Chuckeeeeeee Cheeeeeesssssse!!!!!!!

Grandma and Grandpa took the girls to their favorite place, Chucky Cheese. As we drove to Chucky, I warned DB that Krissy Evans did a blog on taking her kids to Chucky Cheese and the kids loved it and she came home with a headache. Oh my goodness, now I understand what she meant. Wow, was this place chaos. But, Lucy and Maryn did love it. We even left the place with more tokens than we came with, because a very nice young girl gave me her left over coins as she left. Grandma and Grandpa got a taste of this wonderful place, but we think we will leave the left over tokens for Chris and Jess. I know they will love taking their kids there for a treat. So here are some pictures of the fun things they did. Maryn was disappointed that Chucky was too busy with the thousand birthday parties going on, so she didn't get to talk to him. Well, maybe next time.

Both girls are napping right now. That place wore them out.

Walking Fallon

Don and I have our visiting dog right now and Fallon loves to take bay walks with us. Don takes Fallon on bay walks even when I'm too tired or out of town. Today is Sunday and we headed down to the Marina to take our normal walk. So, I decided that I had to take some pictures. It was a beautiful day. This is a good life for Fallon and for Don and I.

See how beautiful and glassy the bay is.

Then as we were walking and the most amazing thing happened. We ran into Helen and Ben. That has never happend before. So, we continue our walk together and of course I had to take a picture of Helen. She isn't really a dog person, but she sure looks like she could do it.

What a lovely Sunday!

Farewell to my childhood home

I just spent 5 days at my mother's house, which was built in 1946, sorting, cleaning and reminiscing. My mother died at the beginning of February at the age of 93.

Today I was sitting in her back yard while two nice gentlemen were loading a bunch of her belongings into a truck to be donated to charity. I started to reminisce about growing up in that tiny house with the big backyard. I noticed a hummingbird come buzzing by some of the geranium that were in bloom. This was the spot that my dad built the playhouse, which is no longer there. We had many great times in the playhouse,. Then a squirrel started checking out the apricot tree while birds were chirpping in the avocado tree that I planted from a seed when I was 10 years old. This house has so many memories. I was there to say my farewell to it.
This is a picture of Steven playing our childhood toy violin where the playhouse used to be. I think he is playing "tiptoe through the tulips". He is actually playing the violin like a guitar.

Here are Steve, Katie and Megan relaxing in the backyard after hours of work last Saturday. Notice the Tito's cup. I ate there 5 times in the 5 days . I guess I over did Tito's, but I don't know when I'll be back. Farewell and thanks for the memories.

Happy Birthday To The Daphodile Queen

Happy 26th Birthday Laurel!

Laurel came over for dinner tonight. She headed off to a pub to meet some friends after dinner. Here Laurel is wearing the tiara that her grandmother wore for her 70th birthday. She planned to wear it at the pub too. I think it looks great on her.

Laurel's birthday flower has always been the daphodile. It is such a February flower. So, we bought daphodiles for her 26th birthday, just like we had daphodiles on her first birthday. If you scroll down, you will see Laurel at her first birthday and there is a tub of daphodiles in the background. So appropriate. Laurel was a sweetheart back then and she still is. I love you Laurel.

Happy Valentines Day

Don and I were in Southern California on Valentines Day. He called me outside and said he had a surprise for me. Look at the wonderful heart in the sky. He said he did it for me for Valentines Day. Now, think about it. Would DB pay bunches of money to have a heart drawn in the sky? I don't think so. But, I still thought it was really cool. I hope you enjoy it too.

Erica's 30th Birthday!!!!

Here we are at Orange Hill in Orange celebrating Erica's 30th Birthday. We had a wonderful brunch. Thanks Erica and Andrew for a wonderful venue to celebrate Erica's 30th Birthday. What a lovely time!

Here is Kevin with Erica. Isn't this a great brother sister photo?

Steven help Erica open gifts. I think Andrew was helping too.

Here we have Erica Andrew and Megan.

After the brunch we went outside to take in the beautiful 180 degree of Orange County and Los Angeles. It was so clear that we could see downtown LA from the restaurant.

Every once in while I get my photo taken. Here I am with the birthday girl and Andrew.Here are Sandy and Bill with E & A
Steve and Margaret couldn't get outside because of steps, so they are checking out the view through the window.

