"autumn is a second spring when a leaf is a flower"

I hoped it wouldnt be two months by the time I posted again but... here we are.

(and I hope you like the subtle Halloween/Fall vibe Ive got going on this month.)

I.am.so.busy.

but I do love it. I could go on and on about what our weeks consist of but I not only do I not feel like reliving it nor do I want to type it all out. Mon-Thurs are a blur for us and when Friday rolls around there is no looking back. I do have to say I feel great about how Im doing in my classes though. I definitely had to put in a little extra work in the begining, just because I had been out of the game for so long. I would not suggest to anyone taking a two year break like I did, especially in a major like this. My physiology class is by far my biggest challenge but I am still managing to keep up (even got a B on my first test last week... proud mama moment!) I have also met some awesome people. I have a major major gap in my schedule on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10am-4pm) which has become my (forced) time to go to the gym and study.

Midterms just ended so I have a little time to breathe. Either way we ususally keep it pretty simple on the weekends. Gavin is working 50 hour weeks doing some harvest work at Sutter Home winery and the hours are a little whacky (2pm-10pm Sunday being his only day off). I am usually asleep by the time he gets home (Tuesdays and Thursdays Kenley and I are out the door at 6:45 am) so we only see each other on Friday and Saturday mornings.. and Sundays. He is currently in pursuit of a couple different jobs that he can put that UC degree to work in! (not all of which are in the area.. but Im totally open to leaving again!) :::fingers crossed::::

and Kenley LOVES school. And I cant say enough positive things about her preschool whenever someone asks. I get an email with a collage of pictures from her day every.single.evening. ...which I appreciate SO much. She is total mess by the end of every day. When I come pick her up she is always covered in a layer of some kind of paint, food or dirt.
Last week during one of my breaks, I came in and volunteered for a couple hours and I helped make salsa (all with veggies from the garden) with the kids and they all had their own little pair of kid friendly food cutting scissors... too cute.
Kenley is always talking about her little friends. I really feel like she is so happy there...so reassuring.

Wednesdays we dont have to leave the house until 8 (woohooo) so I usually try to dress Kenley (and sometimes even MYSELF) in something a little cuter than usual. I am going to try and take a picture every Wednesday on instagram and hashtag it under #whatsheworeonwednesday (thats "what she wore on wednesday)... that way we can also see how much she changes throughout the school year. I also will try and name where each piece of her outfit is from (which is always fun when people ask me because I would say at least 80% of it is either hand-me-down or thrifted... maybe Im just getting good at putting it all together :)

Like most nights, its a race to hit the hay. I know the second I fall behind on sleep its all going to fall apart!

hope all is well with everyone else too!

<3 jess

preschool, worries & oatmeal...

Kenley starts preschool tomorrow.

I have so many different feelings about this... most of them totally positive, combined with  a little apprehension.

She has been with me practically every day for the past two years so it will definitely be an adjustment for both of us.

I think I would have more concerns about it if we werent sending her to what is supposed to be one of the BEST preschools in the area. (I have to admit that I didnt even realize how widely recognized the SSU Children's school was until Kenley's orientation on Friday... I just picked it merely out of convenience .... and did a little extra research of course). It was so cool to hear the returning parents and staff talk about what an amazing program it was. One mom expressed how hard it was finding an adequate Kindergarten class after her daughters experience at the SSU Children's school and the high standards that it set for her.

I think I mentioned in a previous post a little bit about the school and Im sure I will have more specifics once she has been there for a little while.



its just so cute!! if you cant see it, above Kenley in the bottom right picture is her name above her coat hanger :)

...In order to properly express how I'm feel about leaving her tomorrow I have to sound like the crazy parent that thinks that child is perfect for a second... so bear with me.

Because Kenley hasnt spent a ton of time with other kids (especially in a large group) she is still...

:::Im having trouble phrasing this:::

She is still "sweet"... for lack of a better word. She has been doing so well with her sharing and the word "MINE" is still foreign to her. I just worry about what she will learn and bad habits she will pick up.

But to be honest, from what I could tell, she was probably one of the most verbal in the bunch so who knows...hopefully she wont be the one "teaching." haha!

One of my favorite parts about the school is the fact that she has one "master teacher" and the rest of the assistant teachers are students of Sonoma State (all majors of early childhood education and human development)... so they are all young, energetic and are studying exactly what they practice every day with the kids.

Im sure Kenley will be just fine. I feel SOO lucky that she is right there on campus with me and I can go peek on her any time I want! Seriously, how nice is that?!?

Well... the craziness that we have been anticipating begins tomorrow. I am so excited to be going back to school and able to finish up what I began. It's going to be organized chaos so if you feel like you are losing track of me, dont be offended.

Today has been full of tasks that Im hoping will help the week go as smooth as possible.

Right now I have an "Oatmeal Bake" in the oven... and it smells amaaaazing. Three guesses where I got the recipe and the first two dont count...

Anyway, hopefully it will be easier to run out the door with than a messy bowl of something!

Here is the link for it...Oatmeal Bake!

and here is a pic of mine!

After a crazy week we get to end it by going to the BRAVES vs Giants series... (its a Santora thing)

and weekend after that GAVIN WILL BE HERE! we miss him so much.

-jess

this is the sound of settling

It's my second Thursday not closing Kissui.
sure, I worked other days during the week but I almost closed the store every Thursday evening from the time I began working there. I love the closing shift on Thursday's because I had "regulars." Thursdays are Market Night in downtown Redlands and people come from all over. I would say I had about 10 different moms/families that I could count on seeing those days.
I couldn't tell you who is working tonight but I hope they enjoy it as much as I did. I already miss it.
Tonight I'll be the one enjoying a different farmers (chefs) market with Kenley and some friends in downtown Napa :)
I havent been to Chefs Market since the summer before we moved when Kenley was born and toted her around as an infant... I mean DAYS old... we will see how she does!

This week has consisted of getting settled ie: change of addresses, final Riverside bills, new pediatrician visits (soooo happy with her new dr!) unpacking, seeing family and friends and a visit to Kenleys new SCHOOL!


