June travel to California

Back to California I did go in June. Wow, I have had quite the travels this year. Jamie was in the Rabjohn/Turner wedding, so Mick said I should go to spend time with Jamie and attend the wedding also. The Rosells surprised me with a new flag for the flagpole. They are doing a super job keeping the place up for us. It has been a great blessing for us to not have to worry about the house in Brea. They are also so much fun to stay with when I head into town.

We got to have fun with the Rosells at the house and especially had fun playing with Carly. She has grown up so much since I was there in April. Makes me realize how much I want to be close to my children when they are raising their families.

While in California my brother Mark and his family were there vacationing and also for Katie to check out some colleges in the area. I am so excited that another niece is looking into schools in California. We have a friend in the ward that so graciously signed Jamie and me into the park for part of the day. We had great fun showing them the ropes of California Adventure and getting them to experience the more intense rides.

Bugs life is a fun adventure. Had to give these Washatonians a break from all the fun filled thrill rides. I convinced them all to try California Adventure and Boomerang and then they were maniacs. Kyle rode California Adventure 3 times in a row and Mark even did a couple times in a row. But......when we took them to Tower of Terror.......no way....once was enough they said. Even their exchange student Hanna said once was enough and she is a huge rollercoaster fan.

Here's our recent grad. She had quite the adventure while here in California. She flew in on tuesday afternoon from Washington state where she is working for the summer, we headed to Disneyland on wed, she caught a flight to utah on wed late afternoon for an interview at UVU for their nursing program. Flew back to CA on thursday evening for rehearsal dinner and then the wedding was friday morning. She was able to stay a couple more days after I left so she could have some beach time and enjoy the California sun before heading back to Washington. It had been almost a year since she had been to California. Keep posted to see if she was accepted into their nursing program for her post grad work.

The main reason for my trip to Ca was for the wedding of Braden Turner and Brittany Rabjohns. What a great time I had seeing all our old friends from the neighborhood, the parents of friends of our children, and also the members of Brea 1st ward and Placentia Stake. It was so good to see them and hear how their families are doing.

Jamie has been friends with Brit since they moved to Brea when they were 3 years old. They have many memories together from pre-school, dance, elementary school, Jr High, HS, and they both attended BYU. It was fun for mom to see all her friends and be with her on this visit.

It was so good to see Jenny Summers from northern California. We served in the stake YW together and she is such a fun and talented gal, just like Denise who can do anything she puts her mind to.

What fun I had hanging with good friends Laurel, who is the mother of the bride and Denise Wilson.

Jamie and I went over to the Peters to wish Tyler Happy Graduation from UCLA. Jamie and Tyler have been good friends since they were 2 years old and their brothers, Graig and Trevor, met in Kindergarten. Congrats goes out to both Jamie and Tyler for doing their undergrad work in 4 years.

"Curb Alerting" Jersey style

Last weekend Penny Boyle from our ward here in Jersey invited me to go "curb alerting" with her. Every year this one county has a clean out every June where you can put whatever you want out for the garbage collectors. They can put it out starting saturday morning until monday evening for a tuesday morning pick up. Penny has learned through the years to get the streets that they will be collecting from and maps out a route to go looking and collecting. I was amazed at what people were throwing away. Brand new items, items that worked, etc. They would have signs on 10 foot lighted Christmas Trees, refridgerators, generators, power washers, etc that they still worked. As you can tell, we found a lot to take home. You can't see it but we got a bicycle built for two, a complete diningroom set with the customs table pads, a queen size posted bed with carved posts, etc. It was an adventure. I could've come home with more, but had to keep telling myself that I would just have to move it back to CA. The next day, I was agonizing over not getting the double bed complete with headboard and footboard and rails and a tray table and a........... I was unable to go with Penny the next day so called while she was out scouting and told her that if the bed was still there if she could pick it up. Well it wasn't there because while we were loading the queen size bed that you can see in the truck, the owner of the double bed came running down to us a few doors down to tell us she had the cherry bed. She said she was surprised that no one had picked it up yet. Well we told her it was because she didn't have a good presentation and propped it up for her and made it look grand. Shouldn't have done that.....it was gone. While we were loading the diningroom set, the young man from the house came out and helped us load it. I have some great stories of our afternoon curb alerting. Like I said, I can't believe what people throw away. Wish I knew about it when I was furnishing this house with Craiglist. The items on the curb were just as great if in some cases better than what I paid for.

Don't you love this caravan. The gentleman that put them together drives it in parades around the state. You can drive it from either side. I wonder if it has a reverse? Anyway it was in the area we were doing our curb alerts.

Here are the goodies I came home with. This 3 drawer dresser....don't you love the lines. This cute little lamp is great. You just touch it and it goes on and off and brighter with each touch. I also got a large pot for one of the pumpkin plants, a small white dest with carving on the edge, and a Pampered Chef pizza stone.

This is the 12 foot wooden ladder I found. Going to display the quilts I have made on them. Looks good in the 20 foot high ceiling familyroom.

I didn't get to go back on monday with Penny to check out any new things that were put out. But guess what Penny found and brought back for me. A Woody doll.......I was so excited to have the Woody doll to go with Jessie. Can you believe someone would throw a toy out on the curb, let alone Woody and Jessie? Surely they have not gone to see Toy Story 3!

Penny also brought back 20 yards of 54 inch wide red cotton/poly blend fabric. Can you believe it? A brand new unused bolt of red fabric. The wheels are turning........valances and dust ruffles in the patriotic bedroom at the lakehouse, tablecloths......oh the list could go on and on. Best part......it was free.

This is Woody and Jessie happily reunited once again. Just look at the joy in their eyes and the love they radiate. We find them all over the house in different places, doing different things. Why, just this morning they were upside down hanging from the banisters.

Don't you just love toys.........and especially Toy Story 3.

Happy 54th to Mick!!!

Happy Birthday Mick. I know it was May 25th, but I'm just getting the pictures posted. The Frugone's came over to celebrate Mick's 54th. Yes, he is the same age as me now. They each picked out a balloon for him and did a homemade card. Well those were super special balloons because just this morning they have finally lost their helium and are fading to the ground. Don't you love the birthday glasses they brought too?

July 4th 2010

In keeping with tradition of last year, Janelle had her face painted. When we walked up to the little stand, the husband of the artist, smiled and quickly turned to the photo album displaying the pictures of our gang and their painted faces from last year. Janelle was very excited to see them.

Janelle's completed 4th of July face.

The painted faces gang.

A walk to the park where we ate our 4th of July last year.

Look closely and you can see the NYC helicopters flying over the Hudson River. Part of the pre-firework entertainment.

Water boats ding their show. Red, white and blue water came later.

Here is the group playing the candy bar game. Wouldn't be the 4th without "The Candy Bar Game". Roll those dice...is it a 7 or an 11 so you can pick your candy?

Mick and I on the 4th 2010. I told Mick I thought we looked old and wasn't going to post, but hey we were hot and sweaty from 100 degree evening and a lot of humidity. And I'm sure we have a case of A.G.E. too.

Great show. Thank you Macy's.

I know this picture is blurry, but those red lights in the center is New Jersey's motorbike police officer giving us an escort from the condo to 62nd street.

This year travel time home with police escort.......55 minutes.

Last year......3 + hours.

Great 4th and more 2 Year Adventure for Mars memories.