California Fraileys

2011-12-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

2011-12-15T08:28:00.001-08:00

2011-12-15T08:13:00.000-08:00

2011-12-15T08:12:00.001-08:00

2011-12-15T08:04:00.000-08:00

2011-12-15T08:02:00.000-08:00

Blogging update!

2011-12-15T07:52:00.000-08:00

I was reviewing my goals from the last year and realized I slipped up in a big way! I had every intention to take a picture every day, keep the blog updated at least every other week and so many more goals. I'm looking at the blog only to realize I haven't posted anything since March! Time to get busy sharing memories and updating, I guess!

The funniest part is the flying reindeer on my front page. I added him last year and never got around to removing him. So now it's the perfect addition!

Enjoy some of the following posts and let me know if you view these. Sometimes I feel like I'm blogging and no one is looking or cares. If I know someone is watching, then maybe I'll do more!

Merry Christmas!

Natalie

2011-03-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

Danny's Fourth Birthday!

My baby is 4! I can't believe how quickly time has gone by. My days of diapers, strollers and baby cribs have quickly been replaced with sports, homework and the start of preteen drama. I'm thinking those crazy days and nights be easier than the opposite...4 teenagers at once!

I'm reminded every day of the need to be happy where I'm at when I'm there. To enjoy the little handprints on the walls, the calls in the night asking me to come cuddle and the neverending trips back and forth to school 5 times a day....it's time with my children that I can't ever get back.

So here's a few photos of the kids celebrating with Daniel on his 4th birthday. We had an impromptu family night out to celebrate at Chuck E. Cheese. Oh, joy!

What's for Dinner?

2011-01-13T13:22:00.000-08:00

Like most moms,the job of what's for dinner can be a bit overwhelming. How do I balance what's important to me:
* the need for lots of veggies
* variety and spice
* healthy proteins
* "clean" menus (no preservatives, nothing artifical or packaged or processed)
* gluten free (we have celiac disease)

I am also struggling with the conundrum of cooking low calorie for myself while trying to see how many calories I can add to my kids meals (they need as many additional calories as I can get them right now).

Then add in convenience, expense, and time.

Today was a great success in all of the above ways, so I wanted to take a few minutes to post the recipes so you can share them with your family!

Thai Curried Veggies with Quinoa (from the Cozi website)
Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
2-3 Tbsp cooking oil
2-3 cups vegetables, fresh or frozen, or your choice
¾ cup Trader Joe's Yellow Thai Curry sauce (I used the red version)
suggested vegetables: canned chickpeas (drained and rinsed), slice onions, fresh spinach, frozen green peas, diced cauliflower,broccoli, mushrooms, thinly sliced carrots

Preparation
1.Prepare quinoa according to package directions. Set aside. I use 25% vegetable broth when I cook the quinoa to give it additional flavor.
2.Heat oil in large skillet and saute onion over medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until onions begin to soften. (I use coconut oil....it is supposed to be the best)
3.If using hard, raw vegetables like carrots or cauliflower, add them next and saute until just softened (3-5 minutes).
4.If using frozen vegetables, saute for 3-5 minutes until full defrosted and warmed through.
5.Add chickpeas (if using) and stir until warmed through.
6.Add the sauce and bring the curry to a simmer.
7.Serve over quinoa or rice. It is great topped with toasted coconut and diced peanuts.

I made this after school but before we went to the gym. I just dumped it in my crock pot to keep it warm until we were finished working out. The house smelled great and everyone ate it. It was also great today for lunch!

When I went to Henry's, they had their boneless, skinless chicken tenders on sale, so i grabbed 3 packages. I threw two in the freezer and used one to make two dinners. I had both made and ready to go in just 25 minutes!

Chili Verde in the crock pot
Can of pinto beans
Small can of diced green chilis
3 cups chicken broth
additional water
1 lb boneless, skinless breasts or chicken tenders
1 t cumin
3/4 t dried oreagno
1/8 t. cloves
1/8 t. cayenne
1 t minced garlic
1 t salt
2/3 cup onion (I sauteed mine before adding...either way is fine)
Other items after cooking: Tortillas, salsa, monterey jack or pepper jack cheese

Throw in the crock pot and let it cook all day! Depending on how much water you use, you can serve it as a soup or heat up some corn tortillas and serve as chicken tacos. Yummy and so easy!

Meal #3:
Peanut Chicken
Cook 1 cup basmati or jasmine rice. While it cooks, prepare peanut sauce. As chicken simmers, saute some spinach with garlic and cut a fresh pineapple into wedges.

You can cook ahead or have the entire meal ready in 20 minutes!
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes
1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 garlic cloves
1/2 t. salt
14 t. crushed red pepper
1 t ground cumin
1/4 t. ground cinnamon
1 pound chicken tenders
1 t. olive or coconut oil

In blender on high speed, blend tomato juice, cilantro, peanut butter, garlic, salt and crushed red pepper until pureed.
Mix cinnamon and cumin....stir in chicken tenders.
In nonstick skillet or wok, heat oil over heat until hot. Add tenders and cook, turning, until browned.
Pour peanut butter mixture and diced tomatoes over chicken, heat to boiling. reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered, 5 minutes to blend flavors.

