Heaven

I have found myself writing and then rewriting this post as I just don't know how to do this experience justice. We will see if I can get close, however I am certain I won't.

Aaron and I were fortunate enough to head up to VINHAGEN with our dear friends the Beck's. After a late night road trip, got in at 4 a.m. we arrived. Since we unpacked during the evening we did not know what we were in for. When the sun came through our screen windows the next morning (two hours later) and I took a look outside it was clear that we were set up for a weekend in paradise. Our weekend was full of incredible views, fabulous meals, some excellent company (Ash, Clay, James, Attitcus, Megan, Greg, Jessica, Matt, and Fergie), great fishing, a wood burning hot tub (enjoyed at night underneath the magnificent stars), canoeing in the pond, walks, cows, magic, Henry's Lake, Mesa Falls, late late nights, UNO, smores, warming up by the fire, the Continental Divide, wood chopping, lounging, talking etc. It was such an awesome camping experience. The cabin was built in the 1920's and is in its original form. No electricity, no phones, no internet, no lights, and no crazy world getting in the way of our relaxation. This really was the ultimate escape and respite that Aaron and I were in much need of. Aaron and I are forever grateful to the hospitality that the Peterson's and Beck's have extended to us and have some fabulous memories due to their generosity.

Swinging enjoying the beautiful summer day.

The cute lil rainbow's.

Up at the Continental Divide. Snuggling close due to it starting to do a summer snow/hail.

Aaron and Clay toasting to a great weekend. With a favorite drink of Clay's, Henry Weinhard's Root Beer.

The walk down the road.

Roasting marshmallows for the smores.

On our way out on our last day.

The girls of the weekend.

Mesa Falls

Me and the Mr.

I am so thankful that a couple of months ago, one late night, this plan came about and that Aaron and I were able to enjoy such an amazing weekend. It truly was an unforgettable experience that is dear to me and has filled my cup. It has entered the top 10 list for sure.

I can't finish this post without a big shout out Thank You to Laura and Courtney for taking such good care of our kiddos while we were gone. I never worried about them once and I can't say enough what a great blessing that was for us.

THANKS BECK'S!!! We love you much and can't wait to see you soon in Cali.

Roaches

So my job in LA is great and I am in love with what I get to do every Monday through Friday. However, I did not love the baby cockroach that walked right across the top of my foot today while I was meeting with a client on their floor. Yup it's true. I was on the floor working with this client on a project and I felt a little tickle across the top of my foot, thinking it was just a fly I ignored it. But the tickle kept going so I looked down and sure enough a baby roach just walking across my foot. No biggie really!!! Right. You might be wondering what did I do? I brushed it off like no big deal and kept on talking with my client as if nothing happened. Don't you worry though I did not show that I was freakin out but my heart was beating so fast. After I brushed it off it continued on its path and walked across the room. Fun times in South Central.

A perfect holiday

Over the weekend of the 4th Aaron and I were lucky and got to escape to Utah together. Thanks to our friends the Nielson's we were able to leave our doggies in California and enjoy our first trip to Utah together since we lived there over a year ago. It was such a treat to be together in Utah. Utah will always have a special place in my heart, afterall it is where Aaron and I fell in love. We were so happy to be there together enjoying the beauty that is everywhere in Utah during the summer.

Aaron and I headed up to Logan one day with Jeremy and Aaron's dad to do some fly fishing. It was, as you can see beauiful. It was so great being outside doing something so fun together.






This lil guy has got to be one of my favorite buddies in the world. He is so happy and full of so much joy and love. Spending time with him is just fabulous and makes me so happy.

Here are some of the boys (minus our Matty cause he had work) Jeremy, Liam, Aaron and George enjoying the summer afternoon on the front porch.



The night of the 4th we headed to Sugarhouse park to enjoy the show. I can't believe that after living in Utah for almost 7 years I had never actually gone to Sugarhouse for the firework show. Liam was going bananas for the fireworks, it was so cute to hear how excited he was "up up up up up up BOOM BOOM," "did you see that?" "oh my gosh!" He was too cute that night.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

Check out the rad snake on my cheek. Jer did it as I was trying to get Liam to be cool with getting something pained on his face, he was mostly interested in painting on Jer Jer's arm though.


The morning of the 5th we headed up Little Cottonwood to go to Lisa Falls. It was a short beautiful hike and once again reminded me how gorgeous Utah is.

Our 4th Holiday was great. Utah was wonderful and we enjoyed being with our family and friends. We got in my favorite sugar cookies, a snowie, visits to family and friends and some much needed relaxation. We are excited to get back there soon.

