Visit to the El Paso Carsons for Mother's Day

We were excited to visit the Carson family in early May, since we hadn't seen them since the beginning of January. The twins are at an age where they're still learning lots of new things and changing fast.

Kent and I had a very early flight, so we arrived in El Paso in time to have lunch with Andrew at his school.

Andrew is in kindergarten this year.

Cuddling with Sylvia after we got home from lunch.

After school we met Andrew to walk home with him.

It turns out my good friend Dana Barton, who lives in Oklahoma, was visiting her daughter in El Paso at the same time we would be there. It was really great to see her again after 11 years!

The Carsons have a hammock in their back yard which brings them hours of fun. I love this picture of Tyler with the twins; he looks so happy.

                              We always come prepared to go hiking when we visit Tyler and Rachel's family. It's a great family activity and we love joining them on their hikes!                 

I thought it was so adorable of Christian walking with his hands clasped behind his back that I followed him around to take a picture.

One evening we had a little friendly game of baseball in the backyard,

then roasted some marshmallows to make s'mores around the fire pit.

I love that Melody loves to wear dress up clothes! It's so sweet. And I glad she has a nice big sister who likes to dress up with her.

Rachel is an awesome cook and always makes wonderful meals. Andrew and Sylvia like to help her.

I went into nursery with Melody and Christian, and took some cute pictures of them.

                                

They're wearing the matching outfits that I made for Lissa and Garrett in 1986, I just bought new shirts for the twins to wear under them. They looked sooooo cute!               

After church we took some pictures, but the kids were moving targets and wouldn't stay still.

The kids did pretty well with us holding the twins, though! As usual, we had a very enjoyable visit with the Texas Carson family!

A Military Tattoo, Kent's Birthday and Memorial Day in Fredericksburg

We went to the Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk several years ago, and decided we'd go again this year. 

We went out to dinner before the show, and found a seafood place that was on the pier,

 and this was the view from our table out on the patio.

After dinner we went to the plaza near the auditorium where the tattoo was being held.

Some of the groups who were going to perform were playing and putting on demonstrations for pre-show entertainment. After about 20 minutes we went in to the arena and found our seats.

The performance was put on by military bands and drill teams from around the world.

This was the fife and drum corps from Colonial Williamsburg.

For the finale, all the groups came out and played together. It was an impressive sight!

Kent's birthday was celebrated by having cake with friends.

Here's another wild animal found at the Carson nature preserve, not on Kent's birthday, but later in the month. This snake was about 3 feet long!

It had been several years since we'd gone to the Fredericksburg Military Cemetery to see the luminaries on Memorial day, so we made the effort this year.

We arrived before it was dark and the luminaries were lit, but couldn't be seen as well because it wasn't dark yet.

Unfortunately, by the time it got dark it started to rain....

and there was thunder and lightening.

So the park rangers cleared everyone out of the cemetery.

These were the pictures we took as we were leaving the park. Some of the luminaries had gone out from the rain.

But at least there weren't as many people in my pictures as there would have been normally!

More Spring Activities in Virginia and Washington, DC

I've been attending Virginia Historic Garden Week for the past nine years, and this year was no exception.

 Kent and I went to see four homes in Gloucester, Virginia.

This photo is from a historic church that they were using as a headquarters for the tour.

Kent was pretty disappointed in the gardens at most of the homes. He felt it was mostly a "show off our fancy paintings and belongings" home tour. As usual, we weren't allowed to take photos inside the homes, and the azaleas above were about the most colorful flowers we saw all day.

I toured the homes and gardens in Warrenton, Virginia, with my Bible Study friends. These were all very rural areas with large properties.

Almost every one had a pond or lake.

I thought the little fairy house was cute in this yard.

One property had peacocks wandering the grounds.

I don't know if I've ever seen a white peacock before!

A pretty flowering tree, but I don't know it's name. I'm wearing my Mom's raincoat in these pictures.

Kent and I go to the National Arboretum to see the azaleas in bloom about every other year.

We got to see them almost as often as we go to see the cherry blossoms in DC.

It was a bit past their peak, but we still saw lots of lovely blooms and bright colors.

One thing we did this year that we hadn't done before was to visit the National Bonsai exhibit that was in the National Arboretum.

I'm not sure how we'd missed it other years, because we love looking at bonsai trees!

Actually, I think it's that we love looking at things and places that remind us of our time living in Japan.

I thought this was the most amazing tree in the exhibit.

It's almost 400 YEARS OLD!! It was started in 1625--absolutely incredible! Be sure to read some of it's interesting history on the sign above.

Kent loves Japanese gardens, so of course he was delighted with the one here.

We went as a part of his birthday celebration.

And here it is, the perfect blending of what we saw at the National Arboretum--azaleas and bonsai trees!!