Activity Plus!

This has been a hugely stressful week. Won't bore you with the details. Just that every 30 minutes during the day has been over committed!
Stress also includes things you enjoy. Most of mine is trying to cram in all the things I enjoy doing along with other major commitments.
That is what I am sharing with you.

Thursday, 6 master gardeners came to the Casa to help me Id plants. We were hugely successful. This is the first step in planning which plants we want permanent tags for, gearing up for the June 20 Garden Tour.

Then, Randy, Staci, Siena, and baby GIRL due in July, (Pico too) came for a visit. Randy had a work day on Friday in San Diego and they all came down for overnighters to make his drive shorter. Staci, Siena and I hung out on Friday-a great-no pressure day. Just playing with cutie Siena. Grandchildren have a way of erasing the stresses of every day life.

Randy came home from work and shares his piano talents with Siena. I love to hear the results of several years of piano lessons used in his own way for his own enjoyment as an adult.

Siena had fun playing outside. She was very cautiously approaching the edge to overlook the canyon. She loved the big wheel, swing and especially watering my plants. Have several of the cutest photos of that!

Fun G'Parents day

Nicole brought Aubrey and Garrett over for the afternoon/evening today. It was so fun to see them two days in a row! At my Mom's birthday party yesterday, wandering through the Cherimoya orchard. Today, playing in my garden and at the beach.

We went to the closest beach, the famous T-Street in San Clemente. It was late afternoon with most beach goers gone and the surfers out. Aubrey and Garrett have learned how to play tag with the waves :)

Our fountain in the garden is always an attraction and fun for the children. Aubrey always gives "Bob" a bath with the white brush.
Bob is the affectionate name given our fountain. Aubrey's early words (she is 5 now) were BaBaBa... It stuck as 'Bob' to name the smiley Seal on the fountain.

Mom's 85th Birthday

My Mom turned 85 on Valentines Day. That is also our anniversary and we were gone for the weekend. However, we planned a birthday party at Mom's home for today, Friday Feb 20.
Here is the cake we had made from a local bakery. German Chocolate icing covered with chocolate and accents of grapes and kiwi on whipped cream. Yummy. We added the numbers.

Mike took Mom to a Dr. appointment this morning while I ran to the store to get balloons and then quickly decorated her living room with lots of Valentine decorations. She was so surprised when she arrived home, even though she knew we were having this party. Here she is, kept saying, OH MY! OH MY! OH MY! It is the first 'party' she has ever had. (We did invite her and some friends to our home for her 80th). This was especially sweet as her closest neighbors and friends and our daughter Nicole and children, about 20 in all, came by for cake and coffee this afternoon to celebrate their love and friendships.

Mike, Mom and I at the end of the afternoon. Mom is just glowing :)
She didn't want us to take the decorations down. So we left them so she can continue reliving the precious moments of the day.

Our Room

Mike is a Platinum member of Marriott and when we arrived at the JW Marriott, they upgraded us to this unbelievable room! I could have stayed in the room the entire time! Living room, table/chairs, bathroom with tiled shower, another bathroom with huge shower and separate jacuzzi tub and toilet room with bidet! These photos do not do it justice. The large room divider held the TV that you could swivel from living room to bedroom...

Anniversary Day

I know, this photo of mountains doesn't look at all like Las Vegas, or even very romantic for an anniversary/valentine's day. Our hotel was just 10 minutes from the Red Rock Canyon. We took a drive to check it out and it was a major highlight of our vacation! It was beautiful, relaxing and awesome!

We walked this 1/2 mile trail on beautiful wood walkways with viewpoints and informative plaques along the trail.

Just one of the shots of the spectacular rock formations.

We enjoyed a special Anniversary/Valentine's dinner in the Carmel Room at the hotel then listened to live music and danced the night away...

Valentine Anniversary Trip

We celebrated our 28th anniversary by taking a trip to Las Vegas.
It has been 5 + years since we have been there (still trying to figure out the date of the last trip,a business trip I joined Mike on.
The road trip was rainy until we left the LA area on Friday. We enjoyed the desert and some snow at the highest points at about 45oo feet. The Joshua trees reminded me about my years growing up on a chicken ranch in Palmdale. Now I look at the trees as God's artistic creations :)

We had reservations the same night for the Beatles inspired show called LOVE at the Mirage.
It was spectacular! After the show, we took the tram from the Mirage to ti...did you know that Treasure Island is now marketed as ti? They wanted to make their ID more cool to attract adults. That was the only time we spent at the strip.

Toasting our anniversary weekend in the room before the show.

The JW Marriott grounds are absolutely beautiful with waterfalls and ponds. About 15 minutes from The Strip.

Valentine's Day

Here is a photo of my Mom and I at Christmas.

Valentine's Day she will turn 85 years old!
We are planning cake and coffee for her friends on the 20th.

She is a trouper and has cared for my brother 24/7 for over 23 years. David had major hip surgery Dec 2 and has been in extended care since. It has been a much deserved break for Mom. David is out of pain now but not able to put weight on his leg yet.

On Valentine's Day, Mike and I will celebrate our 28th anniversary! Mike booked a trip to the luxury JW Marriott in Las Vegas. A show, special dinner, and some R & R are the plans. We'll do a road trip, about 4 hours that will be fun since we have not been to Vegas in several years.