Big D

In June we traveled to Dallas to be with our dear friends, the Gaspards for the baptism of our goddaughter Victoria Margaret.  May God grant her many years!  But first...we cheered on the Sharks #1 ballplayer, James!

Then to St Seraphim's Orthodox Cathedral, which is simply a sight to behold, for Miss Tori's baptism.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but Dallas is Hot with a capital H!  Clay and Katie took us to their friend's pool.  Let's just say it's not a ground level pool.

Now for doing what we did a lot...lounging around the house.  I could have easily taken a thousand more pictures, but alas, this is the best of the best of what I took.  Here Tori is discovering for the first time that she has hands!

Luke, you're getting huge, my boy.

My kids first viewing of Star Wars. 

Luke, I am your father.

Goodbye for now, Darlings.  We love each one of you dearly.  May the Lord bless you and keep you.

My Volcano

I love love love this drawing from Isaac.  His teacher at Pre-K asked him to draw a picture, and then she wrote out what he dictated.  Chris, Isaac, Luke and I are the figures on the left.  The diet soda bottles are in black in the middle.  The one on the left has the launcher and mentos and is exploding.  The feeling you get inside when you see your child's imagination expanding, when you see them able to convert images in their heads onto paper, it makes it worth all those tantrums.  This is a keeper, Isaac!



Wedded Well

If there was ever any question that I wedded well, that I married one of the most fun-loving, full-of-life, altruistic men around, here is a little more proof.  Hands down, he is way more fun than me.  Regularly Isaac will say that I can go out for some time off and that Dad will stay home and watch them.  This is why...

No question where he gets it from, Chris' Dad, Grandpa Alan on board for some fun.

Uncle Chris and Noah, training for the doubles skeleton.

“Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other -- it doesn't matter who it is -- and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other." ~ Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Scoot!

He's a natural!  Just a few days after picking this up, he's flying down the neighbor's driveway.  It appears he (and Luke, for that matter) are going to be pretty athletic...I'm really looking forward to cheering them on in their sports.

In Full Bloom

Chris and I recently visited The Flower Fields in Carlsbad.  50 acres of brilliant blossoms, Ranunculus specifically - a favorite in our house, and a highlight of our wedding bouquets.

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

It's silly really...going to The Flower Fields is something I have wanted to do for about 15 years.  I even wrote an article about it for my college newspaper without even having gone.  (pathetic) 

Yet I made it!  And it was wondrous.

 

Four Cornerstones

On a recent trip to USC, I was struck by this fountain.  Yes, it's beautiful.  Yes, the boys wanted to strip down and jump in.  But I was struck more by what it said.

Around the base of the fountain, it reads

The Four Cornerstones of American Democracy. 

Each figure represents one of the cornerstones.

Community

Home

School

Church

I don't know what all to say about this, but I'm glad it's there.

Justin Roberts

Last Saturday, we went on quite an adventure to the campus of USC for the Los Angeles Times' Festival of Books.  But let's be honest...we didn't drive all that way to see books...

...we came to see this guy.  Justin Roberts, in the flesh.

Yes, Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players.  They provide the soundtrack to any drive with the boys.  Fortunately, they are fantastic!  Last week Chris even requested I turn them on even when the boys were asleep in the back.

The best was when Justin said, "And this next song was requested by the Schmidt family who wrote in and said they had to hear 'Henrietta's Hair.'"  Yup, that was me.  It's OK to get teary-eyed at a kid's concert, right?  You would have thought we were seeing The Beatles.

Thanks Justin!  Truly a highlight in the Schmidt family life together!