Its been a long stroll away from this part of the online world (as you can see in the number of posts I have created thus far for 2014)!
However my rather recent departure from the FB world, induced by too much unwanted information and even more time spent reading this information instead of being in the real world, with my family, where I belong, is somewhat forcing me to return to my roots and start documenting more of our daily life here since I can't/don't want to share it in other ways.
My little 7 year old baby Lulu is snuggled tight beside me, sleeping and dreaming of "Stranger Danger". Whatever made me pull out this old cd is beyond me but the lesson learned today is that if you let your kids watch shows to educate them about strangers and the danger that can lurk behind them be prepared for them to never leave your sight, not wanting to sleep in their own bed, suddenly losing the ability to go to the bathroom on their own and never, ever wanting to leave the house again, ever! The question remains, what's better; having them scarred out of their minds or blissfully ignorant to the dangers of todays rotten society. Being a parent is rather difficult these days.
Common Core and all the changes in the educational system making me want to pull them out of school and home school them (knowing that I would totally suck at it is the only thing that stops me from doing exactly that). Reports over reports over more reports of school and college shootings fly in every day. One kid getting smashed by a dolphin statue while walking along Fisherman's Warf and the other gets lost, walking away from her parent's campsite, luckily to be found alive and well the next morning.
Since reading all of these news reports, and "this just in" and Urgent News, I have shut down all my news feeds, my FB account and all sources of disturbing outside information.
My poor mother brain and heart can not take any more bad news.
It's bad enough that I lose my mind trying to remember the "dirty dozen" and if I can buy regular or need to buy organic strawberries, but the fear of losing them to another idiot trying to make a point by shooting innocent people like prey, is getting the best of me.
In order to preserve some normalcy and sustain a rather innocent and happy life style I will attempt to disconnect (which does not come easy, let me tell you!) from the bad news of the world and spend my days sewing blankets for Shelly the Otter, making pinafores for Lulu so she can help with hanging the laundry, make yoghurt and then watch my girls gobble it all up or sit on the hollywood swing, reading my book and watching my dogs run through the yard like wild animals ;)
Life can be so easy but it also can be very hard and depressing. At this point I'd rather be ignorant and less informed than more depressed and anxious about the end of the world.
So here is a recap of our last few days.
We just returned from a quick mini vacation at the Russian River, in celebration of Papa's Day of course .
We have been playing with the idea of getting a camper of some sort and decided to test drive one of the famous KOA camp grounds.
We rented a little cabin with a small kitchen and a BATHROOM (I am all for getting down and dirty, roughing it or whatever you want to call it but I do require a toilet bowl with proper plumbing and a clean shower stall to wash off the dirt from getting down and dirty :P
This little cabin served us nicely!
The Ls brought their scooters and raced down the hill next to the cabin (at least three times, thank GOD we brought the scooters!).
Friday was spent checking out the Red Woods nearby,
meeting some friendly neighbors,
(NO, these friendly neighbors were not lave alive but belonged to a fellow who was getting ready to teach a class on "No trace left behind" in the wilderness, who was so kind to give us some very useful information and let us pose with his precious specimen of the local wildlife.)
Then off to the river we went.
The sun was hot, the water cool and everybody happy!
After saving for almost a year Lillie-Bean tested her spanking new stand up paddle board for the first time.
And I got to sit back and read into the day, dreaming of living with the wolves and planning to become a wildlife scientist in my next life, studying wolves of course!
The day ended with a nice supper at a local "hot spot" for the (somewhat elderly and interesting dressed ladies) with live music to rock out to.
Pat and his girls hit the dance floor, while I preceded to take pictures of them but really watched the older ladies rock out and get "hands-on" with the Russian River Gigolo.
Saturday was the highlight of the trip!
We hit the river with Soar, the Russian River Rafting provider.
Decked out with SPF 70, hats, glasses and water shoes, nothing could stop us!
L was the first to float down the river.
Followed by the other crazy one of the family.
Yes, THIS ONE!
Meanwhile Lulu and I tended to much more important things, like posing for pictures :P
Here is a shot of the back of the raft. Mr. I can steer you straight into the tree and his little off springs.
Team Deven, The Warrior ... always on board! <3
My boating buddies!
And here is a happy picture L took with her "spit out the picture camera" (aka Polaroid) that she got from Santa.
And after disconnecting from the online world I spent today sewing with my little Lulu while big L was at basketball camp (BOY will she be sore tomorrow!!!).
This is Lulu's creation. A doll for Shelly the Otter.
I took out my little sport to supper at Olive Garden and then she needed to get new shoes, since she is now becoming a basketball star (that and she now needs a size 6 1/2 instead of the size 5 shoes she has).
The folks on the next table were super crazy. The guy's kid constantly came over and kissed me and called me mommy :P
So here I am, in my bed, Lulu snug next to me, sighing her awesome sleepy sighs, writing my good-old blog again...hoping that this will be a new, old normal again.
To new beginnings and good, old habits!
