California Dreamin'
I'm having trouble getting my pictures off my camera (my computer is not aknowleging my camera), but I just had to blog about this anyway. I had the most wonderful time the last weekend in August (22-25th, not Labor Day weekend).
My niece Leslie is going on a mission for my church. She'll be serving in Utica, New York (which means I have to be good and not go visit her, although that is rather close to the Palmyra/Hill Cummorah area...). We've been texting and emailing all year, and I asked if she'd rather I come out for her graduation or for her Missionary Farewell. She wanted me there for her Farewell, so that's what I did. I checked with my Dad, and while he loves to see me, he suggested I check to see if I could stay at my brother's house (yes, Leslie's dad). I did, all was well, and I even bought a new small suitcase so I wouldn't have to check anything on the airplane. Worked out great, btw.
Friday, August 22, 2008
I got there on Friday, Dad and Nancy picked me up, and we went out to lunch (ok, so with the three-hour time difference I was ready for dinner, but that's beside the point). We had a nice dinner, a little break, and then they took me up to Blaine's. Blaine and his wife Yoli (from El Salvador--they all speak Spanish, while my spanish is barely more than 10 words) are foster parents, and currently have three small children, 1, 2, and 3. The 1 and 2-year olds are girls, the 3-year-old is a boy. And a very precocious boy. After we had just met, he snuggled up to me on the couch and said, very much like a pick-up line, "You know, I'm not married..." It was cute, but kind of sad that a 3-year-old is familiar with that sort of behavior. He also said his girlfriend was Cecily. I asked Yoli who Cecily was, and turns out it's Leslie, my 21-year-old niece. Kid likes 'em older, I guess :D
Hung out with Yoli and her mother and the two little girls for a while, until Blaine, my older nephew Limi, and Mikey (the 3-year-old) came home. Hung out some more until Leslie finally showed up, and we decided we had to go shopping. She had stuff to get on her mission list, so we went to Wal-Mart. I also found out that Saturday was when Leslie was planning on going through the temple. I could have worn the dress I brought (actually one of my dirndl's from Germany), but I decided I'd rather get a new one. So we went shopping. I found an outfit, she got the majority of the stuff on her list, lacking only the shoes. So then, of course, we had to go to Inland Center Mall. Very fun. We went into several shoe stores, and did find the shoes she needed (not the ones she wanted--there were too many that she wanted). We also visited a couple clothing stores, and she bought a cute little sweater/blouse thing that is so adorable (she wore it to church on Sunday, but I wasn't able to get a picture). I also got a cute little over-blouse with stars on it (which I wore to church this past Sunday in my own ward). While shopping Leslie's brother Erick called, and we set up a plan to meet for dinner. He asked if I missed In-N-Out--of COURSE I DID!!! So that's where we went. Yummy hamberguesas! We sat outside and talked for hours. Leslie wanted my perspective on all my brothers and sisters, which I gave her, and come to find out a lot of my impressions are the same as hers--and Erick's, too, once he joined us. Validation is a wonderful thing.
So we talked and talked, and then decided we needed ice cream, so we went back to the mall and the Dairy Queen there. We ran into a friend of theirs, so she joined us for a bit. It was funny, everywhere we went that weekend we ran into friends of Leslie's. So we finally made our way back home. I was rather tired (ok, exhausted since I'd gotten up at 3:00am EDT and it was currently 9:00pm PDT), so I crashed.
Saturday, August 23
Saturday was great. got up, got ready to go to the Temple. Leslie decided she wanted to go to the Newport Beach temple, so that's where we went. I traveled down with my nevies and neicie--so much fun. I just have to say, my adult nieces and nephews are all so much fun to hang out with. They love the same types of things I do, they introduce me to new music, the current fashions, and anything else I ask about. I get to buy them ice cream and sometimes dinner, and apparently they love to hang out with me too.
Fortunately I had my temple recommend with me; I hadn't known we were going to the temple, though, so I didn't have anything else with me. Fortunately the temple did, so I was ok (in the smaller temples they don't rent out that stuff). We got there, and waited for a bit until Blaine and Yoli, and Dad and Nancy showed up. We went in, only to find out Leslie (who had made all the arrangements) hadn't let the temple know it was her first time when she talked to them. Oops. We had to wait for about two hours for her to get prepped, but it was ok. We were able to do some other things while we were waiting.
