Currently...

Once upon a time I was a mom with one child. She carried a lunch containing organic chicken and vegetables, fresh berries and raw almonds to preschool. She wore perfectly coordinated outfits to run errands and we napped together in the afternoons. Today I am a mom of three kids, managing education, sports and their ever growing appetites. 

Today it was just the girls and I at Costco. Samantha was rocking yesterday's ponytail and spilled the sample of cashew milk down her leg (she's not exactly the grin and bear it type). While quickly walking to the next sample station to retrieve a napkin for the said cashew milk crisis, Juliana stepped on the back of my flip flop and broke it. It was then I saw them. The answer to the "I'm hungry" ten minutes after lunch, the uneaten organic food I currently packed in their lunches that went to waste, my own laziness and exhaustion prevailed and I caved...I bought Uncrustables. 

The earlier me is fully judging the current me. Good thing the current me couldn't care less.

Currently going on in our household.

{sofia puzzle in the center of the kitchen}

{fall baking has started}

{my go-to for fall and winter cooking and baking}

{the. best.}

{i was 18, she was 19, we were in spain, crazy how time flies}

{cooking + vino while husband and kids are at soccer practice}

For those curious...A couple of years ago Laurie made a recipe book for Kelsey and I. It's a compilation of favorite family recipes, photos and stories. The recipes are fantastic, but it's her perspective and sense of humor that is the real gift. While I use this book year around, fall and winter is the time the book becomes a mainstay on my kitchen counter.

Tomorrow night Drake and I are sneaking up to Disneyland for dinner and few rides, kids are having a sleepover at Grammy's. The rest of the weekend will involve soccer games Saturday morning and friends over for football on Sunday. Hopefully lots of lounging and maybe another batch of pumpkin cookies are also in store...we'll see. Happy weekend and happy fall friends!!

Livin' on a Prayer

{literally our theme song}

This past weekend we attended yet another wedding (5th one in 9 months). During the cocktail hour Amanda (my best friend and neighbor) and I were mingling with a few guests who were engaged. Having just recently gotten married, Amanda was lamenting with these brides-to-be about the planning process of a wedding. One of them turned to me and the conversation went something like this. 

her: "what was your least favorite part of wedding planning?" 

me: "honestly it was awhile ago, I couldn't even tell you." 

her: "oh really? Like how long ago?" (tone very skeptic)

me: "almost 12 years ago"

her: "oh...wow...um congratulations, any advice?"

me: "laugh a lot and pray even more"

Laugh a lot. Pray more. Life is hard. Marriage is work. Parenting is exhausting. Laugh a lot. Pray more.

Oh yeah... this wedding was in Palm Springs and there was a pool in the center of the reception area. Cannon ball!!!!!

{we laughed a lot that night}

Sammy Love

She keeps us on our toes, but boy oh boy does this girl love hard. She squeezes and kisses and holds your face in her little hands and tells you just how deep her love is. 

 "let's do work together because we love each other so much"

"you should take me to work with you because you love me so much you will miss me if you don't"

"Mama, I love you as much as I could love you all the way to the moon and all mixed up together"

And I love you as much as I could love you all the way to the moon and BACK all mixed up together my sweet girl, so much so it hurts. Please don't outgrow telling us how much you love us, it makes our hearts soar.

Boys Away, Girls Will Play

Can anyone else besides me relate to this??? Moving on...

This weekend Drake took Trent to Dallas for a boy's weekend of sporting events and a couple of meet ups with family members and old high school friends. Not to be left out, the girls and I had a little fun of our own. Juliana spent the greater part of the weekend with my mom. They scrapbooked the first night and the second night Juliana was "grandma's helper" while my mom watched Luke and Andy for Sarah's birthday.

In the midst of all that the girls had their first soccer games. Check out that little peanut on the end.

