tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91943604072996822842024-03-05T04:25:53.880-08:00The Life & Adventures of G&G"If you have made mistakes...there is always another chance for you...you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down." -Mary Pickford (1893-1979) American actressgretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-53955767508358107832011-12-29T18:34:00.000-08:002011-12-29T18:34:14.380-08:00Updating<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I still have a blog that is nice to know. It has been a interesting year for lack of a better word. Looking forward to a new year. I am extremely grateful for my friends & family, and for all I have been blessed with. </span>gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-60474637339459755982011-02-15T09:51:00.000-08:002011-02-15T10:09:46.478-08:00Tristan<div>Tristan is my nephew on my husband's side of the family. He will be celebrating his first birthday in March and he is such a funny kid. He took his first steps on Valentine's day. (great timing)I was going through Christmas pictures the other day and I just have to post a few of Tristan.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">New friend.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggf7LRYBG_uEV5BhOTB-nuEWUphCBvZODf0Y-n4MGgaLm98sa6nKFTtfDgVbDscEauSp0piChctNXklk55iJK7eue0pIQgzz9fMbFq-y2ycF0f4Qh1sUqSMtQAJF0kPs2HY73WdxR491M/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggf7LRYBG_uEV5BhOTB-nuEWUphCBvZODf0Y-n4MGgaLm98sa6nKFTtfDgVbDscEauSp0piChctNXklk55iJK7eue0pIQgzz9fMbFq-y2ycF0f4Qh1sUqSMtQAJF0kPs2HY73WdxR491M/s320/IMG_0088.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573978940604691874" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">Toys are tasty.....</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6EIht1Mx61H-70VAzEx75zMFybOlSMfsyPXlQuB0EVkuCixLUl2_hoAKhTeEI72ojSbbcPrWAk0ga5nxxFUUe7aESVPEtBtZYyIFmUyEHj5ga4VgfchKbcLCOoJPOaF3Gvy5QkbcPiA/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6EIht1Mx61H-70VAzEx75zMFybOlSMfsyPXlQuB0EVkuCixLUl2_hoAKhTeEI72ojSbbcPrWAk0ga5nxxFUUe7aESVPEtBtZYyIFmUyEHj5ga4VgfchKbcLCOoJPOaF3Gvy5QkbcPiA/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573978926667940194" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">...so are giraffes...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9CJNZHHxe32ejN5hg9zVrp5fC1u_sqjr-tBoEufgC9SkRZFQ4Z8GARKGc_uQCm2dfcl6aVBDa9XBxuWyfJ_TemZx1LHWNSlXvn3NwgVrICexLM86cFMxXJP7GcY-jbLqwQFOBe6Quso/s1600/IMG_0117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9CJNZHHxe32ejN5hg9zVrp5fC1u_sqjr-tBoEufgC9SkRZFQ4Z8GARKGc_uQCm2dfcl6aVBDa9XBxuWyfJ_TemZx1LHWNSlXvn3NwgVrICexLM86cFMxXJP7GcY-jbLqwQFOBe6Quso/s320/IMG_0117.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573978921961783650" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">...rounding off with kangaroo tasting.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xwIh33hOCCF23cw-F37J67CzDV3rxYnzsOV7SEdBiPOnLQ45nSQ0e9kCvWxMgs8_XpMzqeuabgA-5gdVQX2-LN_vN3s9Ih_wyDV6aNu4oAgkMqaL-6RGMP975P0SWSXSlgiXwruxRc0/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xwIh33hOCCF23cw-F37J67CzDV3rxYnzsOV7SEdBiPOnLQ45nSQ0e9kCvWxMgs8_XpMzqeuabgA-5gdVQX2-LN_vN3s9Ih_wyDV6aNu4oAgkMqaL-6RGMP975P0SWSXSlgiXwruxRc0/s320/IMG_0127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573978912878189058" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">What do you mean there are no more presents to taste?</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HpC_jXRXNeldY6I1f_-CSTNEwBdxQCWIecIuKcyhigg8cLX_CJ9SoV-cukLvxvaRVFCq7V9DuPKl6mq_YQZrcZ_kz-qmooz8Ef381CXSATnFBLQz4glRtzJJBlSJ4BO1JjHabn1LdUM/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HpC_jXRXNeldY6I1f_-CSTNEwBdxQCWIecIuKcyhigg8cLX_CJ9SoV-cukLvxvaRVFCq7V9DuPKl6mq_YQZrcZ_kz-qmooz8Ef381CXSATnFBLQz4glRtzJJBlSJ4BO1JjHabn1LdUM/s320/IMG_0133.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573978908213342114" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div>gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-61391542475472039532011-02-13T20:29:00.000-08:002011-02-13T21:03:48.172-08:00Update<span class="Apple-style-span" >So here it is 2011 and so much happened in 2010. Mainly moving to Yucca Valley. I wasn't too sure I'd like it but it has a rugged beauty. Life is much slower and I am enjoying it. I also love having my own house. I haven't decided which room is going to be painted first. Jeff chose the decor & paint for the entertainment room aka man cave and the rest of the house is mine. I am thinking about staining the kitchen cupboards. I have already picked out a couple of pictures I want to put in the dining area. I do know the white walls need to go. So many rooms, so little money. That's okay we can save up and I will drive Jeff crazy with constantly changing my mind on the design. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" > This month Jeff & I are bird sitting for his mom. I don't know what is going on with the bird but all of the sudden the she doesn't like seem me. She has never had a problem with me before. Katy might see me as competition for Jeff's attention and is jealous, or she might think I am trying to replace Marcia. Who knows? Crazy bird. If we were keeping her longer than a month I would try working with her. