The Benefits of living in Cali...

We've had LOTS of visitors over the last 4 years that we've lived in SoCal. Oh, I'd like to think it's because we're so popular that everyone is just dying to come spend a few days hanging out with us since we're so cool...but, in reality, it has more to do with the fact that we happen to live in a warm, sunny, bustling oasis that happens to be minutes from the beach:-) In any case, we'll take it! It's always a HUGE blessing to have familiar faces around us. Old friends and special family members have broken in new air mattresses, slept on our couches (even the 2 seater:-) and suffered on the floor. We LOVE it!

In the past few weeks (I'm a little behind on the post:-) we were delighted to have some special friends make their way to our part of the country.

First came one of my best friends from college, Julie, for a long weekend (a long time in coming but so glad it finally happened!). She's a mom of two darling girls. We're so thankful that her family shared her for the weekend which was really tough since her youngest started throwing up the night she got into Cali:-( Thanks David!

Because of my wonderful husband, we were even able to have some alone time to catch up and hang out while he managed the kiddos. It's so much fun to have friends and family come "be in our lives" here for a few days....crazy as our lives may be:-)

Julie and Soph @ Laguna Beach...beautiful!

This picture took us FOREVER to finally get right:-)

Next came our friend, Monica, with her son Noah and her brother Leighton for a quick trip down to Orange County because the college that Leighton is interested in attending is here. Again, prime example of how we benefit from our location:-) ....so they stayed with us for a couple of days. It was so great to catch up with my friend and see her as a mom. So cool to see friends blossom into motherhood (especially when they're really good at it...she's a "cool" mom!) Sophia has a new friend...she and Noah really hit it off. I think it prepared her for life with her little brother when Ezra gets a bit older:-)

These two were such a riot together! ...just having fun playing with water!

Sophia trying out her moves in her new tutu dress that Noah's older sis, Bella, passed along to her! Thanks Bella!

My sweet friend Monica!

....and I HAVE to throw these last pictures in...We went to our friend Sophia's (yes, another Sophia) birthday party a couple of weekends ago. It was a Fancy Nancy theme...if any of you know who Fancy Nancy is you know how awesome a Fancy Nancy Party would be! We were to come dressed in our fanciest clothes...this is what our Sophia came up with...hilarious!

And one of Ezra for "the road"...

Celebrating all we have to be thankful for!