eight.

For those who don't know, eight is a big age to turn in our church. Keia is going to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in two weeks. Keia has grown up so much. She has officially told me that she, "is so into money". In fact for her birthday this year, she did not want a party, she just wanted money to go buy things for her American Doll girl. One day she handed me a bunch of letters in envelopes saying they were for the family. Keia had written my parents, sisters, Matt's mom, and brother all a letter reminding them it was her birthday and that she would like 20-30 bucks. This girl knows what she wants, therefore she is now earning money for her allowance and learning to budget. So for her actual birthday, we went on a date to the movies, shopping for some clothes (which typically she does not care about), lunch at her favorite restaurant, then a sleepover just the girls at my mom's house. It was a really fun and special day- I don't think I have too many birthdays left where she wants to hang out with her mom all day. At 8, Keia is still very independent, a leader- and knows how to get her way with her siblings, obedient, analyzer, competitive, and smart. Sometimes her persistence to get her way drives me crazy, but then I know she isn't easily persuaded. In fact, we had a neighbor boy (6) who can be a rascal, took some treats from a neighbor's doorstep and started eating them, he told Keia to take some of the treats, but she said it was wrong and wasn't choosing the right. In those moments, I am so grateful for her strong personality and pray that it will be a gift in her life, not an obstacle. I am grateful that she loves to still be held close and at this point is still so innocent. Here is a picture of Miss Keia waking up on her birthday getting to eat a sugary cereal she chose...she loves Reeses!

i luv San Diego

This is why we live here... it just adds to our happiness.

Valentine's Day

We started the morning with our Valentine Breakfast: Whole wheat pancakes, turkey bacon, chocolate almond milk, and real maple syrup. I also started a new tradition this year. I bought everyone a mini mailbox and set it outside each door, then throughout the week before Valentine's day we would write little notes to each other and put them in each other's mailbox. Every morning I put a little treat in the kids mailbox... I started to regret that after seeing my kids eat candy 3 days in a row- next year I may put little toys instead or money =) That evening we went out to dinner as a family- here are some pics of the kids making silly faces. This of course started with Kalli- she is queen on funny faces. She loves to stare at herself in the mirror and make faces. The next day my kiddies had school off and my mom had them over for a sleepover. This was a dream come true because Matt has been traveling a lot- he was gone for almost a month to different places, therefore a day for myself was amazing!! I started the day at the beach and read, wrote in journals, did not touch my phone... heaven. I could only get a picture of my feet to prove I was there. Pretty random yes. Then I took Matt to an indoor rock climbing place for our date. It was only "bouldering" so you aren't hooked up to anything. It was soo much fun. I am all about facing fears this year and trying new things. As of February I have tried almost every class at my gym, including Zumba for the first time- soooo fun!!! I am coaching Keia's basketball team, and I am doing the Breast Cancer 3-Day 60 mile walk. My main fear in life is the fear of failure or letting others down, so I am facing these and doing things that I have always wanted to do. There is no greater feeling than conquering a fear- it brings so much power into your life. The only way to get over a fear is for YOU to conquer it, no one else! So go out a try something new- it is good for our brains and soul!! The last pictures are us eating at an amazing Asian restaurant. We had a really fun and active date. I hope everyone had a super V-day, it is one of my favorite holidays- celebrate the people you love- doesn't get better! (I am not a photographer, so these pics are not the best, but at least I remembered to actually take some=)

60 miles.

In 2007, a very dear friend of mine passed away from Cancer, it was the beautiful and funny Leza Hope. It was the first person really close to me to pass away and it changed my life. It has been on my bucket list to do the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk and walk in her name. I finally made the decision to do it this year and will proudly walk 60 miles with Leza HOPE on my shirt. Please help support me and click on the big pink link to the right and donate whatever you can. It takes a lot of money and miles to make this happen, I really appreciate it, thank you so much!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I usually LOVE this time because I have a weird obsession with setting goals. However, this year I have really struggled with what I want my goals to be. I decided to make only one big goal for the year, then set my other goals by months. One of my goals for January is to not yell at my kids- I will keep you posted on this =) I read this article where this woman was saying that you need to do something that makes you gasp- it is good for our brains and soul- to do something that we won't allow ourselves to worry about failing at- so I challenge you all to do something this next month that will make you GASP.

It's that time of year again...

It is that time of year again to take Family pics. No, these were not taken by my favorite photographer Ms. Sara Featherstone (I wish), we won a contest in our Primary at church. We won a free photo sesh of the fam, so I couldn't pass it up. However, the day we took pictures we thought it was supposed to rain so I didn't do my hair that day and I knew that they were going to be at the beach, so I just tied it up and went for it. Other exciting news is that we moved into a house last week- so happy! I don't recommend moving at Christmas time EVER, but I know it will all be worth it. Let's just say we have a house full of boxes and paint stuff everywhere, but there is a tree up! Enjoy the pics and we wish everyone a Joyful Christmas, Love The Huffman House (Keia 7, Mattix 5, Kalli 2)

5K Color Run

Enough Said...

Happy Halloween

The Huffman House celebrated Halloween: I was a "black-eyed P" Matt was a surfer attacked by a shark with a wig he loves to wear every year with whatever his costume is:

Keia was Ariel and Mattix was a Power Ranger:

Kalli was a fairy:

Nerd Alert, Nerd Alert

My sister Amy and I did the Del Mar Mud Run, it was my first one and soo much fun! The very first stop was to get on your hands and knees and crawl through muddy water- we got dirty:) And yes, we did go as nerds knowing all the other girls were wearing tutus and sports bras- but my sister and I just felt more natural in the nerd costume, what? :) BEFORE:

Here we go!!!

AFTER:

Random pic

Happy Friday =)

School Days

I know it is the teacher in me, but I LOVE the beginning of the school year. I use to love getting new clothes, finding out who my teacher was, and what friends were going to be in my class. I always loved school and so far so do my kids. Here is a little update of us: Keia Second Grade -Just officially lost Second tooth. Likes: GYMNASTICS, black bean & cheese burritos, American Girl anything, winning, and wearing running shoes with every single outfit- skirts, dresses, you name it! Dislikes: being forced to eat Spinach daily, that one time in a million that Mattix won't do what she wants, me helping her with her "fashion", no more baby Disney movies

Mattix Kindergarten Likes: hair combed to the side- "no spikey hair", anything gummie, telling on his 2 year old sister for everything, reading, games, and ALL sports Dislikes: anything on his hands, losing, cleaning his room

Kalli Homeschooled :) Likes: to wear anything dress-up, anything she puts in her hair -not what I put in, ice cream, princesses, saying "poop" over and over to make her siblings laugh, the pool, and getting her picture taken Dislikes: not getting her way, not allowed to be involved in a non-2 year old activity, naps or anytime to go to sleep

Knotty Family Photo

Here is our family photo taken at Knotts Berry Farm with Matt's fam. Excuse my scandalous dress, we chose "saloon" theme, I don't know how anyone breathed back then!! We had a great trip and I even rode a scary roller coaster... which may appear on YOUTUBE, because apparently I was screaming so loud (before the roller coaster took off), people were filming me with their phones. I was scared okay!