It was such a special event. There were 8 of us, and we all managed to be in the prayer circle at the end--Limi went with Leslie, Erick with me. We went into the Celestial Room and waited, and when Leslie came in she was crying, she was so happy. And so beautiful. She is really such a sweet girl. I was really glad I could be there. Wouldn't have missed it for the world. Blaine's whole family was there, Limi and Erick having served missions already. It was just fabulous.
So. Since we'd had the extra two-hour wait at the temple, we were now all starving (and it was about 3:00pm). We found a little pasta place fairly close to the temple, and had dinner. Yum! Dad and Nancy even stuck around for a bit.
On the way back, we decided we needed ice cream, so we went to the Dairy Queen on Riverside Avenue this time. Erick tried to pay, but their card reader kept rejecting his card, so I paid (yay!). Maybe he can next time. I suppose I shouldn't do that all the time, even though it is fun :)
We got back and we were all stuffed so we skipped the ward pot-luck that was going on. Erick suggested we watch a movie, so we raided Limi's supply and came out with Blazing Saddles (can you believe I've never seen it??? well, now I have). Blaine even watched part of it with us--the part he wasn't dealing with small children. They did go to bed eventually, though, and he was able to watch the end with us. Then, again, I was exhausted, so I went up to bed. What a wonderful, special day.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sunday Leslie was speaking in her parent's ward. She normally attends the Young Single Adult ward (they live near a university so there's enough people to have one), but YSA wards don't send people on missions so she's officially going from her parent's ward. I once again went with the younger set to church, and when we got there my Dad and Nancy were there, as was my brother Mike, and my brother David and Joan and most of his kids (except Daryl and his family, who I really wanted to see since I haven't seen baby Jane yet, except in pictures--drat!). That was great though. Again with the loving of the hanging out with my adult neicies and nevvies. My last trip to CA was spent in the company of Daely and Danja, and was also a blast. I didn't have a whole lot of time this trip (I am scraping the bottom of the barrel of my vacation time), but I figured I should at least be able to see them on Sunday. And I did!
Leslie gave a wonderful talk on being an example of the believers. She was busy writing it on Saturday on the way to and from the temple, and while Erick and I were watching the movie. She did a fabulous job, I took lots of notes. I got to sit by Limi and Erick, behind Daely and Danja. Danja also sang with her friend, accompanied by my brother Blaine. It was wonderful (I'm going to run out of adjectives anytime now). I love to hear her sing. I love to hear Blaine play. I love my family :::sigh::: It was kind of interesting to look around their ward and realize that my family took up roughly 1/3 of the congregation. And that my ward is probably about 3 times the size of Blaine's ward. How would it be...?
After Sacrament Meeting was over, Blaine and Yoli went off to their classes with the little ones, my visiting siblings left with the two younger of my nieces and nephews, leaving the rest of us to hang out until the YSA ward Sacrament meeting which followed at 1:00pm. Daely, Danja, and David F (my oldest nephew) stayed as well. I got the low-down on the people in the ward, and an injunction from Yoli to check out the women in the ward for my nephews. One of my concerns, as it is hers, is that these wonderful young people--my nieces and nephews--are not dating. At all. Not going out with groups or anything. Then again, according to Daely, there really isn't anyone around. My thinking is that they really need to just get out of dodge, and I keep inviting them to come live with me, but so far no one's taken me up on it. We have lots of cute, wonderful YSA in my area... Of course, apparently my two nephews are highly sought after in their ward (which can also be a weird situation). One girl even came and sat with Limi and me. Nice enough girl, but way too anxious to get Limi to notice her.
Another girl came over and was getting introduced to my visiting nieces and nephew, looked at me and said, "are you their mom?" We all just went, "huh??" She tried to take it back, but the damage was done. I said, "no," of course, and then said, " I'm not actually old enough to be any of your mothers." Daely said, "Maybe Dallan," (who is in high school still), and Erick added, "You'd have to have been a really young mother, though," I thought later that I should have told the girl that she wasn't allowed to date my nephews, but it's probably just as well. They're not interested in her anyway. And yes, she was blonde, why do you ask? (Hey, I'm blonde too!)
