32, not 33!

Happy Birthday to the man who thought he was turning 33 when really he's turning 32!

You are my world, my best friend, hero to your daughters, and still the man of my dreams.

Oh how we love you!

Happy 32nd Birthday DuVall!

No blog title necessary...

We live in California where taxes are so high we can't afford toothpaste.

Four Years Ago Today...

The Master Gardener from Heaven above

Planted a seed in the garden of love

And from it there grew a rosebud small

That never had time to open at all,

For God in His perfect and all-wise way

Chose this rose for His Heavenly bouquet

And great was the joy of this tiny rose

To be the one our Father chose

To leave earth's garden for one on high

Where roses bloom and never die.

So, while you can't see your precious rose bloom,

You know the great Gardener from the upper room

Is watching and tending this wee rose with care,

Tenderly touching each petal so fair.

So think of your darling with the Angels above

Secure and contented and surrounded by love,

And remember God blessed and enriched your lives, too,

For in dying your darling brought heaven closer to you!

~Helen Steiner Rice~

This poem sits by my bed. I read it often. I think about the once close, but always dear, friend that gave it to me and pray for her.

And I think about my Emma, our own tiny rose.

I miss you. I love you. My arms still ache for you. But I know where you are and I know who you're with. And I know that one day you will be ours forever.

All my love, forever and ever.

To the top we go...

Today was a great day. DuVall and I took the girls to the Palm Springs Aerial TramWay, about and hour and a half from our house. We started at 2500 feet and ended up at 8600 feet. The view was amazing, the tram ride, although slightly terrifying, was awesome, and I finally proved to Olivia that it does snow in California! We ate lunch at the top of the mountain, did a little hiking, and just enjoyed being together.

Tram

See, SNOW!!!

Don't look down...

mountain top

One lucky dad, two very lucky girls...

Favorite shots of the day...

Thank you family for a wonderful day and a wonderful birthday.

I'm truly blessed.

Funny now...not then

I took the girls to the Library yesterday to pick out some books. Abbi was being a MAJOR 2 year old yesterday, so I gave her a little pep talk before we walked in.

"Abbi, remember, we use quiet voices in the library, we don't climb or bounce on the furniture, we leave the ropes in the check out line alone, we don't climb on the ramp railings..."

She seemed to understand, but I'm pretty sure she had no intention of listening to me. We were in the check out line getting ready to leave. I had already asked her to STOP doing just about everything I had previously asked her not to. I had HAD it.

BUT, just when I thought we could leave with my temper still in check.....

She took off her shoes and threw them in the book drop.

Good thing you're cute.

Toothless and crazy...

here's toothless....

and here's crazy...

Masterpiece!

My Grandma gave me an early birthday gift today and I just have to show it off! She made this ADORABLE, with a capital "A", quilt and I love, love, love it!

This is a treasure, a priceless work of art made by someone I love VERY much.

Thank you Grandma (and Grandpa!), I will cherish it forever!

My Favorite part! Aren't the dresses SOOOOOOO cute!

The back...

Isn't it AMAZING!