Happy

I am just beside myself. Having dakota has really changed my world view and not always for the better. I worry more about what this world is doing and did we make the right decision bringing another human being to this earth and today, last night my hope has truly been restored. People can change and therefore we can change the world for the better.
I am sad that california couldn't pull it together and make the right vote on 8, these times call for open minds and open hearts and I hope that it is taken to the courts and deemed unconstitutional, one day no matter what lies ahead for my dear sweet dakota may she be able to marry the person she loves, period!

A great fall weekend

What a great weekend. Halloween was awesome dakota was in hog heaven. We went up to Ojai, where we met up with her cousin Makel, lame me didn't get any pictures of the two of them together, when I get some I will post because they are pretty darn cute together. They both got these little gift bags from Aunt Tracy, Grandma Cha cha and Great Grandma Margaret with silly string. Dakota didn't want to spray hers she just wanted to run around away and into it. Makel on the other hand was all about spraying his can and the look of determination on his face says it all.

Our first stop for trick or treating was Great Grandma Lois and Great Grandpa Irvin, they were not expecting us so it was a great surprise for them.


Once we got into the real trick or treating dakota could not be stopped she and makel would come running away from one house yelling lets go to the next house, running and smiling the whole time. She did stop now and again to comment or compliment another child's costume, that was pretty cute. After about an hour or so Randy and I were done, dakota wasn't but Randy and I were and we are the parents so we made the call.


It was a good thing too because Saturday was a long day. A fun day but long. We headed to Gaggi and Papa's house around 8 to drop dakota off and took off to USC for a football game.

When we left ventura it was raining hard, i loved it and was sad to be driving away from it but off we went for some tailgating. Our arrival time 1030 game time 330. I must also throw out there this has been my longest and furthest trip and time away from my little lady, but she was with gaggi and papa so I was fine and so was she and originally I thought I wouldn't see her until this morning when I picked her up but we had to pick up essie (she just had surgery so my parents watched her too, thanks again mom and dad) from my parents so I got to give her a good night hug and kiss. So yeah back to the game and tailgating. I really went back and forth about going, for a couple of reasons but eventually decided that it would be a great day for randy and i and it really was. We hung out, I played some poker and I would have totally won but the rain made its way to LA so we had to pack up. Ha! I am so kidding I was on my way out but still I was having fun, I was in the final four (out of six) but still...
do you love my poker face

We had the little bbq set up, so some yummy food and then we headed into the game somewhat dry somewhat not, by the time the game started the rain was gone. Randy thinks it was a great game as usc had a shut out. I myself enjoyed the game but also enjoyed the yummy nachos with real bean and salsa.
Today was mellow recovery. I was hoping it would have rained but it didn't. I hope we get some more rain some time this year.

Playdough

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY JOEY D
We have been thinking about you but haven't called
we love you and hope you had an awesome day!

I made some playdough today, I had forgotten how easy it is and how much dakota enjoys it. Purple playdough of course!



I forgot how much I enjoy playing with playdough.


And usually I love the smell but I was out of light oil (vegetable, canola, corn) so I had to use extra virgin olive and I think it messed with the smell, what can you do.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY JOEY D
We have been thinking about you but haven't called
we love you and hope you had an awesome day!

It's been awhile

time flies when you are having fun. really I am not sure where or why I haven't been blogging just the other day randy found this guy outside

and for me that is a whole entry. it is the stick preying mantis I was talking about before. and there was this bluebird that must have been stalking it because while I was out there he or she kept close by and yelling at me. Randy allowed him, the mantis to run off in the our huge hedge and I think he was safe there.
We also took a trip up to see our Amy, Noah and Layla. Andi and Mia arrived here and off we went for a great visit. Amy even had lunch AND dessert for us, she rocks.
Windmills on the way!

The dutch clogs were a huge hit.


We had a fondue wednesday night that was so yummy. I love cheese. I was shocked though dakota, who loves cheese, even the funky ones was not into the fondue.

And my dad had surgery. We did a trek down to ucla for a chin lift HA! just kiddin. It was to help his chin heal if that makes any sense, surgery to help the area heal but that is the long and short of the surgery. Dad was awesome as he always is. I love my dad!
We had a park day with the yummy chocolate caramel shortbread Ha that was my last blog.

This weekend we went to the pumpkin patch and picked out our winners and carved them. Dakota had a blast playing with the pumpkin insides. She really wanted a white pumpkin while we were there and then when we got home she wanted to give it to her friend, always a giver that one.





Things have been good. I am going to try to get back on to blogging more often I missed it.

friday picnic, saturday birthday party, sunday mellow

I love my life. I really do even when I feel like I am about to lose it I can still dig deep and remember that I love my life, it may not help my immediate mood but still.
We started the weekend with our friday picnic at arroyo verde and it was a beautiful day. I made the chocolate caramel slice
and it was yummy, there are a couple things I want to tweak about it, like milk chocolate instead of dark and then the crust I want to be more like shortbread.


The crust to me was a little to crumbly, that didn't stop me from gobbling it down.

Andi and Mia, and Jenn, Kai and Dax met us there and everyone had a good time. Dakota was having a blast not letting me take her picture and the camera

I have is on the slower side so I kept missing her.

