Grandma and Poppa get some help!

#1 Grandson came for a sleepover while his mom and dad went to a wedding (baby sister got to go to the wedding). Since he already has his tree, we decided to take advantage of his expertise, and get him to pick ours. First challenge was getting the right shoes on the right feet, or in his case...foot.
This boy is our kind of shopper! We were in and out in about 30 seconds, as he liked the first tree he saw (and the candy cane the tree man gave him).
Grandma and the boy watched from the comfort of Grandma's car, as Poppa and the tree man put the tree on top of Poppa's car. We watched carefully all the way home, to make sure the tree didn't fall off.
In the morning, after the tree warmed up, it was time for lights and decorations. As you can see in these two pictures, the boy was a great deal of help. Do you think he could have been any closer to his Grandpa?
Thanks for your help, young man! We couldn't have done it without you!

As promised - sun, sand and surf

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We Say Good Bye

It is with great sorrow that I inform you that Great Grandpa has passed away. The sorrow, of course, is for us. He was in pain the last few weeks, and on December 5th his body just wore out. He died very peacefully, surrounded by family.

No words can express how much we will miss him. He was the life of the party at every event, and loved every minute of being with family. In his own words, he was a lucky man, blessed with a loving family, opportunities to travel, and good health almost to the end.

Funeral service will be on December 9th at Cropo Funeral Chapel at 1:30 p.m. Please join us to celebrate a life well lived, if you are able to do so.

California Dreamin' Part 2

The weather held beautifully - hot and sunny all week. On American Thanksgiving Day (can't believe what a big holiday that is iin the States) we walked and sat on Newport Beach for about 5 hours. It was glorious, and great fun watching the young'uns try to get up on boards.

This picture is at a different beach, and doesn't show how high up we were! We were definitely not taking a step back!
At La Jolla, we saw these sea lions(?)/seals(?) - I think sea lions. No, they are not dead, just enjoying a rest in a quiet cove, safe from the waves which were crashing just outside the sea wall.
Same sea lions, different view.
We met up with a former player/assistant coach/teammate(?) and his girlfriend. He has been posted in Carlsbad for the past two years, and did a great job of showing us the sights. We would have had to make extensive use of the GPS to find the same sights. We got there just in time as he is returning home shortly as the result of a job transfer. He's really excited about coming back just in time for winter!
These shots are in no particular order. This is one of the hot tubs at the hotel. This one seemed to be the best temperature for us.
This pool was not the right temperature! It was very large (this shows only about 1/3) and as far as I could tell, not heated at all. Only my toe went in.
You may have gathered that we loved the area! I guess I retired just a bit too soon, or I would have been able to put a down payment on a cute little summer place on the ocean (not!)
Christmas begins the minute Thanksgiving is over, with Black Friday, supposedly the best shopping day of the year. Santa in one mall here comes complete with a carousel ride and a train ride. Like everything else down here, though, nothing is free, not even the picture of the Big Man himself. Actually, I never did see Santa, as his "house" was completely enclosed, so you had to stand in line to get a glimpse of him.
Volleyball was mentioned before as being popular on the beach, but yes, there were dream courts as well. This one in Laguna Beach is just steps from the ocean. Another we saw on Newport Beach was part of a school playground. I can't imagine having to get kids to come in from recess, when recess means being on courts and playground structures right on the beach!
Now, after Australia, I love lorikeets. In Australia (Cairns and Port Douglas specifically), the lorikeets were known as nature's alarm clocks, because they gathered and flew and made lots of noise at sunrise and sunset. However, I do not like them enough to have them sit on my arms, back, head etc. People at the Wild Animal Park paid for nectar to hold, so that the birds would use them as sitting posts. Not my idea of fun, but I did like to watch.
Very strange to see Thanksgiving decorations on the beach. Pumpkins were very popular. In the heat, maybe they made themselves into pies!
Just one of the many beach pictures. Those of you who know me, know how much I like sand and surf and heat. I was in heaven. The next entry will be just a Smilebox of beach scenes, similar to the one of mountains, so you can skip it if you don't like scenery!

