the mexican getaway.

"It's always refreshing to step into another time..."

~Diane Lane

Hola!  As you can see, our week away was full of laughs, family visiting, beach time, pool-side dances, a beautiful wedding...SUN!!!  We were able to get of of the resort for a couple of days to see Chichen Itza and to tour a small fishing town, Puerto Morelos.  It was such a treat for our faces to have a continual stream of vitamin D each day, and it was a nice break for me to not have to cook all week!  It was a new kind of vacation for all of us - baby on the beach, travelling with a big group, being prego and chasing Juju around, etc. - but, our little lion man was a champ and Matt was finally able to catch up on some much needed rest.

A great week away it was, but there was such an excitement about getting home...especially to walk in our door to see a fresh coat of paint on all the walls!  *once I get a bit more organized, I'll post some pics!  Maybe it was all that ocean air, or just a change of scenery/a week in another "time", it feels good to be back - home, connected, blogging, etc.  With our new home, no pressing agenda, summer *hopefully* on it's way...fresh routine: here we come!

Hope y'all had a good week!


pic pix:  our week in Tulum, Mexico, April 2013

be back soon ...

Remember that wedding that I mentioned a while ago, that felt like it would never come?!  Well, it's here!  Today we are flying down to Mexico to celebrate the marriage of my sister-in-law and her fiance ... my almost new brother-in-law!  It's been a bit hectic around here trying to get everything ready to leave (packing for a mobile baby - different than last time!) and I'm so sorry for my absence.  I'm hoping to jump into a new routine when we get back.  And, some other exciting news for when we get back...my house will be painted!  *Squeal*!  Typically, I would just paint, but being pregnant and thinking how easy it will be for the painters to come in while we're gone ... it was a quick sell :)

When we're back, I've got some 10 month pictures of Judah to share with you (my oh my, how is he 10 months already?!), I'll hopefully get some good shots down in the Mayan Riviera, some evidences of the fresh coats of paint (!), and the bit of rest (I'm sure!) will spur on some new thoughts!

Hope you all have a great week xo

pic pix: a bay in Manzanillo. Mexico, February 2011

happy weekend.

"Each day provides it's own gifts."

~Marcus Aurelius

pic pix: judah taking yet another moment to check himself out in the mirror, today at home.

colorboard / no.11

color: jade green

word of inspiration: revive [give new strength or energy to]

source of word: "...REVIVE me oh God, according to your word..." psalm 119:107

1. vintage cosmetic box /2. nail bling /3. i'm in love with these shades /4. nice ikat rug, for my house? yes! /5. love this porcelain /6. some fine art /7. shedding some light /8. a watercolor with horses...my kind of picture

ch-ch-ch-changes.

A nearly 10 month-old, new house, busy business ... it's time to have another baby!

Come November, we will no longer be a family of 3, but 4!  So many emotions to go along with the news - questions too.  Are we crazy?!  How else were we going to have kids close together if they weren't going to be close in age?  Will I be as busy as I think I'm going to be?  How did my mom do it having two kids 14 months apart...

I couldn't be more thrilled and kind of scared at the same time.  It's change again, and happening ever-so-rapidly.  And when there's change, it's refreshing, but it usually takes a hike to get to the point of enjoying the new reality.

A few years ago, I went with a girlfriend to Ecuador where we climbed/traipsed through volcanic ash, rafted down the Rio Negro, went bungee jumping, beached it, shopped, toured...we did, what seemed, almost everything we could possibly do!  Another one of our adventures was canyoning (repelling) down waterfalls...amazing.  We started at the top of a mountain then made our way down every waterfall sequentially.  The last waterfall was around 20-30 storeys high, and was, by far, the most exhilarating.  We were given the option to go down it as many times as we wanted, but the only difference was, we had to climb the steep mountain side to get back up.

It was so easy to just walk "down" to each waterfall and enjoy our little adventure that way, but to climb back up??  Not as easy.  It was in the middle of the rainforest, so if you can imagine, they were some slippery slopes!  I love to hike here in the Rockies, where you can usually climb up on snow or sturdy/rockier ground, most of the time able to find your footing ...I learnt that hiking in a tropical place is a whole different ball game.  And that exhilarating part of it being so high?  My legs definitely weren't to impressed or happy so to say after that climb!

We made it back up to where we repelled down the waterfall, and did it a few times again.  The drastic change of coming down a mountain to then needing to climb up it to be able to enjoy the repelling wasn't mentally (or physically) fun.  But the end results ended up being so worth it.

I guess I kind of see life like that for me right now - lots of work ahead - and that is what I fear.

To fight the fear, I've been clinging to this verse:

"Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God is with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you..." 1 Chronicles 28:20



How do YOU seek His presence and protection in times of change?



pic pix: our peanut no.2 (due October 30), 08.Apr.2013

dig the new digs.

Home is the nicest word there is.
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Our new home is even greater than what I was anticipating...it's relaxing.  It's open.  It's quiet.  It's home.  It has been unbelievably nice to have the pressure of moving lifted.  Moving is not a fun process (kudos to those of you who do it more often).  Getting into a routine will take a bit, but I'm enjoying just learning our new rhythm in this retreat we now call home.  I can't wait for the weather to warm up some to start working away in the yard.  A yard, I have a yard!!  Though there are a few things I will miss about our old place (like the oh-so-close 5minute walk to the provincial park, and the little seat in the shower that I utilized for "steam showers") they are definitely not enough for me to move back!!

Can't wait to share it all with yous!


pic pix: some snapshots of the new place (needing a paint job asap!), today ... at home.