fairy tales

Today, Abby and I were laying on the couch watching Cinderella 3. It ended with a wedding, and after last week, we've had lots of wedding exposure lately. So at the end of the movie, Abby said something about getting married. She talks often of wanting to be a mommy like me when she is big, so anyway, the conversation went something like this....

Abby: I want to get married when I'm bigger like Cinderelly.
Me: yep, you can get married when you're bigger and then be a mommy. When you get married you'll be the bride.
Abby: but I was already the bride in Adam and Laura's wedding.
Me: no, Laura was the bride; you were the flower girl. Who do you think you'd like to marry?
Abby: Ben!
Me: well, no, you can't marry Ben because he's already in our family.
Abby: well, probably Adam (notice how you're second rate there to Ben, Adam?)
Me: but he just got married to Laura
Abby: um, Daddy!
Me: but Daddy's already married to me!

It was SO funny. we went on and on like this. I just love little girls!

today's joys

Well, regular life resumes here after we've pretty much recuperated from an exhausting weekend.

Today's simple pleasures of life struck us at the local community pool.

Ben finally mustered the courage to try the "swim test" and passed, which gave him diving board privileges. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine my hypochondriac, neurotic, first-born son wanting to do the swim test when he was 7 years old. (even though I was pretty confident he would pass, I hadn't been able to convince him) I fully expected it to take him til at least 10 to build up the guts and some more time watching his friends do it before he tried.

But, just one more instance of being shocked in parenting, and good for him!! I'm really proud of him.

The second joy of the pool was in the snack. Not always, but maybe 75% of the time I let the kids get a snack FROM the pool snack shop. Nothing I could bring is ever comparable to what they get there, and today is an example of that. I would bring along something like grapes, chips, maybe fruit snacks. But AT the pool today, I let them buy FUN DIP!! Talk about the "taste of summer," well, my kids would say this is it!! I love it when I answer 'yes' to them and SHOCK them by it!!

signed, sealed, delivered

They did it!

Adam and Laura got married, and Abby walked down the aisle!!

It was an absolutely terrific weekend. We got to spend some fun time with Adam and Laura prior to the festivities; Wednesday we had dinner with their families and a big game of wiffleball; Thursday, I got to spend some time with Laura and Jason got to hang out with the guys for dinner. And then Friday, we spent the day preparing, had lunch with all the girls, and then rehearsal and dinner that evening.

It was such a celebration; of these two amazing people, so in love, with each other, and with God, and so surrounded by love from everyone who knows them. It was one of the most fun times I've ever had.

Ben lit candles; Matthew was the ring bearer (or ring bear as Abby called him), and Abby was the flower girl. When Matthew got to the end of the aisle where Adam was, he gave him a 'hook 'em horns' sign with his hand, and when Abby got there, she only had one petal left in her basket. I don't know if she gave it to Adam or dropped it, but then she gave him a high five as well. All of our kids just love them to death. And so do we.

Here's a few of my favorite pictures from the night....

two days!

prayer request

Please take the time to pray for this little girl.
She is the niece of a friend of ours, and though we don't talk to or see this friend much, we have been following her heartbreaking story since she was diagnosed around February, and have tried to be diligent in praying for her.
Some unexpected things have come up lately that have left her family quite worried. You can read her blog through the link below, but even if you don't have time for that, please pray for Anna. Pray for a miracle of healing. Pray for strength for her little body, and for somehow, peace for her parents.

http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/inputSiteName.do?method=search&siteName=annameg