A couple of videos. The first is of flamingoes at the zoo - and I thought my grandchildren were noisy! The second is of one poor little guy who couldn't find mom, and was probably in the wrong place because he didn't look like anyone else on the beach! The others were definitely giving him the cold shoulder.

California Dreamin' (Part 1)

California dreamin'...on such a winter's day! Here we are out for a stroll on Laguna Beach - just kidding! Seriously, I hope we will still be walking the beach hand in hand when we are the age of these folks.
Thanks to our relatives who have a time share, we are staying in a lovely Hyatt. While it's not beach front, it is very close (we could walk if we chose to do so). Since the whole coastline is beach around here, the problem becomes which beach to choose. This is our room from outside, and yes, it is warm enough to have the door open!

Just had to take one photo of the bird of paradise. This seems to be the most common plant around here. How expensive are they at home?
We spent Monday at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park and saw many exotic animals.

This fellow seemed quite content to pose continually.
View of the range where most of the animals are, from the condor enclosure. As far as zoos go, this seems to be one of the better ones, as the animals have lots of room. I have to think that the African animals here are happier than ones in other parts of the country. We saw two giraffes who had arrived recently from Minnesota, and they looked relieved to be here!

Once again, I find it odd to be in a warm place in November and December. Also, with American Thanksgiving the day after tomorrow, it feels strange indeed. One cartoon here talks about "Thanksweenmas", implying that all three holidays blend into each other. This sign in Laguna Beach was one of many which blended a few thoughts.
Today's lunch location. A glass of wine, a plate of shrimp and chips, by the ocean with the sun on my face - it doesn't get any better than this.
More of Laguna Beach. And yes, the water is cold (but not too cold for some brave souls).

Haven't shown you yet the pictures of Balboa Island, a great little (and very trendy) area within walking distance, but that will be in California Dreamin' Part 2, along with whatever else we see in the next 3 days. Stay tuned!

Just some thoughts...

Today is Remembrance Day, and I guess I am feeling a little sentimental as I listen to all the memorials on the radio. When I was at school, the assembly for Remembrance Day was always the one I valued the most, and we worked very hard to help the children understand why it was important to cherish those memories. I always felt that it was not just the people who served that we were remembering, but that we were remembering whole generations. Yes, we acknowledge the sacrifice that those who were in the armed forces made, but more and more I came to appreciate the sacrifices also made by those who didn't serve . When something happens to one person, there is a ripple effect into families, friends, the community and beyond. We are all affected in one way or another.
As all of you who are reading this know, the last four years we in this family have been dealing with the issues involved in the transition of two of our parents from independence to total dependence. I have mostly watched as my husband and his brother have been there every step of the way for their mom and dad. They have had many conversations with Josette at Veterans Affairs, and their dad and not directly but by extension, their mom, have received many supports through that organization. It seems only fitting that they should receive those benefits, as five years of their lives were put on hold as the Second World War dictated what they could do, if and when they could be together, where they would live, if they could start a family, and how they would support that family. I know my in-laws would be the first to say that, in spite of all that, they are the lucky ones, because they are here to receive those supports. Many times in the last year, my father-in-law has said openly, often during the most painful times, that he has been the most fortunate of men, that he had the opportunity to travel, to be with the ones he loves, to see his grandchildren grow up, to witness the arrival of six great grandchildren, and to enjoy good health for over 88 years.
Today I am remembering the good times we have all had together. Here is my favourite picture of two very special people.

Forgot to mention...

In the previous blog, I forgot to mention that while wandering through the Luxor, we came across a "Bodies" exhibit. Ever since I first heard about these exhibits, which are human bodies in some cases dissected, in others complete but showing various organs and systems, I have wanted to see them. I guess that desire stems from the Anatomy classes years ago. Thanks again Dr. Dahlgren!

It was fantastic. It is a little strange, I must admit, to see human bodies, without the skin, posed in a basketball shot, or throwing a dart, or just standing, but it is fascinating. I saw the ailments belonging to everyone in the family, including the sciatic nerve, prostate gland, heart valves and feeder systems, even a section on Parkinson's. Very educational. There were some nursing students there while we toured, so it was interesting to listen in on their conversations. Some of the old terminology came back, but I still don't remember the jijunem! I thought that one of the most interesting parts was cross sections of an entire body, laid out side by side, showing what a scanner sees as the body passes through it.

