Memorial Weekend

It is hard to believe it is near the end of May, but that is what Memorial Weekend signals. It does not feel like the beginning of summer as it has stayed mild temperature wise and of course the rain. There was a break though over the holiday for us to gather as family at Gaven's grave. We first put flowers on Grandma and Grandpa Skeen's grave. I asked what do people remember about them and Archie said, " They were good people". He mentioned how Grandpa would carry a side of beef on his back as he made deliveries to stores. He worked during that time at Swifts Meat packing. Grandpa was very strong. Archie said he would come play basketball with him when he came home from work. I mentioned that Grandpa would come over a teach me some shoots to at our house.
We then gathered at Gaven's grave. I tried to take a picture but it kept being washed out. I said, "I don't know why everyone is so white." Cameron respond without hesitation, " It's mainly genetics." We all busted out laughing. So here is the genetic picture and then the real picture.

That was Sunday that we visited the cemetery . On Monday we went over to Joni's for a family picnic and games. Shannon, Nic, Maddie and I rode our bikes to Joni's and back after the dinner; a total of 19.5 miles. We ate and played games at Joni's and had a fun time. It was a good holiday weekend.

May Showers

I had mentioned how dry the winter was with the lack of snow and warmer than normal temperatures. The end of April and May have started to make up for the lack of moisture. (It also may be due to the fasts we have had for moisture.) It seems that every weekend it has rained good amounts of 2 to 4 inches and then cool weather. The mountains have received snow on the peaks while it rains in the valley.

The middle of May the pattern changed from every day rain. Instead of solid storms for a day or two the clouds would building up and then thunder and a down pour each afternoon.

It is nearing the end of the month now and I have still not turned my sprinklers on the lawn and it has never been so green.

May Graduations

Connor had a preschool graduation in the middle of May at the Kangaroo Zoo. It is fun to watch these kids grow up and learn so many things.

A week latter it was Payton's turn to have kindergarten graduation at Pioneer. The kindergarten sang several songs to proud parents and grandparents about what they had learned this year.  Each one of these events marks a step in their development and abilities to learn and grow and we are proud to be able to be part of this. And oh yes, Payton got a hair cut.

April Activities

We have had such a mild winter I have started riding my bike to work earlier in the season than I normally do. With Maddie's work near my work she has decided to join me at least once a week on a day that she does not have to go up to Weber State for class. This is the picture of our first maiden voyage together. Though the first time was exhausting, each trip she has gotten better and faster.

Not to be outdone Cindy also decided to ride her bike to work at Pioneer a few times a week. This is her first day going to work, much like the pictures we use to take of the kids on their first day getting on the bus.

 

Just as we were getting into this routine, only the third snow storm of the year hit in April and covered the flowering trees and tulips with snow.

Easter

We got back from our Spring Break trip on Friday and then had our traditional pre-conference breakfast at Jeremiah's on Saturday morning and it was Easter on Sunday. The week was full of activities. This year for Easter Maddie still did the follow the string but her basket was not candy since she and Cindy have a new diet. This time her Easter sack was filled with things she needs for every day.

We did an Easter egg hunt in the afternoon with the grand kids though everyone was included in the hunt. In addition Maddie did some paintings as a gift for Connor and Payton for their rooms.

Spring Break- San Francisco

The second half of spring break was going to be in San Francisco. We left Turlock in the morning but wanted to drive to some fruit stands we saw on the drive yesterday morning. The area was covered in almond orchards so we stopped to see what almonds look like growing on a tree.

We then went to this stand which had all sorts of almonds and fruits and vegetables. We got something that had almonds here for each kid when we came home.

We next went to a stand that was selling fresh picked strawberries. We knew they were fresh because they were still out in the field picking them. We snacked on them as we drove to the Bay area. We went first to Fisherman's Wharf area and had some crab cocktails and chowder in a sour dough bowl. Then we went over to pier 49 and looked out to Alcatraz and then the pier to see how the sea lions were doing.

We then went a did something new and walked the Filbert Street steps to Coit Tower. There are around 400 steps and they lead through the side yards of homes and their yards. There are parrots in the trees squawking all the time and it is hard to believe you are in the city with all the trees around.

  We then headed back over the Bay Bridge to our hotel in Oakland and the promised Sizzler dinner I promised in Turlock but never delivered.

We turned our car in on the morning and then rode BART into the city. We took the cable cars and then made it to the Ferry Building to a farmers market and had lunch and then rode the street car to Pier 49 again. This time we rented bikes to go over the Golden Gate bridge. We stopped at several locations along the way to take pictures.

 We then started across the bridge and stopped along the way to look at the ocean below us.

We went down the hill into Sasalito with the intent to catch the ferry back across since that is what the bike rental encouraged you to do; that and 400 other people. We thought we would have plenty of time to get back and then go to a Gaints game that evening. We spent three hours waiting in line to get onto a ferry. We were not going to ride back up the steep hill so we waited and waited. By the time we got back the rental place had closed and we had to take the bikes to a different spot. We will never do the, "take the ferry option" of the bike ride because the bike companies could care less. They get to charge you for extra hours.

We got back at about 8 that evening and then went and had a late dinner and then caught the BART back to the hotel. Even though we had the one bad experience we enjoyed this spring break and saw some wonderful sights. They next morning we were on the plane and on our way home.