Spring Break 2016

Spring break came early this year.  I think perhaps because it was a leap year?  Anyway, Easter ended up being on the last Sunday in March and the girls had a full week off before Easter.  I decided I wanted to pack in as much fun as I possibly could.  On the first day off the girls and I packed up and headed down to San Jose to visit family.  We were so lucky that Heather booked us a night stay at the fancy Embassy Suites.  They met us there and after we checked in the first thing they wanted to do was go swimming.  We suited up and headed to the pool.  They all had such a fun time swimming and playing that they were bummed when we said it was time to get dressed for dinner.  Lucky for them another surprise was in store!  Auntie Alisha, Michelle and Alana met up with us for dinner and then ice cream.  After bellies were full we headed back to the hotel for a slumber party!  They stayed up late watching movies and then konked out.  Good thing they got a good nights rest because the next day I had planned to go exploring at Natural Bridges State Park.  We drove over the hill and picked up some sandwiches then headed to the beach!  The first thing we did was go explore tide pools.  There was much to see!  Sea anemones, crabs, muscles and all sorts of fun shells.  After exploring we decided to have fun playing in the sand.  All the girls couldn't resist playing in the water and digging in the sand.  Auntie Michelle & Uncle Kevin joined us at the beach as well.  Then we headed to visit Poppy & Grammy before having a slumber party at Heather's house.  After a short but fun trip we drove home.  During the next week I took them to the movies, rollerskating, to fro-yo and the girls had Maddelynn & Makalya sleep over.  

Easter came and it was a pretty low key Easter this year.  We went to church and then headed to Mimi's house for dinner.  Uncle Mike & Mary joined us and we ate and watched a funny show on TV.  The next Monday was the last day of spring break and I had planned a family fun day.  First on the agenda was Daffodil Hill.  It's supposed to be a fun farm that you can walk around and enjoy.  Well the day when we left was sunny and beautiful, by the time we got up to Amador County it was COLD . . I mean almost snowing cold!!  After driving for quite awhile on roads we didn't know we got a little bit of cell reception.  Well turns out Daffodil Hill was closed - FOR THE SEASON!  Big bummer.  I felt sad and defeated.  Well, we decided to go check out my 2nd stop I had planned.  Black Chasm Caverns.  It's a National Landmark and sounded fun.  We got to the Caverns and had hoped to have a picnic but it was SOOOOO cold that Faith, Tegan and I ate in the car - with the heater on.  Aaron and Hailee decided to eat at the picnic tables.  After a quick lunch we headed into the caverns/cave.  It was SO cool and the girls really enjoyed it.  After a 45 min. tour we bought some goodies in the gift shop then decided to leave.  On the way back we noticed some t-pees.  Turns out Indian Grinding Rock Sate Park was on the road home.  We swung in and walked through the museum then out to explore the grounds.  It was unexpected and pretty awesome.  There was lots of laughter and smiles from everyone.  It was a SUPER fun day and one that we all loved!  I would say that spring break was a huge success!!

Headed to the pool with cousins at the fancy hotel!

Tegan viewing the world upside down!

Faith pondering life . . 

Hailee and I going to explore tide pools

Easter Sunday!!

Getting ready to enter the Chasm (cave)

We are getting ready to explore!

Lots of stairs to climb down (and then back up!)

So cool seeing all the wonders of the cave!

Tegan picked her home!

So cold out but still having fun exploring the park!

That's a wrap!

Starting fresh

My oh my.  I'm not sure why I've stepped away from this blog so long but it's due time I come back.  I love having this blog to go back and see where we have been and things we have done and memories created.  With that - it would take me a LONG time to go back and update this "GAP" in blog land of over one full year and 4 months!  So perhaps at some point I will do a recap of the year missing but for now I'm just going to start from square one.

School.

It's no surprise to anyone that we (okay - I) have been struggling with the issue of school since Hailee was in Kindergarten.  For a lack of better description I have never been at peace with where the girls were attending school.  It was either in a low income school that was borderline Title 1 or in the RICHEST school on the planet practically.  I have prayed over the girls and the situation and this year we did yet another school change.  We decided to put them in the schools they are supposed to attend because of where we live.  Over summer I was super anxious just not know how the girls would accept and adapt to this change.  For Tegan, it meant starting a new school without her sisters.  A school she was not familiar with.  However, she did know a small handful of kids that she attended preschool with so that was somewhat of a comfort.  For Faith, she knew our next door neighbor and another girl from church camp but that was it.  However, Faith struggled with friendships for the past 3 years so she and I were excited for the prospect of meeting nice new friends.  Hailee was the most nervous.  Here she is starting a new school the last year of elementary school.  Going in a new 6th grader to a place where she knows not one soul.  NERVE WRACKING. 

