Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Big Girl Baby is Just My Baby
Rachel Lee is the first one to correct anyone who calls her a baby..."I am a big girl ba-be" she will tell them. And Jeff and I think she is quite clever for claiming both the "girl girl" and "baby" titles because it allows her the perks from both roles, and protest the cons based on her identification with the opposite role. "Eat your food, Rahcel Lee," "Awww, but I a ba-be" she'll respond. "Clean up the playroom, Rachel Lee," "But it too messy for me. I am ba-be." "Rachel Lee, time for a nap"...you all get where this is going, right?..."But I a big girl!" But all that is completely out the window when my Rachel Lee gets sick. Then she is baby through and through and wants to be carried around in the Ergo all day. She is even old enough to ask for the Ergo, which shows that she really is a 'big girl" but just for the day, just when she needs me to treat her as a baby, I don't remind her that she is a big girl, but embrace that she is my baby.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Fall Festival at Vannoy Elementary
At the school's fall festival we took this family shot. It was during the day (1:30 until 4:30) so Jeff isn't there, but it gives you a sample of the fun we had together.
YAY for fun "photo booth" pictures!
YAY for fun "photo booth" pictures!
Tea for My Little Lady and Me
There is nothing greater than a cup of tea with some great company to start the week of well! I love my sweet Rachel Lee and all her stuffies that made our tea time together so fun!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Grandma Cindy and Granpa Roger Time
This past week Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Roger were able to drive up and spend sme time with us in our new home. We had a great time showing them around Castro Valley, and they gave us a tour of San Fransisco city where Cindy fondly remembers growing up. One of Hannah's favorite times was at the school playing basketball with Grandpa Roger. His lessons were awesome, and having never played a team sport, I learned a lot about how to coach from the times he played with Hannah.
The first day the Murry's arrived we showed them our house and took them to the school to play. It was a fun day.
The next day we all took the Bart into the city, took a Trolley Car to Fisherman's Warf and the came home and celebrated Thanksgiving with a turkey and all kinds of good food! What a full day together!! SO much to be thankful for!
On Bart together
Waiting for the Trolley Car
On the Trolley Car
At Fisherman's Warf
The next day was Veterans Day, so the girls had the day off but Jeff had to work. We made the most of the day by going to the Golden Gate Bridge and walking half way across and then back. Hannah will tell you she walked the whole thing because 1/2 + 1/2 = 1 whole, but really, we walked 1/2 way there and 1/2 way back. It was a bright and sunny day so it was lovely to walk together!
After the bridge we found a lovely park in the Persidio area and enjoyed eating and playing together. It was a great time!
Thank you Cindy and Roger for coming and staying with us! We had a great time and are so thankful for you both!
On Bart together
At Fisherman's Warf
The next day was Veterans Day, so the girls had the day off but Jeff had to work. We made the most of the day by going to the Golden Gate Bridge and walking half way across and then back. Hannah will tell you she walked the whole thing because 1/2 + 1/2 = 1 whole, but really, we walked 1/2 way there and 1/2 way back. It was a bright and sunny day so it was lovely to walk together!
The following days the girls were in school, so our time together was more limited, but we found lost of time for hot chocolate, candyland, basketball, hikes and Cindy and I even snuck away for a coffee and a little shopping time.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Three Months in San Fransisco
Today is the 3 month anniversary of our move from San Diego to our new home in San Fransisco (although we moved to temporary housing for a while). It hit me as I was driving to church today (Jeff stayed home with Hannah who has a cough) when Kate asked if we were going to move every August 17...poor girl. She will always remember her 5th birthday as the day we moved. I reassured her that people rarely move, to which she said, "Well I have moved 3 times in my life so far, and I am only 5. So, every 5 years people must move 3 times." No, that's actually a pretty high ratio for moving, and one move was within the same town of Mira Mesa, but being the literal gal that she is, she is completely correct. We have moved t 3 times in her life. BUT, we are hoping to be here for a while, so hopefully that ratio will soon change.
So, here are the thoughts from each member of the family (with a few editorial comments from me) of the past 3 months (Jeff is so sweet to do this for me!)...
Hannah: I like my new house. It is a big house and it has 3 bedrooms. The third bedroom is a couch. (The third bedroom is the "study/guest room" with a twin daybed, which the girls call a couch, and the bed pulls out into a king bed for our guests). The couch is comfy to read on. It is a fun house to explore still, and I have been here for three months. My school is a great school. It is a charter school. (It's not a charter school...just a plain old public school.) It has lots of good people in it. One of the good people is Janetta. She is my friend and she likes to play tag. I liked to move at first, and we got to stay at a hotel. I didn't know that we would stay in a few hotels. I liked the first one because the hotel had a big giant pool and the hotel had to get the toys for me. But most of the time we read stories or made a book. After that we went to another hotel. It was a crazy hotel! I think that hotel served breakfast. It was a good thing because we had to buy dinner and lunch. I like San Diego because it is warmer, and I don't really like San Fransisco because it is very chilly. I like that San Fransisco has a school that is very close. I have seen the Golden Gate Bridge and I walked the whole length. (We walked half way and then turned around...1/2 + 1/2 = 1 which is why she will say she walked the whole bridge even though we only went half way.) I really like it here. I had my both my grandma's and grandpa's over actually, and I would like to have my aunts and uncles come here soon.
