apple hill with my everly mae

with school starting earlier and earlier, I find myself back in the classroom right around august first.  which means, by the first weekend in october, I am beyond ready for a long weekend.  everly and I took advantage of our friday off by heading up the hill to apple hill.  she hadn't been since she was two and we had taken our family portraits with sarah!  the reason - this place is INSANE on the weekends, and I am not about any of that.  we started our day early and beat most of the crowds.  yes, there were people everywhere, but we also found parking and never had any traffic, it was a win for sure.

we started off our day by immediately getting apple donuts at high hill ranch.

and the second was face paint.  she always gets so excited when I let her get her face painted because I only let her once at disneyland, because disneyland prices are insane!  however, it seems to make her really LOVE me when I say yes anywhere else ;)  her 'face painting' face is always the same -  she's always the best customer

and this was the weekend when this tooth just wouldn't come out, so, this was the smile she was rocking for about two weeks.  it came out exactly one week after this photo!

and of course a giant suspended apple makes for the perfect photo opportunity

we also visited abel's apple acres and ended our time at the larsen apple barn where we finally picked up a giant box of yummy apples to get us through fall!

and even though I had the best intentions of getting some pumpkins while at an apple hill location, we ended up stocking up with an entire cart of pumpkins at the save mart just a few minutes south of apple hill.  their prices were insanely good, and they had all the good ones!

here's our mini-film of our day:

make sure to listen to the little bits of everly talking, she is most likely going to follow in my footsteps with her love of videography.  I always wish I could add more audio in our films, but there are always SO many crazy conversations happening around us in the real world, laying a nice song over the audio just makes sense...

 

Apple hill from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

shot on our gopro hero7 black 
edited on my ipad, because I was lazy and wanted to lay on my sofa while doing it
music: Coraline Soundtrack - Exploration [it is one of our favorites, and it just feels like fall magic to me]

swimming our way through summer break [mini-film]

I'm officially in stay-at-home summer mom mode, and it feels good.  with some exciting trips on the horizon this summer, I finally decided it was time to add another camera to our little family of tech.  a gopro hero7 black!

I remember as a kid the disposable underwater cameras we would get for our trips to hawaii.  there is just something extra magical about taking photos where you are pretty sure you aren't supposed to be taking photos.  being the photo/video junkies that we are around here, I couldn't wait to get ahold of a camera that would let us bring that magic to reality.



I'm still learning my way around this little camera, but for now, I'm pretty much in love.

here's a little peek into our first time in the water...for the record, I was too lazy to put the video clips on my computer, so I edited the entire thing on my phone.  that still amazes me what these little devices can do.

happy summer!

gopro details here music: Portugal the Man, Live in the Moment

halloween and mickey pumpkins

man, am I so behind on so many posts.  these days I'm averaging a post a month, which isn't excellent.  hopefully a new computer will help me stay on top of things more in 2019.  mini films of our family is something that I love to do more than anything, but they can be time consuming to put together, especially on an old computer.  but they are always worth it.  ev and I will sometimes stay in bed on a saturday morning just looking at old photos or our little films from past trips.  getting to relive those moments is always worth the effort.  and why I need to kick my butt back into blogging.

this wall is still one of our favorite new photos walls, added during last year's pixar fest.  I recently re-did the gallery wall in our house, and these images of us with ev are some of my favorite prints added to the display!

back in october we took a trip down to disneyland with my mom to enjoy the parks in all their spooky glory.  everly rode space mountain for a second time, but immediately noticed a change.  as we were going up the first ramp, she looked at me and exclaimed, "the music is different!"  from that point on, she was on to the fact that the ride had a halloween overlay, something I didn't think she was going to notice, because she sits so low in the car, I figured she wouldn't really be able to see the fire ghost graphics on the walls.  well, I should have known that little miss music would have remembered what the music usually sounded like on that ride, even though she had only been on it once before.  she did survive the experience, but determined she never wants to ride space mountain again for halloween, just regular.  and in other news, my mom rode space mountain for the first time since she was a teenager.  she swears she remembers it going backwards.  I think she really just hated it, and so it felt like it was going backwards [in my disneyland history research, I couldn't find anything to confirm her backwards track theory for the record].  she was a trooper, not sure if she will go on it again, but she sure took one for the team.someone also decided it was time to see minnie mouse again.  it has been years, but I think the adorable witches outfit really pushed her into the moment.  I love this photo, everly is explaining her minnie dress features to minnie herself.  so space mountain during halloweentime, no, minnie during halloweentime, YES!

