A Great 4th of July Weekend

I finally took some pictures this weekend and thought I'd update the blog with the weekend's activities. This year we spent the 4th of July with Dallas. The three of us had a great day and started with breakfast at the Original Pancake House. The best part of eating here is that I can order my favorite meal and not worry about pleasing everyone else. Dallas and Leland both ordered 49er flapjacks and I enjoyed pecan pancakes. I must have eaten a cup of pecans with these delicious pecan filled pancakes. YUMMO!!


After the huge meal of pancakes we put on our swimsuits (no my favorite thing to do after eating) and spent the afternoon down at Hole in the Wall, San Clemente along with 10,000 other beach goers. It was a really warm day but the sun didn't come out until 3:00. The water was so cold that no women were swimming and so the line at the restroom was longer than the line at the concession stand. No one wanted to "tinkle" in the ocean because it was soooo cold. But we saw lots of friends at the beach and had a great afternoon.



That night we headed to Anaheim for the Angel's game and the spectacular fireworks. This picture is taken from our seats. We were literally sitting in the last row of the highest section behind home plate. Leland bought the tickets on Ebay before we went to the beach and they were the only tickets available because the game was sold out. We survived the 94 degree heat and the Angel's won the game. More food: hotdogs, soda and candy and more candy. Does life get better than this? I submit that it does not.



Here are Dallas and I at the game (and Dallas' friend Nick).   See the wall behind us? Yes, that's the back of the stadium. Can't get any farther from the field.



Here is Dallas enjoying his Angel (Farmer John Dodger) dog. And here is a shout out to Dallas, whose birthday is being celebrated today, July 5th. HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY Dallas, the easiest going of all my kids. We love you so much and Dad and I really loved spending the entire day with you.



Leland and I finished a few projects that I started this summer. I couldn't have done it without him. I decided to turn Trevor's room into a grandkids room because we needed a twin bed now that Ava is out of the crib. Pancho painted for me and removed some stubborn wallpaper. Leland, Dallas, Bill, Tali and I put the bunkbeads together last week and today Leland hung pictures and the surfboard for me. Just a bit of sewing to do and the room will be finished. I love how it turned out because it feels like a really calm room to me.



I framed pictures of my kids as toddlers and hung them above the chest of drawers. I don't have enough grandkids yet to frame so I used my babies instead. Hopefully they will approve of the pictures I've chosen.




Leland received this surfboard from the youth in our ward when he was released as Bishop and it has finally found a creative resting place in the bunkbed room. I found these great decorative racks online and they were really easy to hang. I shouldn't say that because I didn't hang them: Leland did it.  But I ordered them online and that was easy.



When Leland was the Bishop we inherited about 50 folding chairs for ward gatherings at the house. They have been stored in the "chair" closet until this spring when I donated them to anyone who wanted them. I decided we didn't need 50 chairs anymore and maybe I decided I didn't need to host events needing 50 chairs anymore also. So this closet was transformed into a toy closet for Ava and Shea (when she arrives). I painted it this week and Leland helped me hang the shelves today. Now I have 12 matching black folding chairs (smaller gatherings) and a closet full of toys. I think I need to paint all my closets because this one looks so clean and cheery.



Well that's my week. My next summer project is compiling Trevor's mission scrapbook. Don't worry I've purchased my supplies from Julie Jane Paper Company and hopefully I can make them proud with my scrapbooking. I hope you all had a wonderful 4th. Leland, Dallas and I had a fabulous day and weekend.