Serve over a bed of rice with fresh pineapple and sauteed spinach!

Happy Eating!!!

It's the little things...

2011-01-04T13:56:00.000-08:00

Today is a beautiful day for many reasons. First, the sun is shining and it's warming up! We've had so much rain over the past few months that our usually sunny skies have been hidden behind streams of rain and dark, stormy clouds and cold temperatures (yes, it's all relative...cold here is anything below 60...call me a weather snob).

In truth, I enjoy the break from the endless days of sun...they give me a reason to cuddle up with the kids, watch a movie, or work on an indoor project without feeling like we should be on a bike ride, swimming in the pool or hiking through the parks. I love stormy clouds and weather, and I miss the storms we used to have while growing up in Oklahoma...loud claps of thunder, strong winds, and even an occasional hailstorm. It's just not the same here in California.

But, hey, today's the day for the kids to get outside and play! Our big gift this year was a 14 foot trampoline in the backyard...bounce, bounce, bounce out that energy! They have more energy than I know what to do with, and they start bouncing off the walls when trapped inside for longer than say, 10 minutes? So having the opportunity to get out and play makes the day just BEAUTIFUL!

Here's a photo of the boys on the trampoline eating their favorite snack...frozen blueberries. Just yummy frozen blueberries by the bowlful! The only downside is their stained hands and faces. A small price to pay for a bowl full of happiness and health!

To blog or not to blog, that is the question....

2010-12-20T23:22:00.000-08:00

To blog or not to blog, that is the question! I enjoy keeping in touch with family and friends, writing the funny stories that happen to us every day, and expressing my thoughts and feelings while tuning up my writing skills, but I often wonder, "is anyone out there even reading this thing?" So, I've decided that whether people read it or not, I'm setting a goal to blog at least twice a month, and hopefully more often than that! That way, I can incorporate my blog into my scrapbooks so we can celebrate the good, the bad, and the ugly of everyday family life.

There's always something going on around here, and we're always taking photos, so even if I can just get the chance to post a few pics, then you can follow us on here. I've posted a few short photo clips to get you up-to-date on our family over the past few months. As time allows, I will try to post some of our 2010 highlights.

Please let me know if you like something by commenting on my posts or emailing me at nataliefrailey@gmail.com. If I know even one person is reading, I'll keep writing!

Merry Christmas!!!

No More Braces!

2010-12-20T23:09:00.000-08:00

After 18 months with braces, Lauren finally had hers removed! She was really excited, and I checked her out of school early for the first time. She got two retainers that are decorated to look like ladybugs...I'm just hoping the bright colors keep her from throwing them out with her lunch! She may have to get "phase 2" in a few years to help her lower jaw grow (thanks to sucking her thumb when she was much younger!) We'll see...right now, we're just happy to see her in her retainers!

Lauren and Daddy at the Disney Dance

2010-12-20T22:48:00.000-08:00

Every year, Eric and Lauren get dressed in their best and head to the Disneyland hotel for a Father/Daughter dance. It is one of the highlights of the year for both of them. They dance, take pictures, eat lunch and just have a great time together and with their Adventure Princess friends. Here are a few photos of Lauren and her daddy this year.

Celebrating Zac's 6th Birthday

2010-12-20T22:00:00.000-08:00

On Friday night, after a long week of holiday parties and the end of school, we celebrated Zachary's sixth birthday with a movie night. The plan was to put up the big screen, put out the lawn chairs and enjoy Toy Story 3 under the stars. The weather had other plans. It seems we are experiencing what the newscasters are calling "the pineapple express," a week long 3,000 mile stretch of rainy storms. It hasn't rained this much since we've lived here, and now it won't stop.

Needless to say, we had to move the party indoors. That was a lot of fun...15 kindergarten boys, three girls, Daniel, and his friend Mikey, 2. It was nonstop chaos, but Zac enjoyed the night and so did we! I popped 16 bags of popcorn, most of which ended up on the carpet.

Daniel's Bible Study Performance

2010-12-20T21:46:00.000-08:00

Daniel and I go to Community Bible Study every Wednesday. I am studying 1 Peter right now, and Daniel is learning lessons from the bible every week. He is a little sponge and soaks so much of God's word. He is also memorizing scripture, which he repeats to the family at dinner many nights. Last week, he had his performance and he was so funny. Here are a few photos of our littlest performer.

2009-09-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2009-09-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

Well, it's time to go back to school! Lauren and Jacob just finished their first full week and Zac had his first full day of preschool yesterday. Danny had his first day at home with mom...his first in a long time! Everything went well, and we're excited about a new year of friends, fun and family. Here are a few photos from the week...

May Highlights

2009-05-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

This month has seen many things wrap up. We've finished bible study, celebrated Mother's Day at school with Zac and Lauren got braces! Although it seems like time for school to be out, we still have three weeks left. We both have such fond memories of Memorial Day weekend, which arrives tomorrow. We plan to head down to the beach and spend time with friends, but will miss our family weekends at the Lake in Texas and family trips canoeing on the Big Piney.

Lauren and I had our first date in a long time....Eric and the boys went to a Nascar style racing event and left us home alone for an entire evening. We had a great time getting pedicures, going to dinner, dressing up and taking a bubble bath! Lauren was such a little lady, and I caught a glimpse of what the future holds with a "big" girl!