Happiness is: driving with Kenley from Napa to Sonoma State on a Wednesday morning listening to Sarah and Vinnie...
We arrived at her little school (right on the SSU campus) where we met my MIL Patty around 10am. We first got a little guided tour by the school director. It was so nice because we had an appointment with her to sign paperwork and Kenley was able to explore without anyone else there! (I think they might do it like that on purpose)
So during the hour and a half that I met with the program director, Patty and Kenley got to play with toys, read books, explore each room and became aquatinted with what will be here new little "place."

I'm obsessed.

It might be the cutest little school I've ever seen. It is "sustainability" based... Meaning that the kids help grow in the garden (right in their play area) all the food that they eat! There is even a chicken coop that they collect eggs from every day. Kenley is fed all of her meals there... I don't have to pack anything! The whole place is set up so perfectly, I know she is just going to love it. I left so excited and relieved.

Kenley is adjusting well to all of the new changes going on and I hope she continues to do so when our schedules really pick up in a couple of weeks. I know she misses Gavin and we both can't wait to have him up here too... I know I will be feeling much more complete :)
Luckily he is flying up for his cousins wedding this weekend... And then back down to Riverside until he finishes summer school the first week of September.

My family has been nice enough to let Kenley and I stay with them until he finds work up here and we can then decide whether Sonoma or Napa county will be a good fit for us while I finish school.
As of right now Kenley has a little corner in what used to be my old room. She loves it and has been sleeping through the night! (which is a far cry from what she was doing right before the move)

Besides Gavin not being here yet, I can't think of a time I have been happier. I'm surrounded by beauty. I can breathe on my morning runs! I watch Kenley interact with the people I love most. I leave the house without her occasionally. I'm at peace.

the shack that built me

we often refer to our little home down here in ol' Riverside as "the shack".... in reality thats pretty much what it is. Its not an apartment, its not a house, its not a condo...

what use to be a group of old army baracks now stands as the ONLY family housing complex at any UC in California. This complex consists of every race, religion & class you can think of. We have made Chinese friends, Indian, TURKISH, black, white... you name it.... most of which we have very little in common with.

In this heat, everyone makes their way to the park right in the middle of the complex just as the sun is setting. For most, this is a time of relief... because by this point, our "shacks" are about 20 degrees hotter inside than it is outside (this is no exaggeration). Most of us stand around and chat while the kiddos entertain themselves and burn off some energy. Ive gotten to know so many people's "stories."
 and its still amazing to me that almost everyone is so different.

I will miss the community that this complex has provided, even if it wasnt exactly what I pictured. If it was what I had pictured I would have made lots of friends my age, with the same interests and dare I say, undergrad?? We were one of FEW families within the complex that were in the undergrad progam (the rest of which were in pursuit of their PhD). One thing that everyone that we met in here DID have in common is that was that they were all very intelligent
.... But what fun would have that been.. hanging out with someone exactly like me?

But with all of that said I would have to say that the real change in me took place within the four walls of this little place. I coulnt help but reference Miranda Lamberts song "The House that Built me" for the title of this post. If you arent familiar with the song, it basically speaks to the fact that the first house that she lived in shaped the rest of her life. I would have to say the same for our shack.

I have learned so much about myself here. Sometimes I catch myself thinking about how much EASIER it would have been to just stay closer to home, both get jobs or have Gavin finish school somewhere much closer. BUT then I think about all of the opportunities this has presented, all the AMAZING people we have become friends with and I know we will be friends with for a lifetime, and all of the lessons about parenting and marriage that I got to learn on my OWN. I know for a fact I wouldnt have made some of the decisions that I did had I had the imput of all my family and friends at home. Some decisions worked out and some didnt, but I get to take credit for each of them.

 Maybe I am able to say this because we leave in three days, but I am so grateful for our time down here. Some of you know the personal details of our lowest of low points down here and can imagine how hard it is for me to truly express a general positivity about our time down here. But its true, these past two years have been so good for me, so good for Gavin and I and for our family as a whole, and not just from the standpoint of Gavin getting his degree. We needed this time to grow.... all-on-our-own.

As I type the words "these past two years" Im baffled. I remember bringing three month old Kenley through the front door for the first time, trying to imagine what two year old Kenley would be like when we were done here. It felt so far away.

But it is here.... and I dont feel one bit of hesitance when I say that I am so proud of what we have accomplished.  

To those of you that have read along and been part of our adventure... I thank you.

This blog has been my thoughts...no direction, just laying it out there. Its therapeutic. Refreshing. Like an evening at the park in Canyon Crest family housing after a hot day. I guess thats all we need, really...just to voice our thoughts, helps us make sense of them... get a grasp on what we are feeling.


The "goodbyes" of this past week have been REALLY hard... and less for me, and more so watching people say goodbye to Kenley. I will most likely be the same version of myself by the next time we visit our friends down here, but Kenley will be completely different.... which is why I PROMISE to keep up with this blog as much as I possibly can while Im in school. I have to imagine that our first weeks up north are going to be a little crazy but know that I am missing and thinking about each of you and will do a post when the moment presents itself.

WE ARE COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!

updates and countdowns

I find myself with a little extra time this afternoon to do a post while Kenley and I sit on the porch, locked out until Gavin gets home from work.
... well that's not entirely true, I could get in the house if I really needed to, but he will be home any minute and Kenley is sound asleep next to me in her stroller.
We had the best day.
We left the house around 9:30 to catch the bus at University Village (about a mile away) and rode it all the way downtown to make it to the farmers market.
I originally wanted to go since I was in dire need of some raw local honey for my allergies (which totally helps by the way).
seems like such a simple thing, but have you ever read a public transit schedule? may be not as easy as it sounds! ...... so basically if anyone needs to know the Riverside bus schedule Im your gal.... which I realize is a really valuable skill to have.
There is definitely an eclectic crowd that rides the bus and some were very interested in what Kenley and I were up to, yet all completely harmless.
It was a fun little adventure while Gavin was at work and we were car-less.

And I got all my local yummies for under $10! (figs, tomatoes and honey)

Totally unrelated I have some good news....

the most important being that on Thursday we found out that Kenley has been accepted to the preschool at SSU! I guess all I needed to do was to a blog post saying how worries about it I was.
I am so beyond excited about this. Like I said, so much depended on whether or not she got in and now I feel like we can move forward with the rest of our plans.

