5.8 Earthquake

I am visiting my son in California and we just experienced an earthquake here in Orange County. The epicenter was about 30 miles from Scott and Amy Joys condo. The house was really shaking. Kinda scary! But we are all OK, phones seem to be jammed right now as the whole world is calling to see if everyone is OK. If you have tried to call and couldn't get though we are OK. 5.8 is scary but not enough to bring down buildings. They have been told here that they are due for a big one and usually big ones start with ones about this size so it was a bit scary.

I was outside doing something and so I didn't experience the shaking as much as Amy Joy did in the house and Scott did in his office. Life here seems to be back to normal but the national news is still making quite a big deal about it. We are waiting to see if we feel any after shocks, hopefully we wont. I'm leaving to head for home tomorrow so this is quite an exciting way to finish my vacation.

California is calling . . .

Well I'm getting ready to head out on another trip. This time Rhiana and I are driving to Arizona to spend a weekend with my family. I will get to see my dad (who just turned 94 yrs old) and my brothers and their families. I am really looking forward to seeing all of them.

Then we are heading to sunny California to see Scott and Amy Joy. This is my first visit to their home since they got married. (Sorry I don't have a pic with Amy Joy in it in front of their house)

I can't wait to see them and spend time with them. I am really excited to be with Scott on his birthday too, first time in almost 10 yrs.

We are also looking forward to spending alot of time on the beach and soaking in the California sun!

I can't wait to eat a turkey burger at TK Burgers

and also shrimp tacos at Wahoo's to just name a few of the fun things I have planned.

Dont worry - I'm sure I'll be posting pictures along the way so keep checking back.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer!

Yummy!

Easy Chicken Parmesan

1 jar (14 oz.) spaghetti sauce (about 1-1/2 cups)
1-1/2 cups KRAFT Finely Shredded Italian* Five Cheese Blend, divided
1/3 cup Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs
6-8 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted
6 cups hot cooked spaghetti

PREHEAT oven to 375°F.

Pour spaghetti sauce into 13x9-inch baking dish; set aside.

MIX 1/2 cup of the cheese and the bread crumbs in separate shallow dish. Dip chicken in butter, then in cheese mixture, turning to evenly coat both sides. Place over spaghetti sauce in baking dish.

BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is cooked through; sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake an additional 5 min. or until cheese is melted. Serve over spaghetti.

We're having a BABY!!!!

Well not exactly. I'm not having a baby. But Scott and Amy Joy are!! Now I know what you are thinking. "Didn't they just get married?" The answer is "yes." I think the term for this is "Honeymoon baby!" And also "Yes they were on birth control." But obviously it didn't work!!! They had planned to wait for a couple of years. But the Lord had different plans for them and I guess this baby had waited long enough and wasn't going to wait any longer. So he/she will enter our family around Dec 29, 2008. Scott and Amy Joy are so excited and we are all so excited for them.

They have had 3 ultrasounds already.

So I would like to introduce you to my little grandson/granddaughter. These are his/her first pictures.

3 Weeks


6 Weeks


9 Weeks ~ I can't believe how much he/she changed in just a few weeks. From 6 weeks to 9 weeks the baby went from 10mm to 25mm and is actually starting to take form. See the head, arms and legs. Isn't it so cool!

Hopefully the next ultrasound will let us all know if it is a girl or boy. I'm thinking it looks like a little boy. What do you think?

Happy Memorial Day!

Whether you . . .

. . .have a yummy barbecue


. . . have a little fun in the water


. . .go to a new movie


. . . pay respect to those who have gone on before us


. . .or just kick back and relax . . .

Enjoy your weeekend and be safe!

He's a winner no matter what happens!

He did an amazing job last night. Right now as I am posting this it is 1/2 hour before the final show. In my opinion he proved last night that he is America's next Idol. But even if he doesn't win he is going places. And he is a winner in my eyes!

