Wheel Adventures

Look at my girls....… Bike riding in the park, enjoying their summer.

When I see them, I see me...having fun in the hot summer sun.

Princess Fifi wheel-y going fast

Sweetheart singing wheel-y loud

"Bicycle, Bicycle....…I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle"

Cookie is fast and furious as she drifts and donuts on her BIG WHEEL.

They wanted a wheel adventure after biking they put on their inline and classic four wheel skates for some dancing in the streets.

Can you guess which is Princess Fifi, Sweetheart and Cookie just by her skates??

Cookie carefully maneuvers around as she finds her skating legs.

Sweetheart is an absolute natural in her skates...... 

Give Princess Fifi a hand.....

 (click here to see the another skating blog from last summer)

or 

(click here to see where we were today last year.....)

monkeying around...

Housecleaning...

Sometimes I feel like Cinderella--

scrubbing, wiping, washing, 

all shall be clean soon

this too will be over...

tennis anyone??

My girls were invited to (their friend) Miss Deja's house.......she's one of Princesss Fifi's best friends.

Miss Deja's grandmother took all the girls to enjoy a game of.... TENNIS.

Sweetheart told me they had a very nice time

Cookie said they didn't spend too much time on the court because ... it was decidedly too BLAZING HOT.

They put in a few good attempt at a game but HOME was much more appealing to them.

*****I wasn't able to find the right cord to upload the pics*****

Instead Fifi found these snaps of an amazing tennis court online. 

The location is most likely.... Dubai.

The skyscraper resembles a sailboat

Star ship enterprise

I'm positive a game of tennis would not be on my mind....

These guys are probably wondering who will retrieve the tennis ball...

upcycled bed

----Interesting play things made here----

Shhh... babies asleep


As I was cleaning my girls bedroom, I noticed this little doll bed.

It looks like my girls lovingly crafted it.

It appears to be made from a container from our last strawberry indulgence, felt, wooden sticks,  and a sponge

Pretty Cute.... (that's what I thought)

I've got some very imaginative girls.

you gotta have FAITH

Our busy schedule doesn't end just because school ended.

This summer, Sweetheart and Cookie will attend faith formation religious educational studies. 

Sweetheart and Cookie have attended this in summers past. 

They are excited to meeting up with old friends and excited to make new ones.

The classes meet 5x a week throughout the month of June.

So that means the routine of drop off / pick up won't end for us anytime soon.

Gotta have Faith.....

HOT sun and cool water fun

Sweetheart's very best friend, little Miss Katia, invited Sweetheart, Cookie and Princess Fifi over for swimming time.

Ohhhhh......... it was perfect timing....... especially with the HOT days we've been having lately.

The girls squealed with delight for the opportunity to have a girls day with little Miss Katia in her swimming pool.

Immediately the girls began trying on their swimming suits.

I suppose it's been a while since we've been swimming....the girls outgrew theirs....so it was time to purchase new swimming suits and coverups.

We had fun searching for the perfect color, the perfect cut and the perfect fit. We found it in the Harajuku collection at Target and the Selena Gomez collection at Kmart with super cute coverups from Costco.

Before I could get a picture of the girls in their swimsuits.........it was time to go to little Miss Katia's house. But believe me....they look so sweet, cute and summer ready in their new swim suits!

candy apples, yearbooks and sunshine

Ohhh....YES!
Today is the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL......

My children are excited! (as am I)
A whole school year has come and gone.
All my little ones have worked soooooo hard all year long!

At last..... summer vacation is here

sweet indulgence....

Riddle me this---riddle me that.....

From my pics I've posted below.....what do you think happened today?

Cookie Monster thinks he knows

????

Come on now----we know you must have some idea!

leave your comment below.....

if every school had PLAY DAY......

Its time to put away the backpacks and books for the day......and time to bring out the sunblock, swimsuits and shorts....for today is PLAY DAY at Cookie and Sweetheart's school.

A day filled with outdoor fun activities for all the students.

Bouncy house

Water slide

Volleyball

Races

Slip and Slide

Water balloons

and

Popsicles, Lemonade and sack lunch under the trees

sweet popsicle in the HOT SUN

FUN!    FUN!!    FUN!

Did your school do stuff like this??

I remember my elementary school doing something similar......what fond, fun memories for all.

--GOOD TIMES--

the RING of FIRE is a jewel you CANNOT wear

Tonight is the annular solar eclipse where the moon blocks most of the Sun.

According to NASA, the eclipse will begin at sunrise local time in southern China, then pass over Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo. After entering California's view, the moon's shadow will block the sun's light along a course from Reno to the Grand Canyon in Arizona to Albuquerque to Lubbock, Texas. The full "ring of fire" effect is visible in ONLY eight states in the western United States this evening.

