Big Sur and a California Condor

(Jim started us a toasty little fire on our first chilly morning)

We traveled north to Big Sur for our anniversary weekend (Nov. 21-22), and had a great time! Our day started off with Jim's "killer" omelettes! He loaded them up with sauteed mini bell peppers(red, orange, yellow), avocados, and cheese:) YUM!
The Master Chef at work on our little camp stove!
Don't even think about it, Riley!

We were surrounded by beautiful California Redwoods in our cozy camp:)
Of course we had to visit the Big Sur bakery!
The goods! I picked out a pumpkin muffin:)
Jim "Indiana Jones" deep in the forest during our Sobranes Creek Trail hike
On our way out of Big Sur, cruising down Highway 1, we pulled over to admire the view and were treated to an impromptu air show put on by a California Condor! I have only seen a condor in the zoo, so this was a rare sight!!! It was very exciting! The condor had a wing span of at least seven feet and "he" flew over us(low) for a solid five minutes! It was an amazing, majestic sight! What a great way to end our anniversary weekend! This photo does not do it justice! (We tried to download a great video Jim took, but we couldn't get it to work!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Most putts don't drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old-time rail journey--delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

Jenkins Lloyd Jones


(I know this is on my sidebar, but I thought I would feature it as a post today:)

Good Job, Karaline!

Karaline with her grandpa and grandma(us) :)

Living states away from most of our grandchildren, we miss out on many events in their lives:( I realized today that I forgot to mention a highlight of our most recent trip(last month-post below). We were so happy to be able to see Karaline participate in her first Children's Sacrament Mtg. Program! She had her part completely memorized and spoke so clearly! She did such a GREAT job! We are so proud of her! XOXO!

October in Omaha

Merry little music makers in the Fontenelle Forest:)
Having fun in one of the many bounce houses at BOINGZ!
Megan loves her little "Bwudda Beh:)" (translation:Brother Bear), giving him many hugs a day!
All of us entering the Fontenelle Forest
Karaline striking her signature pose:)
Walking along the "Mighty Mo" (Missouri River)
Megan feeding the goats at the pumpkin patch
The fall colors are gorgeous in Omaha!!!
Walking on the beautiful, new pedestrian bridge spanning the Missouri river, connecting Iowa and Nebraska. Megan and Jake are in Iowa, Summer is in Nebraska, and Karaline has one foot in each state! Can you tell it was windy and freezing? It was!
Jim enjoying the bridge
Pumpkin #1 picking out her pumpkin from the patch
Pumpkin #2 picking out her pumpkin
Pumpkin #3 with his pumpkin (on the hayride)
Karaline on "Jelly Bean" :)
Jake on "Jake," hanging on for dear life (with mommy's help)!
Wheeeeeeeeeeee...Karaline flying down one of the BIG slides in downtown Omaha
Saying goodnight to their very own mini scarecrow:)

Jim and I had such a fun visit! Karaline, Megan and Jake are so sweet and so fun! We sure miss them, but are so happy that we were able to visit and get a supply of hugs and kisses to last us until we see them again! Thanks Summer and Brian for your hospitality! XOXOXOXOXO

Update! Sarah's photo entry WON!!!

My Daughter's(Sarah's) Post forwarded, below-PLEASE VOTE!!! :)

September 28, 2009

We Need Your Votes!

Last October my sister, Summer, and I tried to get the kids picture taken at JC Penney. What a hilarious disaster it was! If you need a refresher of just how that photo session turned out please click HERE!

Fast forward to last week: Our local radio station set out looking for awkward/bad photos and as I listened to this contest unfold I knew that I had to enter. So, when I got home I dug out the photo, scanned it, and sent it off to Coast 101.3. Johnny and I then got quite a good laugh about it again because no matter how many times we've looked at this picture we always end up in hysterics :).

So, this evening I was checking the radio's website and lo and behold we are 1 of 5 finalists in the photo contest. The photo with the most votes will win and receive a $1000 photo package from Reflections Photography (this is the most exciting part!).

This is where all of you come in: We need you to vote!! If you're interested in helping just click HERE! We are photo #2.

