when 2016 came and went

2016.

The whirlwind year. The year of changes and (still) adapting to those changes. I'm actually ok with change and the new opportunities change brings. But man, the forces of the universe threw in some wrenches in the flow that I was happily comfortable with, which made me learn that I cannot control even the things I thought were an easy handle (I googled a lot of weird stuff last year to find solutions to problems). I did learn the obvious - let it go. 
*Queue Frozen theme song*

I have a problem letting go. I don't know how the hell those lucky people out there who can so easily say and actually do..the you know..LETTING GO, do it. Maybe there is a secret to it all, but for me, it's not easy at all. And lord knows I've tried. I've woken up many a Saturday mornings (my reset days), with a positive upbeat attitude, and by 10AM (after the Saturday morning sister dramas with my girls) I'm back to my pondering of woes and wonderings of  'why is this happening to me'. I don't want to go into the sad details of 2016, but I did really look forward to a new year to actually see the results of all the changes and one day sit and realize to myself 'we went through that! we're ok!' and come out **queue Britney Spears- Stonger song**. (Britney is actually playing off my Echo at this very moment. hehe)

I will though gladly give shout outs to the amazing Cali moments of 2016:

I visited Cali 4 times!

1.

My gf & I took the girls to LACMA & Malibu for hangs at the Malibu Cafe at the Malibu vineyards (so beautiful!), and spent some time in the beaches of Malibu, which I found to be so much better than the normal Santa Monica beach I thought I loved so much..but Malibu killed it. I love you, Malibu! Can you please take us in to live with you forever?? Pleaassee?

2.

Matt & I visited LA to play tourists with our bffs out there and hiked up to the Griffith Observatory. I'm not sure if it was the altitude, or the fact that I'm so out of shape, but I ended up feeling so sick we when arrived and I swear I nearly passed out as I watched the pendulum swing back and forth. Matt actually filmed the whole experience of that trip on our GoPro, but self consciously never shared it with everyone because he felt the film work was not up to par *eye roll*. Maybe I'll put it on here without his knowing..hehehehe

Sorry for the bad quality of the image below but I still really like it. Melinda & I posing in front of the far away Hollywood sign:

3.

For my bff (I know, I like to have a lot of bffs 💁) Erin's birthday, the Wild Girls crew all went to Palm Springs to celebrate and relax and eat and relax and play and eat and there was some swimming in there..but mostly eating (and drinking 🙊) like we were 18 again.

Erin & I also took an extra day to extend the extravaganza to our bff Aida's and then visit Universal Studios to run around Harry Potter land!!

4.

We went BACK to LA to hang out with Herbie (Aida's Goldendoodle) and spend some family time in Disneyland. We actually stayed long enough this time to catch the light parade and I cried like a baby. I still don't know why..I think I was just overwhelmed with happiness. Or maybe I felt like all the money we spent in Disneyland alone wasn't actually worth it..$20 for a face paint?! Come on, Disney!!

So overall, I would like to thank Calfornia for taking us in A LOT during the rocky year. We're 4 months into 2017 now, and we did get to visit LA once so far. Of course I expect more visits until we live there. COME ON CALI, WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES?!!. I've been patiently waiting...

I'm ready!

rain, rain, rain

'rain, rain, stay to play'

i love the cold rainy days.

bye felicia!! (to 2014)

life has been back to normal.

back to the daily routines of every day monday-friday life.

wake up (at the last possible minute for me), get dressed as i hear the girls play like it's saturday morning already, hush them and remind them that we do share walls with neighbors who may not appreciate the banshee cries of their stuffed toys, toast our orange juices and coffee to a good day, zip up, lights out (those dark winter mornings), and lock up.

zoom down the three flights of stairs of our apartment building, with the hurriedness of mrs. clavel, always taking turns to jump off the last step.

believe it or not, this is all done in 30 mins or less.

supermom? i like to think so..

in these first couple january weeks, we've had a couple birthday parties, neighbor gave away a keurig i was happy to take (doesn't work great, but does work enough to do the job), a baby shower in a beautiful hotel room (i love anything in a hotel room. i do enjoy that eloise feeling), and much music listening instead of tv watching (music does let the sillies out more than tv does). i have to say, i am over those kids shows..if we can't agree to watch something together, then music it is!

xoxo -stephnay

the end of 2014

as always..

i always come back.

recap?

*1995 tape rewind sound*

except this is really 2014.

the end of it at least..

i have to say..maybe over and over on this blog..but come on..

it's not rocket science here..if you write what you want down somewhere, it has to be..

the last two years, i've dedicated this to be a diary, as a test of what i just want..simply.

i asked for a vehicle 2013, and i got it.

asked for a another vehicle and our own home for 2014..

go it.

it's that simple.

just dreaming.

 except that it happened.

so now this next year!!!

haha!

so this year i am happy.

i have everything i need.

i'm overwhelmed with love from friends and family.

this is more reason to have fun and share everything.

we'll be invited to countless birthday parties.

take a jillion photos.

travel so much more..internationally.

& it will ONLY be recorded on here.

that's it..

my 2015 new years resolution..

to not post on Instagram.

I will gladly 'like'

as i shall.

but my story for the next year shall remain on here.

if i can move mountains (get a car, home.), then i can

record my IG life on here.

..except not on IG.

get it, maybe?

Here's to a fantastic fifteen!

xoxo- your stephy girl.

-No photos today, as IG is not easy to move photos anymore..
i do have a canon camera that i should get used to, though...

peace & light & everything bright.
xoxo steph

2014. Well into the new year now...

Can I just say?

