This year I was able to do something that has been on my bucket list - and that is to ride on a float in the Rose Parade. Since I am Mayor this year, the City of Hope asked me to ride on their float. Originally, I was to walk along side of it but at the last minute one of the patients that was to ride the float was too sick to ride the 5 1/2 miles. So here is the float that I was on. Pat Johnson, Steve's mom, came down for the Rose Parade. Charlene is also pictured here with us.
This year, a band from El Salvador played in the parade, and they stayed in Duarte. Some of the adults stayed with us. We loved having our Central American guests stay with us.
As usual, on New Years Eve we went out on the Rose Parade Route on Colorado Boulevard to experience some of the excitement. We had a lot of fun with Pat Johnson, Annie, Ian, Steve, Alana, Valerie and Evan. Plenty of wet toilet paper being thrown this year.
On New Years Day, at the Rose Parade, Evan and Valerie walked part of the way next to my float at the end.
Eleanor Sharon was born on January 17, weighing 9 lbs. 1 oz. She is the sweetest little baby!
The Warnick Family just before Meg and Danny went to the hospital to have baby Eleanor.
While Meg was in the hospital, the Gavin and Elise went with me to the MLK Day ceremony, where Dr. Terence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine, was the main speaker.
Gavin loves his new baby sister.
Four generations of girls at the hospital.
A picture good enough to post again. . .Valerie and Evan when they got engaged.
We had a pasta party at the house when Valerie and Evan returned from the marriage proposal on the mountain. Here they are with Grammie and Grampie.
Valerie's sisters, Julie and Laurie, and their families joined us for the pasta party to celebrate the engagement.
Our 5 children with their spouses, and spouse-to-be. . .we couldn't be happier! You all have chosen well.
At the end of January, it was off to Hawaii to work on the condo on North Shore. We had a great time with Pat Johnson and Donna coming with us. . .and Steve went out to work at Tripler Hospital in the dentistry program for a week.
Kawela Bay, near the condo, is a lovely serene bay with nobody on it.
Our final night for dinner we had fabulous food at Lei Lei's on the golf course.
The next weekend, we went down to the Great Park in Irvine and rode on the helium balloon that is tethered. It goes up about 400 feet in the air.
Brad and I went up to Utah for Valerie's twin sister, Allison's, wedding. Linda was speaking at the Mission Training Center so we all had the opportunity to hear her speak.
While we were at the Great Park, we also went on the carousel ride.
In front of the helium balloon before we went up.
Up, up and away above the Great Park.
Elise (Coco) had an Ariel birthday cake - nice job on the cake, Meg.
Another great cake, by Megster, for Ethan's 4th birthday.
Then it was James' birthday on St. Patrick's Day. . .and a really big Sunday dinner.
Finally, a beautiful sunset at Morro Bay.
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