"As time goes by . . ."

Porter is pretty sure that his parents are bringing him home a leprechaun!

We are enjoying the photos that Harry and Dawn send to us. The children mostly like seeing pictures of their parents, but they have been interested in some things - like the old buildings!!

This is a peat fire. Looks warm and toasty.

On the home front, I have been taking the kids on walks everyday - mostly to downtown Monrovia - doing errands, playing at Library Park, shopping at Pavilions. Today we went to Baskin Robbins for ice cream. As we trudged home - and it's been warm too - Porter said, "All this walking is going to make me paper thin."

Hasn't done that for me yet, but I won't give up!

"When Irish eyes are smiling . . "

Someone kidded Harry that this looked like Simone - and wondered if they'd sneaked her over there in their bags or something!! (I can tell you that Simone is safely at home in Monrovia though!!)

And we are all wondering what this stone house - if it is a house - is all about??

Looks like it's a bit chilly!!

But not too chilly for kids to be playing in the sand!!

We are holding down the fort here - I'm not sure that the kids have a vision of Ireland - but we are showing them the photos!

The things kids - especially Porter - say!

I took Noah to Marshall's for dress shoes to go with Dad's old suit that he is having altered - he's the best man in a wedding on Saturday - an early birthday present - and Porter was watching some teenage girls who were trying on very high platform heels - his comment? "Those are totally not good for running. I would not get them. But they do look nice." The girls all giggled.

And he found some red suede slipons in the men's dress shoes section - told Noah he could get a matching red tie and then it would be okay. When Noah said that wouldn't work, Porter suggested he spray paint them black.

When we were walking home yesterday from Library Park, Harry W. was blowing bubbles with his bubble gum - pretty good, large bubbles. When I commented on that, he said, "It's a talent I have."

Isla asks for her mom. When told she's not here, she asks for her dad. When told he's not here, she asks for Eve. When told Eve is at gymnastics, she asks for "Orry." When "Orry" is not around, she asks for Grandpa.

Porter and I don't seem to rate!

I'm hoping that being "on the go" all the time translates into lots of "activity points" at Weight Watchers!!

More from the Emerald Isle

These shots came from a morning bike ride today. It is indeed lovely, I will have to say that!!

Ah, maybe someday!

More from Ireland - and that's no blarney!!

Harry said they stopped in Limerick to see an old castle -from 1200 AD - that is old all right!

Guess Harry is the photographer and Dawn is the model - she's cuter anyway!!

This is the cottage where they are staying.

Hmm - is she in trouble??

Not sure what this is - he sends photos, not explanations!

We had some "face time" with them today - the kids enjoyed it - they are doing fine and we are enjoying being with them.

"In Dublin's fair city, where girls are so pretty . . ."

Harry and Dawn went from LA to London - then on to Dublin - here are the photos he sent me.

It is indeed green! The comment I got was that it's an "adventure" to drive a manual transmission on the other side of the road!!"

Playing a little bit of catch-up!

It has been a busy week - thankfully tomorrow is a holiday - Cesar Chavez Day - to kick off Spring Break. It will be a busy week ahead too - Harry and Dawn are taking off for Ireland, and we will be holding down the fort for them - and minding the kiddos! We plan to have a good time. Folks are coming into town - Leslie, Tom, Sam, Sarah, Ellen, Hannah K. - let the good times roll!

Tuesday night was the monthly pack meeting. Harry and I are enjoying this calling - and we are getting pretty proficient at cheers and songs!! Barbara Rossiter and the Arcadia Cubs did the activity - a catapult war with marshmallows - it was a hit!

Sunday at Relief Society, Marcie wanted to play a talk for the class - the laptop's sound volume was deficient - but the ever-resourceful Relief Society Presidency came up with a solution. Who said we aren't techno wizards??

Today was the egg-drop at Clifton. It has changed since most of the Terrill kids were involved in it. For 8th graders, there is a size and weight limit - and the egg has to land right side up. I have a solution - and the 5 kids who followed it all got all their points!! A couple of them seemed a little amazed that I am so with it and savvy - if you play your cards right, I will share it with you sometime! That's Kyle up on the roof.

Esme came home with us on Friday night after the Stairway of the Stars event - and we had a great birthday weekend!! Eve joined us later on Saturday afternoon and they had matching manicures - always a hit with the little ladies.

Of course, Esme wanted lunch at In 'n Out - worth the wait I'd say!!

When the girls come, the American Girls come too!! Here we are just before church.

We went out to Hollywood on Sunday for Miella's and Kevin's baptism. It was very nice - and I totally forgot to take any pictures. Grandma Terrill came along too - and there was a large Monrovia Ward contingent there also. After we took Esme home and enjoyed dinner at Chez Bonny. There was a lot of rain, but we stayed pretty dry. I have had my autism classes - they are kind of ongoing until June - and it's been busy at school for me and work for Dad. But we did squeeze in Hunger Games.

Not sure how much free time I will have to post this coming week, but we'll keep you updated - maybe Harry will email me photos on his new iPad!!

Stairway of the Stars - 2012

A couple of years ago we went to this production - Malibu-Santa Monica Unified has been doing this musical extravaganza for 63 years now at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The performers are all students from 5th to 12th grade - band, orchestra and choir. They are mighty impressive. I thought that there would be tons of photos on google images - this was the only one - from 1976!! But you get the idea.

