april showers bring may flowers...

When we moved here just over year ago, I really didn't pay too much attention to the outside of our house because there was WAY too much to be done to the inside.  This spring, it's almost as though things that have been dormant and dead are starting to show themselves to us, slowly but surely.

I was doing some weeding with Eden in our front flower beds and this is what we were surrounded with:

I'm amazed at the different varieties that God chose to use in His creation of nature.

This little girl kept saying, "It's so beautiful, Mama! Pretty flowers everywhere!"

(Gosh I love this girl!)
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Today we are headed to Big Bear with our close friends from college and all of our families to get some time away to connect.
We are really excited about it and we can't wait to make some special memories with some very special people in our lives!

a day of a little of this and a little of that...

Somedays are pretty planned and have a schedule to them, other days, we kind of just go with it.  The other day, it was one of those days of just going with it, and I realized that with all of the "schedules" in my life, it is really nice to just go with the flow.

On this particular day, after Ryder was dropped off at school, Eden and I made our menu of the week and grocery shopped for everything.  We came home, assembled a BBQ chicken crock pot and assembled teacher appreciation gifts for Ryder's teachers:

Then, feeling very accomplished and productive, we did pedicures and watched Tangled:

The color is cute as a button by Essie.

Seems an appropriate color name for toes like these: 

After getting Ryder from school, we headed home and they just played together.

It's not even that they play "together", but that they are in the same space together, knowing that they each missed each other.  They went down for naps and about an hour later, Ryder woke up and we watched an episode of "Chopped".  It's our post nap tradition.

Ryder got a card for his birthday from his sunday school teacher, 

Ms Debbie:

(I mean, this sweet woman's generous heart and spoiling our little guy!)

We wrote her a thank you card, and he was so excited to tell her thank you and sign her card! Then Kit got home early and we ate dinner, then afterwards in the backyard, Ryder kicked the soccer ball around while Eden, ran around in her Elsa dress.  It was a simple day, but really filled with such joy and fulfillment.  Just a day filled with a little of this and that... One of those days that you wish you were able to have more often...♥

It's official...

... as of fall, we will be a soccer family.

This last saturday we signed Ryder up for soccer this coming fall and he is SO EXCITED!!!  We celebrated the morning with doughnuts and milk, you know, kicking off our athletic history as a family with some good old fashion sugar...♥

 Then we headed over to a local school for completing the paperwork.

 Did I mention that Ryder is SO EXCITED!!!

 Yep, we will have a child in AYSO, which makes me a soccer mom.

(Can you imagine the volume that will be taking place having Eden and I on the side lines?!?)

Kit had the BEST memories growing up and playing soccer and baseball, and being on the local teams and getting to know kids not only through school but also kids that you played sports with.  I however, have the coordination of a snow pea so those are memories that, alas, I do not have, but I trust Kit when he tells me that it was AWESOME and that this will be amazing for Ryder...  You know I am so jealous of those coordinated folks out there.  Good thing Ryder has Kit's athletic genes!♥

Friday Family Days

Since I have been able to work on Thursdays, (thank you so much MOM for making that happen!), we have been trying to be incredible diligent at carving outFriday as a family day. There isn't anything super crazy about what we do, but it's just so special to be together.  Right now, friday are Kit's only day off so we capitalize on that time.

This last friday, while Kit was dropping Ryder off at school, Eden and I tackled another one of my (fake) green thumb projects for the kitchen.

I used lichen from Shaver Lake as the filler.

Our herb garden died, and the real succulents just weren't able to get sun, so I just couldn't keep anything alive there.  I know when I've been beat...

Kit made us cappuccinos and Eden kept sneaking sips...

She looks pretty innocent right?

Don't be fooled...♥

Then, after we picked up Ryder from school, we decided to get lunch at a new place that Kit had recently been introduced to:

 Those are truffle fries and they were so GOOD! We are definitely fans of this place...

We headed home for nap time, where only Eden napped since Ryder was too hopped up on lemonade and soda from lunch.  So he and Kit decided to tackle the garage: a project that has been looming over Kit for months!  (With all of the events that we had hosted, and the traveling that we have done, we realized that we hadn't put stuff away from when Kit went to India!)  

We always get so much more done when we have our "helpers"...

Kit was ecstatic with the result.

Then we absolutely feasted on an incredible pasta dinner:

(My Papa Sal taught Kit how to make a red sauce (or gravy), and he makes it just like him...)

Eden's face says, "Leave me alone, I'm eating!"

We ended our day with watching a movie, having popcorn and hot chocolate.

Oh you guys, I can't tell you how AMAZING days like these are for our family.  We feel like we are ready to tackle the world!

I live with elsa...

I am not exagerating, (which I know I am prone to do...) but since Eden got this dress as a special reward for potty training, she is rarely seen without wearing it.   I mean she wears it 

ALL. THE. TIME.
For example:

While doing puzzles:

Playing house:

Stealing my iPad to take photos:

Baking:

Having a meltdown when she doesn't get what she wants:

Sleeping:

I mean, it's so tiring being queen...♥
This dress is getting a lot of love from this little girl.