Welcome to Sean's Graduation Party!


Maureen, Melanie Eileen, Colleen and John say "Come on in let's get this party started!"








The guys are all here. Sean wears his graduation lei for the party!












We had six tables of six in the backyard. The weather was a perfect California 80 degrees under the canopy of shade trees!









And Zeke's barbecue didn't disappoint!

Seconds, anyone?










Even Tim and Liza came to congratulate the new graduate!











Relaxing and sharing stories, Pat and Terry catch up.











The "girls" and their cameras! Here, we had to get a shot together on the new stepping stone patio area the boys had just completed this week in the backyard.









Perri and Lucas horse around taking pictures of the "girls"!












One last helping please, so good!











and then Sean cut the cake.












Cake?? We're going for a ride!!













One last look at my new favorite spot in the backyard, thank to Terry, Sean and Taylor!!

What a terrific day, and a terrific party!

After 3 hours of sleep, Sean and Taylor and I raced out to CSUN for Sean's graduation. Terry was going to meet us there. I had asked Sean the night before on my way to work to please empty the camera card, so I'd have plenty of room. I asked him on my way out the door "the card, you emptied it?" Response, "yeah, mom".

Take out the camera for the first picture as he registers. . . NO CARD!! He emptied it and forgot it!

Fast forward and I'm racing to Target for a new card. Fortunately, Taylor grabbed our seats and we had 1 hour before the ceremony. Almost got tagged by the speed gun, but the gods were lookin' out for me and I saw the motorcycle cop before he zapped my heavy footed get away for Target!!

Back at the ceremony, the sun was baking in that way only the San Fernando Valley can! We had a place under the tent, but poor Sean, at the end of the aisle was in the full sun.. . in black. . forgot to eat lunch. . .

I called him mid-ceremony to see how he was doing. . . phone's off. Message left. Saw him stagger out in the out procession, hat in hand, hair all over face, looking disheveled. . . calling. . . no answer. . . looking. . . no Sean. . . anywhere. . .

Fast forward 20 mins after we all split up looking, we find, slumped over in a seat, under the tent next to the sound system, Sean. Man comes up as we are trying to revive the overheated, dehydrated, hypoglycemic graduate, "Can't be next to all this equipment!!" Excuuuuse me!

Taylor remembers seeing a First Aid tent. We find it and it consists of a tent, a lone chair, a Sparkletts water container and an ice chest full of ice and not one person. Guess I'm on Duty,. . . Sent Taylor for sugar and fluids. Sent Terry for strawberries at the grand reception. Got ice and water for Sean. Taylor returns with Mountain Dew and Snickers and a an adventure with the security guard and a "little" white lie about Sean's diabetic problem to the guard, who shares that his father is also a diabetic, who now almost in tears, is trying to get Taylor into the building and to the vending machines. What a brother! Terry returns with strawberries. . . Sean is now revived! Now for pictures, I'm relentless!

Click here to view these pictures larger

I found this forum when we were remodeling the kitchen and found it utterly fascinating and helpful.
Then, I realized the other forums and now I can't get enough: laundry hints, cleaning tips, gardening help of all sorts. . . the list goes on and on.
Does anyone else have forums they can't get enought of??

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/

We started the weekend on Saturday. Here at The Farmer's Market Pat and Rita get ready for cornbeef and cabbage!








The boys order cajun blackened fish.

It was time for my audit on my charting. I was crossing my Ts and dotting my Is for weeks anticipating the dreaded surprise audit coming anytime!

Well, here I was sitting and studiously charting my assessment and plan of care.

Low and behold if I didn't receive a 97.5%!

Avocados!  We trimmed the trees a few years ago and it's been year after year of no avocados to speak of.

This year is shaping up to look like a bountiful harvest. Taylor is already talking about setting up a stand. Terry wants to take them to the local farmer's market.
It's a little hard to see from this picture, but. . .

now this shows one little cluster, and there are hundreds!

$$$ Guacamole!

this is Pirate Radio! And it is not only hilarious (I mean laugh out loud), but has some kick a@* music, too!
I haven't had time yet to dive into Goodreads and all those great recommendations, but for some quick entertainment, this can't be beat!

. . . but I had to see what it was about. So, between netflix and the library, we got the two movies and watched them back to back!

What started out as a laugh out loud parody of an overacted teen soap, morphed into a movie series we got hooked on. I'm shocked!

So when is the next in the series coming out?

We celebrated Easter this year at Pat and Melanie's new house in Simi Valley. Cozy and cute, they've done a tremendous amount of work on the two houses here- a one bedroom they have up for rent, and a two bedroom that Pat uses for it's proximity to work.





Mom is enjoying "Single ladies" video courtesy of Losiah and family!





Sean and Joseph got right to bonding with each other after not seeing each other for so long due to hectic schedules!





And the games continued inside with Jackie and Lucas battling it out!





John enjoying the cool weather on the deck with Tom and Aunt Dorothy and Pat and Melanie's new puppy.





That was nice of Pat and Nolan to start a fire to keep us warm out here! Behind the fire pit is the dry stream bed fed by a steep waterfall when the rains come. Right out of view is a very cute little bridge that crosses the stream to the driveway. We thought we were in trouble when the Sheriff drove by, no, kept going. Even Pat's neighbor was fire friendly, showed us where the best wood was and even donated some old patio chairs to burn!





First time I made Cinnamon rolls and they were a hit!

A very nice Easter indeed!

It all started with my desire to get organized for starting my taxes.
So into my office and I unload my file of years old files. Out came the shredder, the recycle can and before I knew it I had unloaded about 3-4 trash bags full. Where did I have the room for all that??
Well, that felt great, so I figured "why not paint?" And so I did, the whole room got a fresh coat. Then, some of the wood bookcases looked a bit tired next to the fresh paint. I refinished the bookcases with the fresh coat of stain. Well, now the pictures, the diplomas,
the certificates needed a home. Along with a new calendar and message/cork board, I had the wall project I had been trying to finish for so long (just in time before new diplomas come home) And, of course, a new clock found its way into my new office.
So, now I should be ready to attack those taxes!

But no. . .





my bedroom closet beckoned to me. . . and I could not resist. Years of accumulated clothes, shoes, purses came out of hiding, got weeded through and packed up.












I filled up 5 bags and hauled them off to the Good Will.














Even Terry got Spring Cleaning Fever. He had this week off for spring break and invited me out to help refinish the deck.
He swept and washed. Then I applied stain while he rewired the lighting that needed redoing.
Got to admit, it looks a lot better.

Now after this post, I'll get to those taxes. . .