Transition to CA

Last time I posted we had just found out we were going to move back to California. From that post on our lives have been crazy. School has just started for Davey and Cassia. With school starting it feels like life is finally settling down and no longer in transition. A new normal pace and routine is starting for us here that we haven't had since before packing up in Texas. There is a peace and comfort in finally feeling like this is home and we belong.
 Before I go on with our lives now I want to share what has been going on with us these past 8 months. This is a long post. If you aren't up to reading the whole thing I hope you enjoy the pictures and check out the video of the kids near the end :) January was filled with packing, living out of boxes, visiting with friends and getting as much time in before having to say goodbye. February 1st we packed up and started the move to California. Once here our lives were filled with unpacking, figuring out Dave working from home, and starting to create our lives here with church, school, and family. The transition here was a lot harder and emotional than I expected. Davey and Cassia did great starting a new school in the middle of the year, but there were struggles and sadness in making friends, learning the class routine, and finding their way around a new school.  We are going to the church Dave grew up in and where we went every time we came to visit so we aren't really new, but we are new to the church as we haven't regularly attended and lived life with this congregation. As we pushed ourselves to be active in getting our lives here going - in volunteering at school, doing a bible study as well as a small group, enjoying family dinner night and time with family, creating a regular weekly date night (which Dave and I have never been able to do) our pace of life and routine felt crazy and different. All of it was good and such a blessing to have in our lives, but took time to adjust to it. There were also changes in Dave's work situation. He now is working from home, actually in our garage. He is in a different position than he was in Texas, which requires more travel. The travel is still totally worth giving up commuting 2 hours everyday. There were adjustments to our daily routine and having him be a part of breakfast and lunch. He now gets off work and has a couple hours before dinner rather than pushing dinner later so we could eat as a family. All of these changes are answers to prayers and dreams we have had for our lives, but also required adjusting that I didn't anticipate.

Missing our Texas church family!

 Through the move and all the transitions we continue to praise God for His hand in it all. The house we decided to rent has worked out on so many levels: Dave being able to work from our garage, the bus stop for school is at our house, and the house has a great backyard for the kids and Daisy to play. Daisy hasn't even tried to escape. In church there was a small group starting up right when we were looking for one. We were praying about where to serve at church, feeling like possibly Jr. High if there was a need. The first Sunday we were asked if we might consider helping out in Jr. high. I have had many ups and downs emotionally in these past 8 months and God has been so present through it all. I was completely overwhelmed once we moved here. I was trying to make my old routine work here in our new lives. I have always struggled with feeling that I needed to do everything all the time: keep a clean house, care for a family of 7, be present and active with school, serve at church, and invest in others' lives. Then on top of all that I wanted so badly to visit our Fernley church family and see those friends we haven't seen in years. In Texas God was working on me, teaching me to let Him guide me in priorities and what our day would hold. Once we moved it became impossible to do everything I thought I needed to and wanted to do. I had many mornings of crying out to God so overwhelmed. God continues to remind me to let Him set the priorities for the day and the routine. In doing His priorities that may mean my idea of what needs to be done doesn't really need to be done and I need to let go of my expectation. Some days are busy with chores and activities, and some days my kids just need me to forget about the dishes stacking up, laundry needing to be folded or boxes that still need to be unpacked. They need me to just sit with them, read a book, play a game, or go on a hike. God reminds me that getting time to go out to visit our friends will come, but in time. Not everything is meant to happen right now. Letting go of my expectations is a hard lesson for me to get through my thick head. He was teaching me in Texas, and He continues to humble me and teach me now. I am truly thankful that God doesn't give up on me. The days that I listen and give my day and expectations to God there is so much peace, joy, and freedom. I look forward to the day that it becomes easier to do.
 Ok, enough about me and our transitions. Thank you all for your prayers and support over this year. It has been hard, but a blessing as well. God is good! We have had a very fun busy year so far. In May Dave and I celebrated our 10th anniversary and got a weekend away in Tahoe. We have been out rock crawling and motorcycle riding. We went to our annual 4th of July camping trip and got to go down to San Diego for my Gram's 80th birthday. Dave has been doing business trips down to LA frequently and the kids and I have gotten to tag along a few times and enjoy a mini vacation. Now, a quick overview of the kids.

