Sonoma with Mary Beth

My father-in-law surprised my mother-in-law and I for our birthdays this year with a 5 day trip to the wine country! Since I had already been to Napa, we decided Sonoma would be the location of choice this trip. Mary Beth had never been to the California wine country before, so we were both in for a treat. The last week in April my parents took care of Justin while we were fancy free in the organic state.

We flew into San Francisco, rented a car, and drove straight to my all-time favorite store - H&M. Shopping with Bary Beth was like shopping with the mother I never had. Since my mom does not like to shop, this was a new twist having Mary Beth follow me around the store, hold all my many items, get me new sizes when I needed them, and encouraged me when the outfit was cute. But don't feel too sorry for her - she came out on top with 3 new purses. I got my few spring basics and we headed on our way.


The H&M was right by the end of the trolley stop, so we hoped on and rode it all the way to the wharf. The weather had taken a chilly turn, so we decided to sit inside since it was 57 degrees and windy.


We perused the Fisherman's Wharf for a bit


and immediately stopped for dinner at the nearest eatery. And you can't go wrong with the Boudin Bakery. I love all the creatures they make out of sourdough bread.


We had had a 2 hour delay at the airport and then sat on the runway for 1.5 hours before taking off from DFW. So with that and the 2 hour time difference, we were starving. We were no longer crabby once we filled out bellies. Sorry, couldn't resist.


We then braved the crazy streets that have a serious decline/incline on our way to Sonoma.


Aw, Golden Gate - if only the Suspension Bridge in Waco looked even half majestic as you.


We stayed at the Lodge at Sonoma which was just a mile from the town square. Maybe it was a blessing that the weather never got above 69 while we were there. Though the pools were heated, I never braved it out during the day in my bathing suit. Well, once, but I'm getting to that.


We stayed in a cute little cottage that was surrounded by the most gorgeous roses.


I kid you not - largest roses I have ever seen. They were bigger than our hands!


There were so many different colors. It was a florist's dream come true.


Puts any arrangement of roses I have ever gotten to shame.


The first day in Sonoma we literally rolled out of bed and went to get massages at the spa on the property. I have never gotten an 80 minute massage - so worth the extra 20 minutes. This photo is post massage - hence the already dirty hair with an extra layer of grease.


Then we went to the heated pools at the spa - each pool and hot tub had their own varying temperatures, so I got to test each one as I weaned myself to the coolest temp. I promise I have a suit on thought I suspiciously appear to not in this photo.


60 degrees, rain approaching, and I am in a hot tub in California. Life is good.


I have a new appreciations for straight hair after watching the effort my mother-in-law went through to straighten her hair. Wow - some serious work. I would just watch her hard work.


I love the play on words here.


Then it was off to the wineries. First stop - Gunlach Bunschu (pronounced gunlock bunshoe) or Gun Bun as everyone seemed to call it. Oldest family-owned winery in the country. Fantastic wine and one of the best in customer service we had on the trip.


You just have to love the scenery at each vineyard.


Believe it or not I didn't edit any of these photos. So I could have emphasized just how blue the sky really was out there. It was such a brilliant color. Please take note of my necklace - a $8 purchase from H&M. I ended up comically wearing this necklace everyday - it just happened to coordinate with everything I had brought. The all-wearing necklace, as we laughed about when I put it on each day.


Next stop, Gloria Ferrer and the sparkling wines. I grew quite accustomed to deciding that I like a stark,crisp, and dry sparkling wine. You didn't get to do tastings at this place but instead bought a 5 oz. drink of choice. That was plenty for me.


Like I said, blue skies, and no editing. Can you imagine how much prettier Texas would be if we could walk out and see this?


It was too chilly to sit out on the balcony to drink our sparkling wine, but we had to take some photos afterwards. The wind was biting that afternoon.


Then we went to casual and laidback Cline Cellars. I had to go look at the very spot where Alyson Lynd Haas got married several years ago. We were unable financially to attend the wedding, being fresh out of baseball, but it was fun to see where my high school buddy tied the knot. And we walked away with a tasty inexpensive bottle of wine to ship back home as well.


Thursday morning we woke up and started towards Napa Valley and all that it entailed. First stop was a tour that Derek and I didn't plan enough in advance for when we were in Napa a few years ago. A tour of Schramsberg and its sparkling wine.


