Congratulations Class of 2010 - We did it!

This Spring, our family celebrated 2 graduations. On June 12, Allison graduated from Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo with a degree in Landscape Architecture. We were so grateful for all of the family members that were able to attend this ceremony, considering the busy weekend that it was. Now the real challenge. . . finding a job! Good luck, Allison!
Just a week earlier on June 6, Ne graduated from medical school at Loyola of Chicago. It was a fun weekend filled with many memories of her 4 years at medical school. Ne has already started the next phase of her training by moving to Martinez, CA for her residency. Needless to say, Ne is very pleased to be back out in California!

Transportation Tales

Gavin and Elise are enjoying riding the small plastic trucks around on the driveway. Gavin has figured out that with the slope of the driveway, he can use gravity to fly down the slope.
Elise hasn't quite figured out what to do except to sit on the car and smile.
Today was the groundbreaking for the Gold Line Light Rail extension that will go out to Azusa, through Arcadia, Monrovia and Duarte. The kids came for the big ceremony, where there were members of Congress and many mayors from the foothill areas, as well as numerous television stations covering the story. Additionally a nice lunch was served at the park and there were children's activities with face-painting and crafts.
There was a big bulldozer for the groundbreaking that the kids enjoyed climbing on.
Gavin and Elise enjoyed eating the fruit popsicles after lunch.

Evan in Liniers, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Elder Evan Finlay is shown here with a family that he and his companion are teaching in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. It is winter down there so Evan is dressed warmly. Keep up the good work Evan.

Happy 85th Birthday Grampie

Both Megster and Alana made cakes for Grampie's 85th Birthday, which happened to be the same day as Father's Day. Ellie helped Grampie blow out the candles on his birthday. There were 13 of us that got together to celebrate with Grampie on his big day, as well as James, Brad and Jim's Father's Day here in Duarte.
Ethan, Fums, totally enjoyed his piece of cake and ended up wearing most of it. He also particularly enjoyed eating his corn-on-the-cob. Happy Father's Day to all those great fathers that have made our lives better.

Duarte Reception and Graduation at SLO

The 3rd and final Ian and Annie reception was held at Grammie and Grampie's house. The food was excellent, thanks to Lisa, Beth and Craig (with great desserts by Meg, Megster and Shauna). The venue was beautiful, we had great weather, and had many wonderful friends and family in attendance.
Chris, a good friend, came and decorated the backyard with much-needed lighting. It made for a lovely evening.
Beth and Lisa are shown here with some of the delicious food they prepared. We are so grateful for all the help from family and friends. It was a wonderful evening and we are appreciative of all the people that traveled so far to get here.
Immediately following the reception, we traveled to Morro Bay for cousin Allison's graduation from Cal Poly SLO in landscape architecture. It was a packed house but we had a lot of fun.
Also right after graduation, we all went to Tidelands Park and presented Mom and Dad with the bronze plaque that we all got for them for their 60th wedding anniversary.

More Wedding Pictures

Gavin's 3rd Birthday Celebration

For Gavin's birthday this year, he wanted to have his cousins come over and swim in the spa.
Megan made a Thomas the Train cake for him, and put Toby, the square train car, on the track made of pretzels and red licorice.
Megan made Gavin's favorite dinner and we enjoyed it out by the pool.
Ethan, aka Fums, totally got into eating the chocolate cake and was covered with frosting.
Ellie, Stephanie and Elise helped Gavin open some of his presents. Gavin also got a call from a real train conductor on Amtrak that yelled for him "All Aboard. .. ." He loved hearing that on the phone.
Great grandma and grandpa from Ohio brought him some Thomas gifts and also a replica of an old Goodyear delivery truck.
What is a birthday without pushing your cousin around the house on his riding truck? Ethan liked the ride but held on for dear life.