Surprise Vacation

Dave was supposed to work in Phoenix for 3 days so we were just going to stay for the weekend and then drive back on Monday morning.  They asked him to stay longer to finish the job.  That was great because they only needed him to work Thursday.  So they paid for his hotel and we got to have a mini vacation at a super nice resort.  They had a really nice pool and lazy river.  Jill came over and went swimming with her kiddos.  It was so relaxing!  I wish I had a waterproof camera so I could take pictures of all the fun we had in the water!  There was a water slide that Abby couldn't get enough of.  Emma went on it too, but only with Dave.  We had relaxing vacation at the pool during the day and then we got to spend the evenings with my family.  It was the best surprise vacation!!

Dave put Josiah in the high chair while he ordered our food.  I guess the girls wanted to be like their brother so they got in one also.  Silly girls.

 I let Abby take pictures of the hotel.  It was so adorable.  

 She really is a good little photographer.

Emma is so precious.  She loves her Pooh Bear and brings him everywhere.

I think Abby would live in the water if you let her.  She wanted to stay in there all day. 

 Josiah bonked his face on the night stand.  Poor kid looks beat up.

 Emma looks so tiny in this picture.

The Weatherford Birthdays

Dave was scheduled to work in Phoenix the first weekend of April, which is the same weekend as my Dad and brother's birthdays.  The kids and I went with him so we could see the family again. 

We celebrated my Dad's birthday at Fajita's, which is one yummy restaurant.  The last time I went there was the weekend I brought Dave home to meet my parents.  That was 10 years ago!!  Anyway, here are some pictures.  Emma fell asleep on the way there and slept all through dinner and Abby read her tag books.  It was a nice quiet meal!

For Logan's birthday we went to Fuddruckers, another favorite of mine!

The Body of Christ is Amazing

The Body of Christ is an amazing thing.  I love to hear and witness stories about how God does miracles when the body of Christ works together.  Back in January, I watched one of those miracles about someone I'd never met.  On a blog I follow I heard about a boy who was 16 and was going to be adopted, but at the last minute the family backed out.  This happened just weeks before he was going to turn 16.  In Lativa, they are kicked out of the orphanage when they turn16.   People started posting his story on their blogs and asking people to pray for a family to step forward for him.  Someone even started fundraising to make it easier for the family to adopt him.  Within just a few days a family stepped forward to adopt him.  They were already in the process of adopting another boy from the same area and they felt like they were to be his forever family also.  I've been following their blog and last week they traveled to Lativa to adopt him!  I just love to see God's miracles! 

There a is another little guy from Russia that needs a miracle.  This little one is about 5 years old and has Down Syndrome.  His name is Kirill.  The family that wants to adopt him just had their court date in Russia and their adoption was denied.  The judge said they had a good family and they could adopt another 'typical' child, but they could not adopt Kirill because he is 'not socially adaptable' and that he would be better of in an institution than in a home with a family.   I am heartbroken after reading this story.  In other countries children with special needs are hidden away in institutions and are not loved.  I am furious and angry and sad all for this family that I have never met.  Let's pray fervently for Kirill and this family and be the body that God has called us to be.  I'd love to see another miracle!

You can read Kirill's story here. 

California Adventure

Ok, so I'm thinking I should be fired from my own blog.  This post is waaaay overdue, but I had to post it because this was the highlight of their trip.  My kiddos absolutely LOVE Toy Story.  They have the 

movie, the dolls, t-shirts!  They were super excited to meet Woody and Jessie.  

 The kids loved the ginormous ferris wheel.  We picked the cage that rocks.  They all thought it was great, even Josiah.  You can't really tell from this picture, but it was all I had of the little guy.  He was so giggly, it was adorable.

 They have this cool adventure area where the kids can climb on these nets, do a tire swing, rock climb, it has a ton of stuff.

 This is the fun Ferris wheel. 

They are ready to go again!!

Beach Day

I'm a little late on getting this posted!  Our second day in CA we took the kids to the beach.  It was a beautiful day and all three of them LOVED the water and the sand.

They don't share a bed well because they both move around so much.  Emma is hanging off the bed!

Surprise...you're at Disneyland

When we left my parents house we told the kiddos we were going home, but we surprised them and took them to Disneyland.  I bought the girls these shirts at the Disney Outlet store here.  We told the girls we were going to the park to take their pictures.  They were definitely surprised.

 

 We went on the Buzz Lightyear ride first.  Emma loves Buzz.  This was her expression when she got close to him in line.