GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66

We just took a wonderful trip to Santa Monica, Los Angeles; starting in Kingman Az. Les had wanted to complete the last leg of his "Route 66" road trip. Over a period of many years , starting in Chicago, he had traveled the whole "Route 66 - Mother Road", as they call it. So I met him in Las Vegas and we traveled the last leg of the journey. We had such a blast! Listening to all his XM stations along the way. Songs from the 60's, 70's and 80's. We ended and stayed in Santa Monica. Les found the most beautiful Hotel, just a few blocks from the pier, and one block over on 3rd street, from the Promenade. It truely was just divine. Such a beautiful spot. We loved it.
This restaurant has become a favorite. It is called "The Farm".Everything they serve is fresh and wonderful, but we also always try to leave with their famous "Farmeo" cookies. They are to die for! We had to buy a few to send back to Az and Utah. They have a wonderful menu and bakery.

The restaurant is located in Beverly Hills, right on North Beverly Hills Avenue. Not far from the Los Angeles Temple.

So we went to the temple on Saturday morning and then had breakfast at The Farm. They serve an amazing breakfast. Both of these places being very close to where we were staying. Just so fun!

We loved being in the Los Angeles Temple, so beautiful. There was just a fine mist drizzle when we came out. My hair immediately just frizzes up.

This is the Promenade shopping over on Santa Monica Blvd. In the evening it just comes alive. These 3 little brothers were a great imitation of the "Jackson Five". There was tons of entertainment all up and down this area. We were totally entertained. On Saturday they have a Farmer's Market. So fun!

There isn't any motorized traffic. Just pedestrian. So it's a great place just to walk around.

We did a lot of walking!

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA

Les looked all over for this sign. Somehow he knew it existed. So we asked, and it had been moved. Evidently it had been run into a few times. So they moved it, still by the pier, but now in a little more secluded spot. We did find it.

This is right in front of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant on the Pier.

Les sitting in Forrest Gump's shoes - next to the famous box of chocolates!

The end of the "Mother Road"!

This is where the Route 66 Ends!

SAN BERNARDINO
Les was talking to a friend, who knew we were taking this little trip, and he told us to be sure and get a shot of the famous sign at this famous landmark. So John this picture is for you! Evidently, most people know about this sign. I had never heard about it, until I heard them talking on the phone about it. It is a famous sign!

There was a California High School that had reserved the whole place. They graduated in 1970, and were having their class reunion here. It was hilarious!

They had some famous rock star in their graduating class and they were setting up their stuff to do a concert for the reunion.

LUDLOW, CALIFORNIA

All along this part of the Route 66 road, their were miles and miles of messages made out of rock. It almost made me want to gather some rocks and add our names to the collection!

NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA

That is the fun thing about taking one of these little jaunts, you see all the historic signs and paraphernalia. You discover, everywhere you are on the trail, their are hundreds of others taking the same journey. Motorcycles, old cars. you see it all.

GARDENING 2011

Gardening in Az is certainly full of challenges! My gardening dream come true in AZ is to be able to pick from the garden enough fresh ingredients to make homemade salsa! I did that a few times this year! So mission accomplished. Love that fresh homemade salsa! So good! I could drink it! These are the tomatoes I picked for the salsa!

Our flowers were pretty! But is just seemed to me that they struggled this year. First it was too cold. Then it was 100 degrees!

I did love being able to pick radishes and wash them and eat them with red pepper humus! So good!

These little sweet 100 cherry tomatoes are like eating candy. They are so sweet! So that would make them almost like gold for me in Arizona.

BRONSON'S BAPTISM QUILT!

Bronson posing with his newest cuddly quilt! This is an Australian quilt pattern, made from a line of fabric called "Woollies". I saw this quilt and fabric two years ago, bought the fabric and pattern then, and decided it would make the perfect boy's baptism quilt!

He was so cute, he wrapped himself all up in it! It has his name paper pieced on the back, with a little message. about his special day.

Cute, Cute Grandson!

KILEY'S 16TH BIRTHDAY

KILEY TURNS 16! (This photo taken inside the movie theater.) Megan surprised her and showed up for her big birthday celebraton!

On Friday, after Kiley got out of school we headed to get a fresh, new pedicure!

