Solvang Prelude 2012...

 Here is where it begins...

 Joel and Dave ready to get started...Dave was still sick so decided to just do as much as he could...he wasn't sure how far he could make it...35 miles sounds like a lot when your head is all stuffed up...

 Bishop and Ann on their tandem ready to lead the way! 

 Melanie, Ryan, Melanie's brother and friend, and Tom all left earlier...they did the 50 miler!

 There's the tandem with Dave and Joel right behind, heading off into the fog...

 I stayed out in front of the hotel for a few minutes and took pictures and watched all the riders.  There were a lot!  A cold and foggy morning, but it didn't deter them.  All ages, all shapes, it was amazing...

 They just kept coming!  And going!  It was fun that our hotel was right on the main street and we could watch a lot of it.

 I saw a LOT of tandem bikes.  There were three together but by the time I snapped the picture one had already passed...I even saw one tandem pulling a trailer with a child in it!  Amazing.  Talk about a family affair!  Dave made it about 10 miles and he was done for.  He was so congested and was having a hard time breathing.  I was afraid I was going to have to carry him upstairs to our room!  But he made it and then he crawled back in bed!  A couple of hours later he got up and we went for a walk down the streets of Solvang.  Then we found a spot to watch for Joel and the others to get back.  We hadn't been there 5 minutes when here they came!  If you look hard you can see them in the picture.  They were coming too fast so I knew I had to snap one quick!  I will enlarge it and zoom in on them when I scrapbook it.

 We followed them back down the last block to the hotel...I wasn't there in time to get the picture of Ann and Dan doing the high five...but it was cute! 

They don't even look tired!  (But I think they were a little...)  Congratulations Joel for completing your first ride!  Thanks Winieckes for the inspiration to go cycling! 

 And the 50 milers at the finish line...woo hoo!!  They earned their Solvang eclair!  (We had already had ours by the time they got back...but we saved them one!

After everyone cleaned up, we had a fun rest of the afternoon in Solvang...more to come!

My birthday week starts in Solvang...

We have always wanted to visit Solvang, CA., a Scandinavian town...and this weekend was our chance!  There was a bike ride (The Solvang Prelude 2012) that Joel and Dave entered with some of our friends.  First stop...AJ's Spurs...dinner!

We had a fun time here...very good food...and as a present to me, Joel tried something new!  (and he liked it!) Tom is as proud of him as I am!

 My favortie dinner dates...Joel and Dave!  Poor Dave was fighting a bad cold and didn't have as much fun as the rest of us I'm sure.

 Tom and Melanie Martinez bring lots of fun to any party! 

 Ann, Bishop Winiecke and Ryan are a lot of fun too...we thank them for getting us to come!  They helped my Solvang wish come true...

 And of course they told the waitress it was my birthday so they came and sang, ringing the cowbell and gave me a huge brownie with ice cream and whipped cream...

 I was so full I could barely put a dent in it, AND you get rootbeer floats after dinner, I couldn't touch mine!  Thanks for the fun birthday dinner!

 We had to take a picture by the stuffed buffalo...they had all kinds of huge stuffed animals and little ones too...

 What did I tell you about Tom?  He's a party! 

After dinner we went to check in for the bike race and check out their merchandise...

 Sign waiver, get bib number, and a bag of little goodies...water bottle, protein bar, a patch, a magnet and lots of papers!

 This picture is for Clif.  They had a booth with your name all over it!  Spelled correctly!  :) 

We were there pretty late...it was almost closing time...and it was cold!  We were trying to imagine how cold it was going to be in the morning!  Next up, the big bike ride!

 



Halloween 2012

Have you ever seen a cuter Mario and Luigi?  I don't think I have!  I hear they got lots and lots of candy!  Wish they could have come trick or treating to Grandma's house...but I guess the candy is just as good in Georgia.  Our Halloween was pretty quiet.  Not a ton of trick or treaters, but just about right.  We did enjoy our church trunk or treat on Saturday...lots of people, food, and fun.  There was a cupcake walk and homemade donuts along with the traditional hotdogs and chili.  My kind of halloween!  Here is the "graveyard" cake I made for the grand prize of the cupcake walk...I thought it turned out pretty cute...

The cake idea on pinterest had skinnier chocolate fence pieces, but I don't know what they were so I just used Twix.  So my fence is fat. 

 



Eight years already...

