Lucia's goodbye

Tonight some of the ladies from our book club met to send Lucia off to Italy. Lucia is the genuis who came up with the book club idea that has blossemed into so much more than a book club. These ladies are funny, intelligent, loving, caring, understanding, what else can I say. I look forward to book club night every month! Lucia is moving to Italy with her family and she will be truly missed. We all hope to travel to Italy to have a book club meeting at some point!
Dinner at PF Changs
We invaded Barnes and Noble!

slip and slide

Angel enjoying her slip and slide.

Putt putt, etc

Today we went over to the lake. Angel had seen a picture of Josh when he was younger, playing putt putt golf, so she wanted to try it out too.




















Afterwards, we went to the "pavilion" and played more games. Then had some ice cream. Visiting the lake makes me feel like I have stepped back in time. It looks just like it did years ago when I visited as a child. I spent many hours at this lake as a kid and a teenager. It was the local hangout! I was always amazed when I would go home, that it never changed. I used to take Josh over there to swim and play and now I take Angel.


















Playing "Tarheel" checkers

More fun in NC

Today we went to lunch at a favorite restaurant on the river. The food is yummy and the view is great. After we got back, we went to a small water park close to mom's house. Angel had a great time.

Angel in one of her new dresses







Outside the restaurant by the river

Enjoying our visit to NC

We are enjoying our visit to NC. So far, we helped my sister celebrate her bday, had dinner with a family friend, went shopping and got some great deals at Belk, had a Melvin's burger!
Tomorrow we are going to Wilmington to meet my aunt for lunch at one of our favorite spots on the river - yummy crab cake melt!!! and hopefully to a small water park at the lake, if the weather cooperates.

Angel playing in the house.
Angel and Ms. Ruth
Melvins burger
Angel washing dishes a G'mas house!

Visiting with friends

Tonight we spent time with some very dear friends. Josh and Michael have been friends since they were hour years old. Our friends are stationed in Japan but are home for a few weeks. They left the US the summer Angel came home. It was our first time seeing little Caylie. It was fun to compare some of the things between Japan with China. We ate Mexican - made a trip to the mall - and just had a great time visiting - lot's of laughs!
Angel found a friend!
all the kids

July's FCC Dinner

Tonight was the montly FCC dinner. Again, we had a great turn out and the kids (not just girls this month!) had fun with the crafts, coloring and just plain being silly. So glad to see some new faces in the mix this month.




It is always more fun under the table

dressup and makeup

This morning C and K joined us for some early morning swimming before the rain rolled in. Back at the house, A and K had some dress up and "play make up" fun!

Busy Weekend

We are having a busy weekend. Friday night we spent time with some friends. We were supposed to meet at the beach but the weather didn't cooperate, so we met at C and K's house for the girls to play. They played in the blowup pool for a while until the rain moved in then we moved inside so they could play dressup.


Saturday Angel went fishing for the first time. I will create a separate post for this. Afterwards, we hit the pool for a couple of hours to cool off.

Saturday night was Book Club night and a special one at that and now I can say why. Laurie has her referral of her beautiful Hannah Grace and was able to share her picture with us. We had a great time at Melissa's house, as usual. Great friends, great times.



Book Club July 2009


















Sunday was church, lunch, then Josh had a friend over and we then had dinner with our friend's family.

New Hobby - fishing

My friend Karen's grandson, who is 8, had been wanting Angel to go fishing for the longest time. We finally were able to get together. We fished for about 3 hours. Angel loved it and caught 3 fish! She was even putting on her own bait!! I am proud of her for not being scared. She had so much fun, I see more fishing trips in our future.



Dylan's first catch of the day

Angel's first fish!


Now what am I supposed to do with that?

Baiting her own hook!

4th of July

We had a great 4th. Spent time at the pool for the annual 4th of July party. C and K joined us there. We swam and the girls went down the inflatable water slide.
Later Jennifer joined us for dinner and then we all went to see the fireworks downtown.

Hollywood, Farmers Market, Santa Monica

Today we decided to take a Hollywood tour. We were in an air conditioned bus and it took us around for 3 1/2 hours. We saw Beverly Hills, BelAir, Rodeo drive, several star homes, Sunset Blvd, the Hollywood sign, Hollywood Bowl. Our tour guide was wonderful and very informative. He has so much information to share and place to point out, such as the bar that Meg Ryan worked in before she became a star.

Us with Hollywood sign in background























I had promised Angel we would go into the Disney store on Hollywood Blvd, so after the tour was done, we went and had awesome ice cream sundaes and looked around a bit. She had to take a picture with Mickey!

Angel and Mickey

















Afterwards we headed back to the hotel, got our car and took off to the Farmers Market, where we had read that it is a good place to spot stars. We had dinner there and walked around a little bit but didn't see any stars. The Farmers Market is right across the street from CBS studios, where you can stand in line to go on The Price Is Right.




We then headed down Santa Monica Blvd to the ocean. They have an incredible amusement park on the Santa Monica pier. Angel and Josh rode the roller coaster and we all rode the Ferris Wheel. That was a lot of fun and beautiful there at the ocean.

On to LA

Today we flew from SF to LA. We don't have as much time in LA, but I figured since we were in CA, we should hit a couple of cities. And I thought Josh would like it since he is a teenager. We stayed in a hotel right off of Hollywood Blvd. within walking distance of the Walk of Fame, which is all along Hollywood Blvd., Grumans Chinese Theater, and the Kodak Theater. Very cool and a great location. We could see the Hollywood sign from our hotel window. After checking in, we walked over to Hollywood Blvd and strolled up and down, looking at the various stars. Right away, we saw Michal Jackson's star, surrounded by flowers, candles and other things people left out of respect. Michael Jackson had just died a few days before.

Angel earned her wings


I love John Travolta!
Hollywood sign from our hotel window
Michael's star



















That same evening we took a tour inside Gruman's Chinese Theater. It was really cool to see the inside, most of which has not changed since the 1920's. This is where they have the Hollywood movie premiers. Outside the theater is where the famouse 'hand and foot prints of the stars' in the cement are located.
Grumans Chinese Theater





Inside the Chinese theater

Kodak Theater, where they have the Oscars




Angel finds Spidey