WEDDING GIFTS

My brother was married over Labor Day weekend in Los Angeles.  So to finish off our summer, we headed on another road trip out to California.  There were so many great moments and things to be thankful for so I have continued my count of  "1000 gifts".


568.  a beautiful drive over the Rocky Mountains, through the canyons of Utah, across the desert of Nevada and into sunny California.  It was scenic the whole way which made the 16 hour drive more bearable. 


569.  audio books and snacks for drive


570. arriving at your destination


571.  CALIFORNIA  -   the land of swimming pools...

572.  ...and movie stars

573.  Disneyland

 574.  a math teacher who assigns a picture with Goofy as the only homework while he is away

 575.  a ride he likes so much that he will stand in line 4 times for it

576.  when your kids are finally big enough to ride without you - those teacups make me so sick!

 577.  finally seeing the Pacific Ocean

578.  mountains of sand

579.   "I'm NOT tired..."
580.  the wedding

 581.  ties, suspenders, and boutonnieres on little boys

 582.  patent leather shoes, big bows and flowers on little girls

 583.  a beautiful bride

584.  4 kids making it through a Catholic wedding

585.  a reception so beautiful and perfect that you put away your camera after the first 5 minutes and just enjoy...

586.  the food, the flowers, the firelight
587.  the glow of candles, the glow of the bride, the glow you get after a glass of red wine
588.  watching kids on the dance floor
589.  hearing your brother rap a song he composed for his new wife 
590.  the personal touches - the jam made by the bride and groom,  the jewelry worn by my grandmother,
Papa's favorite apricots, the "hometown" tables 
591.  knowing when it's time to leave the party before your children turn into pumpkins
592.  heading HOME

It was fabulous!

Congratulations Jonathan and Alyx

SUMMER RECAP PART 4 - ROAD TRIP

I sat down to the computer this morning not really remembering that today is September 11th.  The 10th anniversary of the infamous date 9/11.  Many people are recapping where they were and what they were doing that day.  I just wrote a page on my memories of that day for a class project Ellie is doing tomorrow at school.


Today, however, I will continue my summer recap because this summer we enjoyed a road trip to some of the places that make America great.  Places that symbolize our freedoms, where we came from and attest to the grit of this great nation.

Philadelphia

We journeyed into downtown Philly to visit the National Park Campus of Independence Hall.  It was a fabulous tour!  We had one of those guides that kept everyone's attention with his stories and love of the subject.  We saw the very chair where Washington sat as he presided over the Continental Congress.  The room Thomas Jefferson rented from a local merchant and the place where he penned a majority of the Declaration of Independence.  And of course the Liberty Bell!

The Franklin Institute - a fabulous science museum about invention, and innovations in the fields of medicine, weather prediction, electricity, machinery, transportation and much more.  I spent a whole day chasing the kids around in here!

Our stop at the old Penn Station-turned amazing food market!  There was a stall for every food you could think of.  I could have spent the entire day there.

 Philly Cheesesteaks at the counter.

Philadelphia was a quick 2 day trip but it was great.


Next stop NYC

OVERDUE GIFTS

I have been reminded by family members lately that I have not posted anything for many weeks.  Life has been full of carpools, field trips, appointments, parties, projects and a handful of challenges.  My kids only have 3 days of school left so I thought I'd better finish listing my spring gifts before we get into the summer season.  

I hope you are enjoying the gifts of spring and looking forward to the joys of summer.

526.  a dancer's silhouette 

527.  Easter dresses

528.  Easter baskets

529.  Easter eggs
530. curly hair

531.   aquarium fascinations

532.  strange jelly creatures swirling

533.  tulips in the sunshine

534.  this shade of pink, surprising me in the yard of our first spring in this new home

535.  sister friends

536.  tea parties

537.  tiny cupcakes

538.  pretty hats

539.  Colorado sunsets

540.  the way light reflects in the water

541.  those moments in the daily that catch you off guard and take your breath away

  

542.  field trips to farms and art museums

543.  performances at church and talent shows at school

544.  wildlife sighting in our yard - a baby bunny rescued from our basement window well

545.  and the rare black fox who posed for a photo 

546.  the countdown

547.  the irony of misspelling "school"

548.  pool fun for the birthday boy

549.  water guns waiting for an ambush

550.  looking forward to summer fun!

EDWARD'S RECITAL

Edward had a practice recital Sunday afternoon.  Next weekend he will participate in a music competition (his first).  Edward has had half a dozen music teachers over the years but he is back and Philomusica in Ft. Collins were he took his very first piano lesson at age 5.  Since we were here last they have aquired a fancy grand piano - only 2 like it and the other one is in the White House.   He was a little nervous but has come a long way from Mary Had A Little Lamb!

SNOW DAYS

What do you call days that school is canceled but there is really only a dusting of snow?  Can you really call them "snow days"?  I don't think so.  While the rest of the country has been covered in feet of snow and children everywhere are shouting for joy and building snow forts,  we are off school for record low temperatures.  It was 12 below zero yesterday.  And still my boys fuss with me about wearing coats!

The first day we all slept in.  I made hot chocolate and muffins.  We sat by the fire.  We watched a movie, played Wii, and got out some board games.  All this family togetherness lasted until about 10:00 am.  Then it began... the boredom, the pestering, the arguments over toys.  Time for a field trip!  Arctic temperatures aren't going to stop us.  Let's get out of here!  So off we went to the library, the McDonald's playground, Target.  Later we even had a trip to the emergency room.

Day 2 had my kids whining "I wish we could go back to school."
Me too kiddos, me too.

Fun at McDonald's for 2 hours while mom read a book.

A trip to the Urgent Care Center after Jack and the girls thought turning out the lights in the storage room to see the Lego ghost glow would be a good idea.  He tripped over one of his sisters and ended up with 2 staples in his head.  At least he has something cool for show and tell.

PAPARAZZI

My kids are used to me taking their pictures.
"Oh, is this for the blog?"  they say in a thoroughly bored voice.  


I try to be sneaky and get those candid shots.  Like the other day in Barnes and Noble when I came around the corner to see them all enjoying a book together.  The youngest two in rapt attention.  It was sweet.  I did draw a few looks from other customers however as I crouched behind a book rack and stuck my arm over the shelf of Magic Tree House books to get this shot.  They never knew I was there.

Sometimes they protest because mama paparazzi can be annoying.

"Let me drink my lemonade in peace mama."

Or there is the annoyed look to which I respond "Oh!  Great one Ellie.  I'm definitely using that one on the blog!"

Which is followed by the "Yikes! Is she serious?"  look.

Then the giggle and cute smile I wanted in the first place.  

Blackmail is a wonderful tool.