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I went to Seattle (alone!!) for my birthday last weekend and stayed with by best friend for three glorious days. We did nothing at all worth mentioning or photographing, too lazy even to leave the house in time to get the pedicures we had sort-of talked about. I loved every minute. I think it's going to be a good year.

Latergram: November

Hunter Goes to Washington

Last weekend Hunter got on his first of hopefully many airplanes and flew with me to Seattle to meet lots of people who love him.



He was not too sure how to feel about air travel, as you can see, and kept this expression on his face pretty much the whole flight. But he was a trooper and I am so proud of him for handling with aplomb what many adults have not even experienced. He was thoroughly adored during our visit and I think the trip was well worth it.





We had a really nice time but missed Phil very much and are happy to be home again. Next week during spring break the three of us will be making the rounds to visit Phil's side of the family; many more sweet moments soon to come.

Thanksgiving-ish

Turns out I didn't actually take any pictures on Thanksgiving, but I do have a few from the days before and after...


Before: My cousin and a friend wanted to learn to make pies from scratch, so I got to practice my teaching skills and prep for Thanksgiving at the same time. We made apple, pumpkin, and chicken pot pies. It took pretty much all day. They said now when they get one of my pies as a gift they will be even more appreciative :)


1. Baby gettin' all up in my way.
2. My protege's first apple pie. So proud!
3. One of my pumpkin pies


After: Up in Grass Valley with Phil's family where we spend the holidays our Black Friday tradition is to sleep in as late as we can and then go on a hike in the afternoon. This year was more of a walking excursion, for my sake, but just as fun.


1. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
2. My Philip
3. Me with Phil's neices

puerto vallarta

Here's a little handful of photos from Mexico. It turns out I really didn't take very many. I think if P and I went I would end up with a lot more, because he loves photography and would be more willing to stop and capture shots than the people I traveled with this time. I hope we can go together someday. I'll definitely be more careful of what I eat! Aside from the vile case of food poisoning it was a pretty fun trip. I really enjoyed speaking Spanish again and always appreciate being immersed in a different culture.




1. Mojito 2. On the beach 3. Bougainvillaeas e'rywhere
4. Taxis and flags 5. On the stairs 6. Flea market

redemption

This past weekend was beautiful, in every way. Hands down the best mothers' day weekend of my life so far. We went up to Live Oak and I'll say it again and again, I love my boyfriend's family so much! With every visit they are more comfortable and more welcoming. They made it pretty clear this time that they are hoping they might get to keep me.

Saturday was P's mom's birthday and we went out to a nice dinner with lots of relatives. It's my own mother's birthday as well, a date I've tried to put out of my mind for the most part, but D is worthy of celebrating and I'll gladly remember it for her. Sunday morning I gave her a birthday/mothers' day card and she thanked me and hugged me and told me I was one of her daughters, which surprised me enough that it almost made me cry. I told her I'd take all the mothering I could get.

It got really hot in the afternoon so I absconded with P's nieces on a secret mission to the Dollar store, where we stocked up on squirt guns, water balloons, and sponges, and then went home to recruit everyone into some backyard anarchy to combat the 98+ degree temps. The whole family dropped everything to play with us, and it was awesome.

All day, I did not think about sad things. I never felt pressured. Or uncomfortable. Or angry. Or depressed. I was surrounded by people who accepted and cared for me, people who were grateful for my presence. I was lavished with generous verbal and physical affection that had no strings attached. And it was all so easy. So soul-refreshing. I felt free.

:(

Unfortunately the vacation photos will have to wait. I came down with a violent case of food poisoning on my last day in Mexico and am still recovering.

Worst. Flight. Of. My. Life.

¡Hasta luego!

I'm off on a surprise adventure to Mexico. Extra excited, as I've never been there before. No media while I'm away, just sunshine and beach and exploring the local markets. A true vacation.

I'll be back next week with photos.

xoxo - vera

things we do

I am all about a steady, quiet day-to-day routine punctuated regularly by large-scale adventure, and my boyfriend is all about constant small-scale activities and staying fairly close to home. He is also very careful to agree to almost everything while never actually committing to anything. (He should be a diplomat, I swear.) However, one night a few weeks ago we were driving past the airport when he picked up on my wistfulness and accidentally made me an unsolicited promise that we could go on an adventure during his upcoming Spring Break! I made him shake on it the moment the words were out of his mouth.

And so. Finally. After much deliberation...

Two tickets to Las Vegas: booked.

I'm so excited!! To me this is a safe and familiar adventure, but I know it's a stretch for him, and I feel very loved.

The Forest of Nisene Marks (day trip)

The last one is my favorite. I love that face so much.

surprisingly content

The last couple of weeks leading up have been a bit rough, but now that it's actually here I am doing all right. Tomorrow morning will be spent at home, and then I am driving north to spend the rest of the day with P and his family.

I can feel the love already, and I am grateful.

bridgeport snapshot

Me + P at Bridgeport. It was shut down for restorations but we stopped for a quick photo anyway. My favorite so far.

hitting the road

On our way north to spend the holiday weekend with P's family... Eep!

Lake Tahoe

1. Zephyr Cove beach at Lake Tahoe 2. Hiking up to the house
3. P and his friends playing volleyball 4. Worn out doggies

rum, whiskey, gin

The airline offered free drinks to mothers and I am one but I didn't want a crappy airline drink. I look young--ever so young, they tell me--and I would have had to make a point to tell the attendant that my drink ought to be free. The older women were handed them without comment, and I wondered how many were barren. How many bled out their babies like I did. How many lost them at 2 weeks or 20 years or any time in between. How many were sitting quietly in their row, sipping their rum or whiskey or gin and thinking, rightly, that they deserved it, for surviving this day one more time.

sin city

We went to Vegas for my cousin's 21st birthday. It was awesome ♥




1. en route 2. birthday shots 3. new york new york
4. hard rock hotel 5. mgm lion 6. at breakfast
7. view from stratosphere 8. bellagio fountains 9. birthday girl