The Best Easter Ever!

This picture pretty much sums it all up....creepy Easter Bunny (best sport ever, Son-in-Law Wes Aleman), cute kids in their Easter finery, babies screaming (Asher who won't even look at bunny-man, Claire who is covertly kicking him/it), and the bigger kids just loving the wacky fun!

The bunny suit actually belongs to our adopted fun Jewish friends the Yish Family. Three of the cute kids above are theirs -- this was their first Easter celebration and they helped make this one of our best Easters ever.

We had each of our four children over, The Yish Family, along with Scott and Karen Broberg (I love my in-laws), a couple of single sisters that I serve with in the Relief Society presidency, one of which has no family to speak of -- other than distant cousins and another who is from Peru and lives with her grown son who had to work on Easter.

I think I've figured out that sharing our fun, feast and family love just makes it all even better. I'm a firm believer that the more the merrier!

Only we get a 6'2" Easter bunny wearing a really cool vest -- wish you had one too don't ya?

Our Easter Bunny making his dancing debut at the egg hunt -- look at the body language of those petrified little boys. What kind of a twisted nana am I to get such a demented pleasure out of seeing these babies I love so much face such terror!?!

The Grandkids on Easter 2011, William, Asher, Claire, Ella, Carter, Ryan and Peyton. I am so thankful for these wonderful little people. I love telling people I have seven grandkids all 7 and under. So, who's going to give us #8?

Week 18 -- Pasadena Showcase House

Last week, some of my great Chino Hills friends, Nancy Sorenson, Valerie Gallagher, Monika Tolman, and Lauri-ann Hart and I, spent the day living like "ladies who lunch" and went to the Pasadena Showcase House http://www.pasadenashowcase.org/mcontent.php?mid=25. They really are "ladies who lunch"; I had to take the day off work to join them.

Lauri-ann, Monika, Nancy and me -- Valerie took the photo.

To get to the house, you park at the Rose Bowl and go by shuttle to the actual house. There was such a crazy route to get to the house, I could never find it on my own or drive to it again. I really can't even tell you where we were -- its called the Pasadena Showcase House, but the book said the house was in Flintridge -- either way, great house, great neighborhood.

Anyway, the rooms in the house -- well, really, mansion -- are amazing. The entire exterior as well as every room on the inside has been redone by some of the top designers in Southern California. Some of the before and after pictures show that before the redisign, some of these rooms look like they could be a part of a haunted house -- and after, well, they're gorgeous. I don't often covet, but some of these rooms make me wish I had a few mil of my own to live in and surrounded by such beauty!
There is a strict "no camera" policy at the house -- so I can't show you how amazing some of the rooms were. But, my favorite was this green bedroom -- the "Lady in Waiting".

Its that amazing bed that I just love. (If you look back a few weeks, I used a similar photo with a poem.) I think I need to find a bed like this and that way I can pretend I'm sleeping in the woods like in some intense fairytale. (I was raised on the authentic Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Anderson fairytales -- the ones that are kind of scary with tragic endings.) Anyway. I LOVE this bed and room. I can so see myself plopped on those pillows reading a book -- while eating one of those apples.

And, this garden is what I am constantly trying to achieve in my own backyard. And I shant (it is an English-type look, so I can words like shant that when I'm in the cottage gardens) give up until I have achieved something very similar. I've had two trailers full of mulch brought in so far this Spring alone and plan to continue to do whatever it takes to bring more green into my life and yard.

After touring the lush yard and gardens, we had a great lunch after the tour (I chose the Rosemary Chicken with Balsamic Mushrooms) and enjoyed shopping in the boutique. -- Well let me rephrase that -- my friends enjoyed the shopping. I cased the whole place out in about 10 minutes. My friends spent about an hour there -- some of that time, I sat on a plastic lawn chair watching all the other ladies -- now that's enjoyable (lots of facelifts and plumped-up lips -- ugh, who says that looks good?)

I don't often buy stuff (most people who know me know one thing -- I really hate shopping) at such venues. But, I found a pair of comfortable black OKA b flip-flops that I understand can be washed in the dishwasher (or clothes washer)...but the dishwasher thing is what makes them sound so unique and just right for a shoe-abuser like me.

http://www.shoesthatloveyou.com/?gclid=CIzT552D8KgCFQImbAod_FJQDw
I've got my eye on some higher heel sandals called Flora at this website -- I'm just trying to decide between the two colors now -- dark brown or camel....now, this is how I like to shop!

On the way home, I stopped by Lauri-ann's house, saw her gorgeous rose garden and she hooked me up with lots of seeds and plants to try to fill up the gigantic hillsides in my backyard. I came home and planted them all. I have the before pictures ready....but, it might take years and LOTS of work for the "after" to be ready to share.

Week 17, A Three Hour Cruise...

Okay, I'm cheating here. My last post was about Flat Cami and her boat ride adventure. This blog is just more of a part two of that one -- on the other purpose for our San Diego boat ride adventure.

As I mentioned earlier, I started a new job in January with North American Medical Management. Our company manages many independent IPAs. One of the IPA's my company manages, PrimeCare of Hemet, sponsored a "get to know the doctors" Sunset Dinner Cruise (a three hour cruise) out of San Diego.

And, yes, I can't deny it, this is one of the reasons I love my job. Of course, being invited, John and I were more than happy to come along and get to know some of the doctors and, at the same time, help entertain some of the other guests to do the same. John and me just getting ready to board for the evening.

Me, Dr. Sudha Madabhushi and one of the Hemet Employees.