Eric and Jacob traveled to VA over Mother's Day weekend to say goodbye to Eric's grandfather and grandmother. They were both special to us, and will be missed. We will be traveling to Arlington National Cemetary in August for the burial of his grandfather, and will stay for a week in DC/Yorktown, VA to see the Frailey family.

The kids started piano last month, and are enjoying their crazy teacher and fun class. We go on Thursday afternoons. We also joined the YMCA, and are really enjoying our time there working out, swimming and playing with lots of other children! We work out while the kids are having fun with their friends in an outdoor play area, and then we meet up for swimming. The pool is very warm, 88 degrees, so that makes it very fun to swim! It was really fun when Daniel had diarrhea in his swimsuit and they had to close the pool for two days! Duck and run!

Spring 2009

2009-04-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos around here over the last few weeks! We had a great Easter and participated in many festivities. We went to church on Saturday afternoon, and spent Sunday relaxing as a family in San Clemente on the beach.

Jacob is missing his two front teeth...just in time for his seventh birthday! We celebrated with a Movie Night party in the back street, and then Eric and Jacob went to Knott's Berry Farm the following day!

Lauren is getting braces in two weeks, and is actually excited about it! She and Eric just returned from a fun weekend at the Calico Ghost town where they had a country/western dance, went hiking in caves and enjoyed time together.

Zac is my little "cuddlebug." Every day, he calls me his cuddlebug and tells me at least 25 times how much he loves me. He is such a sweet boy. He loves school, and is very social and outgoing..He's never met a stranger!

Danny is getting bigger every day, and does everything he can to keep up with the rest of the family. He is talking in complete sentences most of the time, even though you can only understand 50% of what he says. The kids love figuring out what he is saying! They all love him to pieces.

That's about all this month in our family! We're looking forward to our big trip this summer to OK/TX in July. Let us know your schedule so we can make time to be together!

Our Family Vacation to Lake Tahoe

2009-03-05T10:21:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Our Family Vacation to Lake Tahoe

2009-03-05T10:03:00.002-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

2009-01-07T19:42:00.000-08:00

Here are a few holiday photos I thought you might enjoy....Eric and the kids on our new sofa (Finally!) getting ready to go out to look at lights...we dress up in our PJ's and Santa hats, pop some popcorn, and go for a drive while listening to Christmas music! We also love to go to Disneyland to see all of the beautiful landscaping and decorations for Christmas. The photo of Daniel and I was taken at Disneyland, and is the only photo of me for the last few months! Lauren is learning to take photos, so this one is to her credit!

We had a great time decorating the tree and celebrating the birth of our Savior. We were blessed with a "white Christmas" the week before...snow covered the mountains behind our homes! But, it was still 55 degrees and sunny, so we enjoyed the snow from afar...my kind of snow! Running around the lake in capris and a long sleeve t-shirt, looking at the snow covered mountains, and not having to shovel any of it! We're about 90 minutes from Big Bear, which is fun to go skiing.

I've also posted a few photos of Nana and Papa with the kids...it has been quite some time since we last saw them, so it was great to spend 8 days together. The kids really enjoyed it. I also had fun designing our Christmas cards, and those of a few friends. The digital scrapbooking is much eaiser for me right now instead of traditional stuff...no room for all of that stuff any more!

The Hesters Visit!

2009-01-07T19:18:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas this year with Mom and Dad visiting. I picked them up at LAX on Christmas Eve, and we were so happy to see them. We made it to the Christmas Eve services at Saddleback at 5 p.m....we only had 16 services to choose from! We spent the week playing games, working on projects around the house, going to Sea World, and playing Wii! Papa and Zac loved bowling, and Eric has had fun trying to beat the kids at their own games.

Mom made curtains for all of the downstairs windows and covered my dining room chairs. We found a great deal on fabric, so that made it even more exciting! We also tackled projects like painting the chandelier black instead of yucky brass, hanging many different things around the house, and just working on our honey do list! It was a little cold, but hard to complain about 60-70 degree weather on New Year's Day!

Zac's Fourth Birthday Celebration

2008-12-13T21:15:00.000-08:00

Zac turns four tomorrow. We had a great party today for Zac at home with a bounce house, Speed Racer cake and friends from school and the neighborhood. The weather was overcast and sprinkly, but it was fine. He has had a busy week with a performance at bible study singing Christmas carols, decorating the tree at home, and now a birthday party! You are a sweet boy, Zac!

Daniel and Daddy decorating the tree. Daniel loves to pull off the ornaments and lights, causing us much frustration. He loves the lights!

Lauren's Baptism Day

2008-11-24T06:46:00.000-08:00

LAUREN GETS BAPTIZED!!!!

Yesterday, Lauren was baptized! What a huge moment for her and for our family. She accepted Christ into her heart long ago, but she was ready to get baptized. The weather was a little cool, but nice (about 70 degrees). She was baptized by our children's minister, Steve, in the outdoor pool. She was a little nervous, but very excited, because she has been wanting to do this for some time, but we had a hard time coordinating everyone's schedules.

Lauren, the angels are singing in heaven today! We are proud of you and love you so much!

