Morro Bay and San Francisco

Our two Dutch daughters, Katinka and Marjolein, arrived this past Weds. and we all immediately went up to Morro Bay for the 4th of July. Shown here is Gavin in his new sweater that Ankie, the girls' mother, knit for him. He is clearly delighted with the new sweater.

We watched the fireworks over the bay from the park right by the house. It was a great show.

We've had many great meals together at the Morro Bay House.

Shown here are Marjolein, Katinka, Erin, Evan and Margaret just before we walked down Hyde Street (after having ridden the cable car from Market Street) and headed for a hot fudge sundae at Ghirardelli Square. Then we had to trudge back up the hill to wear off the calories from the sundae.

We took a brief trip to the Marin Headlands park to get a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was shrouded in fog all day and then it cleared just as we got to the park. We saw a lot in the City by the Bay for just one day.

Italy, Fathers and Bears

My Mac has been in the shop for a week so I haven't been able to post. "Frost it and Toss it" was getting a little bit old. The first pictures are of the Sanitation District Boat Tour that we take at least one a year. This time Alana and Tommaso (our friend from Italy) went up on the bridge with the captain to "help" navigate. This is a research vessel owned by the Sanitation Districts, where the councilmembers, mayors and their guests of cities can go out into Santa Monica Bay and test the water quality with the marine biologists on board to determine whether marine life is being harmed. They bring up a lot of marine life to inspect and we learn a lot every time we go.

Here are Tommaso and Alana with the boat after the tour. Tommaso stayed with us for a month, during which time he worked on improving his English, and we worked on improving our Italian (he did better than we did.) He also drove up to Provo with Alana and went to Park City and a rodeo.

We all got together for the Father's Day weekend. Pictured here in the spa are cousins John, Nicholas, Stephanie with Gavin and Uncle Evan. It was great to be altogether.

Our five children are pretty blessed because they have two grandfathers to celebrate Father's Day with. Georgine and Bob were out visiting for Evan's graduation so we all got together with some other fathers in the family. Pictured here celebrating Father's Day are Gavin on Evan's shoulders, Brad, Dan, Ed, and Danny. In the front are family patriarchs, Bob and Ed. Happy Father's Day to them.

The weather had been record-hot and even the bears needed to cool down so they went swimming in my parent's pool.

Frost it and Toss it!

Ok, I feel bad about posting this so soon after Evan's graduation and Gavin's birthday, but this just has to be shared. How can this be real? I really want to talk to the guy who funded this and say "For real?" Anyway, watch and enjoy... your life will never be the same.

Evan's Graduation

This first picture is of Evan with two of his friends, lined up waiting to march onto the field.

Evan kept his valedictory address pretty short. . .just about 5 minutes. He remembered all the grief he got for the 10 minute valedictory address from junior high.

Evan is pictured here with his "sister" Jenni - she stayed with Evan and Margaret in their hotel suite when they all went back to Louisville, Kentucky for the All America Cities Competition back in June of 2000. Good luck to Jenni next year when she is a Senior.

Gavin's 1st Birthday!

I was probably more excited for Gavin's first birthday than he was. We had a small family dinner and of course birthday cake. He had several presents to open, but spent most of the time playing with some nearby coasters. It was a fun afternoon anyway.



I thought it would be nice to throw in a few other recent photos since we have not posted on the blog in awhile. Gavin loves playing with the his mom's ducks and can never seem to get enough of bath time.

Happy Birthday, Margaret!

Last weekend, Megan and Mom surprised Margaret with a birthday party on June 7. They had been planning this event for several months and we all found it difficult trying to keep it a secret from her. But the look of surprise on her face tells us that we were successful!












The party was held on the beautiful grounds and the clubhouse of Megan and Dan's condominium complex. It was a lovely evening with many family and friends present. Mom, Erin and Gavin with Megan and Dan's condo in the background, across the lake.










Dad's sister, Eileen, from San Marcos drove here for the special occasion. Allison wanted to be there for the surprise too so she took the train from San Luis Obispo. The girls were a huge help in setting up for the party. Even though the party was for Margaret, Gavin seemed to get all the attention with his cute Chinese outfit and matching cap, complete with queue (pigtail). Thanks for a wonderful party and all the family and friends who helped to make it a very special birthday for Margaret!

Evan's Senior Breakfast

Yesterday, Evan finished his last day of high school. He is pictured here with two of his good friends, Kristine and Amber, that he has gone to school with since 1st grade. All 3 had just gone to the Senior Breakfast where students are given scholarship money and awards. Evan is Valedictorian and Amber is Salutatorian of their graduating class. Congratulations to the three of them for getting great grades and finishing at the top of their class.

