Fall Festivities

Marking the passing of time with traditions....and a few new things.

The pumpkin patch.

Grandpa's birthday.

Livi's taking a gymnastics, ballet, and tap class.

Doughnut making with Grandma.

Sarah and Sammy made an incredible haunted house.

Trick-or-Treating with friends.

The happy cowgirls.

Sarah's 14th birthday.

Tickling the littlest!

The annual Sarah-Grandma birthday bash.

Back To School

Its not all fun and games.  But it sure is a lot better to do "school" out in the world!

Science class at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum.

Math is almost tolerable with popcorn, candy corn, and a apple cider chaser.

Sarah played on the first ever Trinity volleyball team.  So fun!

Keepers group -- knitting, candlemaking, jamming, pie baking, and more.

History co-op at the Getty Museum.

Playing Catch Up......Again!

Late summer fun with cousins and friends.  

The Aquarium of the Pacific

Livi with Grandma and Grandpa

My four treasures

Connor and Max jammin in the garage.

Livi and Gabby -- two little fish.

Olivia Is Three

We started the "Three Year Old" celebration with a trip to the 

American Girl Store -- unfortunately without the camera.  

Grandma, Nana, Sarah, Livi, Paul and I drove to the Grove and shopped and had lunch.  

Livi got a Chinese bitty baby and named her Mei Mei (little sister in Chinese).

The next day -- her actual birthday -- Livi got her banges trimmed for the first time at the big girl salon!  Followed by dinner and cupcakes with some friends and family.

So cooperative!

Riding her new trike

Blowing out the candles

Pushing Mei Mei in her stroller -- love the hand on the hip!!

The Girls In Wyoming

Sarah, Livi and I had the opportunity to spend a long weekend 

with our dear friends in Wilson, Wy.

Such a beautiful time!

Livi and Caleb on the pond

Sarah and Kendall about to go on a trial ride

Relaxing in the hot tub

Erin and little miss sassy pants!

Painting the scenery

Loving the playhouse

Cruising the pond

Connor Is On His Way

He left from LAX this morning to go to Zurich for a week of fun with Auntie Pam, Uncle Markus, Nickolas and Julia.  

Then he is flying to Czech Republic to meet up with a group from our church.  They are going to Trinec, Czech Republic to lead a group of almost 50 10-14 year olds in an English speaking VBS program.  

We are so excited for this opportunity for him.  Trusting that God will have a big impact on the children and the team.  

We are going to miss him a lot!!  

The house is going to be much quieter without Connor around  -- no drums or electric guitar for almost three weeks.......

As we drove home from the airport I was thinking about not having to remind him to pick up, turn his socks right side out, take care of the laundry, etc.

Really starting to miss him, you know?    

We pulled into the driveway and opened the garage door and found -- 

Vintage Connor!!

Amps left out, mic on the ground, 

chairs not put away, guitar left out.

YEP, WE REALLY ARE  (really, truly, all joking aside) GOING TO MISS HIM.

Fun 4th!

I usually forget to take pictures during the festivities.  

I did get a few before things got started, though.............

Sarah and her badmitten skills.

Daisy relaxing before her nervous breakdown.  She doesn't care for fireworks, firecrackers, or any other loud popping noises.

 Hanging out....

Firecracker princess

Love watching big kids swing!

They like watching, too!