Weekend Highlights

 {sleepover with some of our favorites}

 {happy birthday to emelia}

 {saturday afternoon pool fun}

 {her most perfect heart shaped face}

{family date to Lofty Bean}

 {my littlest and my biggest}

 {post-church treat with friends}

{His promise to us}

It was a good weekend, praying for a good week.

Park Day

In addition to living a stone's throw away from the Pacific and enjoying year around sunny skies another perk of living here is that we are close to family. We live close and we are close. My sister-in-laws are some of my best friends and we are making sure that are kids love each other too.

Today we all loaded up in our Sequoia and headed down to Encinitas for some of the BEST coffee in North County and to let the kids burn off some energy at the "see-saw" park. Almond milk salted caramel lattes in hand we released them on the playground. Within minutes seconds shoes were off and everyone was having a good time.

Baby Luke isn't permitted quite the freedom the other three are, but that doesn't stop him from having a good time!

As I was taking this pic above I spotted friends from school coming down the stairs...Mom, you see who it is??

Before long Jalaina and Trent had found a volleyball and she sat patiently while he played basketball with it and cheered him on. Heart melting.

Another bonus of this "see-saw" park is the fountain...on some days it's the reason I avoid this park, but today we embraced it.

{hi baby Lucy, we can't wait to meet you!}

Fun morning indeed, thank you Lord for another gorgeous day, cousins and Lofty Bean :)

The New Year

We are over half way through January and we have yet to have a day where you couldn't get away with wearing shorts. Yet as I type this I look out to see that the marine layer has rolled in and the air is cool and damp...is "winter" finally here?

We have enjoyed afternoons in Grammy and Grandpa's pool and sunsets on their deck. We have had sleepovers with cousins and sun filled days at the beach. I have finally joined Drake at crossfit and Juliana is in the full swing of recital prep. My little two are enjoying a couple of mornings a week at school and the rest of their time engaging in imaginative play in the backyard.

Today I mustered up the energy to clean the garage and hauled a car filled to the brim with outgrown items to donate. Our year so far has been good. Work balanced with fun balanced with downtime. I like this pace, it's a good one...Lord willing it will remain.

Cheers to January!

Sammy Lou is Three

Well, it happened. My baby turned three. I no longer have a toddler. I have a "big girl" who reminds me of that every chance she gets. This big girl is bursting with personality and spunk. She keeps us all laughing and on our toes.

She loves hard and plays hard.

She loves to roam free and do everything at her own pace.

We adore her.

Thank you Lord for choosing this girl for our family.

~Break~

Today is the last real day of Christmas break (sigh). We have enjoyed our time together as a family. The weather lately has been a brisk (interpret sunny with cool winds) teaser for summer and I have done my best to have the kids and I soak it up.

 {queen bee loves to sit in my chair}

{sporty girl could play all day}

{buddy is happy as long as he has a bucket and a shovel}

I know our 1800 sqf. house costs as much as a mansion in the mid-west, but truthfully this is why. I love living here. I love raising beach babies. I love the rejuvenation that comes from a couple hours basking in the sun and breathing salty air. I am sad that Christmas break is coming to an end, but happy that it was enjoyed and full of good memories.

Happy New Year

We celebrated with good friends. Watched the ball drop, popped poppers and toasted with champagne. I gave each of my babies a kiss and prayed for wisdom as their mama in the new year.  I gave my big guy a kiss and prayed for wisdom as his wife in the new year.  I pray that the Lord will give me grace as each year brings us new challenges and opportunities to grow and I pray that I would have a heart of gratitude.

We spent our first day of 2014 on the shore of the Mission Bay Yacht Club. Our neighbors are members and they invited us down to hang out and check out the new family sailboat.

It was a gorgeous day. Even though I was the only one in our family who braved the windy bay with Uncle Nigel, everyone was in their element.

 {playing catch with Brandon}

 {our dancer girl playing paddle ball}

{miss independent pacing the shoreline}

January 1st is coming to a close. My eyelids are heavy after a full day of sunshine, salty air and sailing. I am excited for 2014 and I'm hopeful that there will be many more days like this one. Happy New Year!