After all is said and done, though, I will never look at a rump roast the same way!

What a birthday!

It is not every day that someone reaches a milestone birthday. However, it would be worth hitting a milestone more often, if one celebrated the way the birthday "girl" did recently. The actual day of the birthday was celebrated at dinner at a quaint restaurant in the home town. The gift to mark the day was a gorgeous necklace. (According to youngest daughter, one needs a real "piece" to mark such occasions!) Then, off to Las Vegas for four days of fun, sun and relaxation. We met many celebrities while strolling the strip. Here we are on our way to see a show, with the RED M. It doesn't get much more exciting than that!
We stayed at New York, New York. Each and every afternoon I sat for at least two hours by the pool, soaking up the sun, reading my book, drinking my coffee, and watching the fools who chose to ride the NYNY Roller Coaster. In spite of a two for one offer, I wasn't tempted. I know number one son would jump at the chance!
One highlight (and surprise) was an evening that included Cirque du Soleil Love - set to music by the Beatles. It was one of the most magical evenings I have ever spent. The athletes/performers are so strong that they amazed me, and of course, the music was perfect for someone of my advanced age. It is playing at The Mirage, one of the famous casinos on the strip.

The next night we went to see Bette Midler! She and Cher perform alternately at Caesar's, in the concert hall built for Celine Dion (huge - seats about 3000). What a great performer! I was even more impressed since my knees and feet barely made it there in very low heels, while she struts around the stage, dances, bounces, and sings without (it seems) much effort at all in four inch heels! She sang all my favourites, and her witty remarks kept us laughing.
We spent much of the four days strolling the Strip and elsewhere. Many of the casinos are the same as they were on previous visits, but there is a lot of construction, some halted due to lack of money. One of the strangest construction sites is called "City Center". It is right in the middle of the strip, and is made up of more buildings than we could count, and yes, some are built on the angle, just as this picture shows. The ones in the front are going to be yet more high end shops (Louis Vuitton etc.) and the ones at the back will be a casino, hotel and condos. I will be interested to see if they actually finish it, and what it looks like in the end. Can't imagine how much money is invested - none of it mine!
We walked to see some old favourites - like the ceiling in the foyer of the Bellagio. These are all blown glass flowers. The picture doesn't do it justice.
We took in one breakfast buffet, at the Flamingo. The food is probably the same as everywhere else, but the setting is unique. The penguins, however, are no longer there.
One I hadn't seen was Wynn Tower. It is truly spectacular. This is a shot of a bar area set by an infinity pool and wall of water. This is worth a walk through just to see how the rich and famous holiday.
One of my favourites is the Venetian. I love to see the gondolas travel through the canals (inside and out) and listen to the singing gondoliers. And...I am sure these canals are much cleaner than are the ones in Venice itself!
No trip to Vegas would be complete without a trip to the Old Vegas - Fremont Street. They were celebrating Hallowe'en, so we saw an illusionist and heard a band - great street entertainment. The overhead canopy played every 15 minutes with a different piece. This is probably the most economical entertainment in Vegas - and the pizza at the Golden Nugget was terrific!
The last video is of the fountains at Bellagio. Again, the video doesn't do the actual event justice, but you get the idea.

Almost makes me want to turn 60 all over again! What a great birthday it was!

We give thanks.

Great Grandma with great grandchild number 4.
Great Grandpa with same.
He ate turkey...
She didn't! (next time we will put her on a non-patterned blanket!)
Now on to the next event!

She's here!

Yes...we have a girl. This will be one time people are happy that I blog immediately. Here is the happy family, with the youngest not even 24 hours old. She was almost exactly the same size as was her big brother, and very politely waited until everyone was ready and present before arriving. Once she decided to enter the world, she came quickly.
The perfect sticker for this young man. He was excited!
Inspection time - yes, she has all ten fingers and toes, and soft fuzzy dark hair.
Big brother was being goofy, and pretending that he was the baby!
Grandma (or will it be Namah again?) with the young lady, in her brother's newborn cap.
Grandpa (or Poppa) with our 7 lb. 13 oz, 21 inch October 1st baby. Now we can all relax.