Wisdom

A friend of ours dog died. Upon hearing this news, the girls were instantly sad for their little friend who had lost her companion. About an hour later, I hear Josiah singing this song that she had made up in her sweet little voice .......

Not everything lastes forever
Even when you want it to.
But God knows the plan that is gonna happen
He'll keep you in His heart
When things don't go the way you want it to.



She is wise well beyond her years. It has taken me a lifetime to figure this out and yet I still stumble. I love when we listen and are taught by our children.

Daddy's Birthday Weekend Celebration

In our family, if it is your birthday, you get to pick whatever you want for your cake and Mommy (usually with engineer Daddy's help) gets the task of creating that special cake for your day. SO.... this year Daddy requested a wake surfing cake with Daddy and Mommy and Josiah and Adalie all riding on it. Was he kidding?? Who knew?? All we knew was..... us girls had a challenge before us. So here is our masterpiece!!

A fun surprise for Daddy, his favorite, chocolate chip cake made by all his girls.


Your going to need alot of lung power for all those candles!
Then we were off in the party barge with friends, headed for a Miller's Burger, Jazz on the Lake, and Friday night Fireworks. (Daddy, Kaiya, Josiah and Adalie)

Josiah enjoying the music.

After the fireworks, we dropped off our fellow celebraters, putted into our favorite cove, dropped anchor and slept on the party barge under the stars. As the cool breeze off the water blew, we all 4 lay awake counting shooting stars, satellites and airplanes. The next morning we awoke to the sounds of the first water skier vying for the smooth water. Then comes Adalie's favorite part...... up to the Pines Bakery we go for donuts and orange juice.

Then off to Shaver to enjoy some of our all time favorite activities with the family.



Adalie 2nd season skier braving the waves. (3yrs old)

Happy Birthday Daddy! We love you more than all the stars you can see!

A Summer Day Spent with Friends

A lazy summer day spent with friends.....

breakfast...
(Adalie, Kaiya and Josiah)

dress-up....
(ensembles, hair and accessories created by Miss Josiah)

and no summer day would be complete without ....... a swim at Bass Lake....

Adalie, Josiah, Kaia and Riley





FUN, FUN!!

Summer Time

Since I was a little girl, summertime has always been my very favorite time of year. I love the heat that drives you to the water, I love the lazy days, I love the sweet smell, I love the feel of the cool water, I love the summer fruit salads, I love watching the vacationers, I love the sun on my face, I love the memories of days of old, I love the sound of a boat on the water, I love sitting on the dock and watching the sunset, I love skiing and swimming, I love that summer brings our family and friends together to do fun things, I love the laughter, I love the BBQ's, I love the homegrown tomatoes, I love the lack of schedule, I love it all!!

But one of my new loves....... is jumping off the docks with our girls! We have a name and a technique for every jump in the book..... the jump rope, the exit, the twister, the lollipop, the cannonball, the flying squirrel, the chicken, the blind man, the pencil, the run 'n jump, the running man, the windmill, and on and on.......

It's the 4th of July

Well, since the 4th of July is our Family's All-Time-Favoritest Holiday, we had to give the festivities their due!! Honestly, what could be better than spending the day at the lake with all your Family and Friends, Swimming, Boating, a Summer BBQ, singing Happy Birthday, Homemade Ice Cream, Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake and Fireworks on the water ...... doesn't get much better than that!

Adalie decorating the party barge for the night's festivities.

Gigi, Adalie and Mommy escaping the heat with a good 'ol float.

Adalie, nicknamed "the fish" when it comes to swimming. She has always loved the water!

Mommy and her girls (Josiah 6yrs & Adalie 3yrs).

Daddy and Adalie just chillin' on the docks.

Aunt Laura gets her 1st introduction to our favorite day.

Gigi and Adalie

The whole 4th of July gang.

In keeping with our family swim days, a 4th of July jump had to be created and so I introduce to you.... the firework! Josiah pencil jumps into one of Daddy's great big firework splashes!

Our little family of 4!

Gigi and Gipa. How lucky we are to have the ones that started these traditions so many years ago still here to celebrate with us! Can you just see them here on the lake with there babes in diapers enjoying the same festivities we all still enjoy today?

GiPa (80yrs) and Josiah (6 yrs).

GiPa and all the girls.

Uncle Jon and Josiah, the little troublemakers.... what do you suppose they are going to do with those balloons they are filling with water?

Daddy and his little firecracker girls.

We may be the luckiest people on the face of the earth! We will look forward to next year with great anticipation!

Arrow Up!

The girls and I spent a couple of weeks down in Bakerstucky again this year for swim lessons. Josiah knew the routine... "arrow up, bend down and dive!" But this was Adalie's 1st year. Much to my surprise, she was a very brave little girl. She hopped into the pool the first day and walked right to the edge of the step ready to swim... then she hesitated.... she started to walk backwards.... but Bonetti caught her attention and off she was swimming. It is "sooooo fun to watch" him encourage, tease, splash, toss and teach these kids to swim. 10 minutes a day for 9 days... love it! Adalie can now swim just about anywhere, head down, kicking with big arms and then rolls over onto her back to breathe. And Josiah is now a true free style swimmer with side breaths and all!!

My favorite thing was listening to Josiah give Adalie the low down on her upcoming 1st lesson. She is such a little encourager. "..... And guess what Adalie?? Do you want to know the best part?? The best part is.... after you swim to Spaghetti, he will hold you like a baby and take you in under his hat and whisper to you how good you did!! That is fun!!"

Father's Day

Loving on our Daddy.

God took the strength of a mountain,
the majesty of a tree,
the warmth of a summer sun,
the calm of a quiet sea,
the generous soul of nature,
the comforting arm of night,
the wisdom of the ages,
the power of the eagles' flight,
the joy of a morning in spring,
the faith of a mustard seed,
the patience of eternity,
the depth of a family need,
then God combined these qualities,
when there was nothing more to add,
He knew his masterpiece was complete,
and so,
He called it.... DAD.

Hiking in Yosemite with Grandpa.

Rock climbing in Mammoth with Papa.



We were lucky enough this year on Father's Day to not only be able to celebrate with our own Daddy, but both our Grandpa's too! We are the luckiest girls alive to have such great men in our lives. Men that model goodness and love in all they do!
Happy Father's Day to all 3!!