13 Months!

Sullivan turned 13 months on June 24th! Mom brought her this cute NM top with cocopehllis on it.

A week with Mom

Mom came to keep me and the kids company while Will was at his trade show in San Francisco. We had an action-packed week and did a lot of this...

...and this...

... and this! Sullivan got her first pedicure, courtesy of Nonnie! Though we sat around a lot, we also got out a lot. We went to the Farmers Market (Note: Those of you who live in Temecula should go and buy Gaufres Belgian waffles! You can buy them pre-wrapped to bring home. You just warm them in the toaster and top them with Nutella, ice cream and caramel...YUM!!! They have chewy bits of pearl sugar in them and they're amazing!), the mall for last minute wedding necessities, Cold Stone for ice cream, Karate classes, swim lessons and numerous trips to the park! It was a busy and fun week.

Swim Lessons: Day 2

Mom and I really enjoy bringing the boys to their swim lessons. Courtney lives up in wine country, pretty close to our new house! It's a beautiful drive. Even Sullivan loves being in the sunshine - and having special time with her Nonnie. The boys will have 3 weeks of lessons this summer.

Titus is anxiously awaiting his lesson... as soon as Zane is done!

Titus is having his 2nd swim lesson, ever. Will took him to his first one before he left town. He told me to be prepared for the worst because Titus would NOT get in the pool for most of the lesson and by the end of it, he had gone in - to the 2nd step. So, I was not expecting much. But he was amazing!!! He started out just looking for toys Courtney put in the water, reaching out and picking them up (this was hard for him at first). Before we knew it, he was letting her guide him further in and getting his lips wet. Next, he was on the kick board and letting Courtney pull him around the pool. Finally, he learned to float on his back... all in one lesson! This is Courtney's last summer teaching swimming because she's getting married and moving to NY. We are REALLY going to miss her. She's a special teacher and she's WONDERFUL with kids.

This is Zane's 3rd year with Courtney. Here they are working on one of the many strokes he's learning.

Swim Lessons: Day 3

Sullivan and Nonnie lounged by the pool while Levi and I dangled our feet in the water to watch the lessons up-close.

Titus was holding his breath with his face in the water as he kicked along in the pool. I can't believe that at his first lesson he did not even want to get on the step!

Diving!

Zane on day 3 - learning to dive!! His first dive was from his knee, and his next was from standing. He's doing so well!!!

Fun at Pauba Park

While Mom was visiting, we took the kids to Pauba park every evening after dinner. There is a huge grassy area with a big hill the boys love to roll down, a basketball hoop, and there are jungle gyms. Mom and I love this park because it's beautiful, as you can see, with pretty estates around it- even horses! And it has a wonderful walking path. Sulli and I are the speck you see walking - we'd get about 12 laps in (about 3 miles). We even made some new friends who live in our neighborhood the last evening we were there. :)

Meet Horton

Will's sister, Cindy, sent Horton to Levi for his birthday. To be totally honest, Levi was a bit scared of him when he got him. Go figure! So, he started this whole crazy thing by repeatedly giving Horton to Sullivan and saying he was hers. Before we knew it, Horton became this fun game we all play - mainly the kids. Every night one of the kids sneaks Horton onto somebody's bed. It's so funny, because you never know where he will end up. On this particular evening, Zane was the perpetrator, and Horton ended up with a visor on his head, holding Nonnie's nail polish in his trunk, on Nonnie's bed! It made for a cute photo. Mom snuck in after Zane was sleeping and put him in his room with a cowboy hat. The kids laugh and laugh about Horton.

Until next time, Mamacita!

Well, time to say good-bye to Nonnie again. But we'll see you in about 10 days in Portland!! Thanks for everything; we love you!!!

GREAT friends

Will and I met Michael and Eden about 9 years ago on the ferry to Catalina Island. We were all headed to Calvary Chapel Point Loma's Marriage Retreat. We were drawn to them the moment we met them. They are two of the most wonderful, genuine people we have ever known, and their friendship endures, no matter how much time goes by between visits. We were sad to leave them in San Diego when we moved north, but we always manage to make sure we get together a few times a year, at least. Skylar was Zane's first friend, and he still calls Sky his best friend. He is such a sweet boy. Avalon is an adorable little girl who can hang with the boys but loves to be feminine and girly too. Thanks for driving up for another visit, Maggioras! We love you all!!

Sullivan loves Mick and Eden too!

The Best Daddy in the Whole World

Aside from my own Dad, of course, Will is the best father in the world. Not only does he provide well for all of us, but he LOVES, LOVES, LOVES his four kids. He is an amazing dad who gives them so much time and love. We are all absolutely crazy about him and thank the Lord for him every day! Happy Father's Day, Honey!

