benvenuto to our Italian family member

Sunday evening we drove into Boston to meet and greet our Italian exchange student. We volunteered to host her for a month, and she volunteers to be part of our family and lifestyle.

The goal? Improve her English language skills and share cultures.

I wonder who's getting more than they bargained for?

We waited quite a long time, not anticipating the volume of travelers entering the country from international destinations. We were told the customs process when entering Boston is quite rigorous.

 She arrived, she's delightful, and her English is ECCELLENTE.

You trip to Western Mass and find a piece of (art) work.

I took Leeli and Rooney to UMass for some after-church lunch-ing.

For the first time in the four + years we've been dining as ("family eats for free!") Enrique's guests at the University, the cashier did NOT want to believe that the two beauties at my side were all family. I'm pretty sure she thought they were just students masquerading as family to get a free meal.

Whatever.

We WERE in it for the free meal.

And time with Enrique, of course.

He's the real deal.

He wanted to showcase the artwork he found in an abandoned building on campus. He had plans to decorate a friend's room when they weren't looking.

Fine art. Both the painting and the guy.

the crazy Uncle

Birthday tribute to the Uncle in the family who manages to keep the next generation on (or off) their toes.

 He has talents that sometimes go overlooked.

He'll clear out a party faster than you can say thank you for coming.

He's a great pace maker when climbing a mountain--he'll get you to the top in record speed. 

He's LOYAL. 100%.

 If there's a family occasion to be celebrated, he's IN.

 I know his weakness.

It has something to do with cute babies.

If you're feeling down, he'll get right down there with you.

 There's not much he'd rather do than make you laugh.

He's a brother in every way.

H to the B, Aaron!

Look who's 24!

 It's almost as if he has been on one nonstop adventure since he could walk and make anything with wheels go 'round...

Vroom vroom! He's off to the quarter century mark.

Ready, set, ...GO!!!

Happy Birthday Yonder!

XOXOX

Best things

After church I checked my phone to arrange a meeting place with my brother. I was headed to my niece's graduation. As soon as I touched the screen, a text from an unknown number came up.

With a picture of our missionary!

It said: "I'm at church with your lovely missionary!"

A kind text from a random stranger who knows how much this picture would mean to a missionary mom's heart.

I love kind people.

And I love that girl of mine!

Sara graduated! So we gathered.

Ooof. So much catching up to do.

It's like staring at a primary room full of nine and ten year old boys and just not wanting to go in. Oh, wait. 

That job belongs to THIS lady who I love:

One of the boys moved away to South Carolina this month, and she had all the primary boys in her class over for an evening of games, legos, a campfire and FUN.

She deserves a Congressional Medal.

Not even kidding.