In other news it seems we may FINALLY have Kenleys rash under control. I am summarizing to a fault when I say that I am beyond frustrated with how THREE different pediatricians handled this situation with her. After four visits in two weeks (the most recent one being yesterday) we were finally given the prescription she needs and they are finally giving it a name....
Kenley has a secondary (meaning as a cause of something else, and in Kenleys case was a diaper rash) superficial (meaning close to the very top most surface of her skin) staph infection. So if you didnt catch that it's a "secondary superficial staph infection".... which my mother instincts told me all along and I can't BELIEVE took this long to diagnose.
After tracking down $100 worth of prescriptions (which she is taking FOUR times a day) she is finally looking a little better today.
I feel so bad this has taken so long to be taken care of. Poor Kenley... If you have seen pictures of what she is going through you can imagine just how painful and annoying this must be for her, yet she barely has complained about it.
We are hoping for a quick recovery and hopefully no scarring.
This has truly been one of the most frustrating things I've ever gone through and I'm so glad my mom will be here in two weeks for her follow up appointment. She is just as ready to give these doctors a piece of her mind as well.

I realize everyone makes mistakes but it's hard to have much compassion when they've seen this rash not change much in several months and refused to call it anything until yesterday.

here's to a quick recovery!


we are ending today with a birthday party for one of our newest little friends in family housing named August. He, his little sister Nola and parents Ashley and Truman just moved here from New Orleans. Every time Gavin and I have seen them in the past couple of weeks we end up saying to each other, "of COURSE we would meet them right before we move..." They really are some of the best people we have met in family housing... not to mention just a stunningly beautiful family.

It really is funny how even in the past month we has become closer friends with people we have known here and even formed new friendships. It really just does go to show that it takes a while to grow your roots somewhere and get settled.

.....

WE MOVE TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY!!

Addie

this is the first post from my iPhone! So far the blogger app seems to work pretty well but I'll definitely be double checking this on my laptop after :)
Being able to do a quick post from my phone I'm hoping will come in handy.
I know I say that I started this blog as a way to keep everyone at home in the loop during our adventure in so cal but I'm blessed enough to say that we have met a handful of amazing people down here as well that I know have been reading along too.
I plan on keeping this going as a way to keep track of Kenley and her many milestones. I know this will be so fun to look back on.
As we close in on our final weeks down here I can't help but think about how much a will miss our little shack. As much as I have probably complained about it, it was our first home together and where Kenley went from baby to toddler. It will always have a special place in my heart because of that.
Every day I've done my best to pack up one closet or room or space... Just so it isn't as crazy at the end.
I'm coming across so many odds and ends.... And I do have to say it feels so good to get rid of some of this stuff. One of the great parts about moving!
I also have to say that one of the things I am looking forward to the most about moving home is spending time with my beautiful Goddaughter Addie. When her mom (my friend Molly) asked me to be her Godmother, it was one of the biggest honors I have ever been given. In some ways I feel like I have let them both down by being down here and not being able to stay in touch as well as I would have liked. As a single mother, I know Molly understands better than anyone what life has been like down here and will hopefully cut me some slack :)
But I honestly can't wait to see Addie and Kenley interact and become friends. The two of them remind me so much of each other!!
Anyway... the countdown is on and there is so much to look forward to.
I need to be granted some serious patience to make it through these next few weeks...
Just 18 more days.

little dandelions

things have been quiet on the blog and the opposite at 3329 Idaho St.

the weekend was spent with best friends, food, swimming, shopping...

I was almost as sad to watch Tiff and Jeff leave as Kenley was. She was asking for them all day. Simply put, they are two of the best people with her. Tiffanie is always SO patient with her.... yet firm but not enough to offend me. She is so energetic with Kenley and having her here felt like a nice break. Tiff is going to make an amaaaazing mother one day. I feel like her and Kenley will always have a special bond since she was there for her birth :)
To be totally candid, Kenley has been a challenge the past couple weeks so I was more than willing to hand her over for a couple hours. She has an unexplained rash that we have been to the doctor a couple times for now that starts in the diaper area and goes up her back and stomach, we took several trips to the dentist after her spill (but her teeth are looking a million times better by the way), she REFUSES her own bed, we are taking the potty training to the next level (night-time and outside the house) and have cut her off from her binky cold-turkey.... and this is all within the past two  weeks. Gavin worked full time last week and this week with baseball camps (9am-4pm) and then Monday and Wednesday he goes to class until 9pm. Saturday and Sunday he is still working at the golf course all day.... we have barely seen one another and its been Kenley and I..... 24/7. Days I have worked she has come with me which to be honest is completely exhausting and definitley wouldnt be able to do much longer if we werent moving.... and  is something that I have tried to keep in mind regarding the sleep situation. The move is going to totally mess with her sleep anyway until she gets her bearings so I refuse to fight her on it until we are settled.... one thing at a time.
However you won't hear me refer to this time as the "terrible two's"... nor will I agree if you do. It's not terrible and all stresses aside, she has been SO much fun. It is so strange yet amazing to basically have a full on conversation with her! She is saying the funniest things and Im trying to be really good about writing them down. Like I said, she was asking for Jeff and Tiffanie all day. We were laying in bed trying to get her to take a nap this afternoon before work when she said....
"Where's Tiff-fee-fee?"
me: "She's at work, at home in Napa"
Kenley: "Jeff?"
me: "yep, he's at home in Napa too... do you miss them?"
Kenley:"mmmmhmmm.... Papa??... Grammy??... Stevie??"
me: "they are all in Napa too... Grammy and Papa are at work and Stevie is probably playing golf."
Kenley: :::::huge smile::::: "steeeevieeee"
(She LOVES her uncle Stephen)

The best thing she has said so far was her telling Gavin to "Kenley's daddy!....watch the show!" while I was doing my Kettle Bell workout early one morning last week and Gavin was bugging her by acting like he was falling asleep on her shoulder.

my other favorite thing she is doing is she will randomly (especially in the car)  call out "pray???.... pray????"..... and then will fold her little hands, close her eyes and wait for me to pray and then yell out a big "AYYY-MEN!" when Im done.

