Henry Cowell Hike

Amelia and I had a great time hiking in Henry Cowell Park with Charles, Chris, Sarah, and our dog, Angel. It was a beautiful warm day...the kind that people in Chicago would pay BIG BUCKS to have right now. Poor Midwesterners and their ice and snow! I felt sorry for everyone that wasn't in Santa Cruz today.

My Grandparents' History Finally Finished!

I have been working on and off (mostly off) for the past 34 years on this history of my grandparents, Ralph and Vivian Porter. With the help of a great genealogist cousin, (Marsha, I love you!) and a wonderful daughter who is a graphic arts genius, (Heather I love you!) this project finally reached publication. I was very, very pleased with the final product.

Grandpa's pride and joy!

Charles is having a great time being grandpa!

Mom and Babe

Sarah and Amelia in a sweet moment.

Heidi's Baby Shower

We had fun hosting a baby shower for Heidi here in Santa Cruz on December 10th. Looks like we caught her eating some refreshments; hot fudge sundaes, mini-cheese cakes, and brownies! YUM!

Expecting a little person soon!

At Thanksgiving, Heidi and Dan had fun with niece Amelia as they are expecting their own little person very soon! Peter will be joining the family in March.

San Jose Ballet Nutcracker experience

Holly was able to volunteer as a lobby character for San Jose Ballet again this year. She has so much fun being Mama Tannenbaum and giving gifts (hidden in the pockets of her big apron) to all the children who come to see the ballet. This is a photo of Curtis, me, and Charles gathered with her before seeing the ballet on one of the nights she volunteered.

Heather's "Thai Food Birthday Party!"

Charles, Curtis, Holly and I went to Goshen on January 15th to celebrate Heather's thirty-something birthday. We had fun making Thai food and chocolate ganache tart together. She even let me borrow one of her UVU Culinary School jackets! I felt so official!

Visit to Uncle Gordon's

Charles and I took a side trip down to Tucson right after Christmas to visit my Uncle Gordon and Aunt Lorraine and cousin Karen. Gordon and Lorraine are doing really well at their age. Gordon said he's 100, but I think he's really only 90.

Inspiring Skies

I can never see a sunrise or sunset without pausing to thank God for making this such a beautiful world for us to see!

Hotel Hesperus Re-visited

The last photo taken of our house when we were there on January 17th.