I now understand why champagne is so expensive - the amount of tedious work for just one bottle to reach perfection is amazing. it's hard to see in this photo, but there is a chalk mark at the bottom center of each bottle. The wine turner (aka master) turns each bottle 1/16 of an inch in each direction each day to get the sediment at the bottom of the bottle before freeze drying it out of there before stopping the bottle up for purchase. He knows if someone has touched even one bottle.


The tour was inside the caves where they store all the bottles. This opening was a part of the newer man made caves that they used to add on to the property. We got a unique showing of the bottles being placed in the cave ready for storage.


That's a lot of wine


There were numerous tunnels just like this one with stacks and stacks of wine for storage. Years and years of storage before they are available for purchase. Such an art - I have a newfound respect for good wine.


The natural flora of the caves help the wine to preserve. Some of these photos are blurry because I was taking photos without a flash in very dark rooms.


We had our wine tasting inside the cave by candlelight. Very cool. I felt like I was in a scene for New Moon or something. Just not as cheesy.


Once again I found my favorite taste of sparkling wine - unfortunately it was $100 a bottle and not sold in the state of Texas. Guess I need to leave my palette in California. Blanc de Noirs - til next trip.


Cool background info - this wine is served at every presidential function since Nixon. That's when this vineyard was featured on Barbara Walters show and has never looked back since. I felt like royalty as I sipped my sought after sparkling wine.


Pop that topper


Not sure of the frog's purpose, but the house in the background was the original house built on the property in the early 1900s. The house did not have a single metal nail in it until that year when they were redoing some structures under the porch. Fascinating. Then we were off to one of our (Derek and I) favorite restaurants from the last time we were in St. Helena - Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen.


Notice the necklace again? Or is it too hard to notice between the Audrey Hepburn/Middle Eastern look I have going on?


That's because we were traveling around in this fun convertible my father-in-law rented for us.


We stopped in at Cakebread for a tour. I have to admit, everyone kept raving about the 2007 wines that were made - one of the best years around. 2008 Cakebread Chardonnay was not a fave of mine, thus no purchases made. But don't worry - I found me some new loves in the Chardonnay category.


I love the organic garden that Cakebread has on the vicinity. They have cooking classes from produce right outside the classroom. This is a photo of some of the vines.


Every late afternoon after wine tastings we would come back to the town square in Sonoma and do some shopping. Then we would eat at one of the eateries. Something I miss from Sonoma and all the surrounding areas - the organic, fresh, natural foods that we ate. You could just taste the wholesomeness of all the food. You knew they had gotten their ingredients from not too far away with very little ingredients. It's one of the great things about liberal California - they take care of their food.


Friday we went north to the Russian River Valley to visit Arista. Jenn McWilliams wasn't able to be in town when we went to visit, so instead her father-in-law and brother-in-law took good care of us. Mary Beth and I found some yummy Pinot Noirs to bring home to our red-lovin' husbands. And some Gewurztraminer for us. Between Arista and Gun Bun we are set on that wine. Normally that white wine is way too sweet for me - not unless you have one of these offerings. Nice and dry.


We didn't intend to match with our greens, but we both had picked out this top and decided to just run with it. Notice the necklace - that things never left my neck all trip!


The one thing I remember well are the lush Japanese-style gardens on the Arista site.


I cannot imagine having this view everyday at work. Jenn's brother-in-law was showing us some improvements they had done to various areas on the property. 2 weeks later we were leaving they were having a concert for Jackopierce on their new lawn. I was insanely jealous - being in the wine country, drinking Arista wine, listening to ole Jacko. Awesome combo!


The rocky terrain was all natural when they bought the property. I know I keep going on and on, but a lot of what makes the winery so cool is what is pleasing to the eye. Such beauty.


Another cool feature was a table outside where private wine pairings were held. I wanted to steal me some breadsticks, but I refrained. Lunch was still 2 hours away.


We got some great recommendations on where to go for good Chardonnay. Russian River is known for their Chardonnay and their Pinot Noirs, so we were off to Donatiello and their organic wine. I found my new favorite Chardonnay there. Of course it was a 2007 vineyard. I was getting a bit snobby towards the 2008 by the end of the trip - just didn't taste the same.


