Another artist in the family

In the post, What an amazing artist I have fro a Mum!,  I talked about what a wonderful artist I have for a Mum. Today I want to share another wonderful artist in the family. Aoife, my 5 year old niece, send me some beautiful cards recently for no other reason but to tell me that she loves me.  This is what I opened up first:

The front:

The back:

The inside

I have to be honest I had tears in my eyes when I opened the envelope, it was an amazing surprise. 

Last night I was looking thought a set of photographs taken the August\September we went to Ireland for our wedding and I found this one:

She was only four when she decorated these leaves for me. Aren't they beautiful? I was worried how I would bring them back here in my suitcase but they arrived in one piece. I display them with pride in my glass cabinet in my living room.

What a talented niece and Goddaughter I have? Love you lots Aoife!!

First Sunday of Advent

As we begin the first day of Advent and to try to not get sucked in to the whole commercialization side of the Christmas season I have decided to post a daily saying or reflection to help me at least for a few moments a day to remind myself the real reason of the season! 

Today I have chosen to take a picture of what I look at every time I look up from my computer:

I should have taken a better picture as the shadow of the bookcase covers the top but it is still readable. This was part of our second reading at our wedding mass on Sept 4th 2006, it is from Corinthians 13.

For this Advent I am going to concentrate on remembering  - Love Protects Trusts Hopes Perseveres - God can provide all of these for me and all I need to do it ask. 

So I did it!! I have gone green.......

Bought my new car today here are some pictures:









For my very first car my Mum and Dad gave me a little statue of Our Lady and she has been in all my cars since. She  was the first thing put in the car from my old car. I also have a small bottle of Lourdes Holy water which Larry used to bless the car before we drove it out of the dealers :

Our Christmas concert is only a week away...............

We had Festival Choir practice yesterday and you could feel the excitement that we just have a week to go before the BIG day.

Of course I had my iPhone with me and took some pictures.

Tim showing us how to sit correctly and hold our music:

Some shots of the sections:

A family who sings together breaks bread together:

And these are my favorite photo's :

Tim in action. I know Tim for nearly 8 years and he used to dream of being a full time Music Director, he followed his dream and through courage and lots of prayer he is now living his dream. At last years Christmas concert, I just sat in awe looking at him in action as he directed all the different choirs and what a successful afternoon it was. This year I am singing in two of the choirs and for the last few weeks I have been too many hours to count  of practices but I leave each one with a refreshed soul. For a number of months this year I had stopped singing and Tim you have me back for good now!! 

I am back  at 3:30 this afternoon for the last Contemporary Choir practice and to sing at 5:30 mass. Wednesday night we are having a run through with the strings for the Festival Choir and Thursday we have the last practice for the Festival Choir. Tim is really putting us through our paces but we don't mind as we want it to be a success on Sunday to show him how much we appreciate the gift of music that  he gives to us every week.

PS Did I mention that he can also be a big pain in the rear :-)  but we still love him!!

Update:

I just remembered that Larry took some video that I have on YouTube of last years concert. 

And then I came across another little video that my Uncle Humphrey took of the last refrain of the recessional hymn at our wedding mass September 2006. Yes, Tim and a number of my other choir friends came all the way to Ireland to celebrate with us. My Irish friends are still talking about how wonderful the music was at the Mass.

I knew this day would come but it was still hard.............

So today was Dad's last day, we took to the airport at 11am this morning. I was very good and I didn't cry too much. 

Yesterday we had a lovely meal in Straits in Sentana Row and then spent a few hours running around Valley Fair finishing off the remainder of Gwen's Christmas shopping. We successfully bought gifts for all our immediate family and there are a number of red boxes  with white bows in there for Mom from Talbots. We have a bet on to see how long it will take her to open them up as we are not convinced she can last until Christmas day. 

When we got home Santa Clause had made an early arrival for Dad and Larry and I gave him his gifts from us. Larry outdid himself and got Dad the leather jacket in the post, Did you shop today?. We also got him some cool Levi 501, 2 Ralph Lauren shirts and a beige jacket. Here are a few pictures:

Larry lent him his glasses for the pictures. 

This morning it was a rush to get his packing done but eventually we got it all sorted. I had an extra suitcase bought for him for all my gift for Aoife, Aislinn, Eimear and all the rest of the gang at home. In the end we need to use another carry on case also to include all of my Moms shopping. I will not repeat the curse that were spoken at our apartment this morning but in the end it all worked out fine when you have a project manager in charge.:-)

Dad even had a chance to water the plants before he left:

Dad as he leaves in his new 501, his new leather jacket and new sun glasses:



Larry insisted on the one with the collar up - we had so much fun taking these photographs.

Here are some photos taken at the airport:

It is now 2:15am PST this means that I should be asleep three hours ago and also that Dad has landed in Dublin and will be on his flight to Shannon very soon. Just after Noon GMT Brian will pick him up at Shannon and he will be on his last leg of his journey home. 

Hope you had a great trip Dad. We sure enjoyed having you here. Thanks for all your hard work in the garden for all your laughs and fun, even when I got cross when Larry and you were ganging up on me! Come back soon as I don't think you spent enough time explaining to Larry how to take care of the garden. I will go out and water in the morning but we had a frost advisory last night so I hope the plants will be OK. 

Give all three princess in training a big hug and kiss for me. 

Come back soon and bring Mum with you the next time. 

Went for Japanese for Lunch on Thursday

On Wednesday Dad and I went for a wonderful Japanese meal for Lunch. A new place, Sumo Bento Express opened up on Wishman a few months ago and I have gone there a few times and always enjoyed it, this time was no exception.  It also is walking distance from our apartment and was Dad's first Japanese meal. 

Here are pictures I took as we walked over:

I love the first one, the colors are great and that is Dad walking next to the mail van. When we walked back I kicked up the leaves like I did when I was a kid! 

Dad pouring out some green tea:

Dad talking his first few bites of his food:

Close up of our food:

Dad had the Shrimp and Veg Tempura Bento Box


I had my usual Sushi combo

We both enjoyed what we ordered and Dad enjoyed his first Japanese meal.

Special post for my Auntie Veron

Hi Veron, 

This post is specially for you! Here are two pictures of your  big brother having breakfast in bed. 

Larry was very good and did Len a wonderful Irish fry-up a number of mornings and on this morning it was served on a tray in bed. I got brekie in bed too but not on the special tray!!! 

In the second photograph with the computer on the tray, Len is actually talking  to Gwen while he is eating his breakfast. 

Now if I only knew you were going to the hotel in Killarney I would have made sure to have got someone to take of picture of you in the hottub and posted it here. :-)

It is after midnight here in Mountain View and Dad is flying home as I type. I called Mom at home and I woke her up at 7:45am ( what a naughty daughter I am) She told me she would love to have her breakfast in bed. She is looking forward to her husband coming back as he has given her breakfast in bed for over 25 years. ( hint hint Larry)

Hugs, 

Your niece,

Leona