eight and ten (picture heavy)

This February Abby turned 8 

Her request was a Frozen themed party

(seems to be the party trend this birthday season)

the birthday girl at school

Her birthday happened to fall on the school's annual "Artist Fair"

a cake decorator came to the class and personalized a cake. just for her.

party day!! 

tissue paper garland is the best. cheap. easy. cute.

the party was complete with a runway show

seriously! CAN'T BELIEVE that our baby is 8!

and then... our first born turned 10!

it was Sammy's turn for the "family" party

so it was early morning presents

followed by dinner and presents at Karl Strauss (his choice)

can you spot the PHOTO BOMB

me and my boy 

(don't know what happened to the picture... looks like i have something on my lip)

Now I seriously can't believe this boy is TEN! a WHOLE DECADE! ugh! can I please oh please freeze time!?

Santa Barbara Part 2

I wanted to dedicate a post of our trip to our little munchkins.
These two have such a special relationship and I pray that it will only grow stronger as they get older. That they continue to love each other, to protect each other. Just as they do now.
As a mom I feel sometimes inadequate, that these two precious lives deserve so much more than what I have to offer. But them I am reminded by the grace of God that they are exactly right where they need to be. They complete me and I complete them.
This weekend Sam and I received nothing but praise about our children. How well behaved they are. How polite they are. How cool they are. How beautiful they both are.
Every one telling us these things overwhelmed my heart with joy that we are doing the best we can and that our best is good enough, more than good enough.

They had such a blast being at the wedding. Eating. Playing. Dancing. And the next day might have been even better in their eyes. We were beyond grateful that the bride's father offered an invitation to us for a catamaran boat ride. The kids mostly hung out right on the nets to look down at the ocean beneath them and to feel that fresh ocean air.
Looking for sharks. Not spotting any sharks ;)
Looking for dolphins. Nope, no dolphins.
But Looking for seals. YES! SEALS!! and cute seals too ;)
Their sense of wonder amazes me.

Our kids rock.

Santa Barbara Part 1

This weekend couldn't have been any better! We took a weekend trip to Santa Barbara to celebrate our dear friends Molly & J.C. exchange their wedding vows. Abby was their flower girl so she basically got us in to all the cool extras ;) From their rehearsal dinner to the catamaran boat ride the day after the wedding, we all had a blast celebrating this union!
The weather was beautiful.
The company was fun.
The wedding was absolutely breath taking.

Between Sam and I, I think we took somewhere around like 500 pictures. wow! These are just some of my favorites. I will be sharing more from our trip, there was just waaaaaaayy to much to squeeze into on little post.

I really think I left my heart in Santa Barbara. That town has my name written ALL over it ;)