Quotes of the Week

"Don't let negative and toxic people rent space in your head. Raise the rent and kick them out." 

 -- Robert Tew 

"When you learn, teach, when you get, give." 

 -- Maya Angelou 

"Talent is a gift that brings with it an obligation to serve the world, and not ourselves, for it is not of our making." 

-- Jose Marti 

"I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe lead you."  

-- Oprah Winfrey 

More 4th of July Holiday Fun - Part 2

Klarissa considers Sarah the hair braiding queen and enlisted her help with her hair one morning.

Glen was the grill master and cooked us up some great meals.

The kids played Blockus.

Brooke could hardly wait for everyone to be done so she could use the game for an art project. She is REALLY into My Little Pony these days. Look at those four ponies she made standing there under the sun.

We held babies and tried to keep all the children happy.

 Taking the children to the rec center to swim was a definite way to keep them all happy.

 Ben even joined in the fun sitting in the baby pool with Sarah and Klarissa and the rest of the bunch.

We celebrated two birthdays. Klarissa's brother Morgen had a birthday earlier in the month and Ben was having a birthday the following week.

Great time for all who joined in the Thomas family 4th of July holiday fun. Same time, same place next year everybody!!

Fun 4th of July Festivities

Abe, Klarissa and Newland decided to come for a visit over the 4th of July weekend.

The little San Franciscan city boy enjoyed playing in the grass and the dirt.

Sarah recruited family members to join with her in running a 5K race one morning.

They got some cute shirts from the race. Too bad Jeff and Sarah were the only ones who went home with a shirt. Ben has yet to find the shirt he got from the race. Jeff, Sarah, have either one of you seen a third shirt lying around that doesn't belong to you???

Sarah is showing how cute her race shirt looks on her when she wore it another day to "run the loop"--her favorite route she used to run all the time when she was living here. The thumbs up is that she made it back up the hill.

She was pretty exhausted and had to take a moment's breather to cool down before she went back into the house.

Breakfast always tastes better on the 4th of July when you are wearing patriotic pajamas and t-shirts.

And look at this little doll baby wearing her "Made in the U.S.A." outfit.

It's always fun to go watch the fireworks up at the golf course above our house. The guys are good to go up early and get all the chairs and blankets laid out for us and stake our claim to our favorite spot.

 

Brooke and Caroline made good use of the glow sticks and made sure Madison had her own glow stick crown as well.

This was Klarissa's (and Newland's for that matter) first time to experience our city's fireworks. Fun family 4th of July festivities.

Quotes of the Week

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."  

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, love like you'll never be hurt. Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth."  

-- William Purkey 

"A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble."  

-- Charles H. Spurgeon