Summer Vacation - Day 1 (Milan, IT)

I am going to try to get our summer trip posted on the blog. I keep putting it off because with over 900 pictures to choose from and also just starting to describe all the places we went to and sights we saw is so overwhelming to me. So I've decided to start with the short e-mails we sent family during our trip that briefly told about out adventures for a few days and then post a few pictures. Here goes.

We arrived in Milan ontime after a short night on the plane. We waited a couple of hours for Jamie and met her coming out of the baggage claim area. Her flights also went well but she wasn't impressed with Ambien. She said she only slept a couple of hours.

We found the train, bought our tickets and rode into the city. Upon arrival at the Cardona station we set up TomTom and had it guide us the 0.75 mile to the Park Hyatt hotel. A sister to the Park Hyatt Tokyo hotel that Joni, Graig and I stayed at after his mission, it is nice but does not challenge for the top spot on our list, in spite of the $500 rate (we used points). Long story short, they messed up our reservation and put us in a room they claimed was too small for a rollaway so I slept on the floor while the girls slept in the queen size bed.
Walking from the Milan train station to our hotel. Typical cobblestone Italian streets which are narrow. I miss all the window boxes that are common in southern Italy. You just don't see them in northern Italy.
Anyway, we quickly changed clothes and walked to our tour meeting spot. Mick was reminded why he doesn't like group tours as we moved at the group's pace and loitered too long in some sites. However, the tour was the only way we could get in to see DaVinci's Last Supper, so we tolerated it. It is a great work of art in a humble little refectory and definitely worth the visit. It was protected from damage in World War II bombing of the refectory but the images are fading because of the technique DaVinci used. Definitely a divinely inspired work of art.

It just wouldn't be a vacation in Italy without gelato and Mick with the video camera.

The Duomo in Milan Italy. It is huge and took over 300 years to complete. I enjoyed our climb to the roof and the view from up there also.

Scene from the rooftop of the Duomo. The Duomo (cathedral) is a spectacular sight (should be after over 300 years in construction) and we were able to walk the roof which offered grand vistas all the way out to the Alps. We spent quite a bit of time trying to find a Tiffany"s for "you know who" but only found a Captain Jack Sparrow street performer. Too bad Janelle was not with us!
We held out for gelato until about 8pm but had to muster up considerable willpower to resist having another.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is a spectacular, late 19th century glass-topped, barrel-vaulted tunnel which houses the most select stores for shopping. The mosaic floors represent Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States. Those at the entrance are dedicated to science, industry, art, and agriculture. It is very beautiful.

Castello Sforzesco was built in 1450 by the Francesco Sforza family, who was the fourth duke of Milan. It even has a staircase from within the courtyard where the horses can climb so they didn't have to get off their horses until they got to their living quarters.

Milan Opera House, La Scala, which reopened in 1946 after being closed in 1943 due to allied bombing. The stage is as large as the auditoriums floor.

Pom-pom yo-yo necklace

As most of you know I am big into blogland. I found this idea for a yo-yo pom-pom necklace so had to make one for Gina Halladay to wear in her quilt shop. Gina is big into pom poms and is always trying to "make it work" in anything she can.

This is Janelle modeling it for me before we sent it off to California to Gina.

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.

April/May Travels

Thursday evening April 15th Mick, Janelle and I flew out of Newark New Jersey to head home to California. As soon as we landed we headed to In N Out for burgers. Even though it was 10pm it tasted soooooooo good. I have to note here that of the 10 days Mick was gone from Jersey he had In N Out 8 times. Yes, 8 times!!!! He loves it.
Friday was dentist appointments and errands and that evening the Peters had us over for Don's famous chicken tacos. The Guziks and Grandma and Grandpa Peters were also there. What fun it was to get together with our dear friends. It has been a tradition to go fishing every year at June Lake in the Eastern Sierras with the Peters and the Guziks. We have been unable to go the past 2 years due to our assignment in Jersey and have missed being with these good friends. Yes, we did play cards. Sunday was church in the Brea 1st ward. Loved being with all our good friends there. Monday was "stage two" of my oral surgery for my implant. I had to go under general anesthesia again. Mick took good care of me.
During dinner the hummingbirds were plentiful, eating the secret recipe Laurie brews for them. I was fasinated by their bright red color. Do you know how hard it is to get a picture of a hummingbird?
Wednesday morning Mick, Janelle, and I drove to utah for Jamie's graduation. It was beautiful when we left california, but arrived in Utah to heavy rains and even had some snow along the way.

