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I haven’t updated this bloggo in days! more like months! Here I am at home on Easter having some down time in between family visits. Brian is working today and Kale is napping before we head over to Grandma Hills for dinner on this stormy Easter. We went to Gma and Gpa Martinez’s for brunch, then to cousin Julie’s for a visit, and I’m pooped! I’ll update on our life as of now, Brian is going to be starting his CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERVISOR job at whole foods next week! or the week after…and I am still at Harker supervising kids. This summer i’ll be there 7 hours a day 5 days a week running a group of 2nd graders for 8 weeks!! AHHH. I’m starting up my Bachelor’s program tomorrow online. One class per month til I graduate! 2 years..I’m taking them through National University! I’m excited, a BA in Early Childhood Development! Then I’ll go for 2 more years for my Masters/Credentials. Brian is still doing his Fire Tech classes at Mission. He’s in the process of applying for EMT companies…cross your fingers for that! Kale will be 1 on Earth day, April 22nd!!! My baby is hitting his milestones like crazy…teeth..crawling…standing….WALKING soooon…Anyways…Here’s some pictures of our latest trip up north to Oroville/Chico, and a couple cute randoms from here, there, everywhere!

our little helper

our flower section

the goods

my sweet baby love

Daddy starting his garden (i always refer to brian as daddy now out of habit, but not when i’m actually talking to him haha)

I know he loves me..I just know it!

Uncle Greg and Kale on our hike at the visitors center in Kelly Ridge. They both weren’t too sure about each other..

Brian working on the flat stroller tire while Greg and Damon work on their bikes, we  thought this was funny :)

Auntie Megan and Kale with a beautiful background

Grandma Durell and Kale out watching Daddy and Grandpa ride dirt bikes

Kale eating an apple on our way to Oroville. One month shy of a year old!

Brian’s 22nd bday cake at home in SJ

the Sutter Buttes, smallest mountain range! So pretty.

I’m going to try these out.

Mommy Meditations

By: Lisa Druxman, M.A.

Follow Your Breath

Find a quiet place and sit in a meditation position, with your spine erect and your legs crossed comfortably. Close your eyes. Imagine that you can watch your breath. As you take a breath, follow it with your mind’s eye (an imaginary eye between your two physical eyes) as it travels through your body. Picture your breath starting to oxygenate your cells and fuel your muscles. With each exhale, imagine that you can see the release of tension and anything that feels bad in your body.

With eyes still closed, follow your breath outside your body, as though it were visible. Follow it one inch, three inches, even ten inches from your body. Make your breath purposeful and fill yourself with light and energy.

Circle of Breath

Choose a special place in your home to be your meditation spot. Sit with your spine erect and your legs crossed comfortably. Close your eyes. Imagine you have an eye that lies between your two actual eyes. We’ll call this your mind’s eye. Take a few moments to watch your breath with your mind’s eye. Watch and see the natural flow of your breath. Now start to connect your breathing so that there is no start and no finish. It is just one breath that flows continuously in and out. Create a circle of breath. Make it smooth and easy. Create a rhythm and feel your body connect to that rhythm. As your breath becomes balanced, so does your body. After a few minutes, let your breath return to normal.

Steady the Flame

Pick a quiet spot and sit in front of a lighted candle. With eyes open, watch the flame and how it dances. Now, imagine that your breath can steady the flame. Make your breath smooth and gentle so as not to disturb the flicker. Imagine that the more peaceful your body, the more peaceful the flame. The best way to do this is to become still from within. Find your inner peace and imagine you can share that peace with the candle. Do not be disturbed if an external sound or motion moves the flame. Use your personal quiet to bring the flame back. This teaches you to find peace even amongst the chaos of motherhood. Imagine that the light of the candle is energy. Draw from this energy and bring it within you to give you light throughout the day

Rainbow Breath

Lie down on your back and lengthen your body with your arms by your side. Your spine experiences compression throughout the day; do your best to lengthen your body so that your spine can stretch. Let go of all tension and feel your body relax into the floor. Now start watching your breath with your mind’s eye (an imaginary eye between your two physical eyes). Imagine you can watch the breath move up and down your spinal canal. Send the breath deep down into the base of your spine. Envision that your breath is lighting the base of your spine a beautiful and bright red. Ignite it and make it like fire light. Now move up a bit and watch the color change from red to orange. Feel this bright and warm color in your low back and pelvis.

