five and fairy

We spent Saturday celebrating Kaia's fifth birthday with her best girlfriends at a mother and daughter afternoon tea in Crown and Crumpet. It's a special birthday for Kaia, because all her besties are going their separate ways  for kindergarten next year. Some of them are actually in kindergarten now. We try to stay in touch with everyone, but you know how life is. I am sure she'll end up with at least one of these girls in a school next year, but in Oakland, we won't know until March.

 A Fairy came to visit us and gave the girls a magical afternoon.

After the party, Kaia turned to me and said, "I love all of my friends." These little ladies are the light of our lives. I am so happy to have them and their mothers as our friends. What a great birthday party!

cachagua general store

If you take the Carmel Valley Road, then a right on Cachagua, you'll drive up switchbacks and down winding roads. You'll view beautiful untouched lands, then come across the Cachugua General Store. There's a store on one side and a restaurant on the other. It's nothing fancy, it's very old. You'll find a woman with a young face and gray hair, her voice is like a Kewpie doll's if Kewpies could talk, she'll offer you some orange juice or coffee and a seat. Brunch has three options: eggs, omelets, and eggs benedict. Everything is fresh from the farm or garden. It comes with a side of pancakes, which are light and buttery. All for $15. The owner/chef is a genius and has the best kind of character you want in a man: honest, upfront, and doesn't take shit. You'll have the best time and hope to visit again for a Monday night dinner.

cold pleasure

My daughter is named after the ocean. It's in her DNA. She'll splash in any beach at any temperature. My husband commented, "Her body temperature adjusts to her degree of fun." It was around 54 degrees F this particular day.

big sur camping

The fog rolled in as we journeyed to our camping weekend in Big Sur. It had been a year since I was last there and I achingly needed to be in the most serene place I know.

We set up camp at Pfeiffer State Park. Spot 43, but we wanted spot 2, next time.

Our Saturday hike was at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. We were in search of the waterfall.

The tree apparently loves tits.

The waterfall in the forest.....

Final destination, the Pacific Ocean.

ballerina

Kaia loves dancing, but specifically ballet. When I was in Paris last year, I went to Repetto and bought her ballet shoes. She's been to dance class before, but this was her first ballet class. She really enjoyed herself. I think she's got a talent for dance. I couldn't believe how graceful and serious she was in class.

two thousand thirteen

2012 is over and new beginnings are here! I started two new adventures at work; my own development studio with my good friend Erich, Two Hero Games. We got to go to Tahoe to ring in the new year. Thanks Max and Erich for letting us crash in the Tahoe house! All I can say is I love snow! Here's me dropping Kaia off at ski school in Sugar Bowl.