Thursday, May 23, 2013

Cute?

I love how this girl is so different from my boy.  She just does things differently.  Who wants to sit and read a book in a normal position?!?


And of course when she goes poop at nap time, she has to take her diaper off and paint herself, the floor and the walls with it.  Seriously gross.



Music lessons

Starting them out early!


A full-sized viola is just about the right size for a miniature cello for Nate. :)

These two





I get to be their mommy.  

SO blessed!!


Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Yosemite trip

This past weekend, the fam and I headed down to Yosemite for a visit.  My goal was to see the waterfalls in full swing, and man, did we ever!  We got there on a Thursday night and set up camp in the drizzle and hoped for sunny skies the next day.  We were blessed and had a gorgeous day on Friday to hike the "Mist Trail" seeing incredibly beautiful and majestic sights along the way.  Hiking 8+ miles though carrying a 2 or 3 year old though is becoming more and more strenuous!  We all slept well that night.  The next day, we took a "Waterfall Biking Tour" of the valley and enjoyed sights of Yosemite Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.  It was a wonderful camping trip!

My big helpers, setting up camp

Rain hats

Start of the hike


Preparing for the mist (drenching mist) from the waterfall

Vernal Falls




Nevada Falls




Do you see my little family up at the top of the falls? 

Water is amazingly powerful!


On the hike back the round about way.  


Panoramic shot






On the way back down...


Playing around at camp





Last day, biking and hiking to check out other falls in the valley


Our lunch stop at Bridal Veil Falls

Biking back past El Capitan...


...and lots of greenery...

...and Yosemite Falls.

Joe is so awesome and strong to pull both kiddos and all our stuff for the day.  

We will return Yosemite!  

Too fine, 2-9

With my 30th birthday being only a few weeks out, I've been getting sentimental about being in my 20's.  I mean, the change of a decade is a milestone!  I am embracing being in my 30's.... people have said its some of the best years of life... but I am also sad to be leaving my 20's where so much life change has occurred!  But I am also grateful for every year, well every day I have been given.  Life is a gift!

The number 29 has stuck out to me this past year and has turned up in all sorts of places....







But on pondering this turning of a page, I think to myself about all the memories that I have had and all the memories that are to come.  But the question that comes to mind in all my crazy adventures is: "What have I done with my life that has eternal significance?"  Because really, that is all that matters.

But you know, significance is not always in doing the huge extraordinary things.  It can be in a simple hug for my kids, making a meal for a friend, or loving my husband well.  I read a poem recently that was written in 1904 by Bessie Anderson Stanley that I think is beautiful in portraying success....


He has achieved success
who has lived well,
laughed often, and loved much;

who has enjoyed the trust of
pure women,

the respect of intelligent men and
the love of little children;

who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;

who has left the world better than he found it
whether by an improved poppy,
a perfect poem or a rescued soul;

who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty
or failed to express it;

who has always looked for the best in others and
given them the best he had;

whose life was an inspiration;
whose memory a benediction. 

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Early spring

Yep, its official.  Spring has come to Tahoe.  I didn't want to get all my hopes up, cause... well it snowed in June last year... and the year before.  But there is no denying it.  Spring is here!


Mother's Day weekend

I had a busy but wonderful Mother's Day weekend.  I am so blessed to have two beautiful loving children and an amazing husband. 


My hubs arranged a chair massage on camp site to surprise me!  It was heavenly.  


Then the fun was getting to go White Water Rafting on the American River!  We had a sweet babysitter (and her sweet mom) watch the kids overnight at their house and we headed out to raft and then camp for the night with an awesome camping ministry outside of Coloma named Rock N Water.  SUCH a blast!!!!






I actually wasn't feeling very well on Sunday, so I stayed home from church to rest up while Joe took the kiddos to church.  Then that afternoon, Joe and Chloe planted a couple rose bushes for me in the backyard in the flowerbed we have been working on.  We actually buried Chloe's placenta that had been in the freezer for over 2 years!  TMI?? Sorry, TMI.  


 But this wouldn't be a complete Mother's Day post without mentioning my amazing mother.  She is always supportive, sacrificial and encouraging and loves to be involved in my life and my kiddos lives.  I appreciate you mom, for all that you have done and all that you do and who you are.  I love you!