Pageant of the Masters

This is a huge picture advertising the Pageant outside the entrance to the theater - This years theme is Eat, Drink and be Merry. Every year there is a different theme and different art works. The finale is always the Last Supper which is just marvelous! My descriptions don't do the production justice.

A picture showing some of the costumes and make up on the actors

I love cups so Malcolm bought me a cup with a copy of one of the paintings on it.

Mike and Annette who invited us and got tickets months in advance to attend. Also took us to dinner. Thanks to them for a wonderful adventure at the Pageant!

Malcolm and Patsy inside the art display area

Some of the unusual and interesting art

Malcolm and I spent the morning at the beach with beautiful skies and wonderful temperatures

A great shot of my Honey having some lemonade at Ruby's at the end of the pier
Malcolm and I drove to Laguna Beach to See the Pageant of the Masters - an amazing production which features great works of art and has real people made up, designed, painted, etc to replicate the real piece of art. A backdrop is used and special lighting. Also a very interesting and humorous narrator tells the story and history of the art piece. It is so incredible and interesting to see. We could not take pictures inside, but we also viewed work of some artist from the area in paintings, pottery, jewelry and other forms. We spent hours just viewing all the very funny, beautiful and crazy ideas that gifted people put together.

Paige's Sleep-over

We made a tooth fairy pillow for Paige's loose 2 front teeth

Popcorn and a new video

Paige's favorite night shirt is my pink T-shirt pinned back to fit her

Our pies and cookies

We had what Paige calls a "sleep over" yesterday and today with our little Paige. She felt it was her turn to have some special attention. We did it all...popcorn, movies, rootbeer floats, stories read, etc. We even made pie and cookies which she helped with and today went to the store and did some shopping We picked veggies from the garden and she has mastered popping the ends off green beans. Our last project was to make a tooth fairy pillow for her front teeth which are really loose. We had so much fun!!

4th Celebration

Mal and Todd got two ladders to set off the fireworks so they would be up higher

Our neighbor, Todd did the fireworks lighting

Some of the fireworks!

Every year a few of our neighborhood get together and set off some fireworks. This year our neighbors, Roxanne, Todd and Sean got some spectacular fireworks and we spent about half an hour watching some colorful sprays of color and sound. We are blessed with just great families on our street and enjoying getting together for these special events! We are grateful.

This poem is a reminder of all we have....

If tomorrow all the things were gone
I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again
with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars
to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
and they can't take that away.

I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota
to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas
from sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston
and New York to L.A.,
There's pride in every American heart
and it's time we stand and say

I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A!

~ Midi: "God Bless The USA ~

Each day I live, I am grateful for living in this wonderful free land, despite all the challenges we are faced with. We have opportunities that most do not have and can worship as we wish and dream to become anything we desire if we work and pray for success. What a blessing to live in America!!

Sunday

Matt ready for Church today!

Matt and Adon building a fort in the sewing room

Matt and Grandpa getting ready for Church

Adon and Matt discovered a top and played forever with it.

Today was Adon's day with Matt. We brought him home from church, had dinner, then they played, read, built a blanket fort, snacked and watched a couple of BYU programs....then snack again! Boys have bottomless tummies! Loving it all!

Matt is with us this week!

Adon, Matt & Calvin playing a handheld video game
We have Matt this week so he can spend some time with us and his cousins who he dearly loves! They have such a good time together and do so well. They seems to be able to find or make up things to do. Matt brought his guitar and a game which he shares with the boys. We have gone to the park, the water park, out for pizza and just generally have a good time together.

Matt at the Water Park

Calvin and Matt at the Water slide

All the boys swimming at the pool

Amanda with Carson and Mason at the pool

Matt and Kael watching a movie and having a snack at bedtime

Matt and Kael having dessert

A puzzle I have been working on for several weeks and finally finished at 3:30 Am this morning. I have been working on this while the boys are busy with games.

Grandkids

Today We spent part of the day with Amanda and Tyler's children while Amanda had some dental work done and tried to sleep off the sedative. I took Carson and Paige home for a little while to do some chores and took this picture of them on our front bench. The kids were so good. We had lunch together, then put Mason down for a nap. Then everyone just did what they wanted for a little while. Nice peaceful day!

