Glenside Pride

The finished paved herb garden

2010-06-29T00:32:00.004-04:00

The following pictures give a better overall depiction of the finished herb garden with the retaining walls and paved walkways. Mums pictures showed mostly the flowers and herbs

The herb garden with the retaining walls and paved patio from the south.

The herb garden with the retaining walls and paved patio from the south - slightly shifted view.

The lower end of the garden from the south

The lower end from the east looking toward the patio at the top

The garden fom the north

The garden from the North - shifted to show the patio and retaining wall

The garden from the West looking East

The garden and patio from the Weat looking East - slightly shifted

More Pepper

2010-06-23T08:03:00.002-04:00

Have you guys met Pepper yet?

2010-06-23T07:45:00.002-04:00

Our Summer so far...

2010-06-18T22:49:00.000-04:00

Kyle's graduation..."stepping up to Greene" was the theme. That was his shoe.

Olivia and Alexander (the neighbor boy she is going to marry) jumping in the puddles before swimming lessons. She jumped off the diving board today. She is quite the swimmer!!!!

swimming lessons

Nikki as a pioneer ready to go to Trek.

Nikki and her friends on their way to Trek. What do you think--should I put this on facebook?

June 2010 garden pics

2010-06-14T14:56:00.023-04:00

Flowers from the garden - oriental poppies, woolly lambs ear, Siberian Irises
Perky the Pukeko all the way from NZ checking out the succulents
Snow on the Mountain - gorgeous in the front garden this year
Yellow Coreopsis, Rose Campion in the foreground
foreground - Polemonium, foxglove, red and white Astilbe in background
Astilbe and center Maiden Hair Fern and Ladies Mantle
Yellow Potentilla
Foxgloves and dappled Willow in the background - growing like crazy
Chives, yellow coreopsis and a couple of thymes foreground
love this view of the backyard in the spring!
And this one - too bad it doesn't last more than a couple of weeks!
The robins love the birdbath and I see them splashing quite often
Ladies Mantle foreground, purple Johny Jump ups

Alliums, Sage, Egyptian Onions, Thyme, Cat mint

Spring blooms: catmint, snow in summer, daffodils, wild geraniums
Overview of the magnificent herb garden - kudos to dad for all that paving.

Some New Zealand Trip Shots - Dad's selection

2010-05-09T20:08:00.019-04:00

A small waterfall [not the actual McClaren Falls] in McClaren Falls State Park out of Tauranga

Carino, NZ - the catameran we went sailing on in the Bay of Islands - at lunchtime we moored in a sheltered bay of an uninhabited island and we went ashore to climb to the top - then had a barbeque lunch

Previous Americas Cup boats are retired from competition and tourists can go sailing on them - very popular

Louis Viton Americas Cup Challenge series: Azzura [Italy] vs Synergy [Russia]

Surf on the Rocks at Mount Maunganui - this shot took split second timing

Looking out on the beach at Mt Maunganui, from the path around the mount

Sunrise over the water in the Bay of Islands

A series of Sunrise shots from Scott Road Hobsonville

Heron on a rock in an inlet off Long Bay Beach

Muriwai gannet colony - Gannet in flight over the surf looking down from the cliffs

Should this be titled "Fishing" or "being mooned by a duck"

What the heck?

Last walk down memory lane for today...

2010-05-09T19:35:00.000-04:00

Nikki's memory of MomMom...

Yesterday Nikki and I were remembering a funny story involving Mom. On Mom's first visit to Ohio she had to stop at a gas station. She pulled up to the pump and waited in the car for about 10 minutes. Nikki asked mom, "Well--are you going to get gas or not?" She said, "Isn't there someone who does that for us?" Nikki replied, "ummmm NO." Mom replied in a worried tone, "I don't know how to do that!!" Nikki sighs, and says, "O all right I'll do it." Mom do you now know how to pump gas?

Switzerland -Business trip May 2010

2010-05-09T19:31:00.007-04:00

Schloss Meggenhorn where we had dinner after a cruise on the Lake to get there

Looking toward the town from my hotel window - overcast and misty rain

View from my room in the Palace Hotel out toward the lake. The hotel is a five star hotel - listed as one of the "Leading Hotels of the World"

One of the oldest churches in Luzern, built in early 1300's. Luzern is a picturesque town of 75,000

...and more memories...

2010-05-09T19:27:00.002-04:00

The Baby Mullet.

Olivia--almost 2

More memories...

2010-05-09T19:26:00.000-04:00

What kind of sick twisted family do we come from?!!!

More Memory Lane...

2010-05-09T18:52:00.000-04:00

Remember this Christmas?

Christmas 2005

Memory Lane--Just for laughs

2010-05-09T18:39:00.000-04:00

International fair at the elementary school last year.

Flower Power

2010-05-09T17:51:00.006-04:00

Thank you to all my children for my elegant and beautiful Mother's Day gift
The photo just doesn't do justice to how lovely this looks
or this!
or this stunning clematis on the deck!!

or the spring blossoms in the front yard!!!

A week in DC

2010-05-08T21:04:00.015-04:00

Just thought we would go and see what the President is up to these days!! Dad had an American Cancer society meeting in DC all week so I went to take advantage of the free hotel room (for me) and to play in the Capitol City. It was perfect spring weather and I was happy to leave a freezing cold New Jersey for a week and enjoy the sunshine. I checked out the gardens downtown, spent time in the Museum of Natural history, saw an IMax movie of the sea life off the coast of Africa - interesting, and spent a day at the American Heritage Museum. I also braved the traffic and drove out to the Temple and stopped at the Zoo on the way back to the hotel. That was quite an exhausting day. Apart from the Saturday we spent with Melanie, dad managed to find another evening free to have dinner with Melanie and another good friend of hers. Poor dad. The rest of the week he was stuck in meetings.

