Today's the Day...

Here's a glimpse of how I will be spending the next 5 weeks...yep, Summer School is in session, as of today!

I covet your prayers, as well as, for my family! God bless them!

Dad's Day...

My man and my boys ;) Father's Day 2009
Derek and his daddy-o...

Proverbs 23:26
"My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways."

I am so thankful that Derek is a Godly example to our boys, both as a husband and father!
I Love You, Babe!! Thank you for all you do for us!!

Precious Penny...

After a day out, Brooke and Dillon stopped by the house to show us Brooke's newest friend...Penny! She is an 8 week old AKC Yellow Lab and is sooooo precious! Penny is looking up at Brooke with adoration :)
Look how happy Brooke is...I don't think she could have smiled any bigger. We are so excited for her and can hardly wait for another play date! :)

Girls night out...

A group of us girls from church went out to the Glendale Centre Theatre last Thursday night to see the musical 'Oklahoma!'. It was my first time there and it was awesome! (Mom, I really want to take you there!)
We decided to have dinner tailgate style...fun!

Isn't it quaint? The theatre is 63 years old and still managed by the original family.

What's fun about this theatre is that the stage is in the center with seating all around...not a bad seat in the house!

Here's our group with three of the main characters from the musical...Curly, Laurey, and Jud.

Girls night out was exactly what I needed! Thanks ladies, it was a blast!

Finally...

After all the planning the day finally arrived...Dillon's Graduation Open House! It was a great time and do you believe me when I say, "It took me all week to recuperate!"? Well, it did but it was worth it! As the last guest left, Dillon came to me and gave me this big hug saying, "Thanks Mom! It was great!"...big grin :)

My Dad brought Axel to celebrate too and to meet all the hounds. Everyone got along beautifully. Karl's little tail would not stop wagging, Bogey barked and Sandie was a little skeptical but all in all it was fun having Axel there.

Throughout the day, we ran a slide show of Dillon's life to this point. This was Dillon's "Senior Project" and he did a fabulous job. The first few times I watched it, I cried...are you surprised?

One very special guest was Mike. Mike was my youth pastor, music pastor, premarital counselor and wedding officiator! Above all, he is family and we loved him being there!!

Dillon, my mom and Grandma Nonie

Bitsy can hardly wait for next year, as it will be her turn to graduate... :)

"Cheessssseeeee..."

The boys were playing a game called "butts up". I don't really understand the game but apparently the men remembered it from grade school days...I guess I was too busy perfecting my cheery drops from the bars!

There was pool...

Ping Pong...

More games...

Melissa and Brooke...

A fun game of "Scum"...too hard to explain but TOTALLY fun!! The kids love it!

X Box 360...

Not sure what game this was, but they were completely engaged...

More pool...

It was special having everyone sign the matte around Dillon's Senior picture...

The 'sweet' bar...coffee, cupcakes, cookies (from Smith's of course!), and candy...

The grub...mm mm good!!

Thank you for everyone who came and for those of you behind the scenes, an extra big thank you! It truly was a memorable day for our family...love you all!

Sweet Slumber...

The day before Dillon's Open House, Larry, Angela, Ethan and Kaylynn came to celebrate Dillon's graduation and help set-up for the party. Since Kaylynn's pre-school graduation was on the same day as the Open House, they could not stay...sigh! Angela was a tremendous blessing to me and I really appreciated the help and of course, the fellowship...grin! Ang and Larry took us all out to dinner and we came home and made s'mores by the fire pit...fun memories were made! And if the day wasn't full enough already, the four boys (Derek, Dillon, Dalton and Larry) had their own ping pong tournament...comic relief!Ethan and Kaylynn were tons of fun and we enjoyed them being here. Once their sweet little heads hit the pillow, they were out! Ethan's birthday is actually today (happy birthday sweet nephew!) and we gave him his present early...he wanted to sleep with his new 'Ben 10' watch! Such a precious boy!!

I, once again, am reminded of what a wonderful family we have! Yes, indeed, truly blessed!

Unexpected...

Yesterday I experienced the most unexpected emotion...

I went to Bethel to meet with the school administrator in order to hand in my final paperwork for the boys. I was to pick up Dillon's diploma as well. We greeted each other, she looked over the paperwork to make sure it was complete and then she handed me Dillon's diploma and said, "Tell Dillon, Congratulations!"

Here it comes...

As I looked at the diploma and started to read it, I started to cry! Not a little misty cry but a full blown gotta get out of here quick kind of cry!

