Prom 2010 Orange Glen High School

As I sit here writing this, it is the "day after" one of my youngest son's, new high school memories that I am sure he will not forget. Kevin is still snoozing away in bed, happy dreams about finally getting those dang dress shoes off that he had to wear all night.

This year "the group" of kids came over to our house for pre-picture prior to the Limo Bus showing up to whisk them all away to Humphry's by the Bay for dinner and afterwards, The House of Blues for Prom 2010. The weather held out and we had a perfect evening for "pre-prom-get-together and pictures. Below is the "picture" story of the "pre-prom-get-together".

Here is Kevin waiting for his date Cierra to show up. Okay, yes, typically boy goes and gets girl for Prom. But in this case, special circumstances were in place. Cierra's family lives up in Ramona (about a 1/2 drive up the mountain from us) and her family wanted to come down and take pictures and see the kids off in the limo.


While we were waiting, I took Kevin outside to test some photo locations in the yard. He actually succumbed to his mother's pleading and humored me. Of course...I did get some nice shots of him.


When Cierra arrived, it was her turn for the photo shoot. She looked like a princess.


Kevin and Cierra looking so grown up. So amazing how fast time has gone by. I remember these two as infants. (Cierra was literally born in the same hospital as Kevin, the day before)


Time for the Boutonniere'


And then the Corsage




I was so amazed I got this shot. Kevin actually smiling and enjoying himself. ;)


Pretty soon other couples started to show up. Here is Andie and Eric.


Once everyone had arrived we lined up all of the girls first for a group shot. I loved the color of all the dresses and they all looked fabulous!


Then the boys. So handsome!


Next, the entire group. All very ready to get their evening on the move on and get down to San Diego!


A different angle at the group.


Of course mom and dad had to sneak in a picture with their baby boy.


Then the Limo bus arrived and it was time for all of our grown up kids to get going and have the time of their life!




I am positive their were some happy memories made. Comming up on May 22nd, Kevin gets to escort Cierra to her Senior Prom for Ramona High School. So one more go around for these two. And of course one more go-round of torturing these kids through another round of pictures!

Easter Weekend in the Desert

Boy oh Boy it's been busy! So much happening lately and of course we have the home stretch coming up on Kevin's senior year in high school. Prom this weekend, Graduation in May...College in August.

We had a fantastic weekend out in the desert! Here are the pictures and the stories that go with them.

We arrived late Thursday afternoon before the Easter break. First order of business was putting out our Flamingos in our front yard. Our desert neighbor Ron Neeley passed away in a an accident a couple of weeks ago. At Christmas time he had given all the neighbors Flamingos to hang on our door. He liked flamingos.


Sunset on our first cocktail hill run ever. We are starting a new tradition on the Riviera. Everyday at sunset we'll head to the hill at the end of Saundra and have a cocktail and watch the sunset. Catch up on the days events with our neighbors and maybe plan things for the next day. Our first sunset on our maiden run was beautiful!


The "Day before Easter" potluck at Scott and M.A's. So much food, so many people, lots of good times. All the neighbors and their friends joined us. I think we had over 50 people show up.


Our "Day before Easter" potluck host, Scott aka Pappy


Some of the "girls" at the "Day before Easter" potluck


Another run to our newly annointed Cocktail hill. This time we toasted our friend, Riviera family member and Neighbor Ron Neeley with Orange Martini's. His favorite color was orange and he LOVED the desert. Ron's wife, Cyndi is in the red jacket.


A part of "the gang" at cocktail hill. What a great night we had, tunes, dancing, talking and watching the sunset.


The next day was Easter Morning. All the neighborhood kids met at our house to look for the eggs that the Easter bunny had hidden in the lots next to and behind our house. I think we had over 20 kids show up! They all came back with a basket full of eggs and each got a gift. Thanks to our desert godmothers Debbie and Paige. They'll have some fantastic memories!


An overflowing basket of found easter eggs!


My sons Michael and Kevin and I went on a little Easter ride. We did a geocache while we were out and then Kevin led us around on a nice little ride in the desert.
Here is Kevin


And here is Michael looking for the Geocache "Busy Intersection" We ended up finding the cache in the street sign out there.


At 10 to 4 on Easter Sunday we experienced the Easter Earthquake. The kids and I were sitting in the living room and John had gone back to the bedroom to get something when it started. Kevin was the first to say something: "Am I the only one feeling that?" Then Michael and I: "nope, we feel it too" We still were sitting on the couch. The Salton Sea area gets a lot of quakes and so we just ride them through normally. This one wasn't stopped and seemed to be getting worse. When we started hearing things fall down in the kitchen was when we decide we probably should get outside. The most amazing sight? Seeing John's Avalanche truck with the trailer attached shaking back and forth on the street. It's truly amazing to see that kind of energy from our planet earth. After the quake was over we went inside, I went online and saw the magnitude of the quake. Initially registered as a 6.9 it was later upgraded to a 7.2. It was the most powerful quake I've been through. I'm blessed that my whole family was with me. No worries about anybody being okay. Here is a picture of our kitchen. Some of the tin from up top came down, pictures on the wall in the kitchen fell and framed pictures throughout the house needed to be straightened. Other things fell down throughout the house. I'm good with earthquakes now. I just hope I can live through the rest of my life saying that was the strongest I've been through. I'm done! ;)


It was a doozy.