Kate: I like it here better than San Diego because it is a very good place for a great family like us. I like it in here more than San Diego, so much because it has a couch bed and it has a living room which we are sitting in right now. My church has a very good thing. I like that San Fransisco has Chuck e Cheese. (Chuck e cheese...a place we have not seen or been to since we left San Diego) I'm so glad I'm here.
Rachel Lee: I liked it. I like Adam. He's called Adam but I just like him playing with me at a parks. He like going with me to parks. I like parks. I like parks. I like my new home. There is cookies for me to eat. Sometimes I get a cookie and I play and paint. Sometimes that happens. I want to play with Adam. But I like to play Adam but I just like going to parks with Adam. (And just so you all can see who Adam is, here is the little cutie she likes to play with)
Sarah: There have been many ups and downs these past few months. I continue to feel so blessed by our little church in San Diego. One of my dearest friends, Melissa, has coordinated mailing me cards from all the ladies in the church. I so enjoy the days when I get an encouraging note. I find a quiet spot, usually with some coffee, and I sit and read the letter and soak in the encouraging words. I then pray for the person that sent me the note, and then usually cry a little. My crying then turns to focusing on all the blessings I have felt as we transition, and there are so many! That is kind of a glimpse of my heart these days: lonely, encouraged, and thankful. Although the girls listed many things they are thankful for, there are also times when they have cried and wanted to go back to San Diego, or days when they ask to see a friend from San Diego. I am so thankful I am home and available to them, and that I can walk through this time with them and teach them to turn to God for strength and comfort. We have shared many good conversations, cries, and prayers, and I hope that this helps them as they experience changes in their own life, knowing that we have a God who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, both here, there and everywhere. There have been numerous times when I remember my last run at Lake Miramar in San Diego, when the tire of my stroller popped and my friend, Melissa, ran around the corner and helped me get my crew back to the parking lot. God did not leave me at mile 3 with all my kids and a popped tire: He gave me help. In the same way, when things seem to get tough and tiring, I am reminded that God has not left me alone but is with me and is providing the way.
So, here are the thoughts from each member of the family (with a few editorial comments from me) of the past 3 months (Jeff is so sweet to do this for me!)...
Hannah: I like my new house. It is a big house and it has 3 bedrooms. The third bedroom is a couch. (The third bedroom is the "study/guest room" with a twin daybed, which the girls call a couch, and the bed pulls out into a king bed for our guests). The couch is comfy to read on. It is a fun house to explore still, and I have been here for three months. My school is a great school. It is a charter school. (It's not a charter school...just a plain old public school.) It has lots of good people in it. One of the good people is Janetta. She is my friend and she likes to play tag. I liked to move at first, and we got to stay at a hotel. I didn't know that we would stay in a few hotels. I liked the first one because the hotel had a big giant pool and the hotel had to get the toys for me. But most of the time we read stories or made a book. After that we went to another hotel. It was a crazy hotel! I think that hotel served breakfast. It was a good thing because we had to buy dinner and lunch. I like San Diego because it is warmer, and I don't really like San Fransisco because it is very chilly. I like that San Fransisco has a school that is very close. I have seen the Golden Gate Bridge and I walked the whole length. (We walked half way and then turned around...1/2 + 1/2 = 1 which is why she will say she walked the whole bridge even though we only went half way.) I really like it here. I had my both my grandma's and grandpa's over actually, and I would like to have my aunts and uncles come here soon.
Kate: I like it here better than San Diego because it is a very good place for a great family like us. I like it in here more than San Diego, so much because it has a couch bed and it has a living room which we are sitting in right now. My church has a very good thing. I like that San Fransisco has Chuck e Cheese. (Chuck e cheese...a place we have not seen or been to since we left San Diego) I'm so glad I'm here.
