An Alaskan Adventure!

Here we are! Nathan and I decided that we needed a getaway. So when a great deal came on a cruise to Alaska we jumped on it. Day one we flew to Anchorage and stayed at "The Captain Cook" hotel. We walked around downtown Anchorage and went to their outdoor market. While there we ate some fresh fish and chips and had a really wonderful roasted ear of corn! Yummy! We ate dinner ate a place overlooking Cook Inlet and were fascinated by the history of Captain James Cook so we bought a book on his life and I now had some reading material for the trip!

Day 2 we take a train ride from Anchorage to Whittier to get on the cruise ship. It was a beautiful ride and we learned about the mud flats! Then we arrived in Whittier and walked around this large (not) city. It took all of 10 minutes but it is beautiful. We boarded the ship and headed to College Fjords.

Day 3 we cruise College Fjords and see our first Glacier. The colors are amazing! I don't think pictures do it justice! The weather is lovely and we are relaxing!

Day 4 we cruise Glacier Bay National Park and see some awesome Glaciers. We see them calve and hear the sounds of the cracking ice. It is amazing since we can get no closer than 1/4 mile and you can hear it so clearly!

Day 5 we are in a town called Skagway. It is a darling old mining town with the sidewalks made of wood. We take an excursion to Haines and visit an eagle preserve and look for wildlife. We don't see any!!!! Oh well! it was a beautiful day in a beautiful place and we sure did enjoy the scenery!

Day 6 is Juneau, Alaska. The capitol city. It is raining a lot but we have fun! We take a bus tour of town and go out to Mendenhall Glacier! We were here 23 years ago and the glacier has receded a lot!

Day 7 is Ketchican, Alaska. A beautiful town where the salmon run on this beautiful river. It is a bit early in the season so we don't see any salmon but we take beautiful pictures, enjoy the town the weather and eat fresh fish!

Day 8 we are cruising towards Vancouver, British Columbia and the weather is gorgeous! We lay out by the pool and I get a bit of a sunburn. Can you believe it! In Alaska! We have had a wonderful time and can't believe how fast the time has gone.
Day 9 we arrive in Vancouver, head to the airport and before you know it we are home! I finish the book on Captain Cook on the flight home and have learned a lot but the most important lesson in the book reinforces that power corrupts!!!!!! Wow!!!!

Farewell to a Special Man, My Dad

It has been a difficult couple of weeks since having such a good time with my grand kids. On our way home from Utah and staying with the grand kids my sister Jenny called and said that my Dad who has been suffering with cancer had suddenly taken a turn for the worse.

We were able to stop and see him on our way home and I feel very lucky to have had that opportunity. Although he was now in bed and beginning to have great pain, he looked and sounded good and just like my dad had always been. Nathan and I left there confident that we would be able to see him again and that his time to go was still a ways off.

During the next few days things progressed a little more quickly but I still felt like I could get there to see him again. Each of my siblings were able to come and visit with him during this week and I spoke with him on the phone on Thursday, May 14th. We had a good conversation and spoke of some fun times. I think my Dad was so very happy to be able to see and visit with each one of his children personally here at this time.

On Sunday, May 17th I was called again and told he was really going down fast. By early evening I was told he would not make it through the night and he was now non responsive. I made plans to leave immediatly by plane but no more flights out could be caught by then. I made plans to leave at 4 AM and drive to Las Vegas, meet my sister and drive in early on Monday morning. At 11:20 PM California Sunday May 17th (he had passed at 12:05 AM Monday May 18th, Utah time) I received the call that he was gone. He passed easily and quickly. That was a true blessing.

I left at 4 AM and traveled to Utah and met with almost all my siblings and Mom and made the preparations for the funeral. It was a wonderful day to be together and share memories and bond together as a family. Home again the next day and then out for the funeral on Friday.

The funeral although really hard was beautiful. It was uplifting and happy as we, each child shared happy memories and reminisced together of the great example he was in our lives. Our Heavenly Father has a special spirit home with him now to work and serve in any capacity that he is needed. He has given much and will give so much more as he awaits each of us to return again home and join together as an eternal family.

Dad, we love you, appreciate you, are proud of you, have gained much from you, joy in your service and find strength in your example and hope to serve as well as you! We pray daily for you and know that you are close by watching out for us.

A Grandma's Dream!

Well, last week I was able to babysit Ashlee and Jake's 4 wonderful children. I was a little concerned that I was a bit old for this and wasn't ready for the time commitment and lack of sleep but what a surprise, the kids made it easy!

We arrived on Monday night and the fun began! I read my instructions and tried to do everything in the right order at the right time. But no worries! I had lots of help and instruction!

