New Years Day 2013
After all the Christmas celebrations, it was finally New Year’s Day. It was a perfect start of the year with family. We enjoyed our time together so much.
Tagged: miranda
Christmas 2012
After many days of preparations, early celebrations, Christmas Day with the family was finally here.
Christmas Eve 2012 part 4 (The Grown Ups)
After going to church and tucking Rubi to bed, it was time for the “Grown Ups” to open their presents.
Christmas Eve 2012 part 3 (At Church)
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.
Christmas Eve 2012 part 1
Christmas Eve was suddenly here. We had a few snow flurries and then it was time to begin our evening together. John and I always take the photos and it’s rare we are the ones being photographed. Seemed for our first Christmas together, we should pose for a few. Besides...
Waiting for Christmas
Things are getting a little crazy around here waiting for John to get here, for Christmas to come… Nobody photo bombs like Miranda! I love how Miranda gave Rubà “new” hair!
Putting Up the Wall Decal
As I blogged yesterday, Laura got a wall decal for her bedroom as a birthday present from Yaya. Miranda was quickly enlisted for help, and she accepted.
Laura’s Other Birthday
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...
Enric’s 30th (Part two)
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...
Enric’s 30th (Part One)
Once again, October gives us another birthday. This one is special in that Enric turned 30. It’s so hard to believe that I now have a son who is 30 years old. Even though it was an important event, Miranda had a few events to schedule around and finally decided...
Silas and Rubi in the Backyard
“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard.” ~Dorothy, Wizard of Oz The same day we raked leaves, we went out again later to play in the backyard. We are so thankful for the beautiful days we...
Kids, Leaves, and Rakes Equals Fun
The weather has been perfect of late, and our yard really needs work raking the leaves! We are all trying to do a little each day. There is always time for FUN though!
Trees, Spiders, and Grandchildren
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...
A Visit to Amish Country
Note: Not all of the photos I took this day could be put up here, but I have a set uploaded to my gallery here, two pages! I had been to the Amish Country before, once with Marta and Pepe, and it rained and didn’t really know where we were...
A Walk with Silas and Rubi
Today wasn’t as hot as it has been and the humidity was lower too. Seemed a perfect day to get out of the house, and why go alone when we have two active children in the home that aren’t interested in taking naps. 🙂
Fun with Family
Saturday we had as much of the family as we could assemble for a swim/picnic day. Not everyone is shown here, for some reason. I know Jenny and Miquel arrived late, when I had baby Harley, I was holding her in the pool and not a time to grab...
Fins un altre
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...
Washington DC
Yesterday, Alejandra, Laura, Miranda, Silas and I went to Washington D.C. We wanted to give Alejandra a chance to see the White House and the Capitol, which she had asked to see. Her father suggested she would also like the Natural History Museum, too.
Our Independence Day
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.
Alejandra Arrives
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...
Beside the Pool with Silas and Rubi
Now, when I say beside the pool, I mean BESIDE the pool. We have a pool, and it’s a blessing to have one. Even after all the labor that is involved with opening it, closing it, maintaining it, it’s wonderful to have a pool. The thing is, we live on...
Miquel Gets a New Car
It’s blue. Ok, I know more than it’s color! Ok, so we’re all a little happy for Miquel and Jenny. 🙂
Mothers Day Came Early
Well a good way to surprise a mama for Mother’s Day is to send her flowers 2 days early! 🙂 Roses no less! From Enric and Miranda!
Silas Discovers Yowies
From Wikipedia: Yowie was a brand of chocolate encased toy line, manufactured by Cadbury Australia and based on the mythology surrounding the Australian Yowie. Invented by Bryce Courtenay and Geoff Pike, they were similar to Kinder Surprises in that they are basically a chocolate shell around a plastic capsule, with...
Saying Goodbye to Miss Elisabeth
…or as Rubi says, Miss Sipsipee This past Saturday, we were invited to Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis to say good-bye to Elisabeth, who is off to work and study in Wisconsin. She has been wonderful to have in our home. She will be missed. People come and people go...
Born to Love Nana
There is a lot of sadness around being apart from one’s spouse. I know people in the military do it all the time. Often they don’t even have the ability of communications as John and I have. Looking for a silver lining in the dark cloud of separation, and one...
Web Cam Chat from Pasadena to Perth
I am far from the Grandchildren, but the internet brings us closer. I got a note from Silas via Miranda’s Facebook, that he missed me. It was so sweet, I hurried on to Skype. But just because we’re using the internet to catch up, doesn’t mean we don’t have to...
Visiting the Fletchers
Friends are forever, cousins are for life!!! Anonymous Cousins by blood – friends by choice. Darlene Shaw Cousins by blood, best friends since birth. Anonymous Cousins are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. Ed Cunningham cousins are friends that will love...
Bridal Party
Dina called me some time back, “I know you can’t have the traditional bridal shower, but when you go to Australia, you’re going to need things, and we can buy you pretty lingerie, make up, a wedding dress….What do you think Barb?” I nearly cried I was so touched at...
Rubi in the Snow
Winters in Maryland can be rough, especially if you’re from Wisconsin, because of the lack of snow! So when our first little accumulation happened, Miranda quickly got Rubi and Silas outside but not before telling me to grab the camera for Rubi’s first snow. When it was over, Rubi...
If My Cell Phone Told the Story (Again) at Target
Miranda needed to go to Target. I really didn’t have anything I needed to get there. But when she told me she was going, I offered to tag along, why? Oh, so as not to miss moments like these…. Who needs a reason to go to Target?
The Devil Goes to Church
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...
Christmas 2011
Sunday brought Christmas! We went to church and family came soon after. I didn’t get many photos, perhaps after a few rounds of presents, I was tuckered out. 🙂
Christmas Eve 2011
Rubà was tucked into bed (Silas was allowed to stay up) and we continued our Christmas.
Christmas Eve The Children
Christmas being on a Sunday, Miranda decided the children would open presents before the Christmas Eve Service.
Christmas Eve The Dinner
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...
Portrait Photography Bloopers
As many already know, Laura and I are keen to start our journey into portrait photography. Laura got her first dslr camera, and we are looking forward to our second wedding gig this month. I like to practice and perfect this craft. I have a family willing to help me...
Christmas Shopping
For as long as I can remember, as a family we would agree to meet in early December at a mall and together go Christmas shopping. Usually it would involve going out to eat and visiting almost every store in the mall. Of late, it’s mostly the women in the...
