Fillmore visist - Summer 2014!

The Fillmore Family visit came to an end on Saturday - and the boys got in one last tether-ball game.

 

Sully obligingly smiled for a photo-op - I will miss that little munchkin!  They call him Sully the Monkey, but he's just the most lovable little guy!!

 

Friday had been the original departure date, but car problems reared their ugly head and we got an extra day of Fillmore Fun!!

We've had iPhone updates and they are having a great trip!

See you in December!!

Long ago and far away!

Harry F. and family took a little trek down Memory Lane today and visited some of the old spots in Centerville - and it reminded me of lots of good memories from those years.

 

Harry was delivering paper for American Paper when we lived in SLC - and one time he was making a delivery in Centerville and happened on this chapel - I was trying to find a photo from that era - because the chapel sat in the middle surrounded by grass only - in the summertime it was gorgeous - that alone inspired him to look for a house to rent there.  

 

I think maybe these photos are only meaningful to me and Harry - and maybe Bonny and Harry.  You really can't ever go home again - but I love reflecting back on happy days in places where we lived.

Oh, happy day!!

What a happy day it was 6 years ago!!

 

So much has changed, but much has just gotten better.

 

Robbie is in Colombia and Hannah and Rhoda are here in Monrovia, so we are celebrating by going to the temple!!

 

And Hannah and I went to lunch at Hook, our new fave hamburger joint.

 

The family is considerably larger than it was 6 years ago.

 

Here's to many more happy anniversaries to celebrate!!

It's always fun when Phoebe comes!!

Phoebe and Hannah enjoying some crafting time!

 

On Hannah's bucket list - a visit to Galco's - 

 

when she heard about it on Huel Howser, she put it on the list!!  A "sweet" visit!!

 

Olvera Street - fun, fun, fun!!

 

Especially with Nacho Libre in your midst!

 

At Cielito Lindo for taquitos and burritos!!

 

Dinner and visiting with Grandma Mary - Calvin "This house has lots of movies!"  (So of course the evening included viewing one of them!!)

Phoebe leaves in the a.m.  It will be pretty quiet around here - we will miss all the smiling faces and happy laughter.  Thank goodness Hannah's still here with the charming Miss Rhoda so we won't get too lonely!!

Another summer day

Fun reunion at our Primrose abode.  Jenny Salinas joined Phoebe and Nadinna for an afternoon of visiting and playing "catch-up!"  I hadn't seen Jennie for about 18 years - so it was a treat to give her a hug - and have her say, "I recognize it all!"

(Hannah said "I always thought Jennie was a Mormon!"  She was a pretty regular member of our family!)

 

Dinner and FHE with Grandma Helen - here's the traditional 4-generation shot!

 

Phoebe and family joined us for FHE.

 

And the boys had fun with the organ.

Now Hannah and Phoebe are "crafting" little wooden people - and the "boys" - including Grandpa - are watching T.V.

A perfect summer day!

A summer Sunday!

The fun continues as we love having the Fillmores around for some cousin fun!!  We drove Annika and Esme back to Malibu - Bonny, Bruce, Ara, and Ella had stories to tell about their trek experience - and they were all good!!

 

Phoebe can always be counted on to tell some great stories!!

 

And eating outdoors in the 'bu is always a treat.

 

We spent the evening outdoors - even as it got chilly - there were blankets for all.  Too bad Monday morning follows the pleasant Sunday interludes!!

Miss Rhoda - who loves zucchini btw - continues to charm us all with her smiles!

Harry and I were there - we're just not in the photos!!  Noah was up at Chantry.

Summer Magic!!

Happy Summer Solstice to one and all!!  It's been a busy fun summer already - with more to come!!  We are especially enjoying getting to know Miss Rhoda so well!!  She is pretty darn cute!!

 

Sue Graham stopped by last night to bring a gift to Rhoda - what a treat to sit and visit.

 

Hannah and Phoebe are having a great time - and cooking up a storm.  Not sure Dad will want to settle for my bland brand of mealtimes when they leave!!

 

Our canopied chair makes everyone look like royalty or something!!

 

Patio dinners are the best.

 

And so is the Seely's pool!!  So great to have generous neighbors.

 

Resurrecting the Zim-Zam!!

 

Chocolate smiles!!

Stay tuned for more adventures - Annika and Esme are here while the rest of their crew was at Trek - need to be sure I take a photo of them!!  They are all having a fine time together - it is so gratifying to watch your grandchildren play and have fun with their cousins!!

Summer fun!

Since Hannah is here for several weeks, she decided to put Rhoda in the Mommy and Me swim class at the Duarte Pool - where she was working 10 years ago!!

 

Much is still the same - although the high dive is gone.

And Rhoda loves the water!!  Makes for a fun class.

Happy Father's Day!

I have observed that a party that is big and noisy and fun usually precludes me getting any stellar photos.  I'm too busy visiting or replenishing stocks or telling grandkids what they can or cannot play with.  Yesterday was no exception.  It started out being Dad, Hannah, Rhoda, me, Mom, Donna, Charlie, and Harry, Dawn and family.  Then we added Diane and Keena, who were visiting.  And then I decided to invite Bonny - who was, hooray, able to come!!  (Sometimes their very busy schedule keeps them away.  Those Bolander beauties are in demand everywhere!!)  Then Phoebe and David and family - who had arrived Saturday night, and who had told us they couldn't be there for the BBQ on Sunday - were able to come.  And Bill showed up.  So it was a big group.

And it is true, the more the merrier!  We were a merry group indeed.

 

 

When I looked over and saw Bill and Charlie, I immediately thought of Michael Caine and Robert Duval in "Second Hand Lions."  Turns out Charlie loves it too - it's a fave of mine.

 

The bikes have been living at our house, so Bruce pumped some air in the tires and we had a little tandem action on Primrose - which can be a workout!!

 

 The girls, big and small, old and young, were in love with the babies - and we had two of them to spoil!

 

Initially there had been concern that I hadn't thought of enough food - so Harry went home and brought some of his cache of corn and grilled it - yum!!  (And we had plenty of food - including burgers with grilled onions, potato salad, nachos, chips, fruit, root beer floats, root beer float cupcakes, and chocolate chip cookies - no one went hungry!)

Sully fell asleep on the way - but woke up in time to enjoy the fun.

 

We ate outside and got the cushions out for the chairs, so we were even comfortable!!  And the flies stayed away!!  Can't ask for much more!

 

Biker Bruce certainly takes good care of us!

 

It took awhile for things to wind down - folks left in stages - last one out was around 9 - so good to kick off summer with people you love!!

Watch for more cookouts on the horizon - and join us if you're in town!

Saturday is a special day!

Especially when Phoebe, David, and family show up for dinnner!!

 

Keena and Diane joined us for breakfast, lunch, mani/pedis, and lots of playtime with Rhoda.

 

The charming center of our attention!!

The first week of summer vacation is off to a fine start - it's so great to see family and to not have any greater concern than what shall we have for dinner tonight??  (Burritos tonight!!)