Monthly Archives: December 2015

Took Our Time

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Today we took our time to begin another adventure. We slept in and drank coffee while looking at the newspaper. Afterwards, Jeff and I worked out and showered and got dressed for the day and began packing and cleaning.  I have to tell you that it felt so good not to rush and to not let stress in.  This is the best way to travel.

We all worked together packing bags and cleaning and loading the car. We stopped on the road when we felt like it, ate a snack in the middle of the day and truly enjoyed our car ride. The kids had their headphones on and it was quiet and peaceful in our living room on wheels.

  
Life is good.

  Happy Eve before New Year’s Eve!  

Playing and Exploring at Stanford

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Here I am. There You are!! How are you? I hope you’re enjoying the last few days of 2015.

Here I am, playing and exploring and relaxing with my family this afternoon on the Stanford campus, downtown Palo Alto and at home sweet home.  I want to share with you some of the beautiful and fun things we discovered while wandering and exploring and geocaching.

  
The oval.

   Gorgeous light on a naked tree in a green field.   

  Exploring the new arts building.

  
Gorgeous planters around campus.  
Exercise as play.   
  Charlie found the smallest geocache ever and was so proud and excited! 

    
  Playing with shapes. 
Hoover Tower as the sun went down.

  
Playing together at home.

Life is good.

Happy almost New Year. Wishing you lots of love and peace!

nAMaste

Sweetness

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This is just one of the sweet things I enjoyed today that made me smile. It’s an Oreo Pizookie and it’s the sweetest thing that hits that ooey-gooey yummy spot!

I wish I didn’t love food as much as I do, but I do!

Julie made me a delicious sandwich today and I think it tasted so good because she made it for me. Have you ever noticed that something you can make for yourself tastes so much better when someone else makes it for you? I think there’s a love additive they add.

And one more food story, just to see if you’re hungry yet…I was the lucky one who got to finish off the last few bites of the Christmas Gruyere au gratin potatoes with arugula and bacon. Mmm…was all you could hear and I couldn’t see anything because my eyes were closed, as I savored and enjoyed the decadent moment.  They were that good!

The other sweet things had nothing to do with food. 

We took down all the Christmas clutter and my house feels spacious again. I love Christmas decorations and I love putting them all back in the attic again before New Years.

The final sweetness involved spending time with friends. We were so thankful that our Dutch friends chose to come see us again before flying back home tomorrow. We loved having them here and fondly remembering our time living abroad, so thankful that we made lasting friendships. Thank you J, S and B for coming by and for dinner. We love you guys! Tot ziens.

Sweet dreams.

xo

(Pop)Corn on the Cob

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We stayed home for Christmas and are practicing the art of not having a schedule, which really tests my patience. My family loves it, but for me it’s really uncomfortable to not have a plan. I do find joy in that the day lasts so long doing “nothing.”  At 5 pm tonight, my day was full of nothingness and I was ready for bed.  Not really. But it felt like it. 

I did enjoy watching Christian pop his Christmas corn on the cob in the microwave and seeing some of the popped kernels still attached to the cob. Juliana wanted to eat it right from the ear.

 
I enjoyed the spontaneous moments and a morning hike with friends.  Jeff went to the store and planned and made dinner which made me very happy. He also did rounds of dishes today, so I didn’t feel like I was the only one cleaning up after everyone. The kids all helped with chores too, so this made the day at home much more enjoyable.

We had appetizers together and read and watched a family movie, among other things. I think it’s been good for our souls to not be over scheduled and committed and to just flow. We are actually relaxing! What a concept.

I hope you’re enjoying your holiday break too.

nAMaste

Determination

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You know how they say to see the gifts in a person versus seeing what bugs you?  

I just have to share how much I love Charlie’s determination and clearly knowing what he wants and being able to advocate for himself consistently and repeatedly until he gets what he wants. He is an excellent planner and negotiator and I truly admire him.   
Congratulations on selling your Dutch bike and saving your Christmas and birthday money to finally buy your Fixy bike the day after Christmas. 

I’m excited for you and am glad your dream finally came true. I hope you love being outside and riding for hours.

I wonder what you’ll dream up next. Oh, the anticipation!

What are you determined to create or bring into your world?  

nAMaste

Christmas – Break?

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We are staying home for Christmas and I have these sweet dreams of what it will be like, having us all together in our “cabin.”

Let’s just say the dreams in my head are different than my reality.

Our timing is off. Our desires are different. Our levels of cooperation aren’t in sync. This is our happily ever after?

We made a nice dinner for just the 5 of us. I was so happy that we weren’t in an airport or freezing in the snow or stuck in the car for a long journey. I felt thankful and was looking forward to watching a movie together or playing a game or going out to see the Christmas lights.

That was until our boys started arguing and the little one wouldn’t stop making noise. The disagreements continued and the discussions ended in frustration and the boys were dismissed to their rooms for the night. No movies. No games. No light shows.

I guess I got a break from them, but this wasn’t the Christmas break I dreamed about. I am enjoying the quiet though. There’s always a chance for a do-over tomorrow. I just wish they could learn before they cross over my patience threshold.

I hope they learn before the break is over because I really want us to all just get along and hang out and live it up, together. 

Wishing you peace.

xo Adriana

 

Photo Booth Fun

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I absolutely get a kick out of these every time. I love being silly and watching my family and friends be crazy, wild and free too. It’s good for my soul.

 Thank you R&D for hosting a fun and festive Christmas party this past weekend. We definitely lived it up!  

   
    
    
    
    
I hope you get a laugh out of our silliness too and make time to play with your beloveds.
xo namaste

 

Amazed

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I don’t often feel amazed anymore by the newness of life, as I’ve been there, done that. 

However, tonight I felt amazed while I straightened Juliana’s curly hair and helped to put on her makeup for her first formal high school dance. She looked gorgeous and grown up and I was amazed.

I was thankful that she was going with a great group of friends and that her friend’s mom graciously agreed to host a formal dinner for 11 girls and invited me to assist.

It was a beautiful evening and I loved seeing all the little girls dressed like gorgeous young women, looking very grown up, ready to dance and live it up. It’s their time to shine and they did. I was so happy to observe and to be part of their celebration, as a witness to time passing right in front of my eyes.

  
 
Life is good, even if my baby girl is really growing up after all.

nAMaste