Second Christmas in Cali

The month of December was full in just about every way. Our calendar, home, fridge, and lives were packed to the brim.

While Traever studied for finals and wrapped up his first half of seminary the kids and I stayed busy with school work, park days, parties, and preparing our home and minds for the season.

An ornament making/playdate that we hosted for the Westminster moms ended up with a turn out of 9 moms and 20 little ones three years old and under + a four year old. At one point I saw a friend walk by with a baby strapped to her back and one strapped to her front. It was less chaotic then you might think. In the end everyone survived, ornaments were made, bellies were filled, and frazzled moms (myself included) got to talk and laugh amongst the craziness.

The days of December marched on and the Christmas festivities continued with Gingerbread cookies, card making, advent readings and nativity books, watching plenty of Christmas movies, visiting with the neighbors and the postman, singing, dance parties, and decorating.

Cookie making, baking, and taking

The  California weather was just chilly enough for a winter cap and a fire in the fireplace.

All geared up for damage control and excited to make and mail hand print cards for the family.

The few days leading up to Christmas day Traever's siblings began flying in from South Korea, Chicago, and New York City. All of the siblings had arrived by Christmas day and so we had a traditional family gathering and opening of presents. Our families were very generous in bringing and shipping gifts. Thankful to have such thoughtful and sweet families.

A day or two later the girls received a surprise Christmas gift from Uncle Bryce. Adalai thought that a friend was coming over so when she heard the doorbell ring she rushed to get the door and there instead of her friend was a... http://youtu.be/1eS_3egpnrY

Later she asked me "How did Uncle Bryce know I wanted a horse?!" Rewind to a month prior... I had asked Adalai what she wanted for Christmas. At first all she could think of was "to have my cousin Livie with me this Christmas" when I broke the news to her that Livie couldn't come she settled for "a horse". This 5 year old already has expensive taste! So to get a horse even for a few hours was quite the gift for her. A gift that she won't forget!

Thatcher wasn't a big fan.

Even without the babe I still got suckered into a ride.

This poor pony.

The girls and the giver of the gift.

No trip to California would be complete without a trip to the beach so the guys braved the chilly 60 degree weather and went surfing.

The kids got to have lots of tea parties and horsey rides with their uncles and aunt around. We built lots of fires, stayed up til the wee hours playing cards and watching movies. It was a sweet time together. The kids were so sad to see their Aunt and Uncles leave. They asked if we could "adopt them so that they could live with us forever".  Bryce, Blake, Torey, and Jake you are loved.

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!