the bike ride

saturday, december 4th

::

7:30 am

::

lover's point

::

monterey, ca

::

noel and shay

 ::

asilomar beach

 ::

point lobos

over the long weekend, we took the kids to 

point lobos state natural reserve to go hiking.

absolutely gorgeous views!

i look like a goober in both these family pics, but everyone else looks cute:

 

our neighbors, the binghams

 check out those lusious green mountains in the background and the choppy blue water. 

i really will miss monterey/carmel. there's just nothing like california.

tear?

conference sunday

general conference was uplifting as usual.

what topped our sunday off, was a walk along the beach afterwards.

nana would live on the beach, if she could.

literally, she would live in a shack infested with mice, if it was by the ocean.

our labor day

this boy likes his pockets to hang inside out of his shorts.

drives me nuts!

this boy needs a tan.

this girl got so dirty and loved it!

and this girl is about to POP!

more...

after cleaning house all morning, 

we headed to the beach

with the windows down and the beach boys playing.

it was a beautiful and calm day at the beach.

hallelujah

summer is finally here in monterey.

finally.

after months of breezy 60's, we have sun and 80's.

this means pure bliss at the beach.

it doesn't matter that i am 35 weeks pregnant and huge, 

i still sport my swimsuit to get some sun,

you know, to mask those stretchmarks a little:)

needless to say, the kids had a blast:

family night at the beach

grandma and grandpa accompanied us to the beach

for family night on monday.

burying the boy:

then burying grandma;

turning them into mermaid/merman:

the david's worked on a sand castle:

the boy did yoga in the ocean:

still working on the sand castle:

paisley had boogers:

finally finished the sand castle/fortress:

started a fire:

made smores:

and finally for ANNE, the triple chin shot...

okay, it might not be a triple chin, but it all went to my cheeks:

did i spell triple wrong?

more beach

the weather is finally warming up around here and that calls for major beach time!

we went over the long memorial day weekend and just played.

katie bingham

even the mister got some much needed sun.

a friend like her

before moving to monterey, david picked out our home.

he did a great job because we moved right nextdoor to my future best friend.

although david deserves some credit, i don't think this was coincidence.

sheryl is the kind of friend everyone needs.

she's laid back

she kind

she's willing to help

she eats junk food with me

then she makes me work it off by running with me

she watches my kids

she's spiritual

but most of all she's fun.

she's is down for anything at any time:

like

 an impromtu jumping in the ocean fully clothed in the middle of november:

going surfing in an even colder ocean during the end of november:

to the beach again in january,

thankfully no water this time:

sheryl really is a girl's best friend

and i'm so grateful for her!

another work out on the beach with noel

guess who's here for christmas?

aunt noelie!

little miss is simply obsessed with her auntie. she adores noel's every move and plays with her all day.

*paisley's hat was lovingly made by my SIL molly. so precious! check out her etsy shop!

this morning, we ran lover's point trail. it was oh so freezing and windy, but sunny and well worth it:

also, noel just graduated on friday with her masters in physical therapy! words can't express how proud i am of this sister of mine. she is smart and determined and humble! all this hard work for something she is crazy passionate about. not one complaint has come from her mouth of how hard it has been, especially charging on through a divorce along the way. she is amazing and i know she will be the best physical therapist. i grabbed her this necklace off etsy for her graduation present. small, dainty, simple and humble; just like her: