First Swim of the Season

It was a great day for a swim.  The weather was warm, the pool was comfortable, and Katie was more than ready for the water!

“I’m all ready, guys!”

Katie took a little while to get her sea legs back.  She clung to me pretty hard, even in her floater.

But she sure was happy to be in the water. Clingy, yes, but laughing the whole time.

“That’s enough of you daddy.  Under the water you go!”  This is the first (and last) time she pushed my head under the water.  She knows better now, but it made for a cute picture.

Today she learned how to climb out of the pool by herself…

…and before long, she was swimming out on her own.

“Daddy’s a fish.”

Katie did great today.  We’re all really looking forward to new activities this summer and lots of swimming!

Good Friday at Seal Beach

Today was Good Friday.  Julie and I both had the day off, and we enjoyed our Good Friday service at church.  It was important to us to stop and acknowledge the death of Christ on the cross.  Without his sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection on Easter, none of us would have any hope for eternal salvation.  Jesus paid the price for all of us.  None of us can live up to God’s standard of perfection to enter Heaven and live with him for eternity.   Salvation is a free gift made possible by Christ’s sacrifice on he cross.  All you have to do is acknowledge you are a sinner, accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, and your sins will be forgiven.  Such a simple and awesome gift, yet millions will refuse to accept it.  The gift is free, and he’ll take you just as you are.

Few places are better to visit after church than the beach!

Katie hasn’t been much, so I had to show her the ropes.

 

“No Hands!”

There was an episode of “The Wonder Years” I used to watch as a kid.  It was appropriately titled Summer Song.  Years later I was watching it with Julie when she jumped up and said, “Hey…that’s Seal Beach!”

Sure enough…here’s Katie in almost the exact same spot as the scene pictured above.  I guess these are our Wonder Years. :)

You can’t beat swings on the beach.

California sure has it’s problems right now.  The political climate is horrible, taxes are some of the highest in the nation, and Sacramento has their hands out demanding more.  But days like today and views like this can make you forget about all that, if only for a little while.

Cornerstone Children’s Choir

Katie did a great job singing today during the Palm Sunday service at church.  She was thrilled that so many came out to see her!

The stage is set for Easter Week.

I think she just saw Joy.

“Palm branches on the road to Jerusalem…”

Singing “Sing Glad Hosanna”.

The Easter Bunny at Fashion Island

Today was a great day to go see the Easter Bunny at Fashion Island.  The sun was bright and the air was cool.  The slight breeze made the weather perfect.

Spring has arrived with a vengeance.  The flowers and fresh landscaping looked great.

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Mama and Katie love being silly.

 

Next it was time for ice cream.  Katie is an ice cream cone pro from many visits to Sizzler with Grandma.  She knew exactly what to do.

I love the stories this picture tells.  A beautiful girl enjoying an ice cream cone, on a sunny day, with a messy face, and not a care in the world.  The fountain adds life to the background without being a distraction.  Shouldn’t every day be like this?

“Mom, dad?  I think I need a napkin.”

Not 30 seconds later she turned to the fountain for a few seconds, and the cone was gone.  We thought for sure that Katie threw it in..  But no…she ate it.  And she was so proud of herself too. :)

Oh, about that Easter Bunny.  Yeah…we didn’t quite make it.  She took one look at him and suddenly had business on the opposite side of the mall.  After the tears and screaming stopped we asked her if she was expecting a small, fluffy bunny.  “Yes”, she timidly told us.  I guess you can’t blame her.  If I were three-years-old and saw a 6 foot rabbit waving at me, I’d probably run the other direction too.