Grandma Tess and Papa Steve

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Grand Canyon - Family Vacation 2012

Jarod's family gasped at the Great White!

Damon is so brave; he fights off the shark with his bare fist!

We make so much noise it annoyed the shark.Look at his teeth!

Family Fun began in Las Vegas at the Shark Reef July 2,2012

The prices were reasonable.It is a great exhibition.

Standing in line to purchase our tickets. Papa Steve is hugging Carly.

One among the many sharks we saw.

Texans enjoy the petting tank.

I think the octopus tank was Papa Steve's favorite exhibit.

Perhaps the Lion Fish was a close tie for first; Papa Steve enjoyed this exhibit immensely.

I adore Baby Jarod's smile.

Jarod and his son, Papa Steve, Clarissa, and Grandma Tess

Texans: Carly, Megan, Josh, Jack, Baby Jarod & Jarod.

AFTER THE SHARK REEF EXPERIENCE, WE SWAM IN THE POOL AT THE FAIRFIELD INN, LAS VEGAS. MY WEREN'T WE BRAVE!!!

Damon holding Ava (5 yrs) with Kaela(7 yrs) in background.

Clarissa holding Isla Belle (3 yrs)

It was 108 and everyone was in the HOT tub. Toooo fun!

Papa Steve at our hotel(Mariott) with Kaela.Stylin' pajamas Kaela!

Kaela wrote Carly a sweet note: I love Carly. Oh yes I do.

THE NEXT MORNING (AFTER OUR FREE GOURMET BREAKFAST) WE DROVE TO THE KOA IN WILLIAMS, ARIZONA. JOSH AND AVA RODE IN OUR CAR.

Ava watches Josh play on Ava's Leapster. It's no secret that I adopted children because of the kindness Jarod and Clarissa demonstrated on a daily basis. They were so compatible and thoughtful, I just knew all children were like them.

Williams, Arizona KOA or as Elle used to call it: A OK.

Jarod was 13 or so when we went to the first KOA and now he is 33. How did 20 years go by so quickly.

Papa Steve and his guitar. I'm carrying Jarod's guitar. You can't have a campfire without music.

Hanging out at Mieka and Don's cabin.

We found 4 more children to join our fun. They represented Elle, Autumn, Emmerson and Navarre. Don't you worry, we asked Cole (younger of the two brothers) if he knew how many quarters were in a dollar!

We had a boy pinata (pirate) and a girl pinata (pink flower). There were tooooo many children for just one pinata. It was filled with necklaces and rings for the girls and the boys had army men and mini fingerboards.

Isla might be tiny but she is mighy.

THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO WILLIAMS, ARIZONA FOR THE JULY 4TH COMMUNITY PARADE.

It is located on the famous Route 66.

I always get choked up when Veterans carry the flag in parades.

It was so diverse!

Jarod with his sons Josh and Jack.

Bagpipes- what a great parade!

I love Josh's patriotism!

Matt Ryan was running for senator. We had to take Matt and Ryan's picture! Toooo fun!!!

THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO THE GRAND CANYON.

I can't help myself....I enjoy dressing the same. I guess it comes from fond childhood memories.

We wore our red shirts the previous day; Jarod made them for us for the family fun in San Diego-2008. I love being a twin and looking like one is even more fun!

We took the bus to the first stop. We hiked from there for 2 miles.

Jarod, Megan, Josh, Carly, Jack

Damon holding Isla, Clarissa, Kaela, Ava

Ben, Kelli, Kate, Ryan, Matt

Don holding Tony, Mieka holding Kyle

Brian and Kristen, Amanda, Zack, Camryn, Karli

Steve, Karon, Rosanne, Andy

The trail we hiked.

Of course, it wouldn't be a vacation unless we were thrown out of a city or ..... kicked off the bus because of Clarissa's stroller was toooooo big. Getting up the hill wasn't the problem, they let us on the bus. But they wouldn't let us ride back down the hill 3 hours later. WE thought we were going to hike 10 miles back down the road to get to our car. Fortunately, they sent a special bus to pick us up. Thanks Damon for taking the hit for the team!