I show this photo to point out the orange flowers. They are actually a weed that grows in California. Even their weeds are pretty! Mary Beth and I couldn't get over how pretty even the roadside weeds were. Wish the weeds in my yard looked like that!


For lunch we went into Healdsburg and ate at the Healdsburg Bar & Grill. Everything on the menu was, you guessed it, organic, and I was drinking fresh grapefruit juice while sitting in the shade. Man I miss all that yummy food.


We traveled to the northern-most point on the trail to Bella, where they had wine tastings in a cave.


How cool is that to just walk up to this and go inside?


Last stop of the day as well of the trip was J winery. I fell in love with a sparkling wine here for less than $40. For those that love Jordan wines, this is Jordan's daughter Judy Jordan who opened up her own winery. I am glad this was the last stop - all the exotic foods, wine tastings, driving with the top down in the car, etc. had given me a nice fat headache. Water and mild food for the rest of the day for ole Shani.


We like J's around here, so this one was for my little guy.


Such a wonderful trip with perfect timing for me to catch my breath. I hadn't read a book in months and came home caught up with 6 months of Real Simple magazines and 3 whole books read, one of which was Francine Rivers new 500 page novel. I didn't have to cook for almost a week, didn't have to entertain a three year old, and had a wonderful time spending quality time with the woman who raised my husband. Until the next trip, Mary Beth....

Hello there, strep

Justin has his first case of strep. I am so leery of strep, that I have disinfected our house from top to bottom and thrown everything in the dishwasher the minute it leaves Justin's mouth. My neighbor's 8 year old gets it often and I always avoid a playdate for days after the diagnosis. I have never seen Justin so lethargic. I think that our entire family has fried brain cells after watching TV non-stop on Friday and Saturday. I don't think we have ever done that, but Justin couldn't move from the couch to do anything. Sad thing is we didn't take him to the doctor until Saturday because I kept thinking it was a random virus. Plus we had been there 5 days prior for the cut on the back of his head.

Funny thing I learned while at the doctor's office. Justin is the same height his father was at 3 years and 9 months. Derek's mom found a growth chart of Derek's and he happened to go to the doctor at this same time in his life. Both fellas are 42 3/4 inches tall. Derek has been at least 2 inches than Justin at each stage in his life thus far, so the fact JT caught up is awesome. Here's the kicker - Derek weighed 45 pounds! I thought Justin weighed in hefty at 42 pounds, but how much bigger was his father being a full 3 pounds heavier! Breaks my back just thinking about it.

Our pastor gave a great talk today on Empty Wombs and Full Hearts. I went solo since Justin was sickie and I had nursery duty during the second hour. I left knowing that I am complete even though I am currently infertile. I am thankful that the desire for having a child is not my idol. The question was can I come to a place where His plan is better than us having another child. Can I trust that Christ is enough?

Pastor Gregg interviewed a couple who had tried for three years to have a child. They echoed a prayer of I had been feeling for a long time: Lord, we don't want the doctors to get the glory and pray that only You get the glory. I am positive that is why I have no desire to get medical help on this issue. I know everyone means well when they constantly throw out their many methods that might help me out. But that isn't the point. It's an individual trial, one that no one else is invited to join me in.

I am attending a dinner on Thursday night with another comrad just for women going through infertility. I am thankful for the others the Lord has placed in my path to relate to. I am thankful for this refining that I have been required to go through. I am thankful for a church that can relate to every area of need. When Pastor Gregg and the entire congregation was praying in intercession for all the infertile couples at the altar, I knew I was where I was needed to be. I have been chosen for such a time as this. And what this is, well, it will be an adventure, whatever the outcome.

But for now, I need to go get this bat boy back to his old self. Because he is one of the many reasons why I am complete.

Morby Campout

Back in April Derek & Justin took off for the weekend to join the Morbys in Jacksonville, Texas. My uncles and cousins have an annual campout every year on our family land, and this time my fellas met with the other fellas (and gal, Val).

A shirt, which looks suspiciously like a Brazos River Fun Run shirt, was sported by the cousins that currently live in Tyler.


Grant, Clay, Valerie, & Carter


Derek & Justin gazing out at the pond


Apparently Justin enjoyed fishing all weekend long. I sen plenty of long sleeves to protect him from my nemesis - poison ivy!


