FAMILY VACATION

This year we started a new family tradition.  It seems that with our hectic lifestyles we hardly get to spend enough quality time with one another.  Melissa came up with the idea of a family vacation.  We picked a weekend that we all could spare, and she came up with the ideal hotel which was freeway close, and a beautiful location----Laguna Beach!

 

We were to arrive on Friday afternoon, and we all came in separate cars.  On the way, Duane and I decided to stop for lunch at one of our favorite restaurants----Back Bay Bistro.  It is on the premises of Newport Dunes Resort, in Newport Beach, where we have taken our trailer many times.  We had a great meal-----one of many more to come that weekend.

 

 

 

When we arrived at Pacific Edge Hotel, I was delighted with our room.  Here I am on the balcony facing miles of uninterrupted sandy beach.  The photo at the beginning of this post shows how our bed looked when we got there, adorably filled with bright pillows and photo headboard.

 

 

 

Adam and Melissa, who had gotten there right before us, joined us at The Deck, a local hangout right below our room.  Duane was in heaven when the Oysters on the Half Shell were served.

 

 

 

Heather and family arrived a while later, and the kids couldn't wait to get on the beach.

 

 

 

Beach chairs, umbrellas, towels and toys were all provided by the hotel, so Grandpa and Grandma were happy to watch all the youngsters at play.

 

 

 

Grandma was playing with Reese and Maddie and didn't even know that Grandpa went up to the room to take this picture.

 

 

 

Maddie amazed us with her Boogie Boarding skills.  Adam took a much better picture, that I'm sure Heather will share on her blog soon.

 

 

 

There was plenty of night life too, and great meals.  Here we had a nightcap at Rock'N Fish.

 

  

 

The last morning we ate at The Beach House which originally was a cottage owned by a movie star named Slim Summerville.  He was an old time actor who played in many Shirley Temple movies.  When he owned the house, Laguna Beach was a lonely spot in the wilderness of Southern California.  We were sad to hear that the restaurant will be closing next week.  I'm glad we got to sample its ambiance before it is remodeled.

  

 

 

Everyone, including Daddy and Lola had a great time.  Can't wait for our next Family Vacation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUTUMN

I always get a special feeling when the temperatures start dropping, the sun sets earlier, and the leaves begin to fall.  When I was a girl I always loved the beginning of the new school year, getting a new school bag (we didn't have backpacks), opening a fresh box of crayons (we didn't have markers), and sharpening my new pencils.  In those days things were a lot less complicated.  We never even dreamed that computers and phones would become so important in our lives.

 

 

Even as a little tot, I loved jumping in the fallen leaves.  They would provide hours of entertainment.

 

 

 

Kids used to play outdoors and make up their own games.  That's the way it was before TV and computers.  Here is my Dad as a little guy on a very antique tricycle.

 

 

 

Duane, who grew up in the same era as I did, remembers the old fashioned classrooms, and has fond memories of this Kindergarten class.  He is 2nd from the left in the front row with his favorite truck.  This class was in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.

 

 

 

Another old fashioned classroom with Heather and Adam's Dad in the 3rd row, 2nd from the left wearing a V neck sweater.  This room was in McHenry, Illinois.

 

 

 

This is an old photo from the late 1920's or early 30's.  It is a gathering of girls, one of which is Heather and Adam's grandmother.  Groups or clubs usually started in the Fall of the year.  Pennants like the one in the background were used instead of signs showing the name of the organization.  Viola is standing next to the pennant (she never smiled for pictures.)

 

 

 

Loved those leaves!

 

 

But, at our house, nothing says Fall like the beginning of Duck Season.  He's Ready!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Peanut Gallery

 

When I was a little girl, and TV was a new concept, one of the first television shows I remember is the Howdy Doody Show with Buffalo Bob Smith.  Howdy was a puppet, and there were other memorable puppet characters on the show.

 

 

 

Buffalo Bob played the piano and sang songs with the "Peanut Gallery" composed of a group of little kids.  Those children were the envy of all of us watching the show at home.  To this day, the word "peanut" is often a name given to a small child.

 

 

 

All of us were "peanuts" at one time.  Chantelle and Heather were two of the cutest "peanuts".

 

 

 

Reese is a hat loving "peanut" who also likes trains.

 

 

 

Maddie is a dancing "peanut".

 

 

 

I was a patriotic "peanut".

 

 

 

Adam was a swimming "peanut".

 

 

 

Heather, Adam and I pretended we were in the Peanut Gallery one day at Sea World.

 

 

 

Here's Duane----a very serious "peanut".

 

 

After I married Duane, I found out that his granddaughter, Valerie had the nickname of "Peanut".  Maddie knew a fellow "peanut" when she saw one.

 

 

 

Some of us with Howdy Doody roots never grew up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cuties

                 Just can't get enough of my children, grandchildren, husband etc etc etc.......

 

I love it when my niece, Chantelle gets together with my kids.  Everyone talks at once.

 

 

Chantelle and I had a wonderful Labor Day weekend together taking in some Southern California sights like San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point.

 

 

Chantelle got to hang out with Maddie and Reese too, and the kids didn't hesitate to show their stuff.

 

 

 

Reese loves showing how well he knows his alphabet and numbers.

 

 

 

I think we have a comedienne in the house.

 

 

 

And who can resist these two?  Amanda and Valerie have become such pretty ladies.

 

 

 

Leave it to Scott to ham it up a little too (with Grandma's glasses.)

 

 

 

They make it all worthwhile when this happens  :))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend with Chantelle

 

My niece, Chantelle, has always had a special place in my heart.

 

 

 

She came to visit us for Labor Day weekend, and I took her on some fun excursions.

Here she is at the Mission San Juan Capistrano.  She had never seen a Mission, and loved all of its history.  We spent lots of time poking around all the artifacts.

 

 

 

There were also fun things to do.

 

 

 

This is the original altar of the Mission.  I've always loved old churches.

 

 

 

An endearing part of the San Juan Capistrano Mission were the swallows who would come back every year and nest.  Because of all of the renovation, it has discouraged the swallows, but there are a couple of little nests right at the peak of this building.  They are round and made of mud.

 

 

 

We took the walking tour of the town of San Juan Capistrano and saw many old adobes, and other interesting buildings.  This fountain caught our eye.

 

 

 

Our next stop was Dana Point whose harbor I have loved for many years.  Chantelle and I explored all of the shops and restaurants. 

 

 

 

 

 

One of our favorite shops was DaVine Food and Wine.  The tables were made from wine barrels with corks under the glass tops.  In the background you can see the many wine choices you can purchase.

 

 

 

For our entertainment, there was a duo who sang a variety of songs from Beatles tunes to Adele.

It was festive, not crowded and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.

 

 

 

At strategic spots in the Harbor were decorated Elephants that will be auctioned off for charity.  Here I am with the Betty Boop rendition.

 

 

 

Chantelle was partial to this one with silver studs.

 

 

 

We ended our tour with this view of the actual "Dana Point".

 

 

 

I'm happy that Chantelle got to see how beautiful this area is, and I hope she will visit us again soon.