Contributors

Our List

Before Erika headed back to Wisconsin last week, we made a list of all the things we had experienced this summer. It ended up being a real long list. I don't expect much of it to make sense, but here it is:

  1. We camped at Pismo
  2. Made beanbags
  3. Peach chaos & Blonde Control
  4. Spit Watermelon Seeds
  5. Farmers Marketed
  6. Boba Tea
  7. Sewing Machine Lessons
  8. Made Ice Cream
  9. Hung Pictures (mine won)
  10. Found BD (a wild kitty in Home Depot garden dept.)
  11. Watched BD (SVU, lots of it)
  12. Celebrated BD (Matt's 30th)
  13. Destruction Party
  14. Mustache Party
  15. Greek Festival
  16. Venice Beach & L.A. Film School (& walked 2 miles with the girls)
  17. "Manned" the grill
  18. Pickled
  19. Grilled 2x in one day (burgers + kabobs)
  20. Tortured flies
  21. I said awkward things (on accident)
  22. We thai chai pie (& thought Chey should too)
  23. Hissing Beetle
  24. Fusion Friday (Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2)
  25. Scooted
  26. Ladies Night Out
  27. I Swept, She Sharked
  28. Tehachapi Days
  29. Awesome socks (we made some & were gifted some)
  30. Chased awesome clouds
  31. You know what summer means... (windows down, music up)
  32. I chunked it....
  33. Erika died (or at least acted like it)
  34. She Yakzired (bless her)
  35. Cave Cheese
  36. "Hi, hi, kitty"
  37. Dear facebook...
  38. Sam
  39. Sewed covers
  40. Moved Bunkbeds
  41. Flew
  42. F & M Fabrics, Mac & Cheeza
  43. People-watched at MMA Fight
  44. Switched kids
  45. Bought Cigar
  46. Yellow Picnic
  47. Textmexed
  48. Yoga-ed
  49. Beated Each Other Up
  50. Up & Down


That's about it!:)

Mamas

Since we've been in California, we've heard people refer to our little girls as mamas. For awhile we were confused so we started to ask around why on earth they were being called mamas when they were indeed very small and not mamas at all.

Well, it turns out they call little boys papas as well.

Any theories?

Well I've heard a few. The Hispanic people really value family and hold the parental relationships as very valuable. So they view the little girls as little mamas and the little boys as little papas. Isn't that sweet?

Seems like this idea is cool in a lot of ways. You are more likely to value someone if you know he or she will likely be someone's parent someday. Plus valuing the future parent in them gives them a deeper meaning to their existence from an earlier age. Knowing that side of me has been so cool... I didn't know how important being a mama was until I was one and if this culture prizes that, well, i think it's neat for young girls to know that being a mama is a wonderful role to have.

That's all... mamas & papas!

We Made Monster Feet

I'm setting new goals in my life as the seasons have been changing and swaying. One of them is that each afternoon that I have the girls (monday, Tuesday & Friday), we are having Magical Mom Afternoons where we set out on an adventure of fun-ness.

Today, we had 3 fabulous tasks to do together.
1) Make Nannerfins (Banana Muffins)
2) Have a Homework Tea Party (because having a party makes everything more fun)
3) Make Monster Feet -- pictured below



It was magical indeed. We were all engaged, laughing and loving. Good day!!

Now you need to make some monster feet!!
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what i do best...

Hello.


I have happily taken the role of family archivist (better than family anarchist... am i right?). So I'm traditionally the one who writes on this blog, but sometimes you do hear from Matt as well. He writes maybe 2x a year to my maybe 2x a month, but hey... it's collaboration. :)

I was looking at pictures from this summer and man have we covered a lot of ground!! It seems like so much has gone on, it's been hard to keep up with all the sweet moments. In short: Pismo camping, pita chips, 4th of July, watermelon seed spitting, sewing, Matt's 30th birthday countdown, freezer cooking, sophia's therapy, trip to ND, 8 years celebrated, growing peaches, creative team, milk bubbles, sunburns, yakzir maka, freedom, Tehachapi days, film school, muscle beach, walks, mustache party, Fusion Fridays,  fabric, riding a horse, Comic Con, costumes on the kitchen floor, cooking with my girls, Pokey Little Pupply, scrapbooking, Dan O' Day, chalk, swim lessons, backyard play... and so much more. Blessed summer!!

We've been on a bit of a journey with Sophia. I've written before how she has been a little behind on her physical milestones. It's interesting to me how as a mom I instantly take the pressure and guilt on that my child being behind is because of something I did wrong. So lame that I think that. I've been working on that. Sophia is so close to walking now. Today she totally walked as her soft prompt just hung from her. So basically she thought she had support, but she didn't... and she was totally walking. She just needs to get through the fear & she'll be walking like a pro. The end is near :) ... Then we'll open a new chapter for her.

Zoe loves Kindergarten....... she is so happy to go to school. It is so sweet to see her run to me after school. Today she colored an "Itsy Bitsy Spider" booklet and on the cover wrote "to mom from zoe." Oooh man that was so sweet! I love it... I'll keep it forever. I love us both having the structure from the school schedule and I love what they're working through in Kindergaren. So basically, it's been good.