Those crazy kids!

Taking a break on our work day at Grandpa Smith's house.

 Elah turned one July 2nd. She is not walking yet and didn't even start to crawl till after she turned 1. She now is crawling everywhere, standing up as much as possible and seems anxious to start walking. She is a sweet fun loving little girl. She loves getting the other kids to laugh at meals and is the most ticklish of all our kids. She absolutely loves Dave throwing her in the air. The higher the better! She also has a stubborn vocal side, that has to come from her daddy ;) She glares and screams at the girls if they try to unbuckle her car seat, only wants mommy to do that. She will crawl over and take food or toys right out of Boaz's hand, and he doesn't give them up easily.

Elah was dedicated on Mother's day. It was special to have her dedicated and prayed for by Pastor Scott who married us just 10 years earlier.

Look who's 1 and loving cupcakes! She cried when she didn't get a second cupcake.

Proud little girl for getting brother's gun.

Elah is a little fish that not only loves being in the water she also gets her arms and legs doing the breaststroke on her back.

Elah's first bike ride. Boaz wasn't quite as excited as Elah.

 Boaz is all boy, kindhearted and full of energy.. He loves motorcycles, 4 wheeling, monster trucks, guns, and airplanes. First thing in the morning he needs a few minutes of snuggles before he starts the day. Then he seems to be bouncing the rest of the day, literally jumping all the time. He is potty training and is so proud to be a big boy. He tells complete strangers he is wearing big boy underwear and goes on the potty. He loves seeing the school bus and can't wait till he turns 5 so he can go on the bus, and he wants to be 6 so he can ride motorcycles.

Bo's first hair cut before . . .

and after haircut. Amazing how much older he looks from just a haircut.

Boaz loved sitting on Grandpa Smith's quad.

Wheeling with the cousins!

Sweet Abigail 

My girls first thing in the morning!

Making sandcastles at the beach.

 Abigail still loves playing dress up and playing with her babies. She loves the movie Frozen and always wants her hair just like Elsa. Her hair is finally getting long enough to do a braid like Elsa! She has gotten really good at her Strider bike that doesn't have pedals and has just started going on a two wheel bike with no training wheels. She is a big help around the house with chores and is the best at folding her laundry and hanging up her dresses that she wears often.

Cassia showing me a praying mantis she found in the yard.

Cassia's first time riding a motorcycle. She's a natural!

Cassia sitting and playing with Elah. Such a great big sister.

 I am so proud of the girl Cassia is becoming. She has a kind heart and is always looking for ways to help others. She is starting 1st grade and reading beautifully. She loves doing crafts and makes bracelets for everyone she can think of. Her hair is getting long and beautiful and she wants to keep growing it until it is long enough to donate to make wigs. She is a huge help with the younger kiddos. She loves holding Elah's hands trying to teach her to walk.

Davey was excited to have a mustache like Uncle Paul's!

Davey and Dave playing motorcycle Frisbee golf. They even popped a wheelie off the starting line!

My Boys!

 Davey is growing up quickly. He starts 2nd grade this year. He loves reading chapter books and has been enjoying lots of nonfiction books. We have been working on swimming this summer and he is getting pretty good at freestyle. He loves riding his bike and his motorcycle. Over memorial day weekend he did a 46 mile ride round trip. He had a couple good crashes, but got back on and kept going. He and Cassia  have started soccer practice and are excited to be on the same team with each other as well as with some friends from church.
 The kids all have some great news to share . . .

We were excited to find out I am pregnant with baby #6! I always wonder if the kids are tired of having little brothers and sisters and want to be done, but they are so excited for another baby. Everyone we meet they love to share that mommy has a baby in her belly. Cassia said she is hoping for twin boys. I am guessing I am around 8 weeks. My first appointment with the doctor and ultrasound is next Wednesday.
 Sorry for such a long post and how long it has been since I have written. This has been something I had to let slide to figure out life here in California, but I hated not having this contact with friends and family far away. Hopefully I will be able to write more often and post pictures of our crazy family of (soon to be) 8 people!