FAMILY

This past Sunday we got together with Christine's family (Williams) that are left in California. Ron came down from Washington State to see the parents. We had a big family dinner and visited until late in the night. It was great to see him again. It is always great to get together and visit.

From left to right: Back: Patricia, Larry, Ron, Christine. Sitting in front: the parents, Sonia and LaMar Williams

LOOK WHAT I HAVE!!!

After 4 years without one, we are finally getting a fireplace mantel! I can't believe it is almost done. It will be varnished to match the kitchen cabinets. Now I can decorate!!

I will post the 'after' picture when it is done!

TRICK OR TREATING WITH THE ANIMALS

Saturday, October 25, 2008, we went to Irvine Regional Park with Michelle, our oldest daughter and her children, Madelyn and Spencer. The Orange County Zoo is there. It specializes in animals who live in the southwestern habitat. They were having 'trick or treating' with the animals, so, Madelyn and Spencer dressed up in their Halloween costumes and met us there. The zoo had people all over the zoo passing out candy, helping the children with a scavenger hunt, and doing crafts with the children. We were all really impressed with the zoo!

Afterwards, we went over the the park's pumpkin patch and rode the train around the park. We also bought train whistles for Madelyn and Spencer so they could blow them as we rode the train. It is great to spend a day with our children and grandchildren!

BIRTHDAY TIME FOR CHRISTINE

Today is my birthday. I'm at the age that I'm not really sure I want to be celebrating birthdays anymore, but I love getting messages from my children and grandchildren singing "Happy Birthday". I woke up today happy to be alive ... grateful that I have a wonderful husband, great children, super grandchildren, good friends and extended family! Everything else is just extra!

TUACHAN THEATRE

This past Saturday, October 11, 2008 we took a fast trip up to St. George, Utah to see the play, Les Miserables, at the Tuachan Theatre. We left at 6:00 a.m. to get an early start. Dan & Franca Briggs went with us. We stopped at Peggy Sue's in Yermo, CA for breakfast. Franca & Dan had never been there and Grant thought it would be a fun place to go. After that we went straight up to St. George. Grant decided to show Franca the St. George temple and as we rounded the corner, we saw Liesel & Cody coming out of the temple grounds! We all went to Nielsen's frozen Custard to have a treat while waiting for our hotel rooms to be ready.

We stayed at the Coral Hills Hotel along with my parents, Patty, Larry, Lorrie, Lisa, Joel, Jakie, Liesel & Cody, and the Briggs.

That evening we went out to dinner at Cafe Rio, and then went to the theater. Was it ever cold!

The Tuachan theater is an outdoor theater and the temperature out there was about 40 degrees! We had lots of coats, blankets, hats and gloves to sit and watch the musical. It was a great performance and we enjoyed it a lot. The next morning found all of us down in the breakfast room at the hotel and then everyone started going home. It was fun to see our daughter, Liesel and her husband, Cody for one day. I am glad we went!

FIELDTRIP!!!

Since I have a pre-school, I arrange field trips all the time. Unfortunately, I don't get to enjoy them as much as the children and their parents do. As usual, I am in the background trying to make sure everything is going smoothly. This time we went to the Orange County Zoo, at the Irvine Regional Park, and their pumpkin patch and train ride. This is the first time that I have ever had t-shirts with my preschool logo on them. It was fun to see everyone in their shirts. It was a great day and everyone seemed to have a good time. Great place to go! So to enjoy it myself, I am going to take my California grandchildren there next Saturday!