Better late than never! (New Years/Birthday post)

First, let me just say that this blog has taken me FOREVER to write!! Hopefully it makes some sort of sense. I've found that stopping and then starting again does not produce good results but I'm not much of a "writer" anyway, so whatever. I mainly do this as a way to journal with pictures and to get all of the thoughts that pile up in my brain on a daily out of my head (at least a little). So anyway HERE is the blog that I started a week ago and finally just had time to finish..

I've been dying to blog lately but have been SO busy. Busy in a good way mostly. My life is so full right now and I truly for the first time in my life feel like "the lucky one".  I am also finally feeling half human again after being consumed by whatever this horrible sickness is that's been going around. Thank goodness for antibiotics!

So Happy New Year! I spent my new years eve in Long Beach with Eric, his BFF Haig and his lovely girlfriend Marissa. We rang in the New Year at a place called "Alex's bar" while watching The Aggrolites perform. It was a great night filled with dancing, drinks and love. I can honestly say that a year ago I never would have imagined that Id be ringing in 2013 with the man of my dreams, in Long Beach, watching the Aggrolites play. It's mind blowing what a difference a year makes.

Alex's Bar has a photo booth so OF COURSE I had to partake.

 I don't know who that dude is on the left. Photo bomb!

Marissa, Eric and Haig

Happy New Year!

New Years day was spent driving around Los Angeles. We drove through Beverly Hills (which I'd never seen), went to Melrose and had breakfast at Vienna Cafe which was delicious but has the worst service EVER, it was so bad that it was comical. After that we decided to head over to The Grove and check out the shops and Farmers Market. There were so many different little shops and yummy smelling food at the farmers market, I cant wait to go back!

 

 

      

 



Eric at the farmers market in an actual phone booth!                           HOLLYWOOD

CBS Lot

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After hitting up the Grove we drove up to the LA Observatory at Griffith park. My favorite thing about that place was the amazing view!

The Observatory from the bottom

Eric and I in front 

Marissa and I at the top! The Hollywood sign was behind us.

Even higher up! It was SO beautiful up there.

And so ended our First full day in LA. It was awesome. That night we at at Jimmy's deli and then went to Barney's Beanery for  a couple early birthday drinks. They were super nice there and one of the bartenders was an actor who I actually recognized, it was strange. He was wearing a shirt that read "death to hipsters" or something along those lines so he and I hit it off instantly! ha.

The next day (our last day) was my birthday so Eric took me to the Santa Monica Pier, which I loved. Being able to see the ocean for my birthday was really cool AND I even got to see a dolphin! After that we ate at a neat British pub and headed home! I think one of the most favorite parts of our trip was actually the drive home. We made a couple of stops off the grape vine. One was at this water  education center which had an observation deck with a really pretty view, I forget the name though and the other was at Fort Tejon to see the grave of Peter Lebec who was killed by a grizzly bear. There is a Clamper monument there so Eric was excited about it. It's a neat park where they used to have civil war reenactments and such but I heard that because of funding they don't do much there anymore.

SANTA MONICA

WATER EDUCATION CENTER/PIONEER LAKE

 FORT TEJON

Peter Lebecs Grave

 

Clamper Monument

Gravesite

Cant wait for the next adventure!

Happy Weekend!

December. A catch up blog.

Wow, I can not believe that this month is almost gone. It's been an AMAZING month spent doing all things Christmas. We made sugar cookies, walked Christmas Tree lane, drove down Cindy lane (which is so cool) twice, saw Santa and went to Christmas parties galore!

I met the love of my life 7 weeks ago and he has made this month very memorable and special. I've never been shown this kind of genuine love and kindness before and it feels (for lack of a better word) amazing. He's funny, lovable, sweet, kind and so cute. Just an all around beautiful person and I hope to marry him someday, yep I said it, marry him.

Us on Christmas, this is my favorite picture of he and I.

Christmas has come and gone leaving my house full of spoiled children, pine needles, a few extra pounds and lots of love. I'll miss Christmas, it was special this year spent with lots of family and friends, mostly Eric's friends but they're pretty awesome so I'm happy to call them "freinds".

I think my favorite part was waking up with Bella and opening presents on Christmas day, just her and I. She loved it and I relished that hour spent with my first child, my only daughter and will hold on to that memory forever especially because when Blake woke up the Christmas joy was put on hold, he had decided that this year presents were not "his thing". So instead of opening them he would throw them and have a freak out. I eventually opened them for him and would sit them somewhere in his general proximity in hopes he would want to play with them when he was ready, which he did. Three christmas' equals A LOT of freak outs. Hopefully next year it will be better. Maybe presents wont be the enemy.

Pictures to prove it (a lot, because a lot happened):

Making Sugar Cookies



 

 

Grace and Blake

 

My favorite thing. All full of awesome vintage christmas things.

 

wrestling!

Nephew Jude

Mom and Bella

 

 

Maddie, Brennan, Grace, Blake & Bella

 

Someone got a cell phone!

