Paisley's Dance Recital

Friday night was Paisley's dance recital! She did a great job! She was in 4 numbers! We were definitely stage parents. I had the camera video taping her dances and Jason had the camcorder! Good thing we were in the second row! Enjoy!

A PRINCESS & A PROM

Off to the Prom

The prom venue was the Skirball Center.

F.Y.I. The Skirball is a museum and performing arts center just over the hill north of the Getty Museum off the 405 Fwy and Mulholland Dr..

SUSTENANCE

Sarah and Dad are surviving with Mom being in Oregon... Tonight Sarah fixed avocado, bacon, cheddar, grilled turkey burgerS with chipolte mayo, lettuce, cilantro, and homegrown tomato on multi-grain sandwich thin 'bun'.

SARAH IN TRANSISTION

Not last Sunday, but the Sunday prior, Mom & Dad attended with Sarah the Arcadia Stake Transition to Relief Society meeting. This is always a special get together put on by Sister Terrill and her R.S. Stake Presidency. Nora (Graham) Kock was the key note speaker. She spoke on how all the sisters of Relief Society are like the ingredients of chocolate chip cookies. Each sister is an ingredient, unique and essential to make the perfect end result. Each transitioning YW was gifted an apron (of course) an oven mitt and special cookbook with contributions from the R.S. presidents in all the wards and stake. (I hope I got most of all that correct or Mom can correct me in her comment.)

WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY...

the boys will play... the boy scouts that is...
All troops of the Arcadia Stake participated in the Centennial Celebration (100 year) Jamboree this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Bonnelli Park.Over 6,000 scouts joined the fun and scouting activities.
Friday night was setting up camp. Monrovia, Duarte and Arcadia troops camped along side each other.
Saturday there were dozens and dozens of activities. It seemed that most scouts earned at least 3 merit badges (and buckets of memories).

Temple City Troop 176 had a fine bunch.

Monrovia troop 143 was a handsome group.

Saturday evening there was special entertainment on an awesome stage set up just for the event.
The stage performances started with a Native American flag ceremony. The rest of entertainment was pretty fun.

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Sunday morning the boys gathered for a special LDS sacrament meeting. (No, they didn't use the big screens or any special effects.)
Troops from the 11 stakes who participated from the San Gabriel Valley and Verdugo Hills Councils sang hymns, had the sacrament and heard an excellent address from Elder Reynolds of the 70 (former La Crescenta Stake Pres.)
Then it was time to break camp and head for warm beds and hot showers.
Yes, Dad doesn't miss a chance to put on his old scout uniform and be out with the boys.

Birthday Review

Marybeth started as most Cornwall birthdays do, and she was a good trooper to allow it to be published for the world to see. She told me it was a good birthday and she was pleased with the gifts that she received which was pleasing to me.

Unfortunately she did have to go to work, but she was able to wear one of her new tops. We met up for lunch at Panera Bread, and that was a fun little treat.
Then we got to go to a very fun place for dinner. Apricots is the name of the restaurant and it is less than a minute away from where we live. We have been wanting to go for a long time but were waiting for warmer weather and just the right occasion. It is fun because it is right on the river.
It is a pretty fancy place and the prices were fairly resonible, there were a few ideas that empty your piggy bank, but we did get any of those items. Marybeth got some yummy chicken and rice.
I got Apricots famous meatloaf. It was pretty good, but the view and the scenery were much better
The seating right on the river was a long wait, so we sat on the balcony of the restaurant, where there was no wait, and it was just as good.
This is Marybeths Happy Birthday banner. To give you a little background, we have noticed that there have been many banners that have adorned this bridge since our stay here in CT. Most of which have been for sweet 16 birthdays., and are done with spray paint. I always joked that I would do it for Marybeth and put happy 16th birthday. But I decided to do it and show off the big 2-7. The only thing is we are not sure of the legality of the banner hanging. So I woke up at 5:30 and walked down to the bridge and hung it up so there would be less visibility.
Marybeth usually drives to work past this bridge so I wanted her to see it sometime during the day. Unfortunately she did not pass it once, she spent the whole day on the other side of town. So I had to try and think of a plan for her to see it. It wasn't like I planned but I think it turned out to be okay.
Most banners wave in the wind until they can't wave anymore, meaning they blow to the ground. But we decided to keep it for posterity, and maybe use it for next year.

A special thanks to Mom and dad for the great gifts for Marybeth. She loves the tops, in fact she wore one to the ward baby shower today, and I think the highlight would be the blanket that Mom made. The only problem is we need another blanket to put underneath it so that it doesn't get dirty.

And thank you for all the cards, calls and gifts from all of you Cornwalls. It really made her day to hear from you all.

