A Bit More Fun for July

Sharing a chair while playing on the computer:

 New Haircuts:

 3 girls in pink Disney shirts:

 Singin' in the rain:

 Still loving gymnastics:

 We got the see-saw back out:

 Awwwww... I just love sleeping girl pictures:

Look, Mommy! No Pedals!

One of my goals for the summer is to teach the girls how to ride their bikes without training wheels.  We have some friends who told us about balance bikes.  Basically, it's a bike without pedals.  Kids learn to balance on these bikes, then they are able to learn to ride with pedals much easier because they just have to put the pedaling with the balancing.  So, we decided to take the pedals and training wheels off the girls' current bikes and turn them into balance bikes.  Daddy did this job while Mommy was out shopping at a few garage sales.  Ella and Emma were already figuring out how to balance by the time Mommy got home.  So, we loaded up in Daddy's truck, and went to the office to practice, where they would have a little more room to go straight.  Our girls are growing and learning more and more each day!  (Emma- blue helmet, Ella- pink helmet)

 Ouch!  The screwdriver slipped:

Wonderland 2014!

Our family loves amusement parks!  Tonight was no exception.  

Mommy's favorite ride (other than roller coasters):

 Ella:

 Emma:

 Ferris Wheel:

We actually all rode this one once. (Mommy's first time on this ride.)  I don't really like walking around wet, so I usually avoid this one, but it was so hot, I relented tonight.  We all got SOAKED, and the girls wanted to go again.  So, we let them ride once on their own.  That's them in the back row:

Reinforcements and a Date Night

My sister Connie and niece Aleisha came to offer reinforcement help in dealing with the fire aftermath.  Connie really helped my mom, while Aleisha really helped me with the girls.  It has been great to have them here!  Bryan and I even managed to have a very nice date night with free babysitting.  We went out to a fancy restaurant for dinner (Delicious!!), then got ice cream at Dairy Queen, before driving around a bit waiting for after the girls' bedtime.  When we got home, Connie was even making the blueberry muffins we had promised to a lady at Bryan's office for her birthday.  I love my family!

 A new favorite picture of us:

 Attempting to be serious:

Emma Swimming

Today was the day for  our group garage sale which had been postponed from earlier in the summer.  While we were in the garage selling as much as we could, Daddy took the girls for a swim.  Emma decided she would figure out how to swim on her own without any floatation help.  And she did!!  Daddy quickly came and got me so I could see her swimming on her own for the first time!  So proud of her!

Fire!!

On July 1, while we were all in California, my dad got a call from his secretary saying, "I don't want to panic you, but your house is on fire."  We have since decided there is absolutely no good way to say that sentence.  As I mentioned in a previous post, our family was at Six Flags when my brother called and told me what was going on.  Bryan immediately called his dad who headed over there and sent us the following pictures:

It turns out, one of the neighbors across the alley, was outside helping another neighbor when he smelled the smoke.  Even though he couldn't see the fire or smoke yet, he went ahead and called 911. They asked him to go back outside and check again.  When he did, he saw flames shoot out of a vent in the roof.  The firemen arrived shortly thereafter and got to work.  They did a great job containing the fire to the attic, but unfortunately, the weight of the water caused 9 ceilings to collapse.  Mom and Dad flew home the next day to start with the clean up.

In addition to the stress of the fire, was the stress that both the cats "disappeared."  Comet was found two days after the fire, but Moonbeam has been missing for much longer.  Today is 8 days since the fire, and I had not planned on going back over to help today.  However, midmorning mom called needing support.  I took the girls to be with Bryan at the office and headed to the house.  I prayed the whole way over there.  I prayed for strength, and for God's guidance, and very specifically for Moonbeam to be found today.  As I was praying, I had the radio on KLOVE, and I suddenly noticed the lyrics to the song that was playing,

"Everybody falls sometimes

Gotta find the strength to rise

From the ashes and make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache

You think it's more than you can take

But you are stronger, stronger than you know

Don't you give up now

The sun will soon be shining

You gotta face the clouds

To find the silver lining

I've seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn't ever end

Even when the sky is falling

And I've seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That's what faith can do"

This is the song "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless.  As it was playing, I could feel God speaking to my heart saying, "You have faith... Well, I've got this."  Immediately after that song finished, "All the People Said Amen" played.  It was like the exclamation point to the previous statement.  That song was immediately followed by "Hold Me."  This is the second verse and chorus:

"Well Ya, took my day and You flipped it around

Calmed the tidal wave and put my feet on the ground

Forever in my heart, always on my mind

It's crazy how I think about You all of the time

And just when I think I'm bout to figure You out

You make me wanna sing and shout

Oo, I love the way You hold me, by my side You'll always be

You take each and everyday, make it special in some way

I love the way You hold me, in Your arms i'll always be

You take each and everyday, make it special in some way

I love You more than the words in my brain can express

I can't imagine even loving You less

Lord, I love the way You hold me"

Talk about feeling God's presence and comfort.  As soon as I got to the house, I looked up what songs had just played and took a picture on my phone so I wouldn't forget.

I spent the rest of the morning helping mom out around the house as needed.  The clean up crew was finishing up what they needed to do for the time being, and they packed up and left around noon.  Shortly thereafter, I heard a meow.  It was Moonbeam standing on the steps of the basement.  When we started to approach her, she quickly ran back down the steps to hide.  Mom, however, was able to coax her back out and get her in the carrier.  Our God is an Awesome God!!!  I don't think I have ever "heard" God speak to me like that, in fact I probably doubted it happened much anymore.  But, I definitely felt God like never before.  There is still much to do with dealing with the aftermath of this fire, but God is still and will always be in control.  He will get us through this.

California Part 3- Redding

The third and final portion of our vacation was at my cousin's house in Redding, CA.  Their house is located on the Sacramento River.  It is absolutely beautiful, both the house and the view.  We had such a good time visiting and spending time together.

Wednesday PM: We drove to Redding.  After dinner, we headed to the beautiful Sundial Bridge.  We were there at sunset and were able to watch it light up while the girls put their feet in the water.

Thursday: After spending the night in a very nice camping trailer in the driveway, Bryan and some of the other guys went early to play 9 holes of golf.  After they returned, we headed back up the river to go rafting.  That was a lot of fun!  The water was COLD, but Bryan, Bryan, and Newton jumped in anyways.  We also dropped the girls in with a firm grip on their life jackets.  They loved it!  I wish I had pictures, but I didn't want to risk getting a camera wet.  We spent the rest of the day napping and visiting.  The girls are thoroughly enjoying playing with Katie and Madeline's old Barbie dolls in a room where they can shut the door to get a break from the dogs.

Friday:  Happy 4th of July!  Today we took the girls to Kids Kingdom, an amazing fort like playground with a splash pad complete with erupting water volcano.  So much fun!  Daddy stayed with the girls while Karen, Madeline, and I got pedicures.  We had the ranch meeting in the afternoon, with mom and dad on the phone as they were back home dealing with the aftermath of the fire.  We then ate a delicious meal Jennifer prepared.  We decided to stay up extra late tonight and go watch the city's fireworks.  They were amazing, especially with the reflections on the river.  With the very slow traffic heading back, we didn't get in until 11:00pm.  Good thing I had already packed up during the afternoon.

Emma:

Ella:

Beautiful sunset while eating smores:

Saturday:  Long day of traveling home.  We drove back to Sacramento, returned our rental car, then flew home in 2 legs.  Our girls have been such troopers!  They were so very well behaved the entire trip.  It was a great time with family!

Our sweet girls reading in the airport while waiting on our plane.