WITH LOVE FROM SAN FRANCISCO : Instagram

^^ views from the hills of San Francisco. i giggled typing this - considering our last name, this phrase has another layer to it. laughing aside , the hills and views here are breathtaking. i will make sure to share more, because it's a 'must' to experience ^^

^^ what seemed like never ending boxes then are just a few left today. oh, moving...^^

^^ that little pink jacket has been eyeing the park all day long that very day of unpacking. Golden Gate Park , with just 3 blocks away, was way more appealing then the boxes to me too...^^

^^ planning sessions can be intense for some. or look like fun puzzles for others ^^

^^ those yellow stations never get old, do they? ^^

^^ making it all official. considering the line, i was so happy i actually made an appointment. it took an hour with having one, i sincerely felt sorry for everyone else just waiting. the dmv workers were nice though, always a bonus ^^

^^ a much needed break and a conversation while eating sushi on a sunday night ^^

^^ San Francisco is gorgeous at night. i am learning night photography, because , really, it is magnificent ^^

^^ another view from the hills. marina district is really growing on me ^^

^^ from the streets of San Francisco. i may start new series. there are a lot of fun things to notice here ^^

^^ and while the outside weather is warm and welcoming ( a light jacket - just how i like it ) , the inside of the stores and window displays are all about Christmas. Target never fails with their great selections ^^

^^ if you need an easy folding stroller, the Scoot is your best friend! highly recommend it. it's my faithful companion on the MUNI, making it a breeze to get in and out,  and those trolleys are not easy climb!

^^ a little mommy on duty past saturday morning. he approved ^^

^^ same saturday morning. i love the soft light, and it looks like i have a little follower too ^^

^^ my very needed, loved and marveled over birthday present. all i want now is to get on the streets^^

^^ one of the "birthday" galleries  we hit when celebrating my birthday. david kracov art takes one of the top lines on my list of favorites now. doesn't the xplory look like it belongs in that gallery? a masterpiece of its own. and the special limited edition orange could not be more perfect for fall!^^

^^ a little taffy never hurt anyone every now and then. kids picked a couple of colors and walked as happy as could be. i bet the memories will be forever ^^

^^ something that passed through my facebook feed. i had to share, because i love every word ^^

^^ the very first picture we took when officially calling San Francisco our home, early on a friday morning. San Francisco welcomed us with sun, warm breeze and gorgeous bay. May this be a beginning to a life filled with love, warmth and happiness. ^^

We send you warm greetings and best wishes,

                                                     with love from San Francisco

A peek into our life : my birthday from San Francisco

Yesterday we celebrated my 33rd birthday. As always, for me it is another turning point and the time to look forward in hope for new life's gifts with the gratitude for happiness blessed with before. If you follow me on Instagram, then you are "in the know" that we now call San Francisco our home. The move was quick and sudden, just as many great things in life. And just in the same way, when the opportunity comes you got to seize the day and go with the flow. We are still more in boxes then I would like, but considering the amount we are juggling non-stop between jobs, schools and children's needs I think we've done fantastic.

We are not much of the ones who would fall under "traditional" description, because, well, nothing is traditional about our family. From the multicultural backgrounds to very un-traditional 5 children for a professional dancer and the same 5 children by early thirties. But we have our own things we like to do, and those un-traditions are very much a custom to us now, with photo - journaling as one. There are many moments we keep just for our own eyes, but today I'd like to share our day with you. It may just a peek, but it's a peek into our very real every day life. 

^^ my morning started with the giggling in the living room. i love the interaction these two have. a brother and a sister. i hope one day they realize how lucky they are to have each other, fights and all ^^

 

^^ i love these presents. i have a whole bunch of these masterpieces safely put away for memories ^^

^^ a present of being happy and content - I couldn't ask for better one. and one more word : ears ^^

^^ the oldest and the youngest. another one from the category : they are extremely lucky to have each other ^^

^^ in this case , they KNOW it ^^

^^ when we celebrate something, we love to go out to explore things. We hit a couple of art galleries, a bread factory and just fun neighborhood of Fisherman's Wharf. more of photos to come soon, until then Instagram knows it all, you know. on the other note - San Francisco has the most gorgeous architecture i've seen in a long while. i will be sure to share more with you soon as well ^^

^^ whenever we pass by the park, it's a given that wherever we are going will be delayed by 30 minutes. at the very least ^^

^^ because, you know - dandelions in november is quite a catch ^^

 ^^ and for moments like this - it's absolutely worth a little wait ^^ 

^^ our little home celebration is really little. a cake, some ice-cream and a couple of pastries - all are completely on children's request, because the designated birthday candle ( that we had for 5 years now!) is such a tradition in our un-traditional family.  

^^ this candle is 1/2 way gone in 5 years of birthdays. we've grown quite attached to it, which is probably not the greatest of ideas : what are we going to do when it is gone? ^^ 

 ^^ song sang, wishes made, candle blown - now off to cake eating...^^ 

^^... although not everyone has made it that far, even if it was only 7:30 pm. that daylight savings time change...^^

^^ i took this picture as soon as we brought the carseat in because those cheeks have stolen my heart for a 1000th time that day. and the fact that he didn't budge and kept on sleeping even when i transferred him to his bassinet needed to be documented. it never happened before ^^

^^ another year passed, another turn made, another new moon, another new beginning. here is to the new path, filled with happiness, love, success and best of memories ^^

Life through the eyes of Instagram

 

^^ a little frog on a walk. resting ^^

It seems like I blinked and October has flown by. I have about 100 posts in drafts that I have started to publish, but haven't completed yet. I hope you forgive my lack of presence here over the last several weeks and understand my desire to spend every second with one of my dearest loved ones. Long distance living plus large family multiplied by intensive work schedules from everyone's side equals to rare visits, so any time when someone comes to visit, it is a luxurious treat. Much as we plan, the reality is ... we never know exactly when the next time seeing each other happens.