Here is Katie with her very sweet baby. Megan and Steven were champs during the brunch.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERICA

Birthdays***Best Friends***Grandchildren

My 60th birthday celebration just seems to just keep on happening. Helen and Karmi took me to the city for tea. There is a new tea shop at Ghiradelli Square called Crown & Crumpet. It is very cute and bright and the food was wonderful. So, we had a leisurely meal while Helen's granddaughter slept. When we finished eating Avery woke up and was sweet and adorable for everyone to enjoy. The January weather in San Francisco has been wonderful, so it was a picture perfect day.

It was such a delight for me to get a phone call from Maryn while we were still in San Francisco. She doesn't call me on the phone very often. She said "Grandmaaaa, I skyped you two times and you didn't answer." I explained to her that I wasn't home, but I would skype her as soon as I got home. She said, "OK, goodbye." Aren't grandcildren the greatest? I think both Helen and I would agree.

While the women are away, the fishermen will fish!

So, while I was at the women's retreat (see the blog below this one), Don and his brother Steve decided that they would go look for things to slaughter. Isn't that just like guys? Well they each caught a very sought after sturgeon. They have both been fishing a long time and this was Steve's first sturgeon, so you can see that he is really excited. There are very specific rules for keeping a sturgeon. It must be between 46 and 66 inches long. Otherwise, you have to toss it back. They both got keepers. Don's was 62 inches and Steve's wa 50 1/2 inches. And here is the most amazing thing. Don actually got out his camera and took a picture. So, of course, I had to blog this. Nice job! Did I mention that Sturgeon really tastes good.

Women's Retreat at Asilomar

I went to the 25th annual women's retreat at our church. This was my 10th time attending. We always have such a great time. You would too. Check out these pictures. We had an amazing speaker. The topic was forgiveness. Who can't spend time reflecting on forgivenss. And look at the beautiful setting at Asilomar in Pacific Grove. I just love spending time on the beach and being with wonderful Christian friends.

Here is a picture of the coming up.

I got up before breakfast to take a pictures on the beach.

Here I am with Fran, Jeanie and Helen. We drove down to the Monterey Bay together and enjoyed stopping, taking pictures, shopping and having a great time together. These are great ladies.

Here is a picture of me with Helen. Helen and I have been best friends for years. I've known her since 1985.

I had to include the photo of Fran. She was the moderator at the retreat. She did a wonderful job and we all enjoyed her humor.

Here I am with Kathy. Every once in a while I asked someone to take my picture, just to show you that I was really there.

We are sitting by the beach just catching those last few minutes of the ocena before we had to go home.

June and Fran are thinking that they are going to stay in Pacific Grove.

Jeanie, Kathy and I are sitting on the beach, drinking wine and waiting for the sun to set. It was well worth the wait because the sunset was outstanding.

Here is the view of the sunset. This is why we sit on the beach and watch it go down. It was so beautiful. I love the beach.

One of the things I love to do in Pacific Grove is to visit the migrating butterflies. I didn't have my long lens with me when we went to see the butterflies because we didn't think we would see many. But, there were some massive clumps of them. There are hundreds of butterfies in this picture. When the butterflies are in town, it is a sight to see.

Yosemite 2009

I almost don't have to write anything here. I just love this place. The view of half dome right after you come through the tunnel on the way to Yosemite Village is just breathtaking. They have cleared out some trees that blocked the view and it so perfect.

This is why we drive for an hour and a half to visit Yosemite . It is just magestic. And we look pretty cute too, don't we?
Here are the two Steve's. Little Steven looks like he is touching the moutain.

I wanted a family photo here but Megan was sleeping. No, we weren't about to disturb a sleeping baby.

So, I finally got the family to pose. One day they will tell Megan that she went to Yosemite when she was 6 months old.

We ate lunch at Yosemite Lodge and then we walked up to Yosemite Falls. Don stayed at the Lodge with Megan because the walk was slippery from ice. Here is a suggestion if you ever leave a great uncle with a baby in a public place. Give them some details about the baby. Like how old is she? People kept commenting on what a cute baby Megan is and they asked how old she was. He had no idea. He looked at the tag in her shirt and it said 12 months. He thought that sounded too old. (he was right!) But, he just ended up being honest and told people that he really wasn't sure how old she was. He was just watching her. But, Megan is really cute and brings in a lot of comments. Now back to the ice hike. Here they are at the start of the walk. It does look icy.


We made it to the falls pretty fast. I have never seen the path so empty. People walking down warned us to watch the path for ice. We had to go off of the path, just to keep from slipping. But, it was well worth the effort.

Aren't they cute !Katie made it!