It's been a while

So it's been a while. Life has been far too crazy and frankly I just don't have time to spend on the computer. But I thought I'd update you a little of what's been going on!Can I just tell you how truly amazing God has been this holiday season?! Don't get me wrong, He is always amazing, but He has truly revealed to our family His real and active presence in our lives. We have been so blessed by so many anonymous people this Christmas season. So many faithful and giving hearts that felt led by the Holy Spirit and were obedient. Thank you! Thank you to all of you out there that have taken care of our family this holiday season. God has also blessed our family with a full time job for John! We will have medical insurance and a steady income!

It has been a crazy couple of weeks with Lots of family, and friends around which is always such a blessing but also so exhausting!! We had an awesome Christmas (too see pics see my facebook)! The boys are the greatest gift we have ever received. I am so grateful everyday to have happy, healthy boys who are learning and growing all the time. My hope and prayer for this new year is that We love, serve and glorify our God and that we desire to know Him more!

All Aboard!

John and I really wanted to take the boys on this train ride in Fillmore. It takes you to the "North Pole" to pick up Santa!It sounded like so much fun but it was pretty pricey so we just assumed it wasn't going to happen. Then two days ago God truly blessed us. A mystery giver dropped off an envelope for John and I with some Christmas $$. We were so beyond grateful! and so excited to take the boys on this train ride. Caleb loved it!!! We got in our Pajamas, had cookies and chocolate milk, they read "Twas the night before Christmas", we sang Christmas carols and were able to meet Santa. It was just a really nice family trip! Thank you Lord for always knowing just how to bless your children in just your timing :)

Our Trip to the Snow!

John was off on Monday because of the rain so we took a 30 minutes drive up the mountain and played in snow all afternoon. It was so beautiful! The boys had so much fun and it was so nice to be in a different setting. It was also nice that it only took 30 minutes to get there...so even though we only spent about an hour and a half playing, we felt like we got just enough snow time.

No more monkeys jumpin on the bed!

The night that John and I went out to our 80's bash Caleb decided he wanted to sleep in his monkey suit. He was toasty warm that night!

happy birthday Timmy & Jeremy!

Our friends Timmy and Jeremy had an 80's b-day party. John and I love dressing up!!

First Cup of Hot Chocolate!

 

 

 

After playing out in the cold we came in for a nice cup of hot cocoa. More like Cocoa with ice cubes and a straw but whatever:)

Thanks Becky and Susan!

 

Most of you know that Jackson is in (hope to Jesus) a phase where he has to be with me all the time. If I leave the room he freaks out and follows me around the house crying "momma momma". Trust me, I would love to hold him all the time but I have things to do and dinners to make. So thanks to my sister in law Becky and my mother in law susan I can throw him on my back and go about my business. He loves it...the only downfall... so does Caleb!

Thanks Lord!

Our weekend was really nice. Not that it isn't usually but it is always wrapped up in spending time with the kids and this time it was an awesome weekend for John and I, just the two of us! We had our amazing friend Breezy over for a Pizza making party / last time together before she moves back to tahoe:(. It was a really nice time and good conversation. Saturday Caleb and I went garage saling...no real luck there but fun time together, then we just relaxed for the afternoon then got ready for a Christmas dinner at Church. It was a really nice time. John was able to share some Christmas songs and we all ate some great food. Directly after that we met our good friends for some drinks (or should I say one drink, John and I aren't much for drinking but I get the fruitiest one and I'm good) at a new lounge downtown. He had just turned 21 so we went to celebrate. That was really fun to feel like a grown-up in a grown-up place. Sad part was John and I didn't get carded but our two friends did :( we look old! Sunday night John performed at church. He played his original stuff which was awesome. then we got to enjoy our friends from church play in their band. Really great! Afterwards an amazing couple from the church gave us money and insisted we go eat at this really nice place up here in Ojai, Suzanne's(something to look forward to). God is Good and is always blessing us even in the small things. We are always grateful for weekends like this!

Our Many Trips to Ventura

We are living in Ojai right now which is about 20 to 30 minutes from Ventura, where we go everyday!! I have cleaning jobs down there, we have bible studies, church, any store we need to go to, is in ventura. The boys have gotten used to it I think but it doesn't make the travel any less shorter. I am so exhausted from sometimes having to make two trips a day down there and having to bring the boys down for a few errands. Pray that God will give us the strength and energywe need to keep on keepin on. We are all a little tired!

Thanksgiving 08

So life has been a little crazy lately and the last thing on my mind is checking my emails etc... but our Thanksgiving with family was awesome.
Lots of food, fun, games, family. God has truly blessed us and we are so grateful! Below is pictures of Thanksgiving with family. Place your mouse on the picture and it gets bigger!

