The Official Start of Summer

It's official - summer is here...although you can't really tell by our weather yet! None the less, we were invited to our first pool party of the summer hosted by Michelle and Ryan. It started with lunch - and what really struck me is that for the first time, our kids were old enough to sit outside and eat by themselves while hte mommy's ate inside together (except baby Kyle - he still hangs with mom!!). They are growing up so fast....

Then, off to the pool - it's a wonder poor Kyle can even move with all the stiff on him!

Tanya tried to get him to rest & nap - but he was FAR more interested in what the big kids were doing

Ah summer - hanging in the pool with our friends - it just doesn't get any better than this!

A Ballerina is born?

Becky asked if she could take ballet, so I did what any good mother does and signed her up for ballet classes through the city. However, she's not old enough to be in ballet, so she is in "pre-ballet" - and introduction to ballet and tap. The course description was very casual and mentioned nothing about shoes or clothes - actually said the girls could wear whatever they were comfortable in. The first class was a week ago Thursday, and Becky rolled out of her nap, into the car and into class in her regular clothes....only to discover that once again, I am a mother not in the know - and we were the only ones without the proper ballet leotard and shoes. I felt about as awful as a mom could feel - and she didn't have a very good class. We had to go buy her the right clothes before we could even eat dinner.

This week, we were much better prepared and she got totally into the spirit of things. She did tell me that "ballerinas don't wear glasses" but fortunately one of her pairs is pink so I convinced her that would be ok! Opening of class - she's very intent on the other ballerinas!

Working on her jumps - concentrating very hard

Learning how to courtesy - I figure she can teach me after she figures it out!

earning how to skip - I didn't know she didn't know how to do this - once again, feeling like a bad mother! I'm not sure I am going to be able to survive these lessons!

The first night we had her ballerina costume (as she calls it) she absolutely had to put it back on after her bath and would not take it off for bed. For the next three nights, she insisted on wearing it to bed - until about the middle of the night when it truly became too uncomfortable to wear anymore!

Yes - she insisted on the shoes too!! (momma did come in & take those off as soon as she fell asleep each night!)

Fabulous Father's Day

We had the most wonderful Father's Day celebration - started off right with a kiss!

Then breakfast & presents (this is two books of the blog I had made) - the littles have to be right up front for presents. Katie has caught on very quickly to the concept of good things being wrapped in pretty paper!

We then had photo time. For the past 4 1/2 months, I have been trying to get a picture of all four of the children together - and it's like trying to herd cats! I didn't get a good one of all four - but did get one of all of us that might be in the running for the Christmas card - so ya'll will just have to wait for that one!

Dad with the Littles

Dad with the Bigs

The men of the house trying to act all "manly"

The best Father's day resent, however, was for me and was an invitation to dinner at John & Destiney's house - no cooking or clean up for us! We had great food & fun times at the luau!

Paloma and her masterpiece.......

Thanking my Heavenly Father for the earthly fathers in my life this week!

Gold Thread

There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.

~John Gregory Brown, Decorations in a Ruined Cemetery, 1994

What this quote does not go on to say is that cloth of love that gets woven transcends the generations - it is passed from one father to another, from one father to his daughter as the standard for the father of her children and grandchildren. This cloth of love that my father wove for me, my husband is now weaving for my daughters - the precious children that we have been given by God to watch over. These children that were fatherless now have a daddy is dedicated with every fiber of his being to them.

My husband is an amazing father - I believe that it was watching him be a dad to Ashlee and Matt that led me to trust him enough to be a father to my children. It was seeing the commitment he had to them through times that were not always the easiest that broke through the wall in my heart and the desire to be a mom poured out.

My father is an amazing grandfather - his commitment to being ever present for these two little girls is rock solid. He gives them the best gift of all - himself. The handmade toys painted with love, the ice cream outings and the time he spends with them are weaving a very special cloth of love that is unique between a grandpa and his grand-daughters.

My girls are doubly blessed with grandpa's in my step-dad. A great father and step father in his own right, he has moved into their lives effortlessly and completely - his love for them flows freely through all he does for them. He dotes and worries and frets over each and every milestone of Katie's - a child who once was considered worthless has found unbounded value in his eyes.

And even though we are far away from Grandpa Yingling, we know that the girls are never far from his heart through his prayers for them daily. What a blessed gift this is.

I believe that the single most important relationship in a young girls life is that with her father; it will shape her future relationships with men and become the standard to which her children will live with.

My daughters and step daughter are blessed to have a Godly man who loves and cherishes them with all his heart as a dad.

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother."

I am blessed that my husband does this part of being father especially well

Summertime Scenes

There are certain images that usher in summer in a way that words simply can not -
scenes that remind us of the casual nature of the warmer weather
pictures that memories are created from

and good times are remembered by.

There is something magical about summer scenes
something permanent in the shared experiences

something lasting in the easy going nature of the season.

Bring it on!!!

Camp Snoopy!

Tuesday was our first official full day of summer vacation - and what better way to kick it off than with a trip to the theme park. Disney was out - so it was off to Knott's, and we couldn't possibly do a theme park without a bff - so Tanya, Gracie & baby Kyle joined us!

On the balloon ride - Becky was a bit of a wimp, but Gracie talked her into it!

It helped that her cousin Sarah was there with her - Becky calls her "my Sarah" - it's very cute!

On the bus ride, Becky's absence is noticeable - she sat out most of the ride with the baby!

I did, however, force her to go on the tugboat ride - very tame (and she still fussed the whole time!)

Fortunately for Gracie - Katie is a little daredevil so she has company - and I feel better that Katie has someone so responsible to ride with!

Waiting for our table at lunch. Knott's has a "no outside food" rule, but they are pretty good about letting you bring in stuff for the "littles" - so that makes it easier to get a good lunch for them. I have a personal pet peeve about "no outside food" rules - the for sale stuff is generally so unhealthy - and expensive - and not very tasty!

Watching the Snoopy show.....

...and meeting the star!

Last ride of the day - this brings the kids up, then drops them down a little bit at a time. There was NO way Becky was going anywhere near this - but Katie, well, she's always up for a good ride

not a fear gene in her.....

she was laughing so hard during this ride - it was awesome for her!

A great way to spend the first official day of summer vacation!

School Days

Monday was Katie's last day of school for the year. We were so blessed to have great people working with her and for her this year - a huge thanks to Paige, Francine and Kelly.

Katie will not be going to summer school this year. ALthough it is the only was we can continue to receive services (most specifically speech therapy), after much prayer and consideration Doug & I felt she would be better served home with her family making sure the connection to us is strong and she is securely attached.

So...school's out for the summer!

Low Lights

There's just not too much to tell about the last week - we've hung out at home and done a whole lot of nothing, so here's a "this & that" post with the low lights!

Friday, we were supposed to have an outside play/swim date, but it was cold - so we had a baking party instead with my friend Heather, and her kids Sam & Olivia - some attendees ate more than they decorated!

We've been in serious princess mode this week; several days she went from pj's to princess dress back to pj's! She also informed me that "Princesses don't wear glasses" so...anybody have any pictures of princesses with glasses so I can dispel this myth???

Today, we went to my friend Tanya's son Kyle's first birthday party. It was SO much fun - but out of respect for her, I will wait till she does her blog post to really write about it. However, I am going to post a couple of sweet pictures of my girls for their grandpa's who have apparently been going through some withdrawals due to the lack of posts....