We were lucky enough to go again this year - apparently it's tough to get tickets, but Bonny did the job for us. And saved us seats too!

They always start out with the "Star Spangled Banner" and the audience joins in singing - it is pretty rousing, let me tell you! Then they sing "Stairway to the Stars" - an old song from the 30s or 40s - or maybe even earlier. They sing it at the end too - there is really a lot of energy going on - hundreds of kids singing and playing instruments.


Ara plays flute in the high school band now - before it was the middle school band. I think she played in elementary too - but don't quote me on that!

Ella sings in the choir, and I'm not sure how long she has done that. There are lots of kids out there, but we could spot Ara and Ella quite easily - once they were pointed out to us! Ara and Ella are beautiful young women - and quite talented too! (That is not a biased opinion either - others agree with us!!)

Looking at the above photo - Harry with Ara and Ella - you can certainly see how time flies!!

I love this - not sure how things looked for the first one, but this sixties number looks classy to me!

The kids are great - this time the high school jazz band was really rocking - and there were these three 5th grade boys in the elementary honor band who were rocking along in their chairs - twirling their hands!! It is encouraging to see kids getting such pleasure from real music. There was another young girl who was leading away with a make believe baton. All the performers are arranged in the auditorium - they don't come "on and off stage" - they are all there through the whole performance. Their excellent behavior alone is impressive! At the end, the last two rows of the high school choir - apparently the seniors - linked arms and swayed as they sang - obviously loving what they were doing.

We took Esme home with us for her Grandma's Birthday Sleepover - and had a little late night dinner at Baja Fresh on Wilshire Blvd.

Meanwhile I am humming along - "Let's build a stairway to the stars. . ." It's a catchy tune.

The weekend coming up!!

We are looking forward to hosting Esme for her Grandma's Birthday Sleepover.

And we are excited that the pick-up arrangements include seeing Ara and Ella in the annual "Stairway to the Stars" concert at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

I promise a comprehensive report!!

A better photo!!

So, Katie and Roger's wedding was a lovely affair - and my photo of the bride and groom certainly did not do them justice.

This one does!!

St. Patty meets Julius Caesar!!

Once again the Ides went off without too many hitches. It did rain, so I was unable to try my plan to have it on our faux stage in front of the garage. After the family talent show at Christmas, I was eager to do the Ides "on stage" but I guess it will wait for another year.

Some old-timers didn't make it, some "new timers" joined us, and the rest of us just had a fine time, like we usually do.

It was especially fun to have Jinny there with us!!

I didn't get a photo of Dad and Steve Plewe - his first time with us - and the first time we've seen him in several years - that was a treat too!

Until 2013!!

Happy Saint Pat's day to you too!!

Hannah did us all proud today - 4:49 at the Sun Trust Rock 'n Roll USA Marathon in Washington DC.

A chick off the old block I would say!!

Think of her, think of her fondly

While you're getting ready to celebrate the Ides and/or St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, think of Hannah who is going to be running her marathon tomorrow morning sometime in the ballpark of 8 a.m. to 12:30 Eastern time!

In case you've never seen Hannah run a race, it is a treat. She is very fun to watch and it's impossible not to get into the spirit of the occasion. She has worked hard getting ready for this race and I know she's going to do great and finish strong. Yay Hannah!

At last!!!

It's only been since mid-August, but at last the remodel is complete. There are some little things that we say we are going to do, but you know how that goes. (And I shall add, parenthetically, for those who haven't been following this story as avidly as some, that the "remodel" was in response to some serious water damage that occurred while we were away last August.)

As we speak, the first official load is washing. After Harry installed it last night, he ran it for 30 minutes - to be sure it didn't leak - which is what it did the first time he installed it - before we knew that they had sent us a damaged dishwasher.

It's a long story - and one that I am tired of telling. Suffice it to say we have had to fuss and complain and rant and rave and file a billing dispute with Amex - and the latter is what did the trick I might add!

Now maybe I can concentrate on getting the pictures hung in the hall!

Beware the Ides of March!!

The celebration of the Ides of March is a long-standing Terrill tradition that has assumed many iterations over the years. Here's one from the early 90s - when Mandy and Erin joined our dramatic troupe.

This is from the 90's also - but later I think - since that looks like a tiny Ella there in front. Our usual fare was Caesar Salad and pizza from Little Caesar's.

From the first Ides of March party - the early 70s - when Dad and I dressed up in our Nicaraguan bedspreads.

We started having these affairs because Ronnie Horton's birthday was on the Ides of March - and it seemed to need a fitting celebration.

This was last year's celebration. It was held on the 14th so we went with a Pi Day theme. It was yummy.

A few years ago - 2006 I think.

Look for reports on this year's gala - it's on the 17th - so we are having a green theme - green chile enchiladas, green salad, lime sherbet - you get the idea.

But while you are out and about today, watch for wanton soothsayers and others of such ilk!

Tastes like home

The only thing better than a slice of Mom's Pumpkin Bread is your own tiny loaf of Mom's Pumpkin Bread.





Can you tell I'm a fan of my mini-loaf pan?