Potato Update

Here is one of the lovely decorated cars - not as fast as ours - no we didn't eat our own potato, yes we got to bring them home - here is Elizabeth racing hers on the Kitchen Table.

Potato Derby

The Grandma activity for today was the Potato Derby at the ward - which consisted of making a pinewood derby car out of a potato and racing it, followed by a potato bar (great activity if you are on an activities committee) We headed to the church and I was hoping we would arrive just in time for the races. When we did arrive all the families were working on their potatoes - cutting utensils in hand, things to adorn their potato. Elizabeth wanted to be involved as you can tell from the above picture. I gave it the good old grandma try - there had to be certain clearance underneath, the wheels had to be a certain spread. I borrowed tools from a neighboring table and started in. When it came time to take your car to the table I was thinking Elizabeth wouldn't notice - but she did -we had to name it - "SARAHBELLE" was the great name she came up with. There were 8 heats of four - only the number one finisher went on. Some potatoes exploded on the track, some never made it out of the starting gate. We were in the second to last heat. Elizabeth and I held hands as the Sarahbelle potato took off. To our great surprise - IT CAME IN FIRST!!!! We then advanced to the second round. It came in second in the semi final heat but only the first place car advanced. WE WERE SO PROUD OF OURSELVES. Hey, next time someone needs help with a pinewood derby car - instead of asking grandpa - maybe you might just ask grandma instead!!

Definitely THE sauciest girls you'll ever meet

Buuuuuut, because it's your special day, I will allow you to take on the role of :

THE SAUCIEST LADY EVER (+ child.)

and what's more, you're carrying inside of you the sauciest kid ever born . . . on the east coast!

Love you Marybeth. Wish you were here . . . (ahem choking back tears.)

Being with the BIrthday Boy

What a treat to be with Daniel on his first birthday. Today has been a little bit calmer compared to last year on this day - and I am so excited to be here to share it with him. Happy Birthday Daniel - We love you!!

Birthday Boy

It was a memorable day one year ago. We are so grateful our Daniel was in a hurry to join our family. We have enjoyed every moment of the past year and can't imagine life without our Daniel Boy.

Happy Birthday

No matter how many years go by some people remain fun and energetic, even when pregnant. I wanted to wish Marybeth a very Happy Birthday (via the blog, I have already done so in person). She turned the big 2-7! And she doesn't look a day over 20. I love her so much and I am hoping that we have a fun day, we will post about how fun it is in the near future.

WE LOVE YOU

We hope you have a fantastic day. Much love from 336.

SENIORS STEP FORWARD

I know, I know, we already had the "Final Bow" post. Charlie Brown is done as of last Saturday. However some siblings expressed an interest in the "seniors step forward" moment which is a tradition at MHS. Maybe some of you wanted to relive a cherished adolescent moment from when you seniors were asked to step forward by good ol' Mr. Segal.

Sarah ended the Cornwall run is style, sentimentality and grace as a leading lady and lovely young woman. We are proud of all the moments.

FINAL BOW

TONIGHT THE CURTAIN CLOSES ON A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL RUN FOR THE CORNWALLS. AMONG THE MOST SWEET MEMORIES MOM AND I HOLD AS MHS/MUSD PARENTS ARE AS AUDIENCE WITH OUR CHILDREN ON THE MUSICAL MHS STAGE WITH THEIR MOMENT TO SHINE. THANKS KIDS, WE LOVED YOU AS:
• MR SOWERBERRY (98)
• A YELLOW BRICK ROAD (99)
• ANNA (00)
• A SIAMESE CHILD (00)
• ROSIE ALVAREZ (01)
• A SHRINNER (01)
• MISS SARAH BROWN (02)
• NICELY-NICELY JOHNSON (02)
• REUBEN (03)
• GO GO CHORUS GIRLS (03)
• LOUISA VON TRAPP (05)
• LITTLE RED (06)
• MILLIE DILLMOUNT (07)
• THE “PLANT” (08)
• RONNETTE (08)
• BEGGAR WOMAN (LUCY BARKER) (09)
AND
• LUCY (10)

IT SEEMS LIKE WE ATTENDED EVERY SHOW IN EACH RUN FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT 60+ PERFORMANCES OF SCENES FROM VICTORIAN LONDON, OZ, SIAM, SWEET APPLE/OHIO, NEW YORK CITY, EGYPT, AUSTRIA, A FAR OFF KINGDOM, SKID ROW, FLEET STREET, AND FINALLY THE PEANUT GALLERY. THERE IS NO PLACE WE WOULD EVER HAVE RATHER BEEN ON THOSE LOVELY SPRING EVENINGS.

THE SHOW GOES ON

It was Centre Stage night on Thursday at Charlie Brown.