My most awesome husband Jerry and I used to take our kids to the lake several times a week during the summer. On the weekends Lake Mission Viejo would be wall to wall kids and their parents, all looking for a few hours of fun. We would stake out our little piece of sand, sit back in our collapsable chairs and set the boys free!

Jason loved the water, his boogie board, and most of all making sand castles. He would spend hours playing at the lake, leaving me with wonderful memories of watching him so deep in his creative world.

Matt loved both the water and his sand creations, I think most of all though he loved being in the water with his boogie board. I’ll always remember his joyfullness while playing there.

Jill, her husband Steve, and their 2 boys Patrick & Alex used to join us at the Lake. They’ve all grown up to be such handsome guys and this photo is one that brings all those youthfull times back as if were yesterday.

Now the crying kids at the beach aren’t ours. The sand throwing, the screams, the laughter, even the kids rolling down the grassy hill are all distant memories for Jill and I. Instead we try to tune that out, and when that doesn’t work, we just move further down the beach, where there are no small footprints in the sand and our thoughts can linger for just a while longer on relaxation. ahhhh…….

L to R -Lauren (Greg and Doreen’s youngest daughter), Doreen (Greg’s kind and funny wife!), Sylvia (John’s super sweet wife), Aunt Lou (smart and big of heart), me (looking chunky and older than I’d like), and Amy (John and Sylvia’s daughter).

Following an awesome feast and visit with my family in San Diego, Jerry, Matt, and I headed back to Mission Viejo, where Matt collected Ms Yuki who been waiting patiently for our return, and headed back to his place. Once Matt and Ms Yuki were on their way home Jerry and I headed over to our long time friends Steve and Jill. A delicious dinner was enjoyed at their house, followed by a small celebration for their youngest son Alex’s 22nd birthday!

It’s hard to believe Alex is 22 years old. Jill, Steve, Jerry and I have been celebrating our children’s birthday’s together since Alex and Patrick were wee little folk! Up next for a birthday celebration? Matt in June, who will turn 28! Yikes!

It’s been almost 2 years since my dear friend Pauline has come out from Illinois to California, and a year to the month since Valerie was out here with her father. Both times were related to Valerie and boyfriend Roni’s desire to move to this area, and after a long year full of anticipation Valerie and Roni dreams have come true. Roni is transfering out with his job from Bloomington, IL to Irvine, CA. Valerie will probably transfer within her job as well. So, once again, Pauline and Valerie drove across the states in 2 days and arrived ready to accomplish their goal, to find an apartment for Val and Roni. It was also a great excuse for Pauline and Patty to see each other once again.

As always, Pauline and Valerie looked so pretty, and I was so excited to see each of them. So to honor the time we were going to spend with each other I had my awesome hubby, Jerry, take photos of us. We started out wanting to critique each photo after Jerry took them.

As time went by we got a bit goofy, lightened up a little, and having some usual fun times together. Most of it was caught on Jerry’s camera.

And as usual Pauline and I were giggling and having a bit of fun. Doesn’t Pauline look cute when she thinks she’s gotten away with a little something?

We went a bit further and clowned around, being our usual silly selves. Only with a such a wonderful friend can you truly not care (well, mostly not care) how silly you look.

Pauline ended up bringing her laptop which resulted in us having a lot of fun sitting side by side sharing photos, playing FarmVille, and delighting in the fact that we were indeed right next to each other and not chatting on line long distance.

In between Valerie and Pauline’s search for an apartment we enjoyed eating out at Souplantation as well as feasting on Valeries’ home cooked meals. Can that girl cook! umm, umm, umm!

Catching Pauline in a quiet contemplative mood was a treat for me. I’m not sure why you don’t like this photo Pauline, I sure do. So pretty!

Taking a day off from their tasks, Pauline and Valerie enjoyed a long wonderful day at Disneyland. The weather cooperated and they came home with stories and photos. Ahhhhh!

Pauline and Val took me out to lunch at Oami’s, a favorite Sushi place near by. What a treat, such yummy food and a lot of it too. Thank you girls!

Another fun get together and one that could become a tradition, was inviting one of Pauline’s neighbors from way back when she lived here in Mission Viejo, Jill, on the far right, as well as a friend of mine, Karen on the far left, and now friend of Pauline’s. 3 bottles of wine later and we can all say that we had a great time visiting. Ready to do this again whenever you’re back out here Pauline!