On Saturday it was Noah's pirate beach party. It was a bit on the windy/chilly side but it was a lot of fun.
Amy did this awesome treasure hunt and dakota has been carrying around the map since we left yesterday looking for buried treasure in the house. Dakota has developed a real concern for seagulls ever since one took a snack cup away while we were at the track one day. The morning at the track we had walked away from our stuff and not covered our snacks and in came the birds and when we came running back the silly bird took off with the whole cup so now dakota gets really concerned about seagulls and as you can imagine a birthday party at the beach is sure to attract some flying visitors and then really through her off poor little love bug.
So then today we had a nice mellow day at home watching football. Not dakota's favorite thing but I thought we needed a mellow find things to do around the house kind of a day.
Last wednesday we did our usual to the parents and it was my turn to cook, which means no wednesday night cooking for two weeks yay. I made these stuffed peppers with black beans and cornmeal and cheese, quite tasty and then a healthy salad. We lost dakota and this monster kept wanting to come to dinner instead

Goofy girl. But we had a nice time as always. My parents got some new chairs for the back yard they looked comfy but these two guys didn't seem to want to let anyone else try them out...

And to add to the fun dakota found papa'a mallet, good times.....

Long time no write

Last week I was all excited to blog that I found spiders "doing it" (yes I am 30+ saying doing it) and I took pictures and now days have gone by and I never posted so here to start off what I believe is spiders doing it...



sometimes I laugh at my own maturity level but it was really something I had never seen before and as all who have read previous posts know there is something about the insect/arachnid world that I am drawn to.

So we have been having a nice couple of days. Last friday dakota and I went for our friday picnic. Aubrei and Maya were there and it was really just a lovely day. I think I may have mentioned this but the friday potluck thing I am so loving just because I enjoy baking new things and this way I get to have friends enjoy as well and me and randy don't wind up eating the whole thing. So I made cream cheese swirl blondies with dakota as my sous chef






I think they turned out pretty good but I think they were even better a day later. This friday I am going to do chocolate caramel shortbread, yummmy.
Also on friday my friend tisa arrived in town with her two little ones, joey, who is dakota's age and violet who is just over a year. I have known tisa's family for years. I actually met her and her family through her brother who I used to work with. Then while living in berekely tisa and I were housemates and we just love each other. So dakota and joey have known each other there whole lives and they are pretty funny. Tisa has been making joey super hero costumes and they brought them down and joey and dakota got all dressed up pretty darn cute.

Dakota felt pretty darn spiffy in her batman costume.

Saturday dakota and I trekked out in the rain (wouldn't be considered rain by all but for us venturians it was rain) to what I think was ventura's first birth fair. Trying to draw attention to the fact that ventura's hospital big wigs are trying to take away women's right to choose how we want to birth our babies. Tisa was down helping to organize the event and while it seemed to be a success but there was not a single mention of it in our ventura star, very sad and disheartening.

So we hung out with tisa and family through out the weekend and today we said our goodbyes as they are leaving bright and early tomorrow morning. But we got some beach time it before and the kiddos had a blast. We love you bowser family and we will see you soon hopefully.

Thanks for coming for a visit Amy, Noah and Layla

pre-dance class attire

I talked to Amy last night and she was on the fence about coming. Amy and family used to live here and then earlier this year they moved to tahatchapi and we are still sad about it. Anywho Amy was on the fence but hooray they came. But the morning started off with dance class, at the beginning of each month the parents are invited to sit in on the class. Dakota cracks me up as I apparently crack her up. Before class I took her to the bathroom and I was unaware that of the two bathrooms one is for "boys" and one is for "girls" (they look exactly the same no signs) so I went to take her to the boy bathroom and she quickly corrected me. Then midway through class dakota says teacher teacher, teacher gives this little talk about only asking questions during class that pertain to dancing or individual needs and then answers one little girls question and then she goes to dakota and dakota tells her that I tried to take her to the boys bathroom and she(dakota) starts cracking up, the teacher unfortunately was not as amused. I was though.

Once we were done with class we got home made some lunch and we headed to Marina Park to meet up with Amy, Noah and Layla as a side not jenn kai and dax came too.... hahahahah just kidding jenn I love how much we have been seeing you guys lately.

Amy also brought a friend all the way from tahatchapi, stacy with her two little ones quinn and kellen. We all ate lunch and then we were off to the ocean. It was a blast.

I haven't mentioned this on the blog but dakota is going to marry noah or so she says anytime his name is brought up and I am totally okay with it and I will tell you why. Noah is wonderful and his parents are pretty great too. The time that sealed the deal was one day at the park dakota and noah brought their bikes and they were riding around this path around the park. Dakota was still working on her bike skills and so she would get stuck in the grass or going up a slight hill. So she gets stuck in the grass and is calling for me and I start walking over when who should ride by ever so gallantly on his bike with a gentle hand gesture he says "I got it kwisten" and I was sold, it was the sweetest most gentlemanly thing I had ever seen and he is only three. Amy I am so happy you came down, thanks for making the trek. It is our turn next for sure. OXOXOXOOX