BACK ROW: Zack, Brian, Don holding Tony, Mieka holding Kyle, Kelli and Ben
FRONT ROW: Amanda, Camryn, Kristen, Karli,Rosanne, Andy, Kate, Ryan and Matt

BACK ROW: Kaela, Damon and Carly
FRONT ROW: Karon, Steve, Megan holding Baby J, Ave, Josh, Jarod holding Jack, Clarissa holding Isla

WE ENDED THE VACATION AT CAFE RIO- ISLA'S 3RD BIRTHDAY.

Clarissa and Jarod love Cafe Rio. Clarissa is so excited I had to take her picture at the door.

Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Isla's 3rd birthday, but our week long vacation wiped her out!!!

Monday, April 2, 2012

General Conference- April 2012

General Conference was a wonderful time. The Saturday session was filled with admonishments to forgive and remember the importance of family. Sunday sessions were filled with the same desire for all of us to allow the atonement to come into our lives.

Ava asked me to make her a cowboy cake. The heart shape cake is for Grace's 3rd birthday celebration.

During the 1st and 2nd sessions we went to the park.

After the second session, we celebrated Grace's birthday. Autumn brought Easter baskets and fun things to put inside. It was great fun for all.

55th Birthday

It was a pleasant surprise when Clarissa and her family started the day off by singing Happy Birthday. Kaela really wanted to give me a birthday hug. Shortly thereafter Jarod and his house full of singers sang t0 me as well. Autumn called too and wanted to stop by to give me a hug. Before I knew it we had an impromptu party happening. I loved the biography, Neal A.Maxwell and See's candy I received. The best part was all the hugs and seeing their sensational smiles.

Carly 7 yrs, Jarod R. 9 mo, Jack 4 years, and Josh 5 3/4 years

Grace will be 3 in just a few weeks. Gabriel turned 4yrs old on New Year's Eve.

Ava is 5yrs, Isla 2 1/2 yrs and Kaela is 7 years old.

Jana wanted to have her picture taken with Autumn. We just sang Happy Birthday and I captured the moment on camera. Ava is angry because Gabriel blew out the candles on the cake in front of her. We always light candles for each child to blow out and we do it several times. This time however Carly's candle lit her plastic glass on fire. Carly and Kaela have a look of both astonishment and panic. Grace is looking at the glass wondering what happened to the small flame from the candle. All the while Jana beams with enthusiasm. Within seconds Autumn jumps up and gets the glass in the sink - She saves the day!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Elle's 21yrs old and going on a mission

Turning 21 years old, we're at Cattleman's Restaurant eating an ice cream sundae

The hat is the complimentary birthday gift at Cattlemen's Restaurant.
This is one of Elle's favorite spots to eat.

I finished a cake decorating course and made her several fun cakes.

Elle had to submit a picture for the plaque on the wall at the church.
Her favorite scripture for the plaque: 3 Nephi 5:13

Another pose for the plaque.

Going to the Los Angeles temple is fun,

....espcially with family.

Jarod and Elle, I affectionately call them my bookends.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Ignacio Caro Valdivieso's Funeral

National Cemetery, Riverside, California- December 2, 2011

While Taps played there wasn't a dry eye...it was so serene.

These soldiers volunteer their services. It was wonderful!

Jarod is in the front and Steve in the back.

At Azusa church building. Robert (Sally and Ray's son) and Becky (Robert's wife) hug Nellie and give her comfort

Rosanne, Don (Rosanne's middle son) and Tony (3 yrs old, Don's oldest child)

Sally and Ray's children: Ruth, Robert, and Ruelon (Steve's in the middle)

Zack (Kristen's son) and Brian (Kristen's husband)

Camryn (Kristen's fourth and last child), Kristen (Rosanne and Andy's oldest child)
and Karly (Kristen's third child)

Lydia, Roger and Gladys Smith
(long time friends from Azusa 1st Ward
and neighbors from 13th Street)

Art's sons: Nicholas and Lucas (Lucas wore his ROTC uniform in honor of
his grandfather) Ian is missing from the photo because he is
serving a mission in Russia