Thanksgiving Weekend

We celebrated Thanksgiving untraditionally this year. I actually worked Thanksgiving Day morning with RT and Little P helping out. My work hosted a Thanksgiving Day hike at one of our private properties called Black Lake Ecological Preserve.

This was the first time that we did not spend the day with any of our family. While we missed celebrating with family, it was very nice to not have to travel this year. Friends and colleagues left early on Wednesday afternoon to travel. Driving home with the hustle and bustle of commuters, I drove home slowly savoring the knowledge that we didn't have to pack our bags or brave the Thanksgiving Day rush.

We went on the hike in the morning. Our friends, the Mayotts, were in town. They cooked a turkey while we were out. We prepared everything else and had them over for dinner. It was a very nice way to spend the holiday.

For sure, the number one reason I am very thankful this year is the birth of our daughter. Life has been enriched and so different through the lens of a little one.

We had a crowd of 50+ join us that morning.

A rare view overlooking the city of Arroyo Grande.

The dunes look so peaceful and still until you hear the humming of the ATVs.

We also spent some time the next day walking along the Estero Bluffs trail which is north of Cayucos. The weather has been very cold but with the sun shining through, it's the perfect combination.

I am so thankful that we are able to live here in beautiful surroundings where there are hosts of opportunities to be out in the fresh air. 

Starting out at the Estero Bluffs trail.



Taking it all in.

Even Jannu seems captivated by the view!

The last stop before returning home.

Harvest Bounty!

Upon returning from our Cambria outing, RT received an e-mail from a newly established farmer's market in SLO. We had gone last weekend to check it out. They had some sign-up gimmick where you fill out the survey and also enter a raffle drawing for a free box of produce. I was filling one out for myself and RT says to fill one out for him, too.

Well, lo and behold. RT won the free box! He had to drive all the way to SLO to pick it up. We thought it wouldn't be worth the drive for a little box of produce, but he went anyway.

He returned home all smiles. We got a BIG box of stuff! Two bunches of fresh flowers, honey, beef jerky, strawberries, raspberries, squashes, eggplant, tomato, lettuce, and lots more! It was definitely worth it. We were so giddy with excitement! You'd think we won the lottery! I'd say it was worth the trip!

Weekend Outing

It's nice to be able to take a short drive and get outside. With all the rain and the busyness of life, Jannu has been neglected lately and has a little cabin fever being cooped up in the house. We went on a little outing to Cambria to walk along the boardwalk and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Along the boardwalk.

Checking out the rig.

Loving it on Daddy's shoulders!

Sitting on the job!




Peeping Toms...front row seats for the search & rescue training!

 

Fun Times

We are definitely a family that likes to have fun. These days we are usually trying to find ways to entertain our little one. We have gotten quite creative but I have to wonder if we are doing the entertaining or are we the ones entertaining ourselves? Poor kid...

Cheers!

A Lamb, A Girl, and a Guardian

Our little lamb.



The cotton balls didn't last too long...



In all his glory...

 

The best part of my costume were these shoes! A thrift store find to boot!

Usually Halloween passes us by uneventfully. For the past few years, we've been lax about putting decorations up or evening carving pumpkins. I'm afraid we didn't do too much by way of decor this year. A few weeks prior, I was in a store and saw a cute little costume for Little P for about $10. Pretty inexpensive. I came close to buying it, but then I thought, maybe I should make her costume. After all, this is her first Halloween.

Then that same afternoon, we were invited to a Halloween party. Luckily, the invitation was actually a month before, so it gave us plenty of time to come up with a costume. Now mind you, my husband and I have actually never gone to a Halloween party since we've been together or even hosted a party (that translates to 13 years!). Crazy, now that I think about it.

Originally I was going to make an owl costume for P, but after thinking about the wings and having to hold her throughout the evening, I thought against it. So, I found the lamb idea on Martha Stewart's website. It was very simple to put together, and I must say, she was awfully cute!

For my costume, I also had to consider it being a "baby friendly" one so I could hold her without dealing with attachments and such. I chose Pippi Longstocking because she is one of the many characters in books that I have loved throughout my childhood. Again, this was an easy costume to put together as well. I found the dress and shoes at a thrift store, bought the wig, and socks, and I was ready to go. As for my husband, he took some time to come up with an idea. After shopping at some thrift stores, an idea started to morph. It changed a couple times to finally end up as a Tea Party Guardian. He held the sign and glued a bunch of signs that came from their website. It was a very clever costume, and it was a great conversation piece at the party!

P had a great time with her cotton balls. We had to take off her costume because the cotton balls were so tempting.

I only regret not going to the pumpkin patch to get some snapshots of her with the pumpkins. Oh well. One step at a time...at least we made it to a party this year.