We have a new home

We have a new blog home, here. I am working on domain forwarding right now, but eventually, the address should be www.thisabundantlifeblog.com. Right now, it's hooked up to my business blog, so ignore the web address for now. Hope y'all will stay with us!

Our best family photo yet!

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Talula's Summer Solstice Birthday Party

Yesterday, we celebrated Talula's 2nd birthday. She was so happy to wear her pretty pink polka-dot party dress.




We had her party at the new lodge that Joey helped to build. Here is her sun pinata that Tania, Tutu, and I made.


Of course, I had to take some photos of the food I made. Cantaloupe-mint salad...


Chunky guacamole...


Pico de gallo...


Of course, by the time the barbecued steak, chicken, and asparagus, and artichokes with lemon garlic butter were served, I was wayyy too involved to take photos, but I assure you, Joey is a barbecuing god.

Of course, at a Summer Solstice party, you have to serve mead, the drink of the gods.


Talula pretty much opened presents throughout the day. Here she is, opening a set of musical instruments.




Then, Tania and her friends put on a puppet show, Little Red Riding Hood. Tania and Tutu made the puppets, Little Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf, and Grandma. I love how you can see the grape vines through the window/stage.


Then we got to the pinata. Tania's friend M hits it.


Tania gave it a few good whacks.


Tania's friend A is the one who eventually broke it.


Little Lu has a turn.


Finally A whacked it so hard it went flying across the room! Feathers, confetti, and art supplies burst out!


The girls then used the supplies to craft to their hearts' content.


Tut helped Lu.


Then...more presents!



Then...birthday pie time! We all sing to Lu and she blows out her candles.


Of course I had to take a photo of my lovely raw strawberry pie. It was delicious, and the only ingredients are strawberries, lemon, dates, and walnuts. We also had homemade strawberry ice cream. Lu had to have lots.


As the party winds down around sunset, Lu plays with her new Cabbage Patch doll sent from Grammy in Arizona.


She has to end the day by picking a beautiful pink rose to match her outfit.


Happy Birthday, my sweet baby Lu. I cannot describe in words how blessed I am to be your Mama. You bring new joy to my life every single day, and you force me to grow and change and better myself. I love you so much, and I hope you will always know that.

I'm voting Republican

Just so you know we're not dead

We've been in Portland, enduring some weird weather, and my camera has been sad and lonely in the bottom of my purse. It did make it out to snap this shot of Tania in a field, no, I think I'll call it a meadow to be all old-school and whimsical, near our house.


And to take this shot of Lu boobing her baby. With no pants on.


And to capture how beautiful the vineyard is in the spring with all the wildflowers going crazy.

Mother's Day was awesome...

...but I wish my kids weren't so ugly.




Well, at least my husband is a gem. He surprised me with a picnic down by the river. And he got me an ice-cream maker and the Barack Obama book, The Audacity of Hope, which I have already started and am impressed with. We had a really great weekend, the best Mother's Day I've ever had.

Imagine when she's a teenager.