Thanksgiving

Each year it is our family tradition to take a Thanksgiving Picture. Although there is always some grumbling involved, I cannot help but to look at the progression of pictures year after year and be filled with such joy. Time has changed our family.  We have grown in numbers and in love for one another.  It is through these pictures that I clearly see that my plan, in so many ways, was and is not God's plan.... and yet His plan fills me up and leads me to life abundant!

He is so Good!

Thanksgiving 2012

Our Thanksgiving holiday tradition at Shaver Lake was filled with fun.... cards, targets, baby holding, crafts, exploring, running with Josiah, and more! 

Happy Thanksgiving 2012!

Lucky Mommy!

Oh, how these sweet girls love to create little surprises!  They cooked, they decorated, they set the places.  I am the luckiest Momma in the whole wide world!

Halloween Carnival and Parade

Happy Halloween at the school Carnival and Parade! Josiah 4th grade with Ms. McPherson Adalie 2nd grade with Mrs. Durrell

Halloween 2012

Once again, Josiah knew exactly what she wanted to be for Halloween.... Princess Leah, of course! We had just watched the whole Star Wars story from beginning to end, leading to Josiah's costume idea. So I searched high and low for Princess Leah hair-do ideas and costume pictures. We finally hit the jack pot with socks!  They make the perfect Leah bun!  From there, the dress was pretty easy to recreate.

Now, of course Adalie wanted to be Princess Leah too.... until I tried the Leah buns on her!  No way, no how.... that cinched it.... no Leah for Adalie.  Thus, the Princess Leah Jedi Warrior Costume was created!  Every Princess must have a Jedi Warrior Cloak and "Life Saver"!  And of course, this cloak was made of the softest possible material to be found!

So here are my beautiful Leah girls in their handmade costumes... each with their own little personalities shining through!

Happy Halloween 2012!

Yosemtie Birthday

My all-time favorite Birthday tradition.... biking in Yosemite! Not only do I get my family all to myself, but there is something so special about pedalling through the changes of the season in Yosemite. It makes you stop and take a deep breath, something we often need to be reminded to do. It makes you count your blessings. It allows you a moment to experience joy!

My very favorite thing in life is my family.... and so it is a perfect gift each year to be given a time and place to breath them in! 

Happy Birthday to me 2012!

Daddy 29years (still), which makes Mommy 27years (still), Josiah 9years and Adalie 7years!

Cayucos

Cayucos holds so many memories for me. But one of the best is sharing it with friends. So we took a weekend with the Waves and packed in as much fun as possible. From tide pools to boogie boarding, bike riding to kite flying, sand castles to frisbee... it was a fun packed trip!

We are lucky to have such great friends (both big and small)!

Josiah 9years, Adalie and Kaiya 7years, Bladen 4years.