Dating my boy

When Mackenzie was little we started dating our kids. 

Every few weeks (sometimes more, sometimes less) Aaron or I take one of the kids out on a Mommy or Daddy date. 

Just us and one kid. 

one. kid. 

It's so good to be able to have them all to myself. 

To hear everything they have to say, to go slow (or fast...oh the things you can do with only one kid), to soak them all up and enjoy every last bit of them.

This year Wesley and I have been spoiled because every Thursday we have 2 whole hours all by ourselves while Mackenzie is still in school and my mom has the littles at her Bible Study.

It has been so much fun to hang out with my biggest little man every week. 

Every Thursday he runs out of his class with a giddy smile to ask what I have planned for the day.

Usually we go out to lunch 

or I pack us a lunch and we go out for dessert. 

Sometimes we go on a bike ride to the park (or Yogurtland...my fav). 

I don't think Wesley stops talking the entire time. 

He has a lot of say and I love hearing all of it.

Sometimes we will run an errand together (you guys I forgot how easy it is to have one kid. Especially one who can walk, and buckle and unbuckle themselves and obey instructions...well most of the time). 

The one thing I have learned is that it does not matter what we do, he thinks it is the best day ever because we are together.

Just the two of us.

It's one of my favorite parts of the week too. 

Cliffs Notes version

Hey strangers!

I've been meaning to get back here for a long time.

It just seemed like so much has happened and I didn't have the energy to write a looooong boring recap post.

So I'm just going to stick with a cliffs notes version.

Here's goes...

1. Kenzie turned 7.

seriously how do I have a s.e.v.e.n. year old?!

Don't tell her I still haven't done her birthday blog post yet, ok?

2. We bought a cabin!

in Big Bear (our local mountains!).

It's so magical there (especially in the snow).

We rent it out on airbnb if you ever want to come for a stay. 

3. White Collar

Our new favorite show. If you are looking for a new series to start, it's available on Netflix.

4. I've been painting in my free time. I forgot how much I love it. 

5. I got the best Christmas present ever!

(oh I also got bangs)

 Me and my Madson bike are BFFs. 

6.  I really really want to read the Bible all the way through this year and I'm super excited about my new journaling Bible.

7. Our best friends are moving to New Zealand in just a few days. It's been so hard to try to say goodbye but we are so excited for what God has for them there.

8. This is my life. Trying to sew (or fill in the blank) while 2-3 other things at the same time. Today it was pinning and play dough tasting. Motherhood=multitasking 

9. Aaron and I got to go to Hawaii (kidless!) to celebrate our 10 year anniversary which meant sleeping in, uninteruppted conversations, enjoying water without worrying about anyone drowning and hiking without anyone complaining they were tired. But we totally missed the kids. 

10. We got a puppy!

Her name is Roxy and she's an Australian Shepherd.

I love her and I hate her at the same time.

Just kidding I love her, but puppy training is no joke people. 

10. I miss you all! And this little blog. Hopefully I'll be blogging more than once every 5 months.

See you again soon! 

Maddie and her friend

You guys. 

Madelyn is obsessed with the pretend people at Old Navy. 

And every other store.

Aaron is kind of embarrassed by it but I think it's hilarious. 

I have to practically peel her off of them when we are ready to leave

What can I say? 

She is just a lover. 

Even to pretend people. 

Happy Tuesday friends! 

Hope you have something silly to put a smile on your face today. 

Yosemite 2014

Yosemite is our family's spot. 

I think I would go as far as saying that it is my favorite place in the world. 

There's just something so magical about it. 

The trees, the stone, the animals, the streams and fresh mountain air. 

It's definitely God's territory.

This year we decided to visit Big Sur before we headed to Yosemite. 

We made it all the way to San Louis Obispo by breakfast time.

Aaron and I are big fans of leaving early. 

Like really really early (think 2:45 am). 

We decided to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium on our way up to Big Sur as well. 

It was amazing!

Our favorite exhibit was definitely the jelly fish. 

I never knew there were so many different varieties and all of them were so interesting and beautiful. 

What a cool Creator God is! 

He sure came up with a lot of interesting animals.

Monterey seemed to be a really neat town. 

I wish we had more time to explore there (I did get some tasty clam chowder though!)

We met two of our close family friends in Big Sur. 

Those redwood trees are awesome. 

These two. 

I can't even handle it. 

I'm pretty sure we will show this at their wedding slideshow one day. 

Little cuties on a big tree. 

After a couple days in Big Sur we headed to Yosemite.

I think this was one of our best trips yet. 

We spent lots of time in the river, 

riding bikes, 

and going on hikes.

The kids claimed this area as their island and spent hours imagining and exploring there

We visited the nature center and learned all about animal poo (among other things)

picture perfect

Oh and we saw a bear!!! 

Like rode right by him on our bikes.

our gigantic biker gang of bikes

Our happy place

Hasta Luego Yosemite! 

See you next year!

I'm back! A peek at our week

Hey guys! 

I guess I needed a little blogging sabbatical because I sure took a long one.
Whoops! 

I feel like I should give you a proper recap of our summer with pictures and lots of details but I might need another sabbatical by the time I was done. 

So here's the quick recap. 

It was full of a whole lot of fun and a whole lot of crazy. 

We did swim team, park days, lots of vacations (June Lake, Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Big Sur, Yosemite) and lots of little things in between. 

In fact we almost checked off our entire summer fun list.

And now the kids are back in school! 

Which has posed a whole new kind of crazy (2 days a week I have 5 drop off/pick ups)!.

Mackenzie started first grade,

Wesley started kindergarten,

and Madelyn started preschool.

How and when did my kids get so big?! 

All the kids love their teachers and school but I think Madelyn won the prize for most excited. 

She really really wanted to go to kindergarten with Wesley but she settled for preschool and she loves it.

Is it just me or has going back to school been a big adjustment? 

My kids love school but they come home crazy. 

Like a mixture of energized but tired and not getting along. 

We have been in school for a week but it feels like it's been a month. 

I think I'm still getting used to them being back in school too. 

And making lunches. 

Uggg...making lunches! 

If you are a mom you need to read this book. 

so good! 

we took the kids to their first teppanyaki experience.

Kenzie and Wes loved it! 

And Maddie and Hudson were totally freaked out when the guy lit the food on fire.

My kids are super clumsy.

Someone is always hurt so our boo boo bags get used frequently. 

I've had it on my to do list to trash the old ones and make new ones (i reused the combination of rice and wheat berries inside).

I love checking projects off my to do list. 

A few days a week I take this bad boy (full of kids plus more kids on their bikes or scooters) to school for drop off/or pick up. 

I'm pretty sure I'm known as the crazy bike lady. 

Madelyn has a crazy love for mannequins. 

It's so funny. 

I think it may need it's own blog post. 

My cuddle bug. 

He's never far from me. 

We planted our fall garden. 

And I got to help throw a shower for this cute lady! 

I love babies!  

Growing up Aaron's dad took him out to breakfast before school on Friday mornings an this year Aaron started the tradition with our kids.

They think it's the coolest thing ever. 

I think my hair had a growth spurt.

I swear it grew a foot since I straightened it last (which may have been months ago!)

A special superhero cape for a special little boy who is now in the arms of Jesus. 

We survived the first week of school so we got pedis to celebrate. 

My church just started an 8 month theology class. 

I feel like I'm back at Biola (my college) and I'm loving it. 

Finished pic of the fall garden. 

So, how have you guys been??!