Zora Travels

Winter Days

The only sounds I hear are those of birds squawking overhead and Sophie's id tag clanging against her food dish.  Nora is spending time with her Nona.  These visits supply my mom with ample cuddles, new words, and Lulu's latest dance moves...while I tend to crawl in bed for a nap, clean the house, or run the endless errand.  I try with an occasional gift card for Trader Joes or movie tickets or photos to say "thank you" for this gift of free time...but in the end, I suppose we all come out winners...and the small gifts will keep coming, too!

This past weekend was glorious.  One of those "do-no-ever-forget-this time" weekends.  Daniel and I both laughed as we sat upon a picnic blanket at the park, watching Nora run behind a big tree and "surprise" us on the other side.  We both blinked the scene in as she chuckled and we laughed and the air was warm and the breeze was gentle.  

Then there was our beach day.  A hot Sunday that beckoned for an ice-cream cone filled with homemade tiramasu gelato. Nora's first...and surely, one of many to come.  She loved sharing licks with Daniel and I and was quite pissed when we gobbled up the last pointy tip of cone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the sun set on the horizon, the waves lapped up on the shore of Seal Beach, and Daniel pointed out something to his girl.  I thought this picture was lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The loves of my life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My happy feet in the (freezing cold) sand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our ray of sunshine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lulu Bell has a new game where she approaches me with her cheeks puffed out with air.  She's asking me to puff up my cheeks and then blow air and kisses into her neck and sides...which she readily opens.  I gladly comply.  So here she is opening up the side of her neck for the onslaught...I'm inhaling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the wondrous exhale, full of twisting, giggles, and absolute joy. 

 

Mmmm, I love this little girl.

Visitors and Galloshes

My friend Claire wrote a post recently about her "chosen family" and this has resonated with me this week as I think of the lovely people who have recently visited our home.  To many their "family" may only mean those they were raised to love and respect.  For me, just like for Claire, my friends are absolutely a huge part of who I consider "family." They are those that I have chosen to link my heart and mind.  They spend their time with me, my daughter, my husband to cultivate our friendships and build our bonds.  Words and stories and memories are woven. I am absolutely lost without regular contact with the women I call friends.

Nora's life will be filled with all types of "family" and we have been so fortunate lately that our home has been abuzz.

Lorraine and Michael helped to create a memorable "first bbq." 

 

Claire, Greg, and Veronica stopped by for some fajitas and fun.  Here V fiddles with both a tambourine and the drum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nora sporting her new hair-do, courtesy of her "Nona" (my mom).  My mom, by the way, doesn't just do Nora's hair, she has been an AMAZING source of support to allow me some much-needed "me time" lately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lulu and I enjoyed our inaugural walk in galloshes.   A special moment for me...an`avid lover of the gallosh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lisa and Carrie came with their pint-sized Ruby and Ollie to frolic outside after a long rain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four generations of my family enjoying the State of the Union speech last night. Nora would clap with the Democrats and even says "Bama, Bama, Bama."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She's trying on Daddy's gloves. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And although I never would have believed it, she actually LOVES drinking kale smoothies.  I thought moms were making this up...but if you bury raw kale in the blender with some sort of milk base (we use hemp milk), wee bit of juice, frozen fruit, flax seed, and cottage cheese...she GULPS it down with glee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at those peepers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed a crisp morning at the Nature Center near our house.  Ruby and Carrie were our partners-in-crime.  Here the girls touch the antlers and skulls on display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rock climbing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This girl will climb any rock she sees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruby's infamous "mad dog" face.

Busy New Year

It is a brilliant new year.  Southern California remains blissfully warm and winter light splashes against pale blue skies and snow-tickled mountains in the distance.  There are days...in our new home...that the mountains can be seen on walks.  

We are still unpacking and settling in.  It goes painfully slow with an active and needy toddler at my side.  And regarding decorating, man is it tough to drive through those first nails.  Each hole is considered over a lengthy discussion...and in the end, the art remains piled in or bedroom and we keep the pristine blank walls unscathed.

 

Nora is seriously smitten with our new 'hood.  There are at least 15 kids under the age of 12 that live on our street.   A large gaggle of girls and boys play each afternoon outside.  Nora was enamored with them since our first walk.  But they initially took no interest.  I finally had to walk up to them and tell them just how much they excite Lulu.  They instantly warmed to her and now they clamor for her attention.  When they see us approaching, they run screaming, "Nora, Nora, Nora" and I feel her body electrify with both nerves and glee.  She sits with them for an hour...not making a peep...just soaking in their awesomeness (here they teach her how to stir pretend food).

 

There are horses to ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Babies to nurture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leopard hats to wear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear friends to visit (and stairs to climb).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skateparks to observe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puddles to jump in (and then quickly realize your feet get wet).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Songs that need dancing (while Daniel wipes up the now daily Max piss).

 

And most days need a warm bath...as our adventurer continues to love getting dirty.  In the video below, she shows off her German (Ich bin sehr stolz an Die...und Herzlichen Willkommen Erica).