First Words

A couple of weeks ago, my parents said that Natalie was saying "mama" when I was gone. I figured she was just making a new noise. But sure enough, the next day she said both mama and dada and it seemed like she really knew what she was saying, which really surprised me. She is already looking like she's going to be quite the talker, funny little girl.

OAXACA

In November Ryan had the opportunity to accompany his mom and a group from their church to Oaxaca, Mexico. It was a rich experience for both of them as they served the participants in a several day conference called "La Gran Festival".

This conference is put on by an organization called Growers First that works with the native coffee farmers in this region as well as other places around the world. Their mission is in part - "Growers First equips isolated indigenous family farmers to undertake long term economic and community development through outreach and partnership." Dave Day, the founder was part of Ryan's group. He gave them as much opportunity as possible in a short trip to experience the culture and serve the people.

It was really significant for Ryan and his mom to participate in this trip together. Julie also had the opportunity to get baptized in the ocean at the end of their trip.
Thanks to all of you who supported and prayed for them!
Here are some pictures.

A Summer Break from Winter

Today it is 85 degrees. We are wearing summer clothes (after I reorganized girls closets for winter). It isn't just warm. It's hot. In January. You gotta love Costa Mesa. The city wear we wear scarves and boots as soon as its in the 60s while other places in the country 60s bring out the shorts :)!

New Year's Resolutions

Ryan asked me the other night what my New Year's Resolutions were. I told him, "I don't do New Year's resolutions." I think that I am always resolving to work on something, or maybe I would phrase it, grow in some area of my life. After we had a couple more exchanges I said, well, if I had to come up with a resolution, these are what have been on my mind lately:

1) Have more patience with Noelle

2) Read more books to Natalie

3) Be kinder in my words to Ryan

Things that are so easy to throw out there but not so easy to keep up (except maybe the book reading). Isn't that the way with New Year's Resolutions all around. It brings me right back to the three reasons I don't make them:

1) I desire to always be open to growth and change, not just at the start of the year.

2) God's mercies are new EVERY day.

3) On our own efforts we fail to live up to our resolutions but through the transforming work of Christ in us we can live in new freedom and new ways of being (a change from those same patterns of behavior we repeat over and over - hence the need for a resolution)

This last reason was pretty much the message at church last week that reminded me once again to seek dependence on God and not self-improvement. Still don't think I'm getting that, maybe sometimes.

Cousins

Brooke and Andrew are my cousin Lindsay's two little ones. Growing up my cousins Lindsay and Sarah were right around my same age and we were very close. We have lots of fun memories together, especially at my grandparents house on the lake. My grandpa made us a playhouse on the beach, complete with electricity and running water. Their house was a great place! Lindsay still lives in Lake Elsinore and it is so fun for our kids to be getting older and beginning to play together. Here are some sweet pictures of the cousins (close enough).

Life with a two year old...

I sit and look around my house and think, how did it come to this? I can't help but smile as I look around and see the markings of a two year old, my two year old everywhere I turn. Who else but a toddler could make such a mess? How do these things get here? You could also learn a lot about Noelle from where I was sitting before writing this (at the kitchen table).

• Underwear in the corner of the room (our feeble attempts to potty "train" - I'm going to pick up a book at the library tomorrow. One of the counselors that I supervise asked me last night if I have an advantage in potty training because of my counseling background? Well, maybe I should but I think that I'm currently getting no where. I'll spare you the details that make my days so fun recently)
• A sparkly princess sticker stuck to the wood floor (she told me these stickers were "MAGIC", oooh)
• Rice all over the floor (this child loves rice - could eat it for every meal. It makes such a mess. She still can't eat dairy, wheat and peanuts. Doctor will hopefully retest her at 3)
• Her little red Lightening McQueen Crocs. She loves Cars (the Disney movie). Ryan and I marvel at how Disney gets its name on everything. We have Cars' bandaids, sippy cups, vitamins, magnets, shoes, clothes, pajamas, bath bubbles, chair, etc. Ridiculous.

I could go on but am tired. And I should probably go tend to this house that never seems to resemble clean :).

We just had to get a new hard drive so my pictures aren't downloaded yet so I thought I'd share some thoughts. Pictures soon!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I got the most wonderful gift for Christmas - a Canon Rebel (a really nice digital camera). All sorts of people went in on this gift for me because it was quite pricey but hopefully with all the great pictures I get we will all feel it's worth it!

Here are a couple pictures from Christmas and hopefully some coming from our recent trip to Northern California soon!

This Christmas season was great because of how much we can enjoy it anew through Noelle's eyes. I am also thankful for the ways our church encouraged us to prepare our hearts and not just our presents. There seems to always be some new light that can be shed on the miracle of Christ's birth.

This Christmas Day we went to my Aunt Diana's house. My entire mom's side of the family were there so we got a group picture.

Video Updates

Natalie is seven months now and a very proficient crawler. She is pulling up on things and is looking like a "climber". Noelle was very busy like her sister but not much of a climber. And unlike Noelle, Natalie has to put everything in her mouth! Definitely keeps me on my toes.

I'll look away for a minute and then turn back around and say "NATALIEEE, what do you think you're doing?" Natalie always turns and looks at me with a big grin and Noelle thinks its hilarious. Noelle is always coming to me now and saying, "What do you think Natalie is doing?" And sure enough it's something wild and Noelle loves it! She is such a sweet big sis and loves to make Natalie smile (right now, her jumping up and down or running towards us is natalie's favorite).



For some of you family members that knew me when I was little, you will get a kick out of this video! This is so me!