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" > I am fairly happy that I am getting organized. I have managed to balance our accounts (yea me!) and am actually keeping up with keeping them balanced. I am almost done getting our tax stuff together so we can get that out of the way. I have discovered it is so worth having an accountant. He works fast and is not too expensive.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" > Speaking of taxes it is so strange that we are in February and I am just barely started thinking about tax season. Last year at this time I was beginning to work crazy overtime. I kind of miss it, then again I must not since I haven't thought about it too much.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" > So here is a new post. Hopefully it won't take me a year to post again.</span></div>gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-40509053164347841142009-11-19T12:34:00.000-08:002009-11-19T12:37:25.877-08:00Dum dee dum dee dumOkay it has been quite awhile since I posted. Anyway life is pretty good. We are getting ready for the insanity that is Christmas, and tonight I am going to the Celtic Woman concert at the Chumash Casino.gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-9352286027539399072009-05-21T16:12:00.000-07:002009-05-21T17:28:25.853-07:00No more excuses<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Okay tax season is over so it is time to update. Life is slowly getting back to normal. Jeff and I celebrated our second anniversary on the 5th. We were going to go to The Huntington, but they are closed on Tuesdays so we went to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library instead. (Aren't we the wild and crazy couple?) That place is so cool!!! I think my favorite part was going into Air Force One. It was overwhelming to stand in that plane and think that I was standing in a place where several presidents, and their wives had stood. Jeff liked Marine One. The view there is so amazing. I can see why President Reagan wanted to be buried there. We also were able to see one of the four remaining copies of The Magna Carta. It is on display at the library until June. It was awesome to see a 850 year old document I learned about in school.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />On our way home we stopped at The Bread Basket to pick up a cake. They made our wedding cake, and our first anniversary cake, so why break tradition? We had pot roast with potatoes, onions, and carrots for dinner and very yummy cake for dessert.<br /><br />It was a wonderful day. I love my husband more and more each day. I am so blessed to have Jeff in my life. He has brought me so much joy, peace, and contentment. I thank God every day for dropping me in his lap.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Hmmm Take a wild guess<br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ur8uxZNSlEJvqhp6fMs5lo4FFFwHd0A2b5vg9FdEg2E_CaJNJEjbrEmKBdfuk2Ub7jmgyK2S-hCiErOj8HpfqtBznUnh3a7IpihBsDGs_-2UkJn-efjcfkxAFeTfQboCnRr4EpdSBdk/s1600-h/Air+Force+One.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ur8uxZNSlEJvqhp6fMs5lo4FFFwHd0A2b5vg9FdEg2E_CaJNJEjbrEmKBdfuk2Ub7jmgyK2S-hCiErOj8HpfqtBznUnh3a7IpihBsDGs_-2UkJn-efjcfkxAFeTfQboCnRr4EpdSBdk/s320/Air+Force+One.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338436659482786386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ur8uxZNSlEJvqhp6fMs5lo4FFFwHd0A2b5vg9FdEg2E_CaJNJEjbrEmKBdfuk2Ub7jmgyK2S-hCiErOj8HpfqtBznUnh3a7IpihBsDGs_-2UkJn-efjcfkxAFeTfQboCnRr4EpdSBdk/s1600-h/Air+Force+One.JPG"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jeff checking out Marine One<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9r6BNQ2Gb68y71dv739Mj9KN0WiIFM069zPBc7rtig94jCKI_MXhw1VJKQisNUyyvbPk9_P2gXPj1rOBc2JvRrJAtMAR219UuNuouLV04JEhTxjzviE4Jl6-MNcZ9g1GFNdwKYLTIAvc/s1600-h/Marine+One.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9r6BNQ2Gb68y71dv739Mj9KN0WiIFM069zPBc7rtig94jCKI_MXhw1VJKQisNUyyvbPk9_P2gXPj1rOBc2JvRrJAtMAR219UuNuouLV04JEhTxjzviE4Jl6-MNcZ9g1GFNdwKYLTIAvc/s320/Marine+One.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338434076244849522" border="0" /></a><br />This is the view from President Reagan's grave<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWSaUm6yjAbof63eMzzRDvWY8mkHwkrrEN5lFY_cjkXHy2pDVMprpgm7IMltyzXwEWkf9UQ6s1pReX83zTJwKi-u0t_BACU164LM9ZWfgVqpf-zIXVMoAwbYnLndaVgtMbjLVFHD6YkE/s1600-h/View+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWSaUm6yjAbof63eMzzRDvWY8mkHwkrrEN5lFY_cjkXHy2pDVMprpgm7IMltyzXwEWkf9UQ6s1pReX83zTJwKi-u0t_BACU164LM9ZWfgVqpf-zIXVMoAwbYnLndaVgtMbjLVFHD6YkE/s320/View+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338434072566001938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5BU8O900U07aMe7lwx61ofB6ku5GgI1qxNKHonDW15YCB5pDVZrh9X_M7oshxYlMDc5xusawp2fNwCfKLpo8arUP0Vvd8MK4C2XdOFb3oYWp6LwiUYYjOP0OYC9h7GPzaC8-INv-aXs/s1600-h/View+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5BU8O900U07aMe7lwx61ofB6ku5GgI1qxNKHonDW15YCB5pDVZrh9X_M7oshxYlMDc5xusawp2fNwCfKLpo8arUP0Vvd8MK4C2XdOFb3oYWp6LwiUYYjOP0OYC9h7GPzaC8-INv-aXs/s320/View+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338434071359405538" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKef_5rGUb8yf08Uvtxzv0TC0_dB6_UuJFz5B1x7Jb2dV9puMJjcVkee9nw-T9TJgFjVO5qlEDt-V9UtsJpxZgqVKaS_45N5MMe6k56s8U831-O2EUMwvTaBprFyCBLqtuGSL1_BIq70/s1600-h/View+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKef_5rGUb8yf08Uvtxzv0TC0_dB6_UuJFz5B1x7Jb2dV9puMJjcVkee9nw-T9TJgFjVO5qlEDt-V9UtsJpxZgqVKaS_45N5MMe6k56s8U831-O2EUMwvTaBprFyCBLqtuGSL1_BIq70/s320/View+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338434067527011826" border="0" /></a><br />Cake Time!!!!