Earth laughs in flower

What a lovely day for the arboretum! Sunny, breezy, and altogether wonderful. Or, as Emerson so poetically puts it, a day when:

Earth laughs in flower

The beautiful ladies

They had these colorful glass objects throughout the gardens. I would title this one: blue seaweed

Before

After {we found her a ways downstream}

I think these are snapdragons? or maybe lily of the valley? Pretty!

The lovely Mrs. Patty was able to join us

Vanessa and Junebug!

Dad and Lorry!

Mrs. Patty and Margarete!

Now this is a spaghetti head if I ever saw one

Mom, Mrs. Patty and Margarete rolling down the hill

I thought this tree was so neat

Mrs. Patty insisted that Mom should take a picture of us girls. 

So here it is :)

More squiggly glass pieces with some ginormous marbles to boot

Mom and Junebug!

The colors were still vibrant even in December

Gigantic red toothpicks

The biggest pineapple I've ever seen

 

Lorry and Me

They look like swan-snakes

Mauvelous Margarete

Loverly Lorry

Jubilant Junebug

Taking a rest before heading out

Our wonderful parents

Until next time!

Family Outing(s)

Last month we went out as a family to see a movie, have dinner and take Johanna to one of her birthday surprises for dessert. However the surprise didn't work out so we ended up going out again about two weeks later :). 

Headed to the surprise that didn't happen ;)

Sitting in the lobby... sad and trying to figure out where to go instead

You are my sunshine! My only sunshine!

A guy passing by asked to take our picture :)

Our beautiful parents (well, Dad isn't, but it's complicated saying "our handsome-beautiful parents")

Sisters--Friends

Out to dinner

Mom you look lovely; Johanna you look skeptical :)

"If you get the extra large plate of shrimp alfredo, we can split -- I'll take the shrimp and you can have the alfredo."

Coffee treat

Our sweet waitress!

Back again a couple weeks later at the surprise location

with a reservation this time :)

Johanna changed into a fancy outfit she picked out for this special outing

Looking out at the city below

We were able to enjoy the sunset

It was so nice to be indoors and sitting after our long afternoon tramping through the park for pictures

They still brought out a birthday dessert for Johanna even though it was a month late :)

Then we went to dinner! {we get reversed sometimes and have to have dessert before dinner :)}

We love our parents!

And the last one is of Dad and three of his girls