Summer is in Session

 This Summer I set about our plans very intentionally.  After the epic summer move of 2016, I craved fun and activity to fill our days.  I felt like we missed so many parts of the previous summer, I was making up for lost time!

 We started exploring the neighboring city of Riverside. There are orange groves and a small museum and fruit stand. The fresh fruit was delicious and we had no idea this much land existed so close to us.

 Grandma Donda moved down the street so Anthony paid her a visit. Grandma Ray has been visiting her on a regular basis.  Unfortunately, her facility is deemed scary for the other kids. It's not how Ernie wants his kids to know his mom, so they haven't gone. She does get excited to see the boys and it is what it is. Mental health issues are real and scary and life changing.

 We started Nessa back in swim just to freshen her skills. We felt like there had been too few swim days the summer before, so just in case. . 

 She excelled, and even started learning how to dive.

 Mikah's baseball team made it far in the playoffs so we traveled a bit to watch him.

 And then they played, because that's what kids do in the summer!!

 Our first smores at the newly built fire pit. They did not disappoint!

 And of course in June we celebrate Dads. Ours is pretty fantastic so he deserved to be celebrated and served on Father's Day hosted by us in our newly landscaped yard. The yard has been such a blessing to us. My dream of hosting and entertaining has come true!

Alan, Dad, John, and Ernie

 My Dad and his kids. We are the best parts of him, he says. We are blessed to have him and on this day, it was nice to serve and celebrate his role in our lives.

 A visit to the Bowers Museum was in order to check out the Freida Khalo exhibit. Wow!  What a woman she was. It drove us to read a biography and watch the movie about her very interesting life.

 This guy turned 16. Crazy to think 4 years ago we barely knew him--and now he truly is like one of our own. CUB-cousin, uncle, brother. He fills each role with ease. He is such a good kid, I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for him!

Party time with the family and his friends celebrating the teenager who could be on his way to getting his license.  That is just crazy! Time is going so fast!  Here we are mid year--and I am barely documenting it eight months later. Time stops for no one. The kids are getting older. So are we!

Catch Up

There's this lull that is occurring.  A calm before the storm, so to speak.  As we finished up the school year, which I still have a ton to write about so we always remember, I was struck by the absurdity of planning a vacation a mere day after the kids were out of school.  It felt crazy to leave after a week of mere craziness and festivities.  Truth be told, it was!  As relaxing as the beach eventually grew to be, the prep felt haphazard, unorganized, and messy.  Those are not great working conditions for me, so it was a struggle to let go and let loose.  But when I did?  What a great week with another family we love.  How awesome were the kids laughing, and playing games, and frolicking in freezing cold water!  It was a vacation to remember.  Actually this will be a summer to remember.  More details to follow, but first I have to catch up.

Summer Mourning

Our new favorite quiet time activity.

Life in between our four walls is seemingly good, quiet bursts of busy followed by gaps of rest.  It feels like summer at its finest.  There are little glimmers of the brokenness that surrounds us with outside influences and forces, but life for the most part is well.  I am such a feeler.  I feel all the emotions all the time and this summer has been no exception.  My littlest one is growing up right before my very eyes and there have been so many lasts already: last first tooth, last time needing her floaties, last time learning to ride a bike. . .it has been quite the adventure!

And yet, sometimes in the quiet I mourn what our extended family used to look like.  I mourn the loss of E's parents, although here physically, their minds are broken.  I mourn the relationships I've watched wither and die.  I mourn those I know living lives that are unauthentic and lack joy.  I mourn these things yet I have so much hope for our future.  How could that possibly be?  My hope in God erases all the brokenness.  It reminds me that one day all my tears will be turned into dancing.  He has taught me not to sacrifice my confidence on the altar of comparison.  He has made me believe that He is all I need.  And I do.

Our gallery wall grew with handmade creations this summer: brave and hope.

Sometimes I have no words to write because I am so caught up in the emotions this summer.  I'm all in for the first time in a long time.  There has been no preoccupied mind needing to make summer workshops, or teacher planning meetings, or set up a classroom.  Those days of teaching are done and I am one hundred percent fully okay with that.  I found my passion: my family.  They give me purpose and that is enough.  No, I'm not going back to work full time just because I have a kindergartener.  I teach around my kitchen table. Seven children whom I have grown to love.  I get excited on my teaching day.  The hour flies by and I am filled with joy because I get to do this: to stay home with my littles and work just enough to practice what I know I am good at.  Life is beautiful.  Like I said before, what happens in between these four walls is pretty amazing.

