Winding down the weekend -

Saturday night - after finally unloading my car - we headed out to Glendora for Dave Bell's 50th birthday celebration. Saw some people we knew - Holmes's and Rene' Shirley for starters. Also met Anna May's son Dave, who lives in their ward. And also Bishop Willis - Dave Willis' brother - Dave is married to Bruce's sister Becky. I love how you can go to any event where LDS people will be in attendance, and you can keep making connections all night long!!

On Sunday, I headed out to Claremont to speak at the Relief Society Visiting Teacher Seminar in Mickie Fowler's ward - the ward where Sue Zylstra also lives!! Made some other connections too - but if you can believe it, little Scott Zylstra is awaiting his mission call - it should come this week! Where to the years go??

Since their ward building is across the street from where Uncle Byron lives, I headed over there for a nice visit. I need to start taking notes - some of the stories I'd heard before, but some were new!!

When I pulled into the house, I was noticing some definite signs of spring - even with the darkly clouded sky - the lilies are blooming.

And our Sycamore tree is covered with new green leaves!! A sure sign that this one is a keeper!!

The day ended with dinner with Larry and Ginger - Hoopes's were there too. Good food, good friends - I'm ready to face the week ahead!! (And I'm ready for bed!!)

Note: I meant to share this last week. Baby Harry's Primary teacher gave a lesson on Fathers and asked the class what they thought fathers were good for. A silence. Then Harry said, "For timeouts!"

At least he's paying attention!

Weekend Wrap-up on Tuesday night - when the weekend is almost here again!!

Lest some of you were worried that major changes had occurred in our "sprucing up" efforts, here's proof that some things never change!!

Remember this all started with me wanting Dad to paint the guest room. (It's not painted - with our weekends booked until April 24th, they won't get painted any time soon.)

In the midst of the fumes and the chaos and the doors and windows wide-open with fans going too, I hosted a little farewell dinner for Amy, my departing 2nd counselor. We had a fine time - lots of good food and good conversation - and we all know it doesn't get any better than that! And we will miss Amy - guess we will have to have more little dinners together! (Did you notice my new vintage apron??)

I wanted Dad to paint the guest room because we thought we were having guests this weekend - Saturday night at about 9 - after worrying if we'd somehow missed them, Dad figured out that they were coming March 20th!! The futon is made up - and I'm leaving it up for Esme's Grandma's Sleepover.

The floors do look lovely. So does the new rug. And it's a little soft and plush to boot!

Saturday night was a surprise 60th b-day party for MJC at Johnny Rocket's in Pasadena - a fun time - good food too!

Sunday was Esme's big day - and she carried it off in fine style. We did bring a crowd to "the one true ward" in Palisades!! Bruce's sister and family have moved to SoCal - we added 8 women to Relief Society alone! Primary and YM/YW were similarly impacted. And one of the speakers was the second to youngest daughter of a family I used to work for out in Saugus - back in the day!! There are always connections to be made in Malibu.

Her baptism was a sweet, spiritual event. Harry F. and I spoke, Ara played the flute, Ella led the singing, Michael McLean showed up and sang a song for Esme, and Bonny and Bruce shared their testimonies.

Queen for the Day - holding court!! (The Willis's have 7 daughters - it was Girls' Day at the hangout!)

The youngest girl enjoyed taking it all in.

It's always great to see Jinny.

Mom, Donna, and Mary made the trek too.

I do love all the wonderful grandkids we have. And we do wish you all could have been here!

Getting ready to blow out the candles!

Serenading the birthday girl.

The next-to-youngest Willis daughter was intrigued by Isla!

Esme had been sure that Michael and Lynn would come - and she was right! They had a harrowing tale to tell of flat tires in the middle of the night on the Nevada desert - and good Samaritans who rescued them! Maybe a song will come out of this!

Four generations.

Camera-shy Porter asked me to take his picture!

And Harry W. didn't want to be left out!

It was a great weekend - being with family is truly a blessing. I didn't get everyone's picture - Noah, Dave and Becky, half of Dave and Becky's kids - I'm not even sure I got in a shot of Annika! But it was a beautiful day - dawned rainy here in Monrovia - got sunny as we headed to the beach - clouded over midway through the day - but never got too cold. The blessings of family and the gospel are the bright spots in our days.

The Week That Was

Every time I've seen Isla, she's been asleep!! Today (Sunday) I got to see her awake, so here's a shot of her after getting changed and being alert and awake!

Pardon the glare from the mirror, but if you click on this photo, the look on Isla's face is pretty cute. Harry and Dawn report that she's a good little baby. Although she did "stay up" Saturday night a little longer than they would have liked!

Saturday we worked at the temple all day - and then came to the ward Christmas party - it was pouring rain, so the kids couldn't run around on the patio - which is what Monrovia Ward kids are trained to do!! (and they love doing it too!)

The Ward Christmas Party featured a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and then "breakfast for dinner" was on the agenda.

Harry and Porter were enjoying biscuits and gravy, hash browns, scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes. (You can feel your ateries hardening, can't you??) But it tasted great!!

Thursday night was our Ward Relief Society Christmas dinner and program - it's great having Marjorie here - she's staying through the new year too! Bill is coming in a week or so.

The Relief Society party had a soup and salad bar - yummy too - and a "gift in a jar" exchange - lots of fun.

On Monday Dad picked me up from school to go and get the Volvo at Mac's - as I waited I thought I'd snap a photo of the rain, so you would know that we really do have winter here. It's been cold, rainy and gray - with periods of brilliant blue sky - winter as only California knows how to do it!