Noelle and I love looking back at some of the old videos. We thinks some of them are soo funny. My favorite is "My Baby Ballet Dancer" or "Hallelujah" and hers is "Lots of New Tricks" the one where she just learned to walk and falls on the "stuff in your way." It makes her really giggle. You could see any of them here:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=kmccarty81&view=videos

NOELLE AND NATALIE!

Last night, I was sitting on the couch with both girls on either side. Natalie had a full belly and was therefore very happy and Noelle was feeling extra cuddly. She was getting right in Natalie's face and talking to her and they both had huge smiles. I started laughing and it made them smile even more.

I felt an overwhelming sense of delight in my girls and thankfulness for moments like that. It was followed by a sober moment to remember that many people don't ever or often feel this type of love. I then remembered that God delights in His children wanting everyone to know it and was filled with an awareness that it was not just the three of us sitting there loving each other but there was a forth joining right in on the smiles.

BEAUTIFUL GIFTS...

Tomorrow I'm having a "Shopping Party" at my house. I wanted to tell you all about the two organizations that will be there. They are really awesome organizations whose causes minister to some beautiful women. The organizations sell the products made by women in India and Uganda.
If anyone reads this and wants to come to the party, it's at 11:00 (Dec 6th).

Check out their websites and buy Christmas gifts that are a double blessing - 1 for the recipient and 2 for the creators.

International Princess Project - They seek to restore, equip and empower women who are removed from the sex slave trade in India. These women learn to sew and make a living creating "punjammies" - pajama pants that are sold here in the US.
http://www.intlprincess.org/

31Bits - Work with refugee women in Uganda who make beautiful jewelry. They come alongside these women to bring hope and restoration as well as give them a market to sell their jewelry.
http://www.31bits.com/

Halloween!

This is Max and Ben our neighbors two doors down. They are 5 and 3 and so cute. This is the first picture I have of Halloween (I just read through my post and saw that I just called Noelle Halloween :)) standing with a friend this way. She's getting so big. She was a little unsure about the idea though. I had to put Max's arm around her :).You can't get much cuter than this little fairy!

Noelle LOVES treats and therefore loved Halloween. She said, "this is a great day." The down side was that instead of going to bed that night, she ran screaming around the house, totally hyped up on sugar and irrational. But it was so cute, before bedtime she helped pass out candy and she looked so cute putting a piece in each person's bag, even the group of a dozen kids.

After, Ryan and Natalie had headed back, Noelle and I hit a few more houses. One house, I prepped her again, gave her the basket and she marched up the steps. The difference with this house was that the door was already open, so she just marched right on in. The man came around the corner and said, "well come on in."

During the day Noelle was cinderella and we hit the mall. I had something to return but remembered that some stores might hand out candy. I was right but I think every store was handing out candy. I loved the oohs and aahs she got by the passerbys :).

October Fun!

St. Andrews had a huge anniversary party and part of that was a concert by Jana Alayra! I am such a fan of Jana and her kid's music and listen to it with Noelle. Here we are at the concert!

Me and Natalie with Jessica and Macy during the anniversary festivities!

Pumpkin Patch

Here are the girls at the pumpkin patch. Only wish I would have captured Noelle rocking out in the middle of the patch to the music. She's quite the hip shaker!

Tinley Triathlon

A few months ago Ryan's mom proposed that she and Ryan enter the Tinley Triathlon October 4th and that we make a family weekend out of it. Ryan gave himself 5 weeks to train and get ready. And of course he was pretty diligent.

He realized that he didn't really know how to swim as he felt like he was drowning after a few laps when he first started. He found a great exercise on the internet that gave me a good laugh (I wasn't allowed to take a picture for the blog) where he sat with a large bowl of water on a tv tray at the couch, with goggles on and practiced breathing into the bowl. By race day he had figured it out.

He had started to panic a little with the realization that his mom's previous times were really good and there was no way he was going to let her beat him :). It was really cool for he and his mom to get all into this event.

Unfortunately it rained their entire race and I couldn't attend with the girls. But being the competitor he is, I wasn't totally surprised when he called to say HE WON! It was really exciting. Ryan won his age category and Julie got third! Here are some pictures. Good job guys!

Pismo Beach

In the beginning of October we met up with Ryan's mom, sister and her husband in Pismo Beach. It was a packed trip. I went to Natalie Barker's baby shower and Ryan and his mom competed in Ryan's first Triathalon.
We got to meet Aly's husband Eddie for the first time. He was so great with the girls. They took to him immediately. Welcome to the fam Uncle Eddie!
It was so great to get some time with Aly and Eddie. They live up North so we don't get to see them very often. We hope to get more time with you two again soon!

Here's Noelle and Grandma Julie (above) and Grandma and the girls (below.

Dance Class!

Noelle started dance class a month or so ago. Last week was observation week where we could actually watch from inside the studio and not through the window. Sooo cute. The class is great because they're are only a few other girls and all pretty much the same age.

From day 1 she marched right in there and worked hard at learning what the teacher was doing. She has always shown signs of being a little independent. I saw it starting dance and I see it in little ways in lots of things we do. I saw it when she was a baby and didn't want to be held but wanted down to play/go or when we're with other kids and she's not so interested in what they're doing and is fine doing her own thing.

She's a funny girl. Her little demeanor has always been really sweet, mostly sensitive, sometimes stubborn and now in the midst of being '2', very up and down as tantrums are a much more frequent occurance. She's so bright and remembers all sorts of things that surprise us. She still is a little sponge, picking up on everything. Tonight Ryan said, "what are you doing Noelle?" as she walked up to where we were sitting and she said, "Just hanging out." :) She always makes us smile!

September

I am lacking creativity at the moment so I am posting some pictures of September without any comments or organization. Still cute pics though :).