Pretty Girls...

Here are our girls...

Isabella decided that she wanted to put some make-up on like mommy does sometimes. Of course she did it without mommy knowing until Peyton found her.(I thought she was playing in her room!) She really wants to grow up fast.

We went and took Naomi's pictures last month. They turned out great but didn't scan well.

Potty Training and The Beach

I know you would ot normally put these two together...but for us we have to. Isabella started toilet training last week. She has done a great job and we are so proud of her. But it does become challenging when you go to the beach with a child learning to use the toilet. As you know it is always a super long walk to a bathroom...well, I was not going to make the trek. So I consulted Scott hoping he would gladly volunteer for the task ahead. He amazed me by saying, "its time to teach her how to use the bathroom at the beach...in the water." Well I listened and so did she. She got so excited and said, "I went potty in the water!!"

It was quite cute to see her get excited over silly things. Lets hope that she can understand that going potty in the water is only at the beach!

Beach Pictures

Casual sword fightinh with noodles!

Happy 4th Birthday Peyton!!

Wow!! We can beileve that Peyton is already four years old. He has come a long way from his birth and it has certainly been fun watching him learn and grow. We celebrated his birthday with his grandparents in Apple Valley on Sunday when he got his new bike. On Monday we went to the beach and had fun as well. Happy Birthday to my "big" little guy!! :)

Remembering his 1st year...

Playing, Fourth of July, & Vacation

A couple of weeks ago we went to a Renaissance fair that was put on by some friends of ours. It was so much fun to see the different acts and do some fun things. Scott and Peyton managed to be a part of some organized games without me being there :( I got a picture from a friend of Scott having fun!!

As you can see, Scott was having a fun time!!

Peyton after he played the games as well. There was a smaller one for the kids.

Isabella enjoyed checking everything out and playing in the dirt with a Grandpa.

Forth of July was exciting for our family! We got to spend the first part our day with church family playing Ultimate Frisbee. Scott decided that this was a great day to re-injure his knee and have fun at the same time. Although I would not put that combination together. ;) While Scott played the kids had fun on the swings and also attempted to play as well. They are still a bit to small. We also got to visit with some friends from San Jose, The Riding's Family. We really had a great time with them the whole weekend. In the evening we enjoyed the fireworks in Quartz Hill at a house that overlooks that valley. It was beautiful. Our children really liked watching and actually watched them with Don and Marva Clark from church. Isabella really took a liking to Uncle Don. Thanks Sheldon Family for inviting us!!

Peyton and Isabella wanted to do some stretching with Scott before the game. I thought these were cute pictures.

What does any sweet baby do on a holiday away from home? She was still sweet enough to take her nap at the game even though it was way hot outside. I know you can see her but she's there. That blanket helps keep her pacifier in her mouth and she seems to like to hid her face when napping. She does this often at home.

Finally, the last few weeks ended with a short vacation to a place called Mountain Lakes Camping Resort in the San Bernadino Mountains. It was actually quite fun. Scott and I did forget one small detail about this place and that was this: The cabins did not have air conditioning. :( We had only been here once before so this small detail would of been nice to remember so we could of brought extra fans with us. Oh well! We spent time relaxing and did lots of swimming. Scott's parents were there as well so we spent some time with them too. During vacation we decided that we would make our kids like swimming. We went in a couple times a day and pretty much forced them into the water and because of this they now like to swim. Hoorah!!

Scott, Peyton, and Grandpa spent half a day fishing as well while Isabella, Naomi and myself went down the mountain and spent time at Target getting a few things we needed. All we really wanted was to be in some air conditioning. :) We also headed down another time to the Mall in Ontario and to the movies to see Kung Fu Panda. This was lots of fun! Because of the movie, everytime we drive by Panda Express Peyton says, "Hey look! It's Kung Fu Panda Express!" What a sweet boy we have!

Well, that ends our adventures for the last few weeks and now we are back to normal life. We loved having a vacation but there is noting like being at home too!!

This is the catfish lake. There is a trout lake as well.

Peyton wanted Scott the be a shark!!

Naomi in her hat :)

Thanks to a great husband who knew we needed a few days away together as a family!!

