A new place to shoot!

While Ava and i were playing on the green belt at the townhouse we ran into a nice new neighbor who mentioned that there was a beautiful spot to shoot right here in Los Gatos (as if anywhere in this town isn't), but stone walls, great overlook, etc. It sounded great, so Brad and Ava and I went to check it out. It's up College, all the way up at Tessa Rosa winery. There are 2 fire roads up there one side where deer live, the other where donkeys live. We chose to look for deer (who Ava mistook for kangaroos) on this particular day. I just think that is SO cute. And the more I think about it, the more I see that they really DO look alike. Anyway, she wanted to wear her cowgirl boots, so I threw on a country dress from Jill and she was the cutest little girl out there (the only one, but the cutest!) And you can get surprisingly close to the deer, by the way. 

 there are no "owies" on her knees. We're just fascinated with band-aids these days.... I think they add to the sweetness of her little look ;)

 It was beautiful up there. Blue against green, fresh air and quietness. 

 The little trail leads you up to the Novitiate. Ava and daddy had some play time up there and practiced mindfulness :)

 ...and loving kindness

These afternoons are the best kind. 

Our new house!! (it's being demolished!) Oh no? Oh, Yes!!

So, so here it is. Villa De Los Gatos, Unit 3. Our new house. Come, let's go inside.....

ding dong. Ava has to ring the doorbell multiple times anytime we stop by. Are we driving the workmen crazy yet?!

no, she's too cute, so it all cancels out :) 

 Here's the kitchen. Where are the cabinets, you may ask?

 on the patio, of course!! 

 and the other half of the kitchen, where our table will go, right under that gorgeous light :)

 And we like our appliances in the living room instead.

 our master bath, well, actually it's not really there anymore. There is a wall there now!

 and the master shower. I mean, can it get any prettier? Brad and I picked out that green tile in seconds. We knew it would just look perfect. Ava's not so sure, but she'll get used to it. She likes the gold trim, I think.

 living room into kitchen, onto patio....

but, more seriously, we swim there any hot day there is. It's awesome! The girls are loving it there! And the house is on it's way to truly looking fabulous. I can't wait to show you as it progresses!!! You are gonna love it and now you have a place to stay!!! 

Here are some of my favorite shots of the girls swimming. Hailey has become such a great swimmer and her latest request is that I teach her to dive! For now, Ava just pushes her in and leans over to see where she went :) I laugh every time!

 Pencil dive!!

 Ava swims in the deep end in her floatie and mommy does laps. Great, great exercise. I'm so excited. All around SO excited!! 

thank you Mom and Dad koch and thank you Alvaro for this gift!

xo

Mina & Sasha came to see us!

Thank you, Mina and Sash for coming out here to sleep on our $40 single blow up bed together. You mean so much to us and we're working on better accommodations, we promise ;) (that's another post though). we had a really nice time hanging with these two for 5 days. Really, we spent the last 2 days of there time here all five of us, together, and those were the best days for me. It was over 100 degrees here in LG, so we hit the beach! It was beautiful and so are these two!! I love photographing them. It's so easy.

 These are shots from late afternoon on Sea Cliff beach in Santa Cruz. Beautiful.

 and tuesday we headed up to Crissy Field in SF. It was 88 degrees there and we ALL went in the water, per peer pressure from Sasha. It was SO worth it. Super exhilarating!!

 Ava was almost unbelievably good while we trekked around the bay area. she was quiet while we all talked in the car and sat quietly in restaurants, played with all of us equally (usually it's all about mama) and was goofy and laughing most of the time. I thought many times "is this my baby girl?" She's growing up... and it helps that mina and sash are super relaxed and easy going too! :)

Here she's just waking up from a car nap and avoiding the bright sun with Mina's sunglasses. 

Movie Star.

Here's proof that Sash dunked in the Pacific!

 Ava was flirting with Sasha within minutes and had Mina reading her the longest bedtime story she could find. That girl didn't go to bed until 9:30 the night they arrived! 

Big Girl

Ava, Brad and I rode our bikes down to the park yesterday in the late afternoon. My favorite time of day. The light is golden, so I brought my camera to practice (as usual). At this particular park, Ava learned how to get on the big girl swings by herself. She did it, we cheered, so she did it again, and again, and again. So proud of herself!

Then she tried going down the slide on her belly. And she did it! She's just changin' it up ;)

And walking up the slide. Again, how can I do it differently than I am supposed to?! daddy has to help with this. 

And standing in the baby swings. Little thrill seeker!

nice way to end the day. Now, home for burritos :)

missing "ke-ko-ka"

On our way home from the park this morning Ava was in her car seat and said "sometimes I miss ke-ko-ka and I wan to see him in da stroller". I was touched. Kekoa has been in Hawaii for a while now. We hadn't talked about him or been in his house for a few days and she brought it up on her own. I was surprised, and it solidified for me that she does love him. I put "does" in italics because lately, (since she's been 2), when he comes over she says "NO ke-ko-ka come in!" Of course we tell her how that's not a nice way to talk to friends and we don't like that, etc, but she still says it every time :(
It just goes to show how that's just part of the phase that she's in. Testing boundaries, threatened when someone else plays with her toys or takes her mommy's attention. She's trying to exert her independence in whatever way she can. Interesting, I think.
Anyway, as if these pictures I found couldn't have told me the same thing:

so sweet. such loves.

We miss you Kekoa. xx

Fresh Tomatoes

At the top of our street on the corner of University and Towne Terrace Sunset Magazine remodeled an old home and made it exquisite!! We've been watching the re-model and taking trips up to visit the new home. The front yard has a lush garden, with herbs and fresh vegetables growing fast and big. Since no one was there, we picked the tomatoes and a huge zucchini for dinner one night. After our ride in the radio flyer yesterday we walked up to see what was ripe today. Ava walked up, knocked on the door, per usual, but this time someone answered! The home has owners now! opps! They were so kind and let Ava walk over and pluck 2 ripe tomatoes off the vine for dinner. They are the sweetest tomatoes I've ever had. really, they are! And Ava eats them like they are apples! We can't wait to grow our own in our new garden :) Ps. check out her fall boots. Pretty stylish, huh? She won't take them off. She asked if she could sleep with them on. Oh, my darling.

late afternoon ride in the radio flyer

We miss Kekoa. He's in Hawaii for 3 weeks. We've been taking care of his plants and toys while he is away :) Yesterday afternoon we found his radio flyer and decided to go for a ride. Classic kid toy. The light was just right (and so was Ava's choice of clothes) so, we made it into a photo shoot!! :)

FUN!

(click on image to make it bigger)