Scrapbooking...

As summer comes to a close (though the weather is definitely still in summer mode) I had some fun today doing a little scrapbooking on some of our summer adventures. Between taking the photos, then editing them, then organizing them in my photo albums to look at later, which I really like to do, I have so much fun with the whole process of scrapbooking.

I hope that you have fun doing something today that you really enjoy!

trying out Pinterest recipes...

I got the recipe off of Pinterest and I made it for dinner last night and it was tasty, so I thought I would share it with you.

Sliced baked potatoes :

Method Preheat the oven to 220˚C (425˚F). Put the potato on a chopping board, flat side down. Start from one end of the potato, cut almost all the way through, at about 3 to 4 mm intervals. Arrange the potatoes in a baking tray and insert the garlic in between the slits. Scatter some butter on top of each potato. Then drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.

The thing that we think would make it better is if you baked it in foil. that way the butter and olive oil doesn't run and I think it would cook more evenly. Even saying that Kit wanted to make it again. I served it with sautéed spinach and caprese salad.

Dick Van Dyke and Mad Men style...

Since we spent the weekend sick and trying to lay low and get better, I spent Ryder's nap time either sleeping or watching The Dick Van Dyke Show on Netflix. I love the clothing style of that time. It definitely feeds my addiction to other shows like Mad Men.

So, while we were on vacation a couple of weeks ago, I was very excited to come across a Banana Republic window featuring a line of clothes inspired by Mad Men:

I can see Mary Tyler Moore in each of these...

Window shopping is very very fun!

thankfulness...

Our whole family has been sick, starting with Kit last week, then Ryder got it over the weekend and then I got it at the beginning of the week. We have been fighting coughs, runny noses, ear infections and sleepless nights. I have been making sure that BOTH of my boys take their medicine and drinking enough water and getting enough sleep, while trying to get over my own yuckiness of a cold.

So while running errands, picking up things like children's tylenol and chicken soup, I saw this in my rearview mirror:

and I had a moment of thankfulness. He was totally peaceful and resting. No wheezing. No coughing.

We were supposed to be on vacation this weekend with some of our close friends, at our family's cabin, but because we were sick, the trip was canceled. Needless to say, thankfulness has not been on the forefront of my brain. Things put that in perspective.

trust

I am reading the book "One Thousand Gifts" and this little passage really stood out to me so I wanted to share it with you...

"I glance back in the mirror to the concrete bridge , the one I've boldly driven straight across without a second thought, and I see truth reflecting back at me: Every time fear freezes and worry writhes, every time I surrender to stress, aren't I advertising the unreliability of God? That I really don't believe? But I'm grateful to the Bridge Builder for the crossing of a million strong bridges, thankful for a million faithful moments, my life speaks and I trust him again. I fearlessly cross the next bridge."

I struggle with worry and stress and this little passage spoke to me in such a profound way that I just stopped reading right there and just prayed for a more trusting heart towards my Jesus.I am so thankful that He is patient with me...

Pinterest...

I have finally joined the world of Pinterest, and I have been having so much fun getting ideas. There are such creative people out there! I love following you guys.

Happy pinning everyone!

Tomatoes...

We have been having a ton of tomatoes and my all time favorite thing to do with them is make a Caprese salad. So the other day I was at Trader Joe's and bought a package of their ready to use pizza dough and made a Caprese pizza. It was so easy and Kit and Ryder loved it!

Note my criteria for a good meal now includes BOTH my guys...

We could literally just eat them all by themselves, but that might not really make a good dinner all by itself... or could it? (My brother-in-law is pitting out right now at the thought of that...)

We're back!

We had a wonderful trip on our vacation with my family last week. The place was amazing!

Our view:

There was lots of time with everyone, riding bikes walking on the beach, walking around farmer's markets, and eating meals together:

We took a Duffy out on the canals:

We spent time at the Santa Barbara Zoo:

There is an area at the zoo that has a mound of astroturf and the kiddos could slide down it:

We met up with Kit's parents at the zoo and it was so fun being together:

We had lots of time to hang around, take walks together, watch movies, play games and just be together.

Mom and Dad~

Thank you so much for such a wonderful vacation!

We couldn't love you more!

family time!

We are off to be with my family for a week of vacation by the beach! I will have lots of photos and updates when we get back. Have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Sky High

Kit took Ryder with him to a youth event last night. I was feeling under the weather and we knew Ryder would love it. They went to Sky High, a warehouse sized room of trampolines. Ryder had so much fun!

And why not check out the arcade too?

Thank you Kit for taking the little man! I love how much he wants to be with you!

a trip to the water park

A few blocks from our house is a water park that kids can run around in. Ryder loved it! It's so fun to watch him enjoy something so much. I always wonder what he's thinking...

Ryder Rae, you are one of my favorite people to hang out with...

date night

Last night we went on a date night. I'm embarrassed to say the last time that we had a date but needless to say, it was such a wonderful evening!

Kit Rae, I just adore you!

Thanks for an incredible date!

New toy!

Kit has dreamed about a bike seat for Ryder since we found out that we were pregnant with him, so it is no surprise that the purchase was finally made this last week.

Ryder loves it, and Kit is so happy to finally be able to take the little man out. The helmet will arrive this week. It looks so cute on him.

Thanks Pavone's for letting us try all your stuff out!

Now we need to schedule a date for a family bike ride...

Breakfast Burritos...

There is an AMAZING Mexican food place here in Fullerton named El Camino and it happens to be less than a 10 minute walk from our house.

If you are over in our area, we would love to join you for some of the best Mexican food ever!

My favorites are the the chicken tacos and the breakfast burritos... YUM!

If you have a chance, check it out, you will NOT be disappointed!

Who needs a 'P'...

Our friends daughter just brought this poster over to us. She wanted to make it for us in response to one of the things she learned at VBS. Sarah is 7.

I just wanted to cry, she is so precious!

time with Ryder's Grandad and Grandi

We just got to spend two days with Kit's parents and Ryder was in HEAVEN! It was filled with building with Legos, wrestling, reading books (Sometimes on their iPad) and lots of playing chase, catching and throwing all sorts of objects.

We are so thankful to have you guys in our lives. Ryder is very lucky to have two sets of grandparents that he loves so much!

Grandi and Grandad, Ryder loves every chance he gets to be with you and we are so thankful to have you in our lives.

published

Our good friends Michael and Michelle recently came out with a text book titled "A Theology of Family Ministry" and they invited Kit to participate in a chapter on children and spiritual formation.

We just received a copy and it was such a proud moment for me. In the ministry world, there is probably nothing that excites Kit more than combining children, families and spiritual formation, so to be part of a project like this was such a gift for me because I got to watch Kit do something that he is so passionate about!

We love you Anthony's and congratulations!