Graduation II

I found more pictures from Tiffani's June 2010 graduation on Jeff's iphone last night! Enjoy!

Other Graduation pictures can be seen HERE.

Pre-Grad HOPE pictures. And here she is Jumping for Joy!

Graduates presented: Elizabeth, Tiffani, Elissa & Josiah


Cap toss!





Karah

Jerry & little Josh

Hannah

Patti & Dale

Sierra

Grammy & Helen



Senior Grad Mamas: Anita, Traci, Susie & Kathy



Elissa



Christine & Ashley

Alyssa ~ Special Speaker, 2005 Homeschool Graduate, 2009 Vanguard University graduate and Tiffani's former babysitter! :-)

Hiking Peter's Canyon

How blessed I feel to be plopped into a home surrounded by wildlife and hiking trails! We hiked part of Peter's Canyon this afternoon. And here are a few of our favorite scenes. I realized after we got home that Tiffani is not in one of them...next time! There will be MANY more times.

It was a little disconcerting to read the Mountain Lion and Rattlesnake warnings at the trailhead, but plenty of people and dogs were moving about on the trails throughout the canyon. We saw nothing, but beautiful blue sky and critters of a feathery & four-legged reptile variety.

Happy trails to you!

Brunch at Pelican Hill

OK...I think today concludes my 10-day birthday celebration! LOL!

After church today, we had brunch at the Pelican Hill Grill. It was a gorgeous day and you can see the ocean in the distance of this picture.

Our sweet girl enjoying a laugh and French toast.

Gratitude is
the memory of the heart.

~Jean Baptiste Massieu

What a difference a year makes. Last year around this same time I was in the midst of an incredible health crisis. Today I am thankful to be here and alive and loving & being loved by my family and friends. I am truly blessed.

Sending love and hugs to all of you who share my life in the big ways and the small ways...

Courtesies of a small and trivial character
are the ones which strike deepest
in the grateful and appreciating heart.

~Henry Clay

Ferris Wheel

And my birthday celebration continues...

Today was Date Day, so Jeff and I were off to the Irvine Spectrum Center for dinner and a movie. We had an hour before the movie started and realized the Ferris Wheel had reopened. So up we went...did I mention that I'm afraid of heights??!

Laguna Beach

Time for a break!
We headed out to Laguna Beach today.
It was a gorgeous day!












We love interesting Trees...

LOL! Had a giggle when I saw this cacti! Dani gave me a small cactus as a "remembrance" of the desert and here's cacti at the beach. :-)

Wiggles

I think Wiggles was overwhelmed the first few days...3 spectacular places to watch outdoors...up and downstairs in the back of the house and from upstairs windows in the front of the house...so many new sights and sounds. He's adjusting very well.

Here he sits on his Kitty Condo, which looks out the upstairs window of my Office/Craft Room. It also overlooks my desk, so I could capture his sweet face looking at me as I write this morning...

Settling In...

Can't believe we've been here over a week already! I didn't quite get unpacked as quickly as my inspiration, Bethany. LOL! But we are completely unpacked as of today and should have everything where we want it by the end of the weekend. Woo woo!!

We are all truly amazed at how quickly this "house" became our "home." Each room is perfect for our lifestyle and there is no wasted space. A true blessing!

Wiggles checking out a cupboard...


Tiffani in the backyard...

Tea table ready for action!

Back at the BBQ! We've BBQ'd every night now, but two.

Here's the other side of our backyard...our extended backyard is Peter's Canyon. So much wildlife back there. No roadrunners! BUT we have rabbits, squirrels, another larger critter (opposum?? need my binoculars), and different types of birds. Saw our first hummingbird the other day too!

BBQ Dinner on the Patio

For 18 years in the desert heat, we've been unable to enjoy a summer dinner outside on our patio! It was such a pleasure to be BBQing and dining outside this evening.

Packing and Moving...

Well...our 10 weeks (70 days) were complete on September 1...and we arrived safe and sound to our new home. Big THANK YOU's to Dani, Leslie, and Phyllis who got me where I needed to go as I was car-less in the days leading up to the move. Dani and Leslie for driving me around town for errands...and Phyllis for driving Tiff, Wiggles and me to our new home last night. It was such a blessing not having to worry about a rental car, which as it turned out would not have worked anyway.

Many of you received our first email after our arrival. Wiggles was my biggest concern, but he had an exceptional drive out here. He gave a brief "MEW" every 10 minutes or so to make sure all was fine. I'm sure he was comfortable since he was in his buggy with his favorite blanket and listening to the soothing harp music Tiffani had downloaded on her iPhone.

Empty...


Last dip in the pool...

Full...

Phyllis, Traci, Tiffani & Sierra in the new kitchen...









It's late, but they're playing Jinx!