Sonoma

It has been crazy rainy off and on here for the past few weeks so when we see the sun we try and head outdoors even if its just on the front porch. A few weeks ago it was a sunny Saturday and we made a run for it.

We had a family outing to Sonoma and ate lunch at our favorite Sunflower Café on the back patio! Sonoma also has a huge park in the middle of town and so Hallel walked the majority of it all by herself! She chased the geese and tried out all the slides.

Josh would put her up on top of the slide and she would scoot her cute little bottom to the edge and go down. About half way down the twisty slide she would close her eyes tight and smile. It was the cutest thing! I hope she stays unafraid and adventurous about life (with some caution:)).

February 10th

I love the fact that Josh and I were married right before Valentines Day. It feels like all of the stores are getting festive for our Anniversary! Josh and I celebrated our 4th anniversary this February and I still can't believe that we have been married that long! It was a special day to just stop and remember. I think with the new year and the baby coming our minds have been elsewhere and it seemed like the clock just slowed for one day and we took time to remember who we are and where we have come from. Basically, how there is no way that we would be married if it were not for the Lord! He has been so kind and so gracious and we are excited about what He is doing in our marriage for the long haul. We both reflected on how marriage is one of the hardest things that either of us have ever worked on and yet at the same time one of the most rewarding and worthwhile. I can see why God invented it and knows how to do it best!

Enough philosophizing here is what made it special! We both had busy mornings and then our sweet friends came over and watched Hallel while Josh and I saw The Book of Eli (Josh got movie tickets for $2, good job!) It is not one that we would recommend to our families, lots of violence. But we both really liked it and have liked talking about it for days after. Really inspiring thoughts about the Bible and faith. Then we came home and took our little sweetie pie to one of our favorite places, the Macaroni Grill thanks to gifts cards from Sara!

Unfortunately we only have one picture from the day when we are all tired putting Hallel to bed. But we will always have the memories!

The Mathews

Beautiful pictures by a beautiful friend!!!!! Thanks Shan for making us look so good and filling our albums with timeless memories!

want to see more go to shannoncphoto.blogspot.com

the four of us

WOW! Thank you for all the comments to the last blog. I was overwhelmed with sweet encouraging words from you all! So, thanks! Here is more of a normal blog and update on the four of us.

Josh has submitted his prospectus for his dissertation. So it just has to go through the approval process and then he can fully and officially research and write! It is so amazing to be at this long awaited point in the schooling journey. This is why we came here and what he has wanted to do. Yes, it is a daunting task but also exhilarating to be able to dive in with both feet. Thank you for your prayers and please keep him on your heart!

Here's a kinda comical story that I had to share. Just last week I was getting my hair cut from a training school (yeah $10 haircuts) when suddenly the world turned black after I had been standing for a very long time while the stylist cut the bottom layer. Thankfully, she caught me and let me sit down for the rest of the (3 hr) haircut. Yikes!

Hallel is as cute as ever and keeps us laughing and on our toes. She can empty a drawer in seconds and comes speed walking to the kitchen any time we open the fridge. She has been working on walking backwards this week and it is so cute to watch her concentrate. This morning she was giggling as she was giving her baby a hot wheelie (2 wheels off the ground) ride in her stroller.

Simeon is growing and active. We can't wait to see the little face that matches his active personality in utero.

That's the update on the four of us.