Theater Camp 2015

Lene Bean had the opportunity to participate in a camp at a local theater this last week.  At first she was nervous, but by Friday she was sad that it was over.  They culminated their week long program by being a part of the chorus for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  It was a fun show that the whole family enjoyed!

Summer Storm

It's not often that a summer storm rolls into California.  With the drought in full effect, we thanked God for the blessing of the wet weather.  I was even more happy, that it was clear for church and then sneaked back in later in the day.  We were missing daddy who was working hard in the areas that were most effected by the downpours...but again, thankful he's home safe and sound and able to tuck the little ones in bed.

Saturday's Storm. . .

Rain Testing during Sunday's Storm

Sewer Stroll

Before the storm rolled in again. . .

Lat Night Snuggles with my Snugbug

A wet, weary, humid weekend. . .but perfect for reading and relaxing!

Friday Five

Summer is in full swing over here.  I don't know what I was thinking, scheduling so many swim lessons, eye doctor, ortho, dentist, and hair appointments within the first two weeks!  To say our schedule has been a little hectic is an understatement but those summer nights make up for it!

1.  We took the train to Olvera Street.  It was quite the adventure with a variety of personalities on the metro.  It was a people watchers delight but then I wondered why we just didn't drive. . .I had to keep telling myself the experience for the kids was worth it.  And I must admit, the ride back when Ernie was playing the guitar and singing to keep people away from us was hysterical.  We were all nearly in tears!

The food was not nearly as good as I had remembered, but again. . .it was all part of the experience.

2.  Swim lessons are in full swing.  This little lady has the same private instructor that her sister and brother had.  I can tell that this is the summer.  Her confidence and coordination are going to make her a swimmer. I'm sure of it.

3.  I started a new bible study this week.  I am going through the book of Proverbs.  Getting up and digging in to the word by myself has been good for me.  I think as much as I miss my on line study and the girls at church, sometimes you just need the silence of your heart and His words speaking their peace over you.

4.  We've been spending a lot of time over at my parents.  Sometimes it is just a quick visit to give papa something to look forward to.  The kids are learning how just the gift of their time can mean so much to the elderly.  I am reminded that my kids will always have the memory of their great grandpa because we make time.

5.  We had some pretty crazy weather but I think it was just an opportunity for God to remind us of his promise.

Friday's Five

1.  School is officially out!  Bring on the summer days!

 2.  Promotion for this guy.  High school years are upon us.  Wow.  Just wow!

3.  This handsome boy got braces.  He looks so much older to me.  He is so much older, ten. Fifth grade in the fall.  Time does not stand still for any one.

 4.  This one enjoyed her first full week of summer by sleeping in. . .our bed of course, but she savored the slower mornings, and truth be told: so did I.

5.  All of the kids did well this year: this guy received an award in reading and perfect attendance.  Anthony made honor roll, so did Lene with straight A's.  I'm very pleased with their effort, their achievements, but mostly their attitudes and the kindness they have shown to others.  Now if only, they could keep it coming to each other!

Weekend Wrap Up

What's better than ending the first week of school with a sleepover?  Lene and Layla, friends since kindergarten, got to hang out and spend their first Friday with a three hour park play date, swim time,  followed by pizza and droopy eyelids at 9:30 pm.  That kid is welcomed to sleep over any time!  Ha!

After they cooled off in the pool, this was my view from my upstairs window.  They were listening to music and talking.  It kind of hit me pretty hard that my little lady is growing up!  She will be choosing her people over her family sometimes and that's even more of a reason to keep her close and keep inviting her friends into our little world. 

This weekend we tried to unwind after our first week of school.  It was the perfect excuse to stay close to home and hang out with the cousins. 

I can't believe that I took no pictures of Nessa and Cadence.  Saturday morning when I asked Nessa if she wanted to see her cousins, she asked,"Is Cadence going to be there?"  This prompted me to text my cousin Jen and then led to an impromptu barbecue.  The girls hadn't seen each other since the fourth of July!  And we live in the same city.  Eek!!! The ease of the barbecue coming together felt a little bit like summer. . .the kids had a ball! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!  Even Papa stayed out on the patio with us for a long while.

Grandma's tetherball court saw a lot of action and kept the big and little kids totally entertained! I love when the weekend is a great mix of relaxing and productive.  I love encouraging family time and that feeling I get when I see my kids and their cousins close and able to count on each other.