Heritage Days Picnic

On Tuesday we had our annual Heritage Day Picnic for the church members and their friends.  It is held at the large picnic area at the Fairgrounds.   We enjoy a yummy Tri-Tip dinner and games for the kids.   

Chance riding the bull!

What fun he is having!

Here he works on getting the rope around the calf-- but 1st he must get out of the rope himself!

Swinging the Lasso.

Gets himself in the eye with the lasso.

Cowboy comes up and says, "Here, let me show you how to use that before you hurt yourself!"

Ahh,  much better form.

Water balloon volleyball toss.  Wasn't that for kids 12-18?  Oh yah,  Chance's size can pass him off as a 12 year old- can come in handy...I guess!

The Silver Twinkie

I have started a separate blog for our camping adventures and items directly related to our camping trailer.    It is found at thesilvertwinkie.blogspot.com

Take me out to the Ball Game!

On Friday last week Scott had his work team building event-- bring your family to the ball games.   It began by riding BART into San Francisco.  We got off on Embarcadero and walked the mile or so to the stadium.    It was here that I was introduce to "Critical Mass"!   What is it?  On the last Friday of the month bicyclists in major cities ride their bikes as a statement to how unfriendly the roadways are for bicyclists.  Anyway that is how it began... but it was really just a mess and from what I observed it was a lot of bicyclists causing unsafe situations for a lot of people.

This is the first picture I took-- notice the boys to the far right.  In front of them is a SUV partway over the sidewalk.  As we passed them I observed it was a fender bender.  Result of bicyclists and unable to cross street.  They just came down like a stampede and did not stop for anything-- not even red lights.  The people on the corner-- they will also be waiting awhile before they can cross the street.

So after the big "Stampede" went through, there were smaller groups.  At one point it was us and them sharing the sidewalk.  Chance said, "I almost got hit!"  Yes, imagine walking down a busy sidewalk with bicyclists around you.

The only group we saw that actually stopped at a red light!

Had to take a picture of THIS!  Apparently it can drive on the road and ferry across the bay!

Finally we get to the Stadium!  See how Scott can reach for his wallet as he continues for the line--- it is a fast slick superhero move!

THE BEST PART...

Bay views- look at all those sailboats!

Nosebleed seats-- best seats we have had!

Food-- lots of food!  Here the boys start with Garlic Fries!

    No crackerjacks-- but we had hotdogs, fish and chips, nachos, cotton candy, hot chocolate, and ice cream.  All courtesy of the company!  

Unfortunately  we also got to see the Arizona Diamondbacks pound out run after run. SF lost in a pretty big way.   

So going back home on BART-- we pass the Oakland A's stadium and pick up their fans.  I really wanted to take a picture of us all squished on the BART with Green/Yellow and Orange/Black colors, but I did not think I could manage to find the camera in my bag, keep holding the overhead bar, and take the picture-- all while being inconspicuous. 

Happy Birthday Kaden!

Kaden means "companion"

Kaden is my nephew-- he is my sister Marlo's youngest.   I love reading about him on her blog.   He keeps her very busy.   I saw her a few weeks ago and got a sweet hug from him when I was leaving.  So squeezable!

Here are some pictures of him-- courtesy of my sister.

And my favorite picture of all time...

Captures just what is like camping with a toddler!

Love it!!

Happy Birthday Kaden

I am sending you lots of Birthday squeezes!

Love, Aunt Karalene

We can not change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.

Randy, you played your hand well...

Randy Pausch died early this morning of pancreatic cancer.  I read his book, The Last Lecture, over a month ago and was wowed by it and his fight to live every day to the fullest!  Since then I have been keeping track of him, as his time was very near-- he had already survived longer then he was ever expected.  Way to keep on living Randy -- may your "Last Lecture" continue to be a inspiration to others and be a source of comfort for your wife and children.   

-Never underestimate the importance of having fun. I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day because there's no other way to play it. -Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. -No one is pure evil. Find the best in everybody. Wait long enough and people will surprise and impress you. -Brick walls are there for a reason. They are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop people who don't want it badly enough. -It is not about achieving your dreams but living your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you. -We can't change the cards we're dealt, just how we play the hand. If I'm not as depressed as you think I should be, I'm sorry to disappoint you. And one of my  favorites "I just experienced a deathbed conversion...I just bought a Macintosh!"

Rest in Peace and may your family always be blessed!  

Happy Birthday Trudi!

Trudi means "Strength of Spear, Spear maiden"

It is Trudi's birthday today!  Trudi is Scott's sister and he should of known the meaning of her name before he picked on her all those years ago.  

 Trudi always makes things fun and she loves Disneyland as much as Scott.  So I choose pictures from our Christmas 2007 Disneyland trip!