 {Mighty Mermaids}

{she scored for the other team, still has no clue}

That afternoon Sammy and I went over to Laurie's to enjoy her air conditioning and pool, Kelsey drove up to join us. Over Greek food and champagne we caught up on life. Have I mentioned how blessed I feel that we live so close to family???

On Sunday I challenged Jules with finishing her school work so that we could sneak up to Disneyland on Monday. Challenge accepted.

 {chucks + castle + clouds}

{toon town fun}

 {minnie's kitchen}

 {girl time}

 {chocolate dipped marshmallow + fall decor on main street}

 {she LOVES the characters}

{"papa said we have to get ice cream"}

My girls are tucked in, my boys are flying home. Samantha starts her last year of Mom's Day Out tomorrow (sob). I'm fighting the urge to finish off the ice cream in the freezer. It was a good weekend. Today was a good Monday. 

Lastly, some random things that brought me joy last week...

{first pumpkin spotting at tj's}

{this in my backseat. those lips, those lashes, i can't}

{the intensity this child loves me with}

{plugged nose + pointed toes}

Photo Dump/Blog Resurrection

Confession: I had a pipe dream of updating you all on the past year in photos...but my computer nearly crashed when I tried to upload all 1,593 photos (oops).

So you'll have to settle for a quick written update of the past year and a photo dump from the past MONTH.

November 2014~ the entire Sammons family minus Grandma and Sammy were taken down by a horrific stomach flu the week before Thanksgiving. The only thing to be thankful for was kicking off the holiday season a few pounds lighter. Amidst the intermittent chills and hot flashes looser pants somehow didn't feel worth it though.

December 2014~ Christmas was wonderful. The kids did the scripture reading at our candlelit Christmas Eve service. Sammy wasn't wearing shoes and managed to flash the congregation, but she didn't set the place on fire so all in all it went well. Aunt Kelsey got married New Year's Eve and the whole family was in the wedding.

January-February~ had to cancel a weekend getaway to Vegas, Sammy had pneumonia and Drake traveled a lot for work.

March~ Bon Voyage! We headed to New Zealand to see Grammy and Grandpa who live there six months out of the year. We had the time of our lives. Lots of adventure and cherished time with family. This trip will be a favorite memory for forever.

Oh yeah, also in March we took the kids to Spring training. Even though it felt like we stopped at every bathroom between Carlsbad and Phoenix, my neck still got peed on while Trent attempted to urinate in a cup while I was driving in the middle of the desert. True story.

April-May~ finished out our school year strong, took advantage of warm days at the beach before the summer crowds flocked in.

June~ Our girl turned 9, sigh. We had a party involving nail polish, popcorn and Sprinkles cupcakes.

July~ Juliana attended her first sleep away camp. Drake and I headed north to Seattle to celebrate Grandmom's 90 year's of life. She passed in late June. We had an incredibly blessed time with family.

And now we've come full circle here's our August and early September in photos...

 {post beach ice cream trip: THE BEST}

 {Buddy braved the high dive this year}

{readers are leaders}

 {river trip 2015}

 {sometimes the ordeal of a family river pic doesn't feel worth, but it always is}

 {palm springs night swim: our fave}

 {amanda's bridal shower}

 {the first brown eyed boy to steal my heart}

 {soccer season begins}

 {her very own spend the night with grandma and papa}

 {amazing how much doesn't change in a year}

 {sleeping companion when daddy's away}

 {first and fourth grade}

 {new beds for the girls}

 {the happiest day of his life}

 {best friends get married}

 {crazy love i.e. you drive me crazy but i love you more}

 {sunday snuggles}

 {happiest place on earth}

 {strolling with minnie}

 {potential christmas card}

 {happy hearts}

 {magical}

 {jungle cruisin'}

 {sammons family reunion}

 {original 6 + grandparents}

 {"i'm on the injured list"}

 {guilty pleasure: champs + gilmore girls}

{these were a steal, hoping to hit up a country concert in october...sigh, wink, dad?? tix??}