I don't know that I'll ever get used to this. So for now, if you do come and visit, be patient. I always come back.

Also! Something cool: 

not sure if you're a believer of the law of attraction or whatever way you may believe it, whether it be by meditating, praying, or just plain obsessing, but looking back at last year's resolution and writing that I wanted a car- It happened! Crazy, eh? It didn't happen how I thought it would though. I assumed a new car, as an addition to what we had already. Not that our shitter would actually take a shit and force us into a new one…but whatever, we have a newer working vehicle, with excellent gas mileage, and I am hootin darn happy 'bout that!

2013 did have its bummers:

Baby (or not really, anymore) Billie fractured her tibia and fibula right above her ankle, as well as busting her growth plate in half playing on the playground. She's perfectly fine now, but man, was that a scary venture. She needed surgery, pins, and much hope that her growth plate would not fuse to her actual bone, which would've caused her leg growth to be stunted. Thanks to all who sent us love and light, positive energy, and the smart hand of Dr. Thomas, she is fine and will be growing up like nothing happened. Except for the surgery scar, but we'll take that over anything worse. Though it was a worrisome experience, and the trauma of it all continues to make me wish every single day that it never happened, we learned a lot. Accidents happen, and that is that.You can do your best to avoid them, but really, it does happen to anyone. Just be careful, and though it may be impossible to not beat yourself up or feel that you're completely responsible, just know that it's not your fault. Husband blamed my father (who was watching the girls when it happened), and was stubborn on putting him to blame, which did not fare well between he and I at home. It created more stress. I'm not sure how he may feel about it now, but he knows how I feel and I gave him my input, and we don't discuss it. If he tries to, and begins to rile me up, I point to the front door. Hmph! But seriously, we're all good in the hood :)

Penelope has been bratty and so cute, and whiny, and adorable, and LOUD, but she can sure carry a pretty little tune. She was once afraid of all animals. She only liked them in books.. or at a distance.. I dreaded taking her on play dates where there would be dogs or cats involved, she'd claw her way up above my head! But she now LOVES 'em. Dogs particularly. She even asks if she can have one! One day, sweet child. One day..

Here is a pic she loved & I posted on IG after playin' around on a cat app:

Hubby's been pretty good to me lately. Coming around to all the kid parties, baby showers, friend's birthdays with me. I use to go alone believe it or not:

He's the great man I love.

And I don't care how late I may be in writing resolutions, but I'm doing it anyway:

.:Aida, moi in middle, and Erin NY2014:.

This year, I'd love for my little family to finally have our own home. We've been living with others or others living with us since Matt & I met. We've gone through plenty hard times and things are looking up, so it's time. I want a home to entertain people with game nights and experimental dinners, dammit! I've got too many ideas pinned up on Pinterest, it needs to happen.

Another car. Without our current vehicle breaking down.

We need to pay San Francisco a visit. Preferably by road trip (I hear it's beautiful). There are some fun people out there we'd like to paint the town red with!

Crossing my fingers xoxo

time flies too fast!

spring has been in bloom since sometime around march in las vegas.

after a horrid february, march was filled with more bipolar weather.

we're at the very end of april now, and it looks like it's going to stick to the beaming hot sun type of weather. i don't even recall any april showers this year..

 

here's a recap of what's been up!

^^billie blowin' them air kisses at the spring flowers^^

^^penelope had her 3rd birthday. she asked for ice cream, so i got her cake-fetti ice cream, topped with a sparkling # '3'. she really enjoyed it. she had a party thrown for her at her nana's the following weekend, and i didn't take pictures :( i was too busy having a good time with family!^^

 

^^spent one really warm afternoon at the park with some good friends for a mini shoot and some play time. hubby here showed penelope how fun dandelions are! we also let them get soaked in a play fountain. it was all fun and great until penelope discovered a tiny bug crawl around on her hand in the car on the way home. i've never seen/heard her freak out like that. i've been catching bugs lately to show her how harmless they actually are. ^^

 

 

^^went blonde^^

^^then fucsia. it's a lighter pink now, since it's semi permanent. but i have been having so much fun sporting this hair! not sure i would ever do it again, but it's fun for now :)^^

^^penelope shot her first commercial for a local springs preserve's dia del niño promo^^

^^my handsome matt also had a birthday.^^

^^it was #nationalsiblingsday a couple weeks back^^

^billie. talking so much lately. she also follows her big sis evvveerryywhhere. and anything penelope gets, billie has to make sure we get it for her too. they're competive, already. a lot of times it scares me, how fast they're growing up.^^

^^been playing with decorating my nails^^

 

^^had a day at the pool with some girlfriends. this night ended up being a sloppy one, ha!^^

 

so those are some highlights of march-april this year. may should be pretty chill month for us. a bff is coming in from dc, so i'm looking forward to some more girl time! and i'm definitely going to squeeze in more pool time!

 

*all photos taken on instagram.

hey february..

 

we've been ill all month long. i hate you.

please don't be all cold-hearted next year.

xoxo. not.

exhausted

 ^^pretty much sums up my day today. i have sick babies. it's not my little angels i find frustrating..it's their nasty coughs, heavy breathing, fevers, and vomitting. please sickeness, leave my babies be. i can't bare to see them like this. breaks my heart, and man i'm tired :( ^^*

 

 

^^did go to a park the other sunny day, though!^^

 

 

^^swingin' away!^^

 

^^the weather was pretty great the other day. so warm and sunny, i thought for sure the cold had finally left us, until today...pretty chilly out again. 'why you so bipolar, weather??'^^

 

*imadeface iphone app