weekend fun

Most of my weekends are normal. . . but every now and then the stars align and we find ourselves overwhelmed with fun in the best possible ways.  My talented photographer friend Whitney took some new family photos for us at my favorite beach, Crystal Cove.  

This place is pure magic. There are rocky tide pools filled with starfish and tiny crabs and colorful anemones, and a golden mist that settles on the shoreline as the sun settles into the sea.  The air is tinged with salt and jasmine and along the edges of the cliffs, houses with chipping paints of turquoise, yellow, and cream stake their claim.  A tiny beach bar plays sultry tunes from an era past as locals and guests sun on big striped towels on the beach.  Every time I am here my brain goes into vacation mode - without realizing it I exhale deeply and relax.  All of this and more is why I love it here, and why I was so happy to have new family memories captured here.  One snapshot is a behind the scenes, and one sneak peek - I can't wait to see the rest!

From there, we went home to pack for our trip to Portland.  I'd never been before, and that city has always been on my bucket list so I was especially thrilled to go.  Not only that but my mom flew in from Arizona to spend a few days hanging with Emerson while Steve and I took off for the trip.  Three days kid-free!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Steve was invited to speak at The Justice Conference, which is what brought us to Portland in the first place.  If you don't know about this conference, take a minute to learn more, it was a phenomenal convergence of incredibly intelligent and inspiring minds and hearts!

We had a great time riding the MAX (yay mass transit!), seeing the touristy sights (Voodoo Doughnuts!  Powell's Books!  Stumptown Coffee!) and eating at delicious places (okay, special thank you award goes to our friend Caleb who gave us the ultimate restaurant list.  Well done, you.  PS - my whole life is better because of those truffle fries.  Amen.)  

And although it rained for most of the trip (hey, it's Portland, right!?) we managed to laugh pretty much all day every day.  So much life.  

You know it's been a good trip when you are a little bit sad to be checking out already and a little bit achy to be back home.  It was the perfect amount of time to be gone and by the time we boarded that plane back to Orange County, I was more than ready to hold my baby again.  

      Much to be grateful for.