I was dying while editing this film.  how many days were we there???  pretty sure it was just a long weekend, but by the look of how many outfits everly wore in the parks, it looks like we were there for a week!

the wall outside sprinkles cupcakes is a great backdrop for photos - but everly did not care for the cupcakes.  she's more of an 'inside the parks' kind of treat kid I guess.  whenever you can find a great wall, stop and take a photo.  it is a great trick to getting great photos in disneyland, and make it look like you have the park to yourself.  which we know, there are literally thousands of people behind me while shooting this photo!

this little hallway by rancho del zocalo can be timed just right in the mornings.  very little foot traffic over here at that time, and a great place to snap a park photo, sans people in the background!

always beignets for these two.

another new moment this trip was when everly and I rode guardians of the galaxy together for the first time.  I hadn't even been on it since the marvel update, and I really had no idea how ev was going to do.  the entire fastpass line, families were giving me looks like I was torturing my child.  it really could have gone one of two ways, awesome, or my daughter would never trust me again.  I got some great selfie footage of her on it for the first time.  lots of big eyes, then terrified looks, then smiling and dancing along with rocket.  in the end, she loved it.  and also stated, "mom, I thought it was a roller coaster.  it just went up and down."  for anyone who has been on tower or terror or guardians of the galaxy can tell you that yes, she is right, but man, no one else would explain that ride in that way.  she even took a ride on it one more time with grammie.  again, grammie was quite the ride trooper this visit, but I think one and done with this particular attraction.

here's a little bit of our first ride -

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and our mini-film from the trip: Halloween 2018 Disneyland from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

music:
"When Can I See You Again?" - Owl City, Wreck it Ralph Soundtrack
"This is Halloween" - Vitamin String Quartet

this year we decided to take a break from our annual passes.  the crowds have been so intense lately, and will only get worse with start wars land opening this summer.  so, we might not be back until a halloween party this fall. 

so, good thing we have lots of disneyland videos to get us by, we have never gone an entire year between visits!

summer of disneyland [mini film]

this summer we soaked up two trips to the parks.  it seems that no matter when you go, the parks are pretty full.  but there are some magical hours that need to be attended, and no, I'm not talking actual magic mornings.  I'm just talking the first three to four hours the parks are open.  it is cool, and quiet, and as long as you stay out of tomorrow land [it gets so crowded so fast, and I never really understand why] you can get onto pretty much any ride with a very small wait.

as soon as it crept closer to noon, we would grab a bite to eat and head back to the hotel for a swim and a rest, typically making our way back into the parks around dinner time.  the middle of the day always feels the craziest, and during the summer, the hottest, so we just avoid it altogether.  getting back into the parks just before sunset makes for the most magical photos - the lighting is breathtaking.  and, besides sunset, I always love the parks at night the best.  the lights, oh the twinkling lights, always the best.

here is a look at our summertime moments in disneyland.

music -
bring it on home to me - sam cooke [guardians of the galaxy vol. 2 soundtrack]
when can I see you again - owl city [wreck it ralph soundtrack]
married life - michael giacchino [up soundtrack]
I see the light - mandy moore [tangled soundtrack]

shot on our sony a6000 & a6500

here's a look at our other disneyland mini-film trips here, here, and here.
all disneyland posts here.

another chance for memories [disneyland mini-film]

we've had a lot of chances to make memories as a family - and disneyland has to be one of our favorite places to do so.  every trip is a different experience as everly gets older.  the mr. was the most excited for big thunder mountain railroad this trip, since everly was now excited to go on it, and it has always been one of our favorite rides in the park.  after so many trips of only riding super kid friendly rides, getting back into our old groove, and now with our little one, just has such a special feel to it.

here is our weekend in Disneyland - made a little extra special with Halloween Time in full swing in BOTH parks!
Disneyland Oct. 2017 from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

thankful for capturing these moments

this morning, I stumbled upon this video of everly at two.  it it wasn't for this, I wouldn't remember everly's voice sounding like this.  or the little way she pieced together her sentences.  I wouldn't remember her little arms being this round, even though they aren't even that round here.

so thankful for being able to remember these little moments that are no longer here.

but mostly, I'm melting over this little voice.
everly says - may 2015 from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

celebrating five [mini-film]

last weekend we celebrated everly's golden birthday with our take on 'it's a small world christmas'!  kids in the morning, big kids in the evening.  the rain moved the party all indoors, but we made the best of things.

turns out, the 'small world' coloring pages were a hit for all ages.  speaking of age, now that everly is the big FIVE she was given so many amazing games from our friends...which they decided to show her how to play at her party too.  cannot get much better than that!

