Silly!

I found these pictures when I uploaded the pictures. Don't know when this was, but CRAZY hair S!

Here she is after I gave her a chocolate pretzel. FYI, her body doesn't do well with chocolate. 

The remains of the pretzel 

Thank you, thank you Sam-I-Am!

In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday, the First graders at our school have a Green Eggs and Ham breakfast for them and a guest. It is one of my favorite events.  Besides the breakfast, the Cat in the Hat comes and reads the book Green Eggs and Ham. Plus, each First grader is given a free book and Dr. Seuss hats. It is a great morning.

H and Mom enjoying our green eggs & ham 

H, Maddie and Mr Schiewe as the Cat in the Hat

My Foto Friday or Six Degrees of Seperation

On Wednesday my parents and Hermana Coco, JR's cousin, were at a combined mission meeting.They are serving in neighboring missions. All the missionaries came together to hear Elder L. Tom Perry, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speak. The meeting was wonderful. Plus, they thought it was fun to meet with each other for a few minutes as well. I think Coco was 7 when JR and I were married, so I am sure no one in the group remembered each other from that encounter.

I Had a Birthday, Part 2

For my birthday I asked for tickets to the Harlem Globetrotters. JR wasn't sure he heard right the first time, but I kept asking for tickets for the whole family. The girls weren't very excited. They had no idea what the Globetrotters were and couldn't picture it being as fun as I promised. Despite all of that, JR gave me the present I asked for. I was nervous that this great family memory I was hoping for won't happen, but that was a waste of worry. Everyone loved it!

Here is one of the first baskets of the game

The girls enjoying the show

(E's teeth are blue from the lollipop she ate from our favorite restaurant we went to before the game) 

JR and S loving the experience

H and me all smiles 

We were seated by the International Elite's (the other team) bench. The coach kept yelling at the girls when they cheered. "Little girl go clean your room," "Little girl go do your homework," "Little girl put  your feet down." After encouragement from other adults the girls started yelling back. They loved being able yell back at him. It was a new experience

 This is "Cheese". He was the girls' favorite player. After the game he throw that wrist band to them; a new prize possession of theirs.

"Hi-lite" got pantsed and had a tutu underneath 

What a surprise, the Globetrotters won! 

And a good time was had by all :)

I Had a Birthday, part 1

For my birthday present I received a ticket to go see my parents. So, the next day I headed to the City by the Bay. When I arrived we went to a yummy burrito place. Then, headed to the Oakland Temple to attend a session with the Mandarin branch. It was unique to have to wear headphones to understand the language. I laughed as I looked around the room, most people were wearing headphones. Afterwards, we went to the Visitor Center. One of my favorite sister missionaries, Sister Douglas, that I might on my last trip was working there so it was so fun to see her.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Oakland Temple

The view from the temple overlooking the city as the sun sets.

Sunday, we attended the Filipino ward. I didn't hear one person speaking Tagalog. Then we went to the Mandarin branch. The speakers that day spoke English and it was being translated into Mandarin. All the missionaries serving in that branch right now are from Hong Kong or Mainland China (I think) and all speak English really well.I lucked out. The missionaries are all so cute and energetic. It was great hearing them gush about how much they love my parents.

That afternoon, we headed to Stanford campus to walk around for fun. On the way there I was able to see the San Andres fault, well the big ravine it is located in.

The Stanford Tower

The History building

Typical Stanford architecture- tan stone, red tile roofs, and arches

Dad, Mom, and me (thanks to a nice man walking on campus who offered to take our picture)

Mom and me

That night it was so WINDY. On Monday, due to the weather, we switched our plans and just went to the mall. Then we just chose a Chinese restaurant that my parents thought looked good. I think in the past they never would have gone there it kind of looked like a dive. Turns out we were the only people speaking English in the restaurant. I take that as a sign that is authentic. The food was really yummy!When we thought the weather was better we tried to go to the beach access by their house, but..

this is what we looked like. Still too windy!

Instead, we headed to The Cliff House for dessert. It is at the base of Golden Gate park and overlooks the water. It has a great view, plus windows to protect us from the wind.

Mom and Dad just outside The Cliff House

Dad and me at The Cliff House. Good thing I threw in that coat and scarf last minute.