After Sacrament meeting, David F wanted to go to sunday school, Leslie disappeared to her missionary prep class, and Daely and Danja hatched an elaborate plan to go get Daely's car so David could get his car back (since he'd driven and they wanted to come to Leslie's house for dinner but David wanted to stay at church--it was complicated). Hmmm, maybe David found a cute girl... Anyway, Erick went with them, I stayed with Limi until we decided Leslie could find her own way home and we left. got back, changed, made sure I was packed (I was going back to Dad's house for the night since my flight was really early in the morning), then tried to help in the kitchen--it's kind of a small kitchen, so not a lot of room. I entertained the little kids for a while until Leslie and her friends came home from church, and Daely, Danja, and Erick showed up. We had dinner at the table, the kids and me, and really did have fun. Daely and Danja had to leave for a meeting, so they didn't stay much past dinner, and I didn't think fast enough to get them to take me back with them, but it was ok. I hung out a little longer, then said good-bye to my sweet family. Limi was my chauffer back to Dad's, and we had a great conversation about daggers and things (he collects knives--I have them for Christmas this year, and since I'm going to the Renaissance Festival soon, now I know what to get him).
Not much to tell after that. Got to Dad's, was exhausted (the theme of the weekend, apparently), so since Dad and Mike had just finished putting my bed together (air mattress on the floor, you know), I went to bed. Got up and got on the plane the next morning with no trouble--actually, none of my flights were delayed this time. Nice. Had enough time in the Huston Airport to raid the Space Trader store (stuff from Johnson Space Center), including a mug that says, "It's not Rocket Science (oh wait, yes it is)" with the NASA logo on it :D And a few more things I really shouldn't have bought but did anyway. Got a ride all the way to my terminal--it was quite a distance, so I was really glad the guy offered. I would have been thinking I was getting lost or something, but he knew right where to go. Got home and Kitty was a little upset with me (hey, I had my friend Janet come over and feed her, it's not like she starved), but she got over it.
All in all, it was a fabulous weekend. And as soon as I can get my pictures off my camera and onto flickr, I'll show what 'Golden California' really means :D
What a fabulous weekend.
PS just so you know, I love hanging out with my younger nieces and nephews too, there are benefits to both, but it's really fun to relate to the adult ones on an adult level. Like we're friends, only more than friends because we're also family.
PPS my sisters complain that I write too much when I blog--guess it's true. And congratulations to you if you've made it this far!!
My niece Leslie is going on a mission for my church. She'll be serving in Utica, New York (which means I have to be good and not go visit her, although that is rather close to the Palmyra/Hill Cummorah area...). We've been texting and emailing all year, and I asked if she'd rather I come out for her graduation or for her Missionary Farewell. She wanted me there for her Farewell, so that's what I did. I checked with my Dad, and while he loves to see me, he suggested I check to see if I could stay at my brother's house (yes, Leslie's dad). I did, all was well, and I even bought a new small suitcase so I wouldn't have to check anything on the airplane. Worked out great, btw.
Friday, August 22, 2008
I got there on Friday, Dad and Nancy picked me up, and we went out to lunch (ok, so with the three-hour time difference I was ready for dinner, but that's beside the point). We had a nice dinner, a little break, and then they took me up to Blaine's. Blaine and his wife Yoli (from El Salvador--they all speak Spanish, while my spanish is barely more than 10 words) are foster parents, and currently have three small children, 1, 2, and 3. The 1 and 2-year olds are girls, the 3-year-old is a boy. And a very precocious boy. After we had just met, he snuggled up to me on the couch and said, very much like a pick-up line, "You know, I'm not married..." It was cute, but kind of sad that a 3-year-old is familiar with that sort of behavior. He also said his girlfriend was Cecily. I asked Yoli who Cecily was, and turns out it's Leslie, my 21-year-old niece. Kid likes 'em older, I guess :D
Hung out with Yoli and her mother and the two little girls for a while, until Blaine, my older nephew Limi, and Mikey (the 3-year-old) came home. Hung out some more until Leslie finally showed up, and we decided we had to go shopping. She had stuff to get on her mission list, so we went to Wal-Mart. I also found out that Saturday was when Leslie was planning on going through the temple. I could have worn the dress I brought (actually one of my dirndl's from Germany), but I decided I'd rather get a new one. So we went shopping. I found an outfit, she got the majority of the stuff on her list, lacking only the shoes. So then, of course, we had to go to Inland Center Mall. Very fun. We went into several shoe stores, and did find the shoes she needed (not the ones she wanted--there were too many that she wanted). We also visited a couple clothing stores, and she bought a cute little sweater/blouse thing that is so adorable (she wore it to church on Sunday, but I wasn't able to get a picture). I also got a cute little over-blouse with stars on it (which I wore to church this past Sunday in my own ward). While shopping Leslie's brother Erick called, and we set up a plan to meet for dinner. He asked if I missed In-N-Out--of COURSE I DID!!! So that's where we went. Yummy hamberguesas! We sat outside and talked for hours. Leslie wanted my perspective on all my brothers and sisters, which I gave her, and come to find out a lot of my impressions are the same as hers--and Erick's, too, once he joined us. Validation is a wonderful thing.