Weekend Fun

Weekends really are the greatest. I am so thankful for Saturday and Sunday and look forward to those days the whole week long. Aaron and I really try to take advantage of the weekends as much as possible. The last few weekends have been no exception. Unfortunately I only have a few pics of our recent happenings, but the memories are there.

The last couple of weekends have included:

• Heading up North about an hour to take Bear to Castaic Lake, it is a bit passed Magic Mountain. We took the kiddos up there so Bear could take part of the Southern California Portuguese Water Dog Club water practice. It was so great to get him in the lake and watch him practice swimming and retrieving. While the people there were pretty much a bit crazy we still enjoyed watching Bear have at it in the water. Thomas and Kate went with Nico and we enjoyed the afternoon with them.

• Later in the evening the day we went to the lake we headed to the Getty for a picnic dinner with friends. The day had cleared up to be beautiful and sunny. The view from up at the Getty was fabulous and the company was not too bad either. We enjoyed laying on the grass, eating and chatting with our friends and strolling around the Getty.
  

• This weekend Aaron and I planned that we would enjoy the sunny weather and company with friends. Saturday we headed down to Laguna to have a nice beach day. Aaron dropped me off at 1,000 Steps so I could enjoy one of my favorite work outs. (kicked my butt as usual but so fabulous) We then set up shop at Salt Creek beach at 10:30 and stayed there until 3:30. It was sunny and hot and a perfect day for the beach. The Waites, Murrays, and Williams met us there and it was just nice to be relaxing together. There was some playing in the waves of course. I have to say that diving in the waves is one of the most awakening and refreshing things ever. I absolutely love the feeling!!! After some fun in the sun we went to Villa Roma with Amanda and Mason for one of my favorite sandwiches, empanadas and Guarana.
  

• Sunday we were surprised with a visit from our buddies the Waites. Aaron recently bought a new surfboard and Mason tried it out at the beach and could not stop thinking about it. So they headed up here to get him the board. It really is one of the funniest things watching these boys get so excited about new surfboards. Even though Aaron wasn't buying a new one today he was so stoked for Mason and just kept smiling and being pumped. At one point it was said that they think surfboards are sexy. After hanging out at the surf shop we went to Mulberry Street Pizza to enjoy dinner with some Pinkberry after. Passionfruit...SO good. We pretty much big fans of Amanda and Mason and think not only are they great friends but a breath of fresh air. They are so real, honest and refreshing.
  

I really love the weekends and think the 5 day work week is brilliant. I really need my weekends and find it is the perfect time to rejuvenate. Anyone want to join us at anytime let us know. We are always up for visitors and would love to play anytime, so let us know.

Summer weekends to look forward to:

• Salt Lake City for the 4th of July, can't wait (Liam, George, Matt and KT, fly fishing, sugar cookies)
  
• Some more LA fun with friends
• Hopefully a visit from mi madre (need to make some trips to the LA fabric mart stores)
  
• Idaho with the Beck's (I have missed my Ash, what can I say it's true)
  
• Murray's are coming out to their timeshare in Newport in August
• Sunny beach days

CHEERS TO THE WEEKENDS.

What I am loving these days

• Dreyer's slow churned Yogurt Blends, Tart and Honey. I cut up some hershey's chocolate bar and sprinkle it in there. I find myself having this treat often, at least 3x a week, is that bad? I would be doing sprinkles but I forgot them last time I did my grocery shopping. So next month it will be Tart and Honey with sprinkles. Yum yum.
• Our community park a block away from our house. It is the greatest. We go in the mornings, afternoons and evenings. We work out there, take the dogs and just walk around. On any night there softball games, soccer games, kids soccer camps, work out bootcamps, dog park area, archery, swimming, rec center workouts, etc. I imagine that when the city planners planned this park they had the dream it would be hustling and bustling with locals using it to its capacity and well they did a great job. We are there almost every day (no exaggeration) and love the feel it gives the urban area we live in. It is cool to be in this huge park, surrounded by a golf course, and look up and see the city skyline.
• Bella and Bear. I just love them, I really do. They are so loving. There is just something so great about a dog who walks up to wherever you are, sits down and just looks up with you with the most loving eyes. Or a dog that when he wakes up in the morning walks up to the bed and just puts his head on the bead and stares at you until you wake up. And a dog that snuggles like no other, almost as if it is her job and duty in life.
• Allergy medicine. It is what is getting me through my day right now. My allergies are crazy out of control the last couple of weeks and I seriously for no joke feel like I can't function without taking my medicine.
  
• The anticipation of seeing my family next week when I visit UTAH. I am so excited to see my nephews and give them so many loves. I can't wait to see their parents of course too.
  