After a few moments here, bring the breath up to your belly and light it a beautiful clean yellow. Feel it like sunshine giving you energy. Slowly move up now to your heart center and light your breath green like the grass. Embody it and feel this color in your chest. Move now to your neck and feel a beautiful ocean blue. Each breath ignites the flame of color and makes it brighter. And finally bring that breath up to your brain and light it a beautiful lavender. Make it the most beautiful color you have ever seen. Feel what lavender would feel like. Don’t rush it. Send the breath up and down your spine now in a beautiful rhythm and light up each color like a rainbow. All of these colors, all of this breath will give you energy and peace for your day.

One-Sided Breath

Yoga masters have believed for thousands of years that you can balance your mind when you practice breathing with alternating nostrils. In this exercise, block your right nostril by pressing the side with your finger and breathe in for 4 seconds. Hold the breath for 4 seconds. Close the left nostril and exhale that breath through the right for 4 seconds. Repeat on the other side (breathing in on the left and exhaling on the right). Repeat three times. Another variation is to breathe with just the left nostril for a cycle of breaths and then to switch to the other nostril for a cycle.

Your Personal Mantra

A mantra is a saying that you focus on during meditation. Choose or create one for yourself. (My meditation teacher, for instance, taught me to focus on three words—peace, health, and harmony.) Sit for a few minutes with your eyes closed and keep repeating the word or words you have chosen. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your mantra. Do not get disturbed when your mind wanders—it’s just what a mind does. Simply return your focus to your mantra. Experience the words and the feeling behind them. Embrace them.

Perfect Place

Sit or lie down in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Now transport yourself with your mind’s eye (an imaginary eye between your two physical eyes) and envision yourself in your perfect place. Maybe it’s the beach or an island or a park. Use all of your senses. Smell the flowers, feel the wind or the heat of the sun, see the colors of the sky. Truly experience the peace and joy you would feel if you were actually there. If your “real” world starts to sneak in to your perfect place, just let it float by like a cloud. Your perfect place is a great place to experience gratitude. Feel thankful for your health, your family, and all good things in your life. Bring that feeling inside of you so that you can carry it with you throughout your day

Relax, Just Do It

Lie down in a comfortable position. Starting with your feet, tense up all of your muscles. Squeeze as hard as you can. Move up from your toes to your nose, tightening as you go, and keep compressing those muscles. When you feel as if your entire body is completely tight, tighten some more. Clench completely—and then totally release and let go. Feel yourself melting into the floor, one muscle at a time. When you feel as if you have finished releasing, release some more. Become so relaxed that you aren’t sure where your body ends and the floor begins.

Repeat this sequence three times. Continue to tense and then relax each muscle. Finish by tensing your entire body and then completely melting into the floor. As you relax, keep seeing if you can take it to the next level. Relax and let go just a little more. This meditation technique can provide very quick and positive results.

Breath for your Baby

This is a great meditation if you are pregnant. Even if you are not, you can transfer that same energy to your child. Find a comfortable meditation position and use your mind’s eye (an imaginary eye between your two physical eyes) to focus on your belly. Now imagine your baby growing in your uterus and use your breath to fuel and grow that baby. Each breath brings oxygen, energy, and health to your baby. Release stress and tension from your body, as you only want positive energy flowing towards your baby. Totally embody peace and harmony and transfer that energy to your baby. Feel yourself passing on wisdom, health, and happiness.

It’s been exactly a year today since Brian and I moved to San Jose from Chico.

Here’s a throw back to April picture just randomly wanted to post this…I always peek at Kale’s hospital pictures! They are so precious.

Kale and Luella (7 Months and 3 Months)

In other thoughts…Brian finished his EMT classes!!!!! He just needs to take a background test now..and I need to get my teaching crudentials! If only San Jose State would update me sooner than later…It’s pretty frustrating waiting to hear if I got in or not, or even if they want me to send my transcripts yet.  Oh well.  It’s winter break tomorrow!!!!! and! he got 3 days off. so we are headed north on Christmas I believe.  Kale is ready for some holiday fun with his Munn family and so are Brian and I. We are almost finished shopping..got a handful more gifts to get.  It’s Luella’s FIRST bday tomorrow! and my Dad’s 52 tomorrow! Time goes by so fast when you’re busy and having a good time huh. 

Happpy Holidays :)

It’s almost Christmas and I’ve lost my camera uploader cord! YIKES, we need some new pics up on here and I have SO MANY on my camera…stay tuned..i’ll put more up when find that darn cord.

Update on our family:

It’s almost Xmas break and we’re ready for it. We really want to go to Oroville soon, I’m getting anxious to leave San Jose for a weekend….and so is Brian I’m sure.

Kale is sleeping better on and off, he has constipation issues that are killer at night. Sleep killer that is, for all 3 of us.  
I must go now as Kale is crying in the other room!

Peace and Love

Dana