2008-11-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

September Fun

2008-10-13T14:54:00.001-07:00

We had a fun family day yesterday at Disneyland...really California Adventure, Disney's sister park across the walkway! Jacob and Lauren are big fans of California Screamin, an upside down, very fast and furious roller coaster! Zac is finally tall enough to try many new rides, so it was a fun day for everyone! We have season passes, so it is easy to go .or 4 or 5 hours, instead of the entire day! It's a great reward for the kids, and Eric thinks it is relaxing......

Lauren and Jacob on the first day of school....Lauren was so excited because Jacob was put in her favorite teacher's class, Mrs. Pizzi! She has a weekly raffle for students to win a dollar, and Jacob has won three weeks in a row!
Lauren missed the second day of school to travel with her daddy to Catalina Island for a weekend of fun with Adventure Princesses. She LOVES her special time with her daddy...paddling the kayak was something she loved. She wrote in her scrapbook, "I love kayaking and Catalina, but most of all, I love my dad."

When Lauren and dad were at Catalina, I took the boys to church for the opening of our high school building. The boys LOVE Kyle Loza, gold medalist winner of the X Games, and he was performing his motorcycle EXTREME sports, and the boys loved it! (tattoo guy with the boys). They call him "church guy." He has grown up at Saddleback, and is very involved with the kids there.

The next weekend, dad and the boys headed south to San Diego to Camp Surf. Even Zac, age 3 1/2,and Jacob, 6, both got up on a real surfboard! They also did a rockclimbing wall, a treasure hunt, and fun camping on the beach. They are Pioneers in the Adventure Guide program.

I noticed a loose tooth in Jacob's mouth last week, and he lost it at school just five days later! He has also decided he LOVES salad with ranch dressing. He will eat a big bowl of lettuce with cheese, turkey or chicken, and ranch!

Daniel is quite a funny little boy. He is 19 months, and wears a size 2. He is very solid, and very strong, both in might and in will. He bites to defend himself, and loves to mess up any project the big kids are working on. He can be such a sweet, happy baby, too. He loves to run as fast as he can, and has quite an arm on him!

Happy Fall, Ya'll!

2008-10-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Well, school is back in session, and it has yet to cool off! We set near record highs on Wednesday with 104 degrees! I thought fall meant jeans, long sleeves, and maybe even coats??? Not in Southern California! And I do miss rain! We had our first thunderstorm in five years last week, and it lasted 30 minutes. But, we never have to worry about our plans being siderailed by rain, that's for sure.

Lauren scored her first soccer goal last week, and she was so proud of herself! She and Jacob are playing AYSO, and it's fun to watch them. I don't think this will be their life passion, but it is fun to be on a team and meet new friends.

Zachary started preschool, and is going three mornings a week. It has been quite an adjustment for him, but he is enjoying school and meeting new friends. Today he did such a good job listening, he was given an award! (he has gotten in trouble for plenty these past few weeks, so this was so nice to hear!)

Daniel is a funny little baby, and he loves to bite! He is trying to eat my toes right now as I type this note!He loves to laugh and play, but he also likes to get his way! I am amazed when I look back at the halloween photos from last year...they have all changed so much! We're excited about our costumes for this year....stay tuned to find out more!

2008-09-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

Well, tomorrow is the last day of summer! I'm sad, I'm excited, and I'm ready! The kids are ready to learn and I'm ready for a few minutes alone! (well, with one at home!) Zac will start preschool in a week, and he will attend 3 days a week for 3 hours. Lauren and Jacob will both be at school from 8-2, so that will be nice not to have a kindergarten pickup as well.

We've had a super summer, with a fun family vacation to Yosemite and Mammoth, weekly trips to the beach, daily excursions to the pool and just time to be together. The kids attended a few camps, and we all enjoyed a fun week at vacation bible school. It's so nice to relax and not have a schedule, but it will be nice to get back into a routine. Soccer starts this weekend, and Eric and Lauren are heading out to Catalina early Friday morning for hiking, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, etc. I wish I could go!

Tomorrow we are heading over to the nursing home to deliver cookies in the afternoon, then it's off to school to find out who the kids have for their teachers! I am looking forward to earlier bedtimes but dread homework and constant busyness.

I look forward to keeping in touch with many friends I've reconnected with this summer, and am excited to do more digital scrapbooking when time allows.

Enjoy your day!

2008-08-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have to say I didn't know how much fun it would be getting on facebook! After prompting from a few friends, Eric and I both joined last week and we've had so much fun connecting with people from high school, college and everywhere else! It's funny to see who pops up on a daily basis...if you haven't tried it, you should!We seem to have a friendly contest going to see who "wants to be my friend." I guess it's time we joined the younger world.My energy from entertaining the kids for the summer is about drained, but I have one last hurrah in me. With only one week of summer left, we are celebrating with "Mommy Camp." I have a different outing planned every day and themed activities to go with it (thank you, familyfun.com). Yesterday was hiking in the canyon, going on a treasure hunt, identifying butterflies and leaves, and then root beer floats after dinner. Today is water day, tomorrow is Movie day, Thursday is "help others" and cooking day, and Friday will be beach day! We did this last year and the kids had a blast. I'll post photos soon.We went to Walking with Dinosaurs on Saturday (free tickets from Eric's co-worker) and it was pretty amazing. Life sized dinosaurs roamed the floor of the Honda Center in Anaheim (where the Ducks play). They told the story of the dinosaur, and were very realistic looking. All of the kids enjoyed it, and they really didn't get scared. When the t-rex roar filled the stadium, it made me want to crawl under my seat! That's about all in our world. I hope you are all enjoying the end of summer/beginning of school. Halloween will be here before we know it!

