Papa Louie Came to Town - Thanksgiving 2010

We were so excited to have Dad (Grandpa Lou) come spend several days with us for Thanksgiving this year!  I'm frustrated that I was so busy that I forgot about taking pictures of him.  Here are a few that some wonderful person captured of our time together.

Dad with great granddaughter Haydin Adrienne Stowell

Every year we get emotional sharing what we are grateful for.  I decided to lighten it up and spare everyone by playing a game instead.  We each had to say something we were grateful for starting from A to Z as we went around the table - and repeat what everyone had said before us.  It was a lot of fun!

Bob and Barbara and Dad "chillin'" after the big meal.

See, Michael, I'm not the only one who talks with my hands!!

Looks like Robby was trying to coordinate his hair with the curly kale he was chopping.

Scott dishing up his famous homemade pumpkin pie - an annual tradition.

Dad and I enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing day on Monday after all the chaos had calmed down.  We spent the morning shopping for his Christmas gifts from us.  Be on the lookout for some stylin' new outfits.  Then we went for a walk along the ocean at the  Montage in Laguna Beach.  We spent a good hour on this bench enjoying the sun and the waves.  We enjoyed a meal at La Sirena Grill and then headed off to a movie at the new San Juan Capistrano theatres.  It was a perfect day!


Thanks for coming to visit Dad.  We all thoroughly enjoyed having you here.

Back to Posting

I've decided to get back on the horse, as it were, and record some memories of our life.  Sometimes I feel as though I'm putting my heart out there into the nothingness -- but these are my memories and this is a way for me to record them.  I hope I can remember how to do this!!

Scott's birthday - We had a wonderful evening celebrating Scott as we putted around on a duffy (electric) boat in the Balboa Peninsula.  It is such a great excuse to be outside, on the water, enjoying the ocean breezes and the sunset.  I invited all of our Stowell family.  Rob and Claire and Robby were out of town, but the rest of us enjoyed every minute of our evening together!  We rode over to a beach front restaurant and picked up yummy appetizers to dine on throughout the evening.  I love the way the boat takes away any distractions except for enjoying one another's company.

Scott's taking his job very seriously.  Michael took over the reins so Scott could just "chill".

Haydin Adrienne was our youngest guest of the evening.  It was her first big outing and she was amazing!

Ahhh, a night away without the baby, MBA school, or FIDM.

The Big Guy and Stacy.  Wouldn't be the same without them!

I love you Scottie!!

We couldn't resist the allure of the Balboa Fun Zone lit up at night.  So we docked the boat (illegally) and slipped over to the carousel.

Michael and Candice's first time away from the baby.  (She was just a few feet below in Aunt Stacy's arms.)

Nicole - hamming it up.  Dan - with a look of fear and trepidation!

It was actually quite beautiful and soothing up there in the dark, looking out over the lights and the water.

 Then, Candice goaded Nicole into jumping on the bungee trampoline by getting on herself (six weeks after giving birth to a baby!).   The sounds effects on the video are hilarious!!  Sorry, I don't have some video clips to share.