Random Pics of our Life

The girls were putting on a Living Room show for us of the musical Annie and they decided that they needed a Miss Hanagin. They dressed up their cousin Todd. What a good sport. 

Lucy shopping at Trader Joe's with her friend Claire. 

Lucy watching a movie with her cousin, Todd. 

Lucy, Joy and Amelia hanging out in the kitchen afterschool. 

Joy and her friend Lexi. We have started watching her part time.  Here they are checking each other out on the first day. So far so good. 

Amelia doing a job at Watch Me Work Night at her school. What a great place to be! 

Joy all fancied up with Amelia and Leila's jewelry box jewelry.

Sick with the stomach flu. All six of us ended up getting it in one week's time. Whew! We made it through!

Joy and Lucy at the park getting some fresh air before heading to the library. 

Joy in a giant hat. She insisted on leaving it on even when it got in her way.

Joy at the playground. 

Happy Chinese New Year!

First we stopped in our old neighborhood on Esmeralda Street. The girls and I walked down the street. It was totally nostalgic, we have so many memories in that house and in that neighborhood. It was slightly odd that we couldn't just go inside the house and if we did everything would be diferent in there. Then we headed a little further south to international market place I think is what they are calling that area now. It was a little shifty, but an awesome outing. I loved seeing all the different Chinese foods that Sam and I had grown accustomed to when we lived in Taiwan. 

Empire Mine State Historical Site

"The Empire Mine is the site of the oldest, largest, and richest gold mine in California. From 1850 to its closing in 1956, it produced 5.8 million ounces of gold.This 5.8 million ounces of gold would fill a box 7 feet on each side. It is estimated that this represented only 20% of the available gold...80% remains. The Park contains many of the original mine buildings, the owners cottage and the restored gardens and grounds as well as the entrance to 367 miles (the equivalent of a round trip from Grass Valley to San Jose) of abandoned and flooded shafts and tunnels. The park consists of 845 acres of forested back country and 12 miles of trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders. "( www.Empiremine.org )

24th of July at Grandma and Grandpa's House

Playing on the swingset with Grandpa

Eating Fresh Berries

BBQ with cousin Andrew

Played in the rain!

Grandpa lit fireworks

Wiped Out

The day after the reunion we headed to Grandpa and Grandma Swenson's home and the girls crashed big time. I love these girls so much! Leila and Amelia cuddled up together and fast asleep.

Klc Family Reunion

This was the main reason for the trip to Utah- to go to the Klc Family Reunion. It was in the backyard of my Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Tom's home, just like when we were kids. Except when we were kids we all slept out in tents in the backyard. This was over at dusk. I wish that I had documented it better. The girls all had a blast and it made me so happy to see them make good friends with my cousins' kids. It was definitely nostalgic to see the girls playing with my cousins' children, who all looked kind of like their parents and doing the same things that we did as kids- play in the pool, water balloon volleyball, even the swingset was the same, roasting marshmallows, eating hawaiian haystacks and roasting marshmallows. It was also great to see a lot of family that I had not seen in a while. We also watched some home videos of the first Klc Family Reunion. It was crazy seeing Uncle Gary and Uncle Tom looking younger than me. It really brought to light the circle of life as I sat there with my four daughters. It doesn't seem too long ago that I was sitting there as the role of a daughter and I am sure that it doesn't seem all that long ago that Tom and Gary were there as newly married couples. After the reunion and seeing Grandpa and Rayma earlier that morning I felt like the trip was well worth the work that it took to get there. We look forward to the next Klc Family Reunion and will do our best to be there. 

Lucy hitting the pinata

Amelia hitting the pinata

Leila whacking the pinata

Cousins, Aunt and Uncles enjoying the day and each other's company

Amelia snuggled up with Aunt Mary Jane.
We stayed at their home the night before, which was wonderful.

My cousin and her husband.

Having a great time in the trampoline. 

A visit with Grandpa Edwin and Rayma Burgoyne

We made it! All the girls packed up and drove to Utah leaving poor Sam behind because he had to work. We drove with Amy and Todd and Eve. So, that is 6 kids, the oldest one being 7 and 2 tired moms. Let's just say that after we arrived in the middle of the night, I thought to myself about the drive home and I decided that I would rather give birth again. I was exhausted and Amy did most of the driving too. I don't do too well on road trips. On the other hand, the kids all traveled well. 

We went to visit Granpa and Rayma the morning after we arrived. It was a nice visit. We ate pizza, played with some toys and then went to see some ducklings at the park across the street from their apartment. 

Joy and Grandpa

Lucy, Amelia, and Leila at their Great Grandpa and Rayma's home

Joy eating pizza with Rayma

Berry Picking

 Some friends of ours invited us to go berry picking and we loved it! The surrounding scenery was beautiful, the company was uplifting, the picking was fun and the berries and cherries delicious!

 Marion berry bush

 Mia picking cherries.

 I've never seen a real blueberry bush and I am in love! It was gorgeous looking and the berries so fresh!

 I took a picture of the pond on the property because of the lily pads and lotus flowers. But it also has an interesting story. We had a picnic by the pond and the girls afterwards were enjoying themselves when I heard kind of a thump in the water. It was Lucy. She fell in. Luckily at the edge where she was only went up to her neck and so she was able to keep her head up. She was soaking from head to toe and a bit frightened. We had to pack up soon after that. Poor Lucy- she was a good sport. 

Kind of a gross picture. But this is the only picture that I got of the beautiful fresh berry pie that the girls and I made. Joy thoroughly enjoyed it. And yes, we also had rice for dinner as seen in her hair. 

Day to Day

 On our way to the park down the street. 

 Target sure knows how to make family carts. 

 "Look at me everyone! I'm standing!"

 Joy playing the maracas.

 My birthday present from Sam and the girls. A beach package. 

 At the lake testing out my birthday gift. Super fun!

 Daily chores. The girls cleaning the bathroom. 

 Joy was a little worn out after a day of swimming at the Forbes' pool. 

 The library after a program of around the world. The crowns were given to them to represent the royalty of the Hawaiian Isalnds. Each week the library spotlights a different place around the world. 

 Our beautiful flower. Even the bees are enjoying them. 

 The girls at the recycling center turning in collected cans from Sam's office.

 The girls woke up one morning and decided it was crazy hair and clothes day. Then they made a crazy picture. By the time I got the camera out Mia was a bit hungry.

 Reading books at bedtime. 

 Sisters and best friends.

 Sam surprised us one evening with a fire pit. Very exciting! Then the girls and Sam slept out in the tent three nights in a row. One night we forgot to turn off the sprinklers and everyone got soaked! We were also able to spot a satellite amongst the stars. 

Joy is starting to pull out everything from cupboards and shelves.