It kept me busy as a child...

Do you ever see an image and it sends you down memory lane? Back in the 70's, when I was a kid, I didn't have my own pool, video games and a mom who didn't work. My friends and I had to make our own fun. When I saw this picture, it brought back memories of how we used to run through the sprinkler and then lay on the hot cement sidewalk. We would then pop up and see our body's shape in water on the cement. I can feel the hot cement when I think of this.
We used to ride our bikes everywhere. My mom worked at K-mart and in the same parking lot was Thrifty drug store. We would get triple scoops of ice-creams like this for 25 cents.

Whenever we needed any money, we would collect all the bottles we could find and take them in the wagon to the liquor store and turn them in for on the spot cash. $2-$3 went a long way back then.

I had a portable record player and I would go into my room and play

Donny Osmond records while reading Tiger Beat. I would take the posters out of the center and hang them on my closet doors.

There was a 7 eleven behind our neighborhood. I would have to climb a block wall to get to it. I couldn't wait each month to get the new one. We never had magazine subscriptions at our house.

I used to collect these horse figurines. I had at least 30 different kinds of them. I don't know exactly when I got rid of them. I think when I entered high school and we moved to a new house. My mom didn't put the shelves back up so the horses never made it to the new house. They went the way of my Holly Hobby bedding and canopy bed.

I collected everything that had anything to do with Barbie. She still has a soft spot in my heart. I loved Barbie. I would spend hours with my girl friends setting up all the stuff and dressing her in different outfits.

I had a really cool set of purple click clacks.

On summer days when my mom was at work and I was bored, I would ride my bike to TG&Y and buy material and patterns to sew or workbooks to occupy my time. Fun stuff in that store.

I remember going to Foster's Freeze with my uncle when he would come and visit. I loved their sundaes or ice-cream cones dipped in chocolate.

Thanks for indulging me in some of my childhood memories. I'm sure you have some of the same or they maybe triggered some of yours.

Pi Beta Phi Pref

Pref night is the last night in a week long process of girls choosing a sorority and a sorority choosing girls. The girls have narrowed it down to two sororities after being picked earlier to join said sororities. So Pref night is a night to impress. This night Katie was Chair of the event. Pi Phi sisters are angels, so the theme was heaven. Usually Pref night is done in all black, but this time ivory and pink where the colors of the night. Katie hung 36 tablecloths along the walls on the dining room. Lights and tulle were strung and draped throughout by Katie (her hands ached from use of the staple gun). I made flower arrangements and a number of girls worked on the back patio. Nikki, the Vice President of Events worked tirelessly throughout the week to put this whole week together.
Trips to four Costcos yielded enough flowers to make arrangements (this is what I did for 4 of the 5 hours).

The back patio had cute little crystal chandeliers, paper lanterns, and lights. It's gonna look wonderful at night!

Center table was changed and out and replaced with this one. Looked better. As the girls entered this room, they received halos (baby's breath garlands for the hair).

One of the girls made these letters as we were decorating. They turned out so cute.

This was a week long process. Every night the sorority was decorated different with the girls having similar but not matching outfits to meet the all the new girls. They made cookies, sang songs, danced, and attempted to woo new recruits. Thanks to Katie and Nikki and the many other girls who helped create this heavenly paradise. We finished 10 minutes before the first group of new recruits were to arrive so I didn't have time to get any pictures of the girls. I was hustled out the back door with my supplies!

Annual Halloween Opening At Roger's Gardens

My friend Cynthia and I headed over to Roger's Gardens, invitation only, Halloween opening night. The theme was Fun and Gaems Toy Factory. All pictures were taken by Cynthia. I usually just follow her around and take pictures of whatever she takes pictures of, but today I just decided to use hers and give her the credit due. The toy factory is like It's a Small World in Disneyland only black and sinister.
These sculptures were fun. The place was way too crowded to really enjoy what you were seeing. I couldn't even shop because people were bumping and pushing you. Why do people insist on bringing strollers and small children to these kinds of events? The space is so tight. Worth the price of a baby sitter or taking turns waiting outside while spouse/friend is inside.

The ceiling had these big gears filled with spider webs and spiders and rats. Very effective

These carved wooden statues were great.

This mass of dolls are painted black were really creepy.

Very cute, vintage Kewpie Doll.

You can't tell by the picture, but this coocoo clock is about 3 feet tall.

I loved the glittery spider web over the mirror.

And finally the jeweled pumpkin. Easy do it yourself project. There were many other cute little things, but no room to photograph and enjoy them.

Happy Birthday, Handsome Husband!

We celebrated the Handsome Husband's birthday with our good friends at a restaurant called Mozambique in Laguna Flats. We had a great time! Bob is seen here in a new shirt the little girls got him. Alyssa gave him the wii fit and I gave him a new golf club.

Tom and Karen Caulfield

Shawn and Marlene Garland

Us

College Move in Day

I have to commend CSUF for the great job they did organizing move in day. We got free carts to unload our cars with and parking close to the dorms. The dorms are new and are in a green, serene, setting. I wish I had more pictures of the whole place, but I forgot my camera in the morning and Katie took these pics for me when she went back that night because she forgot her keys.

The kitchen

Delaney's bed. It was so hard finding non-teen, wild bedding. This is so Delaney.

Luckily, she is not a clothes horse. Basics for her.

More pictures have been ordered for the bullentin board. The desk is the only other piece of furniture in the room.

The living room. On the other side of those curtains they have a huge balcony. Like 15x5.

The bathroom that two girls will share. There is another bathroom that is a little bigger next to the living room.

I can't believe my baby is 24 - Happy Birthday, Alyssa!

We started off with a tablescape reminiscent of her favorite island in Italy, Capri.

Her favorite color for a long time, has been yellow.

No birthday is complete without presents.

Katie and Delaney gave her this dress and necklace.

Barbara and Floyd gave her a new watch and a beautiful cuff bracelet and a cooking class.

She received this dress from us along with some make-up and nailpolish.

We then played "Celebrity". Some of the funniest moments were when Greg said "He's made of bacon" when describing Porky Pig and when Barbara was describing a super model, Tommy said "Giselle Bunchen" is a Joey "how you doing" voice. We were dying.

No birthday would be complete without a trip down memory lane.

1 yr. old

4 years old

3rd grade, 8 or 9

12 years old

16 years old

23 years old

WE LOVE YOU!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!