Here’s an update about the kids and what’s going on! This is so much easier than trying to manage all of the different socials! I have so much to update so be prepared for the spam! A quick Update:

We have had a lot of outdoor time this summer! Sports camps, beach trips, fossil exhibits, and so many fun adventures. And Arabella spent a lot of time fundraising to go to overnight camp out of state (que mom anxiety)! She leaves next month! If anyone would like to send her a letter at camp I’ll send you the address!

Summer has flown by almost as quickly as it arrived. It’s been a whirlwind of activities from start to finish. We kicked things off with Ara’s 5th-grade promotion, which set the tone for a packed season. From field days and church picnics to car shows, park outings, and summer camps, there was hardly a dull moment. Ara and Lijah both participated in the annual softball clinic with the local police and fire departments, and they had a blast this year. All three kids also joined the Mega Sports Camp, although Lu was a bit disappointed that basketball wasn’t part of his camp’s lineup.

We also found ourselves drifting from one adventure to the next, from the soft, sun-kissed sands of the beach to the warm, welcoming arms of grandparents. There were spontaneous sleepovers filled with giggles and late-night stories, birthday parties bursting with laughter and cake, and family gatherings that wove us closer together with every shared memory. Each day felt like a new chapter in our never-ending summer tale.

I’ve spent countless hours lost in the rhythm of cultivating our garden, watching in awe as the tiniest buds slowly unfurl into vibrant blooms. It’s like witnessing a secret show put on by nature itself. Lu’s been my little gardening companion, eagerly digging in the dirt with me and chatting away to the flowers as if they were old, trusted friends. He’ll bend down to whisper something to a budding dahlia or give the sunflowers a pep talk, as if they’re listening intently. The more I sink my fingers into the soil, the more I feel the quiet peace that only comes from being so deeply connected to the earth. It’s as if the earth knows the weight of my thoughts and gently helps me release them.

Of course, there’s still the laundry mountain that never quite disappears, and the daily “What’s for dinner?” scramble that always feels a little like a game of chance. But despite those little everyday chaos moments, life feels good… like a quiet, beautiful rhythm unfolding with each passing day.

My sweet Ara is about to leave for sleep-away camp in less than two weeks… and I’m already feeling all sorts of emotions. Pray for me, because I’m not quite ready for this yet! But oh, how hard she worked to get here. She spent countless hours weeding random gardens, selling cupcakes, and running a lemonade stand to raise the money. I was right there beside her, watching her pour everything she had into making this dream a reality.

I’m so incredibly proud of her. Still, there’s that mom-heart that’s nervous… nervous for her to be out of state, surrounded by strangers, with no one there to give her a hug or a reassuring word when she needs it. But even through the nerves, my pride outweighs it all. Because of the effort she put in, and all the kind people who supported her along the way, she gets to have this amazing, life-changing experience.

I never went to camp myself, but she will. And I know it’s going to be something she’ll remember forever.

And as summer winds down, the adventures keep coming. There’s our anniversary trip to Seattle on the horizon, then Vacation Bible School for the boys (and Ara, who gets to be a leader this year!), followed by the start of school … which, let’s be real, I’m not fully prepared for yet! We’ll be packing for a trip to Ohio in September and celebrating Back to the Future Day later that month. Between all these moments, big and small, we’re filling up the calendar with memories that will carry us through the year.

Wish us luck… or better yet, just pray.

May has been a whirlwind of activity! Arabella and Elijah were both attending Breakout and Kids Quest every Tuesday, and they wrapped those up this month. Arabella also had an overnight event at church for all the kids moving into 6th grade. I was hesitant to let her go, but knowing Audrey would be supervising made me feel a little more at ease. It turns out she had a blast! Her friend Jacqueline was there, which was extra special since Jacqueline is moving out of state soon… this might have been their last time together. The kids stayed up half the night just enjoying themselves.

The next day, we picked Arabella up and headed straight to our other church for a kids’ NERF day. Even though she was tired, she was still excited. Elijah had fun too, although he lost his leather jacket at the event, which really bummed him out. We looked for it but couldn’t find it. While the bigs were at Nerf day we took Luca to ride the carousel so he could have something special too!

I’ve been attending Mom to Mom, and we just had our final meeting of the season. It was such a meaningful experience… meeting new people and learning so much together. I’m really going to miss some of those ladies. I have so much respect for them. Even though our lives are so different, their impact on me was real. Community truly matters. Despite my social anxiety, I felt a kind of comfort that’s hard to explain.

Now that Mom to Mom has ended, I signed up for the women’s Bible study. We’re doing a study on the Lord’s Prayer using the book Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton. So far, I really like it. Still, I miss my old group… at this point I still feel a little awkward and out of place. But it’s only five weeks, so I can manage a little discomfort.

We also visited my dad and met up with Angel and her family. The kids had a blast at the train park. We’ve been there before, but it never gets old. Arabella especially loved seeing Sophia, and it was great to catch up with my sister. Visiting my dad is always a highlight… I treasure those hugs and the time we get to spend together. The kids also enjoy being out in the country.

The garden is finally in! We planted six tomatoes, a pepper, a cucumber, and a zucchini. We also added dahlias, cosmos, zinnias, sunflowers, dill, basil, and in a contained area added mint and lemon balm. Everything is starting to come together. I’m really hoping things grow this year. Last year, the slugs destroyed a lot of my plants, so fingers crossed!

We even made it downtown for the fireworks. They were absolutely stunning over the waterfront. Arabella brought a friend, and we all had a great time. Life has been busy, but it’s been good.

Buggsy turned eight… and my heart can hardly believe it.
How did my little boy with the wrinkled nose and sparkling baby blue eyes grow into this big kid so quickly? Time has a way of slipping through our fingers when we’re not looking. He’s still my sweet, curious soul—just a little taller, a little bolder, and still wonderfully him. He’s wild about Battle Bots, dinosaurs, Universal Studios, the Titanic… really, anything with a story etched in time. History has his whole heart.

This year, he dreamed of a birthday wrapped in movie magic: Universal Studios-style…so we did our best to bring it to life, a little piece of each world he loves. From Jurassic Park to Men in Black to Jaws and of course Harry Potter, Back to the Future and a Minions. Judging by his bright eyes and constant grin, I think we pulled it off. We also adventured to the Train Museum and OMSI to see the Jurassic exhibit…dinosaurs and Legos galore.

He is still my cuddly one, the boy who wraps his arms around me like home. He loves his mama, Jesus, and basketball. He has a kind of joy about him that makes you stop and watch. My heart is so full. I can’t believe I get to be his mama. What a gift.