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I love this picture which was taken a couple of years ago up in Santa Barbara. The famous Santa Barbara Mission. This seems to be a new fad among the 4th graders to do a report on a mission. The only reason that I say this is because I don't remember having to do the report. It was a fun little adventure now that I look back on the occasion. I'm looking forward to Jessica doing her mission report this year. Hopefully, we'll make it to the San Juan Capistrano Mission. Anthony did his on the Santa Buenaventura Mission aka Ventura. Each year the kids seem to be getting more creative with their presentations. You can do a scrapbook, make a movie or even get a kit from you local craft store. I'm hoping this year to put a movie together. See how I throw myself into the project. I'm starting to wonder who actually is doing the work these days the kids or the parents. I guess it doesn't really matter these days. As long as you have the chance to spend time with your child then that's worth its wait in gold.
Here is some information regarding the Santa Barbara Mission.
The "Queen of the Missions". On a spring day in 1782 the Padre Presidente of the California Missions, Father Junípero Serra, and the Spanish Governor de Neve founded (as Serra supposed) the presidio and mission of Santa Barbara. Today the mission archives preserve the record book of the mission which the earnest padre carefully started on that day. But the arbitrary governor would not allow the actual establishment of the mission. A frustrated Father Serra retired to Carmel, where he died two years later on August 28, 1784. Father Fermin Lasuén, one of the missionaries who had arrived with Serra at San Diego, became the new Padre Presidente and the actual founder of Mission Santa Barbara, December 4, 1786.
The difficult years were over and the "Golden Age" of the California Missions was dawning. Launched as it was at the beginning of such prosperous times, Santa Barbara had the greatest of good fortune during all its early years. True, an early church was destroyed in the earthquake of 1812, but a new and more impressive edifice was already needed.
Santa Barbara's mission church, with its world-famous twin bell towers, boasts of a stone facade patterned after an ancient Latin temple in pre-Christian Rome. The design is traced to a book brought to California by the Franciscans, a Spanish reprint of an architecture book originally published in 27 B.C. This beautiful new church stood firm for over a hundred years until suffering severe damage in an earthquake in 1925. Two years of rebuilding plus later restoration work has maintained the exact original appearance.
The Indians at Santa Barbara, more intelligent and cooperative than some, quickly made the new mission self-sustaining. 150 neophytes actually were armed and trained to reinforce the presidio guard in 1818 against a threatened attack by the French pirate, Bouchard.
Of all the California missions, only lovely Santa Barbara essentially escaped the exploitation suffered from secular elements at other locations, helped by the joint residency of the last Padre Presidente and the first Bishop of the Californias. When both men died in 1846 an eager Pio Pico rushed in for the coup but he was too late, for California became United States Territory.
Having been occupied by the Franciscans from the day of the founding until the present, Santa Barbara's interior appearance has changed little, due to continuous loving care. But on the outside, gone are the mud huts of the Indian village. In their stead are green lawns, and a beautiful rose garden, beyond which the modern city stretches to the blue Pacific. The present stone church, with its familiar twin bell towers, is the fourth to stand on the site counting the first rough, temporary chapel.
Lovely Santa Barbara is the only mission in the California chain remaining under control of the Franciscans without interruption from the day of its founding until the present time. All others were abandoned one by one after the Mexican secularization decrees robbed the missions of their lands and control over the Indians.
Early in the 19th century the mission had more than 1,700 Indian neophytes living in a village of 250 adobe houses. More adaptable and energetic than some, the Santa Barbara Indians soon helped to make the mission self-sustaining. At one time 150 neophytes actually were armed and drilled to reinforce the Spanish presidio guard. After secularization the mission became a parish church, first Mexican and later American.
Hopefully, this will come out... Usually, Jessie and I will hangout at the coffee shop on Wednesday night but unfortunately we had to move it to Thursday. Jasmine and Anthony accompanied us on this trip. I was fortunate enough to capture this on tape. This is a game of Uno that we were playing. Can you see the sibling rivalry?
Our weekend getaway... Yes, the two of us went away for the weekend just the two of us. This is starting to be a ritual after 11 years of marriage. We don't get to have a date night that often because he's in school, so we take a few days every now and then to recharge our batteries. I thought on the way up our batteries had died but once we arrieved they started flowing. We have our days when we are cold as ice to each other or what you would call a frappacino or those days when we are loving once in a bluemoon. In all we are stuck like glue... On one of the hikes he pushed me up the stairs of this place called Morro Rock as I was exhausted but with his help I was able to make it to the top.... Isn't it great when you have those days when you are on top of the world!!!! That was the feeling once I arrived but I couldn't have done it without him.... Yes, my guy!!!
