My Grandma

March 13, 2010 ~ I got a call from my brother that Grandma had passed away. About 15 minutes after being put to bed, the nursing home staff came to check on her and she was gone. Peacefully reunited with Grandpa and my Mom; seeing her Savior face-to-face. 

Here a few pictures I wanted to share.....

May, 2000

Elephant Rock, 1991

Dillard Mill, 1994

Such a cutie :)

Grandpa and Grandma

Grandma, my mom, Grandpa (1947/48)

Me and Grandma, Dec. 2009

I sure miss her and her sweet smile.....

A day at Disney!!

Rachel's trip could only be made complete with a day at Disneyland :)

Rachel and Rodney playing the Mad Hatter :)

Rachel was excited to see Tinkerbell!

The Tea Cups are always a hoot :)

As expected, we had a great day at Disneyland!!

Rachel's visit to Santa Monica Pier

After our day of running around Hollywood, we spent the evening at Santa Monica Pier!

Enjoyed a bite to eat at Bubba Gump's :)

And Rodney made a new friend!!

Rachel got to see the end of Route 66...

And hear her fortune :)

I love the ferris wheel at night...

I believe Rachel enjoyed Santa Monica Pier!!

But, tomorrow was going to be another exciting day..... at Disneyland!!!

Rachel's Visit to Hollywood

After our visit to the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum, we headed to Hollywood Blvd!!

The star of Kermit the Frog!!

Never know who you're going to see along Hollywood Blvd. :)

After exploring the blvd, we headed over to Santa Monica Pier for the evening....

Rachel's Spring Break Visit

March, 2010 ~ Rachel decided she needed to make another trip out for part of her Spring Break.... Of course we told her to bring herself on out!!! Her request for this trip was LA!! So, we made an overnight visit to see Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, and of course, Disneyland!!

Our first stop in the Hollywood area was the La Brea Tar Pits~

Pictures of the bubbling sludge....

It's wild how that sludge just works its way up through the ground where ever..... It's not hot like you might think, but boy does it get everywhere if you get it on you!!

Rachel getting cozy with a sludgy nosed sloth :)

Inside the Page Museum they have displays of remains salvaged from the tar pits. They have found many Columbian mammoths...

As well as other (some extinct) animals...

It is a very fascinating place, if you ever have a chance to visit!!

When we finished there, we headed to Hollywood Blvd!!!

Birch Aquarium

February, 2010 ~ For my birthday we took an outing to Birch Aquarium....

Quite the ocean view from there!!

I played with some starfish!

And Rodney played with the pressed penny machine :)

Happy 2010!!

This post is being written in REAL TIME-- It really is July 20, 2010! I am so excited that I have actuallly reached the current year :) I do believe I will truly have our story up-to-date before we begin our Navy Life ~ Chapter 3!!

As things stand right now, we have completed our Overseas Health Screening (I just need to get the H1N1 vaccine.) and our Gov't passports are being processed. Now its just arranging the pack out. I cannot express how much I do NOT miss having to do the actual packing and moving!!!

I hope you've been enjoying our story and continue to follow along as we get ready for a new adventure living on a tropical island!!

Merry Christmas ~ 2009

We had decided that since this was our last Christmas in the states for a time, we were due to go "home for Christmas"! Especially when we realized the last time Rodney was home for Christmas was 2004!

A few family snapshots

Breakfast at Hemingway's in Bass Pro

(Rachel got a kick out of Rodney's plate of OJ!!)

SNOW!!

A white Christmas morning :)

Truman made sure we weren't going to pack up and leave him behind :)