I hope I'm not making it seem like being at home with her is a chore :::yikes::: totally not my intention and there is nowhere else I would rather be. Staying at home with her for these first two years has been the biggest privilege. It has also given me such a genuine appreciation for single parents. In some ways, while Gavin has been a full-time student, working part time and playing a Division 1 sport... its what I have been. I will never apologize for the pride that I feel taking all of this one without my loved ones within 500 miles. I make no mistakes when I say that it has been SO.HARD. but I also dont want that to be heard as "poor me." I feel like there is a big difference... dont you?

With that said.... my days as a stay-at-home mom are numbered... at least with this baby!

Presently, if Im not at work or keeping Kenley from putting playdough in the toilet you will find me glued to my cell phone... waiting for a VERY important phone call. According to my records (and numerous attempts to check on our status) we should be hearing from the Sonoma State Children's school ANY day now to find out whether or not Kenley has been accepted (the only issue being that they may not have room for her)

Their "What's Happening Now" portion of their website reads:

Dear (Name of Representative),
I strongly oppose Governor Brown’s budget proposal for 2012-13 and the severe cuts to early education and care that may destroy high quality early education programs.
I fear the planned cuts in early childhood education will be a severe detriment not only for the youngest and most promising of your constituents, but also for the long term viability of this economy.
Perhaps the worst part of the proposal eliminates higher education as an eligibility factor for student families who are trying to achieve a degree while having their child in an excellent early education setting. This support for families pursuing higher education is especially important to ensure that as families enter the California workforce, they are in careers that will allow them to support their families.
For every dollar invested in early education and care programs, the economy sees a return of four. By giving children the education they deserve and cutting from elsewhere in the budget, you maximize every possibility that this state-and everyone in it-prospers.
Children thrive in early education schools in ways we are still counting. My child currently attends the Children’s School at Sonoma State University. The school, which is nationally accredited by NAEYC, provides high quality care for my child, allowing me to ___________. Without this program, my family would ____. I have seen firsthand the eagerness and love children have for learning. They are the future, and right now I must be their voice. I implore you to remove these planned cuts for the sake of our children.
Sincerely,

(Your Name)
Your Address (where you are registered to vote)





...... scary right????

I was given fair warning when we applied what the "state of the state" was. Realistically, programs all over the state just like this one are being completely cut, thus greatly lowering Kenley's chances of getting in.
And sooo many important factors hinge on whether or not she is accepted. (... where we will live, what, where and when Gavin will work, whether or not my mom will need to adjust her work schedule... the list goes on....)

I really feel Kenley is ready to be in an educational setting three days a week for 5 hours. I feel it is the perfect amount of time and know she would thrive so much being around other children her age. The school is ADORABLE, with a little garden, wooden play structure and conviently located right in the heart of campus. I met several of the teachers when we popped in the last time I was on campus getting my classes... they all seem great. (very "granola state" haha)

If she is infact accepted she will be in the "Dandelion" class... 2-3 yr olds, which is the middle age group as far as the spectrum of  little "students." She would make the cutest dandelion IVE ever seen :)

As I try and take most of this on myself I have a valued reassurance. Some of this is totally out of my hands, and as far as I know, Ive done all that I can at the end of the day to try and make this happen. In the past three years I have watched myself make plans and have had God turn them into something so much bigger and greater than I could have ever imagined. So I push forward with a vision of my diploma in one hand and my sweet girl in the other and give the rest to Him.

Dear Kenley on your 2nd birthday,

The more I get to know you, the more I realize how unlike me you are.

You are adventurous, fearless, & brave. I wish I were more like you in this way.

You are a go-getter, & will stop at nothing to succeed at whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. Whether it be climbing on a couch, or turning on my Iphone. You will figure out how to do it--even if it takes you a while.

You are not the least bit shy. You greet everyone sweetly, let anyone hold you, & you don't mind at all being left with someone else. If there is one word to describe you, it would have to be "friendly." You have no concept of personal space and other toddlers your age have kindly let you know this after planting a big wet one on their cheek or wrapping them in one of your kung-fu grip hugs.

You are as active as you possibly could be. Who needs to do squats & go running when I have you to take care of? You are never sitting still. This makes some things very hard--like grocery trips. But I know, deep down inside, that you are an adventurous spirit, & I should just let you be.

You are so smart. I love teaching you new things, but the best is when you let me know that you already knew something. A couple days ago I tried to get you into one of my favorite shirts of yours and you told me “too small, mama!”  … You are becoming such a good listener too. One of my favorite things that you are doing right now is that whenever you are somewhere you are not supposed to be or touching/holding something you know that you are not supposed to you stop and look at me and say “HIIIII!” or “HEY!”… Im sure you wont always let me know when you are doing something wrong but for now-- I will take it.

Last night as we were finishing up dinner you ran outside with your daddy to go to the park while I finished up the dishes and took a nasty fall. I heard your cry and knew something was very wrong. You split your bottom lip right down the middle and hurt one of your baby teeth so much that it moved. You were such a good girl at the dentist this morning and we are going to do our very best to make sure that your tooth ends up ok. Even we end up having to take your tooth out you will still be the most beautiful little girl in the world. Your little hillbilly smile right now is actually pretty cute.

Most of the time I just want to stick you in a big padded bubble where no one or nothing can hurt you... but then again I cant think of some place that YOU would hate more ;)

I cant believe its already been two years since you graced us with your presence. In some senses it feels like you have always been here but then in other ways it seems like in a blink of an eye you went from baby to toddler.

Its been the most amazing two years… full of adventure, discovery, creativity and more love than Ive known in a lifetime.

I'm so proud of everything you are.

Love, Mama

instagram photo dump

As one of the locals told me... we couldnt have picked a better day to make the trip down. I am in love with Encinitas.... and Moonlight Beach may be my new favorite spot. We swam, tanned, dug in the sand and took in the view all afternoon and by the time we were ready to leave I was wishing I had applied more sunscreen to myself; Mike and I are feeling the pain this morning (but of course I was lathering up Kenley every ten minutes).

