Snowmont!

Beaumont has been dubbed "Blowmont" because of our regular dose of high winds but today it is "Snowmont!" Every year we've been here it's snowed a couple of times but never enough to stick more than a few hours. This time we actually got a couple of inches and all over Beaumont, kids were sledding, building snowmen, having snowball fights and playing in the snow! My kids loved it!

Reed's 4 Year Pics

I can't believe my baby boy is already turning four! We are so proud of his loving personality, sweet nature, intelligence, honesty, caring, compassion, sensitivity, creativity, imagination and huge heart! He is the light of our lives (one of them) and such a daily joy and blessing. We love you Reed!

I LOVE this picture and yet, I hate it because he looks like such a big boy!

Does it get any cuter?

This is his "awww shucks" look!

His shy smile

A Mama's boy!

Ahhh, this looks familiar!

Birthday Blessings

Birthdays look a lot different now than they did a decade ago! My idea of what's "fun" and what makes me happy has completely changed! I started my morning with my church's mom's group Little Lambs. I am so blessed by these amazing moms and their faithfulness in coming. They had a candle for me in my cupcake and sang Happy Birthday. There was a lot of laughter in our discussion and a lot of love for each other and our kiddos.

I had lunch with my kids and then went to the outlets in Cabazon WITHOUT kids and treated myself to some new clothes for the first time in years! It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and I LOVED being outside! 80 on my birthday in February - what's better than that?

When I got home, Justin and the kids were at the park so I joined them for a while to enjoy what was left of the sunshine. Justin picked up my favorite dinner and we ate together as a family. My kids favorite part of the day - of course - birthday cake! Then they needed a bath!

I started the day telling Justin I didn't want to "do" anything that I normally HAVE to do! No diaper changes, no getting kids fed, dressed, ready etc. But I decided to still give them their baths anyway. For some reason, this was a special bath and I enjoyed every moment. It's funny how on certain days we take the time to appreciate the little moments, even though they happen every day.

I finished the day watching TV shows with a glass of wine. A perfect ending to a perfect day. I am beyond blessed by my friends and family and love you all!

"Rejoice the the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all." Philippians 4:4-5

Facebook Friends

A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to take a break from Facebook. I was spending WAY too much time on it! I decided instead to spend the time I would ordinarily spend online, reading my Bible. I wanted to read the Bible in one year again but didn't start it until two weeks ago so I had quite a bit of catching up to do! Isn't it amazing that even though I was "behind," I would find that everything I read was speaking directly to what I've been going through in life?


While this has been great for me, something I didn't consider was that people would think I had "unfriended" them because I deleted Facebook. After a couple of emails, I realized I was taking the wrong approach. Why was I allowing Facebook to have so much control over my life? Why didn't I simply take back the control and limit the amount of time spent on it? Sometimes you have to take a step back from a situation to see it clearly.



One thing in my reading that stood out to me was from Matthew 10 in the story of The Shepherd and His Flock. "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." Matthew 10: 17-18


I am trying to improve my life, get my priorities straight and become the woman that God wanted me to be. Have I made some mistakes along the way? Yup - you can put Facebook down as one of them. I tend to learn things the hard way - is there any other way?


And so my Facebook friends, I am back on Facebook. Not three times a day, not for an hour at a time, but just once in a while to stop in and say hey - this is what's going on with me and to check in and see how everyone is doing. When my Spirit is fed, my children are happy and my home is in order, only then will I take the time!

Barstow Camping Trip

This weekend we went camping in Barstow with Nana and Papa. The day we got there was beautiful and sunny and clear! Unfortunately the rest of the weekend was so windy I worried our trailer would blow over!

I LOVE camping! One of my favorite parts is sitting around the campfire under a clear sky where you can actually see the starts. Nothing makes me feel closer to God than enjoying the beauty of his creation!

Now before you view these pictures I have to throw out a little disclaimer. YES I cut Paiges bangs. YES they look awful! YES I will be getting them fixed this week! Lets just ad that to the list of things I swore I'd never do! I tried clipping them with hair clips but the super short ones still slipped out. YIKES!

Chillin' with her Hello Kitty coloring book. Part of the fun of camping is finding the toys, books etc. we leave in the trailer JUST for camping!


Reed found his little quad I got him at the circus.


He was driving it up the ramp and then letting it fly down by itself.

I love the simple entertainment!

Paige pulled this tube out of the quad and decided to suck on it!

Yup, that was gas.

Reed taking his first ride on our new quad.

Nana and Paigey watching.

Reed did NOT want to get off this quad. The first time we went camping he was obsessed with the white quad of a girl we were camping with. He kept telling his dad "follow that quad." So now whenever he sees a white quad, he thinks it's the same one and wants to follow it. Now that we have one, he's even more obsessed!

Paigey likes to play in Dada's truck.

So does Reed. ;)

Oh the bangs, oh the horror!

Love this!

Reed rode is 12volt quad a little bit too, before it broke. :(

More riding with Dada

Paige is happy just hanging around the campsite. She is not interested in rides yet which kind of surprises me since she's such a daredevil. It's probably just too much sitting for her! :)

She likes to sit on the quads when they are off!

Helping Dada fix the quad

Eating a rock...

and spitting it out!

Going back to the trailers after a walk.

Psalm 19: 1-3

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or launguage where their voice is not heard. "