We were getting the kids to pose in front of Mickey-- Trudi must be using her skills as "Spear Maiden" in getting those kids in line for the picture!

Is Chance learning to snap his fingers or is there a deal going down?

At Legoland!  Trudi next to her mother and her husband.

Disneyland on Autopia

Have a fantastic day Trudi!  Lots of Birthday Wishes.

Love Scott and family!

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up their wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.     ~Isaiah  40:31

Mama Mia, here I go again!

These words have been going through my head all week and I have been singing them to Chance.  Even pulled out my ABBA cd and listened to it.  Reminded Chance of his theme song-- "Take a Chance"--we used to play it all the time for him when he was 2 or 3-- he loved it.

On Tuesday evening a group of us women went to the 9:15 pm showing  of "Mama Mia"!   We laughed and laughed--- it was great! When Pierce Brosnan started singing- I could do nothing but laugh-- poor guy, but I did give him credit for being so brave and trying something different.  Hey, and when you have background music and singers-- it makes anyone sound pretty good!  So it really wasn't that bad-- just out of character for our 007 Man.   Meryl Streep did a great job on "The Winner Takes All". And the rendition of "Take a Chance" just about rolled me out of  my seat.   And the credits (remember to stay for those) what a crack up! I thought how great it is to be middle aged, do snortey laughs and just ham it up!   

 

Happy Birthday Dad/ Grandpa Gordon!

Gordon means "from the three cornered hill or from the marshes"

So Gordon's name has been the hardest to find the meaning for me thus far-- as it has a couple of different origins and many different meanings.  It is a place name with English, Scottish and Gaelic origins.  The "triangular hill' was the most reoccurring.

We spent the day with Scott's Dad celebrating his birthday!  We partied it up and ate bratwursts, Yummy!  

Scott and his Dad.  Gordon is opening his card.

Here Grandma Ellen wears his envelope so nicely-- I could not help but take the picture! 

Birthday cake!   It was really as bright as the picture.  It was the flavor he wanted from Baskin Robbins-- Chocolate Peanut Butter-- one of my favorites!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Gordon-- Glad we got to spend your special day with you.

Rocking to SHA NA NA at the Boardwalk!

On Friday Night we went to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk to see Sha Na Na in concert.  It was appropriate since they started singing in "1969", that also meant that the guys still from the original band are almost as old as our parents!  I do not recognize the name Sha Na Na, but I totally recognized the music.  Most famous for their appearance on Grease and for their song contribution to the Grease album.

Anyway-- they rocked the boardwalk-  with "Sandy", "Teenager in Love", "Under the Boardwalk"   It was "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" and we all had a great time, except for Jordan who was in pain from sitting on the ground-- we just could not get him to crack a smile.  It is a hard job being a teenager... however, he played the part so well.

Click on this to see the original Sha Na Na singing  "Teenager in Love".  At the concert they let the audience sing the chorus "Why must I be a teenager in love?"  It was a great audience participation song.  Besides- 55-60 year old men would look ridiculous singing that!

What I did on my 39th Birthday!

So here is the little run down of what I did for my birthday.  As I said in the post before, I choose to do a camping trip to our favorite beach campground.  As the time drew nearer Scott's work schedule was not working really well for the trip.  We took the camping trip a few weeks ago for the 4th, he had the 50 miler in June and he has Boy Scout camp in a few weeks.  So sometime in there he has to work! (Okay- so this where I am going to insert a comment or two-- because I need to reminded of this also.  Make sure you express your gratitude to those who take time from their lives, like their vacation time, to spend time with your kids- like Boy Scout Trips!  So many times in "the Church" we just expect it from people because it is their "calling".  Now don't get me wrong, my husband absolutely loved going on the 50 miler-- my point is just express gratitude-- it really goes along ways in those feel good feelings that your time is valued!  And yes, he did have parents thank him- collectively and individually)

Okay, back to Scott being able to go camping with us.  He got back from Atlanta on Wednesday, drove the camping trailer to New Brighton, stayed the night and left the next day on my birthday for work.   He joined back up with us on Friday late afternoon.   So it was the boys and me for the day.  Chance and I spent the afternoon at the beach.  He boogie boarded and body surfed and I attempted to read a book.  I did not read much because there are no lifeguards and I just needed to keep an eye on Chance.  I finally pulled out my Ipod.  I rather enjoyed that- it was very relaxing to listen to music and watch the ocean.   

For the evening we had planned to go to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and spend the time screaming on amusement rides and eating funnel cakes.  But without the truck we improvised.  Here is our evening activities.

We cooked foil dinners, corn on the cob, and scones in the dutch oven. (better then funnel cakes)

Here is Jordan reading a book while the food cooks.  Not as exhilarating as a roller coaster ride, but still good!

