our weekend at the river

We just had such a nice weekend at the river.  

It was the perfect number of people and perfect amount of time.  

Our time in pictures...

Lily helped Paw cook breakfast.  And got to drink some of his coffee.  Which she loves!

And got some lovin from him...

 Lily got her nails done by Holly.

 We celebrated Mike's "BIRT DAY".

(the pack of candles was missing the 'H')

 Holly gave everyone massages (and Paw "chopped" Jessica's back).

 Lily introduced Audrey to Cheerios and Milk  :)

a bite for herself

 a bite for Audrey

 Audrey fits perfectly in the closet

 Saturday was a perfect day... warm but not too HOT.  

We tubed and tubed.  And had so much fun.  (Possibly pics to come?)

 Sunday morning was a little more low key b/c it was cool and cloudy.
So we did haircuts, etc on the deck.

 Did some art therapy on the table that Jessica chalkboard painted.

 UNCLE JOHN RE-PAINTED LILY'S NAILS!!  

(It had come off after all of our water fun on Sat)

 **This picture will for sure be seen again at Lily's wedding!!**

What a good uncle!  I didn't know this side of John.
Audrey and Jessica have brought out the best in him!

 This my be my favorite pic of the weekend. We are all having a grooming session on the deck.  

Jessica getting pedicure by Maw.

Lily getting manicure by John.

Holly on computer.

Glenda getting a haircut.

 Peter was really there too.  He had a BLAST in the water.  The boy is part fish.

 Giving Mike his bday present... a new watch.

He knew what he was getting and the kids had helped me get it at the store. 

 Oh, what could it be?!? ;)

Peter and Mike swam, and jumped, and played in the water Sunday.

While the kids napped, we went on a little adventure to the other side of the river.

 And wrote Charlie and Alvin's names in the sand.

We are remembering them today, esp Charlie, as its 2 years since he "awoke" and went to be the the Lord.

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.  He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

(from Philippians 3... verses that Holly chose for Charlie)

Goo's Birthday

We celebrated Goo's birthday this week!

The kids and I had her over one morning for a granola cake :)

 Then we all met at the pool on the last eve of the kids' swim lessons for a POOL PARTY.... 

how fun (and easy) is that?!

(I love the view of Lily's little chubby chin and cheeks here... reminds me of a newborn baby)

 Remember Peter's new love of the diving board?  Lily was inspired by him and decided to try it for herself.

 Then pizza by the pool....

 Then Cupcakes!

 And a gift.... being the hip grandma that she is, she got an iPad for her bday from Pop.  So we supplied a stylus ;) and a few other little things...

 Then we went for a swim with the kids... 

 Lily just started going down the slide as well... she can't get enough!

 saying goodbye for the eve and admiring the crape myrtles...

Thanks, Goo and Pop!  We all had a great time!

Updates

Last weekend my parents took the kids to the river house... so fun.

Mike and I enjoyed a weekend to ourselves.  We went out to dinner both nights and I did little projects around the house.  Mike helped me hang a new shelf in the bathroom.  I painted our bath near the end of the winter after I painted our bedroom.  There was one wall left that needed something on it.  So I added a white shelf and the frame I painted.   

 I feel like that finishes up the updates to our bedroom and bathroom that I started in the winter.

Other parts that I don't think I posted... 

I'd also hung new curtains in the spring.

I used the drill all by myself for the first time!  Woohoo.  I have a new appreciation for why Mike kinda groans when I ask him to drill something for me... its just tedious... measuring, switching out bits and the screw driver part, etc.  Mom was here when I did it for back up.  ;)

 I found these curtain panels at PBK on clearance.  Yay!

And a cute green lamp from Target

 Our Moroccan lantern back in place.  I really LOVE the color its painted.  Its been 6 months or so and I still feel happy to see the change after a DARK blue room for 5 years!

 And here is the finished pink frame in Lily's room.  

We also added hooks for her to hang things on.  :)

We moved Lily's kitchen upstairs a while ago and put it in her dormer window area to make room for her doll house.  So I hung Grandma's sign over her kitchen there.  :)

 I re-painted half of our laundry room floor (terra cotta-ish) and found this fun rug at Target.

 And organized our bins a little.  That room can't be helped but so much... right, Mom?!?

 So fun to have a little extra time to do fun projects :)  

Lillian Moments

Lily has been really sweet lately (as usual)... and just as usual, a sweet gift and joy in the midst of grief.  And they both just make it easier to carry on... 

A few things to remember:

After a meal recently, I was on my hands and knees wiping up the floor under their little table.  She was still sitting there eating her meal.  She took her sweet little hand and just put it on my head and then ran it down my back.  It felt like a little thank you :)

Today after their gym class, we went to the car wash.  I was vacuuming the van out.  Of course, Peter was unbuckled the second we stopped and wanted to help.  So he "used" the vacuum on one side and I used another.  He was a sweet helper.  Lily just sat contently buckled in her car seat.  I leaned over her at one point to vacuum between the seats.  She just put her hands on my hand and gently ran them over my back.  I think she had her fingers "walk" on my back at one point.  I felt like Big Lillian was in her body in that moment.  I remember laying on the bed beside my grandma and her scratching or rubbing my back.  It was never really strong enough to be a  rub or sharp enough to be a scratch but just a sweet little touch that felt good, exactly like Lily's hands felt this morning.

Moving onto processing... I feel like this is one of those times when I really have to be narrowly focused in what I think about... "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 

2 Cor 10:5b  The challenge in that comes when others jump in there {that's probably not any of you reading this :)}.  Its funny how others don't always know the strict thought plan that I'm on.  Haha.  I like my songs so I've been listening to this song, and the lyrics.  And playing these lines over and over in my head (and at times crying over the pain and sweetness and freedom of it)...

Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.

Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  1 Cor 13:12b

*And her little voice.  If I could only bottle it.  It is so so adorable.