• Our plans for a full beach day on Saturday. We will be heading down south a little on Saturday. I am going to run the stairs (one of my most favorite work outs) head to San Clemente, and then end the day with one of the greatest sandwiches from the Argentine market we love.
  

A perfect match

There is nothing that can get between my Aar Bear and his Bear Bear. They love each other so much and it is one of the cutest matches I have ever seen. This weekend Aaron and I took Bear on a play date with his new friend Nico. Nico is also a Portuguese Water Dog, 6 months old, the lil guy of the Brennan's. (Aaron went to school with Thomas this last year at USC and he and his wife Kate got a portie a few months ago, they live near us and are great fun) We went with the Brennan's on Saturday to hike Runyon Canyon. Runyan Canyon is one of the most popular hiking/work out places I have ever been to. It just so happened that by the time we got there it was pretty misty which turned into a good light rain. But that did not stop the heards of people we saw. It was a gorgeous hike and I can't wait to go again on a sunny day to enjoy the amazing views at the top. Well so as you can imagine Bear was running around happy as could be and playing with Nico. When we were done with the hike he was a MESS. Dirty dirty dirty. So that meant a bath for our buddy buddy. I was lucky enough to snap a few pics of Aaron and his Bear taking a bath together. Aaron really has got to be one of the best dad's I know. He would do anything for his Bear, Bella and me...even if it means getting in a bath with a filthy dog and enjoying it!

Dreams and Realities

Have you ever stopped to day dream about what you want your life to be like? What you want to do when you grow up? Where you will live? What will your house look like? Will you marry, and if so what type of person do you see yourself marrying? How many kids do you dream about having? What do you dream that your kids will do? Will they run around happily playing? Will they grow up to have good lives? What will your neighborhood be like? etc. etc. etc. I am sure many of us have taken some time out of our days to think about similar thoughts. I am almost positive too that the thoughts we have all day dreamed about have been happy ones, with sunny days in the background, kids laughing, pretty neighborhoods, and fun times. I guess I just wanted to say keep dreaming these thoughts and enjoy your daydreams and hopefully reality one day too. You don't know how fortunate you are that your daydreams are like this, so happy and hopeful.

I guess you could say today was a rough one...a heavy day that's for sure. The kids I work with here in South Central are not your ordinary kids. While they have the ordinary kid problems and worries like if kids will like them, are they cute enough, and have homework that they don't like, they also have worries and problems that are so incredibly heavy. I know we all have heard about kids being raised in neighborhoods that are not like your daydreams, but honestly my heart breaks for the kiddos I work with here in LA when I realize what their neighborhoods are like and what their problems and worries are.

I had a kid today describe in full detail the shooting he witnessed over the weekend. A 16 year old male who is a tough kid, no softy. Has been raised to be tough, not cry, and to be pretty aggressive. He has been involved in gangs ever since he was under the age of 8. When I met with him today the young man I met with was like a young boy. Fearful for his life and his families lives. And this is not the first time he has felt this way. This is the 4th shooting he has been witness to, which may be an underestimate in all honesty. He recalled a time when he was under the age of 5 where kids on his street used to run around, play soccer and hang out on their front yards and street and sees the stark difference of today when people do not got out unless they have to go somewhere. No one plays on the streets anymore, at least not on his street. And his street is not the only street I hear about this. The majority of my kids say the same thing.

I could not help but be so proud of this young man I was meeting with today and meet with every Wednesday night. While he lives in such a terrifying world and has experienced so much we can't even understand he is thriving. He resembles resiliency to a T. He is making good choices and is going to be graduating from high school on time, not an easy task in South Central. Seriously did you ever worry that you would not graduate on time? That was never even a thought of mine. He is no longer gang involved and is working on being a positive male in the lives of his mother and sister. (of course his father is not around) I am so proud of him for all of his efforts.

I really just can't believe how lucky I am. I am so fortunate and I am certain many of you reading this are extremely fortunate as well. While I know we all have our challenges and our lives have not been roses we still have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for the daydreams I have and the ability for my brain to have the dreams it has.

Everytime I meet with the kids I work with I lend my daydreams to them, through the hope, belief, and sincerity I offer to them. While I always stay realistic I never stop trying to lend out my optimism. I try hard to do this and know that the kids I am working with are borrowing my daydreams, I just pray that for them they could borrow them long enough to turn them into their reality. Dreams do come true is what we are brought up believing but my worry is that if they can't even dream it how will they get it to come true.

So if you happen to meet someone who you can tell is having a hard time dreaming, offer up your hope, your dream to them, let them borrow it for as long as they need to. Even though it is hard to see the positive end result when I am in the thick of it I know a change is gonna come, one day it will and that is what keeps me dreaming for those around me. All it takes is 1.