happy 30th bday to dp!

i threw a surprise day for dp... with horseback riding, party with friends, and game night. it was nice. dp- the analytical man he is kept asking me questions about the day's event which meant i needed to be on my A game (which was hard to continually do). all in all it went well!

napa, sonoma, and just pure peace

this year dp and i (or at least just i) am making it a priority to seek time away for rest and relaxation. mid-feb we went up to napa and sonoma (and squeezed in chinatown) for 5 days. it was just simply beautiful. we even got to visit one of my dear friends :) dp and i had an enjoyable time going from one location to the next based on the previous merchant's recommendation. we'd put the name in the gps and go from there. we ended up in some beautiful wineries and sights (Armstrong Redwoods, Sonoma State Beach). our favorite part was just sitting at a winery with a glass of wine and sitting in quietness and stillness observing the beauty of the land. we had some wonderful conversation and enlightment moments. it was definitely a necessary trip to re-center ourselves and what we want to strive for in the near future. thank you God for the resources to be able to do this!

"home" in lake arrowhead

blessed are dp and i to have friends that invite us to their family's lake arrowhead home (again). the last weekend of january we went up for the weekend to join our friends and their families (and dog :) it was such a beautiful weekend filled with love, acceptance, great conversation, and peace. we are so thankful for both set of friendships! dp even got a chance to ski for the first time! so proud of him.

new interior doors!

we have been truly blessed to receive extra income to continue our home improvement desires. next on our list we decided to replace our 3 bedroom doors, and 2 bathroom doors. we are quite happy with the renewed look of our home. AND bonus: our interior doors don't smell of the previous owner. yay!

old door

new door!

Christmas 2011

this past Christmas, dp and i had the joy of hosting our friends for the first time at our place. i definitely learned about what goodies i need in order to make the place look "ready"... like a tablecloth, placemats, etc. the little things you overlook.