Yummy Scones- really good with my homemade strawberry freezer jam.  We decided these are pretty close to donuts.  We had them every night.  By Sunday the kids were sick of them.  I think that had something to do with the nugget of chocolate they would put in a ball of dough and then deep fry.  Pretty rich!

Scones cooking in the dutch oven-- we use loaves of Rhodes dough.  Very camping friendly.

Birthday bliss... I am eating, Jordan is cooking scones.  (However, I did have to clean-up)

For entertainment... belching!  Too bad this picture does not have sound.

My kids sing "Happy Birthday to Mom". It was very sweet. 

Yes, I picked out my own birthday cake.  They are little Chocolate Truffle Rolls.  The 3 of us shared these.  (Oh and me-- birthday bliss-- no shower, no make-up- a day on the beach and cooking outdoors- beautiful!)

And I made a birthday Wish!

The Tent that fought back!

We went camping from Wed. through Mon. during my birthday week.  I planned it six months ago by making my reservation for New Brighton State Beach--our favorite beach campground.  You camp on a bluff in the the trees and the beach is below.  Campground has really nice restrooms and showers and the beach has bathrooms.  Pismo Beach (near the campground)  did not and bathrooms are important when your child hangs out in the ocean forever!)   

On Thursday morning I opened the blinds in the back of the camping trailer and I saw my neighbors were breaking camp.  I observed the man taking down a small tent and humored myself by taking a few pictures.  I thought of Jordan the day before as he bent a pole trying to set-up a six man tent by himself.   I am not really skilled in the tent setting up-- but two things I have observed. 

1-  The poles have a string that keeps them in order- if the pole comes apart while it is in the tent you have a mess.

2. Patience in tent assembly is a requirement!

In the pictures below,  #1 happened, he pulled and pushed and the poles were being held together by only the string-- congratulate the manufacture because the poles did survive!  And the Tent.

And... the man demonstrated #2 very well.  Of course, I could not hear him... but he seemed to have the patience of Job as he manipulated that tent around trying to extract those poles.  

Well... observe for yourself  the Tent that fought back.... I like the last picture where he actually holds the tent down with his legs or maybe he is riding like it is a bucking bronco.

And no, I am not making fun of this guy... I am admiring his patience! 

July 1969

39 years ago-- 

Average Cost of new house $15,550.00 

Average Income per year $8,550.00 

Average Monthly Rent $135.00 

Average Cost New Car $3,270.00 

Toyota Corona $1,950.00 

Gas per Gallon 35 cents 

Alarm Clock from Westclox $9.98 

Important events in the Year 1969 

NIXON BECOMES PRESIDENT

250,000 March in Washington in protest of the VIETNAM WAR

WOODSTOCK

JULY 18-  Senator Edward Kennedy drives off a bridge with his secretary. Secretary dies- Kennedy does not report it for 24 hours!  (Theory is he was drunk- hence waiting to report it-- bad, bad)

JULY 20- "The Eagle has Landed!"  Man walks on the moon!

and....

JULY 17-  I was born!  Yes, this is my BIRTHDAY!

My Dad wanted to name me Karla, but Mom was teaching school and had a Karla in her class that she did not like.

So I became KARALENE.  Pronounced-- car-a-lean -- not caroling.  Yes, you pronounce the second "a", it is not silent.  However, I really do not notice if you do not say the second "a"-  it was such a mouthful for me growing up that I just slurred over the second "a", still do.  But my Mom, she has always called me Kar-a-lene... which is fitting since she named me!  ;)

KARALENE-  a derivative of Carla-  Means Strong and Womanly

Only strong personalities can endure history, the weak ones are extinguished by it ~Friedrich Nietzsche 

Trail Trekker Hike- Redwood Creek

We had our family Cub Scout Trail Trekker Hike today.  For selected hikes the boys can earn a cool patch, this was for the Redwood Creek Patch.   It was a few miles above the Oakland Temple in the Redwood Regional Park where they have 2nd and 3rd growth Redwood trees.  It was a chilly hike, really nice after last week.  We made it back to the cars just when it was heating up.  A good six mile hike that will have my body aching tonight.

This is the group of attendees.  We are almost to the end of the hike.

One of our rest areas.

They found a banana slug.  

This Webelos Scout kissed the slug 100 times!  What achievement would that qualify for?

Would you kiss that?  Me neither!  

Treasures

Doing laundry and this what I found in washing machine.  

These are the treasures that Chance picked up and put in his pocket on the 1st day of Webelos Day Camp.  I like to look at these and smile as I wonder what he was thinking as he spotted it for his treasure.  Did he look at the peach pit and think "I am going to plant this in the back yard " or is it just a draw to something unusual on the ground?  I really should be checking pockets before I wash though, all those rocks can't be good for the washing machine!