Well, I hope that everyone had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving. Ours turned out very nice. We had a lovely Thanksgiving and then to top it off Tom and I drove up to Sequoia Kings Canyon for the weekend. We did a little hiking and a little bit of rest from the daily grind of things. No kidding, the first night we were in bed by 7:00 and then the next morning we were up at 8:00 at least I was. Tom had to leave and go to Walmark to buy a sleeping bag as he forgot to pack two and we couldn't fit into one... He lasted until about 5:30 and then took off... Even the dogs were cold. I was well prepared with my snow pants... Yes, that's the secret I found this out a couple of years ago and that how we are able to go when it's cold or I would never survive. Well, I have to run but this is a deer that we ran across on our hike down to the river. I will post more thu the week....
Well, soccer season is finally over for Jessie... They didn't win any games this year but for the last game the team gave it their all!!! These are a few pictures that were taken by the coach's wife. They turned out great. She also made a collage of each child and different action shots. In the end Jessie has decided that she would like to return for next season. Tom and I were pretty excited because this is something she can actually do if she puts her mind to it. I will keep you posted on her next activity.
My favorite time of the year has just arrived as Turkey Day is next Thursday. It's not the food but family and friends. I remember my first Thanksgiving when I was about four or five. My grandmother preparing the turkey and I would call it Tom the turkey and watching the Macy's Day Parade. In the years to come I would learn to make Sweet Potato Pie, Macaroni and Cheese, the Turkey and a few other things. I'm not sure if it's as good as my grandmother's but everyone seems to enjoy it. I need to pass these things on to my children before they are lost. Here is to my grandmother... Granny as we like to say. She's so cute!!! One time, I remember going in to say Hi to her and she said, "Hey Girl Friend." or another time when my mom and aunt were having an argument and she turned to me and said,"Stop your Crying". It was just shocking because she hasn't said much of late. Oh, how I miss her stories. She use to always have a story for me... Well, it that time of the day again when I must get back to work... I love you Grandmama....
The kids and I decided to go and spend a few days with my mom. As you can see they Jessie and Seven were having a great time ganging up on Anthony. It was all in fun.
Aren't these the cutest little toes you have ever seen??? That's a mom for you. Jessie was fooling around with my camera and this is what I found. Too cute!!!
This is a very dear friend of mine that I have known for the last 20 year if not more... I'm to tired to do the math. We've been friends since middle school. She's like my sister when ever I'm in a bind she's always there to help out. I tell her it's not my fault but my mom's because I'm a only child. I can call her at anytime and she will be there. It's gotten to the point that I will ask what she is doing first, so I will know if I should ask or not. Otherwise, she will drop what ever she is doing for me to help out. 
I didn't quite feed into all the hoopla but she got the doll anyway from her father. He would go to the ends of the earth for her even walk thru fire but wouldn't any parent.
I had taken this photo about six months ago if not longer and thought I would post it. I was trying to take a picture of something abstract and then put it into a collage. I still trying to form the idea. It's always work in progress. 
I found this picture yesterday while surfing the net. I just love the picture so I thought I would post it. If I could be so fortunate to be able to take pictures like this. My dream would be to go to another country to go on a photography trip. Someday, maybe when the kids are older and doing the own thing who knows.
Dr Bray and Superfly... Don't ask. For some unknown reason Anthony didn't want to get dressed up this year for Halloween, so he came as himself. I guess since he has entered middle school he thinks he to old for those types of things, of course, he's been stealing his sister candy. Your never to old for candy. Right??? Dr Bray wanted to be a mad doctor hence the red eye shadow. She wanted to go for the blood theme but I intervened... Well, maybe next year we will try something different. The kids are getting so old they might not want to hang out with me... We'll see. Jasmine has already left the nest for her second year in a row on Halloween night... Any suggestions.
You don't love someone because they are perfect. You love them inspite of that fact that they are not.
Well Jessie has tried her hand at track, softball and now soccer... I don't think we have found her passion as of yet. I told her that we would get her into a ballet class and see how that goes or maybe cheerleading. I'm hoping to find something that she will love to do. Wish me luck on this adventure.
The heart hath its own memory, like the mind, and in it are enshrined the precious keepsakes.
Last night as we were leaving for church you could see all around the surrounding valley the fires that were cause by the high winds. My heart goes out to the people that are having to deal with the fire first hand..jpg)