The first day of school came and Tegan and Faith nervously walked into their classroom and waved goodbye.  Hailee has her first male teacher and there were small tears her first day not knowing what to expect.  After hugging her goodbye she started her first day of 6th grade.  Aaron took the day off of work since the girls also happened to start school on our 14th wedding anniversary.  He comforted me all day while I was a wreck wondering how my babies were doing in their new schools.  After what seemed to be the LONGEST day in history it was pick up time.  The smiles on all three of their faces confirmed that we had done the right thing.  God has blessed us TREMENDOUSLY with this decision.  All three girls are thriving in their new schools.  Everyone has made friendships that I already see blossoming into something beautiful.  Hailee's anxiety has almost all but disappeared overnight.  She LOVES her teacher and her friends.  Faith is involved in almost all activities.  She's in choir, yearbook committee, fish club, running club and is trying to start an art club.  She has a great set of friends and her self esteem is at an all time high!  Tegan is a C3 (her classroom number) superstar and has made so many new friends and has rekindled her old preschool friendships.  It's so fun to see her in her own environment loving to learn! 

In all this I've learned a lot.  Patience that God's plan is bigger and better than mine.  I need to be quiet and listen to His voice and walk down the path that He has set before me.  I need to be able to trust fully in Him and not doubt.  By being faithful to the prompting of making this change - although VERY scary - has blessed our family beyond measure.  I leave home everyday HAPPY that my kids are going to great schools and making great friends.  I drop them off everyday thanking God for this blessing and for the first time in 7 years, I am at peace.  Let this be a reminder to stop and listen to the whispers of the Lord.  Sometimes, in those whispers our biggest blessings come. 

 

First day of 6th, 4th & 1st

 

Tegan loving her new playground!

 

Hailee and her new friend Audrey

 

Faith after her school jog-a-thon with her 2 best friends Brittany & Ayeshia

BIRTHDAY'S!

Well we may have just celebrated Faith's 8th and Aaron's 36th birthday but I realized I never wrote about Hailee's 10th birthday!  So this will be about everyone's birthday!

Since Hailee turned the big 1-0 we had a birthday party for her!  She chose to have her party at the ice skating rink.  We invited some family and some of her friends from school and it was a blast!  Hailee got to race go karts on the ice, ride the zamboni, skate with friends, party in the party room . . . . it was a great celebration!

 getting ready to race on the ice!

 taking a spin on the zamboini!

Happy Birthday to our 10 year old!!

For Faith's 8th birthday she decided that she wanted to go to the Ocean!  The last time we took the girls to the ocean, Hailee was 4, Faith was 2 and Tegan was in my belly!!  I think it was about time we took a visit back.  Aaron was working in Morgan Hill so we drove down on Faith's birthday and met Aaron for dinner at Faith's choice of restaurant - Red Robbin.  She was so excited to have the people sing to her.  The next day was Aaron's birthday and he had to work half day.  After he was done I was able to pick him up and we went out with Danny and Samantha to Aaron's choice of dinner - mexican!  Then we went out for a birthday drink.  We were up bright and early the next day to head to Santa Cruz!  It was such a pretty day and we lucked out with no fog!  However, it was a bit chilly but that didn't stop the girls from play in the waves, building sand castles, collecting shells, burying themselves and digging for sand crabs.  After a long day in the water and sun we headed down to Capitoal and had a yummy dinner at Zelda's on the beach overlooking the ocean.  However, all good things must come to an end and we had to head all the way home after dinner.  It was a great birthday celebration for both Faith and Aaron!

 It was a 2 thumbs up kind of day!

 Tegan and her treasures

Faith was super excited to see a lighthouse that she learned about in school!

 Hailee was busy building a sand castle

 our 3 blessings

 my 4 blessings  ;)

Happy 8th birthday!

5th Annual Wine Weekend!

This year marked our fifth (and my 6th) year of going to the El Dorado Passport Wine Weekend!  It's such a fun event put on by the El Dorado region wineries.  This year we went with Chad, Tiffany, Jamie and Susie.  Since we have been doing it for so long now, we know just which wineries are our favorite and have the best wines, food and pairings.  We lucked out and had such BEAUTIFUL weather!  It was a picture perfect day.