A birthday celebration!

I had a staff holiday party I felt obligated to attend, so Dad and Noah fixed dinner for themselves and Grandma.

They did a good job - now I know their secret talents - and can put them to work!

 

Harry, Dawn, and crew joined us for cake - pineapple upside down of course - and ice cream.  And baby Deacon charmed Grandma Helen!

 

Always helpers for candle-blowing duties!!

 

A little vocal assistance was provided too!

 

Uncle Noah - eliciting a smile too!

One more event checked off in the week that comes each year - that includes a birthday, an anniversary, and Christmas - one week!!

Good thing it only comes once a year!!

Happy day to you Harry!!

(and thanks to all who sent FB messages, made phone calls,  did facetime messages too!!  Dad felt loved!!)

Monrovia Ward 75th Reunion!

The format for this reunion was a commemorative Sacrament meeting with a "Linger/Longer" afterwards.  Nine former bishops were in attendance, along with the current bishop, of course.  Bishops Elwell, Burdette, Shorter, Adams, Miller, and Neeley were not able to come.  Bishops who have died were represented by their wives - Sister Menlove, Sister Heslop, and Sister Throckmorton.  The bishops who are not currently ward members each spoke briefly and bore their testimonies.  It worked out well, and no one went way over.  It was a very spiritually fulfilling meeting.

I always think I am catching photos of everyone and everything, but of course I don't!!  Here is Bonny with Wendy Dequer Rider.

A nice snack buffet and a commemorative cake were set up in the patio - the beautiful weather was a sought-after blessing!!  There were sack lunches for the children too - that was my idea!

Harry and Deacon with Brett Bourgeous.  Brett's family was there - lots of Neeleys, Holmes's, Millers, Heslops, Smiths, Guerreros, Harringtons, ad infinitum!!  Many were not able to come - but I'm not sure where we would have put them!

Grandma Helen came too.

Of course we all love to see Polly - who said to say hi to all the other Terrills!

Those Guerrero women are still beauties!!  (As is Bonny - she's a blonde beauty though!)

Cree Kofford with Lance and Wendy.

And I did remember to get a picture taken of myself, so you'd know I was there!!  We had slideshows going on 4 screens with about 50 photos on each.  Some were very vintage - others were from the 90's to the present.  They were a big hit.  There were old Primary scrapbooks, and old programs from previous ward and stake reunions on display.

I'm glad to get it checked off my list of things to do - and I did try, in the midst of monitoring details, to chat with folks.  Billie Hawkes came too and I was sorry she left before I could get a photo.  There was a lot of love going around - the legacy of the Monrovia Ward.

Getting ready to run!!

Harry is in Boston - hopefully in bed asleep by now - for the Marathon.  Once again my Spring Break was too early for Boston - but I'm getting tired of not getting to go - so I may just have to take Personal Leave next year!!

Anyway, they visited Concord - and he forwarded this and some other photos of the grandkids - so grateful to Matt and Eliza for making the effort to be his support team!!

I don't have his bib number, but he said you can just put in his name and you can track him online.

Go Harry!!

Spring Break - alas, it's ending!!

Took the Red-Eye to D.C. last Monday - for a quick visit with Eliza, Matt, and kids.  Always great to see them!

 

A trip to D.C. is always a good deal - a two for one!!  Fun to hang out with "the little girls!!"

 

And fun to spend time with Hannah and Robbie too - and test out their new air mattress!  Their house is tiny but warm and friendly!!

 

Hannah knows all the good places in D.C. - like The Yards - a park by the naval yard - and an old steel foundry.

 

Tough to get a "natural" looking photo of a kid who sees a camera and says "cheese!!"

 

She said "cheese" too!!

 

Actually, Lars did too!

 

What's an outing without snacks?

 

It was breezy but warming up!!

 

I had hoped to see all the cherry blossoms in bloom - but this is about all we got - it's been so cold, the trees are not blooming yet.  That's the old steel foundry in the background.

 

The naval yard - with a ship in it!!  Fancy that!

 

There may not have been cherry blossoms - but there were daffodils EVERYWHERE!!  Maybe that's even better than cherry blossoms!!

 

Got in some story time each day and night.

Hannah and I spent a day in D.C. - exploring DuPont Circle and it's charming shops and eateries - found a fun yarn store and dropped in at the textile museum - but only one room was open.  It's a nice building anyway.  Also passed a row house with a plaque saying that this had been the home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt from 1916 to 1920.  D.C. is a great city - just driving around or walking around is tons of fun.

It was really nice to spend a few days with everyone - and a change is as good as a rest, right??

Came home to some more "remodeling" - the painters were painting the closet and cupboards in our bedroom.  Harry was thinking those have only ever been painted twice - so this was the third time - this is a 60 year old house too!

Back to school on Monday - alas, all good things come to an end!!

But we have the Betsy-Tacy tour to look forward to!!