Organized

My accomplishment for the day! I realize this means we have way too many art supplies but having them organized into these new towers instead of one giant messy tub feels so so good!!! Organization makes me happy!

Hunger Games

My friend Tina got me into this book so it was only appropriate that we went to see the movie together. I completely loved the books and could not put them down!!! The movie was pretty much just as good!!

James 4 year

It has been a crazy year so far and I was finally able take James' 4 year old photos while we were in Lancaster this week. He is such a handsome, sweet, genuine little boy.

 Of course I had to take a couple of Haylie too...

Celebration

In Lancaster celebrating new lungs and various birthdays. So happy to have Grandma up and healthy just a couple weeks after her lung transplant.

The Lorax

Reading the book with the kids before we go see the movie that just came out. Can't wait...

Weekend Away

Thanks to our good friends Darrick and Brandy, who watched our children for the weekend, we were able to spend the weekend in Phoenix and attend Micah's cousin's wedding. It was such a relaxing weekend hanging out with family and de-stressing a little from the craziness of life lately.

Fun Food

Bagel pizzas for dinner. The kids had fun making their silly faces on their food...

A Small Part of His Work

It is always amazing to be in a situation where we can be a small part of God's plan or be used to help make a difference in someone's life. It's even more amazing when we get to see the fruit of that work. Jacob is a young man who has been living with us for several months through the Safe Families program, while his Mom deals with some personal challenges. We have had the privilege to be a part of their lives and pour into them, but it was the biggest privilege to be a part of their baptism and their renewed commitment to following Christ. 

Their whole family came to support them on this big day in their lives.

Rancho Cordova's Most Talented

Haylie and James participated in the City of Rancho Cordova's talent show and won!! Haylie did a reading of The Pout Pout Fish while James pretended to be the various fish characters swimming around in the story. It was the most hilarious thing to watch as James wiggled and shook his way around the stage and Haylie did her best reading of the catchy stanza:

"I'm a pout pout fish, with a pout pout face. So I'll spread my dreary wearies all over the place..." 

Haylie was very nervous at the beginning and froze as she looked out at all the people in the audience. She had been rehearsing this beautiful little introduction that she put together, "Welcome ladies and gentleman, Tonight my brother, James, and I will be reading The Pout Pout Fish..." I think when she got on the stage she couldn't remember it so she just froze. The audience clapped and cheered them on while I encouraged her from the side of the stage to just start reading. Once she started reading she found her groove and she was golden.  

We made hats for James' various fish characters. He changed hats as Haylie moved onto the next character and while Haylie's reading was catchy and impressive, James was the comedian of the show. His cute wiggles and silly smiles as he danced around the stage had the audience in fits of laughter and tears. 

At the end, the winners were announced and THEY WON!! They were so excited. They each got a $25 Target Gift Card, which they insisted we spend immediately at Target directly after the show.

Needless to say we were so proud of them. Many people asked where they could get a kit with the book and the hats, but we had made them together ourselves. I think this is a day they will remember for a long time to come.