rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens

 these are a few of my favorite things from 2013…

beach days.  this is just one snap of many amazing days on various beaches that we have visited this year.  my heart is at its fullest when i can feel the ocean breeze and hear the sounds of the water.  i think my girls are a lot like their momma in this way as they tend to be at their best when frolicking in the water or building in the sand.

beginning an adventure with native gardening.  i know that sounds odd to make my "favorites of 2013" list, but it really is.  i started out knowing absolutely nothing.  nada.  zilch.  and slowly, i am beginning to know a tiny bit more.  i have enjoyed taking on this new territory of learning and enjoyed the process (with some wins and some losses) of starting to tend to the earth.  it makes me smile when i enter and exit our home and i look forward to continuing in this process.

watching d flourish in preschool and "graduate" to kindy.  she had an amazing year last year- in every way!  her friends at SLP were top notch, her teacher was one in a million and the learning that took place will hopefully stick with her for years to come as she walks forward in a relationship with God.  it's hard to believe that i now have two girlies in big-kid school!

these ladies- for so much more than a paragraph can explain.  love your girlies to the moon and back.

hiking with dad- the beach- a lighthouse- family adventures…  this picture is one of my favorites because it reminds me of so many good times with these crazies over the past year.  i love getting in the car and taking in a new scene.  love.  love.  love.

adventures with this girlie and a special day in pescadero- cheese, wine, coffee mugs, almost running out of gas (shhh- don't tell the hubs!) and being almost eaten by a goat.

family vacation in san diego.  love.  love.  love.  we've never been a vacation repeat kinda family- but this year we were.  and it was glorious.  i loved so many things about it!  and this guy- he's my gibraltar.

bethany hamilton and this 4th grade girlie….  enough said.

two snaps- one event…  a co-hosted favorite things party in my backyard.  planning, painting, crafting, cooking and then enjoying a backyard filled with some of the most wonderful ladies in pleasanton.  this was one of my favorite things from 2013.

running the golden gate bridge and a ten mile race.  i never knew i wanted to (it was NOT my idea), i never thought i could…  and doing it and meeting new people and enjoying the beauty of this place…  and did i say being able to run ten miles and never even thinking i had that in me and wanting to do it again when i was all finished because it was that exhilarating!

chicago with this crazy clan to celebrate my favorite laura and her nuptials.  we had the week of our lives- great time with great friends, yummy food, fabulous sights, relaxation, and a complete realization that we are right where we belong- in spite of how much i miss where we were.

celebrating this girl- a late night out, dancing, limos and the gift of friendship from someone who is an indescribable human and "auntie" to my girls.  she is awesome (and old…  giggle). blessed.  beyond.  measure.

happy new year!