Mom's Learn Too

It's so easy to get caught up in what's going on in life and not appreciate your children and what an extradionary opportunity it is to get to raise and teach them. Most days I just struggle through the day with them with little hope of how to be a better parent. But through a very special friend at church who spoke at our MOPS group, I was encouraged to know that I am not the only one who struggles. Don't get me wrong! I love my children and would desire that God would bless us with more. But being a mother is a HARD job. I am currently reading a book called, Don't Make Me Count to Three!, by Ginger Plowman. The first time I saw this book, I pridefully thought,"I don't do that! That's the wrong way to teach your children!" I never even picked it up to see what it was about. Boy was I wrong!! This book is excellent. Here is an article called, "The High Calling of Motherhood," by the author Ginger Plowman. It comes right out of the book.

If I have to answer one more insignificant question, wipe one more runny nose, or bandage one more boo-boo today, I'm going to pull my hair out…and maybe the hair of whoever is standing close by also! "I've had it, kids! I'm going to soak in a hot bubble bath and I would strongly advise against any interruptions. Unless someone is dead or dying, do not knock on this door!"
As I ease down into my vanilla scented-bubbles, I pray, "God, is this really what I'm supposed to be doing? I mean, don't you have something really important for me that requires a little more skill that tying shoes and cutting the crust off sandwiches?"
Let me back up and tell you about myself before I reached this point in my life. I wasn't always bordering on the brink of insanity. It wasn't too awfully long ago that I really had it all together. I successfully managed a booming and well-respected business, counseled others in organizational skills, and drove a pretty cool automobile that would NOT seat an entire soccer team, and me, comfortably. I enjoyed television shows that were not hosted by singing vegetables or a purple dinosaur. I never found the milk in the pantry and I never experienced the sheer panic of trying to remember whom I was calling before the voice at the other end said, "Hello?" Yesterday, I placed an order by phone. When the sales lady asked me for my address, I had to put her on hold. I absolutely could not recall my own address. It did finally come to me as I was reaching for the phone book to look it up.
What happened? The stick turned blue. I have traded in Victoria's Secret for the stretchy comfort of Hanes Her Way. I have boxed up my contemporary Christian music and now you'll find me rockin' to "Silly Songs with Larry." Yep, it's good-bye "20/20" and hello Elmo.
Sometimes I think that just getting dressed and making it through the day is all I ever accomplish. "Isn't there something more that you wanted me to do today, Lord?" Finally, I hear that still, small voice. I may not have found a cure for cancer or conquered world hunger, but as I soak in my tub, God gently reminds me of what I did accomplish today. I had the privilege of listening to the hopes and dreams of a handsome young man who thinks I'm the greatest woman in the world. He stands just over three feet tall and only gets really excited over Legos and pizza, but he is funny, charming, and never boring.
I also got to see a bright and precious smile illuminate the sweet face of my five-year-old daughter as I took time out to invade Barbie's house with green aliens. As she squealed with delight, my heart melted.
I did have a few minutes of well-appreciated privacy, as I was able to sit on the potty without someone banging on the door. I actually jotted this rare event down in my journal under "miracles." I got to read a couple of great classics. Out loud. Move over Dickens, we have moved on to the works of Dr. Seuss. I was also able to dust, organize, clean, counsel, and cook. I kissed away the boo-boos and washed away the tears. I praised, rebuked, encouraged, hugged, and tested my patience, all before noon.
Yes, my greatest accomplishment today was nurturing the two precious children that God has entrusted to my care.
Now let's talk about my greatest challenge today… and every day. It is raising these two precious children in the ways of the Lord. God does have an important job for me and it does require much skill. It is my calling, my priority, my struggle, and my goal. I will rise to the occasion and accept the task at hand. I will love, nurture and train my children the way that God has called me to do.
Moms, we need to be reminded of the awesome responsibility that God has given us. When we respond to the high calling of motherhood with passion, the rewards are far greater than any we could ever gain outside of that calling. The joys of motherhood are rare and beautiful treasures that can be easily missed if we don't seize the opportunity to grab them.
Being a mom is more than being cook, chauffeur, maid, counselor, doctor, referee, and disciplinarian, (just to name a few). It's molding character, building confidence, nurturing, training, and guiding. There is no calling as consuming, challenging, and rewarding. And there is no calling as worthy of our efforts than the high calling of motherhood.

I hope this touched your heart as it did mine. Thanks and sorry for the long post.