You can vote once a day from now until Thursday, October 1 @ 8 pm. They'll announce the winner on Friday morning

Thanks Everyone! We'll keep you posted :).

I have no idea why these lines are showing up so just ignore them...they're driving me crazy!

HAPPY 2nd Birthday, ZEKE!!!

We love you Zekey boy!!! Happy 2nd birthday! XOXO Grandma and Grandpa!

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

ActiveGiving.com Donations

Source: www.active.com

Be a part of this year's Race for Her on Sept 19th in Sacramento and help raise money for the research needed to help find an early detection test. Proceeds from this race will benefit the ovarian cancer research programs at the UC Davis Cancer Center. Visit www.raceforher.com for more details!

Both my mom and sister(above) died from ovarian cancer in their 50's. Ovarian cancer is very difficult to detect and is usually not discovered until it has reached an advanced state. Early detection is vitally important and greatly increases survival.

Above is a link (Team"Laura's Legacy" is set up in my sister's memory, by her daughter, Michelle) for donations to fund finding an early detection method.

Let's stay informed and do our best to ensure a healthier, longer life for our daughters, granddaughters, nieces, sisters, aunts, moms, grandmas, and ourselves!!! :)

Aloha!

Our first order of business upon arriving in Hawaii(July 27-Aug. 4) was to meet this adorable little guy! We were finally able to hold, cuddle and kiss little Caleb, our newest grandchild! We sure love him! Lois is the new mommy and she is doing a great job! Look at how peaceful he is sleeping on her lap:) Jesse and Lois are having so much fun with him!
Our next order of business was to have FUN! We did our best to make it happen...Snorkeling at Shark's Cove(and other spots), Dole Plantation, Swimming to Chinaman's Hat, bowling, hiking, eating at Ted's Bakery, Brian BBQing for us, Jake Shimabukuro concert, Waimea Bay(and the guys jumping off the rocks), Waikiki, A birthday bash with garlic shrimp(Thanks to Jesse's friend), Turtle Beach, International Marketplace, playing Scattergories, shaved ice...and topping it off was Caleb's blessing( see 3 posts back), given by Jesse, with Johnny, Brian and Jim (and others) participating!



Da boys at the top of Chinaman's Hat, after we swam over to the island!
Jim at the top
The whole crew(minus me, photographing) with the "Hat" behind us
Bowling at BYUH
Grandma and Auntie admiring Caleb:)
Zeke became locked in the car(in his car seat and the keys on the front seat) at Ted's Bakery, but the Sunset Beach Fire Dept. came to our rescue, with the sirens wailing!!! I still owe them some cookies!
Sisters soaking up the sun at Waimea
The guys jumped off the rocks at Waimea Bay...Here's Johnny!
Summer and Brian left their three kids with Brian's parents. We missed them! Here they are relaxing and getting to know their new nephew:) Look at Caleb's head of hair!
Zeke is the little beach boy:)
The Birthday girl wearing her candy lei
Hiking in the wet rain forest with giant leaf umbrellas
Summer mingling with the giant sea turtles...Hang loose!
This sea turtle popped up to say HELLO:)
We had a birthday luau for Lois(on her bday) and Brian (two weeks early)...some friends came too and one friend made his special garlic shrimp for all of us-YUM!!!
The Root family on the back porch
The beautiful view from our backyard:)

It was WONDERFUL to have the kids together...they hadn't seen each other since Christmas!!!

ALOHA!

She Ain't Heavy, She's My Puppy(sung to the tune of "He ain't heavy, he's my brother")

No, your eyes are not deceiving you! This is not usually how we take Riley for a "walk," but yesterday she started limping and favoring her left front paw when we still had about a mile to go on our hike, so Jim just scooped up Riley (all 70+ pounds of her!) and kept right on hiking! He is what I would call "dog's best friend!" She's a lucky(spoiled) pup!

Riley looks pretty relaxed, happy and carefree:) Do I detect a smile?

A man and his dog:) I think Jim is ready to put Riley on a diet:)

P.S. My Hawaii post is coming as soon as I can decide which photos to use!