So we talked and talked, and then decided we needed ice cream, so we went back to the mall and the Dairy Queen there. We ran into a friend of theirs, so she joined us for a bit. It was funny, everywhere we went that weekend we ran into friends of Leslie's. So we finally made our way back home. I was rather tired (ok, exhausted since I'd gotten up at 3:00am EDT and it was currently 9:00pm PDT), so I crashed.
Saturday, August 23
Saturday was great. got up, got ready to go to the Temple. Leslie decided she wanted to go to the Newport Beach temple, so that's where we went. I traveled down with my nevies and neicie--so much fun. I just have to say, my adult nieces and nephews are all so much fun to hang out with. They love the same types of things I do, they introduce me to new music, the current fashions, and anything else I ask about. I get to buy them ice cream and sometimes dinner, and apparently they love to hang out with me too.
Fortunately I had my temple recommend with me; I hadn't known we were going to the temple, though, so I didn't have anything else with me. Fortunately the temple did, so I was ok (in the smaller temples they don't rent out that stuff). We got there, and waited for a bit until Blaine and Yoli, and Dad and Nancy showed up. We went in, only to find out Leslie (who had made all the arrangements) hadn't let the temple know it was her first time when she talked to them. Oops. We had to wait for about two hours for her to get prepped, but it was ok. We were able to do some other things while we were waiting.
It was such a special event. There were 8 of us, and we all managed to be in the prayer circle at the end--Limi went with Leslie, Erick with me. We went into the Celestial Room and waited, and when Leslie came in she was crying, she was so happy. And so beautiful. She is really such a sweet girl. I was really glad I could be there. Wouldn't have missed it for the world. Blaine's whole family was there, Limi and Erick having served missions already. It was just fabulous.
So. Since we'd had the extra two-hour wait at the temple, we were now all starving (and it was about 3:00pm). We found a little pasta place fairly close to the temple, and had dinner. Yum! Dad and Nancy even stuck around for a bit.
On the way back, we decided we needed ice cream, so we went to the Dairy Queen on Riverside Avenue this time. Erick tried to pay, but their card reader kept rejecting his card, so I paid (yay!). Maybe he can next time. I suppose I shouldn't do that all the time, even though it is fun :)
We got back and we were all stuffed so we skipped the ward pot-luck that was going on. Erick suggested we watch a movie, so we raided Limi's supply and came out with Blazing Saddles (can you believe I've never seen it??? well, now I have). Blaine even watched part of it with us--the part he wasn't dealing with small children. They did go to bed eventually, though, and he was able to watch the end with us. Then, again, I was exhausted, so I went up to bed. What a wonderful, special day.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sunday Leslie was speaking in her parent's ward. She normally attends the Young Single Adult ward (they live near a university so there's enough people to have one), but YSA wards don't send people on missions so she's officially going from her parent's ward. I once again went with the younger set to church, and when we got there my Dad and Nancy were there, as was my brother Mike, and my brother David and Joan and most of his kids (except Daryl and his family, who I really wanted to see since I haven't seen baby Jane yet, except in pictures--drat!). That was great though. Again with the loving of the hanging out with my adult neicies and nevvies. My last trip to CA was spent in the company of Daely and Danja, and was also a blast. I didn't have a whole lot of time this trip (I am scraping the bottom of the barrel of my vacation time), but I figured I should at least be able to see them on Sunday. And I did!
