grandpa s 80th

Way back in November, Uncle Jim was able to offer us the opportunity to buy tickets for Wicked through his work, so we had been waiting a long time for this day. This musical is amazing! Allison and I saw it in New York and loved it there.  This was the first time for Kelli and she just loved it too. Just about all the extended family were there, even Grandpa and Grandma.

Last weekend we hiked the Narrows in Zion's Park.  This was something I have always wanted to do, but have always been too chicken.  So when the Groesbecks invited us to go with their family, we jumped.  We woke up to rain in St George and called the ranger at Zions and they didn't answer, so we just went for it. It did not rain anymore and we were treated to blue skies and warm temperatures.  We heard from hikers later in the day that they were advised not to hike that morning because of flash flood warnings, whoops. This hike is challenging, with really amazing views and tall rock walls. the pictures do not do the heights justice. and we never could get pictures of us in chest high water.  The Groesbecks were awesome, we just love their family and appreciate the invite and help on this hike.  

We had to climb up that fallen tree, which was super slick to get up over the water fall.  Another graceful moment on my part!  Thanks to everyone, I braved it and got to the top.

 Dad jumped off this rock and landed on a rock that hit his tail bone (ouch).  I, on the other hand, slid down the slick side on my bum, very gracefully I might add!

 You have to have a walking stick to do this hike.  Here is Paula with her trusty stick, or rather...paint roller extension.  She had no shame!

Paradise 2012

The Serafine family met up for the first time in several years to celebrate their father's 80th birthday. We played tennis, had a picnic, went out for Chinese food, played Guesstures, went to church and had a little belated birthday dinner and party.  We also watched a video presentation of Grandpa Serafine's life that everyone seemed to enjoy.  We also got to see their new house and it is just lovely. 

 

July 2012

The month of July always begins with a birthday 

buddy celebration for Allison and Uncle Steve.  We celebrated Allison's birthday with a lovely dinner planned and barbecued by Riley Wilson.  He even baked her favorite rainbow-chip cake! Then the Brimleys came over for the party. We love Allison and wish her the best year ever!  

Next, we held our 2nd annual Rockbridge Dr. 4th of July breakfast.  We love our neighbors and enjoy breakfast and the basketball shooting tournament we hold each year. 

 San Francisco here we come!  Dad and I spent 2 1/2  days in San Francisco.  We rode BART  into the city each day and walked our feet off while trying to see everything we could.  

This is breakfast at Dotties True Blue Cafe. I had the best fresh blueberry pancakes ever.  Dad had bacon, eggs, hashbrowns and the house special, Grilled chili corn bread toast.  It was to die for. Thanks to Nicole for the restaurant tips!

 Here we are in front of Chinatown.  While there, we found this "authentic fortune cookie factory".  It was seriously this little room with four little stooped-over old women sitting at these little cookie presses, where they would put the fortune on the cookie, fold it in half and press.  We were treated to a warm cookie by a little stooped old man and sent on our way.  Very interesting. 

 

 Crooked Lombard Street. These pictures don't do justice to the steepness of the block. And it was worth every block we hiked to see this beautiful site. 

We rode the Cable Car through the city (in my head I was singing the song," Rice-a -Roni the San Francisco Treat" the whole way!)

The Brimleys recommended Zachary's Pizza and it didn't disappoint us.  The freshest sauce we have ever had.

 Fisherman's Wharf was a lot of fun.  Lots of unique characters wondering around and performing.  We even saw the crazy man dressed us as a tree that says boo as you walk by him.  Dad really enjoyed his fried shrimp and chips.  We also bought a small loaf of sour dough bread from the Sour Dough Bread Company(yum) . Our camera battery died, so we don't many have pictures from day 2.  But we also went to Ghiradelli square, Alcatraz Island (great audio tour), and rode a trolley.    

On our final day, we visited the Oakland Temple, Visitor's Center, and Mission Home.  It was overcast that morning, so we didn't get the full spectacular view from behind the temple.  But the grounds are everything Kelli said they would be.  We went through the presentation at the visitors center where two darling sisters shared their message.  It was just wonderful.  The spirit was present and we felt the love of our Father in Heaven when we were reminded of the plan of Salvation and that we were sent to live here with families. 

 Good-bye to the Bay area.  We really loved our time there.

June 2012

 June brought a beautiful bride and a lovely wedding day.  We are so happy for Becca and Greg.  They are an awesome couple.  It also brought sad goodbyes and a new start for the members of the three-pack.  

 Paula baked 400 of these adorable little bundt cakes.  They were a hit at the reception.  Not only were they cute, but they were really tasty!

 These pictures were taken the night Riley was set apart as a missionary and then the morning he flew out to the Ghana MTC.  The beginning of a wild two years in West Africa.

So...what do you do when your last child flies off to Ghana for two years?  That's right, you go on a hike with your dog Bauer.  We have never taken him on a hike before and he was a little champ.  Although, it was so dry that by the time we were finished, we were all coated with dust and just filthy.  But it was a beautiful area and we had a great time.