Country Kids

After church today we headed over to the Crane School Country Fair for some old-fashioned, harvest time fun. The kids loved the big bouncy slide, the carnival games, the cotton candy, prizes…but reminding us that simple is always best—the highlight was swinging on the swings and practicing jumping off.  We returned home to lunch on the deck, warm sunshine and David and Judy home from Santa Fe. And after a series of bad sleeping nights (for all of us) it was a surprisingly wonderful, easy day that ended with happy kids asleep at 6:45 tonight. Here’s to the pleasures of old-fashioned comforts, the most treasured being blessed, blessed sleep (fingers crossed that tonight will break the bad streak). 

Ninjas, Pumpkins and Sunshine

The countdown to our first California Halloween has been filled with those fun, adorable moments that are the sweet blessings of having kids (those moments that help to make up for the lack of sleep, freedom and disposable income). For the school Halloween parade both kids wanted to be ninjas and thanks to Ben’s karate class and a loaner from Baker Noe (or as we call him, Clara’s future husband) all Leah had to do was cut a few sashes to make their ninja dreams come true. 

October in Santa Barbara is gorgeous. It was the reason all those years ago that we decided on an October wedding. Pumpkin carving on the deck was a hit and we told the kiddos to take in the view, because whether they realize it or not now—we will always remember our Halloween carving pumpkins with the ocean, sunshine and city (and Mark’s rockin’ Halloween playlist) all around us. We teared up looking at Ben and Clara, round pumpkins sitting in front of those cute faces and told them how many years we had dreamed of moments like this as a family, at which point they looked at us like we were crazy, looked at each other and started laughing. Sweet blessings abound.

Pumpkins with Pop Pop

We had fun at the pumpkin patch with Pop Pop, who came to visit us for a few days at the start of the month. (Thank you for all the fun and treats!).

While Pop Pop loaded up our haul of pumpkins into the car, the four of us embarked on a corn maze adventure.  The first five minutes were fun and then we were stuck in the middle and could not find our way out.  We would make a turn and think we were heading down the right path—then dead end.  This went on for at least twenty minutes (twenty minutes with a three, five year-old, tall man who had to crouch and a just bit claustrophobic mommy) and as the sun beat down, the sweat trickling down our faces, the frustration and fear mounting…we just stopped mid-maze for a minute and had a family pow-wow.

We decided we would all stick together, we would take turns being the leader and we would figure it out together.  Mark and I looked at each other and had to laugh, guessing God needs to give us messages pretty directly these days.  Working together we made it to the other side, —no tears, no whining, no panic attacks, from the big or small people. It was a reminder that this season is making us all a little stronger, our team a little tighter and when we face those turns, walls and starting over points, we just take a deep breath and keep going.

Feel the Force

We celebrated Ben’s entrance into FIVE with a Star Wars party (big surprise, huh?) at Rocky Nook Park. Ben announced that he was now an official “kid” which meant that we were now just Mom and Dad, instead of Mommy and Daddy—we negotiated keeping our original titles for special occasions.  

It was incredible to have friends and family travel into Santa Barbara for the weekend to make sure this sweet, incredible boy would feel surrounded by love and celebration for his first California birthday.  Ben is our little family man and it meant the world to him to “have my cousins, Nick and Noah, with me on my birthday.” Our hearts are grateful for another year with our sunshine, who makes every day more interesting, entertaining, cuddly and complete. 

May the Force always be strong with you, little man.

Penguin Birthday

Before David and Judy headed to Santa Fe for the month we celebrated the birthday boy a little early.  Ben decided he wanted a “Penguin Birthday” and we waddled our way to a great night celebrating a pretty great little guy.