MASSACRE

Ashley came home today and said that the word "chickens" was written on the chalk board at school in anticipation of the chicks coming to visit tomorrow. Unfortunately, on the eve of their visit and after their first day playing out in their pen for an hour... their lives were cut short. After dinner it was sunny and the kids were playing outside and I was watering the yard and Dan went in the garage to find Ruckus-the-mass-murderer in the chick's pen. He had killed them all. And was proud of it. I didn't think the kids would get their "life and death" lesson so soon, but they did. Heidi was the most upset. I tried to explain that they are in heaven having fun and playing with Jesus. And she wouldn't buy it because "they can't open their eyes and think anymore". Dan is furious with me for not making their box "dog proof". Next time I will. "Live and Learn" or is it "Die and Learn"? :(

Capistrano Swallows Day Parade

Today we went to San Juan Capistrano for the 51st annual "Swallows Day Parade" celebrating the return of the swallows to the Capistrano Mission. Our day trip started out at 10:30 with an attempted bribe to a police officer. In exchange for admission to the closed road, we offered a Krispy Creme Donut. He said as much as he wanted it, he was not allowed to take bribes but gave us admission anyways so we could "drop-off" the Fam. Below is a video of my favorite entry, The Ranchero standing on the giant bull. And the other video is of Heidi imitating a horse wagging it's tail. After the parade we walked to a favorite mexican restaurant for lunch and then sat in traffic for the next hour trying to get out of town. It was then, we remembered why we havn't gone to the parade in 9 years.... CROWDS!

Chick Pics

Maribel
Agnes & Vera
Gertrude

Daisy

Weekend with the Johnsons

Last Thursday our friends from Law School, Mike & Erin Johnson, with their girls Kayla and Brooke( also know as the "hillbillies"), came to stay with us for 3 nights after "amusing" themselves in San Diego at the Parks. We took them to the Lake, and beach. And of course... Chronic Tacos. We also raised their "gambling awareness" by pulling out the slot machine for the weekend. We hit the jackpot at least 3 times... so you know it was well played. Their girls referred to our place as "The House" as if it were an amusement park of its own. The girls all slept together on an air mattress and played nonstop. It was a fun weekend and we tried to convince them to stay longer... but the responsibilities of life dragged them back to Sacramento:(

THEY'RE HERE!

The call came at 10:00 this morning that my birds were in. Taking no time to shower or set the alarm on the house as I left, I speeded to the Post Office. I rushed in thinking.."I have to hurry and get those chicks before they freeze to death." They only hatched yesterday. I was greeted at the postoffice with a -Take-A-Number box. My number was 98 and they were on 81..... UGGGH the agony of waiting for federal employees! When my turn came, I was given a chirping box. I hurried home and opened it up. The video is what I saw.
Reed with Gertrude

Ashley with Daisy

Emily with Agnes / Vera

Heidi with Maribel

Dan's Underwater Adventure

My thoughts on Hockey

I have never watched a hockey game before, and don't know the rules at all. Dan had some tickets to the Anaheim Ducks game last night, so I went. A few things crossed my mind while I was watching the game and I will share them with you.
1. Geeze... this is violent.
2. Are they really allowed to fight like that?
3. Why is the other guy not stealing the puck while they are fighting? I would .
4. With the exception of attending Mormon General Conference in college, this is the largest group of white people I have ever seen.
5. I hope that puck doesn't fly out and hit me in the face.
6. I hope that puck doesn't fly out and hit Dan in the face.
7. Some of those players could be hot, if they didn't have so many scars on their faces.
8. Sporting events program people to respond in certain ways.
9. These guys are all millionaires. I would fight to entertain a large crowd if you paid me millions.
10. How can they Ice Skate like that?
11. That goalie is going to have knee problems when he gets older.
12. I didn't know they played Rammstein in the States.

Californians can't drive in rain.

It's a good thing we don't get too much rain here, and even better that it never freezes. I was taking Reed and a car full of scouts to a "scout thing" a few weeks ago and in the car-pool lane was a car stopped and facing me with it's lights on. Slowing down for rain, and only going 60, I quickly broke the law- and veered out of the carpool lane so I wouldn't hit it. I then called 911 to report it and went along my merry way.
This picture was taken last week and demonstrates that with 7 lanes of traffic all kicking up hazy water it is tough to see on these freeways. It is like when you pass a semi on a regular freeway in the rain and you get blasted with misty haze. But on these freeways the haze doesn't go away after you pass the truck.

Emily's a-cookin'

For Christmas, Emily got a little cookbook with measuring cups and spoons from her Grandma B. She nagged me for weeks to cook. Finally the stars were aligned, and the kitchen was clean, and I had nothing I had to do at the moment ...so she started her baking endeavor. She made white chocolate brownies, which consisted of white chocolate, sugar, and canned milk. When they were done she tasted them and has shown no interest in cooking again. I however, have overtaken her measuring cups and use them daily. You can never have too many measuring cups!