Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Memorial Day

Memorial Day for us usually means...just about nothing. Peter doesn't take a day off, there are no get-togethers to attend, no grave sites to visit. This year was not much different. We had a normal work/school day. We did, however, plan to go for a walk in the evening and go ahead and grill some hamburgers.






The sun is going down, it's a great time for a walk at the Arboretum.



Leaving the parking lot. Eli has started reaching for objects now. He's reaching for the camera here.

It felt good to get outside. The day had been hot and we were all ready to get out of the air-conditioned house and enjoy some fresh air.

Roots of a large tree that fell over.






Walking out on the large tree was the one detour we took from the trail.







The girls just climbed up and jumped off.







A bridge over a run-off stream.



On the walk back, the boys began to read all of the labels on the trees to see how many different kinds of trees we could find.



Once they were aware, they became very interested in reading about the trees.



Rhododendron and Azalea, at the end of flowering.



A wild flower.



Amelia wanted to take a picture, so I helped her photograph these lovely white flowers. I didn't look to see what they are called.



Ready to head home now.



Potato Salad and burgers. Peter doctored them up, adding cayenne, bacon and cheddar. They were great.



One last thing. We did listen to a CD of personal accounts of D-day while we ate our burgers. Someone loaned us a book and CD called "Voices of Valor." We pulled it out and heard first-hand what it was like to storm the beach at Normandy. We ended the night with a great discussion about what men have faced to protect our freedom both physically and spiritually. We've done a lot of explaining lately about holidays and what they are for. It helps the parents remember to have to explain. :)



Monday, May 16, 2011

Amelia's Birthday

I had a hard time picking a birthday dinner for Millie. She's not fond of dinner food in general. I really wanted to find something that she would have to be forced to eat! We settled on Chicken Fingers, fruit salad and deviled eggs. Millie adores eggs and particularly hard-boiled or deviled eggs.

I don't like flash pictures, but since I turned it off and there wasn't quite enough light, almost all of these pictures turned out blurry. :( You'll still get the gist of her fun celebration, but I won't be able to print off very nice pictures this time. Too bad.


The boys enjoy all their cards, but Amelia LOVED her cards. She hugged each one.


Ben shows her his card for her.


Samuel made her a purple bunny card. :)


Something special from her Grammy...


...The Tasha Tudor Cookbook! Some fun recipes for Millie and me to try and a beautiful book for her to keep and treasure.


Burger Builder Play-Doh set from Peter and me.


She saw this wrapped package in my closet and knew it was for her. She waited with much anticipation to see what it would be. Finally, she got to open this "pretty" gift from her Grammy.



A hand-made-with-love dress from my Mom. :)


There was a package for Cecily from my mom as well.


She sees what it is.


A beautiful dress for her too!



Mom sent two little pairs of white dress gloves and two little homemade hair clips that matched the dresses. She thought of everything. The girls were set for Easter. So special.


A tea set.


Whoops. We forgot to read Grammy's card! It had a holographic picture on the front of it.


She sat, concentrating on the holograph, making it switch from one image to the other. That card was perfect for this age.


A pink watch. This was the one thing she asked for for weeks before her birthday.


A ladybug raincoat.


And matching boots.


Amelia's main gift was this wooden, portable dollhouse.


Arranging the wooden furniture that it came with.


Happy girl gathering her things to take them up to her room.


Bunny cake.


Blowing the candles out. This birthday brought back so many memories from when I was little. How she relished all the details, treasuring the wrapping paper and cards. The great big, coconut-covered cake like my mom used to make. The play-doh set, just like the one I had years ago. The homemade dress from my mom and gloves, just like my mom dressed me and my sisters. My mom gave me such sweet memories from the special things she worked hard to do for me. It really made me want to do the same for Amelia.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Elijah-3 Months

Look at those eyes! :) Isn't he changing?


I like his hand on his knee in this picture.



:)


I like this one in general. Feet kicking. Happy baby. They smile with their whole bodies at this age.