A big wave from a cheerful fella


Having a moment of break time in front DVD player. Modern camping at its best.


Carter came over to beg for a banana. I cannot tell you how great the cousins were with Justin all weekend. He keeps asking when he can go back and do this again!


Justin was about to tell us that he had a "Fish"! Please share some of those dimples with your momma.


Two fellas having a moment


Chasing Dawson before riding in the newest campsite addition - the four wheeler.


I think Justin must have hitched a ride on the barge everytime someone wanted to fish. Grant and Clay with their little helper.


The captain at the helm


Guess he didn't get to go everytime. The patient waiter.


Hanging by the water before a very cold bath in it.


Giving the lone female of the weekend a hug. For at least a decade Valerie has been the only cousin that wanted to join in on the fun with the boys. We gladly let her spend the night on the ground while the rest of us slept in beds back in Tyler.


Looking no a water rat on the last day of the weekend.


I think Ritz crackers were the staple food item for snacktime. I seem to see them in a few photos.


Getting a slurp of OJ before taking off. Thanks to a noisemaker with batteries, Justin slept fantastic and woke up at normal time with the rest of the crew. Maybe next time Derek will remember to bring his pillow and might sleep more comfortably on the hard ground. Derek normally goes camping in the bitter cold during winter time. This past year the trip didn't pan out due to the below freezing temperatures forecast for the weekend. So daddy was needing him some camping time. I think we were all surprised at how much fun Justin had. Looks like a future annual trip is in the books from here on out.


Val, the ever faithful video creator, made this video of the weekend.

Morbypalooza Campout from Val Mae on Vimeo.

Many thanks to Val for all the photos and being the recorded for the weekend! And many thanks for Derek allowing me to have a weekend to myself! Roxy and I enjoyed the girl time together for the weekend. I was thankful for the weekend to catch my breath!

***Side note: I have had a few questions about the larger photos on the blog and google reader now. When I downloaded another free LeeLou blog design, I got the two column versus the three column. It allowed for larger photos, which was a desire I have been having and thought I would have to pay money for.***

Heitzmanns' Going Away Party

Another friend off into the wilderness again! I feel like my beloved Christians friends are slowly leaving Houston and going off to embark on new exciting adventures.

Jenn Heitzmann and her crew just left this past Friday to go live in Brisbane, Australia. They are going to become Aussies for a few years (and hopefully come back!). We all found out they were moving in March, so we quickly threw a last minute going away party for them in the middle of April.


We got a lots of tasty apps from Berryhill Taco, which has now broadened my palate from their fish tacos that I always order.


I show this table not for it's decor (or lack of it), but because after the party had started these little tea lights caught the bandannas on fire. So we ladies are inside eating and chatting and look outside to a fire blowing towards the back of the house. A little water (and not quick enough to take a photo beforehand), and we were A-OK after that.


Jenn & I


Some of the fellas watching the tail end of the Masters. As long as the TV was on for the final stroke then these fellas were doing fine.


Our crew, or what's left of it - Kim, Jenn, Tracy, Emily, Katie, & your truly


The fun favors Jenn handed out to the hostesses - I now use this bag when I pack my lunch on a playdate. Lovin' it!


Jenn - such a treasured friend! I will always remember carpooling from Spring every Tuesday at 5pm to go to Beth Moore on Tuesday nights, baby showers and having babies together, monthly Monday night dinners, biblestudy and dinners at our houses, Nutcracker, Chubbyfoot, being in the Word together and praying over each other, her always being a constant and keeping me accountable. Jenn - I will sorely miss you. I could always bounce any idea off of you, as well as you were always one of the first to see how I was really doing. Praying for your family in this transition!

Simplify

That is a word that has been running through my head for months now. But how to simplify a life full of activities, obligations, leadership roles, etc. The Lord has been whispering this to me for quite some time, but I just was hesitant on where to start.

The thing is we want to be taken care of but end up being the caretaker of everyone else. I think that somewhat describes my life. As my pastor said yesterday, if we do not rest, we will never hear from God. The song by Meredith Andrews "Can Anyone Hear Me" has been my favorite soulful song this past month. I know the Lord is listening, but lately I have felt like I have barely been hanging on. I have felt a distance with the Lord lately, a longing to just have a fresh Word. He feels so far away, though I can almost feel Him breathing on my neck.

