August in Masssachussetts Part 2... And Beyond

It's not often all the Thomas siblings are together being in different states, but it so happened we were able to all get together before Uncle Kevin flew home.

In age order

Just around the corner from our Uncles, in the middle of Boston, stands a house from 1661!

Apparently Uncle Ray remembers a picture of Pa and Mom very much like this one just after they were engaged :-)

Walking the lovely little streets of Boston...

...to Dorchester Heights!

For some odd reason we never knew there was a memorial here before this day. We were pretty excited about it!

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For those of you who aren't familiar with Dorchester Heights and for those of you that can't read the plaque it says:

"At this place the cannon brought by General Henry Knox from Fort Ticonderoga to deliver to General George Washington in the winter of 1775-1776 were used to force the British army to evacuate Boston"

Warm days and cool nights makes the perfect atmosphere for good conversation with good friends 'round the "campfire"...

... or picnic table.

Even if I can't play or sing well, it sure is fun trying

Listening to how it's really done.

Singing worship songs and talking around the fire... a favorite way to end the day.

At the Thomsens Mom offered to trim the front of Benjamin's hair so he wouldn't have to cut all of it, but that way we could see his eyes.

The cut was well documented on all sides.

The big brown-eyed boys

I didn't take many pictures as I was talking with Sarah and forgot about taking more. It was a lovely evening though.

My ever talented mother painting while holding Henry

Even Jack helped out! I remember the first time Pa let me help paint at one of his aunts cabins in Canada. It made me feel so grown up. I wonder if Jack will remember his first time painting?

Josh came to help out too…

… which turned into an entertainment show of sorts when a wall was done.

Experimenting with alternate wall and trim colors... while it didn't last the final way came out lovely

Being our last night we wanted to at least finish the two rooms we started, the kitchen and Michael and Rebekah’s room. It was pretty late and down to Mom, Rebekah and I painting.  After a long day of work and having to get up early the next day, Michael fell asleep on the bed pushed in the middle of the room with everything piled on or with us painting around him.

On the way back to Oklahoma we stopped in at a camp in Pennsylvania where a good number of friends were spending the week.

Sneaking away from the crowd to stretch our legs, catch up with each other...

... and enjoy the enchanting forest.

Me and my new little friend that looked like a mixture between a fishing lure and a gummy bear. Such a cute little thing.

After hours of campfire conversation, walks, talks, laughs, and a few hours sleep, we bid our friends goodbye and headed further west

With my adorable brother! Yes, I adore him making him adorable (dictionary definition of adore: to regard with the utmost esteem, love, and respect; honor
:-)

I'm thankful the boys are the perfect distance for a break in our trip

After church they showed us some of the work on their apartments. This is the before and after for doors... falling apart, thin wood doors to strong and classy grey ones.

One of our handsome tour guides

Apparently he didn’t like the paparazzi taking pictures of his room since they haven’t had time to unpack and put everything away. There is something so oddly funny about this picture… I think it’s his face combined with his tie off to the side :-)

That evening we adjourned to the park with the Zeses for repose

Magnificent Mothers

Green grass as a background and a dashing gent that I've missed greatly made for a photo shoot to be just about a necessity...

When you get so many good ones it makes it hard narrowing the search for the best one. Being my blog I am taking the liberty to narrow it down to a few of my favorites.

"Ointment and perfume delight the heart,
And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel."

It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think this might be it.

Partaking of the best picnic feast ever

Great minds...

...think alike

Complete with serenading tunes

Hannah art

Rest and reflection 

A few days later and the gypsies are back on the move heading back to California. These flowers grow in the desert... and through asphalt.

Because we forget so quickly:

"And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Being right off the highway we were able to stop at the Petrified Forest again

Just can't get enough of these panoramas

In case you didn't see enough pictures of petrified wood, I took some more... you're welcome.

We went back on the trail that ends in the valley where you can explore whatever catches your fancy

Color coordinated with it's surroundings.

I'm so thankful for a loving, Godly father!

I love the knots in this log... it looks like it was just felled

Miles upon miles to roam

It's amazing how different a place can look even in the desert after 3 months. You can see the last time we were here

Night Art

After talking about my favorite color car with Michael we passed the perfect one. Pa tried staying close while I quickly grabbed my camera. I thought the result was neat.

California also means... Uncle Johnny time!

Pine cone art

He took us to this beautiful lake and park

It also happened to be the site where the rowing Olympics took place some years ago... I think these two could have made for some tough competition.

Enjoying some of the Californian beauty

My totally awesome sister found out that there would be a free costume exhibit while we were there... unfortunately they didn't allow pictures :-( It was fun seeing the detail and different sewing techniques on some of the outfits. 

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Since the exhibit was in downtown LA we decided to explore a bit.

Reminded us a bit of Boston

This huge mirror inside one of the shops took up a whole wall. This shop was so tiny but looked really big because of all the mirrors in it.

Pa's adoring look that could be patented... you can see the original taken by Mr. Phillips back in Jamestown

A warning on what we say and how we say it:

"Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things."

beach art 1

beach art 2

I think I need to work on my beach font... the heart didn't turn out that great either, but what it represents is beautiful.

"He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber."

Sunday afternoon we were able to get together with the Parishes for a picnic. It was a most delightful time!

These girls were so much fun!

They loved taking turns setting us up and taking pictures with my remote


Lunch at the beach with my wonderful Mum!

Beach time also means we can swing from the rings!

Everyone is so friendly and helpful. We met Frank the first time we came and he gave us more tips. Even Mum tried it out this time!

When you "go green" at the hotel they give you vouchers for their restaurant. Pa has had to travel a lot which hasn't always been easy, but he's collected quite a few and Mom and I were able to feast there for some lunches. No great loss without some small gain

 The hotels laundry service makes you feel like you have all new clothes the way they wrap it after cleaning.

 We thought it was pretty funny how they even ironed and hung up Pa's pajama pants.


That's all for now. Life has been super busy with our schedule becoming like a roller coaster... you think you're going up and suddenly you take a turn and then dip down and then another twist or a loop. We are blessed. God is good!