April Review



April was a busy month, filled with festivities and good times of fellowship!:D

 The first weekend was a wedding shower for a good friend of mine from church, Miss Sylvia Miller!:) One of the ladies from church graciously opened her beautiful home which is right next to the ocean, and threw a lovely, elegant, shower for the special-bride-to-be.:)

 While I was attending the shower, Mom and the kids drove down to the San Diego area to pick up some friends who were visiting from out-of-state: Angela and Rebecca Squires!!:)

Daniel and I had met Angela back in 2013, at Higher Ground Baptist Bible Camp in Alaska, working as summer staff. Over the summer she and I become fast friends and enjoyed many times of fun and fellowship together, and had co-counselled together at camp as well. We had kept in touch over the last few years! We had been counting down the days till our visit!! It was so good to actually be able to sit down and talk in person again!:)

 Rebecca, helping cut carrots for dinner....the girls really slid into life with us and we had a really good visit!!::) While their visit was shorter than we would have preferred, we really enjoyed the time we had and the 4 days flew by too quickly!

 Driving in the van to church! There's nothing like having a good friend visit who has a relationship with the Lord and shares so many convictions as you do. It was such a blessing and encouragement. The Lord really blessed our time!!:)

 One of the days the girls were visiting, Daniel took us to the zoo while the little ones stayed home and played with playdough.:)

 Timmy opening a birthday card that had just come in the mail before we left.

 If there is one thing that the Squire girls like a lot, its definitely animals.;) So a trip to the zoo seemed most ideal.:)

We spent a good amount of our time in the petting zoo...;)

 A selfie with a goat.......very exciting!;)

 Caytlin and Rebecca, who are close in age, were excited to finally meet, after hearing about each other from their older sisters! They really are two peas in a pod, and became friends quickly, much to Angela's and my delight!

 A group picture....

 After we finished over at the zoo, We enjoyed being entertained by Daniel  climbing a tree, while we looked on.:)

 Daniel has always loved climbing trees since he was little!

 Caytlin and Rebecca enjoyed singing together during the visit.....

 Learning card tricks from Daniel......

 Our little Hannah-Bella hanging out in the playpen.

Having fun on the trampoline!!:)

 Visiting the beach another day was a fun highlight of the trip....

 Wading....

 Setting the table for dinner on our last evening together.....

Isaiah and Ryan had to work that week, but we still had the evenings with them and Daddy to visit! Here they were helping us to set up the tripod to get a group shot of everybody!

 A picture with everybody the night before the girls left!:D We had a great time!!

Dropping the girls off at the airport with a goodbye hug!

The very next day was Timmy's birthday!! We celebrated with a yummy breakfast of homemade crepes, whipped cream, berry syrup, breakfast casserole and tea.

Timmy's seat of honor....

Seating the birthday boy....

Happy Birthday, Timmy! You're growing up so fast! We sure do love you!

This year Timmy got out of his car seat!!!:)

Lunch with Opa for Timmy's birthday!:)

Another Hannah-Bella moment....:) She keeps getting cuter everyday!

A few weeks later, our family was invited to a family luncheon at Aunt Buelah's ( GGP's niece) home to meet some relatives that were visiting all the ay from the Philippines!!:)

Watching a short video....

We enjoyed seeing Dad's cousin Travis again and Auntie Lola.....

Trying a special dessert from the Philippines. It was like a sweet rice roll, rolled in banana leaves and there was a chocolate sauce that you could pour over it. Timmy especially liked it and much to the amusement of the others he had more than one.;)

And of course Hannah got plenty of attention....

We had a really good time meeting everyone and getting to hear about the Philippines......

Lots of smiles for the camera!

A group family picture minus cousin Travis who took the picture for us!

We didn't quite fit the couch here!

The young people!

Looking at pictures.....

Reading a story with Aunt Lola....

At the end of the month, we celebrated Opa's 80th birthday and Natey's 13th birthday at Silver Palace!! This is a special restaurant as Dad and Mom had their wedding reception there years ago!

We had a delicious meal! There was so much to choose from with Orange Chicken, Chow Mein, Fried Rice, Honey Walnut Shrimp, and many other delicious Chinese foods!

It was quite the feast!

Enjoying a lollipop after dinner....

 Hannah hanging out with Oma...

Birthday Buddies!!

A picture with the handsome birthday men!

Our guys, Uncle Kevin, Cousin Chris, and Cousin Robert! The boys and Dad wore hats to match Opa for the evening!:)

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you."
            John 15:12-15