The RING OF FIRE is when all of the moon covers most of the Sun....leaving a ring of sunlight blazing around the moons circumference. The moon is near apogee--the farthest point from Earth in its orbit around our planet--so it's too small in the sky to cover the sun's face completely.

We set out to catch this AWESOME celestial event aka the annular solar eclipse.
We were fortunate to witness this AMAZING event at the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum.

The photo above is a view of the eclipse in the display of a video camera with a special eclipse viewing lens filter attachment on the front. 

Can you see the beginning stages of the eclipse???

(I debated whether to include this photo in the blog....)

Can you see the moon is on the way to completing the RING OF FIRE....

(the reflection of the eclipse on a sheet of paper is cast from the binocular lens)

(BTW: you should NEVER fully view a solar eclipse with the naked eye....you must use proper viewing tools like a #14 welding shield or special eclipse viewing glasses)

Tah Dah......THE RING OF FIRE

We witnessed the RING OF FIRE 

---via the reflection

---via #14 welding mask

---via the special eclipse viewing glasses

The RING OF FIRE lasted only 4 minutes...... and it was well worth every second!

But the rest of the eclipse lasted until sundown.

Inside the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum they had LIVE broadcasted coverage of the eclipse on various LCD screens inside and outside the museum.

I clicked this photo by accident on my little old camera with no filter........ 

Let hope I didn't ruin my camera.

(Although I might add.....it is a rather stunning photo)

 This is the viewing balcony where we watched the eclipse.
After sunset we took in the museum and went out to the museum lawn where they had tons of activities like a rock climbing wall, jumpy house for the kids, crafting stations, face painting, food trucks and an outdoor SCI-FI movie.
---------
Persingerfive +plus+ Eclipse
equal = Persingerfun

auditions, arts and eats

LIGHTS, CAMERA.......ACTION

We're in Santa Fe auditioning for a feature film which is set to film here in New Mexico.

Acting is something very few people know we enjoy doing.

 So before the lights, camera, actions begins we have to....

check-in and confirm our appointment with this guy....

Read, react, recite and memorize the sides....

Cookie fine-tunes Bam's hair for his audition

Then just before we're go in.... we grab the resume and head shots....

It's all in a day in the life of an actor......

Okay..... not really...... it's all done for FUN, for the experience and for expanding our artistic knowledge.

One can only learn to appreciate the arts, theatre and film when one knows all aspects of the line....

from pre-production...to acting....to crewing...to production....to presentation

After the audition we took a much needed break by taking in Santa Fe.......the arts, walking the plaza, artist row....and ending our day with dinner at our most favorite Santa Fe eatery---the Zia diner---they always treat us well......... ALWAYS!!

Cookie in Los Golondrinas

Cookie's final field trip with her class....
Last time we were in Los Golondrinas.... we were with Sweetheart's class. (Fall 2011)
This time around....Cookie and her class are enjoying the historic Los Golondrinas.

(click here for Fall 2011 Los Golondrinas blog)

Maybe you remember......Los Golondrinas is near Santa Fe......and is a historic living history museum.
Los Golondrinas represents the heritage and culture of the 18th and 19th century life in Spanish colonial and territorial New Mexico.

Historical hill top chapel ( Fall 2011 with Sweetheart)

SAME historical hill top chapel (Spring 2012)

Cookie's story book adventure...... just like American Girl--Josefina Montoya

(click here)

mad jumpin' skillz

Jump                                                Jump                                               Jump
Jump                                        Jump                                   Jump 
Jump                            Jump                        Jump

Cookie on the right with her HOT pink sneakers

Cookie performanced at the Health and Wellness Fair this evening with the jump rope team.
She's so talented.....
She has outstanding jump roping skills. 
If I could bring you all here I would...... the show is so AWESOME.
Cookie....and the jump rope team are soooo....
SUPER TALENED!

The community health and wellness fair was held at Sweetheart and Cookie's school. There was a bike safety presentation by the Albuquerque Police Department. They even properly fitted and gave away free bicycle helmets. There was a rock climbing wall and a fruit smoothy booth with super smooth-smoothies....hahahaha. The local bowling alley brought over a portable bowling lane too and gave away free bowling passes. (I see a blog about bowling happening soon....) There were so many other events and sponsors....but by far the best was my little Cookie.... giving her very BEST performance.
(Click below for a sample jump rope song....)

Royal Memories

Real life Fairy Tale.....  

One year ago, yesterday, Prince William and Kate wed in London.

We woke 3 AM to watch the Royal wedding.......Cray-zy 

we loved it!

It was the fairy tale we all grew up hearing.

