Shirley Anne’s Heart

Lake Forest, CA SAO’s Kids and Grandangels – March, 2009

Posted By drsao on March 15, 2009

If you aren’t family – THIS IS A WARNING – skip this blog entry!

Have you heard the expression – HAVING MORE FUN THAN A BARREL FULL OF MONKEYS? Been there – done that. I had many LOVELY moments while visiting my kids and grandangels in California the first half of March. I took HUNDREDS OF PICTURES…..anyone surprised? First we will visit the Johnsons in Lake Forest, CA.

My, oh my, it is always AMAZING all over again for me to venture out onto the CA freeways – 8 lanes going QUICKLY in both directions – and CA drivers honk too! Don’t ask! But the beauty makes up for it…..I took lots of pictures but will only show a few. First the mountains and the palm trees.

NO SMOG - mountains can be seen everywhere in Lake Forest, CA

Lake Forest Palm Trees

Aren’t they magestic!?

OK – so enough of the SCENERY – now for the family news.

Harry 14 had changed the most – OH MY – he is taller than I am! He recently got glasses and so when I saw him at the airport I could NOT believe my eyes. My mouth was open all the way down the escalator! Just LOOK AT THOSE LONG LEGS!

Harry 14 Playing the Guitar

It turns out that Harry has become a BABE MAGNET (I learned all the kolio lingo on this trip too) – he was in a drama program at his intermediate school – a series of skits and he sang, danced and RECEIVED A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL all in one night……NO KIDDING!

Harry Dances

Harry the Babe Magnet

Yes – he got a marriage proposal – I just could not believe my 8th grade grandangel being a babe magnet – the girls literally SCREAMED his name when he went on stage (I had to laugh, Rob – my son – said, “Harry is LIVING MY LIFE!!”)

Marriage Proposal

William turned 11 while I was there – and that was my reason for going to CA in March. Here he is – the future famous chef…..William.

Here he is 10 years old

William turned 11 March 4

William (and Harry) cooked a wonderful pasta dish for me – and some out of this world baked tomato casserole!

Rob stood by as William sliced!

Rob Watches Will Slice the Tomatos

My Pasta and Tomato Casserole

William liked his LOST ON THE ROAD AGAIN QUILT!

William with LOST ON THE ROAD AGAIN QUILT

Vincent – my 8 year old 3rd grader grandangel has a HUGE IMAGINATION and never ending spirit – he entertained me nonstop! He has loved dinosaurs forever.

Vincent at the Park

Vincent and the LIFESIZED DINOSAUR that I knitted

He and James (6 year old first grader) enjoyed the breakfast fairy’s visit….and I taught them to eat cereal the “FUN WAY” – out of a glass with a straw. Yes, try it, it REALLY IS MORE FUN!

The Breakfast Fairy Came

Shirley Anne learned to eat Cereal in a Glass

It was fun to be there and watch James choose prized possessions to share at school each day – he was Star Student of the week!

James was Student of the Week

We played on the WII FIT, rode the merry-go-round, played in the water fountains at Irvine Spectrum, and played ball in the house!

Oh the places you go and the people that you meet!

My time in California was EVER SO SWEET!

Rob and James on the REINDEER (Merry Go Round)

One of the funniest things was having 4 year old Shirley Anne TAKE ME ON A WALK TO GO SHOPPING. She promised me that she knew the way but I was WORRIED because my kids had moved and I was not familiar with their geographical location (I didn’t take my GPS to CA with me and so I knew that I would be FOREVER LOST if Shirley Anne REALLY DID NOT KNOW how to go shopping AND get us back home again.) SO….I took my camera and took pictures along the way (my version of dropping bread crumbs.) She took me on a TWO MILE WALK to shop and then eat ice cream…..did I mention that the walk was TWO MILES EACH WAY. Yes, I took lots of pictures and I was wearing flip flops. Oh, and by the way, we did make it back!!!

Here are the highlights of our WALKING ADVENTURE!