These three kiddos! Memories with Friends.

We hosted a "creepy crawly hunt" here about two weeks ago.

It was fun to hunt for bugs with our friends!!

 Delia and Molly --

I love these girls.

These pics were taken after Delia's dad's funeral on Saturday.

I posted earlier about our friend Casey who passed away flying a crop duster.

Lisa asked that I take a few pictures the day of his service.

It brings me to tears to reflect on how I saw Delia that day.

For Delia, it was a reunion with great friends, among many other things.

Delia knows her dad is in heaven, but I am sure his absence isn't completely understood

or grasped. She was a sweet inspiration. Heaven is for real and being reunited

with friends is so sweet. Many of these friends she hasn't seen since their

family moved to South Dakota one year ago.

This family is on my heart and mind.

I will keep praying for peace for them.



More of Crescent Bar

Vance and Me

Vance and Hazel

Ryker

Amara and Merit

There's just something about a sno-cone on a hot summer day...

Kait

Brielle

Willem

Amara and Willem our kindergarteners to be

Oh Hazel, you cute thing!

Iced lattes and treats...

Uncle Phil and Hazel

Lane

Merit and Lane

Lesha and her daughters and nieces

Slade and Hazel

Hazel loves babies!

Our time was so fun!

I am thankful for family.

*********************************

Today Vance and I attended our friend Casey Garcia's funeral.

Casey was a kind guy with a great personality. He had tons of

friends and was a joy to be around! He will be missed by many. I have a few

pictures from today to share. I will wait and do that in a few days.

Life on this earth is so short. Knowing Jesus and having faith is so important.

We can only imagine the glories and wonder of our lives in heaven after this earth.

There was a lot of hope in the message today at Casey's service.

Casey loved the Lord and had faith.

Crescent Bar

We had a really nice time at Crescent Bar with my family! It is so beautiful there and we had great weather.  Cousin Fun!! Lots of Laughs! An ugly mug contest, relaxing by the pool, BBQing... it was so nice.

We rented a few condos. Having the kids run back and forth between condos to play hide and go seek was fun! The boys played lots of baseball. They have a kiddie pool there that is only one foot deep, perfect for Hazel and Estelle and Brielle liked it a lot too.

Merit and Uncle Matt

Estelle and her mama

Me and Ron Swanson

If you have seen Parks and Rec, you know who I am talking about!

Vance and Ron Swanson (Phillip)

Lesha and me

Brielle, with her hair blowing in the breeze

Brielle again, sweet girl!

Cousins!! Along with Ryker and Slade!

Ten kids eight and under makes for a FUN trip!

I will be sharing a lot more pictures.

I am so thankful for this time with my family.

Natasha and kids are here at our home now. I need

to soak them up.

We welcome summer break, please pray

Summer break is officially here.

I am anxious to soak up time with these three kids! And Vance

whenever he can break away from work. Vance is going to get some time off this next week which will be really nice. Merit had a fabulous

second grade year. His teacher was so fantastic. Willem also had

a wonderful year at Happy Hearts pre-school with nurturing teachers and

dear friends.  They both learned so much. These kids grow up so quickly. I am soaking up every moment with my family.

My heart is saddened today by the loss of a good friend. Our friend Casey

was a pilot in South Dakota. Their family moved there from Moses Lake just

over a year ago. He died yesterday in a plane crash.

My heart aches today for the Garcia family.

My dear friend Lisa and their children are on my heart.

What a tragic, sad time for them.

Please pray.

It gives us hope to know that the JOYS of Heaven will last forever.

Enjoying the Lake

Hazel, enjoying a snack while watching her dad launch the boat.

Merit, Will and Hazey looking for fish

 This is one helpful big brother.

Fischer

Kendal

Enjoying Moses Lake with Cousins. 



My day started at 2:30 a.m. I heard a faint "mom" coming from Willem's room. I leaped out of bed. Since having kids, I am such a light sleeper. I am SUCH a light sleeper I think it is probably unhealthy. Anyway, I got there and the poor guy was throwing up. It ran down his sheets, mattress and box spring... okay, I will spare you any more details. I was just really glad I had some heavy duty cleaners on hand and I am thankful my washing machine has a sanitize cycle. He and I were up for 45 minutes, he took a bath, I did some cleaning. Then he slept like a baby the rest of the night and felt great today. He went swimming a bunch in the lake yesterday. I don't know if it was a bug, if he swallowed too much lake water, if he ate too much junk food... I am just glad it was short lived. I went back to bed about 4 a.m. and my mind was going, going. When I can't get to sleep during the night, I take that time to pray. My prayer list has been long so maybe that extra time awake was meant to be. But starting my day that early, meant me fighting for the energy to carry on today. 
Also, this morning Hazel was up bright and early! For about the past 6 weeks she has been sleeping great at night -- yay!! But is often up at 5:30 or 6. Convincing her it isn't time to be up yet isn't easy, but often she falls back asleep till almost 7. Then, she is raring to go. This girl is busy!
This afternoon I joined Merit's second grade class on a bowling field trip. (Willem and Hazel enjoyed some time with Fischer and Gramma Kris) All the second grade classes went to the bowling alley for a fun afternoon of chatting and bowling with their classmates and teachers. I loved it! Mrs. Hammond, his teacher, has such a heart for kids and is sooo sweet!! The kids in his class are cute and funny! It has been a GREAT year!
Then I got groceries, ran errands, got home watered my flowers, pulled weeds (how do weeds grow SO fast?)... all the while thinking of how a nap would be nice! I missed an appointment this afternoon, totally spaced it! Vance made dinner - whew! I played baseball with Merit, one of his favorite things to do!  So now, I am about ready to crawl into bed... finally. I am so thankful for these three children, so thankful Willem is feeling great and so thankful that most of my days do not start at 2:30 a.m. goodnight all...

Willem admiring his own little garden.

Hazel showing her Grandpa Jim her puppies.

Merit loving an adventure

Willem running and exploring

Little Miss H.J.

Weekend Fun!

Yesterday, Vance, Willem, John (Vance's bro) and Fischer our nephew

went jeepin' at the sand dunes.

Vance said Will and Fischer had a ball. There was lots of

laughter and fun!

Merit, Hazel and I hung out at home.

Hazel got a L-O-N-G nap. She so needs her naps and so does

her mama! I can get a lot done while she sleeps or get

quality time with the boys.

Yesterday Merit and I had fun playing outside and playing Monopoly together.

I try to plan my days so Hazel never misses that sweet afternoon nap.

And then she is raring to go when she wakes up. She loves golf cart rides!

Cooling off in Crab Creek, Hazel snacking on pretzels :)

Hanging out with Will!

Me and Merit

Rudy cooling off in the creek.