This heat we are having is supposed to last through July so I predict at least a couple more trips to the coast before we head north.

yes, so cal... we realize you have better beaches.

and thats about it ;)

random ramblings

The Inland Empire has a great chain of stores called "Clark's Nutrition & Natural Foods Market." Check them out here.
While some of their stuff is on the pricey side, if you know what you are looking for, they are a great place to find items like I have pictured above.

Check out this link: 10 uses for apple cider vinegar ...

I've also been using coconut oil in most of my cooking. It has no taste and is much better for you than your average cooking oil... and like the vingegar also has a bunch of different uses.

Like I mentioned earlier I am doing my best to stick to my paleo plan for the second week. No flour (wheat) is allowed & coconut and almond flour are perfect alternitives.

If you are interested in Paleo recipes this is a great link.

I spent more time than usual in Clark's today since I was waiting for my new brakes to be put on next door at Firestone ...which by the way was completely funded by my sales from the Kissui cloth diaper/baby carrier garage sale where I made over $250! (which is almost exactly how much my new rotars and brakes cost... wish I could have used that on something a little more fun!)

... and speaking of Kissui events, we have another one this weekend that I will also be working.

cutest flyer ever...  currently obsessing over ALL things "chevron striped"

Tomorrow Im taking the day off to head down to north San Diego (Encinitas) with my brother and Kenley to just hang at the beach for the day and shop around while Gavin is at school/working summer baseball camps.

Im requesting that we leave nice and early so I can hit up the most AMAZING breakfast/coffee/tea place ever, Pannikin (introduced to me by my best friend Torrey who has family from her mom's side that live right by there in Escondido.)

you must check out their site.
Im not sure what I love most: the location, decor, art, coffee or food.

I cant believe we will have a two year old on Friday... who has been having a little trouble sleeping lately but slept for 11 hours straight in her crib last night... MUCH needed for all of us.
Thanks Kenley!

Im having fun keeping track on here lately.

I feel like these last weeks in so cal are going to be ones that I will want to remember. I love that this blog has been a way to do that.

as always thanks for keeping us with us as well.

❤

more party pics!

...as promised I am attaching a few more party pics... (thank you Lynn!)

AND just had to share some super sweet tutorial links of course.

I made a few "tulle pom poms" (courtesy of Pinterest) that you can find at this link here:

SO CUTE & EASY!

also.. the big hit.. the "bacon and egss"

They were so much fun to make and went perfectly with our breakfast theme :)

All it requires: white melting chocolate (find at local craft stores), pretzel sticks and yellow m&ms!... melt the chocolate and put little blobs onto wax paper... add  your "yolk" and "bacon" and you are done! I sent them home it little blue Chinese to-go boxes :)

In the left corner is a danish wheel from a bakery in Costa Mesa courtesy of the Boudeaus... it was amazing... along with the monkey bread and breakfast casserole made by sweet Lynn Andriese who can COOK/BAKE!

On the far right are the pancake kabobs Gavins mom and I made. The night before the party I made over 100 mini pancakes. In between them are whipped cream and strawberries. YUM.

Gavins Dad, Grandma Grandpa and Mom... so glad I had their help!

the beautiful Kayla and Kelly

loved opening presents... she is loved!

If you look closely Kenleys candles are lit here and we are singing happy birthday... she kept her eye on me the whole time with a big smile on her face. A whole week later and she is still singing "happy birt-day to Kenweee!"

Joie, Kyle and David... cutie pies.

cant believe I will actually have a 2 year old this Friday... love you baby girl!

3 ingredient healthy-ish ice cream

For this week, I am juicing before noon (only raw fruits and veggies in the juicer) and the rest of day I am going "paleo" (no dairy, grains or legumes)... I felt so good after I did this last time and on day three I feel like a million bucks.

This morning I am making this three ingredient "ice-cream"... cant wait to see how it turns out!

Almond Butter & Honey Banana Ice Cream

makes 2 servings
1 1/2 peeled medium bananas, sliced into coins and frozen until solid
3 tablespoons almond butter
2 teaspoons honey
Blend bananas in food processor until they are the consistency of soft serve ice cream. Blend in almond butter and honey, and transfer to a freezer container and freeze until solid.

birthday breakfast

I cant wait to do a longer post about Kenley's party when I have a little more time but I couldnt resist posting the video of everyone singing happy birthday. We hadnt even practiced blowing out candles but she totally did it all on her own!

lucky for me, I wasnt the one behind the camera today (shocker!) so I am also waiting on a couple different people to send me pics before I do a real post. I definitely have to share a couple DIY tutorials that helped make the party a little cuter.

It was such a perfect day with an amazing group of people who are beyond generous ;)

Kenley did so great and had so much fun with all of her little friends. She just went down for a nap and I think she might sleep until tomorrow.

Happy Fathers Day to all you awesome dads out there (especially the ones who spent their morning with us) and most importantly, the one that didnt. Gavin missed Kenleys party all together because he worked at the golf course from 6am-2pm. (We started breakfast around 10).

He makes it all possible.

pics to come!
jess

essentials for a sick baby

Thank goodness Kenley has been a very healthy baby. I cant count the times on one hand that she has been truly sick. This is probably because she is at home with me most of the time (so thankful for that), has a balanced diet, and is on a good schedule.
The worst was her scare with Roseola when she was 6 months... which there is no cure/medication for and then our lovely bout with the stomach flu last summer which the following wouldnt apply to either. But unfortunately the occasional cold is inevitable and right now Kenley has a pretty good one.
We had a ROUGH night sleep Monday night and by the time I got home from work on Tuesday she was a mess... but! luckily I can come home with a couple quick fixes.
I would highly highly reccomend three products (all totally natural solutions) to help with the common baby cold.

The first is the Nose Frida. This thing is AMAZING. Its been my favorite new baby gift to give ever since I was introduced to it at Kissui. It sounds totally disgusting but let me explain. Yes, the suction from mom or dad's mouth IS what gets the snot out... but the snot goes nowhere NEAR your mouth. Even with Kenley's worst cold it has never even gone half way up the little blue tube that stores it. Even if it were to go all the way up there is a little sponge filter to catch anything that should come up. Ever tried a bulb aspirator?? ... they suck. And by that I mean they DONT suck! haha (k, you know thats funny.) But really guys, this thing WORKS! It gets all of the gross stuff out that keeps baby from breathing well and getting a good nights sleep. Now of course it's not Kenleys favorite when I whip out the Nose Frida and she sees it coming. She knows full well  what it is, but its quick and all over with within 30 seconds. During cold season we have customers RUNNING in for this thing... and usually its the parents who initially saw it in the store and commented on how gross it sounds... desperate times call for desperate measures people!