I was trying to catch up on the last 4 months of my Real Simple magazine and stumbled upon several articles on different methods of infertility. I also had several conversations with new friends that were telling me how "every" friend they had that did acupuncture, chiropractors, a certain ovulation test, etc. got pregnant. My blood pressure would rise as I would start to question if I needed to do that. And there would come the ever so quiet voice saying, "Sweet child, be patient." My heart would stop beating so fast and I would just take a deep breath. Not knocking what anyone else has done, just knowing that the Lord has wanted me to stand still in this area from the get go, a hard thing for such a proactive personality.

The last biblestudy at Beth Moore's David we studied Psalm 23. We looked at verse 2 where it says, "He makes me lie down in green pastures." Beth was talking about how the Lord will MAKE us lie down if we do not choose to do so ourselves. That struck a chord since I had trepidly been trying to find a place to start on a way for me to find rest in my life.

I went home that night and composed an email to anyone I had ever taken photos of and nicely told them that I was "quitting before I even began". I have not found any peace in photography lately, and mostly because I started it for myself, both for the love of it and because I didn't feel the need to pay someone else for it ever again. But I was doing so much for others that I couldn't find the energy to tackle my own family memories.

I then proceeded to send more emails saying no to opportunities that I am gifted in but just don't feel the need to participate in right now with this season of life. And the huge weight on my shoulders has been lifted. The last two weekends have been activity free, thanks to us saying no Mother's Day Weekend and taking off for Galveston and lots of rain this past weekend canceling an entire days' worth of activities. I am sleeping better, doing things spur of the moment (unbelievable, I am now somewhat spontaneous!), and am truly happy.

Less is more. Why has it taken me so long to realize it?

And on a less intense level, Justin experienced his first major bleed yesterday. He was being tickled at lunch and fell backwards onto a metal chair leg and sliced an inch long area of skin on the back of his leg. Lots of blood and tears pursued, and then we, laidback parents, finished out sandwiches at Firehouse and then went home. Don't be thinking we are bad parents - the other family decided with us that stitches weren't necessary if we could stop the bleeding because of the location. Unless he shaves his head someday, no one will ever see it.

So then today I took him to the doc to make sure. I was told stitched are required within 12 hours (we were way past that point), and that he was going to live. Good thing - I was worried. In all actuality, Derek kept talking about how he had 2 rounds of stitches by the time he was Justin's age. He got sentimental and almost excited by this first bleed. Boys will be boys.

So here we are in our hospital gown at the doc's office.


Justin asked why I didn't have my big camera with me. Oh well, phone camera with have to do. Here's the location of the injury - doesn't look too serious. But serious enough to have to miss swim lessons today.


Has our patient fallen asleep? Trickster!



We had workers at our house all last week as we finally took the plunge and got a new fence. My family was asking for photos, so we did just that last night. Justin wanted to be in every photo. Imagine that.


But these two fellas are the reason why I need to simplify - I need some more with just these two boys!


Simplify. I feel better just saying it!

Singing at Holy Cross

I have said in times past that I didn't feel like we had a theatrical entertainer on our hands. As long as defiance didn't show its ugly head then I was so over it.

The weekend after Easter, with the Tuley kids in tow, we went to the Lutheran church where Justin goes to school to watch the kids perform. Derek was in hog heaven being back in a Lutheran service - hymns and all.

Justin is on the front row furthest on the left, in the same shirt he wore Easter. Like I said, he didn't have anything new to add to the wardrobe, so who's counting?



So Derek and I were stunned when he started to sing the words (and the right ones at that).


He even did the motions!


And at one point he was rolling up his shirt until his belly button was showing. But the boy was performing, and we will take whatever we can get!


I know I say this everytime, but we love our school and ALL the families that send their kids there.


I was bummed when I learned we had to miss Justin's end of the year performance because we were going to be out-of-town. More on that in posts to come. But there's always next year!


High five from Justin!


And to quote from one of the songs of the day: "The Lord's not dead, He is alive, and I feel Him all over me!"

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Thomas never had it so good


This project bought us until a 7:03am arrival into our bedroom one Saturday morning. We need anything to get past the 6:30am wake up call!