Throwback Thursday

 So we just started a new school year last week. FOURTH and SECOND grade! Where or where did my babies go?! Seriously. Time just goes faster and faster. I want to freeze time. But God didn't leave me that ability. He did leave me with the ability to soak up every minute of their childhood and to appreciate them as individuals (and the ability to take a ridiculous amount of pictures).

These pictures below are from last year when they started THIRD and FIRST grade. This was the first year that BOTH kids went full day. Now I have 2 weeks off still of work in between their first day of school and my first day of school. And I remember being so bored that first day when they were at school all day. I mean what was I to do? I had no one to clean up after. No one asking me if I could get them juice. No one asking me to play a game with them. No one asking me if they could watch a t.v. show. No one. It was bizarre. But I found different things to do to occupy my time while counting down the hours that I got to see them again.

 And that takes us to this year. And yup. Here I sit, still bored, with no one. But I will say it's been nice to have quiet mornings knowing that they love their school, teachers, and friends. And I get to do things that are productive... like blog ;)

Abby did miss her first day of second grade due to a fever. She was bummed but willed herself better just in time for the second day.

We are all looking forward to this school year. Lots of learning and growing to be done. I am so thankful that I get to be a part of their education by volunteering and making a difference in their lives.

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 ;)

Throwback Thursday

Today we going back to November 2012.
Imagine this. On the road for 14 plus hours. Two kids. And a dog. Sam and I have the open road ahead of us. The radio on, singing our tunes. Arriving in Colorado excited. Tired. And in need of some peace. Even if it's only for 5 minutes ;)

My dad lives in Colorado and every year we either try to make it for a summer camping trip or Thanksgiving.
This past year we made it for Thanksgiving.
My dad is a simple man. He didn't care that we stayed in our p.j.s most of Thanksgiving Day. Or that I fed my kids sugar cereal every morning while on vacation. Or the fact that all we really wanted to do on vacation was nothing. He just was happy and thankful that we were there. And the same with us. It's a breath of fresh air from our busy body lifestyle. To slow down and enjoy the little moments that happen.

We played a lot on this vacation. In the backyard. It was a welcomed change to just hang out.
Looking at all these pictures though makes me realize that I need to convince my husband to get on the other side of the camera once in awhile ;)