Happy Father's Day, Malcolm, Dad, Grandpa!!

Paige and Grandpa having a well deserved rest

Kael, Lindsay and Gram talking about baseball

Mason Enjoying a 3D story book with his glasses

Adon, just looking sweet

We pampered Malcolm for Father's Day. I gave him a basket filled with goodies that are yummy and good for him and fixed one of his favorite dinners and cream cheese cherry pie. I picked up his Mom and Amanda and Lindsay, and some of our grandchildren came over (Tyler just left for boy scout camp)and had dinner with us. Amanda fixed a very clever frame with a picture of her children for Dad. Then we just relaxed and visited all afternoon while Dad received calls from our Children wishing him a Happy Father's Day. I hope your day was special, AF!! Much love from your wife and family!!!

Rock, Paper Scissors

We had quite a chuckle watching Mason play rock, paper scissors with Amanda when they stopped by our home this morning. He is just so cute and has his own twist on accomplishing a new thing - enjoy:

Rachel's Performance

Rachel as Cheshire Cat

We had a delightful time this evening watching Rachel perform as the Cheshire cat in an act from Alice in Wonderland in Napa at a theater arts program. She was just a darling little actress! Brian and Deb got us tickets and we joined Marie, Kristina, Alan and Elise and some other friends for a great evening of entertainment watching little and bigger girls, dance, sing, act in very cute performances!

Brian, Rachel and Deb

Malcolm(Grandpa), Rachel and Patsy(Gram)

Kristina, Marie(Other Gram), & Rachel

"Freedom's Not Free" The Rivoli Revue

We are so blessed to live in a free land and I am grateful for those who have made it possible for us at great sacrifice!

Happy Birthday Malcolm!

Malcolm and his Mom on his 69th birthday!

Malcolm's Mom gave his a $50.00 bill. The kids were wide eyed because they had never seen one before and were trying to figure out how they could have one sometime.

I got Malcolm a movie and a charging station for his gadgets

Amanda, Tyler and their children got Dad a watch with pedometer to keep track of his walking. Just as he began to open it, Mason blurted out enthusiastically "It's a watch! very cute

I prepared a dinner and small party for Malcolm's birthday yesterday and had Malcolm's Mom and Tyler and Amanda and their children over. It was quiet, but fun and we enjoyed steak, fruit salad, broccoli salad, baked beans and bread and Malcolm's favorite chocolate cake with a marshmallow type frosting. Lots of Love to my wonderful husband on his birthday!

Our Journey this week!

Mom - she is wonderful!

Kylie's Diploma with Mom, Ben and Grant

Kylie doing a dance at her kindergarten graduation

Joan and Larry Goss who live in Fresno

My brother Steve and his wife Erin who live in Provo

Miles Graduation at Rancho Cucamonga High School

New Friends I met on the train from North Carolina

A couple of weeks ago, I got on the train in Sacramento and rode to Provo, Utah to visit some of our family there. Our Son, Daniel picked me up at the train depot. I spent a couple of days visiting with Dan & Kris and my Mom. On Thursday, Malcolm drove up to Utah and we attended a T-ball game of Kylie's, then went to her kindergarten graduation the next day. One day my brother Steve brought fish and chips to Mom and we had lunch and visited for the afternoon and really enjoyed their visit. Sunday We attended church with Dan and Kris and so enjoyed their ward and the nice people there. We did some projects for Mom and I fell and got an egg on my knee and hurt my right shoulder, but I'm ok. I found out that rubbing butter on an egg will take the swelling down.
We left Mom's on Monday and drove to Cedar City to visit our friends, Ann Sherwood and her Dad, Cal Kahler. They took us out to an authentic Mexican dinner and loved the food and had a great visit with them both.
The next morning we left and drove to Rancho Cucamonga and got a Motel, then met at Mauri's home to visit with the boys and Miles. The graduation was ay 6:30 PM but we got to the stadium at 5:15 and got into the stadium about an hour and half later - there was only one entrance for 7,000 people. The graduation was nice and well organized. Afterwards we went to Mauri's home and had a supper with Mike, the boys, Mauri and her Dad and friend. We left the next day and drove to Fresno and visited with old friends, Joan and Larry Goss and had dinner and watched a movie and slept well. We got home Thursday! We had a good time!!