She was sweet and hugged me, empathizing with my emotion :) Replying, "The first one is always hard."

As I got into my car (trying to compose myself), I looked at the diploma again and was able to read the whole thing but to no avail started to cry again...

I called Derek:

"Um, hello? I just picked up Dillon's diploma and I'm a mess!"

"That's sweet!" (small chuckle)

As he asked me how I was feeling, I started to reflect...

• Is it really possible that our little boy is graduating from high school?
• And in sixteen days he will be 18 years old?
• How did this happen so quickly?
• I still have so much to teach him!
• Is he ready?

Then in my joy I recognize that yes, he is ready and it's time for him to spread his wings and fully become the man that God has designed him to be. It's an exciting time and I am truly embracing it; fully anticipating all the challenging and rewarding circumstances that God has already planned for Dillon.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

• "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

Our prayer for Dillon is that he would indeed continue to search for God with his whole heart and keep Him at the center of all things. Won't you please join us? :-)

Sniff, sniff, boo, hoo...

These pictures commemorate Dillon's very last hockey game as a youth...sigh! It was a great day and many came to say 'farewell'...

Dillon is and always has been #8 and Dalton is and always has been #9. The history behind choosing these numbers is when the boys first fell in love with hockey their two favorite players from the Anaheim Ducks was Teemu Selanne (#8) and his playmate Paul Kariya (#9). As Dalton has gotten older and discovered that he most excels in defense, his favorite player is Scott Neidermeyer from the Ducks, of course, and his number is #27. So when the boys have an opportunity to play tournament hockey, his number is #27.

Dillon skating down to score...he scored 6 goals! We told him he sure went out with a bang :)

The boys coming together after a goal...from left to right...Dillon, Luke, Matt and Dalton (don't you love Dalton's orange pants? - He's always easy to spot..ha!)


A special treat of the day was having Angela and Kaylynn there! Ang had business in Pomona and Kaylynn was able to hang out with Grandma for a few days. We were so happy they could stay a little longer and come to the game :)

The hockey family...the boys are not that much taller than us - they still have their skates on :) However, they definitely are taller - praise God :) And look who passed Dillon up...who knew!?!

Okay, besides Derek, this has to be the best coach around. Coach Skinner we looovvvveeee! He makes this program worthwhile and our boys have been truly blessed to have him as a coach. He is working hard in organizing a tournament team that could begin in September to accommodate the older boys...this would give Dillon an opportunity to still play. We're hopeful...

Check out Brooke's new hair-do...isn't it cute? However, she could be bald and she would still be cute :)

Miss Kaylynn sure loves her cousins...and they love her right back!

Kaylynn taking a rest on Dalton's bag...we tried to put it on her but it was heavier than her!

Others in attendance were the Grandparents who we always enjoy having there! Our boys are sure blessed with grandparents that love and support them :) No pictures, unfortunately, I was pushing my luck with the ones I got...the boys were hot, sweaty and stinky!!

Congrats...

We have many graduation celebrations to attend this year... our first one was for Joey E. and unfortunately, Derek had my camera that day (unbeknownst to me...grrr!) and I was unable to take any pictures but hopefully Joey can come to Dillon's Open House and I will have an opportunity then.

Anyhoo, our second celebration was for Dallas B. Dallas is a new friend this year that we met through Bethel's sports program. He played football with both boys and then baseball with Dalton. We have enjoyed getting to know his family and he is a good friend to the boys! Dallas thinks the world of Derek...Derek coached Dallas on defense during Football and they really bonded. Derek will sure miss him next year, as will all of us :-(
Taking this picture was not my idea but Dallas'! He was so cute that when we were saying good-bye he asked if I could take a picture of him and coach :)

A typical day...

We should have named Bogey... Scout since he is always scouting out the property for prey or rather playmates :) So how about B-scout?
He spots some action and because of the flurry he causes once this happens I could not capture his howling (pleading) and prancing to be let out. I did, however, record what happens when his scouting journey is over...

Yep, sleeping and snoring at the end of our bed!

Got sticks!?! Sandie does :) Here is her 'stick collection' (currently there is an old soccer ball there too) She is so funny that when you go outside she runs to her 'play room' and grabs a stick for you to play with her :) She's my kind of girl...make due with what you have!

Here's Sandie in all her glory...when she is inside, however, she enjoys the squeekiest toy in the bucket :-( Sometimes we have to hide it...shhh!

And here is Sir Karl - always by my side! He is too mature for scouting and sticks :)