Feed the Daddy!

Will returned from Oregon just in time to spend the last half of Father's Day with us. The kids and I planned a special dinner for him (we had a hint when he came home from the grocery store, before he left town, with shallots and tarragon, "just in case I had time to make him bernaise sauce" for his filet mignon. :) The kids and I found beautiful sweet strawberries at the farmer's market on Saturday, so I just had to make one of his favorite desserts.

Messy Marvins

As we were eating our Strawberry Cream Pie, I looked at the kids and they ALL had it on their faces - so funny. Sulli doesn't look like she likes it (but she does).

Little Rascal

Our sweet Sulli has a feisty side too. She just gets giddy a lot - very vocal and giggly. In these shots, she was tired, so her fingers kept finding their way to her mouth, but in between, she was just plain silly.

Sign language

All of a sudden, Sullivan is becoming extremely dramatic with her sign language. I haven't taught her much, but she knows enough to communicate with me about food. She mainly signs while nursing that she wants "more" or she is "all done." It's really cute because she'll stop nursing just long enough to pull her arm up and place her two thumbs and two pointers together to let me know she KNOWS how to say "more," and then she'll go back to nursing. In this shot, she is letting me know she is "all done" after about 5 bites of yogurt and bananas (the only food she will actually swallow). She opens and closes her hands with gusto and actually says, "aaa-duuu." This extraordinary feat happened on Father's Day! :)

Fun with friends!

I had such a great time at my friend Julia's 30th birthday party. It was at the home of the Cernetics, some friends of ours from church. The party had a beautiful spread of food (appetizers and cocktails), and some fun dance music. I met Julia at a home fellowship about 5 years ago, but I didn't really get to know her right away. Over the years I've observed that she's an amazing and gifted lady with a heart to serve others. She and her husband, Allen, now host our Bible study group at their home each and every week (what a sacrifice!!), and they have become such wonderful friends of ours. Happy Birthday, Julia!!!

It was fun to catch up with Michelle and Grace, who I hadn't seen in a while. Read on to learn about Kimberlee...

I'm posing with my good friend Kimberlee and her mother, Karen. Kimberlee and I met about 5 years ago at Moms on a Mission. We were in the same group and also ended up at the same home Bible study fellowship with our families. Both Kimberlee and her husband, Steve, are wonderful people who Will and I enjoy immensely. Kimberlee is a caring person and a true friend, and I"ve enjoyed getting to know her better and better as we also home school in the same group. Karen is such a fun, outgoing lady, and is usually the life of the party. I was a little sad to attend the party without Will (in OR), but I had a blast spending time with all of these wonderful gals.

Bruce's Bachelor Weekend

While the kids and I were attending a couple parties of our own, Will was in Oregon, celebrating with my dear brother. Bruce and his 12 or 13 groomsmen stayed at a friend's house on the coast, just doing guy stuff (barbecuing, bonfires and such). These are the only pictures I received, though I hear there are some out there of Bruce in a dress and earrings (Men and their crazy bachelor rituals!!!). Unfortunately, Bruce did not send me any of those; he knew it would appear on my blog. ;) Will had an amazing time in Portland too, where he got to spend some extra time with my brother. He thinks the world of Bruce, and I love that my husband and brother are so close. It really makes me happy. It's so cool how God brings people together for each other and for their families. The Schumans have been so blessed with the addition of the Powells, and now the Schumans and Powells are being blessed with the addition of the Martins. We are fortunate that our families all love each other. Anyways, thank you, Bruce, for including Will in your amazing weekend; he was truly blessed by the whole thing.

End of the Year Swim Party!

Our ISP small group opted out of the whole school party and voted to have our own small swim party to close out our home school year. Kimberlee Whiddon hosted it in her beautiful back yard. We always enjoy going over there. We had lunch and the kids had a blast in the water; it was a pretty hot day! Since Will was out of town, celebrating with Bruce, it was fun to get out and spend time with friends. Titus and Levi opted to stay in the shallow water and splash each other. Zane got right in there and played with the big kids (those swim lessons have really paid off!!), and Sullivan got passed around, as usual. Here she is with my friend Carri Roman, who happens to be pregnant with her #4! She also has 3 boys. Sullivan also enjoyed Kimberlee and her dangly earrings. Just for the record, Sullivan and I did go for a quick dip - very quick! It was her first time in a pool, and she was totally shocked by the cold water. As soon as her legs hit the water she shrieked. She's used to nice warm bath water. Oh well, at least we tried.