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTG6AiRSWoVVBFXET8FXzu6oUS_Zr5wzNwmNFRvHa-dvht4LGsGA6bge2u1exsfXXVO10kFRtlt0D41DSRmVv60MOARGCL-tG74Ng-jYtaPdduKhSpjbEYy1ZvRfQMmTNdc2mfgzXVTQ/s1600-h/Cake.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTG6AiRSWoVVBFXET8FXzu6oUS_Zr5wzNwmNFRvHa-dvht4LGsGA6bge2u1exsfXXVO10kFRtlt0D41DSRmVv60MOARGCL-tG74Ng-jYtaPdduKhSpjbEYy1ZvRfQMmTNdc2mfgzXVTQ/s320/Cake.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338434066607842242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNYW7l-C0RS-M5hp3lUl0UE4Jn6VD90aCV4HCAIpWe8knOaA4PEoKjmzylFvibiYODaOJb695Yd0HmZK3jKVwyUthcmbjST3lsNxJU1d3xLa6atj-0FT8uisPC_mA7KyDKTNZ5_Sc0SI/s1600-h/Cake.JPG"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></a>gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-30641613963390412302009-03-25T21:44:00.000-07:002009-03-25T21:51:25.037-07:00My excuse for not updating my BlogTwo words......TAX SEASON!!!!! Yes it is tax season and I have been working insane overtime. The closer we get to April 15th the more insane work is. So if I survive I will update once it is all over.gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-67857175787157316772009-02-21T17:27:00.000-08:002009-02-21T18:53:37.822-08:00So much for falling out of the treesAs many know I have been bitten by the genealogy bug. I have started a family tree at Ancestry.com, and have been doing research on other websites like FamilySearch.org, or Find A Grave.com. Ancestry has a thing where if somebody wants to contact you about your tree they can do it through the website. Ancestry will send the e-mail to you and you keep your privacy and can choose to ignore or answer them. <br /><br /> Back in June I got a strange e-mail that was written in German. I decided to take a look at it since it came from Ancestry. I was able to translate it with the help of the Internet, and a lady I work with. The person (Ursula) had seen my family tree and asked me if I have any information on Heinrich Kahlsdorf who is my great grandfather. I don't know much about him. I know he came to the U.S. from Germany in 18 something with his brother Hermann, and I suspect like many immigrants of the time when he set foot on American soil he was an American and many of the traditions of the old country were left behind.<br /><br /> We haven't been able to find much information on the Kahlsdorf side of the family. My mother has told my father many times that his family must have fallen out if the trees. We have looked and haven't been able to find anything. Even now it is very difficult and Kahlsdorf is not a common name. I did some research and found that many of the immigrants who came to the United States from Germany left from Hamburg or Bremen. Looking at a map of Germany it is most likely that my grandfather left from Bremen. Unfortunately almost all the records were burned during the bombings in World War II<br /><br /> When I e-mailed Ursula I told her I didn't have much information on Heinrich Kahlsdorf, but what I do have I will happily share. The next day I got a e-mail with an attachment from her. It was a pedigree chart, and it has my great grandfather and his brother on it and the family line goes back to 1759!!! <br /><br /> This is so freaking cool!!!! Finally a link. Not only has my great grandfather's family been found, I also have a cousin in Germany!! It is so amazing! I'm still in shock. <br /><br />Now to find my great grandmother's line. Her maiden name is Meyers. Do you know how many Meyers there are running around?? YIKES!!!!gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-17314033988470424522009-01-12T19:33:00.000-08:002009-01-13T10:16:24.058-08:00Christmas EveOne of my family's traditions is to perform the Nativity Story on Christmas Eve. We pick our parts out of a hat, and then rush about the house putting together our costumes. A big part of the fun is to see who will come up with the most creative costume. One year when my sister Kati was a wise man she grabbed a huge lamp shade off one of the lamps, turned it upside down and used it for a crown. I still think that was the best costume. We laugh about it every Christmas.<br /><br />My father would make his version of apple fritters, we would perform our play, sing Christmas Carols, and beg our parents to open a gift before going to bed.<br /><br />Now that we have grown the traditions continues with the next generation. So of course I have to post the photos from the 2008 Nativity Play. Hope you all like them!!!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Narrator<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mYbjxC1Dubp7ikz7Onk8wyV12RdMOo5dnS-diJGdroFqS-cgg8xG3SnuFP2EPXxBB5MYqlVdnKEfr3EiIyDxESBV7xjq_u0014tpz0LRQwivq9otYem2LJWGl3aqiPIAkl4lDAsLX44/s1600-h/1.JPG"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mYbjxC1Dubp7ikz7Onk8wyV12RdMOo5dnS-diJGdroFqS-cgg8xG3SnuFP2EPXxBB5MYqlVdnKEfr3EiIyDxESBV7xjq_u0014tpz0LRQwivq9otYem2LJWGl3aqiPIAkl4lDAsLX44/s320/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290622250628379314" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Angel