Friday, December 27, 2013

Birthdays at the Beach

It's not every day that we have a milestone birthday to celebrate in the family. For the special occasion we went in search of sunshine and sand for a perfect family day at the beach~

It isn't often that all of Nate's family is together so it was a special day.

When Clayton realized that Dad was photo bombing Grandpas he figured he get in on the fun too.

even the always wide-eyed little guy thought the sun was super bright...

My love and I

we got to meet the newest guy in the family...
 It's always good to see these two boys of ours who are total opposites in so many ways just enjoy hanging out together! I pray that it happens more and more often as they grow up...
 hanging out in his daddy's lap
cousin friends

as the sun sets...
runnin' through the waves with Grandpa
these two spent forever just spying and playing in the dunes...

we spent the next day enjoying a sunny Monterey...
the kids all got to hold one of the birds on the wharf...

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

November found us...






 ...studying hard so we can relax and enjoy Thanksgiving vacation.

...living in a cloud of dust due to all the orchard prep that's going on in the field across the road~I'm sayin' just plant the almond trees already!


...beginning a new tutoring program with Kate and seeing her put her heart and soul into improving her reading.

...thankful that Andrew and Clayton continue to step it up and take responsibility for their schoolwork that they can accomplish independently.
...having lunch with Nate where they spent the better part of an hour playing table football with the lids from their cups.





...hoping that the enthusiasm with which they practice their band instruments will one day be accompanied by skill as well.





...enjoying sweet fellowship of friends and family as we were once again reminded that having a small house is really lame reason to not practice hospitality. Praise God for gracious friends who come and hang out with us even when it's crowded and noisy!



...thankful that, although work is crazy busy due to moving into a new warehouse location, Nate still wants us to come have lunch with him.



...on a field trip with school friends to a local museum and mansion.







...enjoying the Christmas decorations and a break from the daily school routine.



...celebrating 14 years of being married to a man of integrity who daily chooses to walk through whatever God sets before him. So glad I get to spend my life with him!



...taking a picnic to the airport so the kids could fly with Grandpa.



...hitting the track and discovering that Evan likes to run. He ran a mile and a half, so Nathan is thinking after 13 years of pushing a jogging stroller the end is in sight.







...thankful that there is a garage where the drums can be played...can still hear them just fine from in the house!











...looking forward to the Christmas season!




Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! The word around here is they don't want dinner because they want to be so hungry tomorrow...thinkin' that would back fire on me about bedtime when they all decide they'd like to eat after all.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

I could grade math and clean out our school boxes...

I could pack up all the supplies that need to be turned in to the charter school...

I could make my curriculum list for the new charter school...

I could mop up the horrendously dusty floor thanks to the windy-day-plowing that happened in the field across the road...

I could clean up the dinner for Kate and Evan that I burnt to a crisp...

I could do all that and more but I think I'll sort pictures instead...wanna join me?

May...every year on the first Saturday in May we participate in the Walk 4 Life. Because babies whether born or unborn are important and so are their mommies and daddies. 
 
Because abortion leaves hurting women and men who need caring counselors to walk them through the grief and point them to Jesus for healing. And so each year we join many who support the work of the local crisis pregnancy center and raise funds to help them with the ministry that God has given them in our community.  


Thanks to many of our friends and family's support, this year Clayton was honored as one of the top fundraisers and was given two tickets to an event at Gallo Center for the Arts...he chose the Santus Real/JJ Heller concert and is off enjoying dinner and the concert tonight with Nate.


So proud of our girl...she doesn't love to run. She has tried the last few months. She's persevered. During her practice runs she only ever made it 2 miles. But she was determined to run with Daddy this year and run she did! He carried her carefully selected Gatorade and she finished her first 5K in 35:09 or 35:50 or something like that...

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Then there's Mother's Day
Seems like it shouldn't sneak up on me but it does every.single.year.

So glad God has blessed us with these special kids.

Can't be possible that this summer we will have a teenager...



Mom, Kate, and I...so thankful for a mom who loves the Lord, is a student of His Word, and who taught me so many practical things about how to run a home long before I really needed to know how!

Andrew and Clayton

The guy who makes this being a mom thing possible with all his help and encouragement! There is no one else with whom I'd rather do this parenting gig~
Kate with Baby Jake
I've looked at rainbow cake pictures and finally took the plunge and tried it. It really wasn't hard and I love how it turned out.


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We celebrated one of Evan's buddies 5th birthday...it was a perfect day for water play at the park. Lots of room for the kids to run and cute juice boxes turned robots by the birthday boy's mama!

Anara and Kate

We are all beyond excited that tomorrow marks the last day of school...all I can say is we made it! We had plenty of days of surviving, a few of thriving and for sure stand at the end not on our own but ONLY because God has been faithful every step of the way!!!
"He who has called you is FAITHFUL, He also will do it!"

Monday, May 13, 2013

where camo meets star wars~

I don't blog in real time...just when I get around to it. Guess that's why here I am putting up March birthday pictures for family far away...

We're always up for a good deal so when Kristen found a great deal for pizza and tokens at Funworks, we jumped at the chance to celebrate Evan and Alex together~








Gotta stop what you're doing now and then to hold baby Jake~

the birthday boys




Had a little fun with the inside of the cake

Trey got to come down and spend the night with Grandma so he could be at Evan's party





So thankful for the years God has given us with these little guys who are growing up way to FAST!