Happy Birthday Tom

Laina decorated this cake for her dad!

Springtime in Iowa!

Meet Abby and Emma

Abby and Emma are wooden dolls that you dress with magnetic clothes. Laina and I spent about an hour on Saturday morning dressing the dolls and taking them to the fair, music class, gymnastics, the water park and the mall. They, of course, had to have a different outfit for every outing. We did this while mom and dad were house hunting. Where or where is the perfect house at the perfect price, in the perfect neighborhood that has the perfect elementary school?

I told Laina that I didn't think Abby's green pants matched with her sweater but Laina said "Grandma, its my decision!" So that was the end of that discussion!

Slumber Party

Last Saturday Laina spent the night while her mom and dad went to the movie. She and her mom traded personal items in case they got lonely for one another they could "hold on" to their traded item. Laina gave Terri her black and gold "hawkeye" hair clip and Terri gave Laina the necklace she has on below.

Irish Brew

This was the drink we served at our St. Patrick Day's Party. It was a big hit and we ran out about an hour into the party. We used dry ice and it made the drink a little slushy which everybody liked. The recipe:
1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey
1 oz peach schnapps
2 oz orange juice
5 oz ginger ale
If you want to make a punch bowl like I did take all ingredients X 20.

Soup Supper

We were invited to a "Soup Supper" at our church hosted by our Pastor. There were about 30 people that attended and we each got to pick a bowl to eat out of and then it was ours to take home! I chose the bowl on the right and Barry those the bowl on the left.

Stylin' Girl!

Laina gets to choose her own outfits everyday now and she usually ends up looking something like this.

Laina also got to pick out her new tennis shoes!

Spring Break Update: The Grand Canyon

Spring Break in Arizona

Bridget is having fun on spring break in Arizona. This is a picture her friend Jeremy sent to me. He is a pilot instructor in Arizona. He says this is an FA-18 Hornet. Laina was so sad that Bridget did not eat dinner with us at Atlas Saturday night. When I told her that Bridget couldn't come because she was in Arizona--she thought a minute and said " but I love her and she's my friend".

Li'l Cosmetologist

Laina practiced her cosmetology skills on Sarah, Bridget and Terri and here's the result.

And here is the cosmetologist posing with her clients wearing her Hannah Montana pajama's.

Twirling Ballerina

We bought this dress up costume at a big flea market in California for Laina since she likes to dress up so much. Every Saturday and Sunday all year long the College of the Desert in Palm Springs has a huge flea market. It's hard not to buy too much fresh produce there because it is so good and so cheap!

Bird of Paradise

I spotted this Bird of Paradise while shopping yesterday afternoon.

$14 worth of beer!

My dad was appalled to pay $7 for a cup of Fat Tire at the tram station. To makes things worse he bought one for Barry too!

Ascending San Jacinto

We took a tram about 10,000 feet up San Jacinto Mountain. Below are pictures of our adventure.

Rows of windmills down in the valley.

Over looking the Coachella Valley.

We are going down as the above tram is coming up.

Palm Springs California.

A picture of the mountains taken from our patio.

Our home away from home here in Palm Springs.

Our kitchen/dining room area.

Decisions, Decisions!

Oh Laina how we wish you were here.......

You would have so much fun!

Greek Festival

Mom and Dad eating Gyros at a Greek Festival at a Greek Orthodox church in Palm Desert

Greek Festival Entertainment