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??}

Karen...This Post is for You

It is 90 billion degrees in Carlsbad right now and I'm dreaming about a Tahitian sunset, white wine and my family gloriously happy swimming in a pool that spills effortlessly into the ocean.

Last weekend Drake and I attended the wedding of an old friend and much to my surprise I found out my lack of posting was a disappointment to some (cough Karen Krause). Sooooooo, I'm gonna do my best to get back on this blogging train.

For all those curious, the Kellas family is good. We still homeschool, we had a great summer and the photo above was taken during an extended layover in Tahiti while we were en route to New Zealand this past March. Trent broke his wrist last week and the girls have both started soccer. Drake and I still continue to be amazed that God entrusted us to parent these three crazy amazing kiddos and we pray daily for wisdom as we raise them.

Photo dump of the past year to come. Stay tuned...
~Lisa