California

We headed out to California last week for my sister's wedding.  We made it an extra long trip so we could see friends, family and soak up some sun.  We even made it to Disneyland!  It was wonderful to be back to the place we love and lived for two years!  It was the first time back since moving back to Colorado in August.  It was waaaay too long!  When we first arrived, both Thomas and I agreed that the next visit would come much sooner.  Summertime for sure!

The wedding was beautiful!  Kevin and Marissa did a great job and I'd say the highlights were getting ready beforehand with the girls and dancing!  Uncle Martin had some great moves to Gangnam Style.  Too funny!  Oh, and Aubrey and Katin and Lila looked pretty darn cute!  Tutu's were handmade by our own Becky Kinney.

Seeing friends was such a treat.  They made us feel so loved and encouraged when they made it a priority to come and see us on Sunday.  The kids enjoyed a little egg hunt and Thomas and I got to catch up with some great friends.  I'm so thankful for the friendships we made while we were there and how they continue to grow even now.

Going to the beach is always a must!  Walking down to Three Arch is one of my favorite things to do in life.  Walking to shell beach, trying to get through the third Arch and touching black rock are never to be missed.  The girls love it down there and Katin especially had a great time.  Pure joy!

And then there's Disneyland!  Grandpa came with us and he was such a trooper (nothing less to be expected).  But he rode all the rides and walked the entire day without taking a single nap :)  He loves his naps.  If you ask Katin, her favorite ride was "yo ho yo ho a pirates life for me!"  She loved the two big dips and can't wait to go back in a few years and go on Splash Mountain (with her arms up).  If you ask Aubrey, her favorite part was seeing Tigger and Pooh.  She couldn't contain her excitement as we approached.  She just loved seeing all the characters.

Our days at Three Arch, Huntington, and our "old home" were spent well talking with family and relaxing by the ocean.  Couldn't have asked for a better vacation!  Although it was busy, we still made time for company naps and glasses of wine.

Seeing so much family and friends reminded us how loved we are by so many people.  It's never enough time!

they just make me smile

My girls.  They make me smile.  Especially recently since they have become better buddies.  I catch them actually playing together sometimes!  It's really sweet.  And one thing they have enjoyed doing this week is playing with the puppets.  They walk around using cute voices talking to each other's puppets and making up weird names for them.  Aubrey always wants to be the monkey because she likes making monkey sounds.  It's always a happy moment around our house when I see sisterly love.  Makes me think of Becky....MOVE OUT HERE PLEASE!!!

It Finally Snowed!

We've been waiting a long while for the perfect sledding day.....and it finally came!  These two are so darn cute!  They loved it and can't wait for more snow so we can go sledding again.  Daddy on the other hand is still sore from pulling them back up the hill about 25 times :)  What a good dad!

This was Aubrey's first time in front...a little more timid for sure.  Oh man did they fly!

Detroit

Thomas got a surprise gift at Christmas....a flight to Detroit!  Actually he got two tickets.  One for him and one for his smoken hot wife.  Nice vacation, right?!  It was actually.  Let's be honest here mom friends...how nice does it sound to sit inside an airport without anyone hanging on you or needing you or climbing on you or talking to you?  Pretty nice, I know.  So this trip was sort of a vacation for us.  Despite the destination, it was such a great little getaway for us.  (Sidenote- as I am typing this, my sweet little Aubrey is throwing a pillow onto my head)

So about that vacation.... Detroit has not been on the top of our list of places to see, like Mount Rushmore or Maine or New York City have been.  But ever since our friends, the Orfs, moved there they have intrigued us to go and visit.  Many of their close (and not so close friends) visited them during their two year stay in Belfast, Ireland.  Much more appealing than Detroit.  So they were quite surprised that we would want to head their way in the middle of a Detroit winter.  One word folks.  Southwest.

But in all honesty, we were very excited to see what life was like and how our friends were living in such a run down and sad place.  And run down and sad it was.  It's so crazy to think that the city was booming just a few years ago.  Now, as you drive by a row of houses you'd find only about 1/3 of them occupied.  The others were burned out, demolished, windows blown, rubbish.  Very sad.  But for those who live there still, it's all they have.  And it's very evident that they are very thankful for whatever they have.

Now as for Bobby and Joy, and the two other couples that live with them, they have moved to Detroit for one reason...well maybe a few rolled into one sentence.  To follow God's leading as they engage in communal living while trying to restore an impoverished area.  Risky, right!?  But very bold.  I'm proud of them.  Am I glad I don't feel like Detroit is my calling, YES!  But I'm proud of them for living amongst less comforts and more reliance on God's goodness and provision.  I'm thankful for the ways the Lord shows us His care and provision towards His people.  Like how He leaves checks on a doorstep of someone in need to paying thousands of dollars in medical bills.  Or how He finds a new mom a much needed carseat.  Or like the time He treated a homeless man to a backpack full of snacks and toiletrees.  You're probably thinking of many more examples.  Praise God!

As you may have guessed, our trip was great!  Eye-opening, encouraging, inspiring, humbling....

Thanks to Grandma Anne for coming to hang out with our girls while we could experience Detroit in "peace".  And what did I do on an airplane before kids?!?!  I think I read magazines or maybe watched a show.  Doing that again was bliss :)  Thanks mom!

A few moments captured:

Family Fun in January

After the new year I started the countdown.  19 days and my family would be here!  In COLORADO!!!!  The days seemed to drag on but each time I talked with them I made sure to tell them how excited we all were to have them here.  And finally the day came when they arrived in beautiful Boulder, Colorado where the weather could have easily fooled us for spring time.  (good for those California kids)

It was like the book "The Relatives Came" by Cynthia Rylant.  A children s book that talks about relatives coming to visit and how there was so much hugging and it was hard to fall asleep with all that new breathing in the house.  It felt just like that.  It was one big slumber party on Gapter Road.  The house we rented was amazing!  Not only did it have a swing set in the backyard, but it had a path that lead to COWS!  Talk about  great entertainment for the girls!  They loved it.  Katin even named some of the cows when she was on her walk with Aunt Donna and Cousin Jordan.

Despite all that new breathing and being so.....together....we all had a wonderful time!  I'm always so encouraged by my family because we are so many different people that no matter what love each other through anything and accept one another as they are.  Period.  It's a great feeling to know we can all be ourselves and feel comfortable.  I guess wine helps though :)

Yes, there was wine.  And yummy food.  And Spooners.  And late nights playing Cranium.  And early mornings with babies.  And skiing.  And fudge!  And shopping on Pearl Street.  And reminiscing about the pull out couch.  And snoring family members being quarantined.  And a tire swing. And a "hike".  And more fudge.  It was so fun!

I'm thankful that my family took the time to come here to Colorado so we could have sort of a family reunion of sorts.  To me that says love.  It says commitment   And it says that we can do quality time over quantity.  Love you Donna, Evan, Katie, Jordan, Chad, Becky, David, Avery, MOMMY, Doug, Harrison, Thomas, Katin and Aubrey.  I am thankful I get to call you my family!

       Now we can all officially begin 2013!