Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Wow a year has pasted since I have updated anything here on my blog.

This past year has been a fun one full of adventures and lessons and growing and memories with friends and family.

It has been a year full of creative meals and projects (thanks to Pinterest).

Even Danny is getting creative building things we find on Pinterest 

God has been teaching me about submission and obedience and waiting on His timing.  It has been good but hard at the same time.

 

As a family, we watched God provide for all 4 of us to travel to Uganda.  We fell in love with the people we met and our hearts broke saying goodbye.

Beautiful friends at Jireh Children's Center

We ventured out on new adventures as a family, like visiting Washington DC for the first time, going on a safari in Africa, discovering a new favorite spot in Yosemite.

We had fun being tourists in DC

On our safari we saw elephants, lions, hippos, crocs and God's creation

First time to Glacier Point in Yosemite and saw the Blue Moon there.

Our family celebrated 12 years of being established with a yummy treat.

7.8.2012 = 12 years married to my best friend

The boys began a new year of school, excited to see their friends and to learn more.

We don't know what lies ahead in this adventure but we know that we will travel it together having fun and trusting God to guide us.

Family Blessings!

This past summer we headed to Colorado for a great time.

It had been too long since my whole family had gotten together.
We were only missing my brother for this reunion.

 

 Family is a wonderful treasure that nothing can compare to.

My family begins with my Mom & Dad.

They celebrated their anniversary of 46 years this past summer!

Aren't they cute?

 

 How do people make it in life without Sisters?

Even though there are many miles between us that does not change that they are there when I need a friend to talk to.

To add to the blessing of sisters is their families.

My Brother always makes me laugh. 

He was missed by all of us.

 

(Picture from previous reunion)

I had so much fun with my Nieces. 

I got to do all sorts of girly things with them like their hair, paint their nails, make bracelets and taught them about how to do makeup.

Nephews are so much fun too.  

They are full of character and energy. 

The boys had a great time with the boys.

After a great time with my family we continued on to meet up with more family for some more adventures.

The boys love watching and helping Aunt Tara at her barrel races.

 

We enjoyed a day out on the lake with Uncle Robert's boat.

 

Grandparents are full of love.

My boys are blessed to have many memories with their grandparents.

I have been especially blessed on top of this great family to have Danny as my Husband.

We celebrated 11 years of marriage this past summer!

And enjoy living life with our 2 Sons.

I Love My Family!

New Season Ahead

This week our family began a new season.

The boys started back to school.

2nd & 3rd Grade.

Did you check out the boys new kicks?  

They were so ready to wear them, Cole waited almost all summer till he could wear his new shoes.

I am so thankful that my boys love life 

and have fun where ever they go.

Our 2011 Summer of Adventures is now behind us but we are looking forward for more adventures to explore this school year.

Taking a Step

Last weekend I spent it with 3 fun and talented girls at a photography workshop.  Something I have wanted to do for awhile.  This is a picture that I took that afternoon of one of the girls, I played with it a little and ended up with this:

As I am looking forward there are many paths in front of me and to be honest right now I am a little overwhelmed because I want to travel them all.  But I am seeing that it just is not possible.  So I can continue to wait here and debate which path to journey on or just take a step and see where that takes me.

So here I go I have taken a step and will keep going allowing God to guide me on a journey that will be a great adventure!

"Each morning let me learn

   more about your love

   because I trust you.

   I come to you in prayer,

   asking for your guidance." 

Psalm 143:8 (CEV)

Thanksgiving Snow

Here are a few pics of what we got to enjoy at Thanksgiving in Colorado while visiting my parents.

We had a blast inside and out.  

Be ready for more especially how California boys sled down a hill....

November 1 is a GREAT day

8 years ago on November 1st Cody came into this world to make a difference and it started with me.  I was 22 when he was born, married for 2 years, just graduated college, in a new city and a new mom.  This boy has rocked my world and given me a joy that I think only a child is capable of doing. 
This year for birthdays we are not doing parties with friends to celebrate but are celebrating with family.  We decided to celebrate Cody turning 8 by going to Disneyland (passes for Christmas is a great thing that lasts all year long).

If you haven't figured it out November 1st this year was on Monday and the boys had school.  We took the boys out right before lunch time and let Cody open his gift from Cole before we left for the park.   

They have had a lot of fun playing laser tag everyday after school since getting this.  Smart brother getting Cody something he gets to play too...

We parked on the Goofy level and well that about explains both of my boys.  Cody's favorite color is green and we found the row 8 and check out Cody's idea for a pic.

Cody did get to open another gift in the car when we parked - mostly because we did not want to carry it around all day with us.  But Danny had this great idea to take a backpack with us and put Cody's gifts in it and let him open them at random times in the park.

 The one above is taken while we were in line for the Pirates ride, one of the boys favorite rides.  The picture below is taken on the island.  The boys had a great time exploring the island.  Cody loves to read so he got a lot of books for his b-day. (easy to carry around the park)

 

Here are the a few of the boys just having a great time.

 For dinner Cody wanted a Monte Cristo.  We had gotten reservations at the Blue Bayou which is inside the Pirates ride to find out they only serve the sandwich at lunch time.  So we went over to Cafe Orleans and while we waiting for dinner Cody opened his cards from family across the country. 

 We had a great time celebrating Cody's 8th birthday but more importantly I think he felt special and had a great day too.

I love you Cody and am blessed to be your mom!

Student of the Month

If there is anything that you should know about me is that I am NOT a morning person.  I want to be and have been doing good this school year, but mornings are not my best time of the day.  I think it has something to do with waking up with so many headaches that I prefer to just stay in bed and go back to sleep.

So when I do not get a good night sleep due to smoke alarms going off at 3am (everything was fine, it was just the batteries), and when a sweet little boy of mine can't fall back asleep until he crawls into bed with us, I typically need to sleep in and take my time to get up.

But that was not going to happen yesterday morning after the night I just told you about because I had an assembly to go to at 8am.  Okay so really it was 8:15 but we had to drop the boys off at 8.

The day before Danny and I were informed that Cole had been chosen as the student of the month from his class and was going to be recognized at this assembly.

So I got up grabbed my camera and was proud to watch Cole receive his award for KINDNESS.

 Here is Cole and his friend who also received the award from his class

 Cody watching for his brother - it was mix match day for red ribbon week

 Cole with his STUDENT OF THE MONTH

Way to go COLE

So after I took this picture of Danny and Cole another mom asked if I wanted her to take a picture of the 3 of us.  I told her NOPE I don't want to be in a picture... (I had just thrown on a sweatshirt and sunglasses planning on going back to bed, which never happened)  Later when I picked the boys up I explained to her that I am not a morning person and was not feeling good.  She just laughed at me.

So there is not much in this world that I will get out of bed when I have a headache and did not sleep the night before, but my boys are for sure something to get up and support no matter what I feel like.