Our week, packed with picture-worthy experiences

This week has been packed with picture-worthy experiences.  I almost always post my pictures, with brief descriptions,  each evening on Facebook, because it's so easy and quick.  But I'm determined to keep up here at least weekly, because it is easier to find things later, and also because this fulfills the story-teller in me.   However, I have made a number of collages this time to keep it a bit shorter. 

I was looking forward for weeks to the Music in the Gardens event at the arboretum, scheduled for last Wednesday evening.  I even cancelled our Houserville praise team practice.  Then the weather didn't cooperate, and it was postponed to Thursday evening, our Fillmore choir practice night.  I felt that we absolutely needed to have practice, because we were planning to sing You Raise Me Up for the first time. (I found a lovely choir arrangement for this song!)  So, bless their hearts, they agreed to an 8:30 PM practice.  

We went to the arboretum with our friends Mel and Kristine.  They are both in the Fillmore choir, and she is my office co-worker at the church office.  They are SO fun to be with.  At Music in the Gardens there were musicians scattered throughout the gardens, playing for those who were walking through.  At 7:30 there was a concert.  The weather, the setting, the music, the company all made for an absolutely spectacular evening.  Our friends Bill and Peg from the choir were also there.  And I ended up, during the concert,  sitting next to good friends of Lori and Anthony.

On Friday afternoon I drove to Sam and Jenn's.  She is away for two weeks for National Guard responsibilities, and I wanted to help Sam out in whatever small way I could.  I have to say he totally amazes me, and I am so very proud of him.  

My drive to Lebanon was made very exciting with updates from Frank and Destiny about Lauren being in labor.  Just as I was going around Harrisburg in very heavy traffic, my phone was dinging and dinging and dinging with messages that I could not check.  When I finally got a chance to stop at the PA turnpike rest stop, these were the pictures Destiny had sent me!

As planned, I picked Sammy and Bianca up from daycare. Sammy ran toward me with open arms yelling, "Mahna!!!!!"  Bianca just took my hand and came with me without commentary.  She's so sweet and easy.

At home they had snacks and cartoons.  (To my sisters - please notice that I put their Cheez-its in Country Crock margerine containers, hahahahaha!)  I had made a marcaroni and cheese with hamburger casserole at home in the morning, leaving some for Dick, and the rest was for our dinner at Sam's after he got home from work.

All Sammy could think of was that I had brought the ingredients for peanut butter rice krispie treats along.  After dinner he helped me make those.

Meanwhile Sam chilled with the girls.

 As we had done before, we brought out the building blocks, and Sammy went bonkers with creativity.  A few times when his structures fell over and crashed apart he was devastated, but eventually I convinced him that since he has so many ideas in his head he could just come up with a new creation. 

In the morning I made scrambled eggs for breakfast, and we had those along with avocados.  Bianca eats because she loves to eat.  Sammy eats because it's a necessary evil, entirely too boring to be done without drawing while he chews!

And then he was back to building again.  This one was a water park, and he was describing in detail the way the water flowed through it and the places where the water came out. 

Something was cracking Bianca up!

The B girls - Bianca and Bella.  How cute are they??

Sam was busy getting chores done while I played with the kids.

Around 12:15 we loaded up in my mini van and headed to Reading to see the new baby.  Destiny was at her mom's for the weekend, so we went there first to pick her up and then to Arby's for a late lunch.  I had a scrumptious chicken pecan salad on flat bread.  I think it's new, and I hope they keep it on their menu. 

After lunch we went to St. Joseph's Hospital, which is part of the Penn State system, thus the lion statue.  The hospital is fairly new and very nice.  Being "St. Joseph's" there were many Biblical statues, pictures, crosses, etc.  Sammy noticed them all, exclaiming things like, "There's Jesus!"  "Look, there's a cross out there!"

And here's the reason for our visit!  This was my first look at her adorable little face.  Look at that hair!!  Meet Alaya Elizabeth! 

In Lauren's arms.   She had to have a C-section on Friday, but was already feeling great on Saturday and went home on Sunday!  Can't keep a strong girl down! 

Unfortunately, our timing was off.  Frank and Jada were at J'von's basketball game in Lancaster while we were there, so we didn't get to see them.  

We then took Destiny back to her mom's and went back to Sam's.  I took a short nap and then hit the road for home around 6:45.  Sammy, in spite of all our driving in the afternoon, had not taken a nap, so by the time I left he was very tired and emotionally over the edge.  He just cried and cried.  Sam said he got over it after about 15 minutes, but was asleep for the night earlier than usual that evening.  

I enjoy listening to Prairie Home Companion while driving on Saturday evenings.  The sunset was a bonus too.  And the blessed summer daylight!!!!  It was just getting dark when I got home at 9:30!  One of the many reasons I love summer!

Sunday morning brought the very sad, horrific news from Orlando, hitting close to home for us.  Sometime I will write out my thoughts and feelings, but not yet.  For now, I claim this verse for those who grieve, including the family of Christina Grimmie, a runner up on the Voice, who was murdered in Orlando just the previous night. 

On Sunday afternoon we got our naps then went over to Stauffer Acres for a cookout.   We had marinated beef strips on skewers this time, as well as sausages and grilled asparagus.  I ate practically all of the asaragus, which Dick did not mind at all.  That's the one food he will not eat!

Hunter, our contented little guy - except when he's hungry.

Austin's handsome profile against the trees.

Anthony is having a big deck built outside the barn. 

My rose bush just exploded in the past two weeks.  The picture on the left was taken just before Memorial Day weekend, the picture on the right was taken Sunday evening (June 12)!! 

More of this precious boy.  On some of these he was looking at himself, hahaha!!  I was holding my phone in front of him with the camera reversed.    On Saturday he started laughing out loud.  Hopefully I can get a video of that soon.  I don't know how he can get any cuter, but he just keeps doing it!

Have a good week!