The second neat little Kissui gadget that I would reccomend for a sick babe is the Raz Baby Vapor Clip. This thing is awesome.

The little bear on the left in the above picture has a little slot (that locks and closes so that baby cant open it) that a fingernail sized pad, that is eucalyptus/menthol scented, is inserted into. The same little bear on the left clips onto baby's shirt and the other end is a pacifier clip. (It doesnt come with the little bear on the right, just the clip around it) So even if your baby doesnt take a pacifier you can take the paci-leash off and just leave the scented clip on their shirt. I swear Kenley breathes better with  it on... I wouldnt mind using one myself next time I have a cold.


Lastly, every parent needs a humidifer... especially if you live in the Inland Empire. Even if Kenley isnt sick and the air just seems grosser than usual, I will turn this thing on.

Im sure there are lots of good brands but this is the one we have and I love it. Its called the Crane-USA cold air humidifier.

Hope that helps any of my new mama friends :)


Feel better Kenley!

celebrate good times, c'mon...

Coming at you on a smoggy hot Monday afternoon (a year older!) after a very fun/busy weekend down here in ol' Riverside.

Kenley and Gavin and I just made our decent off of the side of Mt Rubidoux. I wanted to go earlier this morning knowing that it was supposed to be a scortcher today but Kenley let me sleep til NINE this morning... and I took full advantage.

There were lots of critters that were out and about up there this afternoon. Nothing like bounding into a full sprint to avoid a swarm of angry bees.

notice the little lizard (or "din-ah-sore" as Kenley was calling it) in the top left corner??

as for this weekend...
my birthday was so much fun, super low key and spent with some great people. Tuesday night Gavin got a group together to go to taco tuesday... there ended up being 14 of us, I felt so loved!... they even sang to me  :::embarrassing:::
my actual birthday (Friday) I spent with just Gavin and Kenley and got a quick lunch and drinks with my friend Kaley while Gavin was in class. I got some extremely sweet phone calls, cards, flowers and gifts. I feel like this birthday more than ever and the older you get, its so much less about things people do or dont get you and MORE about who takes the time to call instead of text/facebook or send a quick card etc. I try to be really good about that myself so it always means a lot to me when friends do the same. I really do have the best friends in the world... still making me feel so special from 500 miles away.
We ended the day at the drive in movies... SUPER fun and a great alternative to the movies with a two year old.

The rest of the weekend was crazy as usual. Saturday Gavin worked at the golf course from 6am-2pm and had to come right back to take a final at 3 (yes, on a Saturday). As soon as he got back we jetted out the door to get to Mae and Miles (Kissui friends) birthday party. You may remember they are the adorable brother/sister duo that Kenley hangs out with on the occassional Thursday. We honestly all had so much fun, such an awesome group of people that I am going to miss so so much. Kenley slept like a champ that night after chasing around her little friends and bouncing in the bouncy house.

Mae and Kenley

even made some new friends

slightly obsessed with this outfit I thew together :)

Straight from the birthday party we jammed on over to our friend Eddie's going away/"signing" party. For those of you who dont know, Gavin had the opportunity to play with a stellar all-star pictcher at UCR... who will now be taking his talents to the Chicago Cubs organization. Eddie signed with the Cubs on Friday and exactly a week later will be shipping out. It is such a HUGE accomplishment and I really cant think of something so awesome happening to a better person. Eddie and his girlfriend Kaley really have been our closest friends down here and have been such a huge help in so many many ways. We will truly miss them as well. It was a teary/sappy goodbye but we wish him all the very best in the world. Cant wait to see you pitch in the BIGS Eddie!

And speaking of giant accomplishments... GAVIN GRADUATES THIS WEEKEND!!!!

His family, grandparents included, are making the trek down to watch him walk the stage. Most of you know how absolutely huge this is. How fitting that it should be the day before Father's Day :)

Keep him in your thoughts and prayers during finals week!

We will also be celebrating Kenley's 2nd birthday this Sunday with a few close friends and family (since Gavins will already be here). It is a "breakfast" theme and if all goes according to plan, should be very cute.

Love, J

crickets

ahhhemmmm...

I do apologize for the crickets over here.

Blogger switched up their page and I dont even know if I am posting this correctly?? (partially my reason for procrastination.)

Excuses aside- we have been so busy. I know I say that every time I have been in between posts. So this is my best attempt at a little synopsis tonight.

By the time I finish my shift on Saturday I will have worked 5 days this week at Kissui... which may not seem like a TON but if you consider the fact that I have had Kenley every day besides tomorrow then yes... yes it is.

Regardless of how little or how much I am there, I love that place so much. While we were home for three weeks they were super short on girls and I felt extremely guilty. If I didnt have a million things to do and take care of while I was there, I would have been on a flight home early. So since I missed out on all the action Im doing my best to make up for it since Ive been back. I dont know what I will do with myself after we move and I no longer have Kissui.



 Actually,thats not entirely true... I do know what I will be doing with myself...

Our first week at home was dedicated to getting all of my ducks in a row at Sonoma State. It was stressful to say the least. I went to orientation as scheduled and left completely devastated. It was truly a sign of the times in the CSU system. There were no classes. The classes that were offered in the fall that I NEEDED to take each had 30 person wait lists. My options? Take one of them in summer school, costing me $1,300, missing Gavins graduation and being away from him all summer... along with being in the class all day every day for a month with the expectations of all the grandparents chipping in to watch Kenley. Sounds horrible right?... So I didnt do it. Instead I came home... and thought things over. I reminded myself just how badly I wanted this, how hard I worked to get to this point and the fact that I couldnt just give up now. I decided to sit down and shoot an email to the department chair who I had seen at orientation and clearly remembered me from the two classes I took with her before. I was able to quickly catch her up on my life when I saw her and where I had been (she "wondered what had happened to me" haha). She quickly repsonded to my email saying she would talk to some instructors for me and would at least get me into the class that SHE teaches and suggested that this would be a good semester for my internship. So worse case scenario she had gotten me into her class and I would do my internship.

