Weston Goes to School!

We can't believe the day has arrived to send our first baby off to school! We started the day with streamers and donuts ( bubs fav treat) and our little big guy was super excited for his first day. The night before I was feeling a little sentimental that the stage of life with all my babies home is over. I have loved every moment, even the hard days but I am also excited for what's ahead. Weston is just loving school and thriving in his new environment. We are so grateful for the school he is in and his teacher is such a sweet encouragement. We are so grateful to the Lord for this fun beginning!

For the first day of school they had the kids bring their teddy bear for a familiar comfort from home and it did just the trick

 And we had the special treat of having Nanni with us too

Watching these guys walking into school made me tear up

On the way home from school Weston said he wasn't tired but in a few minutes he was out cold :) Still my sweet baby

Camp Regen- Summer Part 3

                           

Next up for us was Summer Camp with our high school students. We decided to bring the kids this year so they could see all that Daddy was doing, and we knew they would love to be a part of the crazy that is summer camp :) In fact lots of friends joined in the fun and we had our own little peanut gallery. Our sweet and amazing babysitter came with me as well so that I could attend some of the sessions, it was such a blessing. The fellowship and relationships that form during camp are so special that it is always worth it to come despite the challenges of bringing 3 small people anywhere for a week. Halfway through the week the kids got pretty sick and then we had a little accident right after getting home. Grady rolled off the changing table onto the hardwood floor and became drowsy and out of sorts so we took him to ER but God is gracious to us and he was just fine! 

Highlights of the week were riding a mechanical bull( weston and mommy!), seeing hundreds of teenagers passionate about their Savior, staff members doing a sing off dressed in 80's garb and late night conversations with the sweetest of girls.

In-N- out stop on the way down to camp

Gabe had no trouble getting settled

 Watching the awesome camp games from above with a perfect ocean view all week- not too bad!

Grady was a fav of course with the girls

 Sweet brothers during one of the sessions

Grady love playing with his monitor cord at his first ( and hopefully last) trip to the ER

Family Reunion- Summer part 2

We had a very special time celebrating these very special brothers and sisters at the Gutierrez family reunion in San Diego. Every few summers this family of 14 siblings and their families get together and they have so much fun!

La Jolla- summer part 1

A week by the beach with Papa along was just wonderful and relaxing- we had time to tickle our toes in the sand, ride scooters everyday, fly kites, eat gelato too many times and wake up to salty sea air after falling asleep to the sound of the waves. 

Summer days

We are enjoying our last few days of "care free" summer! This summer was unique- lots of trips, lots of family and lots of time apart from daddy- which made our days together at home sweeter. I've learned I can stay at home by myself overnight without being abducted, without being broken into and without an earthquake smashing all my children to pieces ( yes I'm a huge scaredy cat). I've learned that too many play dates equal too many temper tantrums (me included). I've also learned that the slip-n-slide is God's gift to parents :)
HOWEVER, no matter how much we love the summer months- we crave the consistency and schedule of the fall and look forward to it this year even more. We are very type A over here if you can't tell.
School starts August 20- uniforms have come in the mail and the supply list is ready to be taken to Target. The teacher in Andrew is very excited for Weston to start school. I'm excited too- for friendships and learning to read...and I'm excited to have more time with the younger two. It's a change in life seasons and I'm praying for grace to change gracefully with it!
Random thoughts! And I hope to post pics of all the summer activities soon

Five

Five years ago I became a mom! This guy has blessed my life in so many ways and I am so grateful that the Lord chose Weston to be in our family. We had fun with a simple celebration at home with family as well as celebrating cousin Ryder's 4th birthday too. Weston loves Legos and building new things- so a Lego theme it was.

The Day before his birthday, Andrew took the boys to a baseball game. (Gabriel's 1st one) They had so much fun while I finished the last birthday surprises.

Omie and Grandpa came all the way from AZ. The boys hadn't seen Grandpa since Christmas!

He requested a Lego cake- I let the boys choose which kind of cake they want and try to make it within reason :) We have had some crazy ideas that mommy can't quite pull off! 

Our other birthday boy came all the way from TX- the boys were so happy to be with their cousin

Sadly our grass in the back yard hasn't survived this drought and heat, but they love the extra dirt

 This game cracked me up- they were pretending to be bulls butting heads, the winner was the one left standing. Boys!

The Fog and the Fireworks

Just as the sun started to set over a perfectly warm yet breezy day along the Santa Barbara coast a thick fog began to roll in. At first it looked a little gray over the horizon but within an hour nothing was visible a few yards above ground. Normally I LOVE this eery cool blanketing mist- but it was last night the Fourth of July! Not the best conditions for viewing the much anticipated show. But we packed everyone one up anyways and made the trek to the best viewing spot in high hopes with the rest of the city. And you can guess- as the sound of booms filled the sky we could only see a pale burst of color and maybe a few sparkling remains that fell to the ground leaving the full glory of each one masked above us. Thankfully we didn't really care because being together is what matters most and the kids were enormously happy with their glow sticks Omie had brought them.

Our little experience made me think about this verse however and the topic of our eternity which Andrew is preparing to teach on for our students:
1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known."

Often I feel frustrated that I don't understand all that I want to about our God or feel ashamed that my affections for Him fall so short but this is such a sweet reminder that one day the fog of this life will be lifted and we will see Him face to face in all His glory and wonder and nothing makes me more excited!
Happy 4th!