Here is the family after Jamie's thursday afternoon general graduation program. The following post also has a couple of pictures of her graduation.

PANIC!!! The computer blacked out on me and the following post is to be included with this one. I thought I had lost all my work........so continue reading for more adventures.......

April/May travels

Here is Jamie seconds after receiving her diploma. She graduated in four years......Way to go Jamie. She now holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. Next......she is planning on attending Nursing School.

This is the gang that attended Jamie's graduation friday morning for her college. We went to Tucanos for lunch and each of us came out with a "Meat Coma" as David and Jamie put it. What a great morning we had.

Saturday morning we were able to attend one of Jamie's indoor soccer games. She played for BYU intramural co-ed and also a city indoor league this past semester. Her Dad was cheering and kicking his legs and LOVED being able to see her play. Graig, Nicole and I headed to SLC to attend a session of the temple before Adam and Jessica's wedding. What a beautiful day it was, as you can see from the pictures taken on the temple grounds. We attended the reception that afternoon and enjoyed being with Mick's family. We were able to be with his mother and Kent, his sister Deanna and her family, his brother Ken, father of the groom and all his children, and Laurie and Calvin, Adams parents.

Sunday morning we attended the broadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and The Spoken Word. Brooke Holyoak, Janelle's friend from Houston days, sings in the choir and her mom Tracie was in town for gradaution and womens conference so we were able to see them both. What a treat it was. The Prophet Thomas S. Monson, Dallin Oaks and David Archuletta were also in attendance. Sorry the picture of David didn't come out.

After taking Mick to the airport for his flight back to New Jersey, Janelle, Jamie, my mom, Graig and Nicole and I headed up to Idaho. What fun we had being in their home and eating the delicious meals they prepared for us. On Monday we were able to go and help Nicole in her first grade classroom. We had so much fun helping with an art project for their moms day surprise. We also helped with math and reading. During lunch recess you could earn tokens for the upcoming field trip. For each lap you earned a token, 4 laps earned you a gold one. What fun I had running and walking to earn a gold and red token. Too bad I'll miss the field trip. Here is Nicole reading to her students. You can tell she loves each and every one of her students.....and they love her.

Wednesday morning Jamie, Janelle, Mom and I were up early to head back to Provo. We stopped in Idaho Falls to join Cousin Kim and Aunt Eleanor for breakfast. We missed seeing Andrew who is there attending Idaho State on a Rugby Scholarship.

We did a Costco run and then headed over to cousin Merr's poolhouse for a Harmer Girls reunion dinner. Uncle Bob BBQ'd and Karyn made yummy desserts, Uncle Albert and patsy made potatoes and we had an awesome meal and laughed and had fun with everyone. All you Harmer relatives, plan on attending next year....we are going to make it a tradition.

Thursday April 29-30 was BYU Women's Conference in Provo, Utah. It has been a tradition for several years now for my mom, cousin Kim, Aunt Eleanor and myself to attend. Through the years others have joined us including my sister, sister in laws, cousin Lynette and good friend Chris Panian. This year my Aunt Patsy and my mother's high school girlfriend Marjean attended with us. We always have so much fun laughing, attending classes, shopping, laughing, eating, laughing, getting some sleep, laughing and having a great time. Thanks to Marjean thisyear we had plenty of snacks and goodies. Good thing we laugh so much or we would really show how much we ate when we went home and tried to get into our favorite jeans.

Saturday morning Janelle and I were up early to head to Cedar City, Utah with my Uncle Bob and Aunt Karyn to participate in my cousins Leslie Ewells graduation. She received her Masters in Education from SUU. Jamie and David were in St George for the weekend so were able to join us also. After the ceremonies, lunch and change of clothes, Janelle and I headed to California. We did the drive in 6 hours with 2 stops. Janelle and I were able to attend church in Brea, I did my follow-up surgery appt and tuesday we headed back home to Jersey. Where is home? Well, I have decided it is where I am at the moment. It seems whenever we are in California it is like we have just been gone on vacation somewhere. I wonder how it will feel when we finally move back at the end of the year.

Well we are here in Jersey until the 15th of June, when I head back to California for more Dr's appointments and also Brit Rabjohns wedding. Jamie is meeting me for the week. Fun, fun, and more travel miles. Seems I've traveled more than Mick so far this year. EGADS!!!!