Gabriel<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipflkhJr8A9JXOUztx967XlgdnDSjPBtw4-c7uTAVWVl6Nb9w29IYWcLpHZ1a81Czht1k18yQwRRWUVdLM5CLHQIA7m_fIsYDNQxcc8F2EWZUJv11Esylf0Vztc5RUtFtmUQJZo_J9jj8/s1600-h/9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipflkhJr8A9JXOUztx967XlgdnDSjPBtw4-c7uTAVWVl6Nb9w29IYWcLpHZ1a81Czht1k18yQwRRWUVdLM5CLHQIA7m_fIsYDNQxcc8F2EWZUJv11Esylf0Vztc5RUtFtmUQJZo_J9jj8/s320/9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290619726179977266" border="0" /></a><br />Joseph, Mary, & the manger of presents<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JWwpcVwJKiyBV-tXHZA9dfm0wG1aMoAA02pRx9Mq7o1NHbFiHJMalhDk12Exh4PeraI1viCkk8y1nNZFMNRTFzYcZL2TVApTjetmEW6zpTHHYxkZGv4TuKDKadbJBr-m6TNmnlCAUeY/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JWwpcVwJKiyBV-tXHZA9dfm0wG1aMoAA02pRx9Mq7o1NHbFiHJMalhDk12Exh4PeraI1viCkk8y1nNZFMNRTFzYcZL2TVApTjetmEW6zpTHHYxkZGv4TuKDKadbJBr-m6TNmnlCAUeY/s320/3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290619723449819986" border="0" /></a><br />Our adorable shepherd & his sheep Horton<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7TGtOcy2XPz1zXBdZLW-_7EADCAV8Ao0NALRC0xZjmhyphenhyphenXf0R3KQT2W9k0Kcqaxnp0A75KO9lUzaBSQ0m1JFRPuBgAgJAWKsJ4y9Ic_t78C9_4ywVa5nz1H6eLB2D27PUCFZ4NJoV9qk/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7TGtOcy2XPz1zXBdZLW-_7EADCAV8Ao0NALRC0xZjmhyphenhyphenXf0R3KQT2W9k0Kcqaxnp0A75KO9lUzaBSQ0m1JFRPuBgAgJAWKsJ4y9Ic_t78C9_4ywVa5nz1H6eLB2D27PUCFZ4NJoV9qk/s320/4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290619718317823362" border="0" /></a><br />The three Wise Men<br />(more like wise guys!)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3WtjeosJsb87VEQWoLE8LzFC4qHMW9fHMa5NnhRfwFRytkAhqiukM9WhAvCJhVxfHTzxIVXdVz5Dn2uOVOS42V0z72Hr8NNs7IFJHuvw2pU82oLfvFW_7K1g8x00q7ZvcbnYD-QZSy0/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3WtjeosJsb87VEQWoLE8LzFC4qHMW9fHMa5NnhRfwFRytkAhqiukM9WhAvCJhVxfHTzxIVXdVz5Dn2uOVOS42V0z72Hr8NNs7IFJHuvw2pU82oLfvFW_7K1g8x00q7ZvcbnYD-QZSy0/s320/5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290619072568929474" border="0" /></a><br />King Herod<br />(He is wearing his Grim Reaper cloak from Halloween)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NhrJdLUenxt55v68yjbMQ0UeU5-s08p88K4nLd2R1Nm5dI_VRFQV8EWjR1pt5430BRnWUM4_x8m7iRXEikYB33TZg5nBjcuOI9naJ2jIbzD2fZVilcbkAyifXNyCR55YK2bST0XB9wI/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NhrJdLUenxt55v68yjbMQ0UeU5-s08p88K4nLd2R1Nm5dI_VRFQV8EWjR1pt5430BRnWUM4_x8m7iRXEikYB33TZg5nBjcuOI9naJ2jIbzD2fZVilcbkAyifXNyCR55YK2bST0XB9wI/s320/6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290619065179677698" border="0" /></a><br />One of the Wise Men was also the accompanist<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02spuEorA8xpV6VXzAgiKc13Oagc5mrHv0DeA6IolUz4M4pmiUiC7G1LeS58u6INt-0LU4YWAwM6jD0emt56_btrlhLwmJKEDlyELnjrfw0azmre9j-0D_qLOMfDk5sKPqYjepNZaxRk/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02spuEorA8xpV6VXzAgiKc13Oagc5mrHv0DeA6IolUz4M4pmiUiC7G1LeS58u6INt-0LU4YWAwM6jD0emt56_btrlhLwmJKEDlyELnjrfw0azmre9j-0D_qLOMfDk5sKPqYjepNZaxRk/s320/8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290619065568840674" border="0" /></a><br />Our cast photo - Yikes!!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gH5keHQSb1S3YJwZcg80u3bq-XYGFOgjEAOsGCzB_Oq-VzNmRuz_0cS78u-GauWzgDWo7xJgCsamCf7hM_YFM3sQ_UUWYMpD9Di34pXCxOWCOvUXrgGUUebn01T2uqSk-3m4ooMUo7g/s1600-h/Cast.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gH5keHQSb1S3YJwZcg80u3bq-XYGFOgjEAOsGCzB_Oq-VzNmRuz_0cS78u-GauWzgDWo7xJgCsamCf7hM_YFM3sQ_UUWYMpD9Di34pXCxOWCOvUXrgGUUebn01T2uqSk-3m4ooMUo7g/s320/Cast.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290619062236728226" border="0" /></a>This picture could be the Christmas Card for 2009<br /></div>gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-78686920272941275012009-01-11T19:13:00.001-08:002009-01-11T21:39:30.684-08:00Something one should know about one's spouse BEFORE one marries them:Like the brand and model of their first car. Yes I know it is shallow but I may have had second thoughts about marrying Jeff <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">IF</span> I knew his first car was a <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">PINTO!!! </span>If that isn't bad enough it was an <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">ORANGE PINTO!!!!!!!! </span> AGGGGHHHHHH!!!!<br /><br />However since he is so adorable standing next to his new Pinto my shallow side just sat down & kept it's mouth shut.<br /><br />Marcia and I have been going through her old pictures and it has been like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I now have so many pictures of Jeff when he was little I may need to buy five or six photo albums for all his pictures. I would love to post more but for the sake & state of marital bliss I will refrain. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwhWbdb8Vnb4R6AR1BXg77ZDBEdWLz0-wv2GfI44fiwGICaN8FAX7d51RPKgA4lRCa-G2t5WwtYjtEL3ZhG05Jx7IdLpR5YS3etmAiS7z1cSYZlVZIdX3QFsoImfepzyRQOhCYyrQdEA/s1600-h/Jeff+-+Pinto+Christmas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwhWbdb8Vnb4R6AR1BXg77ZDBEdWLz0-wv2GfI44fiwGICaN8FAX7d51RPKgA4lRCa-G2t5WwtYjtEL3ZhG05Jx7IdLpR5YS3etmAiS7z1cSYZlVZIdX3QFsoImfepzyRQOhCYyrQdEA/s320/Jeff+-+Pinto+Christmas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290241802086102322" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I haven't been able to figure out if Jeff is giving his sister a ride or if Leslie is trying to get him to loan her the car.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJMy5F9GVCyZiIE2duf40tRdMvAfqOsyaxy8KGl7KrEC_QVyxkVtQbGoYi5XiqFcds9Avqu8P1TraYH7KnYANKZQqNimqZuw1eg9Q5VVlMRBFu-2ISXKqFKzTYEag1Y5FW_pGRPdPtuA/s1600-h/Jeff,+Leslie,+Pinto.