Malibu Beach!!

August was a CRAZY month (to say the least!) I taught 3 art/craft camps the first couple weeks, so I was really busy. Even though we had a family vacation just the month before, we needed to get away as a family and spend some relaxing time together. The Wride's invited us to Malibu Beach with them, they get a camp site every year- so we joined them for a night and stayed the next day. We had a blast and I came home refreshed and relaxed.

Here are the boys in front of our big family tent. It fits 2 (blow up) queen mattresses, so for the first time, we could be comfortable while sleeping next to the kids!

The next day we walked down to the beach to lay out, relax and take a little hike! We ended up getting over a cliff to a private portion of the beach! Then the waves came crashing and we had to hurry back!

The cliff was taller than us, so it took both of us to get the kids over and back.

Still on the private chunk of beach-- then the tide came up!

The main part of the beach is where they filmed the movie Grease! It was so cool and beautiful!

Mostly we played in the sand- dug a gigantic hole,

put the kids in it:

I got to sit and watch them play!!!

Of course I can only sit for so long until Jeff tells me to get up and play (or sit in a hole!)

Luckily he let me get out before he filled it with sand!!

My little poopsies!! :)

Seriously, we had so much fun! We really needed this relaxing weekend to ourselves. I am enjoying camping more and more with the boys being older and us getting the new tent that allows for a more comfortable night's sleep!

I am a Child of God

After church today I was told by a few different people that my Tyler got up in Primary to sing a solo of I am a Child of God at the podium. Of course when I heard this I instantly teared up, and feel so lucky that he is my little boy.

Ever since he was a baby, I would sing this song to him as a lullaby. And even today, we sing it every night before bed as I tickle their backs. Tyler and Jackson sing along and it is our special time. I am so lucky to know that:

I am a Child of God

and He has sent me here,

has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear.

Lead me, Guide me, walk beside me

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do, to live with him someday.

This song has always been special to me. My Grandpa Boucher used to sing it to us when he would visit, along with Oh Canada and tell stories of his life. We sang it at my grandparents mission farewell the first time they went to Africa together, when I was a kid. I've always known the words are true and I'm sure my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ started with the knowledge of this song. When I first had Tyler, one of my favorite things to do was hold him in the rocking chair. Naturally, I would sing to him and the only songs that would come to my mind are primary songs. This one in particular. I have a horrible voice (truly) when I sing aloud, except when I am singing to my children. My fear of singing completely goes away when I sing with my boys. When he was 3 I worked hard to teach him the words and was surprised it only took a couple nights for him to sing with me. Now when he hears it he calls it 'our song' and I'm sure it will always be special for us! I hope my kids will always understand that our Heavenly Father loves us and we are here on earth for a purpose. I know He will never leave our side, and is always helping us to find our way back home. I feel so lucky to know this truth and so grateful that Tyler embraces it as well. Today was very rewarding for me!