2008-08-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

Living The Dream

2008-08-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

This morning, as I sit here in Laguna Beach listening to the surf, watching people play and just enjoying the sunshine and peace around me, I am reminded of the bumper sticker I saw yesterday that has really made me think. It simply said, “Living the Dream.” My first thought was, “who is she and what dream is she living?” My questions quickly turned to myself as I thought of how I would define for myself, “living the dream.” I look down the coast, and just 200 yards away is a perfectly fit 50-year-old man who is running in and out of the surf, lifting boulders with his hands as a workout, and is now leading a team of people down the beach in lunges and knee lifts. And I wonder....is this man living his dream?

I often think of what I want my life to be like. What is the dream that God gave me?What does he want me to do with the gifts He gave me? For the past six months or so, I have been listening too much to the lies that Satan has put in my head…you aren’t good enough, you stink at being a mom, why can’t you be more organized? But God’s words are now resounding once again in my head…What about living the way I want you to live or doing what I want you to do? God made each of us in His image, unique in every aspect, so that we could glorify Him. By listening to the lies Satan has put in my head, I’ve been distracted from doing the things God made me to do.

When it comes to my purpose in life, I do know that my number one goal is to share the word of Christ and His love for everyone in the world. I know he has given me 4 busy, wonderful children to love, instruct and guide in His ways. It is your ways, Oh, Lord, that I want to follow. What greater gift to give your kids than eternal life?

There are so many unanswered questions in life, and so many hard times, good times and difficulties. Today, I feel great. I am happy, encouraged and loved. Tomorrow might be a different thing. But knowing that no matter what, Jesus died for me and He loves me, I can’t ever give up on that.

My dream is to have Jesus look at me on judgement day and say “well done, good and faithful servant.” I want to follow his will, follow his ways and bring others to Him. I want to live the life he has for me. I want to be in tune with his wishes, his dreams and his plan for my life instead of thinking I know best.

The waves never stop, the sun always rises and sets, and His love is always there for me. I just have to ask for it, enjoy it, and understand the gift of life he is giving me.

Many people are searching for “something more.” They feel like this life here isn’t enough, whether it is staying at home being a mom, or working 80 hours a week in a high profile job. Even famous, successful people who everyone wants to emulate struggle with their own identities and goals, their own search for significance. Pastor Rick always talks about the difference between success and significance. You can be successful in so many earthly ways, but so insignificant in your own eyes or that of others. How do you go from being successful to being significant? What are you doing today to make a difference in the life of someone else? What significant thing have you done that will mean so much to someone? To the world, you may be one person. But to one person, you may be the world. Are you choosing daily to make a difference to those around you? What about your kids? Are you so busy cleaning, cooking and taking care of others that you forget the gifts God gave you? What can you do today to change their lives, to make an eternal difference?

Well, my 40 minutes of peace and quiet has gone, and I must turn off the computer, say goodbye to the beach and head back into my life and a visit to the Dr. My prayer today is that I will quit looking for significance in other people’s opinions of me, in my crossed off to do list, or things that don't matter. I want to find significance in the way I interact with others, the people who I am involved with every day, so that I can live the life Christ wants for me, accept Who I am and How God Made me, and let His love shine through me.

God, please bless me today as I talk and teach my children, as I interact with others, including friends family and strangers. May your love shine through me and may I feel the love and acceptance you give me. I need to remember that in the end, all that matters is you and what I did with you. Let me make that difference today.

In Jesus name, amen.

Natalie
July 24, 2008

Lauren Celebrates Her Eighth Birthday!

2008-08-13T19:42:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

Our Family Vacation in Yosemite

2008-07-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoy a glimpse of the photos we took during our 7 day vacation to Yosemite and Mammoth Mountain. I think I took more than a thousand photos (not including the memory card I lost of the first two days, or the hundreds of photos Cherry took with her 3 cameras! It was crazy, busy, exhausting, refreshing, fun, and relaxing, all at the same time. Enjoy our travels!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Celebrating with Thomas

2008-07-11T13:13:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

End of School/Beginning of Summer Highlights

2008-06-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

Enjoy some of the fun things we've done this month. I'm so glad that school is over and summer is finally here! The kids finished June 18th, which i consider the middle of summer. We had a family campout in San Diego the last week before school was out. The kids had swimming lessons every afternoon for a month, which was exhausting, but worth it. They are all super swimmers now! We had a fun shaving cream fight and root beer floats to celebrate the last day. We will leave on Saturday to head north to Yosemite to meet up with James and Cherry for a week hiking, biking and camping. Maybe i'll make it in a few photos since someone else will have a camera!

