One year

One year ago Andrew, Liam and I made the trip back home to California. Now, this day has brought up some memories for me. This is my space to write and express. My story. My side. Every season and person I have been thankful for whether they see it that way or not. I'm not upset or bitter. I'm a women who has walked through hard seasons and learned valuable lessons from them. I'm a women who wants everyone to like me and feels frustrated when that doesn't happen. 

So here I sit and write and this is my story of me and my family. 

Let me back up a bit. Andrew and I decided to move to Washington in the fall of 2013. We were working at our home church here in California. We got a new pastor and  just going to be honest here ( because honestly it was so long ago who cares?) we just didn't get along. End of story. It happens. It was a big deal to us then and it really isn't now. That's life. Like I said above I want everyone to like me but it just doesn't happen. You move on. 

So we set our eyes on a new home church in Washington. We followed my pastors there that I had known a very long time. I was pregnant with Liam and we looked at it like a fresh start. It was...for a while. 

I'm not getting in to the whole thing. 

Long story short it just didn't work out. 

We were struggling really bad ( I mean like literally no income and on almost every state program possible) and we were so homesick. 

After I had Liam I just was a mess. I needed my family. My saving grace up there was a group called Kitsap Hope Circle. I will forever remember that group because they were a circle of women who say and listened to me, cried with me and had zero judgement. We all mothered differently and that was totally fine! They rocked. 

Anyways, Andrew did land a job in Seattle and through that company we were able to transfer here back home to California. Today, marks a year. I'm honestly a little emotional but only because I'm sitting here thinking wow what a whirlwind! 

Andrew now works full time while also working really hard with his best friend on their small business.

I stay home with Liam and work part time..sort of. I had two jobs in the month of October because they overlapped eachother but that other job wants me back next wedding season. Another post. 

My point of this ramble is that you're not a tree. If youre unhappy...move. Also, it's okay to try something new and absolutely say this is not working. That is OKAY! You can try something and honestly just want to run back the other way. We kinda did! I love and miss Washington for many reasons but I also am happy to be back home ( minus rent costs. Lord, help me this month! ) 

Let yourself try something new and if you don't like it, try again. Change is good and it's inevitable so try and embrace it. Everything is a season and the point is to learn something from those seasons whether good or bad. 

Life is way way ( I'm not saying this lightly) to short to be unhappy. 

This is what happiness looks like after driving for almost 24 hours. Don't drive two states through with a small child after they just had shots. Just don't. 

Love Forever, 

Chel Chel 

Pacifica

Happy Monday!
I wish we were back in Pacifica enjoying the warm sun and salty water.
Andrew decided we all needed to get out of the house and he was right. Being cooped up has really been affecting my mood and it was a little bit of a battle to break my funk but eventually I did. I wish I could wake up to the salty air everyday. One can dream.
Maybe one day.
We were watching house hunters international before bed last night and our jaw dropped at how much better of an apartment these strangers were getting in beautiful countries with water views for what were paying for our little humble abode with no view. I am so grateful to be back home and with family but I know this apartment won't be our forever home. I am sort of craving that. Just a place where I know it's ours and where our kids are going to grow up. I hope it's by the ocean. It's so good for all three of us.
I am so thankful though for our roof and I will continue to be thankful everyday. We live in truly one of the best areas with so much to do. I just will try not to pass out every time I write our rent check!
Anyways, we had to keep Liam from crawling into the ocean! He really loves the beach and was cracking us up just wanting to dive into that water so bad! Our little saltwater baby.
Here's some captures from our day.

Love Forever,
Chel Chel

Liam the brave turns ONE!

                                                                                                

My sweet Liam is ONE today. As I write this early this am I still can remember being in labor and wondering when my sweet baby would come earth side. He came at 7:11pm and was 6lbs 14oz. 

Now I have a very curious, brave, and busy toddler. His little personality is one of a kind! 

Happy First Birthday my sweet baby! You are the best gift to your daddy and me!

He enjoyed the party in his crib! 

Grandma came over and decorated his door! Super cute!!!

I look forward to each year as you grow my sweet baby! 

Oh the sweetness!!!

Love Forever, 

Chel Chel

Long weekend

The weekend was long but fun!

Friday I went out with two of my girlfriends. Hours passed and we realized we all better get home before anyone started to worry! 

 These two kept me laughing! Thankful for genuine friendships and where you can just totally cut loose. I was happy that Andrew and Liam had a night together and I could actually enjoy my food without wrangling a toddler. It's good self care to laugh and feed myself without little fingers. 

Saturday we got coffee & donuts and drove around town and explored. We're always finding new places and we love driving to a close town that has super cute houses. 

This was my grandmas old house when I was super little. Excuse Andrews massive cinnamon roll. 

 I worked two weddings Saturday & Sunday. 

Saturday was interesting.

 Sunday was a blast! 

The Sunday wedding was so beautiful! Her wedding was like a fairytale. I love seeing all the work go into a wedding. Some are interesting but they are almost always beautiful! 

Monday we had a slow morning. The weekend was incredibly busy for me. Working weddings is fun but exhausting. After Liam took his morning nap we packed up and left for an afternoon in the city.

A smiling picture?!?! It can't be!

     
  

                                      

We went to a coffee shop in SF called Site Glass. Andrew's co-worker recommended it and it was super delicious! They roast their beans on site. We both has cold brew vanilla latte's and I also ordered a sea salt carmel covered in chocolate. 

How adorable are they?!

He didn't actually drink any. =)

We headed to the marina district to play in the grass and try to snap some shots in front of Golden Gate. As usual, fog. It was fun never the less.

Such a great shot of my energetic boy!

His moccasins are from Little Rebel Apparel on Etsy.

Blurry, but sweet with a fog covered Golden Gate. Ah well.

We hope you had a fabulous weekend! 

Love Forever,

Chel Chel