Minnesota Weekend

I was born in Minnesota, and each and every summer my family who had moved to San Diego would take one summer vacation: Minnesota.  So when I am there, when I am in my grandma's house, I am in a literal time capsule.  Real, distinct, touchable, smellable memories flood back and I remember the me that I once was, the family memories that once were.

Strolling Minnihaha Creek

Loving being the center of attention in Great Grandma's living room

Thursday we packed our bags up with warm clothes, ready to go. 

It was Finley's first flight, and we weren't sure how he'd do.  Andrew got a hot tip; make a cherrios necklace.  "Babe, where's your yarn," he asked just before we left.  I thought it was odd, now I think he's a genius.

Our flight was late at night, so my hope was that Finley would sleep on the flight, even though I know he really only likes to sleep in his crib.  I knew it would be awesome, or a disaster.  So, he surprised us and stayed up the whole flight. He loved it and was happy the whole time, even while we got our rental car.

 Falling asleep that night was another story.  No bueno.


Minnesota is so beautiful in the fall, us Californians must admit that we had season-envy.  Fall leaves, brisk air.

Finley loves family vacations.  He loves having plenty of people to impress and read stories to.

 "Oh hi grandpa, just stare deep into my charming eyes, and not worry about what I'm taking with my hands, I'm pretty sure you want it crumpled anyways..."

"Anytime your need an E flat, you just lemme know, tay gweat gwamma?"

Finley in my mom's yellow high chair.

 The wedding was beautiful and lovely, and it was a great three day vacation.

On the flight back, Finley thought it was party time for the first hour, and was having a blast.  But then the tiredness hit.  He didn't have the adrenaline of, "I'm in a new place, let's stay awake and happy," anymore because we had been in a new place for a few days.  He made it clear he wanted to NAP! 

"PARTY!!!"

 Praise God, he fell asleep.  And when he did, we all breathed a sigh of relief as we allowed ourselves to relax, and I allowed my arm to fall asleep cause there is NO WAY I was waking this boy up!

Sometimes you gotta be TWINSIES!

Creating a New Christmas Family Tradition

The Holidays are coming up.  Holidays are so fun with family, but then as a parent, you start thinking about what feelings, events, and traditions you want to be instilling in your child as the years pass.  In our hearts, we don't want it to be all about the presents, what they get, but unless we are DETERMINED and intentional, won't it end up being that way?

Do you want to start a tradition with your family that will bring your family together as a team.  Something that teaches your family compassion, opens their eyes to the needs of others instead of their own wants for more toys.  Each year Reece's Rainbow does something called the Christmas Angel Tree.  As a family, you chose a child from their site who is an orphan.  Tell your kids that these children don't get stockings, or presents.  No parents make them special Christmas dinners, wake them up or go caroling with them.

Once you choose an orphaned child and think of fun, family ways to raise money for them, have your kids decorate a bucket or jar and collect coins.  Bake some yummy Christmas cookies together, and as you mix and stir, talk to your child about how your are spending your time not for yourselves, but helping someone in need super far away.  Ask your child why it's important and how they would feel if people they didn't even know were working together to help them.  Ask them for their input and ideas of raising money.  Post a picture of your child on the fridge and as a family pray for them, make that child part of your life, part of your efforts as a family unit.

Your family will get an ornament with your child's face that together you can hang on the family tree. Many families have watched their efforts result in their child finding a home, their life saved!  Can you imagine the impact that would be for your little ones to see their prayers and efforts pay off.  I promise you that they will be more excited maybe even than some of their big, huge presents.  Not to mention, a real child will get  a real family.  I can tell your from my expereince raising support and praying for 3 orphans with my high school bible study was abosolutely amazing and life changing.  It brought us together like no other.

Read more info here: http://reecesrainbow.org/angeltree2011/christmaswarriors

 Here are some of the kids that need your family to become a Christmas Warrior for them:

 Penny

 

Anastasia

Jesse

Amie

Jin Wu

 

'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

Matthew 25:40 

Sew seeds in tiny hearts of love, compassion and service.

We're back from Minnesota!

My family just spent 4 days in Minnesota, the state in which I was born for my lovely cousin's wedding.  I'll update you soon, but in the meantime, here is a picture of The Tiny and I on his first plane ride.

I can't wait to share more, it was such a special and fun trip!

P.s. My husband is  GENIUS traveler with a baby! 

Bates Nut Farm

Last weekend we went to the San Diego famous, Bates Nut Farm, otherwise known as Nate's Butt Farm.

Our small group decided to meet up at Bates around 11, so Andrew and I got our pro-systematic-planning faces on.

"Ok, so Finley takes two naps a day, one an hour and a half after he wakes up around 7:45ish, so we could go when he wakes up..."

"But then his awake time would be mostly in the car before he needs his next nap..."

"True..."

"We could go early..."

"Like, really early, huh?"

"Yeah, really early."

Finley can sleep in two places.  His crib, and the car seat.  So at 7:45 we load up the car and hit the dusty road to Valley Center.  We even stopped at Starbucks on the way and got a pumpkin spice latte, a luxury I never allow myself, but I must say it just fit the day.  We have been waiting to create these wonderful, fall family memories since the day we got married, and we were excited, dangit!  I loved my pumpkin latte!  ;)

As we drew closer to Valley Center, the buildings and cars disappeared one by one, replaced by tall, golden grasses bathed in perfect morning light.  We pulled up to Bates and the tiny was still fast asleep, and for whatever reason no one was at the pumpkin patch just before 9am.... so we kept driving.  It was awesome.  For a minute in time it was just Andrew and I, glancing at the cows in the pastures and trees out our window.

Then I saw a dead cow.  I know, weird.

When he woke up, we headed in to Bates.  

Finley soon discovered real quick that pumpkins are good for drumming.  Especially the Big Macs.  This boy was truly in seventh heaven at the pumpkin patch.  It has sticks, dirt, straw, pumpkins, animals.  I think he's going to be an outside kinda boy.

But the part he liked best about the patch were the haybales.  It doesn't take much, I suppose.  He was having so much fun with the hay, it was actually a problem when we tried to leave.

"I am jus' gon point at da fing I like da best here...Op!  Hew it IS!" -Finley, talking to the haybale.

Time out for throwing a "we should probably leave the haybales and go inside meltdown moment" fit.

"Yep, even tastes good."

"Hey dada!  You like to drum on dees with me too??"

Pointing out the train

How big is Finley...SO BIG!

 "I love this punkin' patch!"

Here he is, checkin out some sheep.

After a bit, our small group arrived at a normal hour to get to a pumpkin patch.

"Pssst, hey Elliette....I know of some super cool haybales I'll show you later...but, keep it on the DL cause sometimes they make you leave before you're quite ready."

"LET'S HOLD HANDS FOREVER!!!!!!!"

All in all, it was a lovely Sunday with great friends and new experiences for our little one and us.