You win some....

And then there's that other thing - where your tent collapses in the wind and you forgot the camp stove (again). At least you know when to cut your losses and go home to make s'mores in the backyard. And wonder why you ever leave your backyard. Everyday adventures, people.

Soak it in, Babies!

Yosemite is not fair. In the same way that Hawaii isn't fair to the other states.

Sometimes it's not enough just to drag your kids to one of the most spectacular piles of rocks in the world. You have to force march them into a meadow and demand that they stop talking about video games just for a moment. Fling out your arms! Tip your head back and soak it in, Babies!

Around here....

Around here, we've been celebrating the change of season - and the thirteenth birthday of our firstborn son - which is a change of season in it's own way. As usual, I feel woefully underprepared as a parent.
We've been ultra-super-busy with field trips and karate tournaments and puppy training - but we have the week off for spring break now - or the week On for spring break, depending on how you look at it. Adventure!

Happy Equinox!

How have you been? I've spent the last week working hard and being humbled. Getting to see what I need to work on. Now it gets lighter everyday - metaphorically too, I hope. Let's all be the best possible versions of ourselves, shall we?

Around here....

Around here, things are looking pretty spectacular. For real. Had you encountered me last Friday, you would have heard a rage-fueled rant about picking up after yourself. I apologize for the rage, but you should still pick up after yourself.

I have finally trained my children to sleep in on the weekends, which? Means that they will reliably stay quiet until about 6:30AM. Because the weekend is awesome and they don't want to miss any of it. Now the dog wakes us at five, every morning. Because daytime is awesome and she doesn't want to miss any of it.

Small, mighty things are blooming everywhere.

In what may have been a questionable parenting move, we did some mildly adventurous movie-going. Nobody else brought their children to see The Terminator at the Paramount.

Shadow.

I was getting all geared up for an epic adventure this weekend - and then this happened. She's a bit of an epic adventure all on her own. She joined us four days ago and I've taken four hundred pictures of her. All blurry.

And since I'm home all weekend being a chew toy, I thought I'd make some bags and ship them out. Use the code SHADOW in the shop (through tonight) for 20% off, puppies!

Photo Shooting.

A Saturday shoot with Mick and Jamie - who are beyond attractive and generous with their time and energy (and only one of them is related to me). Thank you times the power of the sun to my handsome husband, who shot all the pictures. Most of the pictures. If they're any good, he took them.
Also - spectacular press yesterday on Poppytalk - Love!

Around here....

We meant to have a cozy, rainy weekend indoors - with books and cocoa and writing reports on books (and cocoa). And tiny robot armies. Fin and I ventured out on bicycles to the local waffle joint during what we thought was a break in the rain.
Fortunately, they will serve you waffles even when you're soaked through. Sometimes the adventure is a little more adventurous than you thought it would be.

Also: Bone music.

Get your adventure on!

We all want to trek to Tibet and Darkest Peru and the Moon. And? We should. But let's also honor the more commonplace adventures we have on a daily basis.
Anything that scares you a little (or a lot) is an adventure. You know - when you have to make yourself be a little bit brave. Anything that's a teensy bit risky. It doesn't have to be bungee jumping. For shy girls like me, talking to elderly strangers is an adventure.
Go for a walk in inclement weather. Do something for the first time. Sing out loud. Dance out loud. Take the stairs. Stand up for yourself. Make art and put it out in the world. Order something weird in a restaurant. Refrain from forming an opinion right away. Turn left instead of right and see how that feels.
Bring your kids. Or, don't - it's up to you. But they're good cover for whimsey, enthusiasm, and childlike behavior.
Hiking and cooking and public transit can be adventures if you do it right. Travel is always an adventure - unless you do it wrong. Driving the middle school carpool probably shouldn't be an adventure, but sometimes the passengers enjoy it more when it is.
Did you know, when you started reading this, that I would say it was all in your head? That I would say that it's all about believing in yourself and having a good attitude? And then I did? And look, you're still reading! Did you think that I would tell you that I feel adventurous every day and it makes my life super-amazing in every way? Surprise! I didn't. Honestly, I wrote this more to encourage myself than anything. So, let's be bold! And then meet back here later to talk about it. I'll bring the bandages.
OH, and! On an adventure, you almost always get ice cream. You have to earn it, but you get ice cream. All you have to do is breathe deeply and commit. It's okay to be nervous. It's okay to fail. Even when you fail, you still get the ice cream.

Anything can happen child, anything can be.