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJMy5F9GVCyZiIE2duf40tRdMvAfqOsyaxy8KGl7KrEC_QVyxkVtQbGoYi5XiqFcds9Avqu8P1TraYH7KnYANKZQqNimqZuw1eg9Q5VVlMRBFu-2ISXKqFKzTYEag1Y5FW_pGRPdPtuA/s320/Jeff,+Leslie,+Pinto.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290241810938701746" border="0" /></a><br /></div>gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-56849232550822600812008-12-12T11:00:00.000-08:002008-12-12T11:56:33.361-08:00Green Eggs & Ham<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkCaq8rAsDMsN8F_BNIw4cCYOM-oCRUpnu2_KynmuPCx88sM6XfyQ0pGqeQj0djzDTR23lAKXYlPAs6lfeAHx8d4odGYGeR1yBf4Po39FgkUYWzvXdfEPUXs5tgier08Qdy0EexVoi6g/s1600-h/thumbnailCADQEWVR.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278994662406311426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkCaq8rAsDMsN8F_BNIw4cCYOM-oCRUpnu2_KynmuPCx88sM6XfyQ0pGqeQj0djzDTR23lAKXYlPAs6lfeAHx8d4odGYGeR1yBf4Po39FgkUYWzvXdfEPUXs5tgier08Qdy0EexVoi6g/s320/thumbnailCADQEWVR.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div>Every Wednesday Jeff has game night. Twice a month the guys gather at our house to play, and since I like to cook I usually make dinner for them. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>With Christmas approaching I really wasn't in the mood to go crazy & wanted to make something simple. Jeff & I discussed it Tuesday night, and on Wednesday he called me at work and said how about having ham? Then he reminded me about the ton of eggs we had in the fridge that were getting close to their expiration date and we decided we'd make breakfast for dinner. I couldn't see his face but I knew what look he had on it when he said how about biscuts, ham and eggs......green eggs. WHAT??? Green eggs & ham? </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So this past Wednesday I was about to scramble the eggs and was thinking about forgetting the green part because I wasn't 100% sold on it, but I looked over at the friends at the table, and thought "Yeah they all have a bizarre sense of humor (especially Adam) they probably would get a kick out of it" So the food coloring went into the mixture, and we had green eggs. Well the guys did think it was funny and ate the eggs, and Marcia laughed when she got home and saw them. I had to tell her the idea was her son's.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I chose not to look at the eggs while I ate them because it was so strange. They weren't too bad. At least the ham wasn't green. Sorry I didn't think to take a picture of it because Ghost Hunters was about to start and I didn't want to miss it. </div>gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-77256219473774054272008-12-02T19:24:00.000-08:002008-12-02T19:52:15.214-08:00Christmas DecoratingOkay it has been awhile since I last posted. Life has been insane. So I have finally found time to update.<br /><br />This past Saturday was Christmas decorating. I went to the Ybanez home in the morning and then worked on our place in the afternoon. When I got home Jeff had started hanging the outdoor lights so the outside decorating went quickly. It is hard to believe it is only December 2nd and all the decorating is finished. Wee Hoo!!!! I am posting pics of our house, and will post the Ybanez pics later.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">I love the cat. This is one of my favorite decorations</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMgatzJ20C9GcQwfh3VS5vxiv9CdDEQMLAGZh9asL6hH9b8KY9-nY2sXBbvttXzYmoaetFZtVUXE9VioN2zgMnppD1reLUW_-VxZd4mZj7KbhuEUU1Aqm912BmxcbfR7fug3auish5us/s1600-h/IMG_0136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275403342124611490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMgatzJ20C9GcQwfh3VS5vxiv9CdDEQMLAGZh9asL6hH9b8KY9-nY2sXBbvttXzYmoaetFZtVUXE9VioN2zgMnppD1reLUW_-VxZd4mZj7KbhuEUU1Aqm912BmxcbfR7fug3auish5us/s320/IMG_0136.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Lucy's contribution: Playing in the empty boxes</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIk8AYh7mjynvbj8UkqmbQYFHpgA8gHf4gToAk408-z1T2njb3bA_NiSIOTJCUJiu3crKfH9mfAAXx4qPTYpG4ZUm9BReEQ41RDesHObIc7CReuM5gDLtHw-tmBGb5ViE2MIhx1An-BjA/s1600-h/IMG_0104.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275403154386230498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIk8AYh7mjynvbj8UkqmbQYFHpgA8gHf4gToAk408-z1T2njb3bA_NiSIOTJCUJiu3crKfH9mfAAXx4qPTYpG4ZUm9BReEQ41RDesHObIc7CReuM5gDLtHw-tmBGb5ViE2MIhx1An-BjA/s320/IMG_0104.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Who needs a fiddler on the roof when you have a Fagan on the roof?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Fj1sxgYOGXLu3p-puxPDAyEzGxgkVixbPxXApfxADdOBow_3bjdZ66exopenfVIpUTCgCvJh4TUJ22k-HnsZyVPQldy9uqmIkqsnc3zujkQbwmSyszcNXvibrez0xHuUPJ-05BnpSLg/s1600-h/IMG_0071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275403145140036178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Fj1sxgYOGXLu3p-puxPDAyEzGxgkVixbPxXApfxADdOBow_3bjdZ66exopenfVIpUTCgCvJh4TUJ22k-HnsZyVPQldy9uqmIkqsnc3zujkQbwmSyszcNXvibrez0xHuUPJ-05BnpSLg/s320/IMG_0071.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />California snowmen<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zcrI1AwOz_S2K-X3kXZpQchpBEeHu9kIVuH0s15DK6XUva0oyXCiKfQHgveA2wQSAo4q9RMmCansd63Cbu0ndu6XlCFMgmqBxfLa5g2f1SHCF4F-bfwiTx_Me3dmhnQ5TaWotmV8D6M/s1600-h/IMG_0077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275403133909562338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zcrI1AwOz_S2K-X3kXZpQchpBEeHu9kIVuH0s15DK6XUva0oyXCiKfQHgveA2wQSAo4q9RMmCansd63Cbu0ndu6XlCFMgmqBxfLa5g2f1SHCF4F-bfwiTx_Me3dmhnQ5TaWotmV8D6M/s320/IMG_0077.