one for the memory books.

Good memories wash over me in a warm embrace. Sometimes while we are in the midst of creating one I stop and reflect, I know years from now these are the type of moments I'll draw on and remember as sweet times when the boys are little; the work involved in making it happen, the packing and preparing, the shelping...how it's all worth it. Every second just to hear the excitement on Caleb's face in the car as we head out, his chit chat in the back seat about where we're going and what we're doing. Lucas' happy sway as he walks, his babbles and sing song voice. D and I at the end of the day after babies have been tucked in and are sleeping soundly. Pillow talk, how we say "today was a good day, a perfect day. I'm glad we made it happen" And I smile knowing we are carrying on old traditions mixed with new, re-creating our childhood memories and giving new ones to the boys. Passing down traditions and knowing that the boys too will grow up with a sweet, sweet childhood. Just as our parents did for us in making it happen, we too will do for the boys. Late last night as we drove under a full moon and a dark sky I remembered many car rides tucked beneath the same moon as a little girl, feeling safe in the seat between my sisters in the backseat and the quiet hum of my parents' voices in the front. My prayer is that the boys will look back one day on car rides and camping trips, hiking adventures and beach days, baking in the kitchen and backyard exploring, and remember the sweetness that is childhood. I feel so blessed to be in the midst of creating our family memories.


from our weekend...

On Saturday we went hiking near Santa Cruz  ( (Pescadero, Sam McDonald Park); the drive along the coast was just gorgeous and hiking deep in the redwoods was so peaceful and breathtakingly beautiful (I've missed our hiking-felt nice to be back)

This morning we went strawberry picking  at Gizdich Ranch after church. The boys helped pick strawberries and Olallieberries.  No words to describe how simply scrumptious they tasted!!

On our way to our hiking spot Saturday, we stopped at a goat farm. The boys loved seeing the baby goats and trying out some of their tasty jam and cheeses they had on the farm.

                                                                              Goat Farm

 

 

 Hiking

 Caleb was so excited to Hike. It was pretty sweet. He ended up walking for a lot of the hike which was nice because D put Lucas on his back and Caleb and I just held hands and walked along slow and steady :)

banana slug!

 

Berry picking

 Lucas kept sneaking in samples of the berries (he managed to sample a lot of dirt too)

 (caleb was such a helper picking all the berries. He was really into it this year)

 

a few other pics from my phone and a couple videos..

Saturday morning

 headed on our adventure

 hiking

playtime

 goat farm

 

 

berry picking

 

This weekend was the perfect way to welcome summer.

hope your weekend was full of good fun too.

happy friday!

dancing video (you can click on that link to see the boys having a dance party)

so, so, happy today.

sometimes it takes a really hard day, or hard afternoon, to put things into perspective. Sometimes it is that little voice at the end of the day that says "you'll try again tomorrow" sometimes it takes feeling defeat and discouragement to force you to turn it into something positive; to find joy and to have fun. sometimes it takes learning from your mistakes; (from not being as patient as I should and would like to be...to remind me to pray and ask for strength and for patience). The Holy Spirit really does give us  Grace and Patience when we seek Him for it.  

 

I love our Fridays. We're home and we're happy. Our mornings are slow. We do our 'letters' (songs, stories, and word play) we play barefoot in the backyard. We take walks and see construction sites and working crews (big excitement for little boys) we take naps and then play some more and then the weekend is upon us as we wait for dad to join us.

 

I love spending my days with these two little boys of mine.

 

some moments...

caleb "hey mom...car. C A R. 'c' 'c' 'c' (sounding out c sound) I spelled car. me "oh wow you did spell car, who taught you that?" right now, caleb's super fascinated with letters and their sounds and words and making every letter sound and then saying what letter the word starts with and then trying to write it.  This is such a fun age!

 

lucas is obsessed with trains (this is not an understatement) he loves putting trains together and pushing them around and making their sounds. He stays busy with this activity for a long time! I love watching him play. Trucks and cars and construction vehicles are also high on his interest list. I'm pretty sure his first word that was super clear was dump truck. He's saying so many words and babbles out convo with us so much now. Another really fun age!

 

Despite the torrent of fights that have been happening a lot (hitting and biting included, sadly) and the frustration that comes along with all that (we are always working on using our words and taking turns) I still try and focus more on their best buddy moments instead of the frustrating fighting moments; I just adore the way the boys take care of and love on each other. Lucas wants to do everything caleb does (including wearing his underwear) So while at old navy yesterday getting them some summer clothes; caleb wanted a green outfit and lucas came over and wanted to choose one too, he chose orange, then caleb puts on a red hat and lucas insists on putting on a red hat too. I'm constantly laughing (or deep breathing) as they go from best buddies to enemies in a matter of minutes. When they are best buddies it is so fun to watch. They really do have so much fun together. Each day I'm ever so thankful for them and what they have in each other. They will always have one another and for that I feel so blessed.