oh, and no more balance bike for this little lady - big girl bike happened too!

here's our day celebrating five...
Everly is Five! from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

everly's dress is from target - we were lucky stumbling on the perfect dress months ago when she picked her birthday theme

that amazing sparkler five candle is from nothing bundt cakes - not sure they have them at all of their locations, seemed like a little specialty item they had at ours

thankful for my village

I've raised my daughter with my village from day one.  many of our friends do not have children of their own, and the way they have loved everly like she was theirs, literally melts my heart every time. I've worked full time since everly was four months old - a transition that was one of the greatest challenges of my life.  however, as time passes, I have clarity on a situation that seemed so unfair and gloomy at the time.  I wanted to be there for my daughter every second of every day.  and I couldn't be.  at first, my village was small, mostly my husband and myself.  and then my village grew, bit my bit, month by month, the pieces just fell into place.  everly's nona is a driving force in her life, and me being a working mom has developed this relationship in a way that is unique and special beyond words.  because her nona is more than a great-grandma, she's a part of everly's everyday village.

I'm thankful for those who are building everly into the person that she is going to become one day. I'm thankful that everly gets to live just blocks away from two very important family matriarchs. I'm thankful for every water balloon fight, fort building, tag playing game that our friends play with everly, because having only one kid in a giant group of adults is not always easy to manage. but these little games, the focus they give her to play and just be a kid, means the world to me.

this summer we took everly camping for the first time. these little moments reminded me of how lucky I am to have the support I do when it comes to raising my daughter.
salt point ca 2017 from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

4th of july [mini-film]

everly had a blast with her cousins the other day celebrating the 4th at her nona's house.  many hours of swimming ended perfectly with a lot of sparklers and fireworks on ladders, the only way.  I think their faces say it all!
4th of july from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

music: "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller
shot on our Sony a6000

lake tahoe [mini film]

the other day I was heading to a training early one morning, and I passed the apartment complex where I know several of my students live.  it is one of those complexes that looked like it was pretty nice in the 60's, but now, it has seen too many years, and too many people, and it would not be on your top choice of places to live.  but for these kids, it is their only choice. and on this morning, we were in the middle of a horrific heat wave, and two of my former students were already sitting out in front of the complex, right next to the main street, watching the cars drive by.  it was 7:00 a.m., and the second week of summer, and my heart hurt for them.  this was going to be their day, either kicked out of the apartment because it was too hot, or because their parents were at work for the day and they didn't want them in the house alone, either way, this was their summer.  I instantly thought of my family, and the summer my daughter had already had, a trip to Lake Tahoe and a day in San Francisco, two places we go without much thought, and two destinations that people from around the world come to see.  for us, they are just over an hour from where we live, and always on our summer visit list.  I feel that I am a pretty thankful person, but on this day, I was overwhelmed with emotion.

so here's a glimpse of our latest trip to Lake Tahoe, an experience I am so lucky to have.

I love the faces my kid is giving me these days.  and the fact that she never stops running, or moving, even while eating.
Lake Tahoe Summer 2017 from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

shot on our Sony a6000
music by Panic at the Disco - Pretty Odd, "When the Day Met the Night"

preschool graduation [mini film]

yesterday was such a fun little milestone for our family.  everly had a blast & every moment was just so sweet.  everly got to pick out where we ate, the music we listened to, and the movie we watched last night.  Panda Express, Jack's, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, and Elf was all a part of this epic experience.  here's a little look into our day...
Preschool Graduation from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

moments I will hold on to...
car karaoke with my favorites
her last little swing down the steps at her school with her daddy
her nona's tears as she came down the aisle with her classmates
the moment I saw her 'teacher' sign as her future profession
sweet hugs from her first teachers who had her loving school every day
thoughtful and adorable gifts, and how much she appreciates them
scooping up every last bite of blue cheese dressing with her urban fries
snuggles while watching our favorite christmas movie in may

shot on our Sony A6000
song - Sam Cooke, "Bring it on Home to Me" [Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2]

dapper day spring - disneyland [mini-film]

this past weekend we spent the last three days of our annual passes in the parks, and with it being spring dapper day, we knew it was meant to be!  here's a little look at our time there.  photos to come!

