olivia turned 14! back on june 22

our first family birthday celebrated without nick (we missed you. we continue to miss you, nick!)



cake by karis


early morning celebrations (the only time we can all be together these days, so sad)

sadder still that that was the only candle we can find. what a great mother i am providing fodder for the children to make fun of me....

presents....

black chuck taylor's converse sneakers, a couple of books, some fun sunglasses, a professional traveling watercolor artist palette, nail polish and lip gloss...and a trip to the beach to see grandma and grandpa

more boston

after the gardens, i caught the freedom walking trail around town. first stop-the state house, site of the boston massacre (and also where i got the kids mementos). then on to faneuile hall and quincy market. the market was so, SO packed with people, i couldn't get my camera out. the weather was beautiful, though, and so it was enjoyable inside and out.



next was the long walk to the north end, home of paul revere and the north church (one if by land, two if by sea)....

the original cobblestone streets outside the revere homestead:


view of the north church with paul revere statue in front:


up close of the statue:


at this point it was getting hot, so i headed for home (the hotel) and passed the garden (where the celtics play). they were in l.a. for game 6 of the finals (they lost the series in game 7 to the lakers)


that evening, we went on a river boat dinner cruise down the charles river:
from our dock looking west toward the esplanade and the shell they use for concerts

robin and 2 co-workers:

2 inside shots, one before dinner, one during (the water wheel is behind robin's head in the buffet line):


going through the locks on the charles river dam:

view of the city skyline as the sun started to set:

as it got darker....

pretty sunset looking towards the bunker hill monument:

my favorite view of the night (with the moon high in the sky):

other pictures of our hotel and the evidence that it was once, indeed, a jail:

today--for you, jack!

my first stop this morning was a cute little bakery on cambridge st in beacon hill (so historic!) for a chocolate croissant for breakfast. but i didn't take a picture of that. i was on my way here to take pictures (you've been warned--there are lots of (unedited) pictures!).

i remember like it was yesterday when we lived in charlotte, nick would ask me to read make way for ducklings over and over and over. it was his favorite book for a few years! each of the kids liked the story, jack was on a kick for it for a while, but none requested it more than nick.




this swan chased this duck all around the pond

this duck went out to protect the duck, and when she left her babies, they swam away

there's a statue of george washington there

and the flowers are beautiful





the swans were waiting for their new offspring:


i wish i knew the person who lived here so i could visit


that was just the beginning of my day. i'll post pictures of the rest of my day either later tonight or tomorrow

boston part 1

robin and i left yesterday for a banking convention in boston. we had a hard time getting to baltimore, after being caught in traffic due to 2 accidents. we missed our flight, but were able to get another one 2 hours later.


our hotel is a former jail, built in 1848 but newly renovated. haven't taken any pics of the bars on the cells yet...


i walked across the street to the river from our hotel room and saw this:



kids-we miss you. have a better night tonight and we'll see you tomorrow! love you-
mom

more easter catch up

we were thrilled that jill (robin's niece and makenna's mom) and her family could join us for lunch, as well as robin's mom and dad. his nephew sean (jill's brother) and his family joined us for the Easter egg hunt. it's kind of sad when more than half your kids get too old to hunt for eggs, but at the same time, a joy to see them take the lead in ensuring the fun for the littles.

he's gone....

nick. is gone. for 9 weeks. they had such a great time at broken arrow bible ranch in new mexico, that they asked haley and nick to return this summer as camp counselors. haley declined (she has plans--creation, trip to florida, day camp/vbs, etc.) but nick decided to go. he left may 29 and will be back august 1st.

he is missed. especially by little brothers. (okay, and mom too). but we are thrilled that he is walking by faith. and we know God has great things to show him without us in His way. we dropped him off last saturday morning in philadelphia at 4:30 a.m. it was 9 o'clock p.m. our time (7pm there) by the time they got almost to camp (no cell service on camp). he was teary and a bit homesick, but i'm sure it was fueled by sleep deprivation. this is the boy who used to climb INTO his crib as a toddler because he was tired. the boy needs his sleep.

we're praying for you daily nick--stay in The Word, have fun, keep your eyes open at mail time.

we LOVE YOU!

easter cantata/pageant

this year everyone but haley and me had the pleasure of participating in our church's Easter pageant. they used a professional actor from sight and sound to play the part of Jesus, and the tricky part was that he was supposed to pick peter up at the end and carry him out. peter kept saying, "nope. it's not really Jesus. that guy doesn't even go to our church." so they never practiced it.


that's karis holding pete's hand as they walked in for the procession of Jesus entering. olivia is in front of them, and mike is wearing a brown tunic, while jack is wearing a green one. i don't have a great shot of just jack, which is a shame because they were supposed to look adoringly at Jesus, and jack nailed that. his expression was .......... moving. really. that's karis' boyfriend, t.j. playing the guard. at one point, when they came in the side doors, something happened (i think he kicked it and stubbed his toe) where he was trying really hard not to laugh. that kind of took away from the seriousness of the situation being portrayed, but otherwise, well done.




in the picture above you can kind of get a glimpse of jack's expressions.

at this point, below, pete was getting an idea that this was the end and started holding on to olivia *really* tight. but before he knew it, Jesus had scooped him up, olivia had scooped up another girl, and they started quickly walking out the center aisle. once he got to the back and was reunited with his sisters, he was fine. robin and nick were the props guys. i didn't get a picture of them-sorry!

10 then i thought, to this i will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.
11 i will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, i will remember your miracles of long ago, 12 i will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. 13 your ways, o God, are holy. what god is so great as our God? 14 you are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples, 15 with your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
psalm 77:10-15