Day one was my biggest challenge! After getting the kids going and breakfast done it was time to do Karlee and Rylee's hair and get them out to the bus. All this went well and I felt good. Audree has dance class on this day so we dressed her and got her hair done and got Spencer done too! At 10:35 I got Audree and Spencer into their car seats, check the map Ashlee had left me (I had no idea where I was going) and took off. Well Audree decided to tell me I was going in the wrong direction! Well after a few wrong turns and little bit of being lost we made it to class. Well during class I needed to go and pick up Rylee from Kindergarten as the bus takes her home too early for me to meet her during Audree's class. So, being a very organized Grandma, I take off 20 minutes early to find the school and be in place at the bus area to pick her up. Spencer and I get out of the car and stand in the bus loading zone for 20 minutes and no one comes out. I am concerned and as I am thinking that maybe there is another place to pick her up I see a bus leaving another area of the school. Oh dear! Spencer and I start to run but it is too late, I find her class and teacher and they sent her home on the bus! Well now I am in trouble! Luckily organized Ash has left me phone numbers to the neighbors house so I call her and she says she will meet Rylee and keep her until I get back. So off to pick up Audree I go! I get her, get home and get Rylee. Whew! Disaster averted!

I decide McDonald is our kind of place and head off for lunch and fun at the McDonald's play place. All goes well and we have a great time. Nap time, playtime and Dinner and bed time are great! They really are the perfect kids!

Day 2 seems easy now. All goes well and Karlee has Cheer leading/Gymnastics but Ashlee has rides provided and all goes well. Another perfect day in Springville, UT.

Day 3 is good and I am feeling really competent as a Grandma/Sitter. The kids are eating everything I make and they love playing with the dogs and they are so well behaved I can hardly believe it! Today is Rylee's Karate Class. She is so darn cute I can hardly stand it! Her focus is amazing! She really wants to be good at this! Tonight I make Breakfast for Dinner and the kids go crazy! They eat everything in site! I am getting the Disneybook for Spencer down now and I have the Piggy Book almost memorized. The kids seem impressed with my story telling and I have great volunteers for prayer.

Day 4 is our last real day with the kids. It is Jog-a-thon fund raiser day and I am going to the school to watch Karlee and Rylee at different time run for the fundraiser. Well, my last day and I get lost again. I am late to Rylee's run but am able to cheer her on for most of it. We go home for lunch and then back again for Karlee's turn. Audree and Spencer are happy to be out running around and the weather is great! All goes well and Karlee has piano lessons. I don't get to see this but she has been practicing each day and is doing well.

I am so proud of these guys! Spencer was an amazing 2 year old. So happy and loving all of the time. He ate well. Slept well and seemed to just love life! His only real concern was when it was time to sleep, he wanted his train, car and remote to go to bed with him. He would put his remote control and car under his pillow and his train next to him in bed. Then he would close his eyes and go to sleep! Amazing!

On Saturday morning Nathan and I packed up and left. Brooke was now in charge for the next two days. I was sad to leave but so look forward to a visit from them all here in Sunny CA next month!

APRIL 15, 2009 TEA PARTY DAY!

Today was a day where we collectively and as individuals could take a stand. Nathan and I have been so concerned and so upset at the direction that this country is moving in. There were TEA PARTY"S going on all over the country. This one in Chino Hills was small but there was supported but most of the drivers going by. Although the Main Stream Media chooses to not acknowlege what the people are saying and trys to call those involved with this movement out of touch, terrorists and radicals, we know better. We enjoy watching Glenn Beck and appreciate how well he expresses how we feel. It was good to see so many people involved in this movement and the support it has.

The main stream media and Hollywood Scene and the politicians on both sides are so out of control. They do not cover the truth or accept another opinion. We are so tired of the viewpoint that you just deserve something with out working for it.

Today a good friend, Diane Rinella sent me an email with a quote that sums up exactly how we feel and I know there are many who understand and agree with us too. I will quote it here for all to read.

"You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it." Adrian Rogers, 1931-2005

Please enjoy the photos and take a Stand for your Country! You are just one voice but one voice that can be heard! You can make a choice to be a witness for our posterity!

A Celebration for my Dad!

Here is my family in 1973. My Parents and their 6 children. I am the oldest of the 6, 5 Girls and 1 lonely Brother. This is our Family Portrait and below are my parents when my Mom was 35 and my Dad was 42.

This last week we had a surprise celebration for my Dad. The City of Sierra Madre honored him and gave him a plaque. It was a very special moment and I was glad to be able to be there. It was fun and we all had a great time. The city newspaper came and took photos and put an article in the paper about it and the service that my Dad had given the City.

