check out the video on the right!

This is Elizabeth, Derek's cousin and our flower girl at the wedding! Her first taste of fame! Enjoy- I am trying to resize the video to fit better.

Spring Break

I am officially on Spring break for the next two weeks. Although next week I will actually be at a workshop every day until 3:30 (a fun workshop!) the week after I'll have free time! So excited!

Among my to-do's:

1. finish deciding on baby gear
2. start Lamaze class (postponed til next Sat.-was supposed to be starting tomorrow)
3. deep clean house and garage/hire housekeeper for once or twice a month-we don't get the cat hair out enough for little guy!
4. do pregnant lady things with B. and C. who are both due two weeks after me! (I'm sure the third trimester panic is hitting them this week like it hit me two weeks ago!)
5. spend time with L. and A. and their little boys -I need to watch little boys!
6. work on PLC charts for school (professional learning community data)
7. order decals/put nursery together a little bit
8. sleep
9. menu plan, grocery shop and cook 2-3 meals a week so D. can finish his work as much as poss. b4 little guy arrives
10. test drive cars! comparison shop for car seats/cars and strollers
11. play with kitty
12. what did I forget?

Update: Lu & Co.'s 101 things in 1001 days

Start date: 11/19/2006
End date: 8/17/2009
Goal: specify 101 things to accomplish in 1001 days!
I have just about 5 months to complete this list! Things in italics are incomplete!

1. submit 3 writing pieces (done Jan, Feb. and June 2008- none published though!)
2. knit (done) and purl
3. buy our first home (5/07)
4. ride a zipline (12/24/06 in Turu Ba Ri Park, Costa Rica)
5. sit in hot springs (12/27/06 at Termales del Bosque, CR)
6. open a cafe press shop (well, we have shop, but there's nothing in it!)
7. knit a baby blanket (well it's doll size, does that count?)
8. have a baby (in progress---29 weeks along almost!)
9. learn how to make cappuccino at home (can I insert: "watch Derek make" here?)
10. see a live concert (done, Ditty Bops March 1, 2008 and Jonatha Brooke Nov. 2008)
11.road trip from LA to Vancouver (ok this in not happening before August unless it's an out of body experience)
12. run a 1/2 marathon (ditto)
13. bike on the beach in Santa Monica (I would really like to be able to do this maybe by mid-August?)
14. have a girls weekend (well hey- I am going to San Diego with Alice this weekend- cool!)
15. see some girlie movies (saw lake house 12/30/06, saw Bride Wars, Sex and the City etc.)
16. get my 500 hour yoga certification (nope)
17.seriously consider a Masters degree (done: it was seriously considered and idea rejected)
18. go to a Sark or Comfort Queen retreat (nope)
19. go to a writers retreat (nyet)
20. apply for a teacher's fulbright to visit Japan for 3 weeks (well, I just checked and K teachers are not eligible.:()
21. travel to Italy with my husband and see where his family is from (done 7/08)
22. swim (done)
23. go to Monterey (7/07)
24. go to San Francisco (7/07)
25. visit K. (10/07)
26. visit A. (nope)
27. visit M.
28. align finances (almost done)
29. relax
30. let go
31. fly (with the flylady)
32. get another pet (nope)
33. finish wedding scrapbook
34. become proficient using iphoto, imovie, and photobooth (I've used them; I wouldn't say I'm a pro or proficient)
35. visit Chile (nope)
36. learn more about geography
37. learn to crochet
38. relax (did i say that already?)
39. shine my sink every day
40. go to knitting circles once a month for at least a year (hahaha)
41.visit a coffee plantation (12/26/06 Doka Plantation, Alajuela, CR)
42.knit a baby hat (probably not happening-maybe a pumpkin one for halloween if I get busy!)
43.enjoy every day (in progress)
44.let it go (in progress)
45.finish reading the books on the AP reading list from high school
46. clean out the junk! (in progress)
47.cultivate friendships(in progress)
48. maintain friendships (in progress)
49. appreciate my friends and family (in progress)
50.visit Astoria, Oregon (will happen someday, but not before the deadline!)
51.start a holiday tradition (or two) (done 12/06 family angel, reading night before, and opening 1 gift on c.eve)
52.go to CR (7 days to go!) (done-we just got back!)
53. finish a scarf (done 12/06 actually finished 4!)
54.practice my French- and I don't mean curse words! (done)
55.volunteer to be a reader for the blind and/or leaning disabled in English and Spanish (still interested; nearest place to do it is a bit of a drive)
56.be more pampering (i.e. bubble baths, mani/pedis and facial masks!) (in progress)
57.stay focused on the present (in progress)
58. research buying property in CR (somewhat done)
59. research prefab housing (somewhat done)
60. stretch lots!
61. write every day (in progress)
62. take computer classes to increase knowledge (12/07)
63. visit DC and local loved ones (10/07)
64. get my professional clear teaching clearance in CA (done 11/06)
65. get my CLAD certificate (teaching english as a 2nd lang.) in CA (done 11/06)
66. take BCLAD test (6/07)
67. plan anniversary road trip (7/07)
68. pick and order new flooring for new home (7/07)
69. get bike/bike trails in new community (7/07)
70. volunteer in some capacity for Girl Scouts (done: I am a Daisy leader this year!)
71. investigate birthing options such as hypnobirthing (10/07-present)
72. develop a "can-do" attitude (in progress)
73. keep in touch with friends to maintain meaningful relationships (always)
74. become a mentor to a young person (yes)
75. ride my bike to work 2-4 times per week (10/07)
76. change light bulbs to eco-cfo's (8/07)
77. bring reusable shopping bags to grocery shop (4/07 forward)
78. begin a backyard compost (started/stopped/will start again)
79. plant an herb garden (I have mint, rosemary and lavender going!)
80. shop for hybrid/ethanol/or electric replacement vehicle for '09 (well we are in the market again; may not be hybrid though)
81. visit PEI with mom (thought about doing in 08, will happen someday!)
82. camp at Yosemite (someday)
83. print and frame some wedding pix (8/07)
84. host a dinner party (done)
85. plant a tree (or lilac bush) (10/07)
86. look into teaching kids yoga again (done)
87. empty storage unit! (7/07)
88. climb vazquez rocks (done fall 08)
89. visit San Diego Zoo (almost- going to san diego today for the first time 3/21/09, but not to the zoo)
90. visit Santa Barbara Zoo (done Valentine's 08)
91. help my parents move/retire (soon!)
92. meet Josie, baby x, and more! (10/07)
93. train a puppy (or not) (housesit a puppy, counts, right? Feb. 09)
94. swim or surf in a wetsuit
95. eat outside (10/07)
96. search for gently used furniture! (done)
97. keep in touch with family (done and doing)
98. reduce, reuse, recycle (doing and done)
99. express myself through writing (doing/done)
100. enjoy Lu (doing/done)
101. love deeply (doing/done)

