A Season of Change

It's been a while since I last blogged and things are looking a bit different from my last post! Making some very big changes that we hope will make us a stronger, happier family - quoting Cheaper by the Dozen :) We still haven't gotten everything figured out (aka a house), but we felt like we needed to make a move so we took a leap of faith and here we are - playing in a big pile of leaves instead of building castles in the sand! It's beautiful here, but we are missing San Diego for sure, aside from the obvious things like family and friends and amazing weather, I miss the bigger Costco with more selection, I miss the 15 and the 78, and speed limit 45. I miss walking Lily to school, and I dread driving on icy roads and shoveling snow and having to get up extra early to warm up the car. But you really can't have it all wherever you go. It's nice to finally see some rain and I am loving the trees and amazing sunsets and scenery. Fall, with all it's bright colors, is such a beautiful time of year, and winter just makes you appreciate spring and summer so much more! I'm glad our kids will have a chance to experience living in snow country while they are small and life doesn't seem so hard - the world is a winter wonderland :) They can't wait for the first snow - and we just might get it this week! Anyway the point of this is really to share some pictures - so prepare for an overload! Love to all our family and friends we are missing so much!

First time playing in the leaves at the park when we first got here -

 Gathering them up to make a pile

And jumping in!

 Sierra was a little less concerned about getting leaves all over her than Lily was :)

Helping rake up pine tags for Grandma -

Trying on winter gear at the store with a 6 and 2 year old...

Too bad I don't have the giggle track to accompany these photos. They were entertained in front of this mirror together for quite some time!


Time to rake the yard again!

Grandma showing Sierra how to throw the leaves up in the air! ...Lily took off running. Then she found this beautiful leaf and started the leaf parade. Much more her style of playing with leaves!

The leaf parade! Moving fast from the Back yard to the front yard with me running after it to get these photos :)

 My sweet, beautiful daughters!

 picking little crab apples to feed to the squirrels

 Serious about their work

...but not for too long! Love it when these girls play so well together!

Matching the Sunset

The girls were both wearing interesting mismatchy ensembles, but as we left the house with their coats on I realized they matched perfectly and (though it doesn't show as well here) the sunset was pink and purple too. You just can't plan things like that.

 politely holding this baby doll for her little sister

A neighborhood walk with my home girl 

 Loving all the bright fall colors!

 and the funny little smiles my baby girl gives these days!

So glad I still have one of my girls at home!

Beach Partay!

Our ward beach party was tonight and we needed something fun to do so we put all fears of radioactive particles floating over from Japan aside and headed to the beach! It was so nice. So nice. Though mostly overcast, the sun winked at us a few times. Ever sunny in SM - we forget about June gloom until we head west! But despite a little breeze it was so pleasantly warm. Our family really needed it. Aside for that one awesome afternoon jumping off the edge of sand dunes into the soft sand below with my friends - I could take or leave the beach as a teenager - never felt great in my swimsuit or cared much for getting all covered in sand, and I'm not really a great swimmer. But since being married the beach has become sort of an escape for us. A peaceful place when we just need to get away. I have so many fun memories of going there with my family. I love it. I love the smell of it. I love the steaming hot shower on my skin after being out in the sun, sand, wind and water. Best feeling ever. So grateful for the natural beauties of this earth that refresh the soul!

Here's some photos from today...

 Heading out - can't get over the cuteness of this girl!

 Scenes like this are giving me flashbacks to little Lily!

more flashbacks

 But Sierra definitely has a personality all her own!

 

 Looking so mature little-Girly!

 Giggling over the waves.

 Looking for pretty stones

 My three sand artists!

 It is really hard to catch Lily smiling and looking my way long enough to get a photo, but when her friends started showing up she was all smiles! Definitely need to get this girl together with friends more this summer!

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 Smiley Sierra and her little friend Leslie

"Baby!" - Sierra loves all things baby...caught her pointing at one here. You could pretty much just call something the "baby ______" and she will go for whatever it is. (Aww, baby!)

I love my kids so much! So happy to see them have so much fun today!

How to Eat a Donut

(Ah, yes! This is the life!)

These photos speak for themselves.

Life has been a bit overwhelming lately, but today was so nice and chill for the most part. 

Went to the beach for the first time this summer. Great end to the week :)
Pictures coming!

In honor of my Dad

I'm so lucky to be loved by this man. Thank you for always being there for me, Daddy!

Just one more minute

Life is crazy busy, maybe more crazy than busy. Crazy to the point of being overwhelming enough to feel much too busy to me! We have way too many things up in the air at the moment, and this state of limbo has lasted much too long and is wearing on us. But life marches on and our girls are growing and bring us some trouble and much joy! I am up way too late and should totally go to bed, but just wanted to post a couple recent pictures of my cute growing girls for my grandma and theirs to see! I'm sorry I haven't been blogging more often. Will try to do more soon - in the meantime - love from CA!

Showing off their new & beloved animals (stuffed parrot & meerkat) at the Zoo

They love to match - we'll see how long that lasts!

Trying out ponytails