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />California snowmen at night.</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtu7yvQqm5UjH7iyL2_rBv7KL8WWVwd4coN1xoBtMeHw41axyi5MIQ9Oz-rySP4h8aLk-Rw934M8umQtlO6_GjYGKyKgquNaFy2HjpbZBu8nz0iOvFsMQG9V_tpQfbRmoQlxqMEXkXwuE/s1600-h/IMG_0114.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275403130827940114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtu7yvQqm5UjH7iyL2_rBv7KL8WWVwd4coN1xoBtMeHw41axyi5MIQ9Oz-rySP4h8aLk-Rw934M8umQtlO6_GjYGKyKgquNaFy2HjpbZBu8nz0iOvFsMQG9V_tpQfbRmoQlxqMEXkXwuE/s320/IMG_0114.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The end result<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwD5w2rygyNgDnzVasyZWTdVCRwu3A3Z0s_PbvrGRHjysUblhCtjC87XQ7Xnr6FSovNGEbb06aPooYWbXb_mQXGEdaaEYpW-L-PxGhGVemF6bPIaOLk94yQRholbiXmHkjkLyclWcxH2E/s1600-h/IMG_0117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275403123313505554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwD5w2rygyNgDnzVasyZWTdVCRwu3A3Z0s_PbvrGRHjysUblhCtjC87XQ7Xnr6FSovNGEbb06aPooYWbXb_mQXGEdaaEYpW-L-PxGhGVemF6bPIaOLk94yQRholbiXmHkjkLyclWcxH2E/s320/IMG_0117.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div><br /></div>gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-90065495430061219502008-11-12T21:29:00.000-08:002008-11-13T11:00:46.791-08:00The Naked NeighborOkay I have had a couple people ask me about the naked neighbor from a previous post, so here is the story:<br /><br />We were living on West Harrison in the beautiful city of San Buenaventura California in a condo/town house complex. If you have ever been in one of those complexes you know how close the houses are to one another. In this particular housing tract the windows to the front of our house lined up with the front windows of the neighbors who were directly across from us.<br /><br />It was toward the end of my senior year of high school. On a beautiful spring/summer morning I had woken up a little early, and had gone in to my mom's room to talk to her. Since it was such a beautiful morning mom had opened the curtains & window in her room, and the one in the hallway. We talked for a bit while she was getting ready for work. When I left her room to get ready for school I just happened to look out the hallway window and there was the neighbor with his curtains open standing in his bathroom shaving, totally naked. I think a horrified shriek came out of my mouth as I turned around and dashed back into my mom's room. She gave me this weird look, and when I was able to choke out what was wrong she immediately went to the hallway window to check it out. I think she started laughing, and said the neighbor had a nice looking backside. It was funny and weird to be standing at the hallway window with my mom who was gawking at the naked neighbor. I don't think he ever knew we saw him, but who really knows? I can tell you if gave us great amusement for a couple of weeks afterward. I think it is important to tell you that we only saw the back of the naked neighbor.gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-623007624757740392008-11-11T11:20:00.000-08:002008-11-11T15:47:20.057-08:00Thank You Brave Soldiers!!<div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267485715933327778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 232px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFebAUyHbkd03l1BYkN-St_NbH-CMgniNEimCrnLGumsDogvPKcP8ZHTuo3Sy3-VYYXwH3rit2gaXycA-WDVM_zDpBEIqa_KnPV_3Sff59qs50URHM9Q3BGblJcnjfgBcOHj0faLtMig0/s320/CIMG0050.JPG" border="0" />I just want to take a moment on this Veterans Day and say Thank You to our Countries Heroes. The men and women who serve in the military and who have served in the military. I know we are so blessed in the United States and to have the freedom to live our lives the way we choose. I don't not have enough words to express my gratitude. God Bless America!!!</div><div align="left"><br /> </div><div align="center">Denise & Rich, you and your comrades are in my prayers. </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="center">Thank You</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267549987696331138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2Z2ruj6SE7Crdl8Chn6p2GPSfcRNJiA9IDgoTn9r8FzS7b_KpOTeGutQFe97xH3HbfaUGBpJ035JuQeWDN7fUYUc-FhwwFN97YA6y6xyZql-1elht1PtACaBrlSz_8sIf9_ULLpWF94/s320/IMG_0139-1.JPG" border="0" />gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-66673683068521902272008-11-10T19:11:00.000-08:002008-11-11T08:39:55.539-08:00One of my favorite places is....<div align="left">.... The Huntington Library, Art Collections, & Botanical Gardens in San Marino. I would like to thank Teri for introducing it to me. It is such a beautiful place. There are museums, and of course gardens. They have a desert garden, bamboo garden, rose garden, and many more. My personal favorite is the Japanese Garden. It is incredible. I can't describe the peaceful feeling that comes over me when I am there.