Family Trip to San Clemente Part 2

The Airbnb we stayed at had surf boards and boogie boards for us to use.  Adam and Emily tried the surf boards, and just about all the older kids had fun boogie boarding.  I think the photos show just how much fun it was!

 Tessa heading out to boogie board with Dad

Tessa

 Robbie

 Emily

Here are just a few more random photos from our trip.  We really enjoyed our Airbnb, eating out at a local pizza place, and walking along the pier in the evening.  We also had a doughnut shop across the street from our house called Surfin Donuts Coffee House.  Most mornings Adam and a couple kids walked across the street to buy a few yummy doughnuts for the day.

Family Trip to San Clemente Part 1

Having grown up near the coast in Washington State, day trips to the beach have long been a part of my life.  I love trips to the ocean where the vastness of the ocean brings to mind the grandeur of God, and looking in shallow water and tide pools becomes a treasure hunt for seashells.  I want my kids to experience that as well, though it won't happen nearly as frequently for them.  With that in mind, Adam and I decided to rent an Airbnb in Southern California for our family's 2019 Spring Break.

The closest beach to our house was part of San Celemente State Beach.  Most mornings, we loaded up our van with beach chairs, umbrella, boogie boards, blanket, etc. to spend the morning and early afternoon at the beach.  A lot of other families visiting the beach stayed longer, but we usually got their a little earlier and left earlier for a late lunch and a nap for 18-month-old Natalie.  It really isn't easy to picnic at the beach with kids--sand ends up in everything.  So we opted to eat at the house.  It worked out really well as by then the kids were tired from the sun and ready to relax at the house while Nat napped.

Adam walking the beach with Natalie 

    

Natalie and Kari

                                         

James getting ready to race the wave to shore

  

Tessa building a sandcastle

Our spot at the beach

Running from the wave!

Michael finding treasures along the shore

 

                   
                                         
                                            

                                

"Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them." Psalm 89: 9

March Dance and Musicals

Dancing and singing! Emily’s dance class recently performed at the high school Drill Review.  They did well dancing in sync to “This is Me”.  Robbie performed in his elementary school’s musical, 101 Dalmatians. Robbie did great playing the understudy for Horace alongside his classmates and helping out as stage crew.  Both Emi and Robbie came to me asking to be involved in these activities.  That’s great because then I know they have a genuine interest, and I am happy to see them discovering their interests and talents!

A Family Home Evening Post

 

For a recent Family Home Evening, we had a good time sharing with the kids what their names mean.  We've done this before and have learned some things that we didn't know before, like that Tessa in Greek means "fourth born", which is pretty interesting considering Tessa is our fourth child.  The kids really enjoy remembering the meaning behind each other's names, most especially their own!  

We finished the evening with treats as usual, this time sugar cookies cut out in the shapes of our initials.  That made for a lot of letters, but we couldn't leave anyone out!

Katelyn

James

Tessa cutting out cookie letters alongside James and Robbie

Robbie

Michael—caught him squinting :)

Emily

Adam had the idea to arrange the cookies in a fun way--his initials and mine followed by each of the kids'.

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22: 1

Baby Natalie Newborn Photos

I found a quiet moment at home to take photos of newborn baby Natalie.  I like taking the photos at home myself, as I have done with all my babies when they were newborn.  She is wearing a little dress my mom gave us--I love the soft colors and textures in her outfit and in the background. 

Sweet baby Natalie Pearl at one month of age.