structure...

Our family thrives on structure and planning.  We are at our best when we know what to expect and what is expected of us.  Because of the intensity of distance learning, and then being gone with family in Shaver, we decided to implement a schedule last week and it has been AWESOME!

 These have been great, we have used them before and I'm happy with them.

 We are now a week in and the kids are killing it!  There are incentives and goals and little things to work towards...

 There's fun and laughter in our days...

 There is out door time...

 ...and we always make room for treats...

I'm so thankful that we are in a groove that everyone is happy with and where there is lots of joy in our house!

Time with family...

Last week, the kids and I headed out to Redlands to spend time with our Mia and Papa...

The gardened and made lunch from what they harvested:

We swam:

And we watched movies:

It felt like a really fun, NORMAL summer day, and with all that has been going around us, it was just what we needed... We love you Mia and Papa!

listening and learning

Last week we learned about Juneteenth and this week, we talked about the Lovings and the legalization of interracial marriage in 1967.

We decide to watch the movie "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" together...

It came out in 1967...

As parents, Kit and I  not only want to create for ourselves space to listen and learn, but also teaching our kids to listen and learn as well. We are listening and we will continue to be humbled and grateful for opportunities as a family that we have to learn and so that we can better love and advocate for those around us.

Uprade...

Every June, our church has a special weekend where they celebrate the kiddos going up a class in our children's ministry.  Because of Covid, they did a drive through this last weekend and the kids LOVED it!

Our favorite volunteers were there cheering in the kids...

 Our families pastoral team is just incredible!

There were streamer guns, doughnuts, goodie bags, certificates and lots and lots of celebrating...

 Rocky even made an appearance from our children's services...

I can't believe that we have a 3rd and 5th grader...

Father's Day 2020

Celebrating this man is my favorite thing to do!

I was scheduled to work on Father's Day so we had a little celebration on Saturday:
We took a slow morning making breakfast together, then Kit went for a bike ride and came back and we went to the pool for the first time this summer!

We ordered food from our favorite Mexican food place...

Then we all snuggled up to watch Jurassic Park Lost World.  We have been going through them and the kids LOVE them!  They kids gave him a Michael Symon BBQ apron and a bread making book.  Both are already being used...❤︎
~~~~~~~~~~~

Kit Rae, I knew when I met you that you would be an incredible dad... but you have exceeded every dream and expectation I could have ever had or hoped for.  You love us fiercely, serve us humbly, lead us boldly, and hold us with strength and compassion.  We all just simply adore you and we love that you are ours...

Shaver Lake 2020

Our time away with family in Shaver Lake was so sweet...

 The Sierras will always be Kit's favorite place...

There was lots of cousin time:

 

 Aunt Megan made shirts for the kiddos!

We had lots of sweet outdoor adventures.
(Hiking, swimming, fishing, paddle boarding, repeat...)
Indian pools:

 

Learning to Fly fish with Uncle Andrew: 

We had a lake day:

 

Celebrating this guy's 40th after he had a morning of fishing with hi brother Andrew: 

And we all had family time at Dinkey Creek!

 Ryder loves catching fish and loves his cousin Gunnar even more!

 I was reading in the hammock...

He's FORTY!

 

 

 And there were even five deer right outside the cabin that we got to see!

We hiked to "the Burn", the place that Ryder and Kit always go for the birthday overnight backpacking trips:
The day was filled with natural water slides, swimming, fishing, and rock jumping...

Someone was very tired at the end of the day...

Our last day was spent on a boat on the lake...

 Paddle boarding was so fun!

 The girls leading us home...

We loved our time together and we always miss it as soon as we leave!

Until next time...