Catching up... Fall and Holidays

Well its been since the first day of school since I have updated this so I have to cram in a few words to cover the months. We have had some great times the past few months. We had Grandpa and Nana up this Fall and spent a Saturday at Apple Hill in Placerville. Very fun! Thanksgiving on the Central Coast was great as well... a few different visits with Winans cousins, a few days at Grandpa and Nana's and a family reunion at Aunt Teresa's. Hope Erin sends me pictures from that. What a packed and fulfilling few days! Most of my pictures are from that trip. Then..... we actually had a bunch of Winans family visit for New Years to celebrate Christmas. It was a few days of great fun!! We can't express how thankful we are that everyone drove all the way up here. Thank you everyone! We absolutely loved it! Unfortunately I totally spaced out with my camera and only took one picture of cousins Claire and Emily with my boys at our house. I'm hoping to get copies from the Winans of those group shots we took on New Years... Aimme? Madison? send me picture pleease :)

School started back up today and Tayven and Dax were ready to go... coming home with stories. I get a lump in my throat watching them go... not only because I miss them, but also because I wonder what steps their independent minds are taking. I think of how there's no one there that loves them like we do... and how I want to hold them close, freeze time, and hide them safely at home. However, I know God has much more for them... and some how I am still very excited for how God is growing them in the midst of my emotions. Watching them learn and grow is such an amazing privilege.

I have to add, that Josh and I have been pretty amazed at a series of questions that our son Harper has been asking lately. His little 3 1/2 year old mind is pretty curious about God... and not only are his questions pretty cute, but they are also pretty amazing. For example,

"mom, is God everywhere? does that mean He's on my elbow? and in that building? and in the sky?"
"mom, is God a man?"
"mom, how did God make the wind?"
"mom- God is sooo strong, I cannot WAIT to see his muscles"
"how old is God?"
"Does God hold the world so that it doesn't fall and that we don't fall?"
"Does God live in the sky?"

Not only do these questions make me pause and think before I speak, but often times I am left with, "Harper, I am not sure, its just that God is amazing"



Grandpa, Nana and Danielle at Apple Hill with boys


Thanksgiving with cousins Cal and Rye


2nd Thanksgiving with family- Grandpa, Nana, Danielle, Aunt Erin & Uncle David, Chris & Hien


Hanging with cousins Cheyenne, James, Kailynn, and Chelsea


More fun with cousins AJ, Brian, Christian and Ana


I stole this picture of the Winans women from Madison's facebook :) Happy New Year to us!


Evidence that cousins were at our house... here are Emily and Claire- so fun!