Sophia and Avery

Today I got to babysit! Where did all the monkey heads come from?

Thais and Lenin just moved into a new house. Discoveries so far:  new jumping opportunities,

a safer way to stand on the back of the couch,

and a great place to drop (only soft)) things to the floor below.

Even though Sophia wasn't feeling well, she could still smile for the camera.

E Nicolaus in late September

The rice has ripened,

and the harvesting has begun.

Justin's neighbor Jaime land-planed the front and back fields to get ready for winter wheat.

Backstory: Dear Phyl,

I've been lying a lot to you the past 3 weeks.  Making 21 hand-stitched chicken masks was a bigger challenge than I first thought and I had to keep a steady pace to finish the job on time.

Aug 30: the first successful mask was complete and I was on my way to cutting out 40 combs. I was about to become less available and would make you wonder what was going on.  I am so sorry, but it was for a good cause.

Sept 12: I was sick today and didn't feel well enough to go to work, but that didn't stop me from sewing almost all day.

Sept 15: inching closer, but you must think I'm a nut job.  This afternoon when we couldn't connect to go shopping together, I had actually rushed out to buy more embroidery thread.

Sept 20: there was no way I had time to make the food I'd committed to bring.  Thankfully, Stacey volunteered to make it all.

Sept 21: The day of the party! Morning coffee and sewing on the last pieces of elastic. Done at 12:20.

Lots of work, but so worth it.  

Phyllis 70th birthday party

Timeline of Phyl's life, part 1.

Part 2

Part 3.

From Phyl's days at TransCal, Mark and Carol.

Family: Helen, Ken, Greg.

Work friends, Joel and Bridget

L-R:  Phyl's sons Jon and Chris, brother Chuck.

Sisters-in-law Pat and Carolyn.

Phyl with great grandson Chris III.

Grandchildren Alexa and Juan.

Daughters-in-law Melissa and Mary and grandson Chris Jr.

Chef Dave.

Phyl with friends Judy and Kathy.

Nieces Jan and Sharon.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=c4-feed-u&v=_FH0iT2BXKQ

If you go to the YouTube link above, you should be able to see the chicken flash mob surprise for Phyl,    It was a big hit.  Our group of "Spring Chicks."

Friends from work. It looks like the woman at the far left has a bowl on her head and Bridget has given the person to her right rabbit ears.

Phyl's family.

The day before the big party

Today is Phyllis' real 70th birthday, the big party is tomorrow. Phyl's older son Greg came by.

Carol (Phyl's sister) and Jerry are here from Bakersfield. Time for beer and cigars on the patio under the new cover Dave finished just in time.

It sure looks like Jerry is telling a whopper of a story, but that's so unlike him, right?

Happy Birthday to me

#65 - celebrating with family at a local restaurant.

Rio Linda Elverta Country Faire: afternoon festival

Depot Park and the community center grounds were filled with a variety of venues.

Kids zone with crafts and bounce houses.

The results of the Peace Garden planting.

This was Phyllis' class.

There's Phyl in the middle row at the teacher's right side.

There were stage acts scheduled all day. Bands later in the day,

In the morning a magic act for children and families.

Inside the depot building, historical displays where

Phyllis spotted her older brother Chuck in one school photo.

Rio Linda Elverta Country Faire: morning parade

Last year's centennial celebration was so successful, local volunteers organized a similar event this year.

Grandpa Bob!

The local county supervisor rode in Old Betsy, Rio Linda's first fire truck.

Pirates walked behind their flagship.

Riding with her daughter is KJ, a local teacher and friend. I first met KJ as her mentor when she and another phase 3 student teacher were assigned to a 6th grade class for the last half of a school year because there was no already-credentialed person to hire. Many years later, we worked together at Westside Charter School. Most recently she guided our CELDT testing team at Orchard School. And ... I was her husband's 4th grade teacher at Rio Linda Elementary.