family day in monterey

pizza my heart for lunch with my guys.

 these are my favorite kind of days. surrounded by my boys; all of us together.

 we spent the afternoon by the beach, riding bikes on the bike path. Then home for a movie night. The best kind. All squished together on the couch. Giggles from the boys and my hand tucked in dave's, warm and strong.

 oh how I love them.

  a little Costco stop on the way home of course.

 It was crispy and cool, a gorgeous fall day.

Memories made and cherished for always.

Noah Samuel

Noah, You are almost ten months old. I haven't done a monthly update with you like I wanted to, but that's okay. I still love and cherish your sweet, chubby cheeks, and giggles just the same. If Caleb is our tender hearted child, and Lucas is our joyful child, well then you Noah Samuel are our adventurer and brave child. You are constantly following your big brothers around, trying to keep up. However I think they'll be trying to keep up with you before too long. You get knocked around-a lot. But it seems that the rougher it is, the more you find delight in it. Already you're right in there, wrestling your brothers down. Laughing with delight. You are constantly searching and finding treasures around the house, to eat of course. You're a blend of looks and personality between your two big brothers, however I can tell, you'll be making your own path, no problem. You are curious, love eating everything. We gave up giving you mushy food because you just want what we eat. You sit and eat like a horse (and between you and I, I think you eat more than anyone else, but that could be that most of it ends up on the floor) You go along with the flow of sometimes a crazy schedule and you're fine with that, as long as you're nestled next to me in the ergo. You like to be on the floor exploring just as much as you like to be in my arms. I can't believe you're almost one. I haven't been able to sit and savor you as much as I want to, but that doesn't mean that I don't savor those rare moments when it is just you and I in the house and all is quiet, your head nestled in my arms, your toes crossed, your lips suckling, and your eyes drifting shut as sweet slumber takes you. I love you so much sweet Noah Samuel.

 

 

Love you always.
Mama.

Our rainbow

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:3

 Where do I even begin? I have been mostly sticking to family days and trips on the blog these days; not sharing too much here about the boys in specific details as much, because as they get older I want to protect their privacy if that makes sense? But this has been on my heart for some time and I want to share a little bit here. These past couple years have been full of sweat and tears; changes and adjustments that have hurt and stretched us, all in good ways. We've learned and grown right alongside our sweet oldest. It seems as though after some heavy rainstorms, some drizzles and sprinkles we're standing under this huge, brilliant umbrella and it's raining down colors on us. It is full of color of every kind. Bright and brilliant just like our shinning star. When we started out on this journey we had no idea what a wild adventure we would be in for, isn't that what parenting is? A wild journey full of heartache and triumph. But more specifically when I look back at our early baby days into our stretching toddler and preschool years (for C and us) never could I have pictured us here..in TK. A five year old who isn't just surviving his first year of school, he's thriving. In a class that feels like a warm cocoon each week I visit. Each hour I get to spend in his class with his amazing teacher who is so special to us; I feel as though God handpicked her just for us, for this year. What a way to start off the school years. I look back at all Caleb has overcome, with so much stacked against him, and I look at how he's blooming; right before our eyes. He hasn't had it easy and yet despite that he's shinning. His teacher is creating a  reading group of about 5 students (out of 27 students) who have a very strong phonemic awareness and are ready to begin reading, they have some of their vowel sounds mastered and are ready for the next step.  My heart is happy over this because Caleb loves books. Sitting down with his teacher for parent-teacher conferences and hearing how well across the board he is doing makes me so happy for him. It isn't just about how bright he is or how sweet and compassionate he is, because this we know. It isn't even just about how much he adores his teacher and loves school and learning, It is about the fact that God is showing His strength though all of this through our greatest weakness. In Caleb's areas of weakness, in mine. In our dark murky days of not having a clue of how to navigate the meltdowns and the nights of crying and resisting sleep, He knew. In the long days of soothing a fussy baby and not understanding what was going on with my sweet toddler to finding out there was something going on, to figuring out a way to pay for private occupational therapy and how to get there, from diet changes to specialist visits...He knew. God knew He would be glorified in all of this. That Dave and I would grow closer to each other through it. That I would become a better mother for it. That Caleb would grow and develop even greater strengths because of how hard he has to work. God knows our hearts. He knows what we need, even when we ourselves don't know. This 5th year. This first year in TK. It has already taught me so much. About who we are as a family, about putting aside all my preconceived notions and fears and watching as God shines through Caleb. He's making friends, he says hi and bye and plays with his sweet classmates. I spied with my little eye Caleb and a little girl in his class holding hands all around the play yard. Running, happy and free. Fresh little faces with so much potential. Each morning I pray over the boys, but especially over Caleb for his day at school, away from the safety of home. I pray for protection over him, for wisdom and discernment and knowledge of right and wrong, Courage to be a good helper and a kind friend. I pray scripture over their precious little bodies, and we sing songs from Klove.