John, me, Dr. Tin Tun of Hemet and Dr. Anthony Flores and his wife.

Dr. Tun is originally from Burma (now Myanmar). We really enjoyed talking to him about the history and more recent developments in his homeland. I love having these kinds of conversations with new and old acquaintances -- from near and far. It made for a very enjoyable night.

My co-worker, Charisse Contrereas, and me. Charisse is totally my right hand at work and pretty much runs the Marketing end of our department single-handedly.

Week 16, San Diego With Flat Cami

John and I took Flat Cami down to San Diego with us and made sure we photographed her in front of a few San Diego landmarks.

Cami is my cousin Connie's daughter. Her class (2nd grade I'm quite sure) read the book "Flat Stanley"and made flat versions of themselves to vacation around the globe.

To read more about what this is all about, visit http://flatterworld.com/ .

Cami just checking out the Star of India.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_India_(ship)

Hey Cami, I hear this ship might be haunted, what do you think? http://gothere.com/sandiego/Ghosts/Star_of_India/index.htm

Cami may or may not believe in ghosts but I don't think she like climbing up too high on the masts.

Captain Cami, "Hoist those sails mateys!"

Cami just pondering the possibilities of a cruise in the Pacific -- maybe down to Mexico, up to Alaska, or East to Hawaii or the Orient.

Cami in front of the USS Midway

Flat Cami just relaxing at the front of the boat -- enjoying the sights of the San Diego Harbor.

More Southern California adventures are in store for Our Cousin, Flat Cami!

Week 15, Self-Defense Training

A few months ago, our ward Relief Society, gathered items to prepare and donate survivor kits for victims of sexual assault to the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center. Debora Monroe Heaps, one of our members, is one of the managers of the center. http://www.rarcc.org

Without saying too much, I would just say that after we made that donations, someone close to many us, became a victim of such an attack, which brought this issue far too close to our hearts.

So, to help prevent anything like this from ever, ever happening again, we organized a Relief Society meeting during which Debbie Heaps gave some great tips for protecting ourselves. We learned and practiced moves and stratigies for escape.

Look at Donna Hall's Face -- I wouldn't mess with her!

Each of the sisters took a good upward kick -- Above, Judy Strickland, Barbara Schultz, Carol Crouch and Donna Hall.

Look at those strong stances....you don't want to mess with these Relief Society Sisters.

Barbara Schultz taking a whack at the attacking dummy....

With Joanell Ellis looking on, Natalie Sandgren shows the dummy what's up!

Here's the real expert, Debora Heaps showing the rest of us how to stop this guy and leave no mistake about who is NOT his victim.

The good sisters of the Jurupa 1st Ward intently listening to instruction.

I hope that we can take the lessons we all learned and share them with our friends, sisters, daughters. Ask me for some tips next time you see me. And, if you're feeling real strong and brave, let me demonstrate some of my new defensive moves on ya!

Week 14, Alfred's Baptism in San Diego

Our Grandnephew Alfred Fisher was baptized down in San Diego and we were happy to be able to go down to visit my nephew and his family and my Sister Jill and Brother in law Roger, who came down from Utah for the occasion as well.

When we got to their place on Friday night, we were fortunate to have Alfie pull out his violin and favor us with a couple of pieces, the Theme from the Titanic -- I guess its called, "My Heart Will Go On" and our favorite, the shark attack music from "Jaws".

The next day, Alfie was baptized at the San Diego Stake Center. Its always hard to get a lot of people -- espcially kids to pose for a photo. You can see above, Claire (in front of me) wasn't too happy about more photos....

Everybody is much happier just doin' their own thing....

Week 13, Work Events and Seeing My Cousin from Minnesota

The week started out with a fun work event. I was invited by my co-workers at PrimeCare Chino Valley to join their table at the "Taste of Montclair and State of the City" address and luncheon. Montclair does have a lot of great restaurants because of the Montclair Plaza. My friends and I ate Mexican, Italian, Asian food and sampled a lot of yummy desserts. I ran into Rich and Viriginia Riley, some great friends I got to know well back when I wrote my community column for the Daily Bulletin.












My cousin, Mary Lahammer and her husband, Chad Flynn, come to the desert from Minneapolis for the BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament in Indial Wells. Chad and his partner qualified for the amateurs doubles play and ended up winning the consolation championship. Knowing that Mary was just over an hour away, I had to take advantage of the proximity and drive on out to see her and her cute little daughter, Bayliss. Mary and I thought it would be nice for Bayliss to meet some of her young California cousins (and for them to meet her) so John and I gathered our our three oldest grandkids, stopped at 7-11 for Slurpees and headed on out to the timeshare complex they were staying at out in Indio and enjoyed a couple of hours just chatting and letting the kids enjoy each others company, which they certainly did!

Carter showing off his version of a totally natural blossom bracelet. Carter, Bayliss, Ella and Ryan We went with April, Wes and Peyton down to San Diego on Friday night and ate dinner at a Luche Libre Taco Shop at 1810 West Washington Street and had a great time getting into the spirit of the place. The food was great but, the atmosphere was even better -- we love to go to fun, even outrageous places. We met some fun people from Miami who had seen the place on some food channel show. The only show on the food network I watch is Unwrapped. I think this place was featured on Man vs. Food? Anyway, I just took the advice of April and ordered a shrimp and steak burrito and, yeah, it was dang good! I'll eat at Taco Bell and I think its great (even with its filler-filled beef). But there's nothing like crazy little hole in the wall places for great Mexican food.