Emmanuel and Bingwa join us for Christmas dinner

 Christmas is Emmanuel's birthday -- so we sang Happy Birthday and put a candle in our pumpkin pie.

Christmas Visit

Waiting for our table at Taiwans. It's an old Glidden tradition to go out for a very nice Chinese dinner on Christmas eve.  So after the service at Westgate, we headed to Willow Glen for dinner and had a Santa sighting while we waited for our table.

Jeff and Wendy, Shawn, Ashley and the kiddos join us for the week before Christmas

Jeff and Wendy drove up from southern California to join us for Christmas.  What a great time we had! And the excitement of the little ones waiting for Christmas -- playing with the Beanie Babies, and LeapFrog and baby dolls. We had many Ticket to Ride games and not a few Fudge Meltaways.

Kevin had the lights up and our new snowman for the children.

 We went downtown to St. Joseph's for a Celtic Harp concert and a short walk with the Fairmont and Christmas in the Park.

Our Christmas Gift

 Once again, Kevin and I gave each other a little escape to the Sunnyside Lodge at Lake Tahoe for our Christmas gift. This year the weather was overcast and rainy -- but the sun did come out for a while.

 We drove to the top of Mount Rose stopping to look at Lake Tahoe from the Northeast overlook.

 From Mount Rose you can look down into the desert below and see Reno in the distance. It was gorgeous.

 Carson City and Virginia City are visible as well.

Kevin down by the lake at sunset.  We thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast buffet -- I want to order some of that "Fireberry Sauce" they put on their egg souffle. We poked around Truckee and had lunch at the Dragon Fly restaurant -- one of our all-time favorite restaurants. We bought some really great gadgets at the kitchen supply like a cookie dough scooper, hamburger patty maker, egg slicer and water bottle. A great little retreat for us.

Ashley's Senior Banquet

 Ashley has decided to "Go Alum."  After 4 years in Delta Zeta, she has become a DZ Alum.

Brass Christmas Concert at Mt. Hermon

 Marilyn and Aggie, Lucille and Lou, Kevin and I and John and Judy had dinner and then listened to the Tim Zimmerman brass band give an incredible concert.  What a fantastic evening of great food, great fellowship and great music. We all thoroughly enjoyed it!

Sing Along Messiah at California Theater

 Judy invited a few of us to go to the California Theater for a Sing Along Messiah concert.  It was truly spectacular -- a very moving experience.  I think it is the beauty of the music and the Scriptures Handel selected that express the love of God and the hope we have in Jesus that was so meaning for me.

Thanksgiving 2010

 Antonie and Bingwa joined us for Thanksgiving Dinner --

Celebrating Mom in the Desert

Brian invited mom and I down to his house in Palm Desert so that we could celebrate mom's 85th birthday. We had beautiful weather so I got up at sunrise and went on a long walk around the golf course and took photos.

Mom

Mom sitting on the deck at Brian's Palm Desert house.

 Brian, Mom and Luann at Elvis Presley's Honeymoon Hideaway - Palm Springs.  You'll notice that we are sitting in the exact spot that the photo of Elvis and Priscilla was taken -- back in 1962.  It was amazing how "state of the art" luxury in the 60s is really nothing much 50 years later.

 Mom sitting on one of the fun chairs at the Riveria Resort in Palm Springs.

 We celebrated mom's 85th birthday at the Riveria -- pretty nice!

 Brian, Mom and I at the Riveria -- they just spent $75 million renovating the resort. It's a really fun blend of Las Vegas, retro 50s, and modern architecture and furnishings.  The food was fabulous.

 Mom, Brian and I at Brians in July

 Mom with Jordan and Alex and Ginny's mom.

 Mom with Jeff, Micah and Kaia.

 The sunset from mom's living room.

 The farm house where mom grew up.  Grandpa Ettore built the house and barn.  Lynden Washington.

Weekend with the Budds

I had a great weekend with Jeff and Wendy and the kids -- even had a chance to eat some take-out Thai food that was delicious and cheer for Micah (a La Mirada Mariner) at his t-ball game.  Lots of fun. I love the way Kaia is very precise as she tries to say words. They are loving their new kittens, Watson and Crook.