Mother's Day

On this day every year, mothers are celebrated and elevated to queen status, as children all over the nation give thanks to the women that gave them life.  I, however, would like to do things a little differently this year.  I would like to give thanks to the three people that make this day possible for me.


To Julian, my amazing baby boy...
Your courage and passion astounds me every day.  Never in a million years could I imagine the way my life would change the day I became your mother.  You give so much to me and your family.  You make me better and stronger, and I can't imagine one day on earth without you in it.  You will change the world and I will watch proudly knowing you are my son.


To my princess, Isabella...
There is a special bond that girls share with their mommies, and I thank my lucky stars every day that God gave me you to share that special bond with.  Your heart is so full of love and you give that love so freely and unconditionally.  You fill our family with sunshine and the day you came into our lives you made us complete.  I await the day that you will smile upon your own children and gift them with your wonderful generosity and spirit.


I will be forever grateful to both of you...for giving my life meaning and purpose...for making each day an adventure...and for calling me Mami.


Last, but not least, to my husband, my lover, friend, partner in life.  There is no greater gift on earth than the one you have already given me...the gift of being a mother.  Thank you for making these wonderful children with me and for helping me raise them into the amazing individuals they are becoming.  


Thank you for being you and for choosing me.  


XO.

Awareness

Sometimes, you go places...

And you see beautiful and amazing things...

An you explore...

And you feel free...

And a little girl offers you an expression of love...

And you become aware of how lucky you are...

And you feel blissfully happy!


{I realized recently that I had neglected my photo journal from our Seattle trip and these last ones were too beautiful not to post. Enjoy!}

Photo Journal Day 5: Olympia Farmer's Market and Pioneer Square

Photo Journal Day 5:  On our 5th day we headed to the capital, Olympia, to visit another Farmer's Market (noticing a theme here...planes and food).  It is much smaller the Pike, but oh my, the fruit was amazing.  Peaches and apricots like nothing I have ever tasted before.  There is a band playing music and several places that serve breakfast and lunch.  Luis ate the biggest burrito I have ever seen!  After Olympia, we headed back to Seattle and Pioneer Square (check out the socks on the trees!) to take the Underground Tour.  This was too awesome for words.  Basically, Seattle was first built below sea level and after "The Great Fire" in 1889, they rebuilt the city on top of the existing city.  The underground was used for many years as like a city under the city.  Fascinating!  This is a must do for anyone visiting Seattle.  The tour guides are great storytellers and the history is super cool.

Photo Journal Day 3: Future of Flight Museum and Boeing Factory Tour

Photo Journal Day 3:  One of the reasons we took these trip is because my son, Julian, is a plane geek.  A BIG plane geek.  The kind that wants to be an aerospace engineer when he grows up and design and build planes for a living...preferably for Boeing...preferably in Everette, WA.  So, what better place to really find out if the dream lives up to the reality than by taking the Boeing Factory Tour in, you guessed it, Everette WA!  


We first hung out in the Future of Flight Museum which is at Paine Field and the departure place for the tour.  It was amazing to see the size of the engines up close and some oldie but goodies (I was a big Pan Am fan in the 80s).  


We couldn't actually take pictures on the factory tour for obvious reasons, but we were able to snap some shots of the completed planes waiting for delivery and the buildings where my son my someday make a living.  The best part of this day was watching my son absorb everything and have him reconfirm that this is where he wants to be.  Alas, it is wonderful when the reality turns out to be even better than the dream!!

Photo Journal Day 2: Pike Place Public Market, Seattle Waterfront, and The Space Needle

Photo Journal Day 2:  Our first full day in Seattle we decided to hit the tourist spots.  Our first stop was Pike Place Public Market.  This was hands down my favorite place and I could have spent the better part of our week just in this few block stretch of the city alone.  I wanted to buy everything!!  The energy of the place is fantastic and I felt very jealous that we don't have an equally amazing place here in So Cal.  If I live in Seattle, this would be where I would do my shopping.  Oh...and of course we had to visit the first Starbucks :)


After Pike we headed down to the waterfront.  It was a spectacular view of Puget Sound.  It amazed both my husband and I how this state seems to be surrounded by water.  It's everywhere you turn, which makes for beautiful bridges and so much green!!!


Right before dinner dinner we stopped at the Space Needle for a better view of the city...the best view, really.  It was a great ending to our first day!