Someone turned two!

Makenna turned two! She spent the night with us the night before her birthday so Grandma had to get doughnuts for breakfast. Here she is blowing out her candle in her donut.. :-)

Sisters!

When I was at Target a few weeks ago they had they shirts for $2 on the clearance rack so I bought them for these two.

Steve & Vik Out on the Town

When my daughter-in-law had her bachelorette party in 2009 we rode the ferry across the San Diego bay from downtown San Diego to Coronado. We then went to an Italian restaurant and had a delightful evening out on the patio. I had told our friends that we should do this sometime. Recently one of our friends was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer so we decided we better do it, since it had been over two years that we had wanted to do it. Better late than never!

This is me and Steve on the ferry from San Diego to Coronado. You can see how the Bell's Palsy has affected my face and that was about three months after the onset.

The gorgeous view of the San Diego downtown area.  Yes, this is in the middle of winter. Don't be jealous!

The guys enjoying their dessert.

Steve & Dan

On the ferry over to Coronado

Meeting Sissy

Last month we went to AZ and visited Sarah, Nathan, and baby Isaiah. We hadn't visited our oldest daughter in quite some time and needed to see baby Isaiah. He needs to know Grandpa and Grandma and that's not going to happen six hours away! Meskerem Amy also needed to meet her oldest sister and her family.

Not everyone went so were able to take the minivan. (Our small car is an eight passenger mini-van) We usually drive through somewhere and get something quick or stop at In & Out in El Centro depending on the time of day and when we last ate. This time we hit Jack In the Box for breakfast sandwiches. Yummy!

Sarah lives on Luke AFB now so we had to wait for her to come out and drive us in since we didn't have a visitor's pass because the visitor's office is closed on weekends. She has a nice three bedroom home which makes it really nice when you have a baby and need to haul all the baby stuff which includes the baby! :-)

Meskerem and Sarah hit it off as I knew they would. Who wouldn't like Sarah? and who doesn't love Meskerem?! After we unloaded and said our hellos we took off for Cracker Barrel. California does not have any Cracker Barrels so it's always a treat when we hit Arizona to indulge ourselves and sit down together in a restaurant. I got to sit next to Isaiah and sneak him tasty bits of food while his mom was on the other side of him feeding him healthy bits of food. I'm sure his healthy bits were tasty, but he did like my hush puppies and fries.
                                         
                                              Isaiah after his bath. Isn't he the cutest?

Sarah & Meskerem

Sarah, Nathan, and Isaiah

We had a great time but our visit was way too short. We're going back soon so we can give Isaiah some more love and Grandma time.

Joe's Week!

Our oldest at home, has been going to Explorer Academy through the local law enforcement agency. This past Saturday he graduated and has his last test this Saturday. We were so proud of him as he walked in with the other cadets. They were in uniform, standing tall, and very excited although they couldn't let it show.

Joe worked very hard for the past few months that he has been in the program. He aced all four tests with a scores of 100% on each. He was within one point of tying for first place for the physical fitness portion. On Saturday he was award top Academic Score and the overall award of Honor Student. Wow! We are so proud of him!

His friend later said to him over lunch at Olive Garden, "I'm surprised you won the academic award, but I'm more surprised that you didn't win the physical fitness award." That is so true!! Joe is a natural athlete, but the push-ups got the better of him, plus he played or practiced varsity soccer everyday besides going to the Academy. He pushed himself and it paid off. Well done, Joe!

AND if that wasn't enough...............

Joe is in photo at school. He took some pictures and one happened to be the strings of his guitar at a certain angle. His pictures were so well liked that one of the photos is featured on the front of the school newspaper!!! His name is on the front and the year he will graduate.

This same friend who made the earlier comment, looked at Joe and said, "Who are you?!" "What have you done with Joseph?!"

When I Am a Hundred