Church retreat

   This past weekend was the 8th and final week of the 8 week countdown we had till March 8th, today.  Today was the LAST day we could possibly have been at the other house.  We, however,  made our own timeline, but in the beginning when we looked at the calendar we had 8 weekends to get moved.  6 of the 8 weekends were already planned with us being out of town.  Mike was in Taiwan, we went to Tahoe, we went to South Carolina, and lastly was this past weekend in Aptos for our annual church retreat.

  We leave right after school on friday, hit the gym on the way (CrossFit Open happening right now), and then drive over the hill to get to the beach.  We room with our same friends each year.  We share meals each day and take care of each other's kids and watch the kids run in and out of our room and our other friends' room next door.  Not to mention, getting in some beach time, pool time, as well as the whole reason we are there--some good teaching and worship!  It is truly a retreat.  Each one of these weekends away during this time has been a wonderful escape from the changes at home.

 Woke up early saturday and went for a run on the beach.  Ever since getting home from South Carolina and being fully accustomed to east coast time, I have been getting up early.  Getting the last remnants of the west coast sunrise here.  I have been spoiled getting to wake up on the beach this past month!

   After breakfast, we brought the kids down to the beach in the morning.  The rain was coming and we wanted to capitalize on some beach time before it hit the shore.

   Watching the rain clouds roll in.

   This boy was 2 days away from turning 8 and I wanted to get some pics of him in his element.  With his family, outside, playing ball.  He normally runs away from the camera and he did try to escape it here, but I got some good ones.

 

 

After lunch, we hit the pool during a clearing.  We didn't do a full on party for Calvin, but we brought cupcakes and sang to him.

  

 It's hard to see everyone, but we tried to get a group shot with the sunset.

  Sunday morning the skies were as clear as can be.  Kind of a bummer, but swimming in the rain and watching the clouds come in was pretty cool.

  Needless to say, we have had a crazy start to 2018.  We did it all and we got it all done for sure, wasn't worried that we wouldn't.  Unfortunately, at some point we knew there would be a let down and this week was that.  The kids were all coughing up a lung all over me all week, the girls stayed home from school through thursday, and inevitably I couldn't escape the germs either.

  I haven't had space (#fourkidswow), time (half day kindergarten :/), or energy to post as much as I would like.  (Our South Carolina trip was freaking amazing and I want to relive that again!!)  I started this post on March 8th, but I know it is no longer that day.  That's okay, I'm leaving it there anyway.  I wanted to at least catch up a little at a time here as this has been a wonderful place to externally process.  It's also great to look back and reminisce and see where we've been and how far we've come.

Have a wonderful weekend!