7.12.2013

to blog or not to blog

i've been vacillating for some time, on whether to blog or not to blog. i've asked myself am i exposing myself and my family too much to the outside world, through the virtual world? am i self obsessed to write about the going-ons in my life in such detail? am i writing an online diary for all to read? ultimately, i realized it's really just an extension, of what i already post on facebook and instagram. photos and text - just more of both in the blog posts. when my friends who are bloggers (you know who you are!:), share their latest: whether it be family updates, recipes, the correlation between a book they read and their own life or the latest trends - i'm so excited to dive into each post! so here we go..."to blog." ps. 3 months away, means 3 months worth of family updates.

my birthday. enjoyable in every way. celebrated with friends and family. my dear rina knows how to make any of her friends feel loved and there was no shortage with mine (again this year!). we enjoyed brunch and i opened an amazing box of goodies:
among the small packages: a beautiful bracelet, morse code for friend
there was an amazing spa day at the bacara, for more celebrating, with my favorite ladies: sisters and mama. much needed relaxation time with girls to enjoy a treatment, eat lunch have a real drink and sit by the pool. we reminded ourselves that it needs to happen, much more often then it does.

this pic alone makes me want to return, NOW

with all of our roses in full bloom in may, i also tried making rosewater for the first time. so excited to use this on linens etc. it turned out divine:


diegas took me out for a delicious meal and we then celebrated back at the house with the babies, my parents and em over cupcakes - perfection:
arlington tavern: truffle mac n' cheese

followed by fried chicken (ahem) and d ordered bouillabaise

may also brought us some wonderful family time



sbdi end of the year show, with a sbdi volunteer, grandma t!

nana filling in for pap- and-evia-twilight

walks with grandpa
diegas went out of state on business and the girls missed him terribly, we made the airport pick-up a great adventure:

we also got to see friends and family in the bay, at the end of the month, when we traveled north for my gami's 80th birthday celebration (must have been having too much fun at gami's party, because i don't have any photos) also not a SINGLE photo with my bestie, becky. luckily some captured on her camera! - wranglin' kids i tell ya:
 

a long 6 hours, but some special moments like this


merrill and riley have lots of fairy and princess dress-up clothes



gorgeous hike
 

fun times at the fair. good sport daddy's on "spinny" rides that mama's can't handle!
evia's dream of the carousel, check!
flying her plane!
 

becky's rummage sale score, their very own bounce house
bali made evia her very own eggless pancakes and mickey to boot - such a goooooood bali!
 with june came lots of summer fun! swim lessons, ballet lessons, sillies at home with mama, house and yard renovations and family gatherings. i truly feel blessed beyond words to have so much quality togetherness:

she LOVES corn
evia drew mama and evia dancing and holding hands with lipstick

rina's beautiful celebration flowers: blessed
jacuzzi time with cousin elena
 


beck and evia exploring in the woods
 

grandpa's bee suit's on the line
digging for potatoes
 


mama and evia time


easy coming home to these cuties


someone planted face first on the sidewalk - ouch!
zoo day with these beauties and handsome gent!
 

we see lots of beauty on our daily walks



neighborhood turkey (horsey and chickens too!)

when the mama's be grillin' papa's are chillin' must be father's day
 

someone found papa's clothes and got in them!
 

our walker....


rina's turn to be celebrated: what else for my foodie friend then a guinness ibarra chocolate cake!

outdoor easel painting
nightly twighlight watching with papa
running the rose garden at 8am with auntie emi
present making for rina
evia mirroring papa's fish sketch
 
oooh oooh
aaah aaah
summer solstice with the ladies

first ballet class, mommy and me

we're continuing to have so much fun

family beach day
 
and with summer in full swing, july:
the 4th and LOTS of watermelon


movie for the ladies (aminah too!) on the 4th of july
 


watching the city fireworks from our living room

the new sandbox and play area for the girls

sound garden

fun walk and and duck feeding with mary and rina (cooper too)!

sweet moments with rina. we're so sad she's moving out of state...but we'll be visiting soon.
and today a beach day with one of my oldest friends, carly and her cutie, gavin (thank you for convincing me to keep the updates comin'!!):






1 comment:

Brie said...

I would be sad if you stopped blogging. I've had the same feelings. But always come back to the decision to blog, if for nothing else, but to be able and look back on the story our lives are writing over the years. Your family is beautiful. So much love within you all.