Beach days in August

SUMMER is warm days, bright blue skies, warm sunshine and longer days!!!  There is no better place then at the beach to spend Summer days.  I am so lucky that all four kids can't get enough of what I love so much!!  It really was Carson's year in the ocean. He is a natural out in the water on his boogie board.  I love that he is not afraid to watch the older boys and learn from them new tricks. He has a natural ability to make new friends anywhere he goes.  I love how social he is!! Savannah focused more on body surfing.  Hours and hours....in the water and still wanted MORE.  Her swimming skills really paid off.  I wish I could of been inside her 9 yr head for a day.  What was she thinking as she splashed and swam in the water without a care in the world!  Ashlee adventured out more this summer.  Her confidence grew and she was sure cute to watch.  She was fascinated with the sand crabs and spent most of her days collecting them.  Chase surprisingly did not wander off much(like he loved to do last year) He was pretty happy playing in the sand, splashing in the waves on his surf board {AKA}a swim paddle board and throwing sand when I was not looking. Mommy {aka} ME enjoyed sitting and relaxing in the SUN a bit, not so worried as Summers before. The kids seemed to be busy in their own freedom and imaginations!  I did keep a close eye on Carson as he moved past the white wash.  He was good at having a friend by his side.  

"At the beach, life is different. Time doesn't move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun."
- Anonymous

 

The beach is a place of healing and joy.  I love the Sea.  The salt water cleanses us and the sun embraces us in its warmth.  The ocean heals the heart, mind and soul. Life is pretty simple at the beach!! It's a place that supports what matters most and that is my family.  Being together as a family is enough!  I love that my kids will always have these memories to look back on.  If anything I want them to say when they are older, "I spent TIME with my family doing things we ALL LOVED!!"

Dana Point Harbor

Picnic Sunday Dinner at the harbor was a favorite of mine when I was younger.  While in Cal, we went with  Grandma and Bryan down to the Harbor for dinner.  We had a nice picnic dinner as the kids played and watched the boats and people paddle boarding.  Naturally, they were drawn to the rocks(just as I was).  Something about the rocks touching the water?  I would spend hours playing on the same rocks, watching sailboats come  in and out, wishing I was on a canoe out in the big ocean.  I think the best part about playing on the rocks was the crabs that would crawl around.  I had big plans to one day be able to catch one and keep it as a pet! 

 I am pretty sure Carson and Savannah were thinking the same thing!

It was fun to watch my kids try so hard to catch a crab!! I was so happy to tell them that I KNEW how to catch them.  Carson seemed a little unsure that I would be able to catch a yucky, pinching crab!! Chicken wings was the secret that was passed down to me and I shared with my kids.  With no Chicken wings that day, they still had fun trying to catch a crab!!

We came back the next day with Chicken Wings and String.  They were thrilled when it actually worked.  Maybe even worked a little too well.....an OCTOPUS was wanting Chicken too!!!

 Crabs like Chicken Wings

Do you see the Octopus???

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. ~Albert Camus

OH, I love Summer!!

 

Rewind a bit...

Spring Soccer

Carson's first season playing soccer! So fun to watch him out there running with the kids. Carson always has a smile as big as his face!

Another great season for Savannah......
I knew the first time I watched Savannah play soccer...she was a natural!
Chasers enjoying one of many soccer games. He is so easy going :)


Future soccer girl...no joke...you should see her kick..woo hoo!

tricky little girl. love, love, love her! Chase is learning to keep an eye out for her!

Savannah's Spring gymnastics performance

Love this girl!

of course, we had to have some type of illness over the Summer break. Thank you...thank you...Aquarium!

Ashlee's 1st visit to Primary Children's Hospital. Poor little girl was so sick with the intestinal flu bug.

Summer time = Swimming

Carson swimming like a fish!

Ashlee took her time getting use to the water. She did not want any help. No floaties...she is all about doing it on her own in her own time!

Savannah taking after her mommy! When did she get so big?

4Th of July with the Peterson's

Happy 1st Birthday Chase!

Happy Happy Birthday Chase!

