Basement Fun

One of my favorite inspirational photographers, Me Ra Koh, had a blog post about how the need to be in control or in the know can be an obstacle in our creative journey.  The blog post was entitled "Are We Okay Not Knowing?"  It hit home not just in my photography but in my family life.  It's good to be inspired as I definitely am one of those who feels I "need to be in the know."  I have been trying to get my camera and just capture the moment without trying to get the "perfect" technical picture.  I am also trying to release my need to be "in the know" in hopes it will expose me things that I haven't let myself see because I have needed to know what's next.  Easier said than done.  We'll see where it takes me!  Here's part of blog post:

“Wanting to know where we are going is often how we fail to go anywhere at all. Rather than surrender to the mystery of the creative journey, we want to know each sight we will see, each obstacle we will confront. Each “something” that we will encounter if we dare to begin. The truth is that we cannot know where our creative trail is taking us. We cannot predict precisely who and what it is we will become. The only certainty is that we will change from who and what we are. We will become something larger and something more, but exactly the form that something more and larger will take is a creation that we have not yet created and cannot demand to know.”

-Julia Cameron

Palm Desert: Dinner Out

For our last night, Bapa took us out to dinner at the Firehouse and then to ice cream at Cold Stone.  We had a great time and the kids especially loved the ice cream : )  Thanks Bapa!

I love this last one...it's the "okay mom, I'll smile even though I'm miserable" look.

Palm Desert: The Rest!

In addition to swimming and golf, we had a lot of fun at the house.  The biggest bonus for our family was that Andy took a nap almost every day.  This is coming from a little boy who hasn't napped in 6 months.  I learned that he is a much happier and pleasant guy after he's had a nap!  We spent a lot of time reading books, cuddling on the coach, doing research with Bapa, eating otter pops, and hanging out on the patio.
Dinner time!  Giving me their best silly faces.

Last night before daddy went home.

Cousins!  Callie was so great to both Katie and Andy.

Research time.

Snack time

Otter Pops

Palm Desert: Swimming with Bapa

Andy was a great little swimmer this trip!  We got him some special goggles and he was so proud to wear them.  He spent a lot of time in the pool - swimming with Bapa, using his kick board, and hanging out on the steps.  The biggest improvement this trip is that he learned to take a few breaths.  He doesn't take breaths each time, but he is starting to understand the concept.  Thanks Bapa for helping Andy become a better swimmer - he has the best coach!

Big Breath!

Palm Desert: My Little Strawberry

Katie has a bunch of swimsuits.  From hand-me-downs to gifts, she is set for summer.  For some reason, I kept gravitating toward this little strawberry suit.  So, she was our little strawberry swimmer this trip.  She did a great job of going under water and started to actually point her head down when she when I counted to three.  Mostly, she enjoyed sitting on the step and filling her buckets or cups.  But, whenever she saw Andy having fun swimming, she wanted a turn.