I hope this finds you all well. Enjoy the photos and the website. You can also view more photos and information from our new website, www.shiningspiritfoxtribe.blogspot.com

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Barbara and Lara Visit

2008-06-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

We had a great time over Memorial Day weekend with Barbara and Lara. The trip was cut short by delays at the airport, and the weather was so different than normal CA weather (cloudy, rainy and cold)! We still had a great time together, and the kids enjoyed the extra attention and time with Baba and Aunt Lara. Thanks for coming to visit!
Enjoy the photos...

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Amazing love....how can it be? That you, my King, would die for me?

2008-06-08T21:26:00.001-07:00

Tonight was an incredible evening. Eric returned refreshed, recommitted and renewed from a men's retreat in the Sequoia National Forest where he was baptized again as a symbol of his recommitment to Christ. Upon his return home, we all headed north to Long Beach to attend "Elmo Grows Up" (thank goodness for free tickets from a friend, or we would have spent more than $180!) The kids had a great time and we all enjoyed being together so much. We went over to the harbor and at a great Mexican dinner at Tequila Joes, followed by chocolate covered apples and ice cream. During dinner, Lauren announced that she was ready to accept Christ as her personal Savior and be baptized. For almost 2 years, Lauren has completely understood what it means to accept Christ as her Savior...his amazing gift of salvation, and since then, her faith has grown tremendously. I'm so overwhelmed by her knowledge, her love and her true faith in Christ. She has picked a date, decided who she wants to "invite" to her baptism, and then asked if she could have a special "God" gift. I mentioned a Bible, but she just got a new one for Christmas. What about a new necklace or piece of special jewelry? Her answer? An evangicube.....a tool that missionaries use (we used them in China) and they tell the story of Christ, his death and his resurrection. It leads you through God's plan for salvation, and makes it easy to share your faith with others in a non-threatening way. Lauren received her evangicube from the good news club that meets after school on Thursdays. She was so moved when the leader told them that if they each told just 10 people, the entire school would know within a few days. So, the next day on the playground, she told 8 children about Christ!
On Friday night, Lauren and I were laying in bed reading (I was reading Superfudge by Judy Blume and she was reading a new book we picked up at the library, Stink.) She asked me, "Mom, do you have any friends who don't know about Jesus?" If so, PLEASE don't tell them...I want to tell as many people as I can about the good News of Jesus Christ!"
Lauren will be 8 in just 11 days. I can't believe how fast time has gone, and how she has changed from the smallest, most precious newborn into a true follower of Christ. I pray that she will always have this faith, this love and this heart to share Christ's love with everyone she meets. Watch the blog for photos of the baptism in the next few weeks!

The Newest Frailey Has Arrived!

2008-05-15T15:05:00.001-07:00

We have a new Frailey family member. This morning, Stella Mackenzie Frailey was born to Michael and Wendy in London. She weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and was 21 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well! Watch for photos coming soon!

White Cousins come to visit!

2008-05-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

Brooke and her family came to visit last week, and the kids had so much fun together. When you view the slideshow, you need to click on Zoom In and Zoom Out, then click the arrow at the bottom of the page to see more photos! I hope you enjoy it!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Jacob Turns Six

2008-05-01T19:50:00.001-07:00

We had a great time on Saturday morning at Central Park celebrating Jacob's Sixth birthday. We went with the tractor theme, and had fun throwing water balloons, racing tractors, and, of course, the pinata! It was really hot, but fun. Enjoy the pics! If you double click on the scrapbook page, you will be able to see it close up. It makes a big difference!

NO REGRETS

2008-03-30T10:51:00.001-07:00

Eric and I both believe that the best gift we can give our children and others is the knowledge of Jesus and the salvation he offers us. God's love is eternal, and our lives here are only temporary. To understand this and to live this way gives your life so much more meaning and significance. Making choices and decisions every day with our time, our words and our choices solidifies our faith, makes it apparent to others, and can also convict us when we aren't doing as we should be. Our prayer is that we live our lives with passion, conviction and determination to make the right choices and to be a positive influence on others. But, we also know that we are sinners and fall so short of living as Christ did. Knowing that we have a Savior who died for our sins gives us hope and peace and enables us to live with eternal peace and perspective, even in the midst of turmoil or trials.

Yesterday, when I was sitting in church, I realized one of the most important pieces of our parenting journey is to teach our children to live with no regrets. We are doing a four week study on a new Christian book, One Month to Live. I highly recommend it. The dedication page is written to this couple's four children, and it says, "We pray that you will always live with no regrets." It was a lightbulb moment for me. No regrets applies in all areas of your life...regrets of "what if," "if only," "why me," or "why not me?" I can regret things I didn't do or things I did do. I don't want my chidren to look back when they are 30 with life-changing regrets....in rehab for drugs, and saying, "I regret that one night, that one instant that I made the choice to try drugs, and now I struggle with a lifelong addiction. Or, when they are 16, unwed and expecting a baby, realizing how one moment in time, one bad choice, led them down a different path and a different life than they had imagined.
Regrets can also go the way of missed opportunities. Why didn't I share my faith more vocally with a dear friend who once said she thought she believed in God because she had seen a ghost before? I regret wasting time on things that don't matter. I regret friendships I've let fade due to time and busyness. I don't want those regrets, and certainly none that can be life altering and changing. I thank God every day for protecting me and keeping me away from so many things that could have caused me so many regrets. I am so blessed with a husband I have loved since high school,(can you believe it has been 19 years), a household of children I adore and a life so full of love, joy and peace (and lots of messes, too)! I know God has a plan for my life. God pieces people, places and families together where He wants you. Now I just pray for the wisdom to seek Him in all I do, and for my family as well.
Sometimes God does use those regrets to change people, situations and lives. I can think of a few people in my life that made "bad choices" but turned their lives into a living testimony for God. They've experienced that forgiveness and unconditional love only God can give.

