fres-go

this past weekend we headed up to fresno.

i find myself saying 'we went home', which isn't true anymore.

we've been here for 2 months now.

crazy.

more and more, i wake up and go through my day without thinking it feels strange to be here.

it's beginning to feel like normal life.

i like that.

i really like it here.

but it is always good to see friends and family!

jeff was officiating a wedding, so we raced into town just in time for the rehearsal.

after that, we went to a pumpkin-carving party at one of my favorite people's house.

(it is always one of my favorite events of the year, so i was super excited we happened to be in town for it!)

no pictures... we were too busy have grown-up conversation.

my heart was happy :)

isabella will be turning 4 years old this coming sunday 

(how is this possible???)

and my mom wanted to celebrate.

last minute, we invited a few families to join us for cupcakes.

bella was so excited to play with her friends.

my mom made some cute fairy cupcakes.

i'd love to know what she wished for ;)

 

the cupcakes were a big hit!

love all these sweet girls.

this is bella's bestie, addy.

her mommy has been one of my besties since i was in 6th grade.

we sure miss them.

addy's little brother, griffin.

he grew so much in 2 months!

jackson & bella with another one of their best buddies, cooper.

bella says she is going to marry him.

that is an arranged marriage i would go for!

(only if we got to celebrate every holiday with his parents... some of our very closest friends :)

coop's baby brother, sawyer.

can't believe this little guy is going to be a big brother in february!

jackson and 'roo roo'

one of the kiddos favorite babysitters, michelle.

after cupcakes at the park, we dashed home to get ready for the wedding.

i love watching my husband perform a wedding.

(he just looks so cute, right?)

i love listening to the words he says to the bride and groom,

because ultimately, i know he means all of that for me.

i am so lucky to be married to this man.

it was a fun, whimsical wedding of a very sweet couple.

i loved all the details, like the bouquet of fabric & paper flowers.

centerpieces with pinwheels and coke bottles.

place cards attached to shutters with clothespins

and for the favor.... a lottery ticket & a penny.

hoping to wish some of their luck on us!

(sadly, our tickets were prize-less)

and one of my favorite wedding features...

a photo booth!

we had fun using silly props to take pics with each other & our friends

one of jeff's favorite friends, adam, was at the wedding.

i love how much fun they have together.

adam, stacey, & jeff....

we miss doing ministry together.

loved some no-kiddo time with my hubby.

(thank you, gramma!)

what a beautiful fresno evening!

jeff had to leave saturday night for a big day at work on sunday.

he was nice and took jackson with him so i only had 2 kids on sunday.

sunday morning we went to the clovis campus.

it was great to see so many familiar faces!

after church, bella & i went to stacey's baby shower.

she's having a little boy in december.  we can't wait to meet him!

(yes, this picture is from the night before.)

bella loved being a big girl and 'helping' auntie stacey open her gifts.

after the shower, we headed back to my mom's, ate dinner, and packed up.

the girls and i traveled home late sunday night.

it was a full, fun weekend.

in some ways, it is hard to go back and see everyone.

when i'm here, going about normal life, i can put myself in 'go' mode and focus on the day and what needs to happen.

being there was a reminder of how many people i love.

and miss.

but even though it is hard to be away from so many special people,

it still felt really good to come back sunday night.

to come home.

fresno, i love you.

but i'm happy to be right here where God wants me.

because this home is pretty great, too.