In keeping with the water theme, Monday we went to a local municipal water park with our neighbor Linda and her grand-daughter Hannah.

The park was just the right size for Becky and Hannah

I remember when it used to be hard to get her to smile for the camera!

Being Hosted

My good friend Destiney hosted us for dinner last night at her house. We had a really nice time; the food was great, the company superb and the weather was perfect. Perhaps another reason we SO enjoyed ourselves was that we were hosted, You see, both Doug & I have the spiritual gift of hospitality, so it is usually at our house where everyone gathers - and we love that! But - sometimes - it's nice to be the hosted instead of the hostess!
So thanks to my friend the hostess!

She provided all the important things - good friends...this is our dear friend Ann who is visiting right now...and good wine...

...ice cream - fresh off the ice cream truck (yeah summer time!)....

....and goofy entertainment courtesy of our husbands & kids.....

(is this girl a rock star or what!)

We had a really nice night - and it was a reminder about how good to us the Lord is when He knits us together as the family of Christ

Water Week

Today was a water week for Becky; she has had swimming lessons every day this week - and is becoming a regular little mermaid!

On Thursday, we played hokey from swimming lessons and went to "Raging Waters" with our friend Gracie - we didn't get any water playing pictures - but we got the lounge pictures!

Poor Becky - she's just a bit shorter than Gracie!

Fabulous Fathers

Dear Grandpa Yingling - we were too choked up with missing you to adequately express our sorrow at your absence from the festivities on Sunday; it was just not the same here without you and we had to work very hard to compensate for the missing piece - we love you tons too and you are a great Father & grandpa!

We had a great Father's Day celebrating the best father's in our lives this weekend. My dad was here from Northern California, and we actually had all three children in the same house for 24 hours! The morning started off with the ceremonial card giving and present receiving by the fathers.....

We then headed off to church, to worship our Heavenly Father - the most perfect Father and the One that we love - what a great service and time together it was!

When we got home, my husband lived the example of a good dad. This video is an example of why - at 40 years old - I felt ready for a child. I had finally met (and married!) a man that I would want to be a father to my child. Someone who loves & cherishes his children, is godly man raising them in the ways of the Lord, is full of wisdom and discernment and a really fun guy......

After the water activities, we sat down for some r&r before dinner...very special dad's enjoying the great weather we had this weekend!

Doug, John, Grandpa Bob and dad

The kids table!

Nothing says "I love you dad" better than BBQ!

For dessert, I got lazy and got some father's day cupcakes from the Ralph's bakery (which is the best bakery around!). For those just joining us, Becky has a sweet tooth - a bid sweet tooth. You were pretty much her new best friend last night if you shared your cupcake with her ~ but she was only interested in the buttercream frosting on the top!

(for those that are wondering..yes-it took her about an hour to fall asleep after we put her in her crib - can you say "serious sugar buzz?"!!)

Thankful Thursday

Sometimes, when you are spilling over with emotions, you just need to get on your knees and thank the Lord

1) I am thankful for my husband - who stayed home from work today to take Ashlee to have her wisdom teeth out. He was planning on going in after she was done, but when she was having a hard time, decided to stay home. I am thankful that I married a man who loves his children as much as he does.
2) I am thankful that our friends the Sanchez's are home from Germany. What a blessing it has been to have them here; it is so awesome to have such Godly friends so closely in the lives of us and our children.
3) I am thankful for summer ~ for the sun shine that the Lord provides that grows my flowers and warms our bodies and souls.
4) I am thankful for what I know the Lord will do for us as we walk through this next adoption; I praise Him for so clearly showing us where we needed to be and what child He chose for us.
5) I am thankful for a God who is big enough to handle all my worries about everything - big and small - and who loves me. He loves me - enough to let me walk through some bad stuff because He sees the good on the other side and enough to shelter and protect me from the deadly stuff. Thank you Lord.

Wordless Wednesday

Take me out to the Ballgame

We are a family of baseball fans (so much so that during baseball season, I hear about how my dad is doing via Doug as they have almost daily baseball update phone calls!). One of Becky's first outings last year was an Angels game, and she even made a playoff game. This year, she is much better prepared for the games, bringing along her beloved snack box!

She even made friends with the little girl in front of us & her grand mom, who coincidentally happened to have m&m's that they shared (have I mentioned Becky is a bit of a "snackaholic?)

Happy at the end of a 9-1 victory over the San Diego Padres (a bit of mixed emotions for mommy who used to be an avid Padres fan until moving to Angel territory)

Thank goodness they are washable~!

for those who have asked...they are washable magic markers

Farmers Market

Thursday night, we headed over to the Farmer's Market after Doug got home from work with John, Destiney, Vincent & Paloma. We got some great shots of the kids....

Becky is trying to convince Vincent to share his lollipop (she was unsuccessful!)

Paloma, Ashlee, Vincent & Becky

Daddy & Becky sharing a "moment"!

It's so nice to have our friends back in town & close - :)

Lazy on the River

One of the highlights of the resort we stayed in was that it had a lazy river around the big pool & mini golf course. It was great favorite - from the youngest to the oldest in our family!