• Bits and Pieces

    I promise this won’t be a photo dump. But it sort of is a photo dump. Doh. There’s been much afoot in the lives of the Mastrianna fam! We have had some really amazing memories logged together these last few weeks.

  • Emma is 5 months

    This girl is five whole months!! She is growing in her interactive ness, getting so tall in my arms and holding her body up so much (even though tummy time is her least favorite on the daily to dos). Emma loves being anywhere in the vicinity of her sibs.. Kate is always handing her toys…

  • New Chapter

    This last week, we had our last meeting with the youth group we’ve been leading for eight years, and helping with for almost ten. Those numbers feel a bit unreal! .. There is so much in my heart when I consider all that occurred over the years.. in us, in our family, in time with…

  • Bits and Pieces

    This Christmas season was filled with so many non material gifts for our family–so much quality time being near the top of the list. We started off break with a great end to James’ school semester and a fog of sickness. Whilst recovering, we did day trips to local spots, an evening at a fun…

  • Kate is 2

    I ended up writing this directly to Kate! And for what reason I can’t entirely say except that it’s 1130pm and I’m tired by don’t want to miss a moment to write down my love for this girl. These next photos also best represent the many sides of our little girl!

  • Carmel

    This was a sweet day last month that I hadn’t gotten around to logging, but the kids and I were looking for a easy access beach to frolic on and came across this one in Carmel, which is about a 45 minute drive from us. We had the sweetest drive around the winding ocean front…

  • Happy New Year

    I hope you had a wonderful New Years! So typically, I find myself at home in jammies with popcorn and a movie, all topped off by a sensibly early bedtime. But this year! This year we spent our evening with friends chatting, trying the occasional sip of moonshine, playing games and rocking my fussy baby…

  • Emma is 3 months

    Little lady is three months old now! I feel like we’re sort of exiting the newborn phase and I’m looking forward to discovering more of her personality. I’m also holding onto her newborn-ness fiercely because it’s just the most precious phase to me.. gosh I love this girl.

  • Bits and Pieces

    On Sunday afternoon, I decided I had my last frustrated attempt at reaching and grabbing the ridiculous amount of toys that had built up under our bed! While the little girl population in our family slept, I shlepped our furniture around and found a new arrangement, cleaned and literally used my entire being and body…

  • Thinking of Others

    I’ve been looking for ways to teach myself—and our children—to think of other people and practice empathy. The holiday season naturally inclines me to consider those in our community who are in need, though I realize these considerations must go much beyond only this small piece of the year. As I see empathy growing in…

  • To the Movies!

    Oh my gosh people! We did it! Our first family movie, yippee! We’ve been waiting for this milestone as our kids will have many a family movie date in their future. We saw The Star which is a sweet, well done story about

  • Happy Thanksgiving!

    Hope you enjoy being with loved ones today. I kind of feel that this is my season of thanks, rather than just one day! Either way, I can say one hundred percent that being thankful everyday as a family has flipped our entire family life on its head. When I start my day out with recognizing…

  • Bits and Pieces

    We are so excited for the Christmas season arriving! And a week early at that since thanksgiving is this week—woop woop! Last year Luke began to understand better but this year Kate will take her turn and I’m so excited for her. We started listening

  • Gilroy

    This day happened awhile back now but we had the best time with the kids and so I didn’t want to neglect writing it down. We love Gilroy gardens! This was the first time Kate has been able to enjoy rides and the magic of it all. Huge mushrooms, spinning garlic cloves and apple-and-worm themed…

  • Fall Recipes

    So super excited to give these recipes a test. Some on the healthier side, while some are emulating all that fall meals should—hearty,

  • Bits and Pieces

    Luke told me he dreamt of frogs a few nights ago. I guess there’s not much more to say about it except I thought it was cute. And amazing that he’s beginning to remember his dreams, or at least describe them to us 🙂 Also, his three favorite animals to sleep with are a Swiss…

  • Navigating Needs

    We had the best trip to the aquarium last week—any chance for a 45 minute trip, drive through espresso en route and quiet time (forced naps) along the way is good with me! The kids were super pumped about the penguins, sharks and the “fishies” (Kate especially). I personally love the jellies, I could spend…

  • 30!

    Good morning to THIRTY! Writing it makes me feel young and old at the same time–thirty! I have many friends already embracing their best decade (or so I hear) and have been a little impatient for

  • Emma is 2 months

    Two months with this little girl have been pretty sweet. She is relatively easy going and has the sweetest smiles. We felt like she audibly said

  • Bits and Pieces

    It has been so hot! Last week, the leaves began to fall and the other day I had to rake them all away so I could break out the pool. Kate and I have spent a few afternoons playing in the water. She loves it. This girl..

  • Newborn Sleep Guide

    We are now three deep in this babies and sleep thing. And now with Emma here, it’s kind of NUTS to remember how much stress I was under in the beginning! Managing my personal stress having to do with my child sleeping was like a full time job, with a ton of overtime. I have…

  • Rodoni Farms

    Last weekend we drove up the coast to find pumpkins! We ended up getting there at a quiet moment and it was so nice not to battle the crowds. The morning had been a little past my crazy threshold so we were needing

  • Luke at 3.5

    Nobody told me that three and a half would be the sweetest time ever, most days at least 😉 it truly is! Luke amazes me day by day. He has the biggest love for his sisters, he is a rock. He has great patience

  • Birth Story, Emma

    So as the days rolled by and I was coming close to our due date (September 4, Labor Day). I was figuring out ways to relax and give my body high levels of oxytocin, especially at night since I knew my body liked to go into labor at night (which is super common I guess!)—so…

  • Kate, 21 months

    This darling girl. I have been so terrible at my note taking for these kiddos lately so I’m giving it a good ‘ol college try.. thus, the randomness of the “21 month update” ha. But there’s so much I can say about our sweet, tender, firecracker-y

  • Fall Reading

    Sooo now that pregnancy brain is done away with (and now just onto newborn brain..), I am so excited to dig into some books. I have a list of a few I’ve got out for reserve at the library .. what have you been reading? Have you read any of these?

  • Bits and Pieces

    Septembers in Santa Cruz are usually lovely. It has felt a little too hot still for my bones but the mornings and evenings are becoming the slightest bit cooler and breezier, a sort of haphazard breeze that throws leaves around in our yard as the sunsets

  • Emma is 1 month

    I am so thankful for this sweet girl who, aside from some seriously painful toots over the last few days, has given us a gentle welcome back to newborn phase! A few things about her.. 🙂 She is already almost 10 pounds, yeah! She is an amazing eater! There have been some seriously drop-the-mic bowel…

  • Emma!

    Our little Emma is here!—she arrived last Monday, just about an hour or so into her due date of 9/4/17 (aka Labor Day)! Ha. Ha. We are all in love and soaking in the baby scents and sweetness because gah, in my happy place! We just LOVE this newborn phase 😍

  • Pregnancy Favorites

    I’m in the end of days! Well, hopefully. I’m 39 weeks as of yesterday so hoping she is ready to meet us now. Having one come early and one come so late really messes with your mind. My friend told me this morning her third was the latest, so WHO REALLY KNOWS but either way,…