Doing a couple classes at a time wasnt exactly what I had pictured though. I was ready to get all of my eight classes over with in two semesters and graduate a year from now. So this busy lady was at Sonoma State not one, not two, but three days in a row... bugging teachers and trying to squeeze my way into two more classes... and Im ecstatic to say that it worked. Persistence does pay off, people!

 SO...I am taking Physiology of Exercise (scared for my life about this class)... Biomechanics (also worried about this) Individualized Assesment and Programing (the department chairs class) and my internship as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the mens and womens golf team (SOOOO excited about this one!!!!) My coach, who just so happens to be one of my favorite people on the planet, was nice enough to let me in on this awesome opportunity. Thats 15 units of crazy busy... but I am beyond ready. Just missing a few ducks for that row I mentioned...

As we prepare for the big move, we are faced with a couple daunting realities. With me in school full time, Gavin working full time and all of Kenleys grandparents working full time it doesnt leave many options for her care during the day. I hate the very thought of being away from her so much to begin with, but trusting her in the care of someone else causes me concern to say the least. She is on two different wait lists for preschools but we havent been promised anything. Tuesdays and Thursdays I am in school from 8am to 8pm. I dont know how that will work...  missing her dinner time? bath time? bed time? Especially after a whole day of being away from her to being with????? I know all of these things should and will fall into place but for now its looking slightly hectic.

Next on the list is finding a place for us to live. Both Gavins parents and mine have been nice enough to open their homes to us but we all know its best for our family of three to stay that way. We will definitely be taking them up on their offer until we can find something for ourselves and figure out a realistic budget. As of right now Gavin is looking at a UPS job in Napa until the Fish and Game academy starts in January and then who knows?? Petaluma is an ideal place right in the middle (plus I just so happen to love hippy little Petaluma.) We are going to need to get REAL creative. And by WE I mean ME since I will be the one in Northern California an entire month before Gavin. (Gavin walks the graduation stage June 16 but doesnt actually complete his degree until summer school ends on September 1st... I start school August 21st, you do the math.) We are giving up our place down here as of August 1st so we can get around paying an entire months rent/utilities and Gavin will be staying with teammates for the remaining month of summer school.

blah blah blah blah... this is all really boring but I think I might just be typing it out so I dont forget anything haha ;)

Anyway... our three weeks at home were so amazing that it took me an entire week to mentally adjust to reality down here. Pretty sure I mentally checked out of Riverside about three months ago.

We have a very busy month of June coming up as well and July will consist of Gavin and I just working like crazy and trying to save our every penny. Any tips on saving??? Im open to any and all suggestions.

Lastly let me just say how weird it is having Gavin done with baseball. He is really done and it is really... weird.

Im so proud of him. UC Riverside may not have ended up being the ideal place for him to play but he definitley made the most of it. To even make it to Division I baseball in college (especially in THIS league) is something that most kids in Little League just dream about. Very few understand the ligistics of college baseball and baseball beyond that is a whole other story... but what Gavin accomplished is amazing... and paid for his education! and to be a full-time student, graduate on time AND with good grades, work part time and be a father?!?....... no words.

There is FINALLY a light at the end of the tunnel.



And in three short weeks we will have a TWO year old. I cant believe it. Every day she still continues to amaze us with something new. It seems like her little vocabulary just develops over night. She is speaking in sentances, asks questions and knows her colors and abc's perfectly. She is working on her sharing and has been getting better about it the more time she has spent at Kissui with the other babies and at my friend Jills where she still goes on Thursdays to hang out with her two littles, Mae and Miles (below)

(Jill also sent me this hilarious/cute picture of Kenley)

Well, as usual Ive ended up writing an epic novel after not blogging for a while.

Like I said it will be a busy, but fun June... So Ill do my best to post even a LITTLE more than I have been.

On Friday I turn 24... yikes! Then Gavins whole fam will be here for his graduation... the following day we are having a birthday breakfast for Kenley (on fathers day) and then the week after that she will really be 2!!!

:::Did I mention that Uncle Mike will be staying with us for July??::::

Let the good times roll.

Love, Jess

miracles

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as

though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though

everything is a miracle.”

― Albert Einstein

easter eggs

I LOVE the blog "The Kitchn"....

these eggs dyed naturally are amazing... we must try!

EGGS!

Tomorrow my mom, dad and brother are going to be here... I cant wait to see them, especially my dad that I havent seen since CHRISTMAS!

We will all be squeezing into our little shack for the weekend.

Today Kenley and I are off to work again. Gavin has a night game (which Im not sure we will make it to straight from work?)

Tomorrow Mike and Gavin both have games... Mikes during the day and Gavins at night. Hoping to make it to both!

Saturday we have an egg hunt with all the neighborhood kiddies at the park in our complex. It should be adorable.

Sunday is Easter! We are going to church in Redlands then having brunch at Michaels in Pomona.

Kenley's outfit is to die for... stay tuned :)

the run down...

Its been a busy/productive Friday morning. Ive had too much coffee already so lets see how well I can type.

Gavin is in Santa Barbara this weekend for baseball (imagine that, another weekend on the road)... BUT! he has home games the entire months of April! I cant even tell you how much I am looking forward to that. He has been gone SO much and I really feel like I have barely seen any games this season. His parents are going to be here for 10 days (April 10-22) and are going to catch a bunch of games too. I am excited for them to be here. I will have almost two weeks that I wont have to bring Kenley to work! Dont get me wrong, I love being able to have her with me, but you better believe that I get a lot more done when she isnt there. She has been so so so good while we have been there but I know there are other things she would much rather be doing (such as  running around and tearing into things.) But she has been so good about hanging out attached to my back and keeping busy with books, my ipod, coloring, snacks in her pack n play. I know Ive said this before but Im fairly certain 80% of the customers comment on how well she just sits there are lets me work... "you are so lucky you get to bring her to work with you!"... I truly am. Which is part of why I will miss Kissui SOOO much!

In case you havent heard... WE ARE MOVING HOME!!!!!!!!

