Life with The Youngs: Recharging

So far so good in 2012! Both work and home are just where they need to be these days... and it's been a long long time since I've felt so at peace with all of the puzzle pieces. After 3 years of creating and figuring out Side Street Cafe (of course with lots of help!) I finally understand how to run it enough to delegate tasks and to trust the team that works here. For so long, I couldn't delegate because I didn't even really understand how to handle much of it myself.

I'm finding myself freed up to work on everything that always seemed to slip through the cracks before, which feels very productive. But more importantly, I am finding time for myself and my family. Days are still busy, and most weekends are still spent at work, but it is a great improvement, and I'll just leave it at that :)

Lexi and I ended up on a great trip to FL together to visit my mom and step-dad. It wasn't exactly planned to be there together, but she had some conflicts where she was visiting, and so I drove to the opposite coast to get her. It was pretty much the the most worthwhile 6 hour drive I've ever made! When I got her back to the West Coast we relaxed and had fun. I was just glad to have her there with me. We very rarely get to spend time together alone and we were both appreciative of every minute! Mom and John took us out fishing and on a few other adventures to Cabbage Key, local restaurants, movies, etc. A highlight was when wild dolphins followed our boat for about 15 minutes, jumping in our wake and literally coming within a few feet of Lex :) I even caught up with one of my best best friends Sara while down there, who I haven't seen in... are you ready for this?....7 years! It was like we hadn't missed a day, of course.

Lala, Me and Sari Sar :)

Kiera is basically ready to enroll in college and get her PhD. Just kidding! But, she is a smart little cookie (spoken like a true mother obviously.) She is chatty and funny and smart and we couldn't be more proud! Don't judge this photo: A girl deserves to splurge every once in awhile ;)

Next Up: A weekend trip to New York City with my bestie, A family trip to Costa Rica, I'm turning 30, and my mom is moving up to Maine to start her own shop and live in a 3-bedroom house with us all summer while we rent our house out and live next to the restaurant in the peak season. Oh Geeze!

Here's a shot of Kiki's 1st ever passport photo. OK OK and a few other's too just because!