the Capitol Building

a couple months back our homeschool group had a field trip to the State Capitol!

it was very interesting and I was really glad we had joined them!

Zoey doesn't have school on Fridays, so she came with us!

I love palm tree lined streets!

we parked in a parking garage and this was a view on our 

walk to get to the capitol building!  love it!!!

there it is!!

the clouds were forming a pretty cool "pattern" that looked really cool above the building!

there is a lot of detail - both inside and out!

I loved the detail - I loved the wood work - I loved the floors - love!

I'll let the next few pics speak for themselves!

(I liked how it looked all blurry)

(cool elevator)

(neato pattern the lights create)

(my view of little miss)

we got to see our district's assembly office!

all the homeschool kids with the bear!!

the other side of the building!

oddly, I don't remember taking this pic?

back view from across a street!

I think it had began raining (again) while we were inside!

before we left I got pics of the seals (or whatever they're called) outside!

we saw a video on the making of this one!

so, there it is, our visit to the California State Capitol Building!

I hope to go back to take photos with my good camera ... it was so beautiful there!

 

I've done it again!

every time I think I might actually get back into the habit of blogging, I fail!  ok, so "fail" may be a bit to strong of a word ... but my precious children, please always know that I am still taking photos of you, almost daily!!!  (check out my instagram account "cathartic513)

the blog may be quiet, but our life certainly isn't!

Annicka, Jericho, Liam, & Zoey ... you are all growing and learning so much, every day!  right now mama is not doing well with keeping up with the blog ... but it is, in part, because I'm trying to do better with keeping up with YOU!!!  I love you, my sweet blessings!!

here are you older kids, being crazy while Zoey has a quiet time!  4-13-14

p.s.  I took the hubs to the airport this morning, he's off to Texas for NCOA!!  Zoey just now (4-13-14 evening) saw something out the window that sent her into an excited frenzy of saying "daddy" over and over - and "where daddy" ... I told her daddy went to Texas and she said "yay", so I scooped her up and said "daddy had to go bye-bye" - quite simply she replied, "kay".  awwww, these moments crinkle my heart!

a post without a picture. living in the moment. treasuring the little things.

the title of this post came to me while washing up some dishes, reflecting on a beautiful moment I had today with Zoey.

she came in the kitchen, I lifted her up and held her tight, then I began spinning around and around with her.

her eyes kept catching mine, then she'd look up and off to the side, her beaming smile pierced my heart.

she giggled and giggled and giggled some more.

I just stared at her face, sure to catch those eyes each time they returned to mine.

we'd take a break, I was saying "whoa, I'm dizzy" and she was saying "again, again" ... and so, we'd do it again.

I don't have a photo of this experience, and as everyone knows I am a photo girl - I love having photos to go along with any activities, regardless how boring they may be to others, but I do not have a photo of this.

this moment between just Zoey and I.  while she is still little enough to be scooped up and cuddled tight close to me.  it's one of those moments where you just want to take it all in and hold it close.  this is why I'm writing it down.

some day Zoey will be too big to be picked up, too big to be spun around - we will connect in different ways, and different things will bring on those giggles and that beaming smile.

but for today, I will treasure our spinning fun.