Surprise!

I had an amazing birthday!!

I got to spend the weekend with my sister in law Jen and our friend Sarah in Seattle.  If you've never experienced downtown Seattle at Christmas time, it is a must!!  The lights, the bustle, and of course the red cups.  First stop, Nordies! That is precisely where the Light Rail dropped me off.  We stayed at a great hotel, shopped, ate yummy food, shopped, laughed, cried a little too, and then shopped some more!  Thanks for a fun time Jen and Sarah!!



Didn't bring my camera, but you get the idea!

Sunday Brian invited about 20 of our family and closest friends and threw me a Surprise party.  I was completely shocked!!  The deep house cleaning and strange behavior on my husband's part did not give it away.  I felt so loved and grateful for the people there who have quickly become so special to us.  I love my life here and if you know my story the Lord has done a GREAT work to get me to this place.

Two of my closest friends Gina and Cortney!



My amazing husband...





Addy and Josh...they had the tough task of getting me out of the house.  Hilarious story and a great memory!



Deb and Craig



Red Velvet...my fave!

I am so thankful for another year of life and for all that God has blessed me with!!

Cali

Wow Christmas is next week...how is that possible?!  The last month has been full of fun.  A trip to California for Thanksgiving.  We saw lots of family and friends

We got to go to LegoLand!! Liv got her first face paint

some California driving :)

Ok, I'm a sucker for a kiddy ride...the big roller coasters just aren't my thing!

Quality time with Gammy and Papa, definitely a highlight!

Liv and her bestie Gianna.  Her mom and I have been friends since we were born and now our girls are...crazy!

That's all for now!  Next up, my birthday bash and Christmas!!  xoxo

Behind

Oh my heavens, I am a bit behind these days...the blog is a good reflection of my life in general, I guess.  Always a bit behind in my day to day tasks, my schedule (I like to think I have some semblance of one) and my walk with the Lord.   I am thankful for the quiet moments, like now, just to sit and think, dwell on my day, reflect, and pray.  I don't get enough of this, but I know it's life...we are to be hard working, busy, purposeful and productive!

Weekend before last we took a little family hike.  We packed up the girls and the gear - backpack, snacks, sippy cups, jackets, hats, the list goes on.  It was just a short drive from our house, but it felt like a little escape.  It was a beautiful fall morning.  We slowed down, we caught up and we enjoyed being together!

I told you, beautiful! 

It's hard to believe it'll be covered in white soon...I think I'm ready (at least I keep telling myself!)



I'm never too far from my phone...my husband had to prove this by taking a pic of me texting or something on an old bridge in the middle of nowhere!



He can be a smart aleck sometimes...but oh how I love him!







and her.  The threes have shown themselves to be a bit more challenging than the twos.  But we're workin' at it.  God knew just who needed to be her mommy and I'm up for the task...there's no other job I'd rather have!

More fall

It's been a busy few weeks...

Aunt Shanny came from Florida!!  It was such a special time...I love my sister and miss her more than ever!

We did a lot of shopping, laughing, eating out...I even got to see a movie, in the theater (can't even remember the last time I did that).  It was a girly one, even better with your sister :).  There is such a comfort and ease being with your family.  The timing of her trip was perfect and I tried to soak up every minute...we even kicked Brian downstairs so we could lay in bed and laugh and watch HGTV!  Bliss, I tell ya.

We took her to a "real" pumpkin patch.  First stop...

the warm, fresh pumpkin donuts...there are no words, just drool

there were lots of cool antique looking props that made for good photo opps...can you tell we read a lot of Dr Seuss around here?

Family photo in the orchard

Corn Maze!!

The cutest pumpkin in the patch!!

Thanks for coming sis..I know it was a big sacrifice for you!!  It meant so much to me and my family.        WE LOVE YOU!!!

Fair fun

The fair is a BIG deal in this town...think Academy Awards LA (well, not quite, but you get the picture!).  It's advertised for weeks and weeks and it really is all the rage.  I've noticed it's the first thing you get asked, "Have you gone to the fair"? - by your doctor, your barista, your hairdresser!  Wow, I guess I have been missing out the last 4 years!

It was fun to take our girls...here are some highlights!

Livi practicing on the pretend pony.  She was a little hesitant to go on the real thing!



Our little fearless one...first fair, first pony ride, no problem!  "Pony" she kept saying and "soft" as she pet it!

getting closer...

Success!!

Micah and Liv checking out the bunnies...gotta love it!



Next up..baby chicks and should I be worried?  Isn't 3 a little too young even for this generation ;)

First fair ride...vrrooom!!

Not pictured events...my first elephant ear and a covered wagon ride.  I never thought I'd be typing or knowing about those things.  Fun stuff!!

I Heart Fall

The football, the leaves, the hot soups, the long sleeves...I love it all!  Growing up a So Cal kid I guess we had our fair share of fall days...they'd show up here and there, with a 100 degree day in between, just to remind us to not put away the t-shirts!  I really love this time of year.  It is my favorite!

So far our fall has been fun.  My mom came to visit for Olivia's 3rd birthday (a gift in itself - especially to me!).  I really love my parents and miss them so much.  My dad couldn't make this trip but we hope to head down there for Thanksgiving.  In a few weeks my sister is coming from Florida. We have not seen her in a year and a half which means she has never met Mal (only via Skype, I also heart technology!).  So fall has meant family which has left me a happy girl.

Here are some pics of my mom and Olivia at one of our local orchards.  In case you city slickers don't know that's what you do in the fall.  You go pick apples at an orchard, uh huh, fresh from the trees.  Did you know the apples you buy at your local grocery store were picked close to one year ago?  Crazy, huh?  Ok, enough of my random facts...on to the memories!

Don't know how that date stamp got there...ugh!

I love Liv's face in this one...we are pretty much all smiles when Gami is here!



Love it!



Love you Mom!!!

Three

"I'm three today.  Welcome to my world!  I don't want to miss anything.  I love to wiggle and squirm.  I'm full of wonder and love to explore"

This describes our little red head perfectly..throw in a little spunk and spirit too! 

Olivia, you are my first born.  You've taught me so much about being a mommy and I thank you for being patient with me along the way.  You are so bright and beautiful, your dad and I are constantly amazed by how God created you.  I can't wait to watch you grow...every year gets a little more challenging but a whole lot more fun.  We love you and thank the Lord for entrusting you to us. 

Happy Birthday princess!!

Oregon Coast

Some friends invited us to join them on a trip to Oceanside, Oregon over Labor Day weekend.  It was the perfect getaway - beautiful weather, beaches, a cozy cottage with an ocean view, great food and relaxation (well as much as you can with three kids under 3!).  I was so thankful for this vacation, we definitely were long over due for one and I have been bugging Brian to take me to the coast!!  It lived way up to my expectations (I guess the weather isn't always this good) and convinced this Cali that there are great beaches elsewhere along the west coast!

Me - happy to see the ocean

More happiness :)

The beach at Oceanside is amazing

All I kept thinking when I took this is "does life get any better"?

My sweet friend Lori!

Livi and Lori

Malory pretty much planted herself there for the day!

It was FREEZing, she was happy!

not liking her first taste of sand tho!

We took a fun train ride to Rockaway beach...it was beautiful all along the water

All of us!

 

We can't wait to go back!!  Thank you to our friends Skyler, Lori and Tristan for such a fun time!