I started my planning while still in Australia. This was an occasion I wanted to be a part of. My first born, the child who made me a mother, was turning 40. This milestone called for a celebration and the element of surprise. I was hoping he thought enough fuss...
Cousins are both Family and Friends. They are the best of both worlds.
“Music is an agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul.”~ Johann Sebastian Bach So, being our first Christmas apart, ever, Miquel and Jenny wasn’t sure what to get me for a present. I hinted that music is never a wrong present for me and...
After Upper and Middle Falls, and then the lookout, we made our way to Lower Falls. To be honest, at this point, I had had it with hiking and declined to take the steps down to Lower Falls. When Rubi returned from even more hiking, she wasn’t too tired to...
After a longish drive, we arrived at Letchworth! But everyone was excited to move on. Cross bridges and climb walls!
I love our family Christmas Eve – charged with Christmas spirit, love for one another, and anticipation for the surprises that are ahead. Christmas Eve at our house are sweet, and intimate (not that we haven’t opened our door to others on a few occasions), and one of our big...
Right after Mom’s funeral, Miquel announced to us all that CVS would be honoring Mom with their contribution to Relay for Life. I was impressed and honored that they would do that. Thank you CVS for this opportunity.
It’s not yet her birthday. It’s easy to remember, Miranda’s birthday is the same as Tax Day, April 15th. But today is her birthday party day. It was decided. The family then watches the Lego Movie.
We knew it was going to be a different kind of Easter. With Mom gone, the center of all holidays, we would have to cope with missing her and making new memories. Even though in some past Easters I have been in Australia, the internet and phone calls didn’t make...
We had a different Thanksgiving this year. Enric and family were away. Petra was here. Mom wasn’t feeling well enough to travel. Poor Linda and George had to take their usual lovely and warm Thanksgiving and become severely and instantly MOBILE. Here at home, we had to quickly switch gears...
It didn’t seem possible. The little girl I rocked and danced to sleep singing Stones and Steve Miller band to, the little girl that did a turn around from my boys and read ME bedtime stories, the sweet precious that asked to see “dot coms” as she climbed up on...
The children already having opened their presents, now it was our turn. It was another Christmas to treasure with my children and grandchildren. Even though we changed the day, it didn’t matter, it was as wonderful as always.
Thanksgiving as usual was at Linda and George’s house. This year was a little different, Enric and family were not in Wisconsin and could be with us, and George had commitments in Florida, so he and Linda were getting a little taste of what John and I suffer through too...
After us thanking the Lord for sparing Laura’s life in a car accident, Miranda said, “Way to turn 20!” Indeed. So the birthday began in a sweet way… I am so thankful for these times with my family. I cherish them.
While in Australia, I missed three birthdays. (I might have been tempted to make it four, but Laura threatened me). I missed in order, Silas, Miquel’s, and Enric’s. So even in my jet lag stupor, it was up to me to make their promised dinner, Moroccan Lamb, which I learned...
Jenny and Miquel took Alejandra and Synara to Ocean City, Maryland. Jenny was the photographer for the day. She did another wonderful job!
Last night, Jenny, Miquel, Alejandra, and Synara went to a movie then to Sakura. Alejandra was most excited to go to the Japanese restaurant. Jenny did me the honor of taking the photos! And now two movies, one of an onion train, the other everyone trying to catch the shrimp...
Laura and I were invited to Heather’s make-up party. She said we could also bring Alejandra and Synara. More here
Someone once told me that I’ve been way too many times to our National Aquarium, but besides the price, I really do like it there. This outing was a bit disappointing, since they are making changes and we missed the dolphins, but there is always something wonderful to see.
Alejandra’s father mentioned that he wanted his daughter to have the “full” American experience, like, what could be more American than a baseball game? Better than that, the Orioles were playing the Yankees this weekend! So Miquel, Jenny, and Laura took Alejandra and Synara to an Oriole baseball game. In...
Last year when Alejandra was here we did not go to the Washington D.C. Zoo, so this year it was the first big thing we did. It ended up being a good plan as Synara loves animals and Rubà let us know she didn’t have any memory of going to...
When you’re far from the ones you love, sometimes you just do what you have to do to be with them, especially on important occasions. Enric set it up so that we would Skype when they would celebrate Miranda’s actual date of birth, as it seems she already had a...
Some failed ideas of how simple it would be to take Jenny to New York City for her birthday, we ended up going to Washington D.C. Since I LOVE going to D.C. , it seemed like a good second choice. We selected the American History Museum, since it had been...
After many days of preparations, early celebrations, Christmas Day with the family was finally here.
After going to church and tucking Rubi to bed, it was time for the “Grown Ups” to open their presents.
Each Christmas Eve we go to church for its Christmas Eve service. This year, we decided to try to get some photos with the lovely poinsettias in the background. I left out the photo of them all which had two disgusted and exasperated parents with funny faces.
So it became the part of the evening before church when the children were allowed to open their presents…
We make birthdays more than just a one day event around here. With Enric and Miranda away for her actual birthday, we saved the cake for one more day. Mom and I took a chance with that wall decal, but thankfully, Laura liked it! So after some discussion, Miranda agreed...
It was sort of a different birthday, but like the rest in many ways. Mom was sick, so that was different. He wanted lamb instead of Canelons, so that was different. The cooking of lamb ended up smoking the house out in the broiler and had to be finished upstairs...
October. Our month for birthdays. Silas, Miquel, and Enric. Alejandra, too, if you count our extended new “family” into Spain! The month is plainly full! So this day was Miquel’s day. Miquel. The child I am sure my mother wished on me. Since we share this sense of getting into...
I guess I’ve blogged about walking at Kinder Farm Park many times by now, but rarely do I mention the community garden they have there. Yesterday, Jenny, Laura, and I decided to go to Kinder Park and take Silas. (Rubi was still taking a nap). We couldn’t do the...
I told Alejandra, I wouldn’t say good-bye, I’d say, “Until the next time.” We should be used to good-byes around here, but they’re never easy for me. She made it back to Spain and this morning when I woke up, her room seemed SO EMPTY. Well, she might not be...
For our last outing before Alejandra had to leave, I decided on one of my most favorite places on earth, Harpers Ferry. For our trip we ended up having rain, so to protect my camera, photo taking was unfortunately at a minimum. I do have many posted here from other...
Sunday after church we organized to go to Baltimore’s Aquarium. Doing it this way, Miquel and Jenny wouldn’t have work and could go too. In fact, Miquel did the driving, which was perfect for me. He put on Queen radio, and a few Queen, Journey, and Bon Jovi songs later,...
and...
