Summer Time is a Comin!

Tomorrow is the last day of May and since Memorial Day it has been feeling very much like summertime.  I like the idea of summer like swimming, ice cream, laid back days, vacations etc. But I really, really do not like the heat of summertime so needless to say I am not ready for summer.

Here are some of my recent pictures. Most of them are of Elianna. That is because she is my current favorite photo subject ;)

 Today the littles played in the hose to cool off.

Are you looking forward to summer? What do you like or dislike about summertime?

Wednesday's Words to Remember: Sparkle

Never Forget

 Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.  ~Daniel Webster

 

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. 

-John F. Kennedy

 

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed — else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.

 ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. ~D.H. Lawrence
  

 They are dead; but they live in each Patriot's breast,
And their names are engraven on honor's bright crest.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Patriotism... is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.  ~Adlai Stevenson

May Flowers

We have been blessed with some late season rains this year. Because of that we still have some lovely spring flowers around our property.

 I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers. 

~Claude Monet

  

Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others again are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock.

 ~Henry Ward Beecher, Star Papers: A Discourse of Flowers

 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

Matthew 6:28-30

Wednesday's Words to Remember:Forgiveness

April/May Happenings

Hiya Everyone!!! April and May have been very busy and filled months for us. I am going to try to get back into a routine of blogging so here goes. Prepare yourself for lots of pictures!!! ;);)

ooooohhhhhh goody!!!

 Nathan started learning how to read. He can now read most three letter words!!!

 Best Buddies!!!

 Han and I LOVE whipped cream and our Starbucks has been doing an exceptional job at giving us a satisfactory amount on our drinks :):)

Elianna has a very sophisticated fashion sense ;)

 We got some snow at the end of April which was a huge blessing!!!

 Over the week of the sound of a trumpet conference Han, Sean and Scott were gone helping the Parish's get ready for the conference. That left me to take care of the rest of my family ;0 On one of the days Dad and I went for a lovely hike in Yosemite.

 The conference was lots of fun and I am sure it was a blessing to all who attended. You can read a more detailed post by my sister about it here and there you can see some of the pictures I took whilst there.

 We had our spring opening concert at the end of the month. We were privileged to play in the beautiful Ahwahnee hotel for our second concert.

 Healthy Eating Society Day!!!!

 This is my motto for busy times ;)

 Nathan likes to take "selfies" :)

 On one of our family walks I found this lizard and named him Pascal. (yes I know, the real Pascal is a cameleon but we don't have cameleons here so lizards must suffice)

 On Mother's Day we went to the zoo after church. You can read a more detailed post about that here as well :)

 Han and I finally got our irish dance shoes (they are called ghilles) It is so exciting!!!! For us anyways....

 Last week we went to Disneyland for a minnie family vacation. We had a ton of fun despite the rain.

 I got to ride Splash Mountain for the first time. I loved it but I was rather shocked at the drop so I completely failed in mine and Han's intended pose :/

 I finally found a sign that summed up my thoughts perfectly!!!

 The castle was amazingly gorgeous!!!! I  love it and I hope they keep it decorated that way for a long time!!

 What is Hannah late for??

 We are FLYING!!!!!!!

 The gorgeous castle at night.

 We saw ducklings!!!

 Loose Lips sink Ships.

 Elianna had a wonderful time and was a complete trooper through rain and long days and crowds.

 So that brings me to the present day. If you made it through all those pictures, Congratulations. Like I said, I will try to post more regularly so as to avoid long, spanning posts such as this one. 

Anyways.... TTFN.... Ta Ta For Now!!!