The three day work week is a great thing. I could get used to it. I spent two nights and two days at the temple and stayed in the apartments. Los Angeles is a serene place from the third floor view at the temple apartments. It was so quiet and peaceful in the big city on Sunday morning. The UCLA Ward didn't disappoint with the pipe organ and young college age families all happy and enthusiastic. I attended the annual Christmas fireside in the temple for workers. The big upper room was filled to capacity and the Southern CA Mormon Choir sang magnificently. It is an amazing experience to associate with good people and fill the spirit of temple work. See you there.

Hey ya!

Have you ever hiked in the mountains in the fall? It is so peaceful and beautiful before the snow gets too deep. On a sunny day you see animals, hear the wind, and watch blue jays misbehaving. There is little competition for the hiking trails. I don't like snow camping so I don't hike overnight or go above 10,000 feet after Thanksgiving. The neighborhood or the bike/walking path are my wintertime hiking trails. There is nothing greater than a refreshing walk in the woods.

We are back from our 34th anniversary celebration. It was so relaxing at the beach and a break from the Bakersfield heat. It was fun to see a game at Angels Stadium and go to Downtown Disney. Thankyou to kids and grandkids who visited us at the beach. We got really excited for our family reunion next summer (starting August 1st, 2010). Congratulations to Ashley and Ben ! They are expecting a baby in February 2010. We have really missed the Robertsons since they went home in July. Thanks for the blog pictures and updates. Our mundane news is new trees and grass in part of the backyard and getting a new roof this week. We love you and miss you. If you happen to read this then say hello.

rare blog

Now that Betty is off work she is systematically going through the house and yard with a fine tooth comb. She pulling out landscaping in the back yard and has workmen working on concrete, pool, and replanting grass and shrubs. There are bags and boxes for Goodwill and stuff overfilling the garbage can. It is nice to have her at home again. She gets to take a trip to Utah to visit kids, grandkids, siblings, and her mom. I will join her for a weekend to see my dad and everbody. The dog, Cooper, will take care of the house and new landscaping for us while we are visiting family. What are you doing this summer?

We attended our stakes performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and it was magnificent. It was one of those things you go to not expecting much and coming out impressed and excited. The singing, sets, music, and costumes were great. Visit us this weekend and we will take you to see it.

We just got back from a quick camping trip at Morro Bay State Park with the Bucks. I remember all the fun times we have had there. I can't go often enough. The kids descended on the shell shop and we got taffy just like old times. Thank goodness they are too young to spend much time in the surf shops.

Hey ya

We are having a fun vacation in Utah.  Can you say fun and Utah in the same sentence?  Betty has been spending time with her mom and I have been with my dad.  We had a fun meal at the Cracker Barrel and tomorrow we go to the dinosaur museum.  It is fun to spend time with Ashley, Ben, Brittany, Jackson, Bennett, and Isaac.   I'll blog again next year.  Kimball

first haircut

Ambrose was perfectly happy to get his haircut if mom was with him and he had a sucker to occupy him. That didn't keep the barber from cutting his bangs too short.