married such a wonderful man. She told me that when she was a little girl that she would pray every day for a good husband.
That day I started and I never stopped.

Every night the two staple things in my prayer were that I would find a good husband and that I wouldn't go blind. Yea-- not so sure why I was so freaked out about loosing my eyesight but let's just say I still add that in a prayer now and again. :)

Those childhood prayers were more than answered and I met the love of my life at 18 years old. Now my prayers have changed and instead of asking I am thanking. I will be thanking Heavenly Father for my wonderful husband for eternity.

So on father's day I celebrate these two amazing men in my life. Without them and their unconditional love--- I would quite simply be lost.

I am grateful for my dad and for my Tom.

A tiny find...

Just a little something that is fabulous.

They are on my entry doors in my foyer.

I just think they are extra special...

I am grateful for crystal and rusted out metal.

Going back in time....

What would it be like to raise your kids in a simpler time. No TV's, no computers, no cars, no phones...just your family on the farm.

Oh it sounds so wonderful at times. I know raising a family wasn't always easy in an earlier time but raising a family in the year 2011 can be down right overwhelming. My children face more difficult choices/situations then any other generation in history.

They also have the world at their feet.

The sky is the limit for all of our children but there will be many obstacles in their way. Never before has Hilary Clinton's words "it takes a village" rang so true. I am humbled and beyond grateful for every teacher, aunt, uncle, coach, scoutmaster, adult who guides, nourishes, teaches and loves my children. As parents of these precious souls in the year 2011, we just cannot do it alone.

So I find myself loving moments that seem like an earlier time. A simpler time. Whether it is my kids riding their bike on the trail to 7-eleven, constant backyard barbeques, or playing kick the can at night. So in my hometown USA the innocence and simplicity of just being a kid is alive and well even in the midst of today's chaos.

Two times this week I went back in time and stayed there...

Number 1: The reenactment of the Oregon Trail.
The third grade covered their wagons, filled them up with supplies and went on a hike. They were even ambushed by wild Indians. Then they played pioneer games all the while dressed in pioneer clothes. It was just everything that a modern day Mama needs to see. I was transported back to the 1800's for just a bit and it did my heart good. Mrs. Holcomb, Ella's unbelievable special teacher, wrote an email to the parents later that day. All she said was, My heart melted again and again today....thank you! I couldn't say it better myself.

My little Charlie didn't feel good so he took a little nappy in a wagon.

Tia just moved into our neighborhood, goes to our church and just happened to get in Ella's class. We are thrilled.

Number 2: The last day of school carnival.
Rancho Elementary does this every year but something was in the air this year. Perhaps it was the perfect 75 degrees or maybe Ella's new friends that she has made this year or maybe it was just because I have never been so ready for summer. But whatever it was I felt it in my bones and it reminded me so much of my own childhood. I just sat there smiling watching the children and their families picnic and play together and it was oh so wonderful.

It made me think that even though we don't live on a farm, in a forgotten time, that life can be just as simple. OK so that's a stretch... but at least for now everything in the year 2011 for my children is just as it should be.

Ella and Tia

Ella and Angelina

At the end of this school year I am grateful for all of my children's teachers. Here's to all the teachers that are changing and shaping lives one child at a time. Oh yea and I am grateful for summer!

Memorial Day Road Warriors

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
~Lao Tzu

I guess my family are good travelers...no make that great travelers.
This Memorial day weekend we just got in our car and drove. I know of very few children that would put up with Tom and my shenanigans. Our kiddos not only put up with it but they actually had a blast in the process. I have no idea how many miles we drove over a three day period but I am telling you it was substantial. It was in part because there is no better hotel then our cozy cottage. So our suburban meandered back home every evening very late.

Day 1 we drove to the wine country in Sonoma.
2 hours there.
We picnicked in the town square of that adorable town and wandered into shops that we really shouldn't with our crew.

Drove to the most amazing winery. I know, I know but they are soooo beautiful!!!
Drove some more to Jack London state park. (closed)

Drove to another state park named I can't remember and went on a stunning hike. Everything was covered in an unbelievable gorgeous, thick, fuzzy moss that my kiddos wanted to sleep on.

Drove back to Sonoma and ate at a fantastic Mexican restaurant ever. I am serious and even Tom agreed it was the best we have had in what seems like FOREVER! Now because we are us, we just had to try out a Mexican ice cream shop in town and I am thinking that it rivals bi-rite in San Francisco. It was a little like gelato and we might have to make special trips just for that crazy amazing stuff. Just to jog your memory of how serious we are about food you can look at this post here.
Drove 2 hours back home.

I never realized how identical those cute dimples are on both boys

All the pictures are sooc (straight out of the camera) except this one. I think I will post the edited later. Just too many to play with right now.

The hike

The fuzzy moss

Tom and I got a kick out of this. Lollipop in his mouth...I think this is the only thing that could make Nicholas look small.

Day2:
We drove over three hours and picnicked on this beach past Bodega Bay.
Oh what a drive.
The ocean was wrestless and the waves were huge. Water was pounding on the coast and water was hitting the jagged rocks that lay in its path. No matter how far I travel in my lifetime, I know that this is some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

Drove up the coast another 1/2 hour or so to the tallest lighthouse in California (115 ft.). It must be my dad in me but I love maritime history and have always been intrigued with lighthouses. I find myself thinking of the gale winds and huge rainstorms that happen so regularly along the coast. Can you imagine the relief and comfort that beaming light would be to those sailors?
We learned that there are no two lighthouses that are the same. At first I thought this one was a little boring in its all white but that quickly changed when we walked up the stairs and had a view from the top. Breathtaking!

Drove to Boonville for no particular reason except Tom wanted to see it. Just a side note... this 2 lane highway through a jungle could be the windiest road ever. That is saying a whole lot considering we just drove along highway 1. We did solid S curves for what seemed like days on end. If my kiddos didn't have iron stomachs it would have been a full barfarama.

In the end Boonville was absolutely nothing so we skedaddled to another town, ate pizza and then
drove our 3 hours home.

On top of the lighthouse

On one side of this picture is the ocean, up the road a couple of miles is a lush redwood forest and everything in between. The diversity of the pacific coast is astounding...beyond every S curve is something new.

Day 3:

Drove to San Francisco to the Memorial Day celebration at the presidio.
I know we are all trying to instill in our children the love of country. I want my children to know that we are free because of brave soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. What a humbling backdrop with the rows of graves as we listened to past generals and soldiers remind us of why we celebrate Memorial Day. To say I was touched is an understatement but to say my children learned anything is an extreme overstatement.
Benjamin and Nicholas were asleep. Charlie and Ella were running around playing tag on the tombstones. Needless to say it was not the learning experience I had envisioned. We will continue to try....I think.

Next we ate at Mel's and drove to Pacific Heights because Nicholas was begging to see the huge homes. He is seriously at the height of his materialistic youth...we hope.

And after all that fun we drove back to our cozy cottage and had a big, fat, Memorial day barbeque at our house with Doxey's and Call's.
So even though we didn't have any fixed plans and no real intent of arriving anywhere, me and my great travelers had a perfect weekend just exploring this incredible state we call home.

Off to Mel's

Drove to Pacific Heights

Nicholas pointing out yet another nice car.

I just needed to end on these pictures. Because of the time that I spent in Northern France, including Normandy I have been forever altered. War took on a new level of horror for me when I visited those cemeteries, memorials and battlefields. The destruction that war brings and the innocent lives lost are permanently planted in my brain. I will never take the freedoms of this country for granted...it is something that every American should see.

I am grateful for my Suburban, for this beautiful country, for the soldiers who protect it and for my great travelers.