karenika

December Daily – Day 6

Today’s pages are about the holiday Caltrain and the Google holiday party.

Catalyst 39 – She wanted to Pave Her Own Way

The catalyst
is up. It’s: What was a dream you had as a child (about your future);
did it come true or not? If it did, was it what you hoped it would be
and if it didn’t are you disappointed?

Here’re my words:

Since as far back as I can remember, my biggest dream was to leave home
and go pave my own path. I wanted to make my own mistakes, live my own
life, make my own choices. I certainly did leave my home (Istanbul) and
moved very far away. I made a new life for myself here in the United
States, and I am really lucky to say that, so far, I’ve loved every
moment of it. I miss my family a lot but I love paving my own path, even
with its bumps along the way.

Thanksgiving 2008

These layouts are for Cathy’s Design Your Life class. They are meant to
be plain.

Journaling Reads:

Thanksgiving isn’t usually a big holiday for me. I didn’t grow up here
and even sixteen years later, I still don’t really feel excited by it. I
like having family around so that you can learn about its importance and
start your traditions around it. This year was a special surprise for us
because both Mommy’s and Daddy’s parents decided to come visit us. We
went to the park, we watched Wall-e, we played the Wii, we went to
restaurants, ate lots of cake and candy, everyone read to you and played
with you and brought you tons and tons of presents. You got to stay up
late. Not to mention the delicious Thanksgiving meal Papi cooked for us.
This was a special holiday, indeed and I wanted to make sure that you
didn’t miss a moment of it so I made a minibook and this little page so
you can look back and remember our rare and special holiday with the
whole family.

Our Memory

These layouts are for Cathy’s Design Your Life class. They are meant to
be plain.

Journaling Reads:

I remember this day so clearly. It was one of those rare occasions when
I was home and wanted to enjoy the sun, so I took my book and sat in my
chair in the backyard. Within seconds, you had all your toys outside so
you could play next to me. I am so happy that I have a best friend like
you; someone who always like to be with me and likes to play near me.
You bring so much joy into my life and you have the perfect balance of
being able to entertain yourself and yet stick close-by so we can share
lots of memories together.

San Luis Obispo

These layouts are for Cathy’s Design Your Life class. They are meant to
be plain.

Journaling is about our quiet and lovely weekend in SLO.

Loved Fully

These layouts are for Cathy’s Design Your Life class. They are meant to
be plain.

Journaling is about how I love David wholly and full all my being.

Halloween

These layouts are for Cathy’s Design Your Life class. They are meant to
be plain.

Journaling Reads:

When I went to shop for Halloween costumes this year, there was nothing
for your size, except this dinosaur costume. I wasn’t sure how it was
going to turn out but, as always, you wore it with much joy and it was a
big hit. While you loved the Googleween, and going around the
neighborhood for candy, your favorite part of this Halloween was opening
the door when others came to visit us. “Trick or treat!” you would cheer
loudly, even though I told you many times that you weren’t supposed to
say that. They were. You didn’t care. You had fun and that’s all that
mattered to you. Well little boy, that’s all that matters to me, too. It
was so much fun watching you give candy and tell people that they could
only have one!

Pismo Beach

These layouts are for Cathy’s Design Your Life class. They are meant to
be plain.

Journaling Reads:

Pismo beach is one of your Dad and my favorite places on earth. I can’t
even explain why we love it so much but we do. During our trip to San
Luis Obispo, we took one day and drove down to the beach and it ended up
being the most magical day of the whole trip. There’s something, maybe
the air or the water, that relaxes us and puts us in a happy mood. It
must have worked its magic on you, too because you loved walking around
and playing in the sand and watching the water. At the end of the day,
we sat at a restaurant and ate a delicious meal, putting a perfect end
to a perfect day.

When I look back at these photos, they still make me smile in memory of
the warm, beautiful, and relaxing day we had as a family. It also
reminds me that we need to take more vacations like these. We need to
take trips and spend some quality family time together. After all,
what’s more important than that?

Playin

These layouts are for Cathy’s Design Your Life class. They are meant to
be plain.

This is the first time I ever saw David playing with sand!

Daily David – Day 342

Daily David – Day 341

December Daily – Day 5

Today was the ultrasound for the little one and after almost two hours
he or she still refused to turn around so I’m going to have to go back
on Tuesday. Oh well, it was still a lot of fun. And I wanted to make
sure not to forget our new tradition this year: stockings.