los angeles – Page 17

Being Spontaneous with Toddlers Means Being Prepared!

Posted on March 11, 2013February 24, 2016 by Jennifer Fontaine

As most of you know, the little peanut and I started the LA Mommy Hiking group almost a year ago (crazy!) and we hike, weather permitting, every Friday, with an amazing group of moms, toddlers and infants!

The winter in LA is the rainy season and it seems as though for the past few months, when ever there is a chance of rain it mysteriously falls on a Friday! In a lot of cases, drops don’t even fall, but by the time we figure out that the skies aren’t going to open up on us, everyone has already made alternate indoor plans.

Like clockwork, this past Wednesday mister weatherman was predicting an 80% chance of rain on Thursday and Friday. We were so bummed because we had plans to go with a bunch of friends and their babes to the Huntington Library, a gorgeous botanical garden, on Thursday and that morning the sky was ominous, so we opted out. It didn’t rain a single drop! Arg!! So, when we awoke Friday morning, we were firmly fixated on making it to the top of some LA mountain trail! After a few hurried texts, we had company!

At the trailhead, the blue skies reaffirmed our decision was the right one, soon after the sprinkles started.

Conquering Middle Earth

We all looked at each other and smiled; Nothing like a few raindrops to add charm to a hike! The kids ran ahead screaming and laughing, pretending they were in a jungle, scaling the slippery, mud-soaked walls of the trail as if they were tigers and the rain came down a little harder.

An umbrella came out to cover our youngest member and a few looks were exchanged between moms. The temperature was dropping and a small river was starting to run down the trail. It was time to turn around, but of course the kids had no intention of doing a U-turn! Just as we were trying to coax the kids down the mountain, I looked down to discover little dime-sized white things falling on my black turtle neck shirt. I was dumbfounded. It was hailing! Seriously?? I picked up the peanut, threw her in the ergo, much to her dismay, took a few pictures for posterity sake and we high-tailed it down to the warm safety of the car!

Luckily, I brought along the peanut’s down-filled, waterproof jacket and had two changes of clothes in the backpack, so no toddlers were harmed in the making of this story!

Sometimes, it’s hard to take the chance and go out and do it “even if”, but when you do it can lead to some of the best memories and the greatest of adventures (just make sure you’re prepared for anything!)

I’ll leave you with this picture of the aftermath of The Great Los Angeles Hail Storm of 2013 taken by my friend and colleague Marci Liroff! The look on her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Juma’s face says it all!

“I guess we’re not in Kansas anymore Toto”

Let the Terrific Twos Begin!

Posted on March 4, 2013February 24, 2016 by Jennifer Fontaine

It’s that time of year again when we celebrate the most beautiful thing that has ever come in to our lives! This past weekend was our Peanut’s 2nd birthday!

The past few weeks have been a deeply reflective period for me. I’ve found myself searching for solitude, eager to remember each moment of the last two years, thirsty to cherish the present moments as they occur and inspired as I look forward to all the new and exciting things to come.

Being a mother is a hell of a roller coaster ride. The ups are full of laughter and wonder, admiration and fascination. The downs are full of counting… to ten… and then counting to ten again. I see more clearly the opportunities to grow and learn more about myself. I’m striving to become a hoarder of patience and to master the ever-present balancing act to protect while encouraging exploration.

Being a wife makes being a mother easier. With the childhood memories of my mother raising me alone (with the help of my grandmother), my admiration and awe of all single parents out there has grown exponentially. Having a partner to take over when I’m exhausted, to share the happenings of the day with over a glass of wine, to exchange glances with when we realize again for the bazzillionth time that we created a little human being who we have the honor of watching before our eyes develop her own personality and make her own choices; It all makes me love and appreciate my husband in ways I never had the opportunity to before.

Being a mother makes being a daughter more precious. My mom and I have always been best friends. It’s possibly an offshoot of the fact that she was a young, single mother, but more probably because she’s an open, outspoken, truth-filled and fantastically fun human being. Watching her adoration and unconditional love for our daughter is one of the most beautiful things to witness in the world and sharing with her my new found wisdom while learning from her wealth of knowledge has brought more depth and love to our relationship.

For me, Vivienne’s birthday celebration is not only a chance to rejoice in the grace and light and love that she brings to us, but it is also a time to praise all of the people who continually enrich and enliven our lives!

Photo Booth fun!

We love you little peanut!!!

[Family Volunteering Series Pt. 2] Teaching Tots the Importance of Environmental Stewardship

Posted on February 18, 2013February 24, 2016 by Jennifer Fontaine

I’m a firm believer that modeling is the most effective way to teach my daughter responsible and respectful behavior. I don’t always succeed. I lose patience. Then, I take a few deep breaths and continue on my ever-evolving quest to act as I wish to be emulated.

There’s no question that being a mother continually pushes me to examine and improve my own behavior and I am always looking for positive and fun ways to allow my little peanut to experience the grace of caring for Mother Nature. After a quasi-successful Heal The Bay Vencie Beach CleanUp last month and a almost 3-week ordeal with a sick toddler, we were more than ready to jump back in to the swing of things! Cue TreePeople!

TreePeople!

We have hiked passed TreePeople‘s compound on a popular trail here in Los Angeles countless times and I have been looking forward to the time when Vivi would be old enough to participate in their great nature programs and volunteer opportunities.

Tree People’s first planting project in 1970 was led by visionary 15-year-old Andy Lipkis. Their mission for the past almost 40 years has been to inspire, engage and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, making it safe, healthy, fun and sustainable and to share the process as a model for the world. How inspiring!

I was SO in!! Fellow mommy hiker and partner in crime, Megan was, as always, IN too with her little man! I couldn’t WAIT to wake up, pack up the fam and trek out to gorgeous Calabasas to help expand native habitat along Cienega sin Nombre (No Name Creek) and in the valley preserve to protect our animals and birds.

Not a bad working environment!

What better way to engage small people in environmental stewardship than to give them a pile of dirt and water!

Vivi & David preparing the soil

It was a splendid way to spend much-needed family time together while teaching our babes how to work together to complete a task! My hubby also did a blog on our TreePeople adventure!