He is Risen!

Easter weekend started with rock climbing for all 3 kids with Dad.

 

The church photographer grabbed this photo before Easter service.

After our Easter service we lined up for photos in front of the stage.

Austin was so excited to match Dad.

We had a very laid-back, relaxing Easter meal with two other families. Amelia & Austin hid eggs all over the yard for the younger kids. 

Baby Tate snuggles were soaked in

  

The big kids had fun times also.

 

 

Tide Pools & Easter Eggs

On Monday evening, I took the kids to Devereaux beach to tide pool. We found an incredible number of treasures!

 

 

Easter egg dying using colored rice was fun.

 

Homeschool park playdate fun on a Tuesday afternoon

On Friday afternoon, we went geocaching in Carpinteria with friends. They learned all about geocaching.

 

 

 

 

Spring in California

Since Patrick was unexpectedly home, he took Austin & Colleen to a Gauchos baseball game.

Winshape came to advertise their camp one Sunday and Colleen was decked out, ready for summertime!

They are still going strong with their push-ups.

Somebody has invisalign braces now!

A Friday afternoon at the Natural History Museum

 

We met friends to hike the San Marcos Preserve on a Saturday afternoon.

Sunday afternoon walk, just the 2 of us surrounded by poppies in full bloom

 

Colleen Turns 9!

Colleen requested tiramisu again for her birthday; she and Patrick gathered the ingredients & prepared it.

 

On the Sunday before Colleen's birthday, we went to the ice skating rink for the public open skate time. She had been wanting to go ever since she went to an ice skating birthday party. She absolutely loved it; Amelia & Austin were less enthusiastic but good sports overall.

 

Then on her actual birthday, we went to the rock gym so Austin & she could rock climb. They had a blast.

 

We had invited friends over in the afternoon for a birthday playdate. Nothing fancy, just crafts and popsicles.

We literally just took out all the non-paint craft supplies we had and dumped them on the table. The girls used their imaginations for the afternoon.

Sushi dinner out with surprise mochi ice cream

 

At 9 years old, Colleen, you are full of so much joy and enthusiasm! You love to be in the middle of all the activity and are so flexible and resilient as plans change. Riding your bike, playing games, and reading fill your days. I have had so much fun teaching you 3rd grade this year - I have been able to apply all I have learned from teaching your sister & brother, and you have gotten the best of it all. We can't wait to see what the next year holds.

 

Auburn Basketball + Baby Tate

This girl loves it when it's warm enough for all of the lizards. She loves the challenge of catching them.

Colleen is learning how to make scrambled eggs.

Although he was only just over a month old, our friends invited us to come over and watch Auburn Basketball at their house. Patrick and the kids opted to ride bikes the half-hour ride to their home. They had a great time.

The kids watched some of the basketball game, but they also played outside and painted nails.

But the highlight was getting to meet baby Tate and snuggle him. We waited so long for him to come!

 

Amelia had both Tate and Riley snuggles.