MY Vacation

I thought that since Steve wasn't working and I'd have a full time babysitter, I would take a vacation. I have been wanting to get back to California to visit my Grandma, so off I went.

It was nice just to visit and relax. I had time to run up and down the Burbank hills everyday. I was able to get some errands done for Grandma while I was there. We went to the bank, grocery shopping, bought some new shoes and got her prescriptions filled.

ACTUALLY, it was all in preparation to take Grandma back to Texas with me so she could stay with my Mom & Dad for a while. My Dad actually visited Grandma a few weeks earlier and his brother and sister all sat down with her and explained to her that they thought it would be nice if she went to Texas for a while. My Grandma has Alzheimer's and it has been getting more and more difficult to care for her. She wasn't too excited but it was settled. She would fly back with me after my visit. I was actually disappointed that they were bringing her back Texas because I really wanted to go visit her in her house and etc...., So I volunteered to bring her back with me.
Well, when I arrived, she said she had no idea that she was going back to Texas. She started crying and was mad that no one had told her. Oh, how my heart broke! She would bring it up in tears all the time while I was there. Then I got to help pack her up. It was tough, because at the time we weren't sure if she was ever going to come back.

Forward 3 months, Grandma finished her 3 month trial and she won the fight for now. She is back home for now and seems to be much happier, just says she is lonely. Interesting that she had my Mom & Dad, some of her grandkids and great grandkids all around her in Texas.

Back to my Trip-Us running errands.

My brother Ryan came to visit also. So we took Grandma to good old Bob's Big Boy in Toluca Lake. (He also ran with me and gave me some core exercises to do).

I went with my Aunt Emily and Grandma to the General Relief Society Broadcast and Dinner that they had her Stake. It was very nice, like always.

This Grandma's huge avocado tree. Where's Ryan? He is on a hunt for some yummy avocados.

Just wanted to take a picture of my Grandpa's work bench and wall of tools. I'll have to get water hose, tools and ladder story written down sometime.
A trip to California wouldn't be complete without a visit to Moorpark to visit my Aunt Virginia and my cousins. We always have such a good time when we are together. This time was interesting as Linda, who is only a couple years older than me just had a heart attack and my Cousin Denise had just donated a kidney to her sister, my cousin Cynthia who is diabetic. Just so grateful for their strength and example to me. Good Times!!!!

Me, Linda, Denise & Jani

This one is for my mom. Me and her sister, Aunt Virginia.

Me and my cousin, Karilyn

Ryan and me {he was heading back to Utah}

Ryan and Grandma
The 3 of us. Me and Grandma on the airport headed to Houston. Where she would stay a couple days before I took her to my Mom & Dads. She is the best Grandma ever!

Tooth Fairy, Myth or Fact?

Rachel was told at school that if you put your tooth in a jar of water, that when the toothfairy came to get your tooth it would turn the water whatever color the toothfairy was. Because she really wanted to know what color the toothfairy was. (I keep saying toothfairy, because around here we haven't decided if it is a girl or a boy).

Well, I guess the tooth fairy is orange.

Hannah Montana + Lauren Spendlove =

One Cute SuperStar!

What does she want to be when she grows up? A Rock Star and a Cow Girl!

San Jacinto Monument and the Lincoln

Just getting in a little more Texas History before we move to California.

Boys & Mowers

Daddy Time

While I was visiting Grandma in California, Steve had his weekend full of activities for the kids. The girls when to a dance clinic put on every year by the Cinco Ranch Stars Drill Team as a fundraiser. Awesome deal! And the boys went to the community picnic in the park, where they played/wrestled on the bounce house, pet some animals and climbed some walls. It was so much fun they took the girls back later and also got their faces painted.

Girls performing perfectly at their dance clinic.

House Hunting Trip

Well, here we are in Bakersfield, California. Who would have ever thought. Bakersfield is bigger than I thought it would be but still has a very nice small town feel. We spent a week here looking for houses. I'm not sure how many houses I looked at and of all kinds. Coming from a pretty good size house in Katy, Texas to a house in our price range here in Bakersfield was a big task. We had lunch one day with a member of the church, Allen Luthi, who also works for Oxy, and his wife Liesl. We ended up looking in their neighborhood and on our last day here found a house under construction that we liked and were able to make plans for a pool. It is at the end of a culdesac and I think the schools will be good. Our realtor, Lynne Wright, helped us out a lot and seemed to be pretty patient with us.

BlowOut!

Three hours after Steve left for a "boys only" trip to Jicarita Peak, New Mexico with MY Dad and brothers. We had about a 10 minute storm come through. We were out front trying to wind surf on the skateboard when I heard a big crash noise. I walked around to the side of my house and found this:




The side door to the garage was open and the wind was so strong it whipped in through the little door and pushed the garage door out. AMAZING!

With the spring loaded garage door opener all twisted up, it was a little dangerous and my car was still in the garage. My good neighbor and his friend kindly took the door down for me. But then what do you do? My garage was wide open.
I thought I was going to have to buy a brand new garage door, but luckily after a few phone calls and a couple guys coming to look at it, it was just repaired. It did have to stay open overnight, but you know we tend to leave our door open alot at nights forgetting to close them. Now just to add to the story, my good neighbor (secret service man) called the neighborhood police who patrol the area now and then and asked them to keep an eye out on our place. Great! So the next day the police officer stopped by to make sure everything was okay and as I was talking to him I broke down in tears. HELLO!
I think I just a little stressed. I was also so grateful for everyone's concern for us. I had two more visitors. One was my VT who brought me some delicious banana bread and then my cousin Amber brought over some beautiful flowers to say thank you for watching her son. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!