Three Ballerina Babes

Grandma Suzanne 1963...................Kristine 1989....................Anna 2011

My mother drove from Anaheim to Fullerton sometimes three days a week to take me to the ballet studio of Lois Ellyn,
who was a soloist for the New York City Ballet. Grandma would stay in the waiting room and knit while I danced, watching me through the glass sliding doors.

Kristine grew up in Fullerton and also
studied under Lois Ellyn. Kristine participated in her performing group, the Nouveau Chamber Ballet.

Anna lives in Arizona and has started ballet training there, the third generation of little girls interested in ballet.
If Anna lived in Fullerton, she could also study with Lois Ellyn who is, amazingly, still teaching today.

Princesses and Pirates for Birthday #2

 We are still smiling about the great weekend we had in Santa Paula to celebrate Bethany and Isaac's Birthday #2.  Jared and I got to dress up twice--once for the Princess and Pirate Party, then again for church on Sunday. Different outfits.

Bethany was decked out head to toe, but quite willing to share her treasures with the pirates.

Grandpa Lee in full regalia kept one eye on his little mate.

There was a satisfactory exchange of  goods!  

                          

                                     Grandpa introduced Isaac to a pirate's bounty...

...of one kind and another.

Power tools! Oh, yeah.

Palm Springs Christmas 2011

What a fantastic "bonus year" we had at Christmas when so many of the kids could stay with us in California. We decided to try Palm Springs this year, instead of Newport Beach, 

and explored the Marriott Shadow Ridge Enclaves. 

Somehow, we pretty much had the pools in this area to ourselves.

Lulled by the warm water into a moment of calm relaxation poolside. 

 I think we all felt pretty much the way Isaac looks. Flying high on this beautiful Palm Springs morning, elated!

 Luke must think Christmas is a beach. And probably the cousins would agree!

The beach entry pool was just right for water play with Anna, Scott, Isaac, and Bethany.

One evening while we were there, Grandpa Jared led us in a family home evening and then we opened presents early. I must have been busy just enjoying the scene and don't have photos to share, but my heart took a picture.  Just want to say thanks, again, to each of you for the wonderful memories. 

California Sunshine

During the summer, we visited at Grandma Dot's and enjoyed some fun in the sun.
Now that Brian's working in Indiana and away this Thanksgiving weekend,
it's good to look back and remember some recent family activities.

Happy Birthday #5, Olivia

Florence and Pisa

You may think you are looking at a hillside scene of Santa Paula, but it's  Italy.

The art and architecture were amazing,  and it seemed incongruous for people to try and go about the daily business of living while surrounded by such intricate beauty. Like any good tourist, I often just stood in the street, gaping.

Rome in a Day

Bernini's baldacchino over the papal altar in St. Peter's Basilica

Kept behind glass, the only signed sculpture by Michelangelo, Pieta.

Guards in Vatican City

At St.Peter's Square early in the morning  with a tour group from the cruise, our entrance into the basilica was expedited and we got to skip the long lines other tourists endured

Triumphal Arch

It had a full ceiling that could be drawn into place on riggings like ship's sails.

I was surprised that the arched walkways inside the Colosseum were so vast.

The floor could be flooded above the heads of the the gladiators, lions, prisoners, etc.,  in basement quarters. 

Dad threw three coins into Trevi fountain...Hmm.

A location thick with pickpockets, people slowly jostled their way down the steps for their turn to get close enough to the fountain water to toss in a coin, or two, or three and make a wish. 

The Pantheon, 1800 years old, commissioned by Marcus Agrippa, was a temple to all the Gods of Ancient Rome