Rachel Lee: I liked it. I like Adam. He's called Adam but I just like him playing with me at a parks. He like going with me to parks. I like parks. I like parks. I like my new home. There is cookies for me to eat. Sometimes I get a cookie and I play and paint. Sometimes that happens. I want to play with Adam. But I like to play Adam but I just like going to parks with Adam. (And just so you all can see who Adam is, here is the little cutie she likes to play with)
Sarah: There have been many ups and downs these past few months. I continue to feel so blessed by our little church in San Diego. One of my dearest friends, Melissa, has coordinated mailing me cards from all the ladies in the church. I so enjoy the days when I get an encouraging note. I find a quiet spot, usually with some coffee, and I sit and read the letter and soak in the encouraging words. I then pray for the person that sent me the note, and then usually cry a little. My crying then turns to focusing on all the blessings I have felt as we transition, and there are so many! That is kind of a glimpse of my heart these days: lonely, encouraged, and thankful. Although the girls listed many things they are thankful for, there are also times when they have cried and wanted to go back to San Diego, or days when they ask to see a friend from San Diego. I am so thankful I am home and available to them, and that I can walk through this time with them and teach them to turn to God for strength and comfort. We have shared many good conversations, cries, and prayers, and I hope that this helps them as they experience changes in their own life, knowing that we have a God who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, both here, there and everywhere. There have been numerous times when I remember my last run at Lake Miramar in San Diego, when the tire of my stroller popped and my friend, Melissa, ran around the corner and helped me get my crew back to the parking lot. God did not leave me at mile 3 with all my kids and a popped tire: He gave me help. In the same way, when things seem to get tough and tiring, I am reminded that God has not left me alone but is with me and is providing the way.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
The Work Crew Arrives
This weekend we brought in a work crew...Grandma Sue and Grandad Ray...they are the best! Plus, they run the kiddos around and we all just have a great time. Plus, Chip comes too. How many people does it take to walk one small dog? I count 4...
Here we are playing ball tag at the school. For those who are not familiar with ball tag, you take a ball and throw it at the person. If you hit the person then they are it and have t throw the ball at someone else, and usually it mean you!
Mom was hiding behind the backstop, and Hannah quickly learned that she would not be able to run and catch her so she threw the ball over the backstop...she missed, but what a great idea!!
Jeff and Dad had the same uniform for their work...Nichols Machinery Mover shirts and jeans.
And we also made time to enjoy being together. We took a hike at Lake Chabot, which is a small lake just 5 miles from where we live. I know it's a place RL and I will be running a lot!
Thanks Mom and Dad for coming and helping us! We love you two so much and appreciate all your help and all the fun we have together! Love you!!
Here we are playing ball tag at the school. For those who are not familiar with ball tag, you take a ball and throw it at the person. If you hit the person then they are it and have t throw the ball at someone else, and usually it mean you!
Mom was hiding behind the backstop, and Hannah quickly learned that she would not be able to run and catch her so she threw the ball over the backstop...she missed, but what a great idea!!
Jeff and Dad had the same uniform for their work...Nichols Machinery Mover shirts and jeans.
And we also made time to enjoy being together. We took a hike at Lake Chabot, which is a small lake just 5 miles from where we live. I know it's a place RL and I will be running a lot!
Thanks Mom and Dad for coming and helping us! We love you two so much and appreciate all your help and all the fun we have together! Love you!!
Girl Power!
This year the girls were all super heroes. Rachel Lee really wanted to be Belle, but the other two persuaded her to be Super Girl, rounding out their trio, with the promise of candy. Little girl has a big sweet tooth!!
And the girls have become quite the posers!!
Kate sweetly told me, "You know why I like being Spidergirl? Because Spiderman makes the love you sign." She holds up the sign for 'I love you' and I had to explain that Spiderman is actually spinning a web and not telling people he loves them. And then I had to laugh. She is just so sweet!! Here she is trying not to say 'I love you' but spin a web.
And here is Hannah's fierce look:
And, when I was trying to get a solo shot of RL, Hannah decided to photo bomb her, which was funny...at first...
...but the second time it really upset RL...
...so Spidey went into action to protect the innocent and make sure that RL in fact got her solo shot...
...and she did!
We went trick or treating at some shops here in Castro Valley, and then on the way back stopped at the church where my MOPs group meets and enjoyed some air jumpers.
We got lots of candy and had a great time trick or treating later that evening with some other people from the school. It was a full and fun time.
And the girls have become quite the posers!!
Kate sweetly told me, "You know why I like being Spidergirl? Because Spiderman makes the love you sign." She holds up the sign for 'I love you' and I had to explain that Spiderman is actually spinning a web and not telling people he loves them. And then I had to laugh. She is just so sweet!! Here she is trying not to say 'I love you' but spin a web.
And here is Hannah's fierce look:
And, when I was trying to get a solo shot of RL, Hannah decided to photo bomb her, which was funny...at first...
...but the second time it really upset RL...
...so Spidey went into action to protect the innocent and make sure that RL in fact got her solo shot...
...and she did!
We went trick or treating at some shops here in Castro Valley, and then on the way back stopped at the church where my MOPs group meets and enjoyed some air jumpers.
We got lots of candy and had a great time trick or treating later that evening with some other people from the school. It was a full and fun time.
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