Social Distancing-Ladder Canyon Trail in Painted Canyon

One of our days in the dessert was spent in Painted Canyon, where we did the Ladder Canyon Trail.

It has landed itself Kit's top 5 all time favorite hikes!

 There are literally ladders embedded in the caves to help you climb from one place to another.

The kids were such troopers.  We asked Eden how she was doing and she said, "I can do anything, as long as you guys help me."

The views were breathtaking...

 It was such fun day! One that we will never forget!

Then next day was spent close to home but we got to see something that is incredibly rare on a morning outing with my sister and brother... 
I might have lost my mind with excitement!

Social Distancing-Palm Springs and Tahquitz Canyon and Falls

The last two weeks had been scheduled as a family vacation with my side of the family for over a year.  We were supposed to be in Croatia, Italy and Slovenia.  Then that was canceled and and we switched to London.  right before we were to leave, the travel ban was placed and we knew that we were staying put.  Since we are in the middle of social distancing, we headed out, as a family to the desert, rented a house and stayed put.  The restrictions seemed to change daily and so as things changed, we continued to adapt together.  So over the next few days, I wanted to document our adventures...

 We headed to date shakes at favorite road trip stop.

 The house was beautiful!

 Little fish...

 Games, movies, and food!

Our first day we hiked to Tahquitz falls!

 It was beautiful.  Exploring the desert is new for us and we had so much fun!

Tomorrow I will show you a place that we went that landed on Kit's top 5 places he has ever hiked. (And he has done A LOT of hikes...)

It came!

We are in the middle of a pandemic with the coronavirus.  There has been fear, anxiety and heartbreak around the world.  Our prayers have been looking outward to those around us, near and far that are effected by it all.
Personally it has caused changes and disappointments.
Things have been indefinitely postponed, things have attempted to be rescheduled, and things have been cancelled.
But in the midst of all of that, today is the last day of school before Spring Break.
Though so many unknowns surround us, and our hearts are heavy and our prayers are joining with those across the globe, I'm reminded , when you strip it all away, family time will always be the best time. I am grateful for things that recalibrate my heart to what truly matters most, and draw me to the Maker who holds it all.

Adventure awaits for this little family of mine and we are excited to unplug and just be present together!

dreaming of day dates...

Thursdays might be my work days, but that won't stop me from dreaming of dating this man at our favorite hole in the wall restaurants on Fridays...

The play room is growing up...

When we moved in, Eden had just turned two and Ryder was about to turn four.  They moved in with so many toys and we were transitioning toys to what Ryder wasn't playing with but that Eden was beginning to enjoy.

Here it is when we first moved in:

 Those days were slow and sweet and so many early memories were made in that room...

It has been so loved but so many things, the kids have outgrown.  Here it has been recently:

 With the addition of the sewing machine, we have been able to transition from the toys, to more crafting space. So after several bags were taken to Goodwill and toys given to sweet friends, and a fun new purchase was made, we now have this:

It might not seem like the biggest change, but man does it feel good in here!

 It's so fun to think of all the memories that will be made here and  the things that Eden will create here!