I Finally Get My Camera Back!

I have been so busy and doing so much. Last week I visited Marla in Riverside and my dad and Sarah at Mountain Lakes. On Wed. I took Joey, Kayleigh, Gina, and Alan to the Annenberg Museum of Photography. That was fun. On Friday Eileen came over for coffee and showed Gina and me pictures of her summer class in Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica. Later I drove to Santa Barbara to see The Hurt Locker with Lenny. Today Leonard and I went to Cienna's (Marissa's baby) christening. Tomorrow I and Gina are supposed to go to the Malibu Getty. On Tuesday we are going to Val's beach house for boogie boarding and kayaking. Thursday Gina and I are going to Topol's final season of Fiddler On The Roof. I need to slow down.

I cleaned up Lenny's room and decided to redecorate. It is so cute now I want to move in it myself. I guess I will have to do Joey's room next. We leave Aug 20th to take Joey up to Humboldt. He still doesn't have his room assignment. He may have to stay in temporary housing until something opens up. I don't think he will like that. He is pushing to get his own apartment. Maybe next year.

I finally got the chance to see Marla and her family. Marla comes from Switzerland every summer to visit her mother while her husband, Francesco, teaches at UCLA. It is always so hard to coordinate a visit. This time I only got to visit for about an hour and a half. Her sons are very handsome and look like regular teenagers. Marla says she is doing translations for an airline travel magazine and still plays violin in an orchestra.

Francesco, Lawrence, Marla, and Milo

Marla and Patty

More Summer Fun

In June Luke won first place at a mixed martial arts competition. I am very proud, but I still can't watch him at the competitions. He has decided to incorporate physical fitness, health, or athletics into his career. I think this is an excellent idea. Luke is happiest when he is at his gym.

Leonard at breakfast. We used to have big family breakfast on the weekend. Then the boys got older, started staying out late at night, and getting up late. Now it is just Leonard and me at the breakfast table.

I am so glad Tina came to visit from Sweden. I am so disappointed I didn't take photos. It has been a crazy summer full of fun. I guess if you spend all your time taking photos you are not part of the party.

I made breakfast for Tina, Calle, and Zach on their last day in California. Luke joins in. tina will hate this picture, but I had to put it in. It is the only photo I have of Zach and Calle.

Regrets

We were so busy over our holiday that I didn't get to do the things I wanted. I wanted to get up early every morning and go running. But, I couldn't resist visiting with everyone until late into the night. I forgot to take home my wild plum jelly. That makes me so mad. I also wanted to take home some of the wheat JJ made waffles with (I want an iron like his that makes waffles in the shape of Texas). I didn't get to play enough canasta.

This is what I think we should do next year. When I come to Texas I want to have good Texas beef. I think we should grill some thin steaks that cook real fast. We should have corn on the cob. I can bring it from our local farm here in California. I will also bring boysenberries from my vines so Aunt Dorothy can make a delicious cobbler. I think Sarah should bring up shrimp from the coast. Jason can bring potato salad. Janet and June can cook deviled eggs. Sandy can make her coleslaw. James can bring tomatos from his garden (I am assuming Texas won't have a late frost next year). Shellie can make ice cream. I'll make chocolate syrup. And Andrea can make margaritas. Since it is often too hot to grill in the afternoon, I think we should all go over to Jim and Sandy's in the late morning, early afternoon for a brunch. That way we can wait until it cools off to grill. For brunch we can have whole grain waffles, Shellie's bacon (if she slaughters another pig), eggs, someone is going to have to learn to make Mabel's sourdough bisquits, and maybe we'll have wild plum or apricot jelly. Of course the day would end with another spectacular fireworks show by Leonard. Wouldn't that be grand?

More Pics From the 4th

Sandy flew in from Vegas then rode out to Texas with us. Here she is outside a cabin looking the model she was as a teenager.

Joey and Luke outside the KOA cabin in Gallup, NM

Tima helps her mom in the kitchen

Luke, Janet, Andrea, and Shellie play canasta while June watches on

June

Shellie and Luke

Janet and June

James

Riley makes a pink bunny

Sam, Tima, Joey

Sarah

Me (wearing the scrabble necklace Janet gave me) and Leonard

JJ

Luke can't get enough sleep

Andrea makes margaritas

Pics From The 4th

Tyler and Riley keep it wild!

Joe and Leonard

Janet, Kevin, Dorothy

June

Andrea

Spencer holds up the pool

Sarah and JJ put up pool

Ashley

Jason

Ray, JJ, Leonard

Sam

Justin and Sam

Sarah, Jeremy, James, June

Sandy alongside painting of her by JJ

Tima

Jerrilyn, Addison, Jason

Christy, Riley, Spencer, Luke, JJ, Kenny

Joey, Sam, Kevin, Luke

Kevin

Luke, Kenny, and Andrea

Luke (Sarah and Sandy in the background)

Tyler

Joey and Jesse

Tanner and Jesse

Jesse

Christy, Riley, Kenny, Luke, Joey

Our Annual 4th of July Trip to Texas

We arrived back home late last night, exhausted, covered in mosquito bites, chiggers, bumps and bruises. Joey found a tick on his side when he got into the shower. The 4th of July is always a big celebration for the family. We have such a good time. Sarah says that all the men in our family are crazy and all the women are hard asses. She says if a woman marries a man in this family his craziness will make her a hard ass. And, if a man marries a woman in this family she will make him crazy. What I do know is this family plays hard, drinks too much, loves deeply, hates intensely, laughs endlessly, and cries too much. Janet says you have to have thick skin in this family or you will never make it. She is right. We always say it is a successful trip if we can avoid the Wheeler hospital. Although Leonard, the boys and I avoided the hospital, little Tyler had to go in for stitches. He is so adorable. He is the male version of his mother, Shellie. She will be taking him to the ER again. Leonard's mother had to take Leonard to the ER so many times while growing up that when he turned 18 and went into the construction trade she took out a life insurance policy on him.

Check out the photos from our trip. To my family, I love you all...especially Uncle Jimmy.