January happenings

We rang in the New Year with a visit from my dear friend Emily. 

It was a short visit - with just enough time to explore the tide pools, climb rocks, go through the caves, get photo bombed by seagulls, go out to dinner, and then home for scripture study and New year goal setting. I loved having Emily there and soaked up any wisdom and advice she could pass on to my children. My kids are an excellent judge of character and they adored Em as much as I do. It was such a wonderful visit - much too short but we made the most of every minute!

With the whole first week of January off school, we made the most of our time and hit up the zoo with friends. We didn't last too long though because it started to rain (which ended up being the beginning of the flooding in Ventura and Santa Barbara).

Elle's first basketball season started last month but games started in January. 

We have LOVED watching Elle play and look forward to cheering her on every Saturday! 

Raining days are a novelty here in Camarillo. It's not too often that we get to use our umbrella's.

And In-N-Out gives free hot cocoa on rainy days so we took advantage of a little after school treat! 

 With our new 9am church time, we've discovered the joy of after church walks! 

Since we didn't get our annual New Years Day hike in with Emily here in town, we made sure to fit it in on our Monday off for Martin Luther King Day. 

Calvin's dream were just the sweetest! 

 The fires and then floods have been so devastating to our area and I love my sweet boy and his huge heart!

Grandpa Al's new pizza oven has gotten lots of use in the past month. 

I'm been soaking up mornings with my two boys. 

I love their close relationship and how well they play together. 

Madi's school play, "Once Upon a Mattress" got postponed back in December because of all the "smoke days" off school. I was happy that it finally got rescheduled so we could go see it. 

Love spending Sunday afternoons with my family. 

Elle went to Dojo Boom for Ava's birthday party. 

James got sick the same day that Jocelyn, Michael, Collin, and Derrick arrived. Poor boy coughed so hard he threw up the shake (from the pic below) all over me. 

I spent the morning of the 27th in the ER with James and made it home just in time to see my 3 oldest kiddos off for a hike up to Paradise Falls. 

They had such a great time with cousins, Boppi, Grandpa Al, Aunt Joci, Uncle Michael, and Aunt Corinne. 

Then later that night we went out as couples for an adult only dinner! 

We celebrated Sunday dinner, which was Grandpa Al's birthday, over at the Terry's. 

Great end to the month of January!

23 months!

23 months today!

After 4 days of fevers and clingy, needy, sickness (including a trip to the ER), it's SO wonderful having James back to his regular happy self. 

Of course he still has his moments  - like when I told him no more popsicles . . . 

James is one smart little boy who follows instructions to a T but is by far our latest talker. We really need to start banning the binkies - I'm constantly having to tell him to take out his binky (which he calls a "tee tee") so I can understand what he's saying. 

He's obsessed with electric toothbrushes and going on adventures with Calvin. He loves being included in his siblings play but also does super great when he's home with just me. I usually find him outside in the toy car, carrying around all sorts of rocks and treasures.

Can hardly believe he's gonna be TWO next month!