We parked high above the bonfires amidst the black backdrop of the night and chalked up the parade as cancelled due to the weather - not a single lit-boat in sight. Staying warm & dry in the vanagon we set for home.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Welcoming December
We parked high above the bonfires amidst the black backdrop of the night and chalked up the parade as cancelled due to the weather - not a single lit-boat in sight. Staying warm & dry in the vanagon we set for home.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thanksgiving
for cousins we see often yet feel like it's not often enough...
for picking up a song by ear and sharing it with those who can appeciate it...
for the simpleness of childs play...
and for the amount of lego items a boy can fit in his pockets...
for a fun & friendly game of '3 flys up' in the same cul-de-sac that my sister's & I played '3 flys up' 30 years ago...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Halloween
Kylie, assisted by Kaitlin, prepared the ghoulish hor deourves then retreated upstairs to prep for their transformation.
I walked into this scene and my mind fast forwarded to 3 years at best - oh boy!
They are fortunate to have Tisha around - her artistic eye quickly choses & blends colors with ease and her talents allow her to apply her artistry on any medium - yes, she's incredible. With an Aunt like that around maybe they'll never experiment with the wrong shade of lipstick or eyeshadow! Imagine that!
For now, they love this form of "dress up".
For dinner we had Sweet Potato and Sausage Soup w/ Chianti. For dessert we had White Cake w/ coconut frosting and/or (some did chose that option) apple/strawberry pie with vanilla ice cream and Kahlua & Coffee...who said that only children have fun on Halloween!
As you can tell her vision was not to be "Ariel - The Little Mermaid" nor did she want a mermaid costume that restricted her from normal mobility. She definitely designed & created this costume on her own. With her sketch she had a consultation with Tisha. Satisfied that her simple design would work, she picked out the material and cut the pants out on her own. The shoes I must add use to be a part of my Mom's evening wear and now is in our costume box! When Breana wore this costume to the Halloween Party she knew she'd be running around so wore flats. For trick-er-treating she started off with these gold pumps - she even wore them all afternoon to get use to them - but ended up with her Uggs upon my insistence (We don't need a sprained ankle during soccer season!)
Her friend, Kaitlin D, was a hobo football player. She had the white wig tied under her chin to mimic side-burns & a beard, it was a great 'hobo' look!
Kaitlin was a girl in the 80's (Having spent my teenage years in the 80's I just showed her pictures and rattled off various outfits that I proudly wore.) This wasn't her original costume. We only pulled this together a few hours earlier. Next weekend she's attending an 80's bday party, that's when we'll add the neon accents, shorten the sleeves so you can see all the rubber bracelets, cut the fingers off the lace gloves...and much much more...
Her original costume was to be a dead Barbie. The sketch of her costume was well-planned out, her idea 'approved' by Tisha, the material chosen well and the plan well thought out and sewn. I was real proud of her. Unfortunately the evening of the party the costume didn't look right on her. The idea, the planning and the execution of it was incredible - admirable even. However some how it didn't work out. Fortunately it didn't bother her. Kaitlin went to the party in her everyday clothes and didn't bat an eye. I did offer her many costume ideas, none amusing her at all. I had to tell myself to give up and let her be.
Kylie: A Peasant. See what I mean by talented? Yes, a costume designed & created by Tisha.
Usually Dan & Tom take the kids around while Tisha & I stay back in the warm house to greet the trick-er-treaters. This year felt different. I wanted to savor this moment...this time where I am still a part of their lives...sigh... After walking around Tom & Tisha's neighborhood, my Parents, Auntie Millie & Dan went back to the warmth of the house. Tisha went back to finish the desserts (she definitely was excused from the trick-er-treating task hands down!)
It seemed like many homes weren't interested in Halloween this year. Not as many homes were decorated as last year and years prior. Most homes had their porch lights off. A few had a bowl of candy outside. The homes that were decorated went all out. They ranged from heart-pounding eerie (for the kids, of course) to mysterious & intriguing.
Even the weather contributed - crisp cold air & a low hanging misty fog.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
A special day
Picture of Kaitlin & Poppa by Breana.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Our Kylie
This week Kylie is on a missions trip with her class to Rancho de Sus Ninos, Mexico. Rancho de Sus Ninos runs an orphanage, day care & Bible College. There Kylie is participating in manual work projects, spending time with the children in the orphanage and various ministry activities. Kylie is an intelligent young lady with a big heart. At 13 she has already participated in numerous mission trips. She contributes a lot to this world.When I saw this picture in Tom's Blog, I was taken to an image in the future of a young lady w/ her Father. I could feel the everlasting bond between the two, I could sense the security she will have knowing that she always has her Dad to go to and I could feel the satisfaction that Tom has in knowing that he has a special~special daughter.
I love pictures that depict that sweet irreplaceable Father-Daughter relationship.
picture of brother-in-law, Tom, with Kylie at a mission trip last year to Mexico.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Lovely hands
Birthday Celebration for Mom Q
I can't believe it's Mom's birthday. She is such a beautiful woman.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Quijance Christmas

Pictures compliments of Uncle Jimmy the great.