<br /><br />I told Jeff about the Huntington when we were dating, and he was interested in going. (We have a lot of museum dates, good thing we both like museums) Anyway on a lovely day in 2007 we went to the gardens. I was so excited to show him the Japanese Garden. We were walking through the garden, and when we got to the bridge he had to stop and tie his shoe, (he had cleverly untied it without me noticing), after he did that he said "Since I am down here......." I can't remember what he said beyond that because he was putting an engagement ring on my finger. I think he formally asked me to marry him, and I think I said yes. I must have since we've been married for a year a half now. I still get a dumb grin on my face when I think about how romantic it was, and how he picked a spot that is special for me.<br /><br />The Huntington is also special because my dad's parents have also been there. My grandfather was born in New York, and my grandmother in New Jersey. They moved to California shortly after they were married in 1938, and lived in Whittier. Last year my mom gave me a couple of scrapbooks that belonged to my grandmother, and as I was going through them I came across pictures of them and my Great Grandma Nehr in the Japanese Garden. My grandfather passed away about 4 years before I was born so I was excited to find out I have been to a place he visited.<br /><br />I hope you enjoy the pictures.<br /></div><div align="center">August 2008</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267254155284416882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbzBXVZuEZGCRwloq0yfTg1gWOJ6Afn8_rxPARRY_xfnQ9XPSwmuDsqJxUxnU1WIGmRFbA6rFsFr_8YIOu3S1SLNTKiCv9JaFCkAXdaLtnft8gjIab8OGO60VSWRyRUDFh7AvFwFpEEA/s320/13.JPG" border="0" />June 1939<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbzBXVZuEZGCRwloq0yfTg1gWOJ6Afn8_rxPARRY_xfnQ9XPSwmuDsqJxUxnU1WIGmRFbA6rFsFr_8YIOu3S1SLNTKiCv9JaFCkAXdaLtnft8gjIab8OGO60VSWRyRUDFh7AvFwFpEEA/s1600-h/13.JPG"></a></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267254156909576226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1oiaxmq8mVG27W7XhV452QoUShXJ_psJdT02V7OhcceTcaU_kFE6f4HCQdMWmgzoA5mlg4xGHi3OToIXVHZsCgTMTQZi-poMb5Gf7aE_8XI-1gxa_4SBcW-kR_aocKMptTgX6Ue9h8I/s320/16.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Rose Garden - June 1939<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267274942661800466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNvhyF7bODyB0uPEeIWCBLgCIqiygzgotZvuvmERWyodky9afPfpen3Cn3Thvn9DORLiSrjSUNt23nkML-TRYTPFiEAssHHklrx1qxZKjaw5uO2mfJ2ROzPvUrT2bx9oKctBp8KvU0LQ/s320/18.jpg" border="0" />Rose Garden <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWEhVILOBgAX01iV1D3jsb72bsrfHDxszc5ThuyezS16GXrbW64CaFW_rna22vXQzKcw8e4fpSIVwvT0HGoOnZzuN44VtEetVuGyc72AudLMJuoqGNVoKPmj4MnsVfZksAifXG_gVy2U/s1600-h/02.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267252921938490962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWEhVILOBgAX01iV1D3jsb72bsrfHDxszc5ThuyezS16GXrbW64CaFW_rna22vXQzKcw8e4fpSIVwvT0HGoOnZzuN44VtEetVuGyc72AudLMJuoqGNVoKPmj4MnsVfZksAifXG_gVy2U/s320/02.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267252930272509986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNte8TQ0mWoVMo2R2hfoE6J7b7XA8N0GXwBitTcjpKzYIByj6K1n60C5JNSRI0dX1YddDw0GUfvLLgetJCywSVEgf5pXH0xaCto4rVJ4aNvjLUFq21C1bS4Gv7rYPqL0vXnubAfgL4pg/s320/03.JPG" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xvc-Zh2cMhK5Eug184NvqNOL4yxpLfP-jb5gs9ke_G7fiFicxSqEsPgqEo6jnYv26u4mr4U9-eViMxBHnFm1Xu8IIBttnIe_aKLJc-ufGe28iVy2qeTkig8fTvaEU9MBHaanWAWtySo/s1600-h/01.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267252920570730994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xvc-Zh2cMhK5Eug184NvqNOL4yxpLfP-jb5gs9ke_G7fiFicxSqEsPgqEo6jnYv26u4mr4U9-eViMxBHnFm1Xu8IIBttnIe_aKLJc-ufGe28iVy2qeTkig8fTvaEU9MBHaanWAWtySo/s320/01.JPG" border="0" /></a> Shakespeare Garden<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267252940269028482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgzL-rpsg_mgS7U-lp63CQh30w6gj2cWvCoRJ_1ewEL8auIyKoHXoJ9ZS0ONsAQjo-C_VafqMdig8rzgiLLWMGYBoR1657hnPhmNjVf59sWoiP0j2lLIMuOenLpdDtJgN_Xj_JQJUdCA/s320/05.JPG" border="0" /> Zen Garden<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267252946764959026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_B5uR_FL-2HPaUooOCNiqB7CewHXzcpvB5YLA2k3XyDMS30NqknbZHDGi3vPEcg24uvkPZ2HpKXp6JY1vLApIL6BNUlM9Ec9p_y30j6wOhLaftAwh5KaYvwjyvCDF8XHRJ6MoH5VOlE/s320/06.JPG" border="0" />Lily Ponds<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267253595116648034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKr82Cge8KZkw8CdsSRpi4rVvlVCd0GmZmQ97IoT8Kb9IZmrMM8wmXrE2lsh1ZoQdr9ejGug3JyDT3S5GWBZZulCBftUl5EviQDpyS9ptaTOaIhIzjHPsvEafzb89HETnPKcCf2uReDIY/s320/07.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Jungle Garden<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267253597693494882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7CvcB0HGSTOZrcge8FhmjIcVhqK-uOFHxx4raNLOn0yHUVfGXjO8y-ptXjI7PW7wG4ldENmQMYQghXAVFYISe5VwaXoCSf3-5DtqDLmG_ePF0-X_VH2y13nsLefxjDDuYDeWkv3tiqw/s320/08.JPG" border="0" /> Desert Garden<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267253604486650642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gLbbZxUHaNmiEo1lk7wcbvjHsBdaMsjTxst_AeFLxKW8cqJG4c8uDSK45xr-Un-X0tWG9OoEqvoRXKC26307IKt6mfnJQSEd5rhuVb7CBfwakPhzsDVCBLUeCLJWgoQGdPfc6vZKb9M/s320/09.JPG" border="0" /></div><br />Japanese Garden -June 1939<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267253616565584594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17sO-tG2jFNmTYYPILoKIuSFkWkFq7TqjdIr8KGQNLGvQ7QhN_yVGSaByQELNgvOJjgZHz7bgSJAEONPBNzxmjpVLetGhf1fyLzVewjnyZr_HD0OF8IMKrpFdEh5cV6vRoZJ-HqvAz90/s320/17.jpg" border="0" />Japanese Garden 2008<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267259986141488242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIZnhu_4bduIMyqV9rAE4fD7HQIxgW3pVkqvNXt6FG38wtH1LGnBCJD9ZAkHrfVO97C9r8YJjgjmaS9_JkmhJqjZyq8wDQznsooUursXPh5iwc6SLZTpW5mv6tZafWXQm7C_8aIfU-Oc/s320/10.JPG" border="0" />This is the spot where Jeff proposed to me.