Honeymoon {November 2008}

{This post is a little late.  Our anniversary was November 15th but I spent the day in bed with a cold.  I've been a little under the weather (I think it's called morning sickness) but I'm feeling much better!}

Most people reading this already know that we got married in Jamaica.  Actually, if you're reading this you probably attending the wedding.  Your wedding day is one of those days that stays with you for a long time.  And I hope by remembering the little moments each year, I won't forget.  But this post is about our honeymoon in Jamaica.

We decided to honeymoon in Negril at a little place called Rock House.  We had a secluded room with a private deck and outdoor bathroom. Our room had no tv or internet.  It was just the two of us and the sound of the sea below.  The weather was terrible.  Their was a tropical system sitting right on top of the island that came the evening we checked in and didn't leave until we were back in the States.  Our resort was known for snorkeling, with private ladders leading from our balcony right to the sea.  But we didn't touch the water the entire time we were there.  The water was too rough and the ladders were taken up.  We couldn't even swim in the pool b/c it was so close to the ocean and the waves were knocking into the pool.  But it was still perfect in every way.

We spent our days just the two of us lounging on the deck reading, sleeping, and eating.  You hardly saw another person because the resort only has 34 rooms.  It was the perfect way to honeymoon.  When we did want to be around people we went to the outdoor lounge area where their were board games, a bar, and internet.  Or, we explored Negril and it's colorful people.  The food was amazing...

As were the sunsets and vistas...

But the very best thing about our honeymoon was 10 days alone with my best friend.

Thank you for an amazing honeymoon in paradise and two perfect years of marriage.  I will cherish the memories we have created for as long as I live.

You have given me the greatest gift on earth and I can't wait to go on our next adventure together... parenthood!

Summer {Part 2}

bumblebees bzzzzzz'd

lazy dogs lay

Butterfly flowers...

And succulants grew...

In my secret garden

laying poolside

with twin babies

toy cars vroooming

and a quick trip to the city by the bay

All good things must come to an end.  Goodbye Summer, 2010.  

Hello, Fall.  I'm ready for you.

Conspiracy Theory

I think there is a conspiracy between the U.S. government and Hollywood to try and sway the general tv watching public into not having children.  Maybe our government sees another baby boom coming and thinks it will be too much on our fragile economy to handle?

I turned on the tv last night and a movie called Motherhood was playing.  Have you seen it?  It's an Uma Thurman movie, not her best by a long shot.  The jist of the movie is how to balance motherhood, self, career, and marriage, and how it's just not possible without becoming a crazy neurotic bitch.  I stopped watching after stay at home mom, Uma, has a particularly bad day and decides she is going to run away.  She jumps in her station wagon, lights a cigarette, pops in a tape of something she would have listened to before having  children, and heads for New Jersey. 

Maybe there have always been movies like this and I'm just now paying attention to it because I am in my child bearing years (at least according to society and the ladies in the grocery check-out line. Not according to science.  Science would've liked me to be done having children and expecting my first grandchild).  But I remember movies like Baby Boom and tv shows like Murphy Brown, portraying mother's as strong women who balanced career and motherhood.

Anyway, back to the point.  There is a lot of stuff out there right now that focuses on women's lack of control of self once becoming a mother.  There's a whole genre of "mommy bloggers"  that focus primarily on how hard it is having kids.

Another movie that scared me to death: Marley and Me.  I was so distracted by Jennifer Aniston and her tirades and fighting with her husband after having kids that I forgot the movie was about the dog.  I'm sure there is some truth to all of this but isn't there a good side to having kids, too?  Where are the shows about that???

Schools should stop preaching abstinence and instead take their students to the local movie theatre for a little show and tell.  The scene in Marley where Owen Wilson's character stays in his car longer than necassary after a day at work because he doesn't want to go in and face his family was enough to make me want to practice abstinence!

A girl can dream

Now that Markus is based in San Francisco and reality is setting in that we may be moving to the city by the bay, my new obsession is to look at craigslist apartment ads in our favorite neighborhoods.  Most in our price range are studio and 1 bedrooms.  Which, after owning our 3 bedroom  home for the last 3 years, can be a little depressing.  We will think of it as the "living bohemian" chapter in our marriage.  It will be quaint and kitchy.  I envision myself scouring flea markets and buying local produce from the farmers' market on the weekends.  And, on the upside, I will have no problem decorating an apartment that small!

But after laying my eyes on this listing over at Hooked on Houses, I'm not sure I can downsize.  I'm thinking we need to start playing the lotto!

The size is a little garish for my taste.  I don't think we need our own basketball court or au pair suite. Our children can play basketball at the Y and our au pair can stay in one of the 7 bedrooms ;)  But I will take that kitchen, the views, and the fabulous decor and attention to detail.  The molding alone makes my heart skip a beat.  Not to mention the panoramic view of San Francisco from almost anywhere in the house.

More photos can be found on the properties web site.

There's an island way out in the sea

In June

 we slipped down to the islands 

and spent a few days in paradise

 It was nice.  

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.  ~John De Paola

Good night, moon

Summer 2010 {Part 1}

A baby was born, Ella Josephine Fowlkes.

Markus is a natural with babies. Can't you tell from his posture in this picture? He also shaved his head without telling me. I wasn't a fan but it grew back quickly :)

We did some yard work to get ready for summer. I forgot how green our grass can be. Oh, and check out the fence. Markus pressure washed it, and everything else that he could get his hands on. And I finally convinced Markus to re-stain our deck. It was reddish brown and I HATED it. Now it's a beautiful green and I LOVE it. It's such a beautiful color. I wish I could paint the house green!

We threw a party on Memorial Day. The adults played ladder golf

Girls vs. Boys

And the kids had fun with the water toys

Christian, Weber, Capri - Age 2

The Morales twins were also there. Look at those eyelashes!

There was a day in July where we didn't think we would see this guy again. Charlie got out of the back yard and spent the night in puppy jail. This was the photo we used for his missing poster. It makes me really happy to look at this photo, now that he is back home.

We got out on the golf course once. Markus has such a better swing than me. I'm just worried about hitting the ball. I don't really care where it goes as long as it's up.

We went to see the Flying Squirrels game for Father's Day. That's the name of our new baseball team. Their motto is "have fun, go nutz".

Weber is telling Markus "Dude, this is my Sasa, Step off".

But that's okay because his sister stole my man later in the game. Twin power.

≈

Whew, I'll have to finish this up tomorrow, it's almost my bedtime. I took more photos than I thought and I'm only in July. Stay tuned for part duex...

Do you wanna?

That sentence makes our dogs go crazy! It doesn't matter what you say afterwards, they know they are going for a walk. It's the same thing everyday; Charlie has to sit and be quiet before we put his leash on. Meeko, not so much. The saying "you can't teach a dog new tricks" was invented because of Meeko.

So, you would think after almost 2 years of going on walks, Charlie would hear "Do you wanna" and immediately sit down. But, without fail, he acts like a crazy animal. I love it and hate it all at the same time.

What a goof!