Miss Money Bags!

Little Miss Money Bags! Chelsea has a project for one of her college finals this week. She wrote a paper on Shopping Addictions and now has to do an oral presentation of her findings on the subject. As part of her presentation she is going to give each of the students in her class "Chelsea Money" to spend as they might! Of course, when she told me her idea I was thinking she'd use a dollar bill...nope, not my baby! She thinks B-I-G! Only a hundred dollar bill would do her justice! ;)

Grandma's Great Adventure

My uncle had this great idea to take Grandma on a bike ride through the Back Bay of Balboa to see the route he takes when he goes on his bike rides. He had previously taken her on a drive in his truck through this area to see his "flowers" that she had to clarify to him were simply "weeds." Well, as if that would ever happen...well, it did! So off we go to rent the bike with Cameron at the helm! Grandma with her oxygen tank and not a hair out of place loaded up, and let the games begin! We even took the bike on the ferry across the Newport Bay!

You can see, there were times we actually had to get out of the bike and push it up the hills...okay, I have to admit, I wasn't helping push it up the hill! It was enough trying to get my incredibly out-of-shape body up the hills, just walking and pushing Richard's bike, since he had to use his muscles to push, all the while the Queen Bee of our family sat on her moving throne.

I have to say, Richard, you had a great idea!! What an incredible family bonding time we had. We laughed our heads off the entire two hours, at least when I was able to breathe I was laughing! So, hats off to Richard for an innovative way to get our family together for a memory that will last a lifetime!!

Thanks to John for always falling back to encourage me when I was huffing and puffing! Thanks to Cameron and his incredible driving skills! There were times I swear he had a hair's width clearance. Thanks to Chelsea for taking over the bike riding and switching with me so I could ride her bike, even at the sacrificing of her cute new shoes while she put her feet down "Fred Flinstone style" trying to slow the bike down. Thanks to Danielle for helping to document the trip too, can't wait to see her pics. Thanks to Matt for offering to revive me with his CPR skills if I were to die of a heart attack! And thanks to Richard for planning the whole event, even handling all the stresses of getting our mottley family together all at the same time and place!!! Oh, yeah, we must thank Grandma, of course, for just giving in to Richard's nagging and going along for the ride! Four generations of laughter and memories!

Day 4-Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Day 4 took us from Branson, Missouri, to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in the Ozark Mountains. We saw the most incredible Passion Play at this outdoor theatre nestled in the woods. There were live donkeys, sheep, horses, camels, and the Passion Play ended with Jesus ascending up into the heavens and disappeared into the trees. It was breath-taking! I sat and sobbed at the portrayal of Christ's crucifixon for the sake of me! The role of the slithering demons reminded me how satan is constantly seeking to destroy us; however, because of Christ's sacrifice, we too will join Him in Heaven some day soon. Also the Christ of the Ozark statue was an incredible sight!

Day 3-Branson, Missouri

Lambert's restaurant-home of the famous "Throwing Hot Rolls." I just about had a heart attack with excitement after seeing this restaurant on the food channel and actually being there in person! As if that wasn't enough...off to the Roy Rogers Dale Evans Museum. I was a freak fan growing up and visiting the museum when it was in Victorville...oh, my goodness...there was the Trigger statue that I saw every chance I got when I was a kid!!!

That night we went to the Pierce Arrow show. We couldn't believe how great the show was! We didn't know it, but the whole group were Christians and openly talked about the blessings of the Lord! There was a commedian that had us rolling in our seats. Good, clean humor! The patriotism was incredible! At one point they had all of the veterans stand for applause...it was such a touching tribute!

Day 2-Pleasant Hill, MO

Day Two of our vacation afforded us the opportunity to attend Pastor Dennis Gulley's church in Pleasant Hill, MO, Open Door Gospel Church. Pastor Roger Nichols came to town to preach along with his wife Roberta, daughter Rebecca, son-in-law Trent, and precious grandbaby Celia, aka "Sugar." What an incredible opportunity to fellowship with the Open Door people and a great blessing for John to get to play with the Nichols Family!

Day 1-Kansas City, Missouri

What a vacation!!! These are a few pictures of our arrival into the great MO! The architecture is simply breath-taking in the downtown area of Kansas City, Missouri! Dennis & Denise took us to their favorite barbecue restaurant. Dennis hasn't been lying to us this past decade when he repeatedly told us how much the barbecue in his neck of the woods! Seriously, John & I had the best meal we've ever eaten upon arrival to the city! Burnt Ends (never heard of them) cheesy potatoes, and baked beans that were actually better than my grandma's! Stuart Hall is the company that should ring a bell as the company that manufactured our lined paper when we grew up in school. The other pictures are of the train station, yes the train station...the ceilings were simply amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Edmonton to Home Depot in Southern California

Pictured at the right, Dustin Penner, a 25-year-old player from the Edmonton Oilers.


Pictured at the right, Cameron Cepek, doing what he does best, fighting in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for the Edmonton Oil Kings.

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They'd seen each other around the rink in Edmonton, seen each other around town when they were out on the town in Edmonton, but at Home Depot in Sunny Southern California!!!??? So, Cameron's at work today and sees Dustin Penner walk in. Of course, being the shy guy he is, he decided to take his chance to say, "Hey." So, Penner was wondering what the heck Cameron was doing down here in Cali of all places, and Cameron explained that he's from here. Of course they got a chuckle about that, as does anybody who is into hockey when it comes to talking about the boys from California trying to make it in the "Show." So they talked about Cameron's career so far in the Western Hockey League and his plans for the future. I'm sure it was just a bit of an inspiration that Cameron can push himself and make it in this hockey career of his and actually afford to live in HB on his own in his off seasons instead of living at Grandma's house!