Our fish

Pool time

So a couple weeks ago, courtesy of AFVClub, we got an amazing deal on a 2 bedroom condo in the desert for $329 for 7 nights. We couldn't pass it up...spending a whole week with the kids by a pool doing nothing. So we went.
The condo was really nice and clean and had 2 pools that were never crowded. It was a GREAT week. And Esther is officially a swimmer...no floaties by the end of the week. So proud of my little fish. (see the video posted above)

My parents were able to come out for 2 nights. The kids LOVED having their Amma and Appa around to see their new "skills."

Wordless Wednesday

WOF

The last couple of years, my church hasn't had a women's retreat, so the opportunity came for some of us to go to the Women of Faith conference down in Anaheim. Now, I am not really a conference-type of person, but I thought I would give it a go, plus it was a chance to have an overnight trip away from the kids and get to spend some time with some great girls.
Needless to say it WAS good, but still not a conference person...too many people, too much time waiting in line to pee and not as much "expository bible teaching" as I would have liked, but I still had fun. After all, how could I not, I was with 4 of my dearest friends (and yes, my mom is one of my dearest friends). We laughed, we cried, we stayed up until 1:30 in the morning. It was a weekend I will never forget.

In our "first" hotel. Long story, but to make it short, we didn't stay the night because of a plumbing mishap that allowed poo to flow onto the bathroom floor....needless to say, we HAD to find another hotel.
(Kerri, Sandy, me, my mom & Tiffany)
Sheila Walsh....amazing voice and a great Bible teacher.

Our seats were on the floor. It was a bit overwhelming. (Me and Tiff)

Not sure I will go again anytime soon, but really glad I did. :)

First Day of Preschool

I can NOT believe it, Esther is officially a preschooler. Back in September she started her first year at Inland Preschool in Calimesa. Such an answer to prayer. It's a co-op preschool and parents are required to help out in their child's class twice a month as "parent teachers". Since her school is Tuesday and Thursday and I have my women's bible study on Tuesday mornings, Steve has been helping out once a month on Tuesdays. So cool to have a dad help out and I know Esther loves having him there.
So here is a picture of our big girl on her first day.
Gideon had to get in the picture.

Meeting her best friend, Sydney in the parking lot. They are in the same class.....Lord help her teacher. :) They are a handful together.

Lined up and waiting.

Esther and her teacher, Ms. Mari. She is also the school's director. We are blessed to be in her class. She's AMAZING with the kids.

Ms. Mari reading the "Kissing Hand".

Then the mommies made "kissing hands" for our kids. Something for the kids to have in case they had seperation anxiety. Really sweet, but I'm pretty sure Esther won't be needing it. And I was right.

An unexpected trip

A couple months ago, Esther jumped off the bars at the park and sprained her ankle. It was just days before we were going camping up in Ventura with my parents and Esther couldn't even walk on her foot. We didn't know what to do. So instead of 3 days of camping , we decided to camp for 2 nights and spend 5 nights at my brother's in Morro Bay to petsit. So after, feeling a little overwhelmed for a trip so short to turn into a week long vaca, we were off. So here are just a few picture highlights from our trip.
Our first stop to meet my parents up at McGrath State Beach to do some camping.

Gideon showing you how dirty he can get.
Our home for a few days.

Even with shoes, kids can find a way to get more dirty than you thought possible.

Gideon loved blowing on spider webs and seeing them move. He could have done this for hours.

Since the water was SO cold, we found this inlet and it was perfect for the kids to splash around in.

Very cool playground on the beach in Ventura.

Our campground.

On our way up to Morro Bay, we took a side trip at stopped for a night in Buellton/Solvang area. And we of course had to stop at Ostrich Land. The kids LOVED it!!
Gideon's face is priceless.

While up in Morro Bay, we headed over to Paso Robles to check out the Olive Festival. So fun. Tons of stuff for the kids to do too.
Esther is showing off the bug jar she made. Also they were passing out olive branch crowns for the little girls to wear.

Any town festival isn't complete without a fire truck.

Esther is front of some sea otters.

Throwing pennies in the fountain in downtown SLO.

A walk along the cliffs in Cambria.

On our last day there, my brother and his family came back and while my brother and sister in law were at work, Steve and I were able to spend the WHOLE day with Matilda and Colt. Such a fantastic day...running along the beach and looking for hermit crabs. I was in heaven.

Going to get frozen yogurt with Colt. Aren't they the cutest together?

precious words

We've been noticing lately that Gideon (who rarely says momma) has been calling me Bobby. I told him to say Ammie (what the grandkids call my mom) and he said, "Ah be". It's then I realized he has a hard time saying his "M"s and they come out sounding like "B"s. So he IS calling me, Mommy, which to him is Bobby. Pretty cute huh?
And yesterday, he said the greatest 3 words a child could ever say to their parent, "I love you". Melted my heart.