1,000 Steps

Right up there on my list of favorite places to parent, 

right next to the Backyard, 

I have to put 1,000 Steps Beach.

 Bonus Note:

There are (not quite) 1,000 steps back up to the car,

which means most of the sand has been knocked off feet

and most of the energy is fully drained.

The Backyard

"We could never have loved the earth so well

had we no childhood in it"

-George Eliot

The Backyard at Santa Barbara's Natural History Museum

is easily one of my favorite places to parent.

There's something soul-filling in having your kids

play in mud, trespass a creek in bare feet,

build forts,

 and spend time with some of the world's

greatest people.

We love it here &

love it more when we get to go with friends.

Santa Barbara Fiesta 2013

I. Love. Parades.

I don't know if it's my Louisiana roots,

or my tolerance for standing in one place for a very long time,

or my general desire to just gawk and holler, "Viva La Fiesta!"

at everyone who trots by on a horse.

Fiesta is marvelous.

Truly, I mean it when I say,

"Viva La Fiesta!"

 Plus, there's lots of time between horses

for cousin hugs.

and of course a group shot.

"Viva Los Primos!"