It's that time of year again...

Wait, I'm not talking about Christmas. I need to back up a bit...like to the beginning of November!!

I'm talking about our annual trip to Lake Elsinore to babysit for Zak and Kelli!

Even though going from being parents of one toddler to being parents of five kids under the age of 9 has it's challenges, we always love our one-on-one time with these kids and take home lots of fond memories and even stronger bonds when the week is through. It is a blessing to be able to do this each year.

Among other things, we got to attend end of the season sporting events and ceremonies where both Zachy and Jaydie got medals!


And every night before bed all the kiddos would cuddle up on the air mattress to watch a few youtube videos.


These are just such adorable, good kids and Harrison was in heaven with all the attention. Him and Sawyer were little buds. Highlights were Scripture study every morning and hearing the kids sing a Primary (children's church) song before they left for school, our nightly youtube screenings before bed, movie night with ice cream, jumping on the trampoline with the two little ones while the big kids were at school, doing the girls hair for school and rocking with Sawyer every night while feeding him his bottle and reading him stories before bed (I miss those bottle sucking sounds so much!)

Halloween Catch Up!

We've been in Lake Elsinore all week babysitting Zak and Kelli's kids while they spent a week in Hawaii so I have not had access to my pictures. And as we leave again tomorrow for a two week stay at Sanoviv, I wanted to get these Halloween pictures up. I may have to fill in some gaps when I return... including our fun stay with the kiddos!

Here's Harrison's Halloween party at the parent/toddler class we take at Mira Costa:







And here's some favorite's from Halloween night:










What a fun night with our little space ranger...he could not have been cuter! I didn't know how he would do but he just loved everything about Halloween, especially dressing up as Buzz. More to come in two weeks!

Oldie but Goodie!

...And by that I mean our relationship, not YOU!! Although you are getting up there now : )

I met Jessica when I was eight years old and I even remember exactly what she was wearing when I first met her (an adorable white dress with a big collar that tied in the front)! I also remember that I hoped we would be friends and little did I know 22 years later I would consider her one of my oldest and dearest friends.

Happy 30th Jess, I feel so blessed to have you in my life. You are an example to me of a righteous woman who is always striving to be better and of an amazing mom who loves and learns everyday and from every situation.

I'm grateful for the precious memories I have with you...most of them make me laugh out loud! I could have filled a whole album with pictures of us, (many that were too embarrassing to include here, haha) but here are few that I love and that tell part of our story. Junior High, High School, and everything in between...us growing up and becoming what we always dreamed of being: Mothers!

I hope you've had an amazing 30th! I love and adore you!

Bates Nut Farm Fun!

To kick off the fall season, we took Harrison to Bates Nut Farm for the first time. There were so many fun things to do and see. We went with Alice and her adorable girls and it was such a fun day! It's definitely going to be an annual thing. Everybody was a winner: Harrison got to take a hayride, Shar got her favorite treat (chocolate covered cinnamon bears) at the Farm General Store, and Ryan got to say "Nates Butt Farm" all day...for some reason that joke never got old to him!

Here's Harrison and Ellie giving it their best shot!

Harrison living out his dream of driving a tractor!

Seeing the real thing stopped him in his tracks!

Waiting for the Hayride

We rode around the pumpkin patch and through the corn fields!

Pony ride time...mom sneezed throughout the whole thing but still managed to get a few pictures!

Finally time to pick a pumpkin...

Ryan got a cute one!

Picking pumpkins can be hard work!


Harrison got a little distracted by the trucks and school buses


But then Ellie got his attention!

I'm a little behind in blogging but it's only because we are having soooo much fun! Lot's more to come, including kissing cousins and Harrison's school Halloween Party! Stay tuned!

Summer Visitors!

Even though I've been desperately trying to elongate our summer, I think it's time to embrace fall...Fall is definitely here and before I post about taking Harrison to the pumpkin patch, I want to record some of the fun visits we had this summer. Hopefully the visits won't end now that summer is gone, we LOVE visitors!

When we got home from Colorado and Wyoming, Derek and his kids were here staying with my mom. We missed Katy but we were so happy Derek, Palmer and Meredith were here for a few extra days so we could spend some time with them. Harrison is really drawn to Derek (it's his peaceful, loving, accepting nature that draws everyone to him and Harrison was also sensitive to it) and he also loves Palmer and Meredith too, especially when he can pretend he's playing Mario Cart with them : )

Cuddling with Uncle Derek





Mersy with Jaydn and Addie




Intent on doing everything Palmer does!





"All this steering is wearing me out!"



Next we had some quality girl time with Syd and Ali. When I was sick back in January, Syd sent me the most loving message and this was her last promise: "I know Harrison and Ryan are extraordinary reasons for you to take care of yourself...but in case you need any more reasons....the Snarr girls are itching for a road trip to southern California as soon as Ali gets home....so we'll see you in a couple months."

Ali has been studying in Jerusalem and I was so excited to hear about her experiences and spend some time with her and Syd, they are truly like another mom and another sister to me and I love them and their whole family so much. We ate and did the spa thing and even got in a trip to Legoland with Ali and her boyfriend Dan. It was such a great visit!

Downtown San Diego





Glen Ivy Hot Springs...the mud is always a highlight!





Legoland with Ali!

I love this girl...




I love these boys...






One of Harrison's favorite rides...he put his hands up without any prompting, it was adorable!




Ali snapped this one and I love it




Ali smoking Dan on the slides




Ending the day with a boat ride



After Syd and Ali left we had a spontaneous visit from Maddie!! I've been begging this girl to come visit me and she finally did it...it just took an opportunity to see Kip from Bachelorette in person to get her here!! We had a Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser to attend and it turned out that one of the auction items was a date with Kip, a good friend of ours. We had a few extra tickets so Maddie and her friend Julianne came with us and it was so much fun. Here are some of my favorite photos from the night. Maddie took most of them with her amazing camera.







I was so touched by Kip's willingness to give and support our cause. He alone raised more than $8,000 for C.F. research. THANK YOU KIP, you are awesome!!


Before Maddie left, she gave Harrison a much needed haircut!





Little did we know then that Maddie's trip here would put the wheels in motion for her coming to live with us for almost a year while she goes to school here in San Diego. The Lord really does work in mysterious ways and now when we look back at that short visit, we know that is what started everything and we are so grateful to have her here with us...but that is a whole other post that will come later!!

What a fabulously fun summer we had. The highlights were definitely moving into our new house and immediately having visitors to use our new "guest room!" We are still open for visitors anytime!