 

 

 

Note and half eaten goodies left by Santa.

 

 

Papa (my dad) and Bella

 

My favorite gift, Cake Stand Eric got me.

 

I got Eric a license plate. ECV! The top reads "Captain Vespa" which is his Clamper name. (I'll explain later)

 

Christmas Eve

 

Lil Ladies, Bella and Celena

 

 

My love and I.

Good times.


As of right now Blake and I are sick AGAIN with a horrendous cold. It's horrible. I'm supposed to be leaving tomorrow evening to Long Beach and LA for NYE/my birthday with my love. So I'm reallllly hoping to feel better by then. I'll actually be gone from both children for 2 1/2 days! I've only ever left Blake for one night, so I'm a little scared but extremely excited! Wish me luck in feeling better for tomorrow!

Hopefully I'll blog about our LA adventure when I get back!

Happy New Year!

xoxo me.

And so it goes..

There have been some major changes in my life the last few months. Nothing that I wish to get into too much here. I haven't done any blogging. I haven't even read anyone else's blogs. You see, blogs tend to portray the perfect side of life, the parts that are full of joy and happy moments and I was in no mood to see others enjoying their perfect (or seemngly so) lives.Even the crafting blogs which I followed religiously, became completely unappealing to me. I decided today though that I need to get back to "me". I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and realize life could be much, much, worse. I actually have a pretty great life. Two amazing children who love me with all their hearts, a loving family and amazing friends who are always there for me, peace and freedom and another chance to find the love that I know I deserve. So I'm ok.

I tried to post pictures from Bellas party but something is up with the photo upload so I'll get to that tomorrow hopefully.

Happy Saturday! xoxo Tambra

weekdays...

It's only Wednesday?? This feels like the longest week ever and it's only my second day at work. I long for the weekend if only for two days, to be able to stay in bed an hour longer, not get dressed right away and to actually see me kids before 4:00 p.m.

Today when I got home I could tell instantly my lil Blakey was sick. BIG sad face :( !! He was lethargic, had a runny nose and those sick, sad eyes. My Dad said he had volunteer to take a nap today so that was the fist indicator he wasn't feeling well. Guess it wasn't just car sickness.... anyway, it kills me to not be able to stay home with him. I absolutely cant though because of impending time off that I need to take. It really sucks being a working mom, especially when your kids need you.

In happier news, I started making the banner for Bella's birthday party yesterday. I love this theme so hard!! I cant wait to cut more little cute anchors, sailboats, whales etc to affix to EVERYTHING!

Here's a taste:

 

 

Day trip!

We took a quick day trip to Bass Lake today. It's soooo pretty there. We didn't get going until about noon because we had some errands to do (a lot). Bella had school so it was just Blake, Emett and I. I wished Bella was there but it was a good opportunity for us to spend some one on one time with Blake. He slept most of the way but kept waking up and crying... I thought it was weird but didn't know what it was but was suspicious that he may be car sick. We made some stops off the road here and there to look at the big casino (from the outside), one of Emett's childhood homes in the mountains and the Pine's resort (mainly because we were trying to get to the lake). I day dreamed about one day being able to rent a cabin there and have a family vacation during the summer. It's so beautiful and smells like new air up there. We couldn't figure out how to get to the lake for the life of us but as soon as we gave up to head back home we found an entrance!

(on the way up)

(walkin down to the lake)

(The back of "The Pine's Resort")

As soon as we pulled up Blake yelled "Ocean!" (ADORABLE). He was excited to get out of the car and explore. We ran down to the shore. He dipped his toes in the water and smiled, he was really happy. He and Emett skipped rocks and whatever else they could find to throw in, which Blake loooves to do. We actually had to take our big pool down because all Blake wanted to do was throw stuff in it to watch it float, so he was in to it.

To add to the amazing view were a flock of geese and their babies walking around... they were so cute.

(Skipping Rocks)

It was an amazing time. We had to head back home after about an hour. We got in the car and had driven for abut 10 minutes when Blake puked. I'm not sure if he had gotten car sick or what since he seems fine now but it was gross and I felt so bad for him. We did some damage control/clean up and continued home. As soon as we got out of the mountains it got reallly windy and reallly dusty. It turns out there was a dust storm in our town and the wind was super strong which is typical for this area.

So that was our day.. it was a great one. The End.

xoxox Tambra

Zoo's, Wedding's and Kid's parties Oh my!

Things I did this weekend:

Went to the zoo (It was 104 degrees, not a good idea).

Took Bella to her Dance recital at the beautiful "Armenian Home".

Target.

Went to a beautiful wedding!

Party at Chuck E. Cheese's.

Lots of Laundry.

Grocery Store.

Here's some pics to prove it:

(looking at the Elephants, his favorite)

(waiting for Bella at the "Armenian Home" wish I had taken a picture of the scenery)

(The bootiful wedding of Brandon and Jen)

(Having fun at the wedding)

(My sister and nephew Jude, High fiveing Chuck E.)