Visit from nana & pop-pop

Nana and pop-pop came into town for a visit through the holiday's. It just so happens that their anniversary and nana's birthday are just 2 days after Christmas, so a celebration was in order.

Christmas 2006

Enjoying hot cocoa over at the Johnson's house

Nothing better in the world than to have family close for the holiday's. As the years go by and the children grow up I know this will be harder and harder to achieve, so it's nice to enjoy it while we can!....Be sure to check out our family homepage for all of this years updates in our newsletter.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Best Burger ever!

Had to include this as one of the higlights of our year; Nessy Burgers (http://goodeatsusa.com/NessyBurger.html)

Lion King

Thanks to some good pre-planning with our friend's the Bladh's, we booked tickets for this fall performance of THE LION KING. It was Heidi's first "play" and she loved this. With any busy day, however, a cat nap is absolutely necessary!

Thanksgiving

Lots to be thankful for in the Boyer home. Children are all flourishing in their schoolwork, everyone is healthy, and we all got to be together for a holiday! Annie and family, and Joe's sister and her family joined us for a bountiful feast. AMEN

We were also treated to a tap dance festival starring Tia Jen (holding "jooj)

November at the Beach

One of many pods of dolphins we see frolicking up and down the coast!

So can it be any more wonderful, than to spend a warm day at the beach?....in November??? Yeah California is in all it's glory this time of the year! We rarely reveal it to the tourist's. It'll just be our "little secret". ok? See you at 9th street!

Halloween '06

No Halloween is complete without nana Ludden's fall stew. It's fun to share it with the next generation, where it's become an annual tradition! And then of course there is the real fun of having your granddaughter so excited that she can go to people's homes and knock on their doors and have them give you bags full of candy. This is joy!

Crab Cooker

Our favorite family dining spot when we're down in Newport Beach--The Crab Cooker (http://www.crabcooker.com/)

Beauty around SO CALIF

Sometimes California can display incredible beauty! These wild flowers are agreat example. This day was clear and warm with blue skies and great mountain views. A wonderful time to be out in nature.

Apple picking fun

This is our annual trip to Oak Glen apple orchards, up in the beautiful high country of San Bernardino. Our favorite stops are the barn store at Parrish Pioneer Ranch (http://www.parrishranch.com/_ then a trip over to Snow-Line (http://www.snow-line.com/) to pick up my favorite apple (McIntosh). Our favorite place ot eat is Apple Annies (http://www.oaktree-village.com/id28.html) for their delicious peasant lunch and large apple pie slice! Yummmmmm Last stop usually Riley's Ranch (http://rileysfarm.com/cherry_details.htm) where there are early America re-enactments and fun trails around the moutainside.

Mary Poppins and Bert

Well for some reason Heidi had been on a Mary Poppins movie jag, and who do we happen to run into at Disneyland this day...but Mary Poppins and Bert ( or is it Burt?-oh well)--pretty fortuitous wouldn't you say? At first she was so brave and called out to them and waved, but when we went to approach them she clammed up! We went for the photo-op anyway!

Also DISNEY went Halloween wild and the whole park was decorated to the hilt with pumpkins everywhere! Way cool.

Los Angeles County Fair'06

We have gone to the LA county fair for years, and as much fun as it was with my kids---it's even more fun with my granddaughter! Here we are enjoying the barnyard animals and Heidi's first pony ride. We were worried that she would be a little intimidated, but if you look at her face you can actually see disappointment! She kept yelling and kicking her pony and saying, "faster, faster". YIKES! (http://www.lacountyfair.com/2007/homepage.asp)

Also there's nothing better on a hot September day than the best ice cream the county offers. And it's written all over her face!

For the best ice cream experience head to Firview farms and just opposite the dairy milking barn it Dr. Bob's Ice Cream Manufacturing Plant or visit their website at: http://www.drbobsicecream.com/

Rattle Snake

Yuck! look what we found lurking under our front doorsill!!!

I managed to de-capitate it with a shovel, and it continued to writhe around for quite some time before we scooped it into a plastic bag to show Ken when he got home. SCAREY!!!!

Cousins

One good thing about funerals is the opportunity to reunite families. And with us living on opposite coasts it was a real treat to get together with our Tate and Bruffy cousins. Thanks to Timmy who found us a hotel that was close and convenient, and to the wonderful hosptality we got from Robin and Michelle, and Kathy, as well as our cousins Tommy, Irene and Debbie.