Last weekend I got my acceptance letter to Sonoma State. Lauren had just gotten here and we were on our way to the store and I decided to stop by the mailbox. I hopped out of the car and she and Kenley stayed in the car. I didnt think I would hear back so soon after submitting my essay and application for the Kinesiology department. I heard back about a month ago that I had been accepted to the school but had to do some supplemental work to apply to the KIN department because its so impacted. It requried a short essay, a list of my grades, outside experience and volunteer work. I was geniunely worried I wouldnt get in, which is why I decided not to tell many people that I applied.
I opened the mailbox to see a letter from Sonoma State. I held it up and showed Lauren who could see the worried look on my face from the car. She signaled me to come open it with her in the car. I tore into the letter and the only words I saw were "ACCEPTED"...."CONGRATULATIONS"... "KINESIOLOGY" and "FALL '12".
I threw the letter in the air jumping up and down, fighting back tears of joy.
I cant even explain my excitement about finishing school and moving home. We most likely would be moving up either way but to know that in just one short year (two semesters) I will be a college graduate is almost more than I can handle. I know it is going to be another period of craziness for our little family, but we will have so much more HELP this time around. The fact that we will be by friends and family again almost feels too good to be true. Gavin has promised me during our entire time in Riverside that he was going to do the same for me so that I could finish school and I know he will give me just as much support as I have given him and probably more.
There are lots of unknowns right now such as: where we are living, when we will move, what Gavin will be doing after graduation in August and where Kenley will be while I am in school and Gavin is working. We have a general answer to each of these questions but the impatient part of me wants it all figured out PRONTO!
So speaking of my amazingly supportive husband... I need to take a quick second to brag on my Gavin. As I know I mentioned... Gavin has spent this past quarter taking TWENTY units, during the peak of baseball season while working at the Redlands country club on the weekends before and after his games.... not to mention being a dad. No one TRULY understands what it is like to be a student athlete unless you, yourself have done it. And since I have, I can say that it is practically insanity. I dont know if I have ever even heard of someone parenting and working on top of being a Division 1 student athlete.
 A typical week for Gavin looks like this: leave the house at 7am for weights (he has weights Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings) go straight to class until practice at 2 which usually lasts until 6 or so. He then comes home (unless its Tuesday, when he usually has a night game which this week was in San Diego) and has dinner with us and then is off to study, usually at the library or a teammates house. The weeks before and during finals he was getting home around midnight.
 As far as the weekends go, the past two months he has been on the road almost every weekend for baseball... Texas, Arizona, Fresno, Santa Barbara you name it. The weekends he has had a home series, he drives out to Redlands to work at the golf course... and to get enough hours in before his game he usually leaves  the house around 5 am on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
SOO... with all of this going on... Gavin Mills just managed to pull a 3.1 GPA this quarter. (thats one A and 4 Bs).... AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Im in shock. He literally does it all, and with barely any complaining. I know he is tired almost 100% of the day but you would barely know it. I would be lying if I said that it didnt take its toll on our relationship at times the past couple of months... we have definitely had our ups and downs, but I dont know how we couldnt expect everything to go off without a glitch with that kind of lifestyle and schedule. Im so proud of Gavin and cant thank him enough for working so hard for his girls. Gavin, you are literally my hero. I cant WAIT for this weekend to be over and for him to be HOME <3

Kenley and I have a pretty busy weekend planned for ourselves to make the time pass a little quicker. Yesterday we got back from Palm Springs where we stayed in literally the most beautiful home I have ever seen or stepped foot in. My friend Kelly took us to stay at her Grandparents for the night. We swam, tanned, ate and watched Kenley play with their adorable puppies. (I actually met Kelly through Torrey in kind of a small world scenario. Torreys sorority sister at ASU Kristine, who I had met a couple of times before moving to Riverside, is Kellys sister.) I have loved getting to know Kelly... she is always SO sweet with Kenley and the two of them together are hilarious. So, if you have been keeping track, my three closest friends in Riverside are Kaley, Kayla and Kelly... and to confuse you even more... I got Kelly and Kayla both jobs at Kith (Kissui's new store). Good luck keep them all straight. All I know is that I am going to miss all of them like crazy!

Well today Kenley and I are going to watch my brothers game in Pomona. I havent watched Mike play in a couple weeks and I know he loves having his little/biggest fan at his games since my parents obviously rarely get to go. GO BRONCOS!

After we get back I have some crafting to finsh up! I worked furiously last night on my "cake buntings" that I will be selling at the Kissui craft fair tomorrow! I usually have to work at the actual store during our craft fairs but this time I decided to participate... and I am SOO excited to see how it goes. Gavins mom sent down some ADORABLE little t-shirts and onesies that I will also be selling and Im sharing a booth with my very sweet friend Kayte (ahh!! thats ANOTHER "K" name!) that I work with. Kayte just found out that she is pregnant with her second baby! so happy for her :) Her little boy Teegan is just a couple months younger than Kenley and they are buddies. Kayte will be selling her cute little beenies that she makes. I hope it goes well!!!
The craft fair is held in the little hallway behind Kissui and there wil be about 10 vendors there. There is always a great turnout so Im hoping to make a little extra money with these! (and if not then I am stuck with 20 cake buntings!)

Things Im looking foward to: (I feel like this is fun to do at the end of my posts recently)
My Mom, Dad and Stephen are getting here late Thursday and here for Easter weekend! We are celebrating Easter at Michaels house with his teammates that he lives with. Its a total "guy baseball house" but they have been so excited about cleaning it all up for an Easter brunch and egg hunt for Kenley.
Two days after they leave Gavins parents are here for 10 days and then I am hitching a ride back with them to go home for TWO WEEKS!
I am so sad to be missing my dear friend Makayla's baby shower this coming weekend but will be getting home 3 days before her due date so I am hoping to meet little Lou ASAP!!!
WHEW! That was quite the update. Everyone has been so supportive with my choice to finish up school and has made me feel so LOVED with their excitement of us moving back up north. Since the day we moved down here I have dreamt of the moment that we found out we were moving back.... and now I cant believe how many truly WONDERFUL people we have met down here and all the awesome places we have been and things we have done!... and Im so glad that I have kept track of most of it on this blog.... So thank you for reading. God is so so good.