Of course Nathan made a few jokes with the reporter/photographer and so you can see the reporter giving it to Nathan in the photos!!! I think he looks good as Paris Hilton, don't you?

Here are some photos of the rest of those who came and participated. Many thanks to all who made it a special event!

Here is a Link to the Newspaper article. You can view the photos larger and read the article.

http://www.sierramadrenews.net/2k9/april/brown.htm#more

Our Baby Turns 19!

This last week Brooke turned 19 years old. It was the first time that we were not with her on her Birthday and we missed being with her a lot. It is so hard to believe that this time has passed so quickly! As we move on into being Empty Nesters we are so pleased to see how Brooke has grown into such a wonderful young woman. She loves being independent and doing things on her own. We miss her but are excited to see her having such a good time and making great decisions at this time in her life! You go Girl!!!! We love you!

Thanks to her Big Sister Ashlee for preparing her favorite dessert and giving her a Special Day! It is good to see the two of you being able to bond! Love You Too!!!

Always have a Second Key!!!!

Well, no photo for this one but what a crazy few days! On Saturday late afternoon I was trying to get things ready for the evening (A big JAZZ Game with family and friends) and Bristol's baby blessing and dinner for Sunday. So I ran over quickly (Or so I thought) to Costco to pick up some fruit and a couple of Pizza's for dinner.

Typical of a Saturday at Costco it was crazy and I was hurrying (not a good thing). Well after waiting in a long line I ran out to the car and opened the trunk with my key, threw it in my purse and set my purse down inside the trunk so I could unload the groceries (all the while thinking, "Do not close the trunk before getting your purse out as the only set of keys you have are in there").

Well you guessed it! I ran over to put the cart away and as I stepped back towards the car without thinking I slammed the trunk closed! Well now what am I supposed to to do? My cell phone too was in the trunk! So I walk across the parking lot to the Verizon store and explained my dilemma and ask to borrow the phone to call Nathan and get him to send AAA for help. Reminding him to bring a cell phone to me as I do not have a way to communicate. 15 to 20 minutes later he comes and you guessed it he forgets to bring his cell phone. But the Locksmith from AAA shows up a few minutes later and we begin to try to open the trunk with his tools (He tells me we need to do it that way as there is a slight chance that if we open just the lock and then open the door the security system may lock down the entire car). Well after trying for quite awhile I decide to tell him to just open the locked door and I will try to get to the button really fast and push it. Ah! ha! alas! stupid me! now the alarm is screaming and the car is locked down.

Well now all I can do is call for a tow truck and have it towed to the nearest dealer (in Pasadena 30 minutes away). I now call the dealer (Nathan has since gone home and brought his cell phone back to me). The dealer is closing in 10 minutes and the service people will not be in until Monday morning! They can't take the car until then, so after waiting 2 1/2 hours for the Tow Truck (they told me it would be less than 1hour) I have them tow it to their yard and they will deliver it on Monday to the Service Department of the dealership.

We get home at 8:45 pm and everyone is hungry, wants to see the game and wants to know what I am going to feed them now! So, Blair is kind enough to drive me to Little Cesar's for pizza (as I do not have a wallet, ID or credit cards either but I did have a $20 bill at home). We arrive at Little Cesar's and it is closing time, Great!!! Well luckily I was able to get the last 3 pizza's they had for the day! Saturday is done and the JAZZ win and everyone gets fed! My job is done for the day.

Sunday comes the Blessing is great and we survive without the fruit that I had bought. I am thinking about all that food rotting in my trunk and the money down the drain for a Flat of Strawberries, Fresh Sliced Pineapple and 2 Giant Meat Pizza's in the trunk. I am not looking forward to the smell!!!!

Monday morning I call the tow company. They will deliver by Noon. I call the dealership and tell them what is coming in and why. They are laughing and not looking forward to the smell. By 4:00 pm they tell me they will have to disassemble the entire rear seat to get into the trunk(Great) and they say, "By the way the car really STINKS!!!" We will get it done on Tuesday!

Tuesday comes and by 3:00 PM they call and I can get the car. I drive out with Katie (A life saver) and get the car. I does really Stink. Several people in the service department have to come out and meet me. They are laughing a lot and say that they will never forget this one. I guess this was an unusual occurrence???? They have thrown out the pizza but have saved the fruit. Well when I get home the Pineapple is definitely WINE! and I throw it out! But for some strange reason the strawberries are in good shape and I loose less than half a dozen strawberries!

I have learned my lesson and my second key and remote will be here today. Even if the key cost $300 for a duplicate I guess you had better have one!