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267254150070641922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh_Mohd9RBa1VWyYP4QgBnk6nphw_gTXFhsmMRzTe1FPR8nQhMfWvqg_8gszw0i0DIdjgyN-f7qnfOP7gQ3am1xlbgjcxMwNuMq-ePvN1ei8N76mHEeh48FJHQt6smZxOBTEh_9vJh8M/s320/11.JPG" border="0" /></div>gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-67963460743587560512008-11-09T07:12:00.000-08:002008-11-09T11:49:25.844-08:00Happy Birthday Mommy!!!<span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266676310363928626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCM1SZF8By3uVlH08oCwGwc1-LFhC9URFRbStEbkTnpfQA0hP_U2HFNIo_zUnXtHcDBnJ8auFGRF-8xJkJk8XBr6xZFd9hvwtNTTAJRL0V9qtW0nTtF9EEkkpoStGLrgiKzCKd3VwF1B0/s320/Elizabeth+Kahlsdorf,+(Swanson).JPG" border="0" />(She is going to kill me for putting up the picture. It is one of my favorites.) </p><p align="center">I have a few fond memories of my mom I would like to share:</p><p align="center">My love of British comedy....my mom's fault. I came home one night from babysitting, my dad was working late, and my mom was up watching Fawlty Towers. It happened to be the episode when John Cleese's car breaks down, and he beats it with a tree branch while yelling "You naughty, naughty car". I almost fell off the bed laughing. I was hooked. I love Ab Fab, Keeping up Appearances, Red Dwarf, Monty Python, My Hero, Are You Being Served, and on and on. Thanks Mom!!</p><p align="center">My father had said I could pierce my ears when I was 12, so on my 12th birthday my mom and I went to Salt Lake City to get my ears pierced. (I guess there wasn't any reputable ear piercing place in Evanston Wyoming at the time) I remember when we were driving through the mall parking structure my mom saying she couldn't see a thing, and I asked her if it was because she was still wearing her sunglasses. Well we got my ears pierced, wandered through the mall, and then went to the food court for mint brownies. It was a fun day. When you have six siblings you don't get too much mom and daughter time, but on this particular day it was her and I.</p><p align="center">Another time when I was a senior in high school my mom and I were feeling "pale" so she stayed home from work and I stayed home from school. On that day we went to Salzer's to rent videos and then went to Vons to raid the deli. We watched Willow, and ate junk food. That was a great day.</p><p align="center">For some reason I just remembered the naked neighbor. You can ask her about him. </p><p align="center">My mom would read aloud to us for as long as I can remember. There was The Great Brain series, The Lion, Witch, & The Wardrobe, The Belgariad, and of course the Scriptures. Thanks mom!</p><p align="center">There are many more, but that would take many days so I will say once again Happy Birthday Mom, I love you & New Caaa! New Caaa!</p><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCM1SZF8By3uVlH08oCwGwc1-LFhC9URFRbStEbkTnpfQA0hP_U2HFNIo_zUnXtHcDBnJ8auFGRF-8xJkJk8XBr6xZFd9hvwtNTTAJRL0V9qtW0nTtF9EEkkpoStGLrgiKzCKd3VwF1B0/s1600-h/Elizabeth+Kahlsdorf,+(Swanson).JPG"></a></p><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div>gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194360407299682284.post-62036442841585529972008-11-08T19:12:00.000-08:002008-11-08T20:50:13.699-08:00Okay, okay I'll start a blog. Are you happy now?<div align="left">Since the friends and some family have been bugging me I have started a blog. Now what to write .......................... hmmmmmmmmm ............ write .............. hummmmmm ..... la la la ......... hmmmm ......... I need some egg nog. Yeah egg nog......... Is it too early to to start decorating for Christmas????<br /><br />That reminds me. I have a tendency to be a holiday freak. I love to decorate for holidays, so much that some of my family thought it was getting out of hand. My father finally decreed that I could not decorate for a holiday until the month the holiday is in has begun. I would like to know what is wrong with beginning to decorate for Christmas in July???? Since my father's decree is family law I wait. (sort of) I will be decorating for Christmas the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I just bought some really cute light up snowmen for the outside decorations.<br /><br />Oh yeah since I am going on about family law I was also banned from hanging up cobwebs. You 'd think I committed a homicide from the yelling I got from my father & brother. It's not my fault I'm 5'8 & they are 6'4 & they would run face first into the cobwebs. Did they think to buy me a ladder so I could hang the cobwebs higher? Nooooo. Just the yelling & the cobweb ban. Why don't we just cancel Halloween altogether. (sheesh Philistines)<br /><br />Well now that I have gotten all that out of my system. What to write......nope nothing coming to me. I'll try again tomorrow.</div>gretchkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02518523499764673707noreply@blogger.com6