No duh - you're a bus

Another b-day, another celebration

Temple roses

The force behind the Arlington Ward Spring Sing

This is Linda Huppi.  She's an amazing musician (pianist, organist) and is the force behind the Arlington Ward Spring Sing (tonight was the 25th!).  The theme was Broadway musicals and it was a terrific event.  Everything Linda orchestrates turns out great!

Jaden's baptism photo shoot

Memorial Service for Karina

This morning was the memorial service for Karina Holthoff, former Arlington Ward member, who passed away last Sunday from cancer at age 53.  The music was beautiful and I enjoyed hearing the stories about her from friends and family. There was a lunch after which--of course--included funeral potatoes.  We will be making a donation to the church's Perpetual Education Fund in her name.

On my way to work...

Here's a church (in Cambridge) that no longer has a steeple.  The red doors are open for workers not people.

I may be wrong but I think a Mormon congregation met in this church a few years ago when we didn't have enough space.

Sleepy Madelyn

I met Madelyn tonight and took her a burp cloth.  She's as cute as her two older brothers.  I'll have to go back and get some photos of her when she's awake.  It was nice to meet the newest baby in the ward.

On my way to work...

Meeting sweet Savannah

Tonight I met baby Savannah who is a sweet new baby in my ward.  Read her story here.

EP advice

If I had a son/daughter serving a LDS mission this is what I would do.  I would leave an envelope on the counter or table each week and ask every family member to draw a picture, write a short note or long letter and mail an envelope directly to the mission address (through the Post Office with real stamps).

EP advice: take it or leave it.

Flowers at McDonalds (believe it or not)

Happy Grandparents

They have 17 other lucky grandkids (in UT, TX and VA).

Farewell LaPierres

All I can say is -- our loss is Argentina's gain.  They are going to be terrific leaders of the Posadas Mission.  I echo what we sang in the closing song this morning, God be with you till we meet again.

Dinner with the Foderaros

My friends the Foderaros were in town tonight and we had dinner at the Summer Shack.  I had fish tacos and key lime pie -- delicious!  Elaine was my YW president and I used to babysit their kids.  I hadn't seen Bob in probably 20+ years (I saw Elaine last week and we went to Rhode Island).  It's always nice to see good friends.

Tory's baby shower

It was fun to see Tory so happy and excited about the gifts she got for her baby boy due in 5 weeks.  I think she liked my gift the best (the navy blue outfit with cute little red crabs on it!). I can't wait to meet her little boy when he gets here.  And that cake?  A prize winner by Margaret Moore -- it had cannoli filling!

Rainy MIT Commencement day

Look at Leona

She just moved here from Japan and I think she might be the cutest baby in the whole wide world -- or at least one of them!

I went to visit them their first Sunday here.  I saw Leona and said, "I want to take her home with me!"  The dad probably translated that to the mom as "don't ever let her hold our baby or we'll never see her again".

The Leaf Society ladies

When my brother Chuck was young, he called Relief Society "leaf society" so these are the Leaf Society ladies tonight at our social.

R.S. Closing Social

Tonight was really fun.  We had shish kabobs, a salad bar, watermelon, strawberry short cake on sticks and s'mores!  AND a photo booth!!  The weather was perfect and we had the social at the Dredge's house which made it that much more fun (they have a great view of Boston).  We had a good turn out and was just a great night all around.

Note: we call it a "closing social" but we don't close.  :)

This *might* have been my dinner

Ginger's blessing day

Those big brothers seem pretty excited about their new baby sister.  I think she's going to have some red hair.  FYI -- Ginger's dad had to leave church early for a(nother church) meeting.

A quick visit with Tadd

Tadd is one of my best buddies.  It was so nice to see him today for a few minutes.  He was helping a friend put in a patio and we stopped by for a quick visit.  He's working part of the summer in Rhode Island for the Navy.

A five dollar fan

This old fan was inches away from that typewriter and the tag on it had a "3".  $3?!?  Really?!?  [Old fans are all-the-rage these days.]  I asked if it was really $3 and she seemed skeptical so called someone to find out and couldn't reach them.  I offered to give her five bucks for it and she agreed.  Sold!

Best find ever!

Bristol, RI antiques

I love antiquing.  That is obvious to anyone that reads my blog, knows me, or has been to my condo.  Elaine and I went in a few antique shops in Bristol.  I didn't buy any of these things.  I have a nice collection of aprons and have even bought a few of them to use as patterns (sewing aprons is also on that long list of "things to do").  I have 12 or 13 typewriters in my collection and this one was $45 so I passed on getting it though it was pretty cool.  I was obsessed with these green industrial chairs.  They are very lightweight and interesting.  I was trying to figure out where they would have been from (the lady only said that she thought the owner bought them at the Brimfield Fair).  Guess how much they were?  You'll never guess: $135 each!  Yikes!!  One of the stores had this very cool vintage olive green dial wall phone.  I wanted to get it but it was $85.  It was really really cool.  I told the owner I'd buy it if it was fifty bucks but she said no.

Rho-di-land

My friend (and former YW president) Elaine is visiting for a few days and we darted to Rhode Island today for a quick day trip.  We stopped in Bristol on the way and then hoped to get lobster rolls in Newport but we couldn't find parking.  We embarrassingly ended up at Chili's (better than KFC, right?!?).  We met up with my friend Tadd for a quick visit and then drove back home.  Elaine is in the middle of a 29 day vacation!  I'll see her again next weekend.