A sad discovery (Ok maybe I'm being dramatic.)

I have a lot of blogging to catch up on from the past two weeks; but it's going to have to wait. Right now my heart hurts a little-Ok, it's going to sound completely ridiculous to most of you but when I tucked Andrew into bed tonight, I noticed the beginning of some hair forming on his upper lip. I have had a pit in my stomach since. I know I'm being dramatic, I just can't help it. It's just that he's my first baby boy and to me he's still a little boy{I'm trying to ignore the tears in my eyes.) I've taken such comfort from the fact that he still loves to play with toys and all the boy stuff that 11 year old do. But when I saw what could be the beginning of a mustache I got very sad But God made it clear to me tonight that we are on the threshold. We need wisdom from our Lord how to train and lead these boys that I love so much. My prayer is that my boys will grow to honor, obey, and fear the Lord of Creation. There are times I feel so unworthy and incapable to lead them. Thanks to the Lord for his abundant mercy and love.

Pics from this week.

Luke making snowflakes for our window
Jaden getting talked to by a Roman soldier at "Back to Bethlehem" Christine and my dad going to the Master's College Christmas concert
Our Thankful Tree that Christine made

Christine pulled out all of her stuffed animals for Livy to play with-she was giddy.

If I could save time in a bottle.....

So, I'm sitting here trying to remember what we did this week, what made it feel so busy that it's all a blur to me now? It started me on another train of thought-how fast time goes. Sometimes it's downright painful to think about it, how big my kids are getting, how long ago it seems that we got married, how my baby girl that was just born yesterday but is now turning three on Tuesday, and how my firstborn, Christine, is now two inches taller than me (and she's only 12.) It's funny because we take so many pictures and videos of the kids and yet it's sometimes so hard to look at them all because it reminds me of how fast our life is flying by us (another reason I homeschool.) But, I can say that there are wonderful things about kids getting older. You can have such amazing conversations about the Lord and you can start to see them becoming their own person with their own set of strengths and weeknesses. Another benefit is how much the older kids can help. This week for our co-op school day Christine got to teach the little kids because my friend, Yvette, was out of town. For science we were covering rainbows so she made rainbow jello cups. They turned out so cute. As hard as it is to raise kids it is so rewarding and fulfilling. I'm so grateful to be able to be home with my kids being their mommy.

Our Thanksgiving Tradition

Christine and Reagan

Livy and Andrew

The Sauer Family

Steve decorating our annual jello salad.

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. Our tradition every year is that we go to my Aunt Judi and Uncle Paul's house. This year more family were able to come into town so it was extra special. My dear cousin Aaron, his wife, Nicole, and their two boys, have been in town all weekend and we have had such a fun time with them and the rest of my family. I am so thankful for my family and feel extra blessed to have them. My cousin, Aaron, makes me laugh like no other. He is so funny. So, there isn't anything extra-ordinary to write about; just a wonderful weekend with wonderful people.

The joys of a little girl in her polka-dot jammies.

A little behind......

Better late than never. I wanted to post some pictures I loved from Halloween. Steve, Christine and Drew were in Mexico; but we had so much fun trick or treating with family and friends.

Livy and Avery-little princesses

Jaden was a ninja but looked more like a terrorist.

Luke and Jake were constantly being asked for a "Double, Double."

Livy and Coley be precious.

Her dress was not overly comfortable-she hasn't learned that beauty is pain.

A good big brother

Tonight Livy wasn't feeling well. The sweet part is that, for some reason, all she wanted was Andrew. I was proud of him because he was in the middle of doing something he really loved but he stopped because she needed him. He got down on the floor and played Littlest Pet Shop with her and cheered her up. It's little things like that that just warm my heart and help me get through the more challenging times.

Respectable Sins

That's the name of a book we're reading in our home group. Let me just tell you that I've only read three chapters and am already feeling about an inch tall-which is a good thing. There are so many areas that I want to grow in spiritually. My biggest struggle right now is that I feel like I have a lack of Zeal for God. I feel like a lukewarm Christain right now. My friend Andrea lent me the book 'When I Don't Desire God.' by Jon Piper. I have it next to my bed right now and am planning to read it soon. So my prayer to God right now is "Lord, please help me love you and have a passion for You." On kind of a side note, this morning I was reading a Psalms to the kids before school and I randomly choose Psalm 139,

"Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up, You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold O Lord , you know it altogether."

The funny part is that when I was reading my book tonight the same Psalms I had read in the morning was being used as an example in the book. It's very convicting to remember how well the Lord knows us; he knows what we will say before we say it. He knows our thoughts (even when we're able to hide them from others.) My prayer is that I will seek to please Him more than other people and that I will choose to lay aside my selfish desires for His will.

A little slice of Heaven

Walking into town in Carpinteria
Nice, Jaden

Steve's rock art-he did it with all of our names

The bridge near our campsite

Surprise, you caught a shark

This past month has been extra special. It started with a trip to Oceanside for a few days to see my parents while they were vacationing there. We stayed right on the beach and had such a blast. Then this past week we went camping on the beach in Carpinteria in my cousin's RV. I'm still lamenting that it's over. It was almost the perfect vacation. My cousin Julie and her family were there for the first half of the week then the second half of the week was just our fam. We spent our time sitting on the beach, eating and then sitting on the beach some more. Steve, Jon and the kids did tons of fishing. Jaden, Steve and Christine even caught little sharks and Luke caught a Halibut. Altogether about 50 fish and right off the shore! It was truly the best family time we have had in a long time. We were able to just linger and enjoy each other-we spent most of the time on the beach but we also walked to town a few times, fed ducks, read, and watched The Office and Nacho Libre in the RV (such refined taste.) There were many times I would have liked to freeze time. I hope we can do it again soon. With our family size it is becoming the only vacation we can afford. Now it's back to real life again. Not quite back into the swing of things but getting there slowly. This Friday Steve, Christine and Drew go to Mexico for a weekend mission trip so maybe I'll catch up then. Thank you, Lord, for this crazy, wonderful life.

Mom and Dad

We celebrated my dad's 64th b'day the other night at Macaroni Grill. I love these pictures of him and my mom. I feel so blessed to have them live just a couple miles away. They are always so loving and patient with my kids-such a blessing to our lives.

Face lift for the boys room

My boys room has needed some TLC for a while. Steve worked on it a couple weeks ago and gave it a major facelift. I love it so much (and so do the boys.) I still have a lot I want to do in there but it's getting closer to the beach room I've always invisioned.

My Drew turned 11

His new fishing pole

he was so nice to make me a list.......

One of my favorite picts of him as a baby

His very special shark pinata that Steve made for his 5th B'day

In my tummy

My Drew turned 11 last week, how can that be?!? We had some of his best friends sleep over in the tent in the backyard. They had so much fun-I love that he still gets excited about capguns and star wars. He has been such a blessing to us since he was born. Not that we haven't had our challenges; but there is something about him that is so endearing. He reminds of my brother in so many ways ,but one of the biggest ways is that he is such a people magnet and gets along with so many personality types. Thank you, Lord, for this precious boy you gave us to take care of.

"I say night night to boys, mommy!"

Every night when we get Livy ready for bed she goes through this whole routine where she has to give the boys a hug and kiss goodnight. If we dare try to put her to bed before she does this she says over and over, "I say night night to boys, mommy!" It's so precious, I can't stand it!!