every time i look at the news i'm disturbed and taken down a rabbit hole of questioning "what will become of this world we're raising our children in?" never before i have i cared as much about the future of our planet and our country. in the past i always felt optimistic when there were concerns globally and domestic. someone knows how to stop this, there are coalitions, governments, organizations, and educators that will know how to make it all better. i want my children to grow up in a thriving and safe environment.
what snaps me out of the despair? what brings light into this darkness? for one, seeing my children smiling. in my opinion, never should we turn a blind eye to the reality of the world around us, we should always be aware and educated, but for me capturing my babies lives and recognizing how fortunate we are (to eat ice cream, splash in the water on a pristine beach, spend holidays together as a family and as simple as having easy access to healthy food and clean water) is the best antidote to what seems like desperate times.
so in addition to the insta mini books i give the kids each year (so they can see all the moments i capture of THEIR lives), here is also an annual blog post, a year-in-review of my sweet girl in her seventh year - bringing a bright light into all the lives of those she comes in contact with. in this-world-that-mama-feels-is-so-uncertain, one thing i know for sure - she makes it a better place. happy birthday!
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| putting in some work april 2016 when we moved into the new house |
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| spending time with family, one of her all time favorite pastimes |
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| doesn't stop dancing, even in her dreams |
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| almost outgrown the tub for joint baths |
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| experiencing her first event at her future school, carnival |
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| little friends at her old school for last event before the end of the year, olympiad day |
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| she loved her kinder teacher mrs. estrello |
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| one of her all time favorite people, nana, on vaca together |
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| stage left jr. summer camp, performing with one of her buddies penelope (2 on stage) |
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| she adores her papa and any hobby he enjoys she does too! fishing on father's day and she caught one! |
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| summer solstice fairy sisters! |
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| tea time with little friends in the new hood |
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| a dear friend's beach birthday - fun! |
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| ice cream with her favorite "older" girls + salty joe on girls trip! |
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| playing in snow run-off can be tricky business but she swam all day, july, eastern sierras |
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| fiesta parade with sweet friends |
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| last pancake breakfast, an age-old sb fiesta tradition, she has attended all her years |
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| not fiesta without a cousin afternoon at the cantina |
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| wrapping up summer with a little disneyland magic |
loving up her baby cousin, for the day
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| lost her tooth just in time for the first day of first grade |
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| first day of first grade |
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| enjoying the summer weather |
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| reading "tree" poem for the santa barbara beautiful awards |
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| halloween walk into school with fun neighbors |
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| loves her nana and grandpa time and a sack full of candy! |
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| loves the things she gets to participate in with the girls scouts, including honoring our veterans at a local parade |
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| trip to the fire station to present gifts for first-responders day with one of her fave classmates |
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| nutcracker silliness |
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| glam-ing and ham-ing while getting ready for her nutcracker performance |
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| some of her adoring fans |
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| xmas eve with their sweet cousin |
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| special time with gam |
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| special time with grandma |
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| toothless |
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| snow-fun with cousins |
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| first march, mlk jr. day |
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| this girl loves to sell cookies (every chance she got she was outside, makin' sales!) |
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| entered the american girl obsession |
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| softball buds |
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| game day! |
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| caring award |
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| checkers with the master, gma lu |
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| spring break chill time with papa |
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| they can be such rascals with one another, but she loves her time with her sissy so much |
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| two people that can make her belly laugh and her older cousin is one of them |
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| special ice cream date and presents with grandma t |
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| party day :: fairies |
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| invites = crafty time for mama and party girl |
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| we had fun coming up with fairy food like, twigs = pretzels, fairy berries, morning dew = water, pixie punch...but it was nice to have a yummy lunch for the grown ups too! | | | |
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| the actual birthday was pretty great too = starting with chocolate donuts to accompany breakfast! |
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| a mom of one of her classmates makes these beautiful felt crowns for each child's birthday, all unique to their personalities |
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| mama was a little naughty and brought in-n-out to school to keep the celebratory day going strong |
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| even josefina now gets to be an honorary daisy |
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| the busy day continues, troop meeting and birthday song |
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| at bedtime, she said her favorite part of the day, was the scavenger hunt little sissy came up with (hidden presents from her to find) |
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| busy day doesn't end here, softball practice and the birthday song |
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| dinner and her nana and grandpa |