Anxious to spend some time with friends she’s made out here in CA, Valerie left our little wine gab fest early. I had to snap a few photos of mom and daughter.

Isn’t she just adorable? Valerie always knows how to put an outfit together, and always looks so stylish!

The 9 days went by too fast, both Pauline and I agreed on that. Knowing it would not be the last time we saw each other again, and anxious to head home to her sweetheart, Pauline and I were able to keep our goodbyes dry eyed. Valerie will be back in about 3 weeks time, bringing with her her boyfriend Roni and a truck load of furniture. If I know her well enough I’m sure she’ll have a big smile on her face too. Love you girls!

Anna King’s mother was Jill, a school teacher and mother of 2 boys, Patrick and Alex, and wife to Steve. Bringing a girl into the family fold was a welcome addition. Anna was well aware she was the only daughter too, she was a smart cookie you see!

Anna loved birthday’s, in fact she loved any occassion where food would be in abundance and the possibility of her getting a handout was a sure thing. She also loved to be in the middle of the action. Anna wasn’t shy about coming up to you while you were in the process of opening a package and start sniffing it, in hopes of figuring out what it was. She was truly interested and figured she had just as much right to be in the middle of the party as the next person! In this photo she is checking out her youngest brother, Alex’s packages.

On occassion the wild animal in Anna King became unleased, and unable to control herself Anna would attack, rip and tear the wrapping paper and work herself into a frenzy as seen here in this still footage photo of Anna King The Beast! Note the wild red eyes!

As mentioned earlier Anna was all about food, and if it was a handout that was even better. She was not too proud to stand directly beside you at the diinner table and stare you straight in the eye. Leave a piece of pie unattended as our son Matt did once and Anna would walk up to it and inhale it faster than you could say “Anna, don’t….”! Yes, this only daughter of Steve and Jill’s had an appetite like a son!

Anna could also be cute, and do cute things. One of those was in true girl fashion. She liked to lay down beside her food and eat. I’m sure if she had a chaise lounge that would have suited her just fine too. Nothing was too good for this girl!

Over the years Steve and Jill had family photos taken with Patrick, Alex and Anna. Anna wasn’t always so sure about being in these photos. Sometimes she’d be real patient, other times not so much.

It could take several tries before they would end up with a decent photo that they could send out with the Christmas cards.

At least Anna kept it fun and entertaining. In this photo our son Matt is taking the photo for Steve and Jill and I am capturing what went down. As you can see from just this one photo Anna wasn’t having anything to do with it at one point!

This is the family portrait used for this year, 2009, sent out with their Christmas cards. Anna’s last year with the family.

You will be missed dear friend. We hope you are with Grandma Bennet now, and enjoying a good visit. It was a real pleasure knowing you. We are certainly better for it, and hope you realize how much you meant to us. See you later girl. Love you.

Mothers Day at Claim Jumper restaurant and good friend Jill and I ordered martini’s. Jill had the house martini, I had the key lime pie martini! Wonderfully delicious, gone in a flash!

Montonoso Recreation Center, the gym where I go to exercise my ole’ body. This is the view from the treadmill/ellipticle room that I often frequent. There are usually a lot of birds around, even a few that have a nest tucked away. Something fun to watch!

We are so thankful for our wonderful friends. For Easter again this year our dear friend Jill worked her heart out in the kitchen, creating an awesome meal we all enjoyed. A big THANK YOU goes out to her for giving this to all of us. It was so wonderful to spend time with them, our extended family, Jill my sister.

Jill and her kids colored Easter eggs too beautiful not to share a photo with. My favorite: front and to the left, the midnight purpleish blue one. Steve and Jill have a pair of baby doves in their front garden bed. So adorable!

One of the delicious dishes Jill made, a Martha Steward Asparagus Tort, set on a beautiful Easter table.

Jill’s Aunt Gin, her mom’s sister, came for the holiday with her son Walt. She had on an awesome charm bracelet, something I am a huge fan of. I loved hearing her stories about her nursing career, as well as the travels she had with her husband. Another wonderful part of our Easter celebration. Thank you Steve and Jill for another great holiday to remember.

Alex got not one but two birthday cakes this year! Happy 21st birthday Alex. We love you!