My Daddy

I consider myself blessed to have a father that I admire and deeply respect.  He is a man of God with great honor and great character.  Growing up I always knew that he would protect me and care for me.  In his presence, I felt safe.  

One of my favorite pictures is of my daddy holding me.  I was shivering cold and wrapped up in a towel after swimming in the pool by our lake house.  When I look at that picture I am reminded of how much my daddy loves me.

While my parents were here a week ago, we visited the beach.  It was a chilly day, but a great day for playing in the sand.  Mom took this picture of Calleigh and dad (granddaddy) as they snuggled on the beach.  When I saw the picture, I was immediately reminded of my favorite picture of dad and me as a child.  From one generation to another, his love abounds.  What a blessing to know that my daughter is able to experience his love, too.  And what a blessing it is to have an earthly father who exemplifies the love and character of our heavenly Father.  I love you daddy.

Wordless Wednesday

Water Fun

Carson is on the far diving board and his friend is on the high dive

  

Carson is jumping off the high dive

Calleigh sliding down the slide she loves so much

Carson's friend from Rockwall, Brett, is in town visiting his grandparents.  We met up with them for a playdate over the weekend and the boys had a great time together.  Brett's grandmother suggested that we take the boys to an aquatic center in Santa Clarita for another playdate.  Considering I know very little about the area and fun things to do outside of the beach and Disney, I decided it would be a fun adventure and a great chance to try something new.  So, yesterday we met up with Brett and his grandmother and Celeste and Colin for a day at the pool.

I was surprisingly impressed with this aquatic center and the way they operate the whole park.  Before you can swim in the large 13 foot deep swimming pool, you have to pass a swimming test with a lifeguard.  Absolutely no floaties or life vests allowed in this big pool.  They give you a bracelet to wear all day so the other lifeguards know that you are okay to swim in the pool.  Carson took this test right off the bat because it meant one thing to him - he could jump off the diving boards.  And not just any diving board.  He wanted to jump off the high dive!  He managed to climb the ladder, walk to the end of the diving board, and then promptly turn around and attempt to climb down the ladder.  The lifeguard, however, told him to turn right back around and jump into the pool!  He did just that and then jumped many times throughout the day from that high dive.  :-)

There is also a splash pool with a small slide and water fountain like things and water pouring out of buckets overhead, etc.  It's a great little kid play area.  Calleigh stuck to this area all day and repeatedly went down the slide into the water.  She also liked turning all of the gadgets that made water spray everywhere.  It was great fun for her.

After Carson conquered his fear of jumping from the high dive, he decided to try the water slide (a mini version of what you would find at Hawaiian Falls).  He loved it!  His most favorite thing about the water slide is laying down flat on your back because you can go really fast.

All in all it was a fun day.  A day in the water for a very hot day in California.  A day with friends from Texas and California.  A day of fun.  We all slept very well last night :-)

A Little Walk

I took a walk the other morning to get some exercise.  I walked briskly through Amarillo, headed on to Abilene, and then on to Wichita Falls.  There were many other roads in between, but those were of particular interest to me.  You see, these are streets in what is known as the Texas Tract.  There is a whole little neighborhood of homes in Simi who long to be united with the grandiosity of the Lone Star State.  The only way to do that was to name the streets after Texas towns.  :-)  As I walk these streets I am reminded of home.  And I am reminded of how much I miss my family and friends back home.  Know you are loved dearly and thought of often - even on my morning walks.  Hugs,  Andi.  

God's Beauty

One of the many views that I see daily and a constant reminder of God's beauty and power.

Check out the new sidebar item

I posted a new list of Things I Learned At The Beach onto the sidebar of the blog.  Check it out.  It's very helpful for anyone planning to go to the beach.  :-)

Our New Backyard

Have you ever eaten on the patio at Joe T Garcia's in Fort Worth?  Well, if you have, then you have experienced what our little backyard is like - an outside oasis.  We have a palm tree, we have a rose garden, we have flowers of many colors and lots of greenery.  The kids especially like the spa which is more like a small swimming pool in their world  :-)

Day at the Beach

We spent Sunday afternoon at the beach with my mom and dad.  It was Carson's first time to see the ocean and he was amazed!  It was a great day.

Graduation Fun

Today Calleigh "graduated" from Pre-K to Kindergarten.  The class wore cute graduation hats and enjoyed an awards ceremony and snacks.  Calleigh was presented the award for displaying the character trait of Joy throughout the year.  She also proclaimed a desire to become a princess when she grows up.  In our eyes, she already is a princess - she is a child of the King!  We love you Calleigh-belle.  It's been a fun Pre-K year!