Nana Carolyn's Visit

My mom came for a visit this last weekend. We really enjoyed her visit. Gretta especially likes it when Nana visits. It was also really nice for us because she watched the kids for us a lot.
Thursday

She arrived in the afternoon. Gretta was so excited to pick her up after preschool. Then she watched both kids so that Eric and I could go to the LA Temple and fill our Temple Sealing assignment. It is always wonderful to go to the Temple.

Here is Gretta pretending to go to the doctor with my mom. She is saying, "Augh."

Friday

I had to work, so my mom watched the kids. They had a great time. They went to the library and to park day with other girls from the ward. My mom and Linda saved the day because they took both kids to the pediatrician. I thought Eliza had an ear infection and Gretta still had her cough. It turns out by the time they took Eliza to the doctor she had full blown pink eye. The kid looked horrible by the time I got home from work. Poor Eliza. Gretta still can't seem to get over this cough. This the third antibiotic she has been on and she still is taking breathing treatments. Thanks for saving the day!!!

Saturday

In the morning my mom and I went to the Relief Society Birthday Celebration. It was lovely and we had a good time. Linda also came with us, and we took Harryette Hake and Sara Knapp, who I visit teach.

Getting ready to leave

Me, Linda and SaraHailey, Mom and Harryette

Then we went and rode bikes at Santa Monica Pier. It was so much fun! I am not sure why we haven't done this before. We really had a good time. It was a beautiful day and it really made me feel like we were on vacation in our own backyard.

I took Eliza in my trailer.

Eric at the rental shop getting ready to go with Gretta in his trailer.

At the Aquarium with a BIG eel in the back ground.

The whole gang with our sea crowns.

Eric, Gretchen, Eliza, Carolyn, Gretta and Linda

After the Aquarium Linda and my mom took the kids home and Eric and I enjoyed a nice evening on the town in Santa Monica. Some of our good friends from Provo, Glenn & Stacie Cowen, were in town so we went to dinner. We ate at Bucca De Beppo's. I had my first major celebrity sighting as we saw Denzel Washington. He was with a boys basketball team who has just won the Division 5 CIF Basketball tournament. I am sad we didn't get a picture of the Cowen's or of Denzel.

Us at the Pier

Sunday

Church and to the airport.

Thanks Mom for coming to visit! We can't wait to see you at Easter.

Mommy and Me day at Preschool

Today was "Mommy and Me" day at preschool. Gretta was so excited that I was going to get to come play with her at preschool. I had to go to work this morning like very Tuesday, so Linda dropped her off. When I showed up Gretta was so excited. It really made me so happy to see her so excited. All of the other kids moms came too. We played at the play dough table, the craft table, the glue table, and Gretta painted me an Easter egg and also played in the "goo". I really enjoyed myself and wish I got to go to preschool more often.
Gretta's preschool is great. We have been so happy at St. George's this year

Gretta,

Thanks so much for sharing a day at preschool with me. It was so much fun!

Love,

Mom

Playing with "goo"

The glue table. Miss Brenda said this is one of Gretta's favorites. Gretta made a plate for me, Eric, Eliza and Grandma.

This is one of the play grounds. They also have another one for the kids to play on.

The artist in the family.

A day at the Races

Saturday afternoon we decided to enjoy a beautiful day in Southern California and go to the Santa Anita Race Track. We live about 7 miles away and have never been before.

I think it is because in my mind all you think about a horse track is gambling. After a few friend told us what a great experience they had we decided to try it out for ourselves. There was definitely a lot more to do than gamble.

The other reason to visit was that I remember the Santa Anita Derby from " Sea Biscuit" and wanted to see it in person.

We really had a great time! The place is HUGE and the grounds are beautiful. Inside the track was a playground. Gretta loved the playground, the horses, and being able to run around with out any caring if she was loud or not.

It was interesting to see all kinds of people at the race track. Some people were dressed in their very best and others looked more casual. We had a great time and even might go again.

Aren't the San Gabriel Mountains beautiful! It was a gorgeous day.
Eric and Gretta checking out the horse in the stables.

The horse are beautiful.

The girls

Watching the horses

Photo of the track by Gretta

Photo of Gretta by Gretta

Photo of me by Gretta. She is getting pretty good.

A family photo. To bad it is fuzzy. Oh well.

We sure had a great time!

Gretta's Dance Recital

Saturday Gretta had a dance recital. They danced to "There's a fiddle in the middle". Gretta really enjoys dance class. She also enjoys that so many of her friends are in her class. Gretta and Aubree before the performance. Gretta and Aubree have been friends since their days together in the NICU.
Getting ready for the show.

Let the show begin...Gretta, Julie, Aubree, Isabelle

The star of the show!!!

Gretta, Julie, Aubree

Julie, Emma, Aubree, Isabelle and Gretta

Julie, Aubree, Isabelle and Gretta have birthday's all in late November or December, so they are weeks apart in age. However, Gretta seems to be like me and is already taller than everyone.

The whole gang!!!

It was a darling performance. Way to go girls!

(Hopefully Julie's mom will post her video so

I can steal it since I didn't remember the video camera. Hint Hint!)

Bank Night with the Clippers

Baron Davis was injured on the previous play so they asked me to shoot his free throws for him!
You can't teach shooting form like that. As Gene Hackman said in the immortal movie, Hoosiers, remember boys, the basket is still just 10 ft. tall just like back in Hickory Indiana.

Tim Duncan turning his face away from me, his paparazzo.

I had an awesome time with my co-workers enjoying a night with the other LA basketball team. And in case anyone is wondering, NO TARP FUNDS WERE USED TO PAY FOR THIS EVENT :)

Stake Dance

Eric and I had a fun time at the Stake Dance. The theme was a "Roman Holiday".

Coming home???

This oil spill on the H-1 turned our trip home into quite the adventure. We missed our flight. The good news is that we REALLY missed our flight. I mean there was no hope of making it because just before we left Gretta and I decided that we needed on more shave ice. We were in line at 11:00am, but there were already some people in front of us and it too WAY to long. By the time we got it an were headed to the car Eric was looking for us because the bell man had told him there was an accident on the H-1. We left at 11:22am and even with my husbands good California driving skills we didn't get to the airport until 2:00 for a 1:35pm flight. Anna and Gabe also didn't make their 2:05 flight even though they were their at 2:00pm. Lucky for Anna and Gabe they made it out standby in on the next flight and caught up to their connections. I guess 85 stand-bys got on the flight we missed, so many people missed the flight. Which didn't help our plight coming home.

We had to fly stand-by. The next flight out was at 9:30pm. We didn't get on that flight. The 11:30pm flight showed more promise, but they only had two seats. Eric really wanted to get back, so he ended up taking both kids. They didn't think I would be able to get out until Monday because the flights on Sunday were so full, but the ticket agent must have felt pity on me, and gave me a seat on the 1:45pm flight out on Sunday. I ended up staying the night in an airport hotel.

We were just glad to get home.