I knew this day would come. I just wasn't expecting it to come so fast. It seems like it was yesterday I was holding you for the first time. Your tender spirit and big blues eyes have melted my heart!! You are the sweetest little boy. We love you so much!!

A one-year-old son
is so many things,
a tiny discoverer of butterfly wings,
a hugger of teddies,
a sweet sleepyhead,
and someone to dream for
in bright years ahead…

A special new person
who, right from the start,
has a place in the family
and, of course, in your heart.

And, just when you think
that you’ve learned all the things
that your dear son is
and the joy that he brings,
a hug or a grin
comes with such sweet surprise
that love finds you smiling
with tears in your eyes!
author unknown

Chase was a little scared....

not sure what to do....

Happy Birthday

I knew you would love it!

Time to come back..........

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months.....BUT...I am back! I can not believe it is September!!! Spring came and went and then Summer was here before I knew it! I did take a lot of pictures that I plan on posting still. After this post I will do a few rewind post to share the last 5 months.

We had an AWESOME Summer....to say the least! Most of our days were spent in the California Sun! JR left for work in April out to California, again. As soon as Savannah was out for summer, we headed to Cali to be with him. I was a little concerned about how we would all fit in an apartment but we made it work. I actually enjoyed it! A lot less to worry about and to fuss about. Our main goal everyday was being together as a family and having a lot fun. What more could I of ask for then to be where I feel most at home!! It was heaven being on the beach and watching my kids enjoy something I enjoyed as a kid.
Savannah and Carson were naturals in the ocean. They were ready to take their boards out as soon as their feet touched the sand! Savannah with a little more swimming skills wanted to get right out there where the wave broke. I held her back(because Carson would follow) but they both eventually showed me that they were OK! Carson enjoyed meeting new friends at the beach. They were always older boys. I loved how much he watched and learned from them. It was so cute to see him lined up on the shore waiting with the older boys for that perfect wave. Little Ashlee was not too sure of the water. Actually, she was terrified of it. Did not even want to walk anywhere near it, even if that meant climbing up mounds of sand from the morning tide. Ashlee did enjoy playing in the sand and meeting friends. The exciting news about all the days spent at the beach, Ashlee finally got her feet wet. Even sat near the water and watched the wave crash on her sand castle and her!! Now Chase, of course was a sand monster. He loved it! So much he enjoyed eating it too. Never bothered him that he was covered in sand. He was a trooper going to the beach more then not and having to take naps on the sand. I enjoyed meeting my old friends at the beach and talking about life as moms! Getting pedicures, seeing dear friends, eating Mexican food, shopping, date nights with my love, night out with the girls, and being with my honey sums up my time in Cali. Could not of asked for a better summer!!!!

Now we are back to REALITY! Time for a schedule to stick too and school to attend too. Mom's chores resum as before...lol Chase changed from a little crawler to a walking toddler. Chase will be 1 in a week! Ashlee is DEFINITELY a 2 Year old, Carson will be 5 and soon Savannah will be 8!!

In the dark of night, when the kids are sound a sleep I often think of what the future will bring. It's a time I can hear myself think and reflect on my days work. I really feel blessed to be a mom of 4. I truly have the BEST kids. I will always be their cheer leader in life. I hope to always be an example they can lean on. Even on the craziest of days...I would not trade my role as their mom for the world! These angels of mine are my strength. I try and be strong and to some it may seem to them, that I am and can handle anything that comes my way. I have to say it definitely has been hard since JR has been working in California. Taking care of 4 young kids all on my own has been tough. I have surprised myself at how strong I really can be but there have been many days and nights that I have felt the weight of my burdens and responsibilities. I appreciate all my dear friends who have reached out to me. Even when my response so often is, "I am fine!" It is not one of my strengths to ask for help. So I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am for those that have called me, came by to talk, taken my kids to play, brought me a dinner I would not of got to, a treat to enjoy and the list goes on......these small acts of kindness have deepened my testimony and lifted me when I had felt alone. I really do believe, as moms, "we are never alone!" Someone has been where we have been or is where we are. I am so grateful for the other women who came before me and who have been good examples to me. I am thankful for a heavenly father that knows me, loves me and watches over me!