Fall

Since I last wrote my parents came out for a visit and we've celebrated a holiday or 2... I've found myself overwhelmed with pictures and so naturally I've put off blogging, you know so I could get even more buried... so here's an attempt to catch up!

Gram and Gramps Visit

My parents came for a week and I somehow managed to only take 2 pictures. We had a good time showing them our favorite spots La Jolla, Oceanside, the Safari Park, and our neighborhood pool.

We made it to the beach a time or two...

And we made it to the park quite often too. The kids had a great time running around while I chased them with my camera. (Christmas card picture time)

Their laughs are my favorite.

Holding Thatcher back from charging at me.

Lately it's rained more then usual so we've had a good excuse to have some lazy days at home...

Adalai has continued to grow up crazy fast.

The cutie with the polk-a-dotted back pack on is our Adalai on crazy hair day. It's still strange to me that she is in elementary school, but she is doing great and is loving it all.

Remy continues to be our spunky silly girl. 

 

We never know what she is going to do or say next.

Thatcher, Thatcher, what to say... our irresistible and fun little monster. 

All he needs is his sippy and he'll whip up some soup real quick :)

He likes putting things "away". He shoved a little wooden puzzle piece into the grill of the van. It took the whole family to get it out.



He's Daddy's best/worst study buddy



He's such a stinker, but we love him!!!

Us

Since I last blogged Traever and I had our 10th anniversary which makes me feel like we are now officially "grown ups". It's strange looking at how we have both changed over the past decade and where God has taken us. When we got married 10 years ago I wouldn't have believed it for a second had someone told me that Traever would go to seminary or that we would live in California. But here we are and I'm so thankful! So thankful for the work that He has done and continues to do on us. Thankful also for how God specifically uses Traever to work on me... he is without question the most sanctifying tool in my life but also one of the greatest graces that God has given me. I've learned/am learning a ton from him- thinking through my thought processes, getting over my people pleasing, to enjoy the simple things, to laugh more, be creative and thrifty, to be a joyful giver, a faithful friend, how to have a hospitable heart/an open home, to relax, to seek to know God, to know and be able to defend truth, to play music loud, to live in the knowledge that all things are passing away but His word will remain forever and our souls as well... He's a pretty swell guy and I'm really blessed to be his.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has become a favorite holiday of ours. I love that it forces us all to think and thank... a pattern that I hope becomes much more common to my brain! We didn't make it back to the Midwest to celebrate but we were able to have a dozen of our seminary friends in our home. We had 2 turkeys with all of the fixings (thanks to some friends), stuffing, potatoes, chocolate bourbon pecan pie, pumpkin pie, and of course frozen pizza for my man who loves Thanksgiving but just can't handle the food... crazy. Around our table were friends from Canada, Ireland, Alabama, Missouri, and Virginia. I completely forgot to pull my phone out for pics that evening so I don't have any of the group but the below pics were snapped by a friend. We ended up reading "Squanto and The Miracle of Thanksgiving" a children's picture book. It wasn't something that we were planning to do but since we had a few internationals among us it got pulled out and I think it's something that we may actually continue to do in future years... it's a pretty amazing historical account about the providence of God and His care for His people. I love Thatcher and Elizah in this picture... clearly they are loving it.

Since Thanksgiving life keeps marching on. Christmas is just around the corner, but that's going to have to be for another post another time!

Livin' the dream

There was a little girl who was asked, along with the rest of her kindergarten class, to stand up onstage in front of fellow students, teachers, and parents and tell them what she wanted to be when she grew up. The principal started making her way down the line and the little girl stood in place listening to each of her classmates "A doctor... a teacher... the President of the United States... a fireman... the President of the United Sates... and then it was her turn, without a thought she said, "a Mom" the whole gymnasium erupted with laughter and there she stood bewildered, did she say something wrong?!... at least that is how I remember it. I was that little girl. I have no clue what my thoughts on motherhood were at 5 years of age, besides that I thought it was an occupation. I'm guessing I didn't realize that it would take endless effort to be a good one :). Or the fact that motherhood uses the skill sets of nearly every occupation that was mentioned that day- that there would be times that I would have to diagnose and doctor my kids back to health, or that I would spend decades teaching them everything from potty training to the basics of English, how to share, how to respect authority, how to read, how to make a bed, how to make friends, how God and the gospel changes everything, how to forgive, and how to love well. That I would have to govern and be a judge in my home and decide what "laws" should take precedence, what battles are worth fighting, and what discipline is fair. That I would have to frequently rescue my children from danger (mainly the danger of themselves), and the list goes on. The task is limitless, the responsibility terrifying, but the pay off is worth dying for. As my kindergarten self would testify I do get to do the very thing that I dreamed of. I get to be a mom and now that we are in California I get to be a full time mom without the pull of a Real Estate career. Of course I am human and there are times when the dream feels more like a nightmare... when there are nights upon nights of interrupted sleep, poop explosions, diaper rash, whining, food throwing, and screaming, wall drawings, ungratefulness, selfishness, and loud tantrums that make me want to break down and have a tantrum myself, and at times I do. But I'm thankful to have a perfect heavenly Father that somehow forgives me and redeems those moments of my own foolish selfishness and in the moments of my children's- He has equipped me with everything I need to navigate, discipline, and encourage their hearts and give them hope in the blood of Jesus the Christ who is able to take away the reproach of their sins and restore peace and joy. My soul... remember this!  

All of the above to say... Motherhood is a worthwhile occupation, it comes with great purpose, and it is an incredible gift.

Since we've been back out west here is some of what we have been up to

Starting the morning off in the best way.

Adalai started Kindergarten at The Classical Academy which provides 2 class days and the other 3 days she is home schooled.

Adalai's first day of Kindergarten at home and PE at the pool!



Remy is right there with her every step of the way ;)



Below Adalai's first class day in Mrs. McNiff's Kindergarten Class. She's such a smart little thing and is loving it so far!

Traever has been doing an awesome job of taking study breaks with the kids. He's always quick to remind me how fun our little ones are. I'm thankful for a husband that is such a good Dad to our children!

When we're not doing school or spending time with Daddy we're busy doing normal things.

It seems like we grocery shop a lot.

Yep, totally normal.

And doing our best to seize these sunny days.

Adalai swinging at our favorite coastal park in Del Mar.

Remy and Thatcher at Carlsbad beach. Our Remy is such a California girl.

Exploring Balboa Park.

And Birch Aquarium in La Jolla which was small, but definitely worth it.

They had a huge variety of sea horses.

The view from the deck there isn't too bad either :)

Remy, Thatcher, and I have spent a few afternoons strolling through the Safari Park before we pick Adalai up from her Class Day.



It's a pretty fun place to have a picnic.

This baby cocakatoo and my baby Thatcher were so cute squawking and staring at each other.



Or we hit up a near by park to burn off some energy. Below was one such day at Dixon Lake.



 It's been anywhere from 80-105 degrees since we have been back from Illinois. So definitely pool weather!

And when it does rain it's a gentle shower that nearly always results in a rainbow which we can usually see from our street. The midwesterner in me thinks it's pretty ridiculous. I mean this is right!?

And the other part of this Midwestern girl longs for chilly autumn days, to look out the window and see our huge oak trees changing colors, bonfires, and cook outs with family and friends. But for the time being this is where our good Father has placed us and I am so enjoying this concentrated time that He has given me with our youngsters. It's been so refreshing to simplify life and just be with them. Soon enough these seminary years will pass us by. I'm cherishing these times!