I can't believe it has been 8 years since my dad passed away.  I miss him every day.  I love looking at our family pictures and reminiscing of all the times we had together.  With him being in the Army, he wasn't home a lot when I was little...but when he was home, he made the time count.  Like playing jacks with me.  How many dads do that?  This was when we lived in Hawaii and he was serving in Vietnam.  He retired soon after this and we had him home with us all the time after that.  He loved to travel and we loved his visits here with us.  He left this life too soon for us he left behind, but I know it was the right timing for him.  Heavenly Father knows best.  Love you Dad...and I know we will be together again someday.  

The Doors is not a band...

There is a stage in Clovis called the MET.  On that stage are three doors.  Elevator doors...for this year's Clovis High School Musical. Two weeks prior to opening night, the lead in the play (Austin Kincade) asked his good friends to be "elevator operators."  It is an important job!

The musical is "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."  Not my favorite musical by any means, not even a very well known musical, but Joel was behind one of those doors so we went to see it!  (he said his was the stage left door ~ which means the one on the right for the audience).    The performers all worked very hard and did a very good job on this musical...Austin was particularly amazing in the starring role...it was fun to watch him.

 Even though you never see Joel (or the other doors), his name was in the program!

 Never have elevator doors opened and closed so many times, so smoothly, and so well as they did in this production.  So even though we never saw them, we are very proud of "The Doors."

Joel, Davey and Jack.  Great job guys!



Last stop before eagle...

Scoutmaster Budge presenting Joel with his latest round of merit badges...6 to be exact...he now has all he needs to fill out his eagle application and get it turned in!  YAY!  This was a very nice court of honor...our scoutmaster is wonderful...for every young man that came up, he said something about them, told us fun things about them from scout camp and something specific that he liked about that young man etc. It was very fun!  He has a great bond with these boys and is a wonderful leader!  Sorry he is blurry in the picture!  Can't wait to have an eagle court in the near future!

And speaking of Joel, he is in photo class at school and is really enjoying it.  He has noticed our wonderful sunsets and often tells us to come and look at it.  Here is one he tried to capture the other night...but it goes so fast by the time you get the camera it's changed a lot...hey, I bet there is a photography merit badge...look into it Joel!  Add one more! 

Happy Birthday Amanda!

Happy Birthday to our little Amanda!  Seems like just yesterday you were the age of Jacob in this picture!  What a joy your are in our life...you are our ray of sunshine!  We love you and wish you the best of everything as you celebrate another birthday!  We always remember you making your entrance the day after our 3rd anniversary...you let us have our dinner out that night and waited until the next day to come.  You were a great gift!  Thank you for being you!  Happy Birthday!

Bass Lake Anniversary Picnic

We spent our 30th anniversary with a drive and a picnic up at Bass Lake. 

The company was wonderful, the views were beautiful, and the weather was perfect. 

 It was a perfect day.  Until the day comes that we can do our cruise (maybe for the 50th?) this was just as memorable!  To get out of the heat of the valley and drive up the mountain to a quiet and serene place (we were practically the only ones there!) and spend time together, it was fun!

 We finished the day with a nice dinner out...I still can't believe it's been 30 years!

 Happy Anniversary to my best friend and person I am so grateful to spend eternity with!  May our mansion in Heaven be in the mountains!  XOXO

30 years...how is that possible?

 30 years ago today, we started our eternal journey together.  What a time it has been!  I am so grateful to have found a wonderful man who truly loves me for better and for worse.  I am a better person because of him.  I am grateful for our eternal family and all the adventures we have had through the years.  30 seems like such a long time in my mind, and yet, it seems like just yesterday we were out taking pictures and celebrating our marriage. (In record heat in Arizona by the way! - I think it was 112 that day and we were out in it!) Happy Anniversary to my husband and forever friend.  Loved you then, love you still, always have, always will!

The Business Card Curse...

When we lived in Az ~ Dave finally got his business cards for the place he worked.  He'd worked there for quite some time before they finally ordered him some.  Two months later he didn't have that job anymore.  It happened again, a second time.  Worked at his job for quite some time, then they finally ordered his new business cards, and a couple of months later, no more job.  Then we moved to California...

 

He's been at Pelco (now Schneider Electric) for 15 years and he just now finally got business cards!  Should we be nervous?  We will let you know in a couple of months.

 

One thing we do know...lots of business cards make it fun to build card houses...