One Year Ago.

One year ago - almost exactly - I published my last blog post. I can't really say how or why, but I just didn't feel like blogging anymore. I suppose part of it was that I started working and had less time to come up with witty things I thought you would want to read.

However, a major part of it was that it was becoming more about my readers than it was about my family and the things I love, which was the intention of this blog from the start. There was so much "game" in blogging; who has the biggest readership? How can I make mine grow? How much money am I spending on sponsorships and hosting giveaways? I just got tired of playing.

So I'm back. Probably with less incentive for those who perhaps like the giveaways and such (no judgement here!), but this time, it's about - truly - the things I love. The things I see and do. At least for now, because really, who knows how long this motivation will last...

To give you an update, here's a quick snippet:

• We continued with book club and are on The Goldfinch, which for the life of me I can't get through.
• Gabriel started and finished preschool at his new school, a private Catholic school, which he loves.
• We held a murder mystery party at our house with the theme of 1920's Prohibition.
• I started and quit a job with this amazing organization.
• I dressed up as Amanda Bynes for Halloween.
• And then we went to another murder mystery party.
• We got a puppy named Bella, whom I love and adore (despite the fact that she likes to chew on ONLY my shoes).
• Went spent a weekend in Lake Arrowhead with a wonderful group of families in January.
• Jonas turned 2 and then became the biggest chatterbox I've ever met, only challenged by Gabriel.
• I went to New York for a social media conference, then got to visit my very best friend who shared the very special secret that she was pregnant. It made me feel so special to be one of the first to know.
• Adrian and I committed to coaching and team mom-ing for t-ball. That was "fun."
• Gabriel lost 3 teeth.
• I introduced myself to a mom of one of the kids at our first t-ball practice and found out she lived across the street from me (because I'm a nimwit and didn't realize it). She has since become my walk/running buddy, fellow Starbucks fiend and too much wine enthusiast, and one of my very best friends.
• Gabriel went horseback riding for the first time and loved it. 
• We decided that we would have a summer of camping and ended up going 4 times. More to come on that.
• I quit crossfit and bought a crap ton of weights that I use in my garage while saving $100+ per month. I miss it everyday, but such is life.
• The weekends in which we did not camp this summer, we spent paddleboarding on Mission Bay.
• I started a new job at the same company as Adrian. It gets interesting.
• Gabriel learned how to ride his bike without training wheels in less than 24 hours.
• Jonas decided he no longer likes sleeping and as such, stays up until 10 pm playing with toys in his room while Gabriel sleeps peacefully in his top bunk.
• We decided to list our condo in Ventura for sale and are waiting very impatiently for it to sell.
• Gabriel started kindergarten. WHAT. Jonas is now telling us he is ready for school as well.
• We are hoping to purchase a home by the end of the year and I don't even know. It's crazy.
• I will be attending my 10-year reunion in 2 weeks. Yes, 10 years. Let that sink in.

So that's it! In a nutshell, that's what has been going on. There's plenty more to share, it's just a matter of getting it out on the computer screen!