The author of the book talks about the dash....the small line between the year you were born and the year you die on your tombstone. What do you want your dash to represent? What will you be remembered for?
When we stand before God one day, he will ask us two questions. The first, "What did you do with my son, Jesus Christ," and the second, "What did you do with the gifts I gave you?" I want him to say to me, "Well done, good and faithful servant." I will be accountable for my time, my abilities, and the talents God gave me. I will be responsible for those I interacted with...did I take the time to tell them about Jesus? To invite them to church? To lend a hand to someone in need? Or was I too busy with my own agenda, my own schedule?

I want to live a life summed up in this anonymous quote..."Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." To quote "One Month to Live," We were created to be active and present in the lives we've been given. Make the most of your time by spending it on a legacy that will last long after your time on earth has ended. Do it today!

Easter Week Slideshow

2008-03-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Easter Week

2008-03-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

One more Easter came and went in California...it's hard to believe we've been here for almost 5 years! We spent a very warm Easter Sunday (87 degrees) with our California family, the Kents. We had a casual meal off the grill, with lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. The kids had fun hunting for eggs and just playing at the park. We dyed eggs on Saturday afternoon, and it was a competition to see who could finish the most eggs! Zac was particularly good at cracking the eggs as he dropped them in the dye.
What would Easter be without Christ? We celebrated Jesus' victory over death with a church service on Saturday with friends who are new to Saddleback. I took these photos of the three crosses on the hill at church just a few minutes before sunset.
May you all enjoy a blessed Spring!

Daniel's First Birthday Celebration

2008-03-13T14:28:00.001-07:00

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Daniel's First Birthday Celebration

2008-03-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but our little baby is now one and walking! We celebrated his birthday at the park on Sunday afternoon with good friends and food. I made him a wonderful chocolate gluten free cake in the shape of a bear. He wasn't that crazy for cake, though! He did have fun seeing everyone and watching the balloons. I've been working on a movie full of audio, video and still photos, but haven't figured out how to upload it (and it is 15 minutes!) so I will add a smilebox later today.
I hope you all enjoy the photos and sharing our memories!

A Day of Training for Mom

2008-02-02T21:04:00.000-08:00

Spending time with girlfriends is a definite necessity at this point in my life. Last weekend, I went with six of my dear friends down to Escondido for a Hearts at Home Conference. We had a great time learning more about all of the issues close to our hearts...our families! We had two group sessions and two breakout sessions, which were tailored for different moms at different points in their lives. We heard Julie Barnhill speak, and she brought so much humor to our day. Her first workshop was on anger, and it was wonderful. More than 75% of the moms stayed to hear her speak...there is nothing more reassuring that knowing you aren't alone!!! She also reminded us to add a little humor to every day. All of the things that drive us crazy (like Zac coloring ALL over the upstairs with a green marker in a 10 minute timespan during homework time) now are one day going to be just precious memories. Taking the time to laugh together, to celebrate together and to just be funny together are a few of the lessons I returned home with. This photo shows us after lunch (and yes, I did get my hair cut and colored....much to Eric's disdain!)

2008-01-17T17:40:00.001-08:00

It's time to dust off the degree in journalism and my experience in desktop publishing and put it to use in my daily life with four kids! After numerous prompts from family and friends alike, I have decided to start a blog as a way to share photos, memories and videos with you! I am having so much fun with a new camera and four kids to take pictures of! And, this is a way you can keep up with us whether you are near or far. Whenever you want to find out what's going on with us, come here!

Merry Christmas 2007/Happy New Year 2008

2008-01-17T17:37:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas 2007!
The Fraileys Yearly Update
Since I didn’t mail out cards last year, this is a little long, so forgive me!!!! I can’t let this year’s letter out without sharing one of our biggest life experiences with you. In August 2006, we were blessed to go to China on a two week mission trip through our church, Saddleback. After purchasing our airline tickets, we found out we were expecting our fourth child! It was such a blessing, but caused us much distress as to what this meant for our trip. Was this God’s way of telling us not to go? What did He have planned for us? Were we putting the baby at risk, or was God asking us to trust Him instead of relying on ourselves? After two weeks of study and prayer, we knew that God wanted us to go and would keep me and the baby safe. In Daniel 6:23, because of Daniel’s faith, God saved Daniel from the lion’s den. “And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” Our precious son, Daniel Ryan, was born on March 1, 2007, a perfect addition to our family.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” James 1:17

The experience was amazing and opened our eyes to all of the many blessings we have here. The average income in China is a little more than $300 a year. Because I was expecting, Eric and I served in two different areas to lesson my risks. I served at an orphanage that takes in children with medical deformities as simple as cleft palates and as complicated as severe heart and brain issues. Seeing these children made me so grateful for the three I had waiting for me at home (and a fourth on the way!) Eric, meanwhile, traveled to “the ends of the earth” to tell others about Christ. It was our first experience sharing with people who had never even heard the name of Jesus. After two weeks of mission work, we spent a few days traveling to Hong Kong and Beijing, where we visited the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.
Visit chinaorphans.org to “adopt” an orphan into your family—our “virtually adopted” child is Grace.

