Some Saturday Randomness . . .

Sunset thru the trees.

Two turkey vultures in our backyard.

If you look closely you can see how his beak turns downward at the tip.  Very vulture-like!!  : )

Megan up a tree.

Definitely not shy in front of the camera!!  : )

I can't wait for that wiggly front tooth to come out!!!!!!

Lots of cold and grey days here lately.

The kids are off from school for the next week due to spring/Easter break.  Jim has a few days off as well.  Megan had a sleepover here last night with her best little girlfriend from where we used to live.  In a few hours we leave for Manhattan to pick up our "adopted" son Jakhai.  We haven't seen him since Christmas break and are really missing him!!  If you don't already know, we met Jakhai and his family seven years ago thru the Fresh Air Fund which is an organization that matches up inner-city kids with us country folk (haha!!) to get them out of the city for a week in the summer.  We fell in love with him and his parents and the rest of his family and have him stay with us during most long school breaks and for most of the summer.  Brendan and Jakhai call each other "brothers from other mothers."  I have to go thru my photos and post some of how much the boys have grown since they first met each other.  It's really incredible how God works sometimes.  We can't imagine our lives without Jay and his family in them!!

Megan and Cybele yesterday.  They've been friends since they were two.

 Brendan and Jakhai in 2013.  These photos make me smile for so many different reasons!!!  : )

    
Tonight we're going to visit friends that we haven't seen in way too long.  Their son is turning 21 and they're having a party for him.  We're really looking forward to seeing them.  And finally, tomorrow I take my last photography class.  Outdoor photography is the topic so it should be lots of fun.  Any special plans going on for you this weekend?  xo

~ Wendy

Friday . . .

It's another mild day here in New York today.  By now, we're usually wearing at least winter coats.  I'm not complaining.  If I didn't love snow so much and wasn't looking forward to our first snowfall in our new house with our fireplace going I could, in fact, probably get used to this.  I've been a New Yorker for far too long to know that this isn't going to last though.  : )

Last night at dusk.

Tonight we're going to pick out our Christmas tree and get a bite to eat at the local pizzeria afterwards.  We are big fans of an occasional slice and are so happy that the pizza around these parts is so delicious.  In all honesty, if it were up to me, I'd have pizza for dinner a couple nights a week and not get tired of it.  The rest of my crew, not so much.  Oh well.  I'll take what I can get!!  : )

Many blessings for a beautiful weekend ~ Wendy

Slim Pickins . . .

By the time we got to the pumpkin farm, this is all that was left.

It certainly makes it a lot easier to choose.

This happy girl didn't seem to mind.

A son's new found passion . . .

and a beautiful sunset.

All in all . . .   A very good night.  : )


I hope you're having a very happy Saturday!! ~ Wendy

This Moment . . .

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

A beautiful sunrise with coffee in hand.  A wonderful way to start my day!!  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful day and a happy weekend ~ Wendy

Feeling Hot Hot Hot!!! . . .

We've been in the grips of a heat wave here in New York for the better part of a week.  It's been in the 90's and horribly humid.  It's supposed to finally break on Saturday with bad storms coming in the afternoon. 

 We've been keeping cool in the pool with friends . . .

 . . .  and cousins.

This past weekend, we were invited to a birthday party for one of the little boys that Megan goes to daycare with.  His name is Robby (I wrote about him on Megan's birthday and shared that I secretly hope he and Meggie get married someday!!)

The birthday boy, Robby.  Is he beautiful or what??

Sadly, we recently found out that Robby and his family are moving back to his mother's hometown in England in August.  We are truly going to miss this wonderful family but wish them all the best in their new life across the pond!!

The party was held at a wonderful little park a few towns over from ours.  There was a pavilion with lots of shade.  There was also a playground with lots of sun and, you guessed it, swings!!  And, of course, Megan would have been on the swings the entire time if we had let her. 

 Thankfully, I have a husband that doesn't mind pushing his "princess" on the swings while sweating his butt off. 

 And, thankfully, we brought along these two "brothers from other mothers" (as they call each other) to help out with only a little hemming and hawing on their part.

Our "adopted" son, Jakhai, who is with us thru the Fresh Air Fund for the whole month of July.  I can't begin to tell you how much we adore him and his family!!!!!!!!!  This is our third summer with him.  He's growing into a handsome young man and was just accepted into a Charter School in NYC!!  Way to go, Jakhai!!!!!!

 When it was my turn to push Megan, she wanted nothing to do with me taking any pictures of her.  When I tell you she had a smile on her face as long as I was pushing her and started to cry the minute my hands left the swing to pick up my camera I'm NOT kidding!!!  LOL!!!

Serious drama going on here!!!! : )

 My Irish skin and I can only take so much sun and heat and I was finally able to lure her back to the pavilion with the promise of a lollipop.

Meg and her BFF Cybele.

Sweaty AND sticky!!

 Everyone had such a great time and we're going to all get together in our backyard to continue the party tomorrow night!!  : )

 I wanted to share this one last photo.  This is the sunset we were blessed with after the birthday party.  We've been seeing these every night since the heat wave started.  I guess it's Mother Nature's way of telling us to hang in there until the end of the day because it will all be worth it.  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful and peaceful Thursday ~ Wendy