Thanksgiving 08

Rancho Cucamonga

 

 

 

 

So we took a trip in a 10 passenger van down to Rancho Cucamonga yesterday! Papa wanted to take the kids to the most gigantic Bass Pro Shop ever! It had aquauriums, and tons of stuffed animals; lions, bears, elk. Caleb loved it! they also had a section of a winter wonderland, with trains, and snow. It was really neat. Then we went to lunch and off to the movies to see Madagascar 2 ...where we sat in the front row so Jack and the little ones could play on the carpet up front. It was a really neat trip! Caleb and Naiah held hands the whole way, jack napped, the kids told knock knock jokes and mommy and daddy got to nap in the back seat. The boys are having a great time with their cousins!

Our House is Full...Full of Love

 

John's sister and her beautiful family are here for the week and it has been so much fun! Caleb and Jack are having the best time. I have never heard Caleb talk so much..."Hi Naiah hi" five minutes later "Hi Naiah Hi"! Jack is all over the place playing with everyone especially aunt Becky(which gives mommy a break). Anna and Sarah are enjoying playing Nintendo with uncle John! Jonah loves playing alone in a room full of new toys (Caleb and Jack's) Everyone is having a great time together and we are looking forward to a couple more fun filled days!

Please Please Please Pray!

We have very dear friends of ours that could use your prayers. They are going through a very difficult time right now and could truly use God's comfort, peace, wisdom and a Miracle! Many tears have been shed and everyone is truly heart broken at this time but we rest in God's unfailing Love and Goodness. Please lift them up in prayer! Words cannot express how much we truly love them and Hope for the best!

Highlights of November

Highlights of the month!

So i am taking my friend Kristen's Idea and just giving some Highlights of the month. I have had no real desire to be on the internet lately. It feels like too much work to sit down and gather thoughts or reflect on the day so I will try to sum up the month of November as best I can.
**John and I have been extra spontanious this month. We have taken advantage of having Grammy and Papa in the house. Two nights in a row, we put the boys to bed and went to the $2 theatre. Frankly, I wanted my money back (bad movies)but the time spent together was worth far more then the price of admission and the popcorn!
** Caleb has started to pray at breakfast,lunch & dinner and it has been AMAZING. Honestly, the first time he did it I cried. "Dear God, tanks for mommy, daddy, jack, food, bumble, girgle, shshshjeejud Jesus name Amen" PRICELESS
** I was able to get away for a weekend on our churches womens retreat. First time away from the boys! IT WAS AWESOME! I have to say I needed it. I took advantage of time spent alone with the Lord, and late night talks with the girls. It was a well needed rest.
** So with John not working right now we have had lots of days with daddy. One particular day was amazing: we got to for a run in the morning, then off to the park, then we took a trip to the Humane Society (they love all the animals), came home, baked cookies, popped popcorn and watched Kung Fu Panda as a family, then it was off for a nap (we all got one) it was a really good day together.
** Jack has started doing more signs and talking...he imitates the sound of a car whenever he is playing with one, he has said "Ball, Papa, car, bird and GO!" Of course they don't sound just like it but I know what he is trying to say.
** John's been laying floors out our friends Kristen's place and the boys have loved being able to spend time in the dirt! I would say that has been their highlight of the month.
** One night we picked up the boys from their friend Micah's house (which is been a highlight for them) and drove home. Caleb has started saying "Green means GO" whenever the light turns green, well Jackson has picked up on it and started copying it. I have a video of some funny moments in the car. The picture is bad but if you listen you can hear them say "Are you kidding me?, Oh Man! Green means Go! and randomly Jack "Go" We find it hilarious!

Boys Gettin Their Groove Back

We had our friends Justin and Sarah come for the weekend. Justin is one of John's best friends from Joshua who is an amazing drummer. He came down to play drums for John's worship concert. We had such an awesome time with them! It was a much needed weekend full of talking till 2am, Wii, laughing till I cried, golfing, shopping, playing with the boys, apples to apples, and Dance Dance Revolution! Sorry boys..you asked for it! Enjoy...

Weekend with the Richters

Halloween

 

 

 

So Halloween was fun! I had two crazy cleaning jobs in the morning which brought me home around 1:45pm, then came home to clean our house cause our amazing friends were coming to town for the weekend, by the time I was done it was time to get our costumes on and head upstairs to the HARVEST FESTIVAL IN OUR FRONT YARD (we live on the church property of Ojai Valley Baptist Church). Caleb loved playing all the games, seeing all his friends in silly costumes, and going in the Jumpy Jump! We got home from that, put the boys to bed and waited for the Richters to come. They showed up around 10pm and we stayed up till 2am talking! YIKES! It was such a crazy and weird day but it was totally worth it!

Who's Who!

 

So we got Jack to wear the same outfit Caleb did at his first pumpkin patch and we tried to capture similar photo ops! Can you tell who's who? Click on the collage and you can get a better look!