Billy's First Day of Kindergarten... So Bitter Sweet!

Oh, my baby started Kindergarten today! I know mother's throughout the ages and across the world have experienced the beginnings of independence, sending their cherished babe off to school. But since I'm still swelling in the moment, it hurts. I've been anticipating this for over a year now... and the dreaded time has finally come. Despite my sadness and hesitations, Billy is taking the transition in stride. Alright- he's downright happy about it. As it should be. He's ready. He's more than ready. To illustrate his excitement: last night and tonight he actually slept in his clothes, so it would be easier to get ready for school in the morning. He informed me that he wants to be the first kid there tomorrow so he can help his teacher set up for the day- what an angel! I'm jealous that she gets to spend time with him, but he's ALL mine for the rest of the day (do I sound fanatical?)! Billy (Daddy) gave him a Father's blessing last night before bed; he blessed him, among other things, with a "lion heart." I love that. And Billy truly has a lion heart- a strong sense of who he is and what is right and wrong, wrapped in a tender and kind and genuine warmth of character. I love you, Billy. I hold you a little tighter when we hug now, but even when we are apart you will ALWAYS be with me!

Queen Bee

Yes, Grace surely is the Queen Bee around here. I don't know if it's her age, with all the frustrations of babyhood (not being able to verbalize her needs, or to gracefully get from point A to point B, or to be held every minute, etc.) or what. Her brothers rightfully admit she's the "Queen" and are happy to let her call the shots, unless she turns into "car-zilla" and wreaks havoc on their delicately set-up play area (which happens often). They even scoped out the spot for this picture and plopped her right in the middle of them! Thanks for your patience, Billy & Seth. Unfortunately, I fear the worst is yet to come. More to follow on this subject when Grace enters puberty...

Happy 4th!

We just returned from an amazing trip to Rexburg, ID to visit the Earl's (friends who used to live in Goleta). We are happily exhausted- we made it all the way to Wyoming and Montana too! Thanks Earl's for a wonderful time!


And, boy do they know how do it in Idaho! Check out the parade we watched in Eastern Idaho. (OK, so that was sarcastic. I apologize. We've just been spoiled by the Santa Barbara parades, which are ridiculously abundant and extravagant.)


For the record: I absolutely LOVE Idaho. It is an amazingly beautiful place that speaks to my soul!

Gracie is Ten Months Old!

Happy 10 month-Birthday Grace Girl! It's hard to believe she'll be a year in only 8 short weeks. She's such a ray of sunshine in our family. Hard to imagine life before Gracie!

I couldn't resist taking her picture in this old baby buggy...

And discovering the lavender blooms...

Get a load of that bottom lip!

It's Sum, Sum, Summertime!

So, I'm not a very good blogger. I'm coming to terms with it. But now that we are in Utah for the summer, I'm (once again) trying to start afresh and turn over a new leaf or two.

Billy was selected for a summer fellowship teaching position at BYU, so we are living in Provo for the summer... and enjoying every minute of it. I think we all needed a change of pace! The warmth, beautiful mountains and canyons, and long summer days have been very rejuvenating. We've only been here a week but have already packed in a lot: completed a week of swimming lessons, reconnected with friends (Smith's, Jackson's, Earl's & Stanfield's), discovered a new, great library, enjoyed a little country with the boys catching chickens and feeding horses & Grace swinging on a hammock under shady trees, visited Billy after he settled into his fancy office, took a family hike up Rock Canyon and to the "Y," went bowling on campus, and indulged on ice cream from the "Creamery on 9th"... along with the usual fun summer stuff like bike rides, popsicles, running through the sprinklers, park trips, and lazy warm evenings. Phew! No wonder all the boys were asleep by 7:30 pm tonight, including Daddy!

February beach day... gotta love So Cal!

Monday we spent the afternoon at the beach, enjoying a freakishly warm February moment. We count ourselves lucky and know that since we've been spoiled here in Santa Barbara the past 4 1/2 years, we'll probably end up somewhere like Minneapolis, Minnesota once Billy finally gets a job.

Some of my favorites of Billy Elijah...


Seth...


...Grace