Retreat

 We had a post deployment retreat for Reese's job last weekend.  The first night there was a formal dinner for the adults.  And thanks to my friend Kristen who lives near the hotel we didn't have to put our kids in the childcare!  She kept them over night and the kids had a blast.  Reese and I got to hang out with our friends and catch up.

 Lauren, me and Leah.  As we were taking the picture Lauren's husband Tom commented that this was the culmination of the last five years.  I about cried.  We all commented about how many more gray hairs and wrinkles we may have developed over the last 5 years.  We've seen our guys through some grueling training, and two deployments.  Between the three of us we have given birth to 6 babies in the last five years and had to say goodbye to one of them.  Yes, I think we've earned everyone of those gray hairs and wrinkles.

 Reese and Tom

 The next day we got to watch a half pipe show.

 Tony Hawk was the special guest.  It was awesome.  Lane got front row seats and got to meet him as well as many other skateboarders and BMX riders.  Lane was stoked!

Estelle is 2!

 We had a little family birthday for Estelle this year.  Just us!  She loved opening her presents and of course eating ice cream cake!

 I felt bad we weren't having a party so I made some decorations and party hats.

 We got her a Little People princess castle.  She loves princesses!

 Sweet kids!

It's hard to believe that she is 2!  Estelle has turned into quite the spunky little thing.  She is very friendly and silly.  She loves to yet "no way" if we are trying to get her to do something she doesn't want to.  She is a very picky eater.  Music is her thing!  She loves to listen to, dance to and sing music.  Happy Birthday sweet Estelle!

Disneyland with the Jansen's

 The first week in November my sister Michele and her family came down to Disneyland.  We met them and stayed at the Grand Californian at the Disneyland resort and did three days in Disneyland.  It was a blast.  The first night Estelle started throwing up during the night so her and I hung low that day while everyone else went to the park. Thankfully no one else got it and we enjoyed the rest of our trip.  The next morning we did the Critter Breakfast.  The kids thought it was great and so did we.

 Estelle's Minnie ears!

 We got Estelle and Hazel matching shirts while we were in Seattle shopping.  They thought that was fun to wear the same shirt.

 Radiator Springs is so fun.  We got to do all the rides this time.  The Radiator Springs racers was a hit with Michele and I!

 Another matching shirt day  :)  And the boys found matching hats in Radiator Springs.

 The guys aren't much into waiting around to have pictures taken with characters but Michele and I snuck away with the girls for a few of them.

 A favorite was Minnie's house and meeting Minnie!

These boys had a blast.  We are so blessed to have cousin's my kids ages.  They love all their cousins!

Halloween 2012

 We had a fun Halloween!  Lane is really into football so getting a Seahawks uniform was perfect.  My friend Kelly had got Estelle some wings and a tutu a while back.  She was a butterfly fairy. I really didn't think she would put it on.  Every time I tried she would freak out.  But we got it on her that night.  And once she figured out what she was getting in her pumpkin, she was all about Halloween!

A Sister's Weekend

 At the end of October I flew up to Seattle to meet my sisters for a weekend of shopping.  It was so fun and MUCH needed!  We all live in different towns (me in a different state), so we don't get together as much as we'd like, especially without kids.  This was the first time for me, in a LONG time that we has done this without one of us having a little baby along.  We got to do some fun shopping.  Of course the biggest stop was Marshalls, we all found some great buys there.  It was wonderful to sit in a restaurant and take our time.  Being around my sister's is always a mood lifter and a source of encouragement for me.  And the think the most fun part about it is how silly we can be together, and we don't judge!  :)

Yankee candles are my fave!  Had to hit the Yankee Candle store in Bellevue Square and check out all the holiday scents!

Lane's 8th Birthday

 Next on the list to catch up on is Lane's birthday!  He turned eight in October.  No party this year, we did a trip to Disneyland instead (pictures to come).  But of course we celebrated as a family, and we usually start his day off with a birthday pancake or waffle like on his 3rd birthday (below).

 We donated a Boxcar Children book to his class in honor of his birthday.  He is into those books lately.  He got lots of games for his birthday and his big present from us was a Spy Gear video camera remote control car.  He has affectionately named it Drover.  He's been having lots of fun with it.

 I made Lane's favorite dinner, Orange Chicken and of course his favorite, root beer to wash it down.

 And for dessert I made him Grasshopper Pie as he requested.  Estelle like it too!

Where to begin?

Where to begin?  I have a lot to catch up on.  I am not sure why I feel unmotivated to keep my blog up. I have always enjoyed doing it and I like having a place to keep memories and pictures.  I think it comes down to time.  What have I chosen to spend my time on lately?  I have spent a lot of time reflecting and reading God's word, something I have relied heavily on during my low times.  Reese is home now, Lane and Estelle need my attention, and I feel like I need to spend some of my time preparing for this move.  I said it again, a move to Alaska.  I am excited, fearful, happy, sad.  I feel the need to purge a lot of unneeded clutter.  So that is where my time has gone, and as you will see by my pictures we have spent a lot of time doing fun stuff too.  I am trying to really be present each day and enjoy these moments I have with my kids, family, friends.

So I will play a little catch up.  Starting with the middle of October when Reese's parents came to visit.
We went up to Julian and went on the Eagle Mine tour.  If you live in the San Diego area, that is a really cool thing to do.  The guys especially seem to love it.

 The drive up to Julian is awesome!

 Panning for gold at Eagle Mine.

The next day we headed up to San Pasqual Battlefield up near Escondido.  The guys seem to love that too, imagine that.

 The kids loved having Mop (Grandma) and Poopa (Grandpa) here.  A little side-note, Lane has called them that since he could talk, we have no idea where it came from.  I will continue my catch up soon!