Announcing the Engagement

Peter McCallum Hopkins and Angela Kathleen Willeke
(we're all thrilled ;-))

Springtime Serenity

Fresh air and flowers go hand-in-hand. One of the best things about living in the country, or really living with any type of yard is the dandy lions. :) (please note: "yard," not "lawn." There is a difference. The former welcomes dandy lions, the latter, which we have had our days of caring for, is like a high maintenance poodle) The yellow ones Aliza pulls, apart petal by petal singing, "He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, & etc." but the fluffy white ones she blows into the wind with girlish birthday wishes for pink Volkswagen bugs and Cinderella glass slippers. Annie enjoys them too... but in another way. :)

Anna Sophia

Picking the flowers

Little piggy, eating the flowers.

Must have been a pretty big wish.

but yellow flowers are pretty too...


see?

Unlikely Visitor

We had a visitor not too long ago... she wandered into our front yard, probably from our neighbor's lake and spent the morning moving slowly across our front yard, which is quite a trek for legs of her size. :-)

Family Vacation!

We look a family vacation mid April, and had a blast. Here are some of the highlights from our trip.

Our first stop: Charlotte, NC (Ashlee enjoyed this trip best of all)

Day 2: Savannah, GA to see Mom's Uncle Jack and Aunt Patty, and visit a quaint Presbyterian church for Sunday morning woship.



After arriving in Orlando/Kissimmee Sunday night, we headed down to Lake Placid, FL to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Lake Placid is the city of murals, and we spent the afternoon enjoying these amazing paintings.

Our Pretty Mommy

All the boys :)

The Magic Kingdom! (doesn't Dad blend right in?)

Join the Dark Side! ;-)

Little Miss Sunshine

Trouble found his proper place. :-P

<3Angela<3

The whole gang! (you have no idea how hard it is to get all of us smiling...)

Our Little Princess

A Little Angel Princess

Last Saturday the four oldest children attended a Celtic Ball. Home schooled high school students danced the night away, with the girls in elegant ball gowns, and the boys to the nine's in their suits and ties. The bell of the ball was too young to dance, but she stole nearly every man's heart, and won the affections of almost every lady. (Miss Aliza Rose, of course.)
She ran around all evening in her dress-up Princess Belle dress (cotton pajamas underneath :-)) and was incredibly proud of her "glass slippers" which were no more than black summer sandals.

This picture though, I think, captures the innocence of little girlhood. I'm not sure exactly what was happening when the photographer captured the shot, but Mom thinks she's trying to catch the sunlight. I ache every time I look at this picture. It captures more than words can express. There is beauty, life, innocence, adoration, contentment, happiness- even bliss, love, laughter, excitement. It proves there are some moments in life that truly are priceless.

AdOrAbLe

As I was walking out the door this morning, Anna excitedly started calling my name. I turned and saw the entire contents of the Tupperware cupboard scattered across the kitchen floor.
Needless to say, I was not as thrilled about her accomplishment as she was.
But Nolan came bounding in upon the situation, a smile spread across his face. "O, Ashlee! She wants to show you something! Look. She is so ADORABLE!"
I smiled, seeing the situation in a more positive light. And as I walked out the door I saw Nolan get down on the floor with Anna and with a laugh ask, "Now, can you help me clean these up, please?"
I couldn't help but let his happiness infect myself. What would happen if we viewed every inconvientent mess, every spilled cup of water, every muddy boot, dirty face or messy clothes in the same light as this 6-year-old?

I guess we'd enjoy the adorable things in life a little more.

I'm gonna...!

The 4 little ones were playing in the family room.

Aliza pushed Anna. Nevin picked Aliza up and (playfully) threw her on the couch.

As Angela entered the room to intervene, Nevin shouted out, thick southern accent, "Aliza! I'm gonna beat ya and brand ya at the same time!!!"


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