these are a few of my favorite things....

Things I love about SUMMER:

The feel of the warm summer sun kissing your face and arms

The smell of freshly cut grass

NO SCHOOL..... having my kiddos all to myself

 No rush, No fuss, No big deal

Day dreaming, picnic-ing and blowing dandelions in the breeze

 Summer VACATION (Woo Hoo!!!)

Adventure seeking (and finding) 

These are the things that make summer so much FUN.

.... If only it was like this all year around.

(Double blogs from last year..... just Click here and HERE to see what we were doing last summer)

in the planning phase.....

Thank you for reading our little blog.....

We're giving ourselves a little break today.

Its Saturday

Its Summer

What more do I need to say

But click here to see what we were up to last year on this date

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

reflecting

2011 has come to an end....

It was a great 2011!!

I'm so proud of my Bam, Fifi, Sweetheart, and Cookie for all the accomplishments they've achieved this year.

The future is very promising for them.

I'm happy to have started this mommy blog. 

We started the blog in the summer of 2011 with just a few words.

Now my children and I enjoy taking photos, documenting, archiving and editing.
(hopefully in 2012 we will be more timely in posting)
We look forward to sharing more this coming year.
Happy New Year NEW MEXICO (ABQ, Vanderwagen)
Happy New Year NEW YORK CITY, (Dobbs Ferry) USA

Happy New Year WORLD.......

PEACE, GOOD WILL, PROSPERITY and LOVE for ALL

Happy New Year RUSSIA

Happy New Year GERMANY

Happy New Year LATVIA

Happy New Year UNITED KINGDOM

Happy New Year MALAYSIA

Happy New Year AUSTRALIA

Happy New Year FRANCE

Happy New Year GREECE

Happy New Year CHINA

Happy New Year FINLAND

Happy New Year SOUTH AFRICA

REMEMBER....

Happy 2012

LOVE one another

Today we are taking the DAY to honor our Creator.

 We're remembering those who matter most to us with a blessing and the sharing of a meal.

We are acknowledging the true origin and remember the pain, loss and agony of our ancestors.

Those who suffered at the hands of others and those afflicted with unknown foreign diseases.

We're not celebrating the Thanksgiving of pilgrims and "indians".

We are simply remembering and NOT forgetting.

We are acknowledging the love for rich human diversity and humanity.

LIVE LOVE and LEARN

We have concern for those without love, family, homes and food.

Our hearts are with children who are alone or scared.

We pray for those in difficult situations to have the courage and strength to escape domestic violence.

We are thinking of those with little to none...........worldwide.

We prepare this meal for you.

We are thinking of you.

Sweetheart hand washing dishes / Fifi is cleaning and cutting the veggies

melody of veggies for our stuffing

Bam's award winning salad ready for tossing

Cookie mixing the dough for the rolls while Sweetheart supervises

 fresh apples for the scrumptious apple pie 

The house smells AMAZING.

If only there was scratch and sniff blogs.

HAPPY DAY OF HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE

walking in beauty

While waiting for Fifi to get out from school, I began reflecting about my little family and what we've accomplished this year.

We are so very fortunate and blessed to have so many wonderful opportunities and a great bunch of friends and a fantastic extended family.

Most family members live a few hours to some living many time zones away; they often only hear spurts of things we've done on occasion. 

This blog shows you what we do on a daily basis. It's nice to be able to share.

We're thankful for you, coming here, to share in our lives.

When you reflect what are you thankful for???

9-11

RESERVED AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

This is how they stood at one time........... beautiful and bold

(http://www.ussartf.org/world_trade_center_disaster.htm)

Due to an act of terrorism our whole way of life has changed for everyone. 

Including those, like my two littlest one, who were both born post 9-11.

Plus my other two babies were just tiny toddlers.

They all have to live a life never knowing what safe meant. 

How we remembered.......

Instead they grow up having to endure check points, pat downs, and open bag checks as a way of life. 

Because that's how its always been for them.

They don't remember how it used to be.

Terrorism, Terrorist, 9-11 are words they grow up hearing.

My heart and my soul hurt to have to explain to all FOUR of my children what happened and to teach them what it means and to try to possible explain why they did it.

As the years progress they have questions.........

But it must be heard and it must be retold and it must never be forgotten.......

the act

the lives

the heros

the strength

the rebuilding

the American history 

(http://www.911memorial.org/)

Ariel view of the September 11 National Memorial in the financial district in lower Manhattan

Over 2,997 people lost their lives but thousands more are left with the first hand trauma and loss.

We need immediate international policies that prevent, protect and respond to acts of terrorism. 

We must all work to find diplomacy.
 A priority to peace-making and human rights should be absolute.

This is how we teach

This is how we learn

This is how we grow

This is the future

This is what my children know............

TGIF

What a busy week we had this week!

Driving here, driving there, school, errands, activities.............

We're feeling exhausted and ready for a day of rest.

So glad to hear the words TGIF.

We can agree with that acronym whole heartedly today.

TGIF

We're off to take a walk in the neighborhood and reflect on our week.

TGIF Everyone..................