August Birthdays!!

 In August, we were able to celebrate Mom Moreno's (And Ryler - but I'll say more on that later) Birthday! We met as a family at the restaurant of her choice, and had such nice time all together!

Mom, I'm so very sorry this isn't posted on your birthday. My goal was to do it, and make it an extra special day for you, and the wifi got away from me. Nevertheless....I do want you to know what a blessing and joy you are to my life. And how I praise God that you're my Mom. You'll never know all the ways you inspire and help me. You've taught me so very much, and I'm grateful for the wisdom you continually share with me. Thank you for blessing my life, and sharing your life with mine. You are an incredible woman, and having you as my Mom is a dream come true, answer to prayer, and blessing beyond words can express. 

Thank you also, for giving so much of your time, energy, finances, love, life,  and so very much more to raise the little boy, who became my husband. You did a great job raising him to be a man, and still a goofy kid at times. :) I'm so blest. You're encouragement and help to him before I came along, and even still has helped him so much. You're his mommy, and the special place in his heart for you will never leave. You've spoiled him in so many ways that I hear about so very often...and for that, I am very grateful too. I look forward to you still spoiling him, and getting in on it myself too! :)

You're love and investment into our girls is precious. I'm so grateful their Nanny is involved in their lives and loves them so much. I can't wait for them to continue growing and developing their relationship with you, and you teaching them as you've taught so many of us. 

A with her Nanny!

  I absolutely LOVE this picture of A...I think I need to get my photographer to do a little editing to make it even better for me. 

Sweet sisters

Happy very belated Birthday, Mom! I love you so very much!

~Meagen

Our little Painters!

Pretty much all my 'downtime' (the girls naptime & after their bedtime) in July was spent painting our home. I've discovered Painting is stress-reliever for me. I'm not sure what I'll do once our home is competed.... :) It really really is though! I can be so frustrated and stressed, but get me painting, and maybe some uplifting music too, and I'm quickly in a much better mindset. 

There were a few times the girls observed me painting though...and one day, they discovered where I store the supplies. Their favorite item is of course the roller...

E's Cheese!!!

Then they found some of my craft paint supplies...

Such precious gifts from God! I'm so very blest and grateful. Pray with me that God helps us as parents to raise them in and for the Lord! 

God's Glory

Here lately, I've been trying to point out the handiwork of God to our girls through every day situations/occurrences. Most often, it's in His 'painting' of the sunsets. This particular evening, I wanted to capture the moment and share it with you too. SO... as I tell our girls... "Look!! Come see what God has created for us! Didn't He make a beautiful sunset for us to see?!" Then we often talk about how much God loves YOU and me. 

I pray you can see the Love of God in your life today in the Little, and Big things He does for each of us. An easy place to start it to look around you at all He has created, and allowed you to see. 

Roses...

My sweet husband bought me a beautiful bouquet of  white roses. I was quite surprised, and enjoyed them very, very much for over the next week. B was so thoughtful to spoil me with flowers, but what made it extra special...I was busy getting a couple last minute things done before the girls went to bed, and he took one of the roses, and placed it on A's pillow. After we did our bedtime routine, she discovered it. That simple act completely melted her, and made her day. The sweet smile on her face tells it all I think. 

I'm so blest to have such a Godly, loving husband and father.

Working Hard!

The day after CO pictures with the McDonald's, we were able to go have a nice evening with the Moreno's! Mom had the grandkids working hard on her yard. I'm proud of the kids - especially the boys for their hard work!! Great job boys! (and Ki!) The yard looks great!

(This picture needs to be rotated...but it's E's 'cheeeeesseeee' face)

Big girl!

Helping her big cousins!

Cheeeezzeeee!

Not so much...

CO Pictures...

We were able to get together as a McDonald family and look at CO vacation pictures of those who were able to go. We had such a nice evening all together. I personally, really enjoyed the time we had together fellowshipping.

Cousins playing together! Such fun!

Love the smiles on their faces!

Such a good Aunt playing on the floor with the little ones!

I obviously didn't get alot of pictures, but it was a fun evening! 

Camp '14

Brian and I were privileged to take our teens to camp this year. The Lord worked mightily in all our hearts and lives. The preaching was AMAZING!!! I am so very thankful we were able to go and hear the messages each day. We left our sweet little ones at home with grandparents, and were able to wholly focus on the teens. They kept us on our toes to say the least!

Lined up after lunch...

The first (of several!!) Injuries!

This is generally where I found my husband when he was 'missing'.

Where there's a will, there's a way!

Hanging out..

Pizza Church Time!

Two of the injured...

Church Share Time!

A's cabin lost a challenge, thus was given syrup in all the girls hair!

This is how I seemed to always be towards the end of the...on the phone, calling a parent to inform them of their child's injury. Thus, B decided we needed a picture. Camp isn't usually as hazardous as it was this year...I honestly think the Lord was just using the injuries to draw the kids closer to Him.... 

Thank you to each of you who prayed us through. I appreciate it far more than you'll ever know. I think we were under some of the most spiritual attack we've ever gone through. Thank you to each of you parents who entrusted your kiddos to us...we had a blast with them, and hope you'll trust us with them again!

Shaving Cream!

This is quite a full post....but oh so much fun!

I had a can of shaving cream, and was trying to invest more time and do fun things with the girls this summer. One evening, Brian was working late, and I decided we'd have a extra fun evening. I invited Miss S and Aunt K over for some fun with us too. I had no expectations what would happen, but things certainly got out of control, but SO. MUCH. FUN. 

We started with just a little....

E is still in the taste testing of everything stage.

More Please!

Pretty sure shaving cream in the hair was all Miss S' fault...

Then it was time to get cleaned up. I certainly hadn't expected quite this mess, or I'd of dressed the girls differently. I decided they needed to be hosed off...which gave another fun element to our evening... E didn't quite think so...

Once clean, it turned into a game with A...

Miss S then thought she'd try to get me with the saving cream...her disadvantage was that I had the water hose, and wasn't afraid to use it.

I gave in to our sweet little one, and let her put it on my foot thought.

Fun memories with our girls. It was totally worth their hair smelling like men's aftershave for the next several day...I promise!! I did try incredibly hard to get it out though!