On a beautiful 70 degree and sunshiny day we toured the White House grounds with Melanie, her friend Fan and Thomas - another friend who works at the famous House and got us the tickets - Thank you Thomas and Melanie. It was fun to hang out and the grounds and flowers were lovely.
Melanie, Thomas and Fan
Your aging parents and a very modern looking Melanie in a "we were there" photo. Kyle, check out the "sharp shooters" on the roof of the White House looking to keep everyone safe.
Gorgeous blossoms on the Washington DC Temple grounds
Spring perfection in a DC yard not far from the zoo
We just happened to be in DC during Earth Day Celebrations. All sorts of creative globes lined the mall depicting some aspect of the earth and its environment. I passed them on my way too and from the Smithsoneum and thought this one was cool.

40th Wedding Anniversary in NZ - 2010

2010-05-03T10:52:00.022-04:00

The family and the view from 2 Scott Rd
Jeffy,Steffy & Bracken Pilling,MomMom and Nana Palmer

The Mangrove swamp and the Marina View from mum's front yard

Enjoying the sand between our toes

"Of course I mean't to fall in"!

Brothers: John and Mike
OK so who is taller?
thinner? greyer? smarter?

This one is for you Chip!

Quintessential New Zealand - love those beaches

Our Catamaran moored in the crystal waters in the Bay of Islands and "Johny Depp's pirate shipheading in for a look

The End

Our Disney Vacation: Spring Break 2010

2010-04-22T17:00:00.000-04:00

Magic Kingdom: Olivia's favorite park. Her favorite ride was the carosel. My favorite ride was Splash Mountain. The kids (and I think Chip) liked space mountain.

We all loved the tea cups!!!

She tried so hard.

Pooped

Disney Hollywood Studios was Kyle and Daddy's favorite Park. The Twilight Zone Tower of terror was by far the best ride. That was Kyle's and Nikki's favorite ride of all. I think we scarred Olivia for life taking her on that one.

My favorite park was Animal Kingdom. For some reason I don't have any pictures of that park (pop pop was with us that day and I think he was designated picture taker and he has not sent me the pictures yet). By far the best ride at that park was Expedition Everest but my favorite experience of our vacation was at this park--It was Lion King. Finally we went to Epcott. This was Nikki's favorite park. She loved going to the countries. My least favorite rides were at this park but Soarin a simulated Hang glide ride was my favorite ride of all the parks.

Waiting for our reservation at Morroco

Olivia's Favorite princess.

by far Olivia's favorite Character.

fun in mom and dad's pool

Going Home

It begins....

2010-04-21T22:25:00.000-04:00

I thought it only fitting that the first post to the roberts family blog be the emails that were sent back and forth about naming our blog. By the way you guys were hopeless in choosing a name so I exercised my right as a 1st child to pull rank and choose the one I liked. Being first does have its perks sometimes.

Here you go...

Jan--I have not heard from any of you in a long time and am missing my bros and sis. I took a class on blogging not to long ago (I know this is old technology but it takes me a while to catch up) and I was wondering if you guys would cooperate with a Roberts family blog. My thoughts were that we each get on it about once a month and share thoughts/ pictures, what's going on in our lives, or just chat back an forth like we do occasionally with emails. I will set it up. It will be an invite only set up so not just anyone can visit/ comment on it. I'd like input about what to name it. I know you probably think this is a little dorky but i miss chatting with you guys and knowing what is going on with your lives.

Chip--you hear from me on a daily basis what are you talking about?

Steve--How bout the "everyone got married so now only Mel, Mike and Steve can legitimately call themselves Roberts--- family blog"

Amy--Sure...I'm in. I've cc'd Roger, though I am not sure he'll participate all that often. He's not much of a joiner.

Here are some suggestions:
The Oral Roberts's
The Roberts Family Writers
The Bloggerts Family
The John and Jenny Survivors Page
Amy Roberts Page...and The Others
Six Degrees of Relation Separation
Notes from the Budd Lake Blog Pond
Glenside Pride
The Tenzing Norgay Fan Page

Don't be a hater...what suggestions you clowns got?

Dad--Im glad to see I have succeeded in educating you on some topics of import such as who was the sherpa with Hillary on mans first successful conquest of Everest. Now for the advanced quiz. What was his birth name?

Steve--You just out-nerded yourself.

Sara--Dad - you are wounding me. Jan, great idea - I will really try but I am pretty lazy these days so not making any promises. Amy, I liked your suggestions. I could only think of names that have to do with wetting the bed -- no idea what made me think of that... what was the name of those shock mats mom and dad made us sleep on? That might be a good name...

Steve--the Electric Buzz beaters

Jan--Okay. You guys are making me laugh so much that I almost peed my pants. Maybe the name should have something to do with that problem we all seem to have. I didn't realize everyone got to use the buzzer bed. I thought only a select few of us got to use it. So far my favorites are the last 3 On Amy's list although. Any other votes?

steve--Wait... did I get a hand-me-down electric buzzer blanket. That is not only unfair, it is probably really unhygienic. I have literally slept in the urine of my siblings.

Amy--What about: Notes From the Bedwetting Blogosphere

Brad--Oh, wait - late write-in entry. What about the "I Love NAET" blog?

Jan--okay--should we flog Brad for trying to submit a late entry and then let it in? Brad I am assuming that is your vote.

brad--Yep. Possibly with a heart in place of "Love".

Steve--Actually the cool thing to do now is to write out "heart"....So it would be the "I heart NAET blog"

Amy--How about the NAETONATORSPHERE Just to give it a real futuristic vibe?!??