I just can't believe my oldest Grandchild "Cute Kiley-B" is now 16th! Here she is opening up her presents from Mom and Dad. Kiley had been celebrating this event for 3 full days: Renting the Harkins San Tan for all her friends and fam for the first day release of Pirates (Friday)- then a breakfast that started at midnight (Saturday) and went until who knows when, and then Sunday (her actual birthday): One of her Favorite Sunday Dinners and opening more presents! Smiley Kiley!

She was so cute when she opened her last present, and it had her ticket itinerary for a trip to Japan with her Dad. She was crying at that point! She was so surpised! She is such a sweetheart! Happy Birthday Kiley!

MOTHER'S DAY

Mother's Day was spent in Utah this year. It was actually a really nice weekend. So we did some Bar-B-Q'n at Lindsey's, with Megan, Tyler and all the kids! It was a fun time!

Trying to get 5 grandchildren to hold still long enough for a photo is almost impossible!

Me and Ty!
Another shot with Lindsey and Megan!

CARL BLOCH and OTHER PROVO MOMENTS!

One of the things I had a great desire to see while in Provo, was the Carl Bloch display at the BYU Museum of Art. So Les was able to get some tickets for us to go. It was really an amazing experience! One I shall never forget! Very touching! And because you cannot take any pictures in there, I just have to remember how it made me feel while looking at the whole exhibit! Amazing!

Les and Megan getting Jimmered! Who could resist that photo?

This is living proof that sometimes Megan really does break down and have some candy. Somehow we started talking about those amazing "chocolate cinnamon bears" in the BYU bookstore, and Megan said "you're not buying any?" So I told her I would only buy some if she indulged! She never eats any candy! It was nice to see she will still eat some every once in a great while! I told her to pick out a few of her favorites! So, I had to have a picture to prove it!

Whenever I come to Provo, my sweet friend Barbara always tries to gather some of my quilting friends together to sew, talk and have lunch! So sweet of her! And the food, laughter, and conversation is as great as these sweet ladies!!

LOST PICTURES!!!!

Have you ever lost all of your pictures on your camera? Well as you can tell, it happened to me! I was just sick about it!. I was in the process of loading my pictures on my computer. I had pushed the "erase all picture when downloading is completed" box. I will never do that again. It's just such a pain to erase them manually. The computer got to a certain picture, right at the beginning of the download and stopped. Then faster than a speeding bullet, erased everything on my camera. I thought they were gone for good! Thus the reason I am so behind on my blog! I couldn't go on without those pictures. Nichole was helping me get them to a point of printing them in a book. It is the sickest feeling! The pictures were just gone!

I was talking to my cute friend Monica, telling her my dilemma! She said no worries. Take your SB card to Costco, they have this machine that can get them off your SB card. I was so excited! Rushed to the Costco by my house, and they said so sorry Charlie. We don't do that. Go to Data Doctor's, for $150 they can do that for you. I then mentioned my experience to Monica. She said, "Go to the Costco by my house. I promise they did it for me." So, one more trip to a different Costco. The lady said "Yes, we do that! But let me check to see if they are still on your SB card." She checked ! Yes, they were there. Told me to come back in 1 hour!

So, I went back in 1 hour to get the CD, and while I was paying my $3.00 for her service, another lady came in asked the same question. She told her, "let me see if I can see them on your SB card." She was back in one second saying "I am so sorry. There is nothing showing up. You will have to take them to Data Doctors, they can do it for $150." I felt so bad for her. But I was thrilled to pay that $3.00! And thanked her many times for helping me. Lost pictures finally found! I can finally finish my 2010 family history!

EASTER

Since we have been living in Arizona, we have traditionally done a Easter-egg-money hunt! It has been a combination made up of different currencies; such as a gold coin dollar, $2 dollar bill, and other special coins and amounts! Several times they have been hidden so well, no one can find them, and we have run into them in our caring for our yard in the months to come. Maybe we should start writing that info down as we hide them!!! A fun tradition! Les was in Utah this Easter. (Usually we have a crowd to follow the string!) We missed him and Megan and company tons! Denny and Nichole were great Easter Hosts for our Easter Dinner!

Bronson and Bryson counting their loot!