getting her balance...

This is what you will find us doing at least once a day:

Ryder was just over three when he learned to ride  a two wheeler and he is crazy fast and coordinated.

We attribute that to this balance bike:

(And the fact that he has his father's genes...♥)

Eden glides, feet up, down hill, and stays completely straight.  She turns and maneuvers around things just like her brother does.  It makes me realize how fast they grow up.  She's finding her balance, just like her brother did.  My goodness, it's fun to watch them!

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

Yesterday we went with our friends the Pavones to check out the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.  Ryder and Eden had been before with Kit's parents, but it was the first time for everyone else.

There was lots to see and do!

Seth was the only one that we could contain in the stroller with snacks...

We capitalized on that.

Eden was in charge of the map, a role that she gave herself:

The kids loved the exhibit halls with all the mammals:

 Ryder runs up to this exhibit of mule deers and shouts, "MOM THESE ARE THE ONES DADDY SHOOTS!!!" (I really didn't have a follow up to that other than yep...)

 Ryder loved all the interactive stuff and ANYTHING that had to do with dinosaurs:

 Angelina was so sweet to talk through things in the cases and displays, while I chased my daughter from here to Timbuktu...

 The kids loved anything that they were allowed to touch and interact with and there was a whole exhibit that was just for that:

She had heard they moved slow, but this was ridiculous...♥

My little guy got excited about everything, but when you put a gun exhibit next to where the paleontologists are cleaning artifacts, you get this expression...

We had headed to the museum after our morning swim lesson and afterwards we headed to dinner at Chic-Fil-A.  Our kids were beat and the mamas weren't much better, but it was a great day and we are so thankful hat we had the time together... 

We love you Ang, Micah, and Seth! 

backyard discoveries

A few days ago, I came out to our backyard to play soccer with Kit and the kiddos and saw them all huddled around a small object: 

 It had a broken wing and was having a hard time getting around:

We ended up watching this little guy for almost an hour before we relocated him to a leafy part of our yard, out of the way of the sprinklers.

There are so many things that we love about our new house, but one of the things that I have discovered that I love the most is how functional the outdoor space is, with it's covered patio and large trees for shade throughout the day.  We are outside so much more here and have been loving it!

Can you tell it's been a little hot in our neck of the woods?

Sweaty babies and rosy cheeks say it all...♥

sunday fun day

Yesterday Kit preached his first official sunday morning ROCKHARBOR sermon from Luke 12.  He has done several speaking engagements of the years but this was a very special first for our family.

He preached in a passage in Luke 12 on money and greed and worry and being free and rich in Christ.  I am so proud of him.  He did an amazing job...

Our good friend Meghan took this. Thank you sweet friend for capturing this special moment for us♥.

Then after naps, the guys did some target practice while Eden and ran some errands:

We are finding that Ryder's top love languages are physical touch and quality time, hence why wrestling and snuggles are such a big deal in our house.  Afternoons like this bring both of my guys such joy!

After bath time, I came into the room to this image:

(I snuck this picture, pretending that I was organizing Eden's pjs on Ryder's bed...)

They love being together and reading...
Then Ryder got a few quiet moments while I put Eden down for the night, and here is where I found him:

This kid.  He just cracks me up...
Then when the kids were down and Kit was still at our evening church service, I got to organize Mount Hermon photos:

 Nobody around to want to use my double sided tape, or watching for little fingers that are curious about the paper cutter, or little girls who think all the pictures are THEIRS so they want to hold and fold them all up and place them in their armpit thinking that you can't see them...  It was a wonderfully quiet way to end the day!
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Overall, yesterday was a great day, full of milestones and special family moments♥.

We are excited for all that this week will hold!

kisses

 Oh these two...

I'm so glad that they have each other...♥