SAW MILL TRAIL HIKE 10-21-2011

Hiking with Janica

Beautiful Fall Day

Love the Autumn Leaves

What an awesome view....so worth the hike

Common on Rob bend your fingers so we make a heart shape... :)

SPRING BREAK IN CORONADO 2010

We went to Coronado, California for Spring Break.  My brother, Mike and his wife, Toni, just purchased a new house.  They were very gracious to let us spend a week with them.  It was so fun to see their house and their cute little kiddos, Jack and Chelsea.   We packed up our Honda Fit....with all our STUFF and our two youngest kids, Alyssa and Jordan.  It was a long drive but uneventful.  We started off with a trip to Birches Aquarium and then a jaunt to the beach.   We saw a 200 pound black bass.  Got to touch a star fish, it felt like sandpaper.  Then the sea cucumber felt slimy.  What a blast!    The next day we went on a tour of the USS Midway....all I can say is WOW!  It is like a floating city.  The had barber shops, dentist facilities, mess hall and all kinds of things, along with a Brig.   After the tour we rode the ferry across San Diego Bay and back to Coronado.   The next day was a fun fun trip to Disneyland. We left Coronado at 5:30 am and arrived around 7:30 am. By the time we parked in the Pinocchio parking lot and rode the train, got through the gates and to a ride it was around 8:30 am.  So that is how our day started.  First ride was Finding Nemo.  The funny thing is we ran into someone we knew that was waiting in line too.   Then we were off to the Matterhorn.   The day was a blur of rides, mostly waiting in lines to ride the rides, fun shops, all kinds of attractions.  We did go over the California side of the park.  It was interesting.  Everything was crowded.  We got home around 10pm.  What a long tiring day of fun...LOL.  

Rob was anxious to get home and sleep because the boys were supposed to go on a deep sea fishing trip the next morning.  Unfortunately, the weather precluded the fishing trip for that day and it was rescheduled for Friday. So while it rained on Friday Rob did some plumbing jobs.  Toni and I went Easter shopping and just had a nice restful day.  Thursday was great weather again...so we went out on the bay and did some kayaking.  It was so much fun.  Now Rob wants to get a kayak for our family.

Finally, on Friday the weather cooperated and the boys got to go on their fishing trip.   They had  a great time, but didn't catch any fish.  Mike did feed the seagulls successfully...LOL   Toni and I took the rest of the crew to Legoland.  We had an awesome time.  The lego sculptures are amazing.    Later that night the adults all went to an amazing Mexican place for dinner in Old Town San Diego.   Saturday was a very  nice day. Rob and I went on a bike ride around the island.   Coronado isn't really an island it is a peninsula.  There is a thin bit of land that connects to the main shore.  It is called the strand because it is only about a little wider than the road.   Later that night we went to a Bazaar located one road from the entrance to Mexico.  We found some interesting things and purchased several tee shirts for 2 buck a piece.   YAY for good deals...LOL    The next day we stayed long enough for the Easter Bunny to find us.  Then we were off for a long ride back to Bluffdale.     It was a wonderful week of fun and relaxation!   While we were driving home Mike sent a text telling us about an earthquake that happened in Mexico.  They felt it in Coronado along with several aftershocks.  Fortunately, there was not damage to them or their new home.

JANICA'SWATCH BANDS

Janica is so creative.  She is always working on something crafty.  Her latest project has been beaded watch bands.  I have been the lucky recipient of at 10 of her beautiful designs.

ALYSSA'S HAIR EXTRAVAGANZA

Alyssa went to a Young Women's Activity.  They had a "Hair Extravaganza" she got chosen to have her hair done.  When she was finished she looked just like a Princess.  What a fun activity!

ALL BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE FELL IN LOVE.....

It all started on September 19, 1958 with my parents wedding....and look how their life has evolved :)

50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

September 19, 2008 was an amazing day for my parents. It was their 50th Wedding Anniversary!
I can hard believe my parents are old enough to be married for 50 years...wow!
Since my parents seem to be content with everything it was hard to choose something worthy of being a 50th anniversary gift. Finally, my sisters had a great idea....a quilt with pics of each family and our parents. Well, since my siblings live out of state, and I hadn't ever made a quilt...the task fell to my uber-talented daughter, Janica. She designed the quilt and sewed it together. After all that work we wanted to hand quilt but, it was hard to quilt through the picture squares. So my mom had a very talented friend that volunteered to machine quilt it. All in all I think it turned out well....and it represents many hours of loving work and memories. THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR BEING THE BEST!!!

SANTA AT THE GRAND AMERICA HOTEL...

We, Mom, Mike, Toni, Jack, Chelsea, Rob, Diane and Jordan, all went to the Grand America Hotel the day after Thanksgiving for the lighting of the Angel Tree. The plaza was decorated beautifully. Everything was free including: decorating a gingerbread man, hot chocolate, scones, cinnamon nuts and even a picture with Santa!!! On the 23rd floor they had Teddy Bear Town in the presidential suite. We even ran into our cousins from Las Vegas, Justin Williams and family.