john-paul’s world | Revolution of Love

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Here are some favorite Instagram photos from the past week.

{pretty}

I tried a different walking trail this morning. As I got closer to the forest I kept expecting to see a hobbit or elf wandering about.

If you didn’t see this yesterday, this was also part of the trail.

One of the buildings in downtown Carmel has a mural of Fr. Junipero Serra and friends.

Spanish-style stairs.

{happy}

The kids started swimming lessons this week. This is the first time Andrew has been swimming and he loved it.

My hair has been getting close to “rat’s nest zone” so I was happy that I finally got it professionally cut. I’m glad it looks healthy again.

{funny}

I saw this sign at one of the shops in Carmel.

I can tell who was playing with my phone because I have 50 shots of this same pose.

{real}

Yesterday the sun was finally out and we came close to hitting 70 but a few days earlier this is what it looked like in the early morn. (We don’t get out Summer weather until Fall.)

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Here are some favorite Instagram photos from the past week.

{pretty}

We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium this week and saw a lot of pretty scenes.

Jellyfish.

A seahorse blending into his surroundings.

Eels

{happy}

I was happy to watch my Sweetie Boy and Sweetie Girl.

Andrew is really into sharks right now so we was mesmerized by the sharks in the tank.

Mama was happy to have such a fun day with her babies.

{funny}

Andrew was a little disappointed he couldn’t see any sharks below us but I told him he may find a scuba diver in training. Meanwhile Matthew was more interested in a pigeon walking around us.

Matthew is in hot pursuit.

{real}

This John-Paul on our walk yesterday. He always carries around a book in case he gets a free moment to “read.” (He takes after Brian, although when my sis saw this she said he is like his grandma. 🙂

On one of my beach walks this week I left my tag in the sand.

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Here are some favorite Instram photos from the past week.

{pretty}

Earlier in the week Brian watched the kids for me so I could take my walk alone. Afterwards I stopped at the little chapel at the Carmel Mission to visit Our Lord.

This one was taken on Brian’s birthday, which was also Father’s Day. I call it “Walking in dad’s footsteps.” I pray that my sons are as good and holy as their father!

{happy}

When I make dinner in the evening I like to put on some lively music to get me in a happy cooking mood. The boys will often run into the kitchen to dance while I cook. That is when I grabbed this shot.

I’ve been doing a lot of spring cleaning (with my messes, it is a year-round job) but it makes me happy that someone is helping me out. Matthew is cleaning his car before he takes a ride. (Now if I can get him to clean my car, I’d be super happy!)

My happy boy.

{funny}

Speaking of my happy boy, I think we need to give him a hair cut. We are finding random bits of food caught in his curls.

Andrew is playing Mario Karts. It was a very intense game. He needed his helmet.

{real}

Yesterday we had the trees guys over trimming our pines trees. When the kids looked out the window they freaked out because you couldn’t see his ladder and it looked like he was just flying of walking over the trees. He was like a Chicano superhero.

All this summer vacation fun has us tuckered out. Matthew fell asleep during lunch.

Meanwhile, we couldn’t find his brother John-Paul. That is until we looked in his closet among the stuffed animals.

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

This week’s photos for {pretty, happy, funny, real} are from Andrew’s 5th birthday. I will be lump them together as one big {p,h,f,r} category.

{pretty} {happy} {funny} & {real}

I remember the excitement as a kid to wake up in the morning and find the table decorated for your birthday. We’ve passed on the tradition to my family adding the kids’ favorite stuffed animals on the table. For Andrew’s Octonauts/ Kwazii (the cat character) /Pirate birthday theme, we had all his favorites pirated out.

We then headed to Point Lobos for a picnic and hiking. (If you are ever in the Monterey, CA be sure to stop there!)

Enjoying lunch.

Matthew was happy to get out of the stroller and run around.

We finally got the kids to sit down at one spot although JP is about to take off and the boys are keeping an eye on a bird they were trying to catch.

My heart melted to see the three of them walking hand-in-hand chatting away.

Afterwards, the kids made and decorated cupcakes. Andrew is ready to eat his creation.

I’m not sure if John-Paul is fascinated by the flame on the candle or the fact that he will soon be eating a cupcake too!

Two Quick Notes:
First – I wasn’t able to do this week’s book discussion of Style, Sex and Substance. I should have the next post on Wednesday, 5/16.
Second – Today is your last day to enter the RoL Birthday Care Package Contest! The winner will be announce tomorrow. Good luck!
Okay, now we return to our regularly scheduled post…

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

Today is Mother’s Day in Mexico so Bella’s Spanish class made cards for their madres. Here is the cover of Bella’s card to me. (She didn’t notice her “typo” until after I took the photo. 😉 Today was also the boys’ preschool moms’ party. Each made me a wooden flower frame with their photo in it. So cute!

{happy}

A quick pic from my iphone at Andrew’s party.

It was a little tricky to be at both parties at the same time (and also try to keep Matthew quiet in my arms), since they are in different class rooms, but I made it. 🙂

{funny}

The other day I invited my in-laws over for dinner. My mother-in-law brought over a cake she made for dessert. There was enough cake left over for Brian and I to share for dessert the following night after the kids went to sleep. Well, John Paul must have heard about our plan. The next day I was putting Matthew to sleep and after I put him in bed I went into the kitchen and found that JP dragged a chair over to the counter and helped himself to our dessert…

I told Brian that there were two large pieces of the cake left but this is all I found on the sink…

The guy didn’t even have a stomach ache! I can’t imagine what JP’s bottomless pit appetite is going to be like when he is a teenager!

{real}

Speaking of Mother’s Day, in the animal world it is the harbor seals’ pupping season. Where I take my morning walk, they have part of coastline fenced off for the mama seals and their pups.

Looking for the seals against the large rocks feels like playing a game of “Where’s Waldo.”

But as you get closer you can see the seals resting on the rocks and frolicking in the water. (Although the frolicking seal went down in the water just as I snapped my photo.)

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Category Archives: john-paul’s world

{pretty, happy, funny, real} – vol 39: Summer Fun 4

{pretty, happy, funny, real} – vol 38: Summer Fun 3

{pretty, happy, funny, real} – vol 36: Summer Fun 1

{pretty, happy, funny, real} – vol 35: Andrew’s 5th Birthday Edition

{pretty, happy, funny, real} – vol 31: Mexican Mother’s Day Edition