Disneyland April 2017 from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

my favorite parts of this mini-film, and the weekend:

*skipping, so much skipping
*my kid is way cooler than me
*she insisted on peace signs, because apparently they are 'pizza' signs, and she was eating pizza
*talk about hamming it up to the camera
*looking away from the camera for photos, ultimate #babyhipster
*tiara & 'flight glasses'

all music from epidemic sound
shot on our sony a6000

2/52

 "A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2017."

according to everly - [what I want to be when I grow up edition]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

what do you want to be when you grow up: I want to be a teacher.

why: because I like being a teacher.  I want to be one when I grow.

what do you want to teach: I want to teach about my kids.  I want to do stories about faraway places when people grow up and sing.

how old will your kids be: four, I think they are going to be a little small.  I think they are going to have moms.  And I'm going to be their teacher mom.  So they will call me teacher.  Actually, they will call me Miss Lewis.  I will like how my kids do everything.  I know I really really want to be a teacher.  I want to be a good teacher.  Everyone will listen.  Actually, I'm going to teach high school. They will learn how to cut. [she's currently cutting paper, but it all works really]

how old will you be when you start teaching:  4

so you are starting this year: yeah

how many years will you teach: 100 days, and you are going to be at my class. but you don't need to train me, I know all the rules. I know about when they don't do stuff, I'm going to put them in timeout.

any last words on teaching:  Um, I want to be a very good trainer and I want to help people that don't listen.  And if they don't listen, they are going to go to time out.  and then I want to be a regular teacher that doesn't have a name, the kids will just call me teacher.

first snow!

yesterday, the mr. and I finally made our way to the snow.  on our way up to Lake Tahoe we were reminiscing on how long it had been since we had been to the snow - and considering everly had never been, we were realizing it had been well over five years!  turns out, our four hour drive home [it should have taken a little under two] reminded us why we don't go to the snow more often. even so, seeing our baby in the snow for the very first time was well worth it.

next time, more snow gear, and spending the night!

First Snow from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

shot on our sony A6000

music:
She & Him: Christmas Party - A Marshmallow World

from our family to yours [mini film]

this year we continued a few of our newer family holiday traditions, including making gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and having a kid stay up way too late on christmas eve.  this year we went big with a collaborative house, that unfortunately had a few structural issues.  we've already started to plan our improvements for next year.  also, my kid passed out on our way to pick up our thai takeout dinner, another new family tradition, the food, not the sleeping kid.  we got home to find that ev was still snoring, and would continue snoring until 11 p.m.  so, all christmas eve footage was literally shot from 11 until about two in the morning when we finally got her to lay down with us. cookies for santa, lighting the menorah, and presents were all done at that time.  thankfully, there were no tears this year at bedtime, and she simply obliged, unlike last year that was full of tantrums and a lot of santa threats, none of which worked.  this year, she would pop her head up, asked if we heard a clatter, or if sugarplums were dancing in our heads, and then lie back down.  oh so thankful for four!

and yes, it was what we will refer to as a 'moana christmas'

so here's a little glimpse of our christmasing...

Christmas 2016 from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

shot on our sony A6000

music:

Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
She & Him - All I Want for Christmas is You

in the christmas spirit

as we are full swing in the christmas spirit around here these days, I decided to share our christmas mini-film from last year.  I never got around to editing this until the summer, so I think it went a little under the radar on the blog.

it is one of everly's favorite mini-films of all time, I think because she's obsessed with A Very She & Him Christmas album, and also reliving the one and only time in her life she has eaten too many sweets and got super sick.  that's what happened during last year's gingerbread house building!

enjoy.
Christmas 2015 from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

shot on our sony A6000

music:  She & Him - A Very She & Him Christmas

a day in the city for christmastime

Here's our trip to the city this past weekend.

San Francisco 2016 from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

I think it's one of my favorites.

shot on our Sony A6000 - and yes, I seriously need to clean my lens filter, please ignore

music:

Louis Prima - Pennies From Heaven
A Very She & Him Christmas - "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree"

45/52

 "A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love when you correct me in the most grown up way.  When I stated that Thanksgiving was 'turkey day', because that is what you have called it all this time, you sweetly replied, "no mama, it's Thanksgiving." and I melted, in this moment. 

40/52

 "A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2016."

in this moment:

right now, in this moment, I'm in love with how grown up you seem these days. last night we were reading "the little old lady who wasn't afraid of anything," and you decided that you preferred the character in the story to be little red riding hood, and not the little old lady.  by the third page, I was 'reading' the story correctly in your mind, and read instead, 'little red riding hood'.  when you realized I had done it right, you looked right at me and said, "good job mommy." and I melted, in this moment. 

first field trip [mini film]

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to get to go on Everly's first field trip.  Since I don't get to work in the classroom like the Mr. does, it was special to get to go on this outing.  Here's our trip!

the pumpkin farm from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

filmed on our Sony A6000
song: Charlie Brown Music/The Great Pumpkin - Vince Guaraldi