Leslie gave a wonderful talk on being an example of the believers. She was busy writing it on Saturday on the way to and from the temple, and while Erick and I were watching the movie. She did a fabulous job, I took lots of notes. I got to sit by Limi and Erick, behind Daely and Danja. Danja also sang with her friend, accompanied by my brother Blaine. It was wonderful (I'm going to run out of adjectives anytime now). I love to hear her sing. I love to hear Blaine play. I love my family :::sigh::: It was kind of interesting to look around their ward and realize that my family took up roughly 1/3 of the congregation. And that my ward is probably about 3 times the size of Blaine's ward. How would it be...?
After Sacrament Meeting was over, Blaine and Yoli went off to their classes with the little ones, my visiting siblings left with the two younger of my nieces and nephews, leaving the rest of us to hang out until the YSA ward Sacrament meeting which followed at 1:00pm. Daely, Danja, and David F (my oldest nephew) stayed as well. I got the low-down on the people in the ward, and an injunction from Yoli to check out the women in the ward for my nephews. One of my concerns, as it is hers, is that these wonderful young people--my nieces and nephews--are not dating. At all. Not going out with groups or anything. Then again, according to Daely, there really isn't anyone around. My thinking is that they really need to just get out of dodge, and I keep inviting them to come live with me, but so far no one's taken me up on it. We have lots of cute, wonderful YSA in my area... Of course, apparently my two nephews are highly sought after in their ward (which can also be a weird situation). One girl even came and sat with Limi and me. Nice enough girl, but way too anxious to get Limi to notice her.
Another girl came over and was getting introduced to my visiting nieces and nephew, looked at me and said, "are you their mom?" We all just went, "huh??" She tried to take it back, but the damage was done. I said, "no," of course, and then said, " I'm not actually old enough to be any of your mothers." Daely said, "Maybe Dallan," (who is in high school still), and Erick added, "You'd have to have been a really young mother, though," I thought later that I should have told the girl that she wasn't allowed to date my nephews, but it's probably just as well. They're not interested in her anyway. And yes, she was blonde, why do you ask? (Hey, I'm blonde too!)
After Sacrament meeting, David F wanted to go to sunday school, Leslie disappeared to her missionary prep class, and Daely and Danja hatched an elaborate plan to go get Daely's car so David could get his car back (since he'd driven and they wanted to come to Leslie's house for dinner but David wanted to stay at church--it was complicated). Hmmm, maybe David found a cute girl... Anyway, Erick went with them, I stayed with Limi until we decided Leslie could find her own way home and we left. got back, changed, made sure I was packed (I was going back to Dad's house for the night since my flight was really early in the morning), then tried to help in the kitchen--it's kind of a small kitchen, so not a lot of room. I entertained the little kids for a while until Leslie and her friends came home from church, and Daely, Danja, and Erick showed up. We had dinner at the table, the kids and me, and really did have fun. Daely and Danja had to leave for a meeting, so they didn't stay much past dinner, and I didn't think fast enough to get them to take me back with them, but it was ok. I hung out a little longer, then said good-bye to my sweet family. Limi was my chauffer back to Dad's, and we had a great conversation about daggers and things (he collects knives--I have them for Christmas this year, and since I'm going to the Renaissance Festival soon, now I know what to get him).
Not much to tell after that. Got to Dad's, was exhausted (the theme of the weekend, apparently), so since Dad and Mike had just finished putting my bed together (air mattress on the floor, you know), I went to bed. Got up and got on the plane the next morning with no trouble--actually, none of my flights were delayed this time. Nice. Had enough time in the Huston Airport to raid the Space Trader store (stuff from Johnson Space Center), including a mug that says, "It's not Rocket Science (oh wait, yes it is)" with the NASA logo on it :D And a few more things I really shouldn't have bought but did anyway. Got a ride all the way to my terminal--it was quite a distance, so I was really glad the guy offered. I would have been thinking I was getting lost or something, but he knew right where to go. Got home and Kitty was a little upset with me (hey, I had my friend Janet come over and feed her, it's not like she starved), but she got over it.
All in all, it was a fabulous weekend. And as soon as I can get my pictures off my camera and onto flickr, I'll show what 'Golden California' really means :D
What a fabulous weekend.
PS just so you know, I love hanging out with my younger nieces and nephews too, there are benefits to both, but it's really fun to relate to the adult ones on an adult level. Like we're friends, only more than friends because we're also family.
PPS my sisters complain that I write too much when I blog--guess it's true. And congratulations to you if you've made it this far!!