I'm Back...Kinda

I'm feeling so very wishy/washy about this blog.
The privacy setting couldn't be more annoying.
I've had many people reach out to me and tell me they want to continue to be a part of our family's journey.
And that makes me feel humble and grateful.
And you know, there's that whole element of us moving away from almost everyone that we know + love this past year.
The people that actually want to watch our children grow + be in-the-know about what we do from time to time.
And I do, selfishly, miss documenting our lives, our family history, for my children to read to read someday.

So I'm quietly reopening this blog.
For now.

Because all of my concerns about why I made it private are still here.
We will see what the future holds, but for now...hello again old friends!
I've missed you.

Also, WE BOUGHT A HOUSE.
So I guess we are now officially Californians.

Lincoln is just about as rad as they come.  He loves skateboarding, skate socks, soccer, basketball, the beach, duck-diving, LEGOS, the Seahawks, climbing poles, camping, nature, archery, salmon + ribs are his favorite foods.  His favorite snacks are nuts, trail mix + hummus.  He is an amazing reader + works hard at everything he does.  He loves his brother + sis.  He likes to be annoying. His front teeth are more than half-way out and they are gigantic.  (Your welcome son.)   He likes to play the Wii and we've just recently purchased an Xbox that he is learning to play FIFA on.  I'm so proud to be his mama.

Lila is my girl.  She loves people and has many friends.  Lila loves art, soccer, singing, being a fashion girl, ice skating, basketball, softball, cooking, camping, LEGO Friends and girlfriend l.o.v.e.s the beach!  She smiles so beautifully, so uniquely, when she is there.  She boogie boards, has gotten up on a surfboard, loves bonfires, duck-diving, treasure collecting and digging in the sand.  She loves all the colors of the sunset and is a pro at finding the whales.  She adores Colt and her best bud is Linc.  She met her first BFF when we moved down here, a neighbor who attends the same school.  It is fun to see her have such a great friend at such a young age.  She is feisty this Lila Pearl.  She is sensitive and caring and wise.  I love every single bit of having a daughter as awesome as her.

Colt is an animal.  He is 2 going on 7.  He is fearless, outgoing + funny.  He brings joy...to everyone.  Everyday.  His hair is fuzzy + wild, which is a perfect match to his personality.  He has friends, young + old, everywhere we go.  He is in school one day a week.  He loves to dance, do ninja moves like Linc, ride scooters, play with monster trucks, crawl out of his crib and eat Z Bars.  He has a chipped front tooth from our summer trip to Big Sur.  His language is off the charts.  He's pretty much been having full conversations with people for 6 months.  He's very familiar with the time out stair and had a 2 year old tantrum last week in which he threw himself to the concrete, in a complete plank position.  I love this rascal and am so over-the-moon about being his mama.

End of an Era

Have you noticed that I haven't posted on this blog for a very long while?

Well that's because this blog is coming to end.

A public end that is.

I'm turning this blog into a private one.
A little quiet place in some corner of the Internet in which I can continue to write our family story without the world having access to it.

There have been many times over the past year I have wanted to write or post special pictures,
but I haven't because I am getting sensitive to the age of my children.

And I want to keep posting and writing.
And I want to continue to tell our story in my voice.
And I will feel more free to do so knowing that it private.

I have loved sharing.
But my twins are in school now.
And their story is becoming just that...their story.

My heart would be broken if some day down the road a sweet pic from their childhood, or a hysterical story from their toddler years was found on the Internet and used in a way that hurt their feelings.

So it's time.

Thanks for reading and loving on our family the past 6 years.
The best 6 years of my life!!

What a Day!!

No school!

So we started our day with a bike ride on the trails by our house.

And then we hit the beach with some buddies.  

The weather was dreamy.

It was (another) one of those days that I thought, 'Is this for real?!'

We came home, showered, picked up B and headed to In-n-Out for dinner.

I love watching our 3 playing in that ocean.  

In February.

What a trip. 

SIX

My Partner

I hang out with Colt more than any other human on the planet.

It's just him + I whenever the twins are at school, or one of their sports activities, or at play dates, etc.

And B is gone a lot. 

A lot! 

 A LOT!!

But this dude is the best company to have!

He is hysterical!  

By far the most outgoing of our bunch.  

By far the most active of our bunch.

And definitely a contender for the best hair of our bunch.

He's an active stud, no doubt!  

But he is also a really good boy.  

Super sweet.

And he loves to make us and others laugh.  

Entertainer for sure!

He is also such a snuggle bug!  

Which is a perfect fit for our super-cuddly crew.  

The days are long around here at times.

But I sure am thankful that I get to spend them with this most-special guy and his especially rad almost-6-year-old brother and sister.

I have a great job.

My Colt

The first of (hopefully!) many flowers/weeds given to me by my Colt.

My baby.

Growing like that very weed he put in my hand.

Date Night

Tonight Lincoln + I made plans for a date.  

He snuck up to his room and got dressed all fancy for me.

He asked me to put on a dress.

I'll do anything for that guy!

He even did his own hair!

I let him choose the restaurant. 

He wanted ribs.  

Ribs at the local BBQ joint it was!

On our way, we noticed the start of a(nother) amazing sunset.

I asked him if he wanted to go down and eat closer to the beach and watch it.

'Next time', he said.

Tonight was rib night.

Linc is one rad dude.  

He is able to articulate his thoughts and feelings incredibly well for a 5 year old.

I just love talking with him

We ended the night with cake.

Every night should end with cake!

Lila went to the Daddy/Daughter Dance at school.

She looked stunning and her mind was blown by the whole experience!

Example: A flower bracelet?!

Mind. Blown.

These 2 are hilarious together.

I wish I could've been a fly on the wall.

And then our perfect night ended like this.

Seriously, who wants a beagle?!

I've got one for you!