Prince Charming and the beautiful Cinderella.

Disney had us all hooked from birth.

Prince William and Kate's Royal wedding was Historic and EPIC..... we had to see this.

We planned an early morning ROYAL WEDDING breakfast party....... just for us.

We had English tea, crumpets, mini breakfast quiche, fruit, yogurt and toast.

As a family we made decorations of Union Jack flags, Will and Kate tea bag bobbles and centerpieces.

It was FUN.

It was ROYALLY FUN. (hahaha)

We had tiaras, facinators and a top hats for everyone.....even our dogs were dressed for the occasion. 

I think it was the most fun we had....one year ago....at 3 AM!!!!

The decorations from our Royal Wedding Party still hang in our home to this day!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

family phone night

Friday Family Fun Night

pizza--salad--grapes

Cookie and Sweetheart hardly think it could be a proper family fun night tonight when Nana isn't here with us. She left yesterday and they miss her already....So I suggested they ring her.
They had a conversation with Nana------over dinner------on the phone....and I think that made everything BETTER.
After they got off the phone....they were smiling, laughing and eating.....they said Nana was missing them too--so it was perfect timing to call!

Now we can officially call tonight Family Fun Night!

Let the fun begin....

that's the luck of me lucky charms.....

Saint Patrick's Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD.
Saint Patrick is said to have used shamrocks as a way to explain the Holy Trinity. In 1798, in order to make a political statement, Irish soldiers wore full green uniforms on March 17 to gather public attention to their rebellion. In Irish legends, green is worn by fairies, leprechauns and immortals.

Little known fact: In the Persingerfive household we make Leprechaun traps every year. We put them out on March 17 in hopes of trapping and catching a Leprechaun..... for his GOLD. (of course)
But we have yet to catch one....
He is a trickster and always leaves fake gold coins ---chocolate gold coins---in and around the trap.
That's how we know that crafty little fella been around......
We usually find Leprechaun footprints in our yard and one year in our house!!!


Did you know that Saint Patrick's Day is the most widely celebrated saint's day in the world.

43rd annual parade "rain or shine"

In St. Louis, they celebrate Saint Patrick's Day with a parade (or two) on Market Street near the Gateway Arch.
(click here to see our holiday in St. Louis blog)

In Chicago they celebrate Saint Patrick's day
with their 188th annual Saint Patrick's day parade
but not before they dye the river GREEN!!

In Chicago they dye the Chicago River green to kick off the celebrations!!
(click here to see our holiday in Chicago blog)

New York City has an annual 251st annual Saint Patrick's Day parade.

Even the Empire State Building gets dressed up in green for Saint Patrick's Day.
(click here to see our holiday in New York blog)

This is the very FIRST year that Niagara Falls turned green in honor of Ireland's patron Saint.

Can you even believe that Niagara Falls can look even more amazing in GREEN!
This special light display was special, for the first time, for Saint Patrick's Day.    
Beautiful!!
(click here to see our holiday in Niagara Falls blog)

Downtown ABQ--not too far from where we live

Even here in ABQ the skylight is GREEN.
We went to dinner in downtown ABQ for the traditional corned beef, cabbage dinner

 (leeks, potatoes, carrots, dinner roll and green ice cream)
Talented bagpipers and sweet irish step dancers entertained us during dinner.
(little known fact: Fifi took Irish step dancing lessons when she was younger--such a cute reminder)

Bam took this great photo of his sisters; Sweetheart, Cookie and Fifi.
(the lights in the downtown underground tunnel look AWESOME in this photo)

As cute as can be........even in GREEN

Erin Go Bragh

keeping it simple...

Today is 'parent-teacher' conference day at Cookie and Sweetheart's school.

I feel the need to attach the following disclaimer:

Teachers: 
Kindly excuse my lack of questions. 
I have only a teeny tiny bit of my voice back. 

Please accept my apologies for little dialog.

Simply put:

Nice day

Good girls

Excellent grades

Today I'm feeling rather numb, rough, achy, patchy and raw.

 My neck is sore and my ears are ringing.
The burning inferno in my throat has now been down graded to a blazing forest fire.

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz (now try that again, this time without singing it.....)

Books books and more books.......

Today we decided to stop by a library on our way home.

But not to our usual library........but that didn't stop us from taking it over.

 Bam attempting to scale the alphabet sculpture outside the library

 

No, Bam!! 

Cookie and Sweetheart are very concerned for their brother.

 Then Princess Fifi decides to distract Bam by claiming the letter "R" for herself.

 "No, my letter "R"", reclaims Bam.

Sweetheart strikes a fashionable pose on the sculpture.

Who knew the alphabet could be so fun.......