More Hawaii

Here are some more pictures of the family reunion in Hawaii. The first picture is a night time view of Kanehoe from the Pali Lookout.

The second picture is of Evan and Ian diving at Shark's Cove on North Shore. The water was flat and clear - during the dives in Hawaii, we saw moray eels, octopus, turtles and the state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua'a.

We also went to the Polynesian Cultural Center and had a tour from Gumbo Chuluum from Mongolia, who used to serve as a missionary in our ward. He taught us how to use those poi balls and not hit ourselves too many times with them when we were spinning them.

This is a picture of sheer joy on Gavin's face as he feels and tastes jello for the first time at the Alii Luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Buffets with little kids are the best!

Here is our family at the luau. James, Megster and Brielle had already left for the mainland but they had been here before recently.

Sand, Surf, and Matsumoto's

We went into Honolulu one day and since there was no line at Pearl Harbor (usually there is a huge line), we saw the movie and went to the Arizona Memorial.


We also went to the Waikiki Aquarium and saw some of the fish in tanks that we had seen when we were diving at Shark's Cove.





Ian and Alana went surfing at Alii Beach Park and got some surfing lessons from friends of Ian's that live in Hawaii.


No explanation needed here.



Here was the joint birthday celebration for Gavin and Brielle.

Hawaii - Turtle, Tots, and Tat

Here we are at Malaekahana Beach in Laie. It really is our favorite beach because it is never crowded and has good sand for the babies. Both Brielle and Gavin loved the warm water and even rode the boogey boards in with the help of their parents.




The surf wasn't too big this day, as Ian and Alana both caught a wave.


A turtle swimming offshore got a fish hook caught on its fin. Ian held the fishing pole while James dislodged the hook from the turtle. The honu was unharmed and James took the reptile out into waist deep water and it swam off.


We had a dinner on Sunday night at the townhouse and cousin Tat brought her friend, Kevin (left), and we had a young man, Gombo from Mongolia (he served his mission in our ward and is now going to BYUH) for dinner also. They are pictured here holding Gavin and Brielle.


Pictured here are Megan and Tat at Sunset Beach. We had haupia pie for dessert that night and watched the sunset from, where else, Sunset Beach.

More Belgium and Holland

I have never seen flowers like I have at the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, etc - all absolutely bankrupt the artist's palette. We loved being there as the gardens are only open for 2 months of the year.
This next picture is of Alana in the cheese factory. She was applying the wax to the newly made cheese. The cheese was soooooo good. We learned all about how the cows in Holland really are the happiest cows. . .forget California.
Pictured here is our "Dutch" family, Simon and Ankie, in front of their lovely cottages in Oostkapelle. They treated us so well and we are grateful for their endless hospitality. We can't wait to have Katinka and Marjolein, their daughters, stay with us this summer. And then we will have a room ready for Ankie and Simon in November - right, Simon?
Pictured here are Helen and Erin in downtown Brussels. We visited the European Parliament, where Alana had her internship this past semester.
Finally, here is Alana with one of her "little sisters" that she stayed with for 4 months. We are so thankful to Paul and Sarah Scherbel for sharing their lovely home and 4 darling daughters, Carrie, Sydney, Lauren, and Rachel, with Alana for her stay in Brussels. Then they opened their home to all of us when we visited Brussels. What a wonderful time we had with the fabulous people that we met and stayed with in Belgium and Holland. Thanks to the Wondergems and Scherbels for their friendship and love.

"A pe _ _ _ for 200"

For those of you who are familiar with the "Best of Will Ferrell", this picture, taken in a Paris hotel, needs no further explanation. And yes. . .we did enjoy a petit dejeuner!

I'm a big girl now!

(If you want to see the long cake eating video click here)

I went to get 1-year-old pictures taken at the studio, but the camera was scary. So when we got home Mom took some more pictures to show that yes, I do know how to smile.

My name is: Brielle (aka Ellie, Roots, Snorts)
I'm: 1 year old today!
Things I love:
-My Blanket
-When Daddy comes home
-Dogs
-Being Outside
-Baths
-Story Time
-Mom's purse
-Eating cell phones
Favorite book: Hooray for Fish by Lucy Cousins
Pet Peeve: Getting Diaper Changed
Catch Phrase: Haaaayy!

I loved opening my presents

This is what was in all those wrapped up boxes.

Dad baked my cake, Mom decorated is to look like "little fish" from my favorite book.

And it tasted sooooo good!