Whirlwind weeks

Man! We have packed in a bunch these last two weeks. Our almost-done-with-school, pre-summer days have been full. A good full!

We visited the zoo on a Saturday after soccer games and the weather was good.

We attended Oliver’s final symphonic band concert. It was awesome. The kids learned all kinds of songs and the finale included every member of the music program: band, orchestra, percussion, and choir!

Jess and I went to the Ben Rector concert with friends. Two days later, I went to the symphony with friends. For that one week, I was a concert-going fiend!

We went to the elementary school fun run. 

Ansel ran the whole 5k with his friends and me. I was amazed at their stamina! I never would have run over three miles in third grade. 

Ian and Elsie had a picnic with pals. 


Amidst that, my sisters and I put on a tea party (woot woot!) with our company Five Pence and a Crown. It was so fun and new and oh so nerve-racking, but mostly wonderful and delightful and exciting. 

Then it was off to a swimming party for a friend of Ian’s. Ian had no fear and jumped!

Ansel perfected his diving. 

Then we celebrated Oliver’s birthday! We have a teen in the house. We celebrated with Indian food and chocolate cake. He’s one awesome kid. As the timer counted down to take this photo he said, “Hopefully, this is my only birthday with braces!”

Ian had his preschool program. He did such a great job saying his part and introducing the song “What a Wonderful World.” I took so many videos but no pics, so here’s Ian at another party living the dream at the candy bar.


School was then out and our neighborhood had a rockin’ party with bounce houses, games, food, music, and all-around good times. Elsie was living’ it up until dark. 


Then we were off on another adventure, but I’ll leave that for another post. Here’s to summer!

NYC with friends three

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to get together with my greatest of friends, women I have known since elementary and middle school. We visited NYC and saw the sites, took in the sounds, and ate the foods. And we talked, nonstop. I tried to stop talking long enough to learn from them, their experiences, their epiphanies. I loved it! They are wise people indeed, and hilarious too!

The photos I post here are going to look like I actually took a solo trip to Manhattan, but its all out of respect for my pals’ privacy. I won’t post pics with them, but believe me, they were there. I promise. Come on, I do! Ha!

I’ve been to New York City many times, but I’ve never visited Liberty Island or Ellis Island. They are not one and the same. I only came to realize this when a National Park Ranger told us not to miss Ellis Island. I was thinking to myself, “We are here, dude,” but held off and listened to his explanation of how to get back on the ferry. See, it was good I focused on listening during this trip. 🥴

Below is the Registry Room at Ellis Island. To think Jess’s great grandfather passed through here! It was an awesome experience to visit. 

The views of Manhattan were superb from the ferry. And of course, it was windy! We had pizza and doughnuts and went to Phantom. 

The next day we ventured to the Met. We then hurried into the New York City Library and barely squeezed into the Treasures Exhibit. We stopped for Thai Food and Levain Cookies then swung by Bryant Park and Times Square. We finished the night off seeing Dear Evan Hansen. 

The next day we went to church and then visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Speaking to a docent who was a survivor of 9/11 helped to make the visit of the museum special.

We had a couple of surprises on the way home (we were locked out of our hotel room and then the security line at the airport was at a standstill in order to get the K-9 unit set up) but we got on our plane with maybe 2 minutes to spare. Whew! It was surely an adventure until the end! It was a great time in great company. Cheers to good friends!