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 sweet weekend to celebrate, which is the Lopez way. So my Tuesday morning in Australia, and the family in Maryland their Monday night, we were off. It was just getting ... Read More

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 picked a blustery, cold, day to go to our Nation's capital. We selected the American History Museum, since it had been eons we had gone there and there had been many changes since the last time we went. The miniature ... Read More

After many days of preparations, early celebrations, Christmas Day with the family was finally here. To honor my dad, and make him feel part of the day, I had put out his favorite Christmas greeting on a prominent place in the living room. :)He liked to kid, but really, behind the scenes, he along with my mom, did a lot of work to make every single Christmas, MAGIC. While we were still getting ready for the day, John got a ... Read More

After going to church and tucking Rubí to bed, it was time for the "Grown Ups" to open their presents. Just what Laura needs, another nail polish. No Miquel, Laura didn't name her laptop Jesus (Hay-soos), she has an ASUS! Miquel video records the silliness. Ooooh...........................All the colors! Miquel got...Big Bang Theory Season 3, then season 2, and last season 1! That's what he asked for, a neon lime green vest from Hollister. Kookaburra with a Santa hat, perfect! A ... Read More

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.   The children were kind of wiggly during the service. Had to got one of John and I Laura and Jenny Jenny is so sweet, she wanted one with me. Miquel and Jenny Some didn't want their photo taken, like Silas here. Baffled kind of how to handle Silas's mini meltdown not wanting ... Read More

So it became the part of the evening  before church when the children were allowed to open their presents... Rubi starts... A book about a koala! Silas gets something real happy! Rubi gets a kitchen from Yaya. Ready to play Magnetic paper dolls from Nana and Pop Pop. Just what Silas wanted, Lego Star Wars! Rubi quickly got the hang of opening presents. In come Aunt Jenny and Uncle Miq! Rubi clutches a present from them. Silas loves his racetrack!   ... Read More

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. Laura with her requested Moose Tracks ice cream cake from Friendly's Well it's official, she's 19. Waiting for cake and to watch Laura open presents. A lovely bracelet Laura had "pinned" on Pinterest and Miranda had taken notice of. A birthstone necklace from Heather A homemade card from Mama with birds and ... Read More

We had yet another sweet Thanksgiving, we missed part of our family, they were in Wisconsin. The tables were... ...all set and ready. This bunch came ready and excited to dig in. Daniel is all ready. Miquel knows how to relax, put his feet up, get a drink, and the TV has football playing. Time to eat all the delicious food. A different kind of Corn bread and crab dip were new items on this year's menu. Miquel and ... Read More

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 in that oven. So the haze in the house was definitely different. The rest of the craziness was about the Lopez same. Even so, a 30th with the family is a sweet occasion. For ... Read More

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 mischief, we so understand each other sometimes. I love that. You have a heart of gold. That's worth it all. Fideus a la Casola. One of Miquel's favorites. Mine too. Many people ask me ... Read More

Advice from a Tree – By Ilan Shamir Stand tall and proud. Sink your roots into the earth. Be content with your natural beauty. Go out on a limb. Drink plenty of water. Remember your roots. Enjoy the view! So I love trees as much as the next person. I don't know if I have a favorite, but Weeping Willows, Maples, and Birch trees are very sweet. When I went to Australia, I couldn't stop marveling at all the different trees they ... Read More

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, we were into Baltimore. Most Marylanders love our Aquarium and most outside visitors are very impressed by it. It's showcase of more than 16,000 animals including sharks, birds, dolphins and jellies. What ... Read More

Today the Fletchers had a surprise birthday party for Uncle Arthur.           ... Read More

We had a quiet 4th of July this year. We had some tennis watching time, swimming, and cookout. Alejandra and Miquel played tennis. After that, a good American tradition over a fire, Smores. ... Read More

We have an addition to the family, at least for the next few weeks. Alejandra arrived Thursday afternoon. She was ready for bed early, but she tried to stay awake at least till 9 o'clock. She just couldn't do it. After a day of travel, she went to bed at 8:30 PM. Friday, I thought a relaxed day was best. It didn't take Alejandra a long time to soon learn that Maryland is a state of extremes. When we left the ... Read More

Our little Rubí turned two today! Just one day after my birthday (I so wanted her to be born on MY birthday!), comes Rubí's special day.   Rubi had a very sweet second birthday. We are so blessed to have her in the family. ... Read More

It's blue. Ok, I know more than it's color!   Ok, so we're all a little happy for Miquel and Jenny. :)       ... Read More

