moments like these.

"....moments of rest.....glimpses of laughter....are treasured along the road."

Last night, as I was making dinner, I realized that my new recipe box from Eva is incredibley cute. I love moments like these! Once in a while, all of a sudden, I get a little inspired by the cuteness of every day things! So, I had to pause and grab the camera. Enjoy! :)

um....er...

It just occurred to me that it has been a while since I posted pics of the baby. What? We have a new baby at our house? Why, yes, we do!! And she is already 3 1/2 months old!! Here is one from last night....

The "Cheesy" Smile

Say "Cheese"! Who thought of it anyway? This is what Em looks like when she says cheese. Officially, this is now titled her "Cheesy Smile" at our house. You hear it, don't you? Ab encourages her in a sing-song voice "Do your cheesy smile, Emma....make your cheesy smile....ok, now make your mad face, Emma, like your mad!........cute, Em!.......ok, now make your happy face smile like this Emma." It is very entertaining and funny and very sweet.



Yes, here is the cheesy smile (and, yes, that is marker on her face...hmm.):

Well, it merits the whole sequence, so here it is!!

The Cheesy Smile-

The "Mad" Face...The "HAPPY!!" Face-

adventure

Today (and all week long, as a matter of fact) it has been raining buckets on the Central Coast. And...about 45 minutes away there is a high mountain where it has been SNOWING!!! Yes, SNOWING! So, today I decided to go and find it. (You knew I would!)

We began our scenic drive down Foxen Canyon Rd and it was beautiful- the sun came shining out (this is Cali, so the sun HAS to make a big appearance each day....not that I am complaining....too much) and made at least a dozen various rainbows to the east over the hills. We were so excited! Rainbow after rainbow....rainbow on top of rainbow. We came around one curve, with the rain still gently falling- and it opened to the bottom arch of a giant rainbow, along with a family of deer crossing the road. It was a really amazing moment that I am not giving justice!!!! It literally took my breath away. I had to pull over and take it all in....and get the camera ready in hopes something half as amazing would appear. As you can see (sort of, anyway, from the pic) we found the end of the rainbow- and were tempted to go look for the pot of gold!!

As for our main objective of finding the snow, well, sadly, we only saw it from a distance. The mountain road was closed and I was not brave enough (I am sensible!!) to go past the obviously-frequently-passed "Road Closed" sign. I guess the road was somewhat safe because I saw many people sledding down the hills of Figueroa Mountain on the news tonight! BUT....it was very cool to see, even from a distance, the snow covered hill top- and even the very white cloud above, testifying that there actually was snow falling down somewhere! It does say in the Proverbs "the coolness of snow...refreshes the spirit". OK, so I am leaving a few words out....even so, the text evokes the meaning. ;)

eh-em....

I would just like to take this opportunity to link you to a great "new" website:

www.amenhandmade.com

Eva posted a great new entry on our blog. It is beautiful and true.

as promised

The past couple of days have been like a mini vacation for us here, exploring the Central C oast again with Uncle Jimmy. Here are some pics from our trip to the Tidepools.

*family*

Uncle Jimmy got in today. We went to the Farmer's Market in San Luis where we feasted on McLintocks and Starbucks (of course) and watched crazy dancers and video game players on very large screens. Farmer's Market has come a long way. ;)
We visited the Mac store and almost left with a new computer....until we gained a little self control- as the girls played with the iPhone and somehow knew exactly how to use it.
Tomorrow is another day of fun- will post pics. Promise!

the update

Where did today go? Suddenly, I looked at the clock and it was 3:00! I have no idea where the rest of the hours disappeared to. So, off to errands, and a quick stop at Starbucks for a Skinny Mocha. (It was just OK, I think I'll try the Skinny Caramel Latte next time:) )

Here is the quick update...

B. is doing really great- reading more and zipping through her Math lessons. She stayed up late to 'craft' with me and a friend the other night and she was so grown up. And as of now, she's obsessed with the Webkins she bought herself last week.

A. is for amazing. She is also reading and adding and subtracting and I have no idea how she knows any of this. She is a smart kid. She's been challenging me to UNO, because she says that I am no good at it and she always wins. Nice.

E. is having a little rough spot- as she is currently wanting to watch TV 24 hours a day. Really. And she has somehow figured out turning on the TV, the Satellite box and the DVD player (which she switches on with her toe). One night last week I woke up around 4 am, hearing the TV on. Yes, it was E. She tuned in during the wee hours for a 'lil bit of "Little Bear". We're trying to break the habit, so today she painted pretty much all day.

E. number 2 is a little sweetheart. She is holding things in her little hands and watching everyone very closely. She loves to watch A. dance around and she is smiling and happy. My favorite part is how she wakes up in the morning. She just wakes up. Then she lays there, looking around, and when I go over to her, she just looks at me and smiles. So beautiful!

And we're doing good. So that is the update. I'll get some photos up soon! :)

party party

Abi's 5th birthday party turned out to be pretty fun. All the kids decorated picture frames to take home. It wasn't even crazy and chaotic like I thought it might be with a bunch of kids and glue and sparkles and scissors. They were all really great and creative!

And, of course, she wanted to play "pin the tail on the Boots". (My kids love "pin the tail on (Whatever the theme of the party is)" It is so sweet! Seriously. Every year we play some variation of this game! (Place the crown on the princess...put the strawberry in Strawberry's hand...put the tail on the giraffe(?) ) All in all I think she had a great time. Ab is 5!!!
Here are some highlights since I KNOW you only really want the pics....

Abi and Madison decorate their frames.

Such a mess, but so fun!!

The finished product.

And yummy cupcakes!!

Happy Birthday, Princess

these would be in order, but

I thought it would be fun to look back over 2007 and remember the great things that we did last year!! They would have be in order, but after I uploaded all of them, they were all crazy and I was in no mood to reorganize OR re-upload. So in no order whatsoever, the year in review......

the new baby in October....Evie Sky

Sisters in November, Maica and Leah....
The Moore Clan in December.....
Camping with friends in May....
Kindergarten Graduation in June....
Emma was 2 in July.....
Camping with the Youth Group over the summer.....
Abigail got baptized....

Abi turned 4 in 2007...... Bella's CAVA outing last January.....
Disneyland!!!
My girls.....
Soccer started....
Lil Angween.... Grandma and Grandpa meet Evie....

And there were more.....like Grammy's visit and another of Leah's....but I couldn't get the pics from Leah's Flikr. If you want to see more, just go here. Yea, 2007! Now on with 2008.....

happy new year!

For those of you who don't know...
Todd had a cerebral hemorrhage on November 12. After a huge scare and a week in the hospital, we knew he was going to be OK. As of December 17, we found out that the vessel in his head is completely healed and there was no long term damage. Praise the Lord!

I need to share this bible verse, it is what I prayed in the waiting room of the surgical wing in Santa Barbara while we waited to find out if Todd would live or die.

Psalm 63:1-4
"God, hear my cry;
pay attention to my prayer.
I call to you from the ends of the earth
when my heart is without strength.
Lead me to a rock that is high above me,
for YOU have been a refuge for me,
a STRONG TOWER in the face of the enemy.
I will live in your tent forever
and take refuge under the shelter of your wings."

God is so great. He has lead me to the rock. He has been a strong tower. He is so faithful! And our friends and family- Let me just say another quick thanks to every friend who helped us through, all of our amazing family who were so quick to help us and are still helping us. YOU are amazing and a gift to us from the Lord. Happy New Year! We love you!

....fickle

On Sunday I was glad to be home, and today I am homesick for Ohio. For moments like this...

and this....

and this...

and this...

and this.....

I MISS YOU GUYS! And I love you!