For our family vacation this summer we went to Newport Beach, California! We spent a full week lounging at the Marriott Newport Beach Coast Villas, beach hopping, boogie-boarding, tanning, eating a lot, indulging in shakes from Ruby's Diner, and doing all this with some of our favorite neighbors, the Maughans (or as we lovingly refer to as the Maughansters :))!
It was honestly, the BEST. WEEK. EVER! We had so much fun together. I have a ton of pictures, and will get to documenting our week of fun in the sun soon, but first, I want to share the family pictures my good friend Lindsey, took of us while we were there. They turned out so great! (Not an easy task for our family. :))
Just so you won't be decieved, here is an example of what the scene looked like most of the time (I think all mothers can relate to this):
"From one photographer to family picture-taking mothers everywhere" tip: Just take a lot of pictures, you are bound to get some great ones. :)
As displayed here:
I love these family pictures because not only do they encapsulate our family right now, but they also show some of the things we are doing to become closer as a family...like spending an entire week together in a stunningly beautiful part of the world.
Sure love this family of mine. :)
We have been in a serious drought this summer. Not much snowfall last winter and little rain this spring & summer led to lots of devastating wildfires this year. We have been praying for rain. Literally.
The last couple of days we have had random rain showers rolling in during the evenings. It has been heavenly! I have missed the rain.
Growing up in Colorado, what seemed like daily, we had short rain showers in the afternoons. I remember as a kid riding my bike up and down the street with my siblings after a good storm and getting completely SOAKED and MUDDY from trying to hit every possible puddle I could find. There were a lot on my street because there were A LOT of potholes in our road. :) We had so much fun doing this. Something every kids should get to do.
So on Saturday, as we were coming home from the Annual Bullock Family Picnic, the rain started to pour! I drove as fast as I could, legally, to get home. As soon as we pulled in, I told my kids to run outside and play in the rain (while I grabbed my camera of course)! Looking at me like I was crazy, they were like, "are you sure??? we will get all wet!" Ummm..I KNOW....GOOOO!!!
It didn't take any more encouragement than that. I just followed them around, my shirt soaked in precipitation and my mother's heart swelling that my kids were soaking up one little joy of childhood.
Rain, rain, please stay.
