Lazy Summer Days

Hi Everyone.

I know it's been several days since my last post, almost a week I suppose, but there's really not that much to report. It has been a fantastic time for all up here in Castro Valley so far. Our days looks mostly like this: Ryan gets up earlier than all of us to read/do homework at an hour that most don't even know about, then gets the boys when they begin stirring at around 6:00 a.m. Yes that's right, we are those super-blessed parents who have kids that don't sleep. I was telling my mom last night that I'll just sleep when I'm dead, but in Heaven I won't need sleep, so I guess I'll never get enough sleep while on earth. Thank the Lord for vacations and coffee! The 4 of us have breakfast around 7 or so and then Ryan leaves for work on his bike at 7:30. My mom usually comes down by that time too, so then we all hang out for a while until we mosey on to the daily business of showering and cleaning up. After Warren wakes from his morning nap, sometimes we'll go out on an errand, sometimes we'll play until lunch time. Lunch, back to work, naps for babies, Bible reading, sunning on the hammock (I'm getting a nice little tan here!), play outside after naps until dad and Grandpa come home, eat dinner. Dinner clean-up, baths, Bible reading with boys, bedtime! As a side note, one of the most important things I've learned as a parent is that kids thrive on a schedule. My boys always do better behaviorally speaking when it is a normal day with normal things happening versus a wacky, unorganized day. I'm very thankful for this summer that we get to spend with my parents.

I'm reading a book called Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp which I highly recommend to anyone desiring to raise little ones in the fear of the Lord, which we are all called to do. I'm just about done with it and have learned valuable lessons on discipline and familial relationships. This is one that I know I'll read over and over again as we bring up our children.

Well, I hope you are all having a wonderful summer and I would love to hear from you!

Here are some recent pictures.

This box was way too small for him to be sitting in but he loved it! Look at how his knees are all scrunched up!

Typical Warren fashion: one toy in his hand, another in his mouth!