Right after this, my parents dropped me off at the airport. When I got off the plane there were 4 darling girls and one handsome husband waiting just passed security to give me tons of hugs and kisses. It was wonderful!

Love At the Chimney

In honor of Valentine's day, here is a real life love story. This is about JR's old P.E. teacher/baseball coach. I heard this story straight from him, but borrowed the LaGrange Patch write up.

"Paul Franson had never attended a high school reunion in the 35 years since he graduated from Lyons Township High School. So he initially disregarded the invitation for last year's gathering for the Class of 1975.
One of Franson's co-workers, a former classmate at LT, asked if he was planning on attending. He said he was hesitant. At first he thought, "Why should I?"
In the end, he said something made him reconsider.
A couple of days before the party, he asked his co-worker if she would accompany him.
On their way to the reunion, they talked about who they were looking forward to seeing and who they were afraid to see.
“I said I was looking forward to seeing any and everyone, since this was the first reunion I was attending," Franson said. "As for being afraid to see someone, it was Mickey Gervase. We had broken up when we were both in college and it did not end well. I have felt badly about it all these years.”
As they approached the check-in table, guess who was seated front and center.
It was none other than Mickey Gervase. Unlike Paul, she had attended every gathering. She was co-chairwoman of the reunion committee.
The two greeted one another and laughed a bit. But as the evening wore on, Franson said he sought her out to apologize. Gervase was gracious and they talked about old times.
After a few weeks, Paul decided to call and invite her to dinner. Mickey agreed and revealed to him that she had kept some of her diaries and photo albums, as well as a few of Franson's letters to her, tied together with a string.
“Though many had been drenched in floods, I still hung onto some of the pages,” said Gervase.
Franson worked for the La Grange Park District during his years in high school, as well as during summers home from college. During that time, one of his jobs had been to cover a fence at Gordon Park with silver aluminum paint. Franson and Gervase were dating in 1977, after Gervase had asked him to go with her to a wedding. Paul thought she was the "greatest."
In fact, he thought she was so great he decided to paint, "Mickey Gervase is the greatest," on the side of a chimney on the old maintenance building in Gordon Park with some of the Park District's silver paint.
After talking to Mickey about it, Franson said he decided to go to Gordon Park to see if his artwork was still there.
“It stood the test of time!” said Franson. His words were still painted on the chimney.
Their love for one another also stood the test of time. As they rekindled their courtship last October, Franson had it in his mind that he would propose to Gervase by writing once again on one of the bricks. He took her up once again to the chimney, using the same ladder he did in 1977. He proposed and she said (and wrote) “yes.”
They got engaged and were immediately bombarded with questions from both sides of the family about the wedding date. Gervase's sister had also gotten engaged just five days later, and the family decided to hold an engagement party to celebrate both.
The party was scheduled for Sunday, July 17.
Two days before, on July 15, Franson suddenly asked his finance, “Do you want to get married on Sunday?”
Gervase gulped and said, “Sure.”
They got their marriage license on the Friday before their engagement party. Gervase found a dress and shoes and they got Paul a ring on Saturday. They decided on a surprise announcement at the engagement party. When they got there on Sunday, they hid their wedding clothes and at first didn't say a word about their wedding plan.
As the day wore on, the newly engaged couple stood before their families and told them the exciting news.
So, at 5:30 p.m. on July 17, the troupe of 33 people, along with the pastor from Franson's church, went to the wedding ceremony—located at the chimney!
That was when someone called the La Grange police to report a disturbance at the old building at Gordon Park. Police arrived, but when the couple explained what was happening, the officers decided to leave them alone.
The wedding party and guests returned to the engagement party, no arrests having been made, for dessert. By that point, it had turned into a wedding reception.
The happy couple plans to stand the test of time as well as the messages they painted on the chimney in Gordon Park.
Now, that's one police blotter report with a fairy tale ending!"

Happy Birthday to Two of Our Favorite People

Last week was JR's Grandpa's birthday and this week is his Grandma's. We love them and are so happy they are part of our lives. They are an example of kindness and hardwork. If JR and I can turn out to be half the people they are we will be wonderful.

Grandpa and Grandma Z with R in Sun Valley

The Big Z 

Grandpa, Grandma, all the girls we had at the time.