Here is his final song that he sung last night. Incredible!

Whose it gonna be? David or David??

No surprises here. I figured it was going to come down to these two. But now the question is: Who is America's next Idol?

David Archuleta or . . .

David Cook?

I'm thinking it is going to be Cook but it could be Archuleta. But then again it could be Cook. . .although there is a good chance it could be Archuleta. Oh my gosh - I just can't decide. The only thing I do know for sure is that . . . his first name will be David. The question - WHICH ONE????

Who do you think it will be?

The pictures are finally here!

We finally got the pictures from our photographer. So this post is dedicated to
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Gneiting.
We are all so happy for you both.
Enjoy every moment of your new life together because time goes by so fast.
Always remember how happy you are today!!!
You are absolutely the happiest and cutest newlywed couple I've seen lately.
I love you!
~Mom Gneiting

Our days in D.C.

The last place we visited on our trip was Washington DC. We stayed for two days and it rained the whole time we were there. But thanks to Cameron and Hollie finding parking close to the different monuments and umbrellas and raincoats we were still able to see most everything.





This was as close as we got to the White House. It was pouring down rain and getting dark. We drove down a small side street and there was the White House. There was no traffic and so we stopped to take a couple quick pictures. I took this pic while Hollie and Cameron were walking across the street. As I started to take their pic I heard a car coming so I just stood there, with the camera up to my face, waiting for it to pass by so it wouldn't be in the pic. All of a sudden I heard, "Get back in your car and move on." I looked up and it was a cop and he was talking to me. I stood there frozen wishing that I had taken the pic. I was tempted to go ahead and quickly take it but he said again through his speaker, "Get in your car NOW and move along!" He sounded so serious and he might as well of been saying, "Put your hands up in the air and don't move!" I decided that it wasn't worth getting thrown in jail for one picture so Holls and Cam walked back to the car and we left. As we drove off I said that I thought they should have signs if they don't want you to park there. Just then a turned around and looked out of the back window and I saw a BIG sign that said "NO PARKING AT ANYTIME". Who reads signs anyway!

We were going to try to get closer to the White House the next day but we got busy going to the Smithsonian Institute museums that we ran out of time and it was raining even worse so this is the best picture that I got of the White House. Oh well. . .I guess this gives me a good excuse to have to go back east again someday.

President Monson Ear Wiggle

This was in the Priesthood session of conference. What a great sense of humor from a great man!

A day in the Big Apple

We drove from Philly to Staten Island and

caught the ferry to lower Manhatten.

We saw the Statue of Liberty and of coarse

the beautiful New York City skyline.

One of the first things we did was find Canal Street where all of the street venders are so we could buy $1000 look alike Dolce Gabana purses for 20 bucks.

(I'm not sure if this guy is a purse salesman or a plumber! Sorry for the view!)

This is Wall street


and the New York Stock Exchange.

This is as close as we got to the Empire State building but I thought that this was a cool view of it.

Then we jumped on the subway

and headed uptown. Our first stop . . .

. . . Central Park.

It was really pretty and huge. There were so many people enjoying the beautiful park and weather.

I loved it. This one one of my favorite parts of NYC.

A few of the other things we saw~
Break dancers in the park -

Trump Tower -

Where they film David Lettermen (would have liked to go to a show but didn't have time)

The Hello Deli (wanted to eat there but it had just closed for the day.)

And of course - Times Square.

I couldn't believe how many people there were. As the day went on the streets got more. . .

and more . . .

and MORE crowded. It was crazy!

Of coarse we had to try New York Style pizza (it was yummy)

And we finished off the day with the best cheese cake around. (I'm not sure who that couple is next to Hollie and Cam but they enjoyed getting their picture taken!)

There is way to much to see in New York City in just one day so I hope that I can go back some day and spend more time. But we had a blast and it was a great experience visiting the BIG APPLE.

Stay tuned for our next stop - Washinton D.C.