Happily Ever After...

Aria is reading very well. She got to show Papa how much she has improved since last time she read to him. Well, "Me too" had to show Papa how much she had improved too. "Oh, wait, I can't read. This is no fun." Papa to the rescue-Thanks for reading to me Papa!

Aria has a very yucky, painful virus. She has these sores in her throat and she doesn't want to eat or drink anything. Which is making Mommy a tad frantic. I have coaxed, cajoled, encouraged and even forced her to drink, drink, drink. Yesterday, I was coaxing her for the 386 time to take a sip. "Sweetie, if you don't drink, your body will not have enough fluid in it, and you will get sicker." "Sick like, umm, like an old pickle ?" AN OLD PICKLE????? First of all, we aren't a huge pickle family. No offense to you die hard pickle eaters out there.  They just aren't routinely at our table.  We are more of a relish family, truth be told. Second of all, Aria has never eaten a pickle, I am not even sure she has ever seen a pickle much less an old pickle- so WHERE IN THE WORLD that came from, I have no idea. It is one that will go down in our family repertoire for sure. "Feed a cold, starve a fever or you'll be sick as an old pickle ." ...

This girl is sweet as sugar, and so excited! Gianna's Popeye face Playing happily together with NO IDEA what is RIGHT NEXT TO THE POOL!!! So as the title says, It's all fun and games, UNTIL... ... A SNAKE SHOWS UP!!  Then it is OUT of the pool and UP on the deck with big brother, while Daddy a.k.a Henry VIII runs for the rake and a shovel, and OFF WITH HIS HEAD! Luckily, Mommy was at the hairdresser and only heard the tale after it happened!  I hate snakes. 

Snuggling with my Grandpa! My Aunt Sherri loves me so much! And my cousin Cassidy is so much fun! ( So is Logan, Maddison, and Jake, but I didn't slow down long enough to get my picture taken with them.)

My sweet hu sband has a... ahem...  a business trip  *wink, wink*  to the Bahamas FOR A WHOLE ENTIRE WEEK ( as in:Sunday through Saturday).  You know, VERY IMPORTANT meetings, with a HIGH PROFILE client in a very upscale hotel RIGHT on the beach, FOR A WHOLE ENTIRE WEEK! Sounds  really, really rough...  "Sure, I'd be glad to hold the fort down...I'm not a tad bit jealous honey- really." Okay, maybe a tad jealous. That is until he mentioned that he asked his boss if he could bring me and my two cute appendages too. AND SHE SAID YES!!!!!! YIPEEE SKIPPEE!  There is ALOT of Snoopy dancing goin' on round here! Well, except for the two grown sons who will now be the ones holding the fort down.  But I am sure they're not at all jealous. Not even a tad bit.

Aria and Madison are the best of friends! We had the privilege of keeping all four of my friend Audrey's girls yesterday, and had so much fun!  Leah and Gianna started the movie on the floor.. But then they saw the big girls AND.... Had to be on the bed with the big kids! Playing in the sandbox was fun BUT........ Getting the sand WET in the pool was WAAYYY more fun, and MESSY!!!! They are such silly girls! And I couldn't have done it without her oldest daughter, Mackenzie- she was a huge help and a gem! 

I woke up this morning to the terrible, tragic news of Steven Curtis Chapman and the loss of his youngest daughter Maria, age 5, who was killed when her older brother accidently hit her in the family's driveway. His family has impacted SO MANY lives, by introducing their adoption story, and giving grants to those who need help bringing their child home. Their ministry is so far reaching.... So today, please join me in giving back to them, by uplifting the whole family in prayer. It is only God's grace that can sustain them through the grief.... You can also leave a comment for the family here . Edited to add: We can't bring Maria back,  or ease the pain for this family, but we can use our sorrow for the Chapman Family's loss as a call to action. If all of us who are grieved for this family, who have enjoyed SCC's music, or have been touched by their adoption crusade made a donation , we could help save other children who need families. Please consider giving to hono...