Thorny devil that is. Some time back John sent Miquel a thorny devil figure. Vicious looking but delicate, it survived the trip from Australia to Maryland, but it wasn't long it broke and had to be glued back together. We didn't have the wall unit back then so I took it off Miquel to have it safely kept in my room. Later, we got the wall unit put up and created what I like to call, an "Australia Shelf." There, the thorny devil ... Read More

Rubí was tucked into bed (Silas was allowed to stay up) and we continued our Christmas. ... Read More

Christmas being on a Sunday, Miranda decided the children would open presents before the Christmas Eve Service.   ... Read More

Every Christmas Eve we try to have a nice family dinner. This year was a little different since Christmas was on a Sunday, we didn't want to be up too late. So, we had an early dinner.       We went to church and came back to charcoal burnt appetizers and a smokey house. :( Another Christmas Eve to remember. :)   ... Read More

Laura decided on a small get together at home for her 18th birthday. Of course this was her third such get together, this one was just on her actual birthday.   So Laura had a nice birthday month, and we had a very sweet Thanksgiving, and the Ravens won! :)     ... Read More

Today we had a nice family gathering for Miquel's 22nd birthday. Naturally food, fideus specifically, was part of the meñu. ... Read More

This weekend we carried on putting down the new flooring. Last weekend we finished the dining room area, and this weekend it was time to tackle the living room. The living room was more challenging as there was a lot of cutting to do. It went a little slower and it didn't get finished.   ... Read More

Today we began in earnest pulling up the carpet from the living room/dining room and putting down new flooring. This is an important event in our household, number one, because it means so much to Mom, and number two, so many people were involved in making it all possible. We are so excited to get this done for Mom! She was all smiles and very happy. I do believe we have a skate in our socks scheduled for this evening. :)   ... Read More

Yesterday, we went as a family to Patapsco Valley State Park (the Avalon entrance). It has been awhile since our last trip out there. This area is within the southern end of Patapsco Valley State Park. The primary entrance is located off of South Street in Baltimore County. Three distinct areas are featured in this section of the park. Avalon, once home of the Avalon Nail and Iron Works, has only a few remains of the bustling ... Read More

This year Laura completes her last year of high school. We couldn't let the occasion pass without a party! ... Read More

Jenny and Miquel went on a Bahamas Cruise for their honeymoon. I was given the task to scan the photos they had taken while there. So, here are some of them!   ... Read More

I had a ball at the reception getting to talk and be with friends and family and capturing some candid and posed shots of everyone. (Click on photo for larger image)   Rubí was a bit of  a show stealer. Mom joins the family table. Mom with Uncle Arthur Jim, Chris, and Britney. Amy (our personal cat whisperer) and Forrest. The groomsmen's table. Groom and Best Man. Brothers. Two Sillies. After being held a long time during the ceremony, Rubí was ready to take off on the open floor. So ... Read More

Well I said I would  blog in three segments about the wedding and have added a fourth, "the small details". It occurred to me that I took some photos of some small details in the wedding worth noting. (Click on the image to open up a larger photo) The bridesmaid's bouquets were just lovely... The cake not only looked delicious, it was very delicious! At the start, Jenny purchased a strapless gown. Because of that, there was a likely issue to get married ... Read More

As promised, I have broken up the wedding photos into three sets. At each wedding there are always the formal "posed" photos. Miquel and Jenny's wedding was no exception. Where I prefer natural and candid shots, everyone seemed to enjoy posing for the photographer. Enjoy, and you can click on the photo to get an enlarged image.   ... Read More

I've had some time to recover from last week's activities and work on photos taken at Miquel and Jenny's wedding. I think I will split the postings showing the photos into three sections: the wedding, the reception, and posed photos. So for now, the first set. (Click on the photo to see a larger image). Miquel at home before he left. What a knockout! The minister, the groom, the best man, and all the groomsmen. Not a bad looking bunch! Laura, a vision in ... Read More

Video slideshow of the wedding ... Read More

Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. and Mrs. Miquel Lopez   Many MORE photos to follow! :)   ... Read More

Today we met for the rehearsal for the wedding. It was rather emotional seeing Miquel with all his friends (weren't they all just at our house yesterday swimming, playing video games, and having band practice?) and now Miquel is getting married. It was interesting, Donna, one of the directors asked me, which of these fellas do you want to walk you down the aisle, and I said, looking all these familiar faces over, "It doesn't matter, they've all been a lot of ... Read More