Fast Forward to 2007:
In January, Eric took Lauren and Jacob skiing at Lake Tahoe for a week. Zac and I stayed home and got the house ready for the baby’s arrival. The kids did a great job skiing and had a lot of special time with their daddy. Jacob is quite the daredevil and enjoys the jumps and ramps. I think we’ll see him on the X games one day.

Daniel was born on March 1 and the children love having him in our family. He is a sweet little boy and has learned to go with the flow around here! Charlotte came out for 10 days to help, and the day she left, I had an old cyst on my fallopian tube that twisted and caused me incredible pain. I had to go into surgery to have it removed. My sister Brooke left her own family for a week to come care for mine. The outpouring of love and help I received from my friends was overwhelming, and I am so grateful for all of them!

After working for Ford for more than 8 years, Eric switched jobs in April and went to work just 5 miles from home at Western Digital (they make hard drives). He is enjoying his work and we’re enjoying having him closer to home! He is able to drive the kids to school in the mornings and come home for lunch, which is so nice for us.

Lauren entered the second grade this year and is doing great! She loves school and does a great job at math and reading. She is our little bookworm! She and her daddy are in Adventure Princesses so they spend a lot of quality time going on campouts and dates together.

Jacob started kindergarten and just finished his first season of baseball. He has grown so much and really loves roller coasters and theme parks. He is a great swimmer and bike rider, too. During our trip to Big Bear over Christmas break, he took a snowboarding lesson but prefers the speed of skis much more! He is involved in Adventure Guides with Eric, so they also do a lot of camping together.

Zac just turned 3 and he is a quite a mess! Just this year, we’ve had the plumber out twice to remove the toilet from the floor and fish out whatever Zac has stuffed inside of it! He can be the most loving, charming little boy and Mr. Destructo just a few minutes later! He skied for the first time last week and had a lot of fun. He loves to be one of the big kids, even though he spent most of the day “skiing” on his back down the slopes!

Grandpa Frailey and his new wife Cherry joined us for a few days at Big Bear and a few days back here at home. We really enjoyed our time together, and especially appreciate all they did to help us out around here…you should see my new laundry room! Thank you both! Brooke and her boys, Hunter and Brandon, also visited for 5 days before Christmas and went to Big Bear with us for the first few days of our trip. It is so nice for the kids to have cousins, and important for us that they know each other.

Barbara joined us in May for a long weekend to meet Daniel and again for Thanksgiving. Michael and Wendy and their little girl, AllyBeth, came to play with all of the cousins! AllyBeth was 15 months old, and we had never met her, so it was so fun to have her around. We will miss them dearly when they move to England in a few weeks. Thank goodness for digital photos to help us keep in touch!

Lauren, Jacob and I all have celiac disease so we have been adjusting to a gluten free diet. It is a pain, but we are finding substitutions and easier ways of getting what we need! My biggest find is buying some of my groceries online at Amazon. They ship them directly to my door, no shipping, and their prices are great!

I am still a Creative Memories consultant and I love it! I have so much fun playing around with all the digital stuff! (I created our Christmas cards using our software). You can see my website at www.mycmsite.com/nataliefrailey. I LOVE messing around with my photos and creating fun albums, slide shows, etc. and I love helping others preserve their memories. It gets me out of the house and introduces me to lots of new friends. I also just started my blog a few weeks ago. I have a degree in journalism sitting on the shelf, so why not dust it off and put it to use? You can see photos, videos and read all about us by visiting our family blog at www.californiafraileys.blogspot.com.

I am also involved with a bible study at church on Thursdays and I started a bible study here in my neighborhood on Wednesdays. It has been so fun to watch people who do not have a faith learn more about God and grow in the knowledge that he loves them and wants what is best for them! Our group is growing and we will continue the study in 2008. Eric is attending Community Bible Study where he is studying Revelations and that has been very interesting for him.

We’ve been so blessed to have our friends near and far, and we hope this letter finds you all well in 2008. May God bless you and all you do!
Eric, Natalie, Lauren, Jacob, Zac and Daniel Frailey
cafraileys@cox.net 949-709-8099 efrailey@hotmail.com

2008-01-14T22:04:00.001-08:00

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

2008-01-14T22:01:00.001-08:00

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

2008-01-14T21:59:00.001-08:00

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

2008-01-14T21:52:00.000-08:00

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

2008-01-14T21:32:00.000-08:00

• "I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts of myself hinder my usefulness to God. God's purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants." ~My Utmost for His Highest
• "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain...'I Corinthians 15:10 But always be humble before God and allow Him to be your all in all. There is only one relationship that really matters and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything alse go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life."~My Utmost for His Highest

2008-01-14T21:22:00.001-08:00

Make a slideshow - it's easy!