Beautiful Things: The Moving Edition.

As we prepare to move over the next two weeks, I am sure my lamenting of what will be lost is only going to grow more often in occurrence. Though I am very excited about the move, it is in my nature to resist letting go.

Much will be gained naturally as a result of the move--we'll be surrounded by more wildlife and nature than we'll know what to do with-- but I cannot help but morn the loss of the man made beauty present in our current home that we will be leaving and losing.

I imagine that my next few "Beautiful Things" posts will be of those beautiful things that I anticipate missing and want to ensure I have captured ample memories of.

So, here is the first of what I imagine will be several collages of beautiful things found in our home soon-to-be-no-more lately.

Hoppy Easter.

Noah's first real recollection of the bunny, egg and basket filled holiday was a smash! On Friday we mingled at the L.A. M.I.L.K.s' (Los Angeles Moms I'd Like To Know) Easter soiree at the park where Noah collected and then destroyed brightly colored plastic eggs and their healthful contents--dried fruit and cereal. Skip Saturday, which was mostly filled with packing for our upcoming move (thanks to Nick--my sister's boyfriend who watched Noah) followed by a visit to our favorite local pizza establishment, Village Pizzeria, and fast forward to Sunday's festivities--a morning PJ egg hunt and an afternoon picnic at the park with Asami, Atsushi and Kai.

It was so much hoppin' we almost can't wait until next year! And, tons of more pics are on our flickr site, here.

My Little CasaNOAH.

Noey Finn and I have been seeing the same group of mamas and babies on Wednesday afternoons since he was about, oh, 4 months old or so. Early on, we deemed our little clan "Babies On Blankets" (or BOB for short) but as the babies have become increasingly mobile, it was only accurate to revise the title--to "Babies OFF Blankets". And just as the name has changed, so has our meeting location. We had to ditch our soft, green, grassy knoll under the shady pines of Barnsdall Art park in Los Feliz in search of more occupying play structures, sand boxes and ample romping obstacles to keep our toddling tots entertained long enough for us to catch one another up on current spawn news.

This week's meeting found Noah Finn in awe of Louisa's new knack for scaling the rolly slide at Griffith Park. He whined at the bottom as he watched her zoom past with precision and skill. But I saved the most interesting Wednesday bit for last. See the girl holding Noah Finn in not one, but three of the pictures above? No, we don't know her. Nope, Noah Finn doesn't know her either. But, he sure does look comfy snuggling in her lap, doesn't he? He hung with little doe-eyed girlie and her doting female companions for a good 20 minutes or so. I mean seriously, they fawned over him. I know that he has a preference for boobies--but those are mine and they squirt milk. Could it be that my little boy is already loving the not-my-mama ladies? No . . . yes?

Just call him, little CasaNOAH!

Who Knew? Part Two.

For more of our YouTube videos, click here!

Who Knew?

Funny faces, peek-a-boo, brown rice noodles in the ear, salmon and zucchini motor boats . . . who knew eating could be so much fun? Apparently, Noah Finn did.

All In A Good A Day's Play: Park Edition

Springtime, linen overalls, good friends, lots of sunshine--does it really get any better than this?
I think not.

Just Call Me Mama Malibu.

Dean's job is relocating to one of the most delicious places this side of the Grand Canyon--Malibu. Pont Dume, to be precise, and we have boldly decided to ditch city life for the slower, softer and gentler existence to be found nestled in the wild and rural terrain of the canyons just a stone's throw from the beach.

There are no apartments to speak of in Malibu, just a smattering of multi-million dollar homes precariously perched upon ocean-side cliffs, hidden on hillscapes behind scrubby brush and retaining walls, or on sprawling ranches found down long windy dusty dirt roads. That's it--not much to speak of as far as shopping, or touristing, or hollywooding--it's surprisingly rural to those who visit for the first time. So, what's a multi-million dollarless family to do if they have chosen this destination as home? Search for the rare humble guest house even though they are breathtakingly overpriced and severely under square-footaged.

Nevertheless, we're ready, oh, so, ready to dodge the grimy, noisy, crowded, stink of the city. Malibu is not far from where we are now living, but it sure feels a world away. We are ready for green and grass and nature and quiet and flowers and creeks and ocean and breeze and wildlife and rocks and dirt and leaves on trees. We are ready for a few adopted hens and farm fresh eggs. We are ready for a goat and farm fresh milk and cheese. We are ready, after a 10 year wait, to adopt a dog who will trail our heels through the lush expanse of the 20 acre horse ranch we found this past weekend.

The house is small but rustic. All it needs is a little loving hand. The land it's on is oh so huge and pristine and ours for the exploring, gardening, flowering, romping and picnicking. I can't wait for Noah to rub each horses nose in the morning before breakfast. I can't wait to lunch on the beach everyday. I can't wait to water my edible garden at sunset and wake to the song of birds and dance of squirrels. We will inhabit this cozy little cottage for only a year, two at most (or who knows, maybe we'll fall in love and stay forever)--until we move on up to the pacific northwest in search of a permanent homestead, a home we'll own.

In the meantime, we are giddy with excitement for our last adventure as wanderers, as house freelances and the freedom it provides--the freedom to wax and wane from place to place until we've scratched all the itches to live wherever we want to live until it's time to wander no more. This really will be nothing less than a really long vacation--Noah and I frolicking around the ranch and beach with Dean scampering to his dream job by weekday and hiking and BBQ'ing and sunbathing at week's end.

It's not all roses and pickles though, isolation does enter my mind. I have already begun to seek out Malibu mommy groups, music classes and playgroups for Noey Finn and I--which are few and far in between as far as I can tell. We are so active with other mamas and babies here in the city that I am not sure if this will provide a welcomed rest or forced seclusion. Only time will tell.

In the meantime, it's Malibu or bust, baby.

Beautiful Things.

House hunting and birthday parties and wagon rides, oh my. Noey's new shoes and chubby sandy toes and dancing dandelions, oh my. Crocheting with cotton and vibrant tulips and splashing feet in fountains, oh my.

Beautiful, beautiful things, oh my.

This was our past week in pictures. Happy Spring.

Spring Break 2010: The Adventures of Auntie Meg.

I wish it was my college senior year spring break--oh, how I wish it was. But, golly, that was almost 10 years ago now--oie.

My sister's spring break here in Los Angeles has come to an end--with her red eye flight back to North Carolina tonight, she will hopefully take with her beautiful memories. Despite having to share her with her roommate and boyfriend, who just recently moved here a few months ago, (and both who were very nice) it was a very lovely visit. Clothes piles and all . . . we're gonna miss Auntie Meg.

For new great pics, visit us on flickr!

Wordless Wednesday: Well, Almost Wordless.

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination." --Oscar Wilde

A "Wildeism" in honor of a Wordless Wednesday St. Patty's Day--as such, no truer words have ever been spoken about Dean and I. Wilde would have deemed our imaginations limitless.