"Spent today in a conversation
In the mirror face to face with
somebody less than perfect
I wouldn't choose me first if
I was looking for a champion
In fact I'd understand if
You picked everyone before me
But that's just not my story
True to who You are
You saw my heart
and made
Something out of nothing"   FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI He Knows My Name
Yes He knows our Name.

I made my castle tall
I built up every wall
This is my kingdom and it needs to fall
I want You and no one else
Empty me of myself
Until the only thing that's left is
More of You
Less of me
Make me who I'm meant to be
You're all I want all I need
You're everything
Take it all I surrender
Be my king
God I choose
More of You
Less of me
More of You   by Colton Dixon
More of you Lord.

HE KNOWS, HE KNOWS
EVERY HURT AND EVERY STING
HE HAS WALKED THE SUFFERING
HE KNOWS, HE KNOWS
LET YOUR BURDENS COME UNDONE
LIFT YOUR EYES UP TO THE ONE
WHO KNOWS
HE KNOWS  Jeremy Camp


From the day You saved my soul'Til the very moment when I come homeI'll sing, I'll dance, my heart will overflowFrom the day You saved my soulWhere brilliant light is all aroundAnd endless joy is the only soundOh, rest my heart forever nowOh, in Your arms I'll always be foundMy love is YoursMy heart is YoursMy life is YoursForever    From the Day by I Am They

I'm marching out of the doubt into trust
Out of the me into us
No turning back, no turning back
No turning back
I’m falling head over heels into love
Leaving regret in the dust
No turning back, no turning back
No turning    No turning back by King and Country

Oh how these songs speak to my soul, into the deepest hurts, the fears deeply hidden, the pain buried. Out of it comes sweet, sweet joy. And to hear my little angel boys in the back seat singing right along, well, my heart can't get much fuller than that. My prayer for them is that they'll always know... That with God all things are possible, because He loves us most of all.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

Caleb sweet firstborn of mine. You have taught me more than I ever could have imagined. God placed you in my arms and life has never been the same. Thank you for teaching me what it is to give selflessly, to love with abandon, and to protect fiercely. What a journey we have been on and I can't wait to see what else it will bring. I'm so glad God blessed us with you.
Love you. Mama. 

Big Sur Half Marathon in Monterey

We did it!

 

It feels so wonderful to be done after months of hard training!! This was my favorite race that I've done so far. The route was gorgeous. The runners and crowd and music all along the way made for a great atmosphere. Running it with dave (ahead of me of course!) and my running buddy made it a perfect race. I felt strong the entire time which was really great after having a flat line on my first half marathon. I think it was the box of raisins I inhaled before we started, the four gels that I sucked through the race (even carrying one in my sports bra at one point) and keeping fueled up on water and Gatorade from my pack (which I didn't have for my first half). I learned from the mistakes from my first half marathon and it felt so great to not just get a better time for this race, but to also feel like it was a good,strong run!

Dave finished in 1:48:44 I finished in 2:03:08  (3 minutes faster than my first half marathon; but an easier route this time) (Dave finished 7 minutes faster than his goal time)
The average finish was 2:25 for female and men's average finish was 2:08 (pretty cool to be above average for men and women!)
For Hollister Dave finished #1 and I was #5 ( #2 for women; missing the #1 women's spot by 8seconds) There were 25 Hollister runners.
I am so proud of dave doing his first half marathon and getting such a good time, and here all along he thought he could never go long distance and was just a sprinter. I know God's having a good laugh over all this.

race weekend (family day and race day in Monterey)

Anyway our legs are so sore today but we're smiling and feeling happy. I felt so thankful while I was running, for a healthy body, for strength, and for family who watched the boys and those that couldn't make it who still encouraged us and rooted for us. When I run I feel so much gratitude for the Lord's creation and running along beautiful Monterey staring at the ocean, well let's just say I was in my happy place with good songs playing and the pavement on my feet. I still can't believe here I am, finally considering myself a runner. So, I thought this would be my last half marathon...but now I'm thinking it won't. I would do that race again in a heartbeat. It was a gorgeous day, and such a fun race!

thanks for babysitting nani and poppa!!!

It's a happy Monday and a Happy Birthday to my sweet hubby too :) I love you more each day. So blessed by you.

Welcoming November

The first weekend in November has been crisp, cool and rainy. It officially feels like fall.

The boys had a blast trick or treating (rain and all) and loved their first basketball practice. Settling into everything cozy for fall. Some pictures from the weekend.

 those baby blues.

 enjoying the rain

 skyping with family before heading out to trick or treat

 failed attempt at a family photo!

 **our nut free Halloween consisted of a trick or trade. After the boys trick or treated I had a huge bowl of safe treats for them that were nut free, gluten free, dye free etc. With some fun little Halloween things like glow in the dark spiders and bats. They traded their candy one by one for my special bowl. It worked out really well this year. (They were allowed one special treat that night) In the future we might do a trick or trade for a toy or something like that.

 first basketball practice.

 

It's their day too   Love this post!! After some hard and exhausting moments with the boys I could really relate to this! Life with three little boys! It's sure is an adventure!

Fall 2015! Halloween fun.