Facebook & Santa Cruz

It's been awhile since my last post, but since I'm just sitting here on the couch attempting to be a good patient while I recover from bronchitis AGAIN, I figured I had the time.

Are you ready for lots of rambling? If not, then just skip to the pictures. ;-) Here is goes: Facebook. It's crazy how addicted I am to it. I get on the computer to look up a recipe or check email and I automatically go straight to FB. I've never had (done?) crack, but I assume that FB is like crack for non drug users...but I digress. I waste so much of my time with it. I actually find (and my husband has pointed out) that I am much happier when I haven't been on FB in a while. I get so caught up in the drama & details of everyone else and I even let it affect my mood. 'Why in the world are they saying that!? It's not even true!' or 'Look what they get to do. Wish I could do that.' It's sad, really. I could be spending time playing with my daughter (the cutie on the trampoline!) or having a conversation with my hubby that DOESN'T revolve around someone else's status update. I'm not saying FB is a bad thing, it's just not a healthy thing for me at the moment. I hesitate to say that I'm calling it quits with FB because I don't know if I have the willpower to stay away...but I know that if it has that strong of a hold on me it probably (definitely) isn't good for me. I think my daughter, my husband, the house and my mood would greatly benefit from me saying Good-bye to FB.
Are there things I'll miss? I'm not sure. The people I have real, honest relationships with will continue to stay in touch - and there's always e-mail or phone (eeek, that means I'm going to have to start being a phone person. i hate the phone.) And all the others?? Let's be honest. If you were to run into every 'friend' you have on FB - you would probably only talk to 15%. Or maybe that's just me. All that to say - I think I'll be happier and more content without FB. I'm tired of comparing myself to others.

On a lighter note: We went up to Santa Cruz for a few days before Christmas. It.was.glorious! Lots of time with the neighbors (and yet, still not enough time) and I had a very relaxing walk by the harbor & lighthouse. The camera is still pretty new to me, so it was fun to play with the different settings. I got to people watch, watch the sunset & spend time alone. It was glorious! Thanks Josh for urging me to get out of the house. :-) Here are a few pics.

The Awesomeness that is goop

Before we had Natalie - I was a preschool teacher. Math and science were (ARE) like foreign languages to me, but preschool I can understand! Glue, paper, stringing noodles together, playing with playdough, only having to count to 10 - 20 tops! Now that Natalie is preschool aged I started to pull out all the craft supplies and idea notecards and it has been SO fun! The other day we made 'goop' with cornstarch, water & a bit of food coloring. I love goop because it's a sensory activity, you can get messy, and it's easy to clean up. This is one of our outside activities - all you have to do to clean up is spray everything down with water. :-)

I made a list of activities at home & activities in our community and it has saved me many, many times! If I don't have something down on paper I will NOT remember! So, whenever we're looking for something to do I just pull out the list. :-) I can get a little particular when doing projects...and then I have to remember that Natalie is 2. (But seriously, why do you need to color on MY awesome stick figure/tree/flower picture when you have one of your own?? I'm making a masterpiece!) Natalie and I went to the Dollar Store and picked up a few things to keep in our craft drawer: more stickers (they go fast!!), cotton balls, coffee scoops for the sensory table and shaving cream (for when I'm REALLY brave)! Today is a crayon & sticker day...I'm not feeling particularly adventurous.

...and I'm back.

After almost 2 years - I'm back. We'll see how long it lasts. ;-) This blog won't always be sunshine and roses, but I am going to do my best to be honest and real.

Moving on...Miss N is almost 2 1/2 now and we're back living in the town where we got married. We greatly miss our amazing neighbors!! It was awesome having people around us that could make me laugh, be there when I needed to cry, and be brutally honest with me - not to mention all of the playmates Natalie had. However it's great to be 'home'. I didn't realize how much I missed this place until we moved back. Slower pace, no traffic, so many familiar faces. :-)