Lucky 13!

Today is Kayla's 13th Birthday! What lucky 13 year old gets to go to Disneyland for her birthday? One who's daddy has been working 18 hour days for 7 weeks, that's who! :)

We really just got here this afternoon and about all we have done is a little Downtown Disney shopping and Goofy's Kitchen. The kids really enjoyed eating there and Kayla got her cake and candle!Kaite was just a little worried about Goofy. She had to make sure he didn't get too close. :)Downtown Disney has some pretty neat shops, like this Lego one. There is a life-size Woody, Empire State Building, Giraffe, and a whole lot more. Even daddy likes Lego store!In other news, the past few days....One day Kammy said, "Mommy, I have a loose tooth" and the next day she had a "lost" tooth! She had picked out a watch several weeks ago at Bass Pro but it was about twice what I wanted to spend. We went back the day she lost her tooth and I found it for half off! The "tooth fairy" left it in her pillow case during the night. Only Kammy doesn't believe in the tooth fairy. She says only Jesus has magic powers that can make a horse watch just like the one at Bass Pro out of a tooth! :)

Below are a few of my favorites from the pics I took for Kayla's "Lucky 13!"

Keeping the Comforter Close!

All of our children have had a special "comforter"--something to snuggle--to hold close in times of trouble. To cling to in the lonely or frightening moments.

For Kayla, it was an old blanket of mine. I called it "hug" and I think I actually slept with it right up until I got married--maybe until Kayla got big enough to take it away from me. :) It comes with a special matching pillow. One that was my mom's when she was a little girl!

Kalli was (still is) our sentimental one. Her special comforters include, "Raggy" (a Raggedy Ann blanket I made her), "Moon" (a fuzzy blanket with stars all over it), "Special" (another old blanket of mine), and "Thomas" (a Thomas the Train blanket). At one point, Kalli had to have all 4 blankets, her sippie cup with milk, and 27 Thomas the Train books (all in their proper order) before she could even think about falling asleep at night.

Kammy has a special patchwork blanket I made for her and she likes to snuggle with it, but she is definitely the tomboy in our family and I think she'd just as soon sleep with the horses!

Kaite has to have a "blank" (any one will do), "Bowt" (her special teddy) and "Bop" (lots and lots of bops!)

Yesterday, we went to the park and had special family devotions. Daddy read the scripture from John 14:16 where Jesus promised to send us a comforter. Then he talked about how wonderful it is to have the comforter with us always. Just like our teddy might bring us comfort when we are sad or lonely, we can have the Holy Spirit to do the same thing for our hearts.Then we talked about the time Kalli LOST "Raggy" at Walmart. She was about 3, and we didn't notice Raggy was missing until bedtime. While daddy drove back to the store to look for it, Kalli called Grandma. The conversation went something like this, "Grandma, this is turning out not to be a bery good day! Pray, Grandma! Pray! I LOST Raggy!"

Wow! Perfect illustration, huh? How easy it is to get distracted--to get busy. Kalli wasn't doing anything wrong. Maybe she just got busy looking at toys or choosing her favorite cereal when she forgot about Raggy. Luckily, the "sticker man" found Kalli's blanket and was saving it for her. Still, we were all able to relate because we remembered those anxious moments. How important it is to stay in touch with the Comforter daily--even in the good times, so that when the bad times come, He will already be near.

Newport Beach

Our Memorial Day outing was a few days early. We drove down to Newport Beach on Saturday. Other than an over abundance of human life, it was lovely! Temps were in the low 70's
We had sub sandwiches on the beach. Subway's new Orchard Chicken Salad sub is worth a try!
All of us enjoyed the beach, but I think these two little ones may have had the greatest time of all!
There is just something magical about sand!

Building a sand castle was "chore #1" for Kammy!

It didn't take long for Kaite to develop sand freckles.

Those little feet pounded the shore all afternoon! She would run out to the water and when it would start to come toward her, she'd squeal and run!

Holding hands is a MUST at the beach...especially when you're with the love of your life and very best friend!

Love the look of delight on her face!

Notice the pattern of water going back out to sea at hubby's feet.

These four girls are pretty special to me! I hope they are storing up all these memories and that the good will always outweigh the bad!

These two are pretty close friends. It always amazes me how even with all the age differences, they all get along so well!

There is something about this candid shot that I really love. I'm sure all those lines are from squinting at the brightness of the sun, because we are both too young for crows feet and they can't be laugh lines... NOTHIN' is that funny! :)

Mommy and the girls!SMOOTCH!

Kaite loves doing "Rosies!"

More pictures of those girls....

Kaite took to traipsing the beach in daddy's flip-flops.

Kaite turned her entire lap into a sandcastle!

Completed sandcastle, and beyond...the loves of my lifeAnd that is the story of our day at Newport Beach. It left us all just a little sleepy! Playing in the beach can be HARD work!

Happy Memorial Day! A big HUGE thank you to all who have fought and continue to fight for the freedoms we hold dear! It means the world to us...AND our children!