Two of the Same

Exhibit 1.



Exhibit 2.

Look at this beaut mushy we found straight out of
Alison and Wonderland.

Lazy Days Ahead

I'm terrible at keepin' this blog up. However, I am good about postin on my other photography one. Thinking about merging the two. Hmmmm...

Freezing weather rolled in today, but we are flying out on Friday to some warmer days in Australia. I CAN'T WAIT!! All Rod's family will be there. The kids have 5 little cousins under the age of 5. Should be tons of laughing, chasing, lounging, playing, and memories made. We are spliting a house with Rod's brother Russel and his wife and two lil' girls. Maybe I'll post from there? His parents computer seems like dial mode on most days though.

Here are a few from a lazy weekend following Rod up to 4 mile for a surf.

Eventful Day

Luke insists on wearing shorts. Everyday. Even if it means wearing them under his pants. Pants that on this day were tucked into his rainboots. He looked awesome with a I ride horses kind of look to them. After our successful morning of Luke dressing himself and asking to practice writing some letters (a first sign in wanting to learn), we were off to get Bella from school.




After three days of rain and a sick Luke on quarantine, we split down to the skate park once the sun poked its face at us! Bella had a minimum day and we were home eating and out the door before the sun could hide its face again. With Luke on Bike and Bella and I rockin' the Razors, we blazed down Swift Street toward Derby Park, aka, "the local skate park."

Off we go, a 1/2 mile down Swift and what? what?! WHAT"S? THAT? I swear I saw a worthy flash/ shine of some sort. With the kids two blocks ahead, I spit a fierce command to hold up at the next driveway while I doubled back to investigate. Behold, it is a diamond ring all tweaked into a size 3 ring and looking bent. With the kids far beyond my motherly comfort zone I shove it in my back pocket to get back to later.

As the kids weave in and out of the skate bowl dodging pine cones from the recent storm, I fish out my new find from my back pocket. I try the skewed ring on for size on my pinkie. It must be triple the size of my wedding ring diamond. Quickly sizing it up, I conclude it is at least three quarters of a Karat and can't wait to get a proper appraisal!! Ka-Ching.

My friend and her two kiddos show up. Within 20 minutes her son takes a spill on foot. Not bike. Not scooter. On his own two feet. The same kid who said, "No mom, I don't wanna go to the park today" head off to Urgent Care.

Meanwhile, the girls were saving a monarch butterfly from being eatin' by a bird. I took her daughter home for a playdate, while her brother got drugged up, drooled on mom, and got an autograph worthy piece on his arm down the road at the emergency.

Rounding up three kids, two scooters, a bike, a butterfly and myself with an investment in my pocket... we head home. Once home, Escapia (the monarch) enchanted the three kids for a solid TWO whole hours. At one point I overheard Bella say, "Here! Use my umbrella, maybe she'll think it's a huge flower and think these parts are the stems and she'll feel at home in it." She's soooo thoughtful. After several attempts to domesticate the wild butterfly, the girls ultimately released her back into the wild.

Coach Cahill

When we got an email saying Bella couldn't play soccer unless a parent stepped up to be Coach, Rodney agreed to "co-coach" with another parent and split the duty right down the middle. This was a fine idea until he attended the first coach meeting and they pulled out the new set of balls, a clip-board, and a polo shirt that said "coach" that he reassest he idea and decided he better step up his commitment level to Head Coach.



Bella is over the moon that her daddy is the coach! It is really fun to see her sit at dinner and chat about practice with her daddy. Who did what, what drills she liked or didn't like, how he could do better. It's a crack up! Here are a few of her team in action and Coach Cahill looking official.







A tunnel after EVERY game...



... with popsicles to celebrate.

Luke Starts Preschool

He goes to Kid's Kottage at Harvey West Park on Mondays & Wednesday. Yipeee!

Tahoe Blue

We had so much fun boating up in Tahoe. More so just boating, not so much tubing. The kids had a go at the tube behind the boat. We usually go with them, but they braved it and went together. Knowing this Rod went SUPER slow, so slow that the tube nose dived into the deep blue lake, flipping the kids over the front and towing little Luke upside down cuz we forgot to tell him that big lesson about not holding on or you'll be dragged! Opps. Poor little wet cats. Rod killed the engine, we both dove in, and I took a turn on the tube to cheer them up with silly dismounts.

Here is the video of Luke and Bella taking the plundge off the dock at Tahoe. Luke and Bella are often polar opposite in personalities. Luke said, "That was awesome!" While Bella said, "I'm not doing that again!"

A Day on the Farm

We visited Jess and family out at her place where there are chickens, goats, horses, gardens, orchards, swing sets and a swimming pool. It's always a nice change of pace to just let the kids roam free chasing animals and eating out of the the garden. I'm always convinced I could live the country life and love it!

Dawn Patrol

This was the start of our day.

Cold morning air blowing on us

as we cross to the north side of Lake Tahoe.


It was 5:30am and our boat was 50 yards out at a mooring byou.

Since the shuttle to get your boat didn't start to 8am...

Robyn volunteered to swim out to the boat.

While Robyn volunteered, it was our fine

Captain Rod who took the dip into the 60* water.

Brrrr!!!!

We pulled into Sand Harbor a little before 7am and checked in.

I was the first swimmer.

I figured I could elbow my way through the crowd

a little better than the kind swimmers who invited me on this swim.



The first leg was 30 minutes long.

I enjoyed the sunrise during some backstroke since

we weren't in this for time.

The first rotation was a bit crazy with all the boats.

Ummm... crazy-dangerous.

After each person on the team swam 30 minutes,

we then took turns doing 15 minutes,

then 10 minutes until we reached the other side.


Nora warmed up with home made homeless gloves (very santa cruz) post swim.

Yes she brought guns on the boat. She's a trainer at Cross Fit here in Santa Cruz.

We enjoyed chillin' and talkin' smack to the other boats.

They said things like, "She's going to kick your ass, she's nationally ranked."

We said things like, "She'll kick your ass and she's even missing a leg!"

Which lead me to my almost stuck my foot in my mouth when I saw a man with a paddle for pulling in his hand (a fin for your hand!), just as I was about to ask why he's up for cheating, I glanced down to his MISSING hand. Oh. Gee. Did I feel dumb. Just in my head, but still.

Other boats were out for breaking tan lines, not records.

They were old, she had huge boobs, he had a flat ass.

They were swimming naked.

Oh, I never wanna leave Tahoe. It never fails. It is always so beautiful and grand.

I never tire of the fresh smell of pine in the air or gazing at Mt. Tallac in the distance, and this time staring deep deep into the cobalt blue water with only sun rays changing its shade.

Stay tuned for the movie of Luke jumping off a dock of enormous size!