The Hales

The Hales arrived at the mission home on Monday, April 6 in time for dinner.  We had pizza and salad ready for them.  The plan was to watch the finals of March Madness.  We didn't see so much of that but enjoyed being together.

Tuesday morning we ate waffle mormon.  We wanted to beat the rain that was in the forcast.  We did get to the zoo in Santa Barbara before it rained.  We were grateful we went prepared with umbrellas.  It hardly rains but both times the Hales have come we have had rain storms.  California people love the rain as we are in a drought.

In the background is a giant snake (not real).

I love Tad's look.

I asked the kids what their favorite animal was.  Nash chose the flamingos.

It was good timing to see the elephants eat.  We even had an elephant trainer talk to us about them.

These frogs are poisonous.  They look ceramic and they are very colorful.

I asked Jared and Shelby to let me take their picture as they are love birds in front of the love birds.

Annie loves giraffes.  The baby was born one month ago.

Tate wanted to see the lions.  The female wanted to play but not the male.

The Gibbons were here.  Look closely behind the black one as there is a light colored one that swung on the ropes.  They were so vocally noisey.

The Gorilla is taking off to get his food that was thrown down in a burlap bag.

The rain stopped long enough for us to have a picnic.

We had borrowed the mission van so we could all go together.  We drove through some of Santa Barbara and then went to the movie McFarland USA.
A roast was cooking in the crock pot for dinner.
Annie and I made swig cookies.

They are picking avacados in the back.
Shelby and I were able to go hiking.  It was great being with her and hiking again.

The other mornings we walked/ran and Annie joined us one of the mornings:)

Last time the Hales were here we went to McConnells but we weren't able to get ice cream.  The shop had been vandalized as a rock had been thrown through the window. 

It was a must for this trip.

We had interviews on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  The Hales were on their own during the days.  They went to Universal Studios twice and the beach was sandwiched in the middle.

We wanted to go to Souplantation for dinner which is by the outlets.  The girls went shopping while the boys "hit"the batting cages.

Pismo Beach

We left Ventura Monday and picked up two elders at the airport that have been assigned to our mission. They both got very sick on their missions and are better now and get to serve here.  One served in the Congo and the other in Peru.

We drove to Atascadero and stayed the night so that we wouldn't have to get up so early on Tuesday for interviews. 

We drove to Santa Maria to stay two nights.  Wednesday interviews in SM then Lompoc on Thursday. 

Thursday morning we drove to Pismo to get cinnamon rolls. We've discovered they are so much better consumed on the premises.

For exercise we walked around Pismo. It was windy so a bit cold. 

The Easter bunny is coming. 

B-day celebration

 We went golfing on Saturday to celebrate my birthday.  We haven't golfed since Dell's birthday.  We golfed at Ridge River Golf course.  The weather was perfect even though we got a little sun burned.  

 We drive past this golf course on the way to the mission office. It was fun to golf here which is a par 3 (which I parred). Dell parred several. 

 Dell wants me to ride.  He gave me this bike.  I was trying it out to make sure it fit right. He has promised we will start out on a more level area. We think we'll go down to the beach and ride on the trail.

 Dell made crepes for breakfast and grilled salmon and shrimp for "linner"

 We went to church in Ojai.  We both spoke in Sacrament Meeting.   My topic was on preparing for General Conference and Dell spoke about Christ, Easter and conference. 

  We had a visit from one of our missionaries who returned to the mission with her parents. We went to an Easter concert at the Ventura Stake center to listen to the Southern California Mormon Choir.  

I received so many birthday greetings and many from missionaries.  I felt so loved.  The day was great and I didn't want it to end. 

Meet...

D rides his bike often in the morning and sometimes rides past a woman using a walker.  He stopped to meet her one morning and found out her name was Ruth and she's 90 years old.  They were close to the church and he asked her if she had ever been in it.  She said no and she wasn't interested.  Upon further conversation, she has a son who has been a Bishop in Santa Barbara and a grand daughter serving a mission in Mexico.  We met her son and daughter-in-law when we were in Santa Barbara a month ago.  They told us Ruth told her son she has a new man in her life.  It was President Felix.  

Just over two weeks ago he came across Ruth and they visited for a little while.  He invited Ruth to see Meet the Mormons.  She said no.  At stake conference in Santa Barbara two weeks ago we saw Ruth's son again.  We told him about the experience and when the movie would be shown.  He told us he would get her there.

Last night I got to meet Ruth.  She came and she enjoyed the movie.  It was great!

I call this tree the fuller brush tree.  The blossoms look like little bottle brushes and then there's the beautiful little buds.  We have this tree in our yard but the neighbors have an even fuller one.

I am always on the look out for unique looking flowers.

Yea, Janice Bagley is tending her grand daughters again and she and Eden came by while the others were in school.  She was an angel (as usual).  We found a possible Christmas ornament idea for our missionaries, discussed color of paint for the big wall going up the stairs (we are going to do an accent color), and looked for a couch cover.  She has so much energy.

Jace and Kim

Kim and Jace got to the mission home Saturday after 5:00 p.m.  We were so excited.  We went to Urbane Cafe for dinner and then McConnells for ice cream.  Everyone has to go to McConnells.

It is such a beautiful drive up north.  We decided to go to Lompoc to church.  We weren't able to go to Kassy's baptism on Saturday but she was confirmed in Sacrament meeting.

They found avacados and a couple of oranges.

Dinner consisted of tritip on the grill.  D did a good job in grilling.

We drove to the Cross and this view is on the opposite side of the cross.

We started the Monday off with waffles.  Here's Jace's creation.

We were looking forward to Monday as I had purchased tickets to go whale watching.

Kim named the seal George after the one at Sea World.  This George was smaller.

We saw many dolphins.  It was hard to catch a picture when they jumped in the air.

This pelican made a smooth landing.

We were not on the water too long before whales were spotted.

I didn't get a picture but off in the distance we saw a whale breach.  It was two different ones or one breaching twice.

The expression "slow ship to China..." We found it.  This was a big ship and slow moving.

This is the view as we were coming back to the harbor.

Lunch was at Sea Fresh.  Fortunately the Felixes were able to find something not fish on the menu.  For me -- the clam chowder was the BEST!

Tuesday they were on their own (went to the beach) as we had mission leadership council all day.  They did join us for breakfast of green eggs, ham, and green pancakes that the missionaries came to the house to eat.  It was fun doing that for St. Patrick's day.

Wednesday we walked the pier and then had tacos at the Beach House.

Jace and Kim were trying to make sad faces as they left us on Wednesday afternoon.

Los Angles Temple

Thursday morning I got a text -- "VERY first in line."

So excited for them.