Homemade ravioli

First he adds the filling to the bottom layer of pasta (made in his pasta maker, of course!)

Then he puts the top layer on.

Then he uses the cutters- fun!

Finally, they are steaming and growing in the pot!

A perfect Sunday with a morning visit to the bakery and the farmer's market where I met my friend and her kindergarten age daughter, followed by a couple hours at home then doing report cards at school, grocery shopping, and coming home to enjoy our new nursery glider and watch D. make some homemade ravioli. He made two kinds: butternut squash/mushroom and Italian sausage/mushroom.

Breathing and Relaxation class

For the past month I've been offering a free breathing and relaxation class on Wednesday afternoons for my school staff. It's been a great outlet for stressed out teachers (and secretaries and principals!) The biggest group was actually a small group of 4, but it's still been a great experience. Plus it forces me to take that time to breathe and stretch too! I plan to continue up through our spring break in early April at least, then maybe longer depending how I feel. It's a very gentle class, with lots of breathwork, easy stretches and some visualization exercises. I find that I have missed teaching yoga the past few years. Though I've continued it within my Kinder class, I think it's great to be in a formal class setting.

In addition I've been going to a prenatal yoga class for the past two months on Thursday nights; the last one is tomorrow night and then a new session starts in mid-April. It's so nice to hang out with other pregnant ladies once a week so I will miss that class for the next few weeks. Of course next Wednesday I start my baby classes at the hospital (not the childbirth ones; those will start the last Saturday of March.)

Hope you've had a chance to check out Piñata my newest blog venture! Thanks for all the support from your comments and following so far!

Happy hump day!

New Blog Launch!

Tomorrow I will be launching a new blog...Piñata!

It is not a personal or family blog, but rather a foray into the world of "Pro" blogging, or monetized blogs.

Geared for young families, Piñata will offer updates and info. on several topics, including raising bilingual kids,
green parenting, yoga and meditation for kids, and children's literature.

It will host advertisements and eventually I will add some other monetizing features to the blog.

I am not connecting the new blog with these personal and family blogs, as I will be reaching out to the general blog-reading public via email, facebook, twitter and other social media, as well as listing the blog on searchable databases.

So wish me luck and come over to visit soon!

Click here to reach Piñata!