It's been such a blessing to have Erika here since late June. It's been huge. We've been making tons of memories and having her help here has been beautimous. Dang it I am so grateful!! I really enjoy Erika's company, but I am excited as she works on her next steps.

Been thinking lately about how truly amazing moms are. So so so so so amazing. So selfless. So hardworking. Even the light working moms are hard working compared to any other profession. :) I can only now appreciate my mother... and probably only a fraction to what it's worth. Hug a mom today!!

I've been doing a lot of missing lately... Wish I could visit my family on a regular basis. Wish we could visit matt's family on a regular basis. And now with my parents selling their house and Erika heading back, I want to be where they are. I feel like we're jipped by not getting to make memories with them every year & they're jipped in the same way. I need to be patient and grateful... The Lord is my Shepherd. :)


This is a piece of patch... a little this, a little that... but a time to recognize the beauty of today.

I'm in love with you, Sheeky!!


Gee, I really like you. No... DANG IT I REALLY REALLY LIKE YOU!! I LOVE YOU!! Believe me!!



Matt & I have been reading a sweet book together called "Love & War" by John & Stasi Eldredge. IT's such a sweet book. If you are married, I would highly recommend you picking it up. It has really helped us remember how much love is worth fighting for.

All things get into funks. My face get into a funk when I repeatedly use the same soap. My body gets into a funk when I eat the same food. Our love gets in a funk when we get into the same routine. That's why I love a good book or conference or time together to look at our life and goals to figure out where we are going.

Celebrating our anniversary yesterday, we went down to the river, read our book, watched a horse be trained and prayed together. This so delighted me and I think it was my favorite anniversary celebration to date. We added to that some walking, talking, eating (at outback), exploring (some books at the bookstore) & some more walking. What a precious celebration.

I'm in love with Matt more every day. Despite my young in-love feeling, I worried that one day the high emotions would end and it would look very different. To my delight, it has not been too hard to love Matt. He is the favorite part of my day. And just being beside him makes a highlight!

Knowing him and being his friend has helped me to grow closer to God. We have demonstrated deep grace to each other... learned how to love each other despite our flaws or constant mistakes. And loving being together provides an example of how I can know my Father even more. (I love to spend time with you God!)

I think Matt is brilliant, a thoughtful husband, a creative employee, a funny storyteller... and an amazing dad. It's been a delight to grow deeper in love with you every day.

Happy 8th anniversary my love.

I LOVE us!

I am so excited to be celebrating 8 years of marriage with Matt this Tuesday. I can't believe how fast our years together has gone. I love our life, our marriage, our love... I love us.
Us.

I love our secret smile that we share.
I love our "twinspeak."
I love being able to communicate with a simple glance.
I love our touch.
I love our humor.
I love waking up to you every day.
I love cheese bombs.
I love being next to you.
I love plotting ways to love you
I love talking through an issue or doing a creative project
I love learning with you
I love talking philosophy together
I love experiencing local flare
I love daydreaming with you, remembering snow & thunderstorms
I love exchanging audacity, and making each other laugh
I love how you always beat me in toothbrushing races
I love being willing to adventure and take risks
I love our sloppy morning routine and the noise level in our house
I love how we are always a work in progress
I love our family
I love how we are everything to our sweet daughters
I love how much we've grown... and how much we've yet to grow


GARSH, I LOVE YOU MATT.
I LOVE US.


The day we got engaged- Feb 14, 2002.
















Love Is
Adapted By Becky Pelishek from "Love's Not" by Mars Ill & 1 Corinthians 13

Love is time spent, love is personal. Love is sacrifice. Love is commitment. Love’s until death do us part. Love is respect for yourself. Love always hopes. Love is action. Love never fails. Love unites. Love builds up. Love seeks wisdom. Love is sacred. Love is touch. Love is powerful. Love is creative; it is authentic. Love is physical, spiritual, emotional. Love is measured by bi-product. Love is passion. Love never fails. Love’s just, love's fair. Love takes thoughts captive. Love is controlled & gentle. Love is sweet. Love is uncontainable. Love always trusts. Love listens. Love is not self-seeking. Love is ready and willing. Love is patient and kind, love is sight for the blind. Love is patient, love is kind. Love was born before the morning, love's transforming your mind. Love protects. Love is body and blood, bread and wine, remember the time. Love is God divine, crucified for mankind.


Together, the best place to be!

Zoe Prepares for Kindergarten


This is Zoe's thoughts on entering Kindergarten. She's a bit nervous, but excited. We got her teacher letter a few days ago. She'll be in the mornings AND has the same teacher as her closest friend. AWESOME!!

We're all excited to start our fall routine. I've been talking with Zoe about what she's going to do before and after school. Plus we've gotten some new clothes for her and she'll get a haircut soon.

I'm sure I'll get emotional when it gets closer. Who am I kidding? I'm already feeling that way. Can't believe she's in school!! YAY ZOE!!