 I have a lot of catching up to do and lots of news to tell, so here is to the first part. This post is a portion from my Instagram feed, which is , as one of my great friend's said , a true version of mini blogging. I do love it very much.

 

^^ the mini-ritual for every morning lately. she talks to every picture, but particularly to the pieces made by her and other little ones. i love kids' art - it makes me smile every time i see a picture signed "for mommy" ^^

 

^^ best friends on one chilly saturday morning. sometimes i think we should have a dog. and then i count the children, two hamsters, one guinea pig, a cat and a fish, and re-think it ^^

 

^^ the beauty from the mountains ^^

 

^^ this picture is one of the very few of my second half and hence is my favorite ^^

 

^^ the beautiful mother nature from the plane ^^

 

^^ my number one favorite travel companion. can't beat the PramPack - created in cooperative design effort with airlines and specifically targeting the aircraft baggage handling and travel to protect your stroller in the best way possible. it has never failed me, and you can gate-check it too! ^^

 

^^ my faithful travel companion number two. you will be amazed to know that this jj cole collections satchel held the necessities of 5 days for a baby, plus some of my things too and kept me stylish ^^

 

^^ an absolute terrible quality picture, but it was taken specifically at the request of one of the airport crew workers, wanting to have a record of a step-by-step action. he absolutely loved the PramPack and i thought i'd share the beauty and ease of it here with you as well ^^

 

^^ the squeaky toys can be that surprising ^^

 

^^ though always a small-bed person,  i thoroughly understood the concept of a king size bed: the king can sleep and his attendees don't have to resort to the floor option. i now want a california kind ^^

 

^^ just getting his morning dose of classics. ballet was on the menu that day. he seemed to like it ^^

 

^^ fall. leaves. two years old. enough said ^^

 

^^ for better or for worse, but ikea is one of my favorite creative outlets ^^

 

^^ it's crazy to think that when we did a photoshoot for Solly Baby, this little bambino just signed his 9 months long "lease" ^^ 

 

^^ i swear by this magic blanket. all i have to do, is wrap him. the stokke magic never fails^^

 

^^ the very important job of guarding the cookies. and ice cream too ^^

 

^^ fall beauty is breath-taking ^^

 

^^ the place where we stop often to throw rocks. it's a tradition now in our very non-traditional family ^^

 

^^ my lunch date. there are times when i wish for the little ones to never grow up, but that day i loved how much of a real life conversation we had together. i am looking forward so much to the future ^^

Because I love you, now and always.

 

^^ blotchy faces and tear-y eyes. i hate saying good-byes. this is one of those few times when i feel sad about my move to america... ^^

 I do not take a phrase "I love you" lightly. Today I miss my mom more then ever, and those words are the ones I keep repeating in my mind over and over again. It doesn't matter whether you are 2, 35 or 57,  a long distance (and sometimes a very long term) separation with a loved one - mom in this case - is very difficult. At least for me.  As life has weathered me a little, it also hardened my ability to show emotion openly, if nothing else then for the sake of protecting my own heart from pain and disappointment. But I my kleenex box is empty, my make-up is non-existing and my nose is red. I, as everyone else, of course, am extremely lucky to have modern day technology and hear the voice on the other side of the line within seconds, even though she is on the the other side of the WORLD, and somewhat participate in my parents' life long-distance through skype. However, no super computer will substitute for a human touch, a hug, a kiss or warmth of a greeting smile. No computer can deliver a sound of a teapot whistling on the stove and the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning.

My dearest mom,  I love you so, so very much. There are no words that ever can express it the way I really mean it to, but, please, do know how much, how very much we all love you. Our house is empty without you. You always wished for me and my sister to have a memory of a house-nest, filled with the aroma of freshly-off-the-stove supper, and you, greeting us with a smile when we came home from school. But necessity to work kept you away from home for long hours, and it saddened you that life didn't happen as you wished then. Please, know what was then dream is now a reality. You brought the feelings of unity, peace and comfort to us. You have us what we needed most - your love, and it filled that 5 year long hap

Tonight when we came back home after seeing you off at the airport, I went downstairs into your room, and set there crying. I didn't want to leave. I remembered every minute of your stay with us, from the moment we came to the airport to pick you up to the minute I watched you walk onto the plane, wishing desperately that our living arrangements were not separating us by thousands of miles. I smiled, remembering our adventures, trips and crazy, never-working-as-supposed-to schedules. Our food experiments and cheese parties. Your birthday that we shared together for the first time in over 15 years... And many, many, many other things. You brought so much love and light with you, you made our house be a home filled with happiness, no matter the daily stumbles. We are so, so, so very lucky to have had you in our daily life, even if for a short period. You know this already, but as noted by my husband - our relationship is unique: you are my best friend, have always been and will remain one forever.

  

^^ so lucky to have celebrated not only a birthday, but this jubilee. i only wish to look so beautiful at 60 too. ^^ 

 

^^ the walks in the park in fall are my favorite: gorgeous nature and beautiful company. we had so many heart-warming talks together ^^

^^ hugging for the last time until next time. wishing, hoping and praying that life cooperates and a 5 year separation stretch never happens again ^^

 

^^ though didn't plan originally, i am so glad we extended the stay, and the ticket availability fell on 31st. the airport is absolute FUN on halloween. how about not only kids, but TSA and airport crew in costumes too? and TSA were extra-friendly ( always a bonus!). and there was hardly anyone flying too ^^

^^ please, come back soon. we all love you so very much and miss you terribly already ^^