I am going to miss our neighbors...

The older I get the more I realize how much life is made up of seasons. Some seasons longer than others and some seasons not long enough. Especially when it comes to my neighbors the Bloomquist Family. Our season of living next door to each other has not been long enough. We were blessed to become neighbors in March of 2008 when we all moved on to a street named Stageline Circle. It was friends at first sight! We fell in love with their kids Annika and Max. (Of course we fell in love with Bridgette and AJ too.) They soon added a new arrival of a puppy named "Lola." Annika and Max sure know how to play, play, play. Outdoors and indoors those kids know how to play the healthy old fashioned way. I can't tell you how many hours they would spend last summer just looking for bugs any kind of bugs. They along with other neighbor kids put on the most creative talent shows. They would line up the chairs in the drive way, pass out home-made invitations on our door steps and perform for all of us on the warm summer nights. Some highlights and memories of the things we have enjoyed doing together: Sushi; going to the movies; pedicures; meeting at the pool; celebrating special events in each other's lives i.e. Annika's First Communion; Max losing a tooth; Chase's graduation; unplanned gathering of our lawn chairs out in the middle of the circle; yard sales etc. The Bloomquist family will be missed more than they know. They have touched so many here on Stageline Circle. I am so glad they are not going too far. They are just going from Northern California to Southern California. I look forward to visiting them there and celebrating many more memories. For now I am just planning on saying "See you later." Good bye is not in my vocabulary when it comes to my friends. May God Bless the Bloomquist family with great friends in their new neighbor-hood.

"Happy Father's Day" Dad....

My Dad... He became my Dad on February 7th, 1970 when I was four years old. He stepped in and filled a role that allowed me to never feel like I was a "step daughter." Soon after my mom and dad were married along came my sister "Laura" about nine months later. Dad has always called us #1 and #2. When I call him on the phone he says, "Is this number 1 or number 2?" When I was little Dad was a truck driver. He drove for many long hours each day. Anytime he would call Mom and say he was at a stop near by Mom would pack Sis and I up in the car, pajamas and all so we could go surprise him and bring him coffee and a snack. I remember wanting a puppy for my 13th birthday. A frequent restaurant we would go to was Don Jose's. (still go there) Right next door was a pet store. After dinner one night we wandered over to see all of the puppies. Of course I along with my sister fell in love with a fluffy black and white mutt. Dad's heart melted and he agreed to pay the $40.00 for her! Sis and I were ectastic. We named our little new addition to the family "Agape" which meant God is love. Dad has been a trooper visiting Larry and I and the boys in all the many various places we have lived. At one point there were two occassions where Dad and Mom allowed us to stay with them in-between housing locations. Of which one included us moving in with our dog and all nine of her puppies. Now that's what I call unconditional love. There are so many times Dad just stops and twists his mustache at all the pickles I can seem to get into. I always know when Dad is in deep thought when I call him on the phone and tell him what our plans are and there is a long silence. And I say, "Dad are you still there?" Having a Dad that is slow to speak has been very good for me. He has loved me unconditionally for forty of my forty four years. I am so blessed that he is my "Dad." Thanks Dad for everything! Love, Daughter #1

Two fun days in Monterey, CA

It's always good to get away! For two days no agenda! No where we had to be! We enjoyed being together has a family! The boys'definitly know how to have fun!

Graduation Day arrived...June 4, 2009

What a great day! We had so much fun celebrating Chase's graduation. What a joy! We are truly blessed! It's official Chase is now an alumni of Whitney High!