What We're Up To

Samantha's Area Orchestra Concert

2010-03-30T16:54:00.001-07:00

Samantha is on her 2nd year playing the Violin. Here are a couple of photos at their area concert at the high school

Mormal 2010

2010-03-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of Melanie and friends at the pre-dance festivities. The Dance was held at Soka University and the theme was "Old Hollywood" This year there were many more long dresses and alot more glam !

March 2010 Brian volunteers at Mitt Romney's No Apology Book Tour

2010-03-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

Since I do not put up my blogs in a timely manner I should have always put the date in the title. Sorry.

So, Brian had wanted to go to get Mitt Romney to sign his book but we had so much going on that day that we just decided it couldn't be fit in. Then we received a call from a friend, Rob Thiriot, who was asked by another friend, Reggie Woods, to volunteer or find a volunteer to help work the No Apology book tour in Costa Mesa. So Brian was called and was able to go be part of the event and again meet Mitt Romney !

Brian attends Ca Public Policy Conference

2010-03-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

Brian and a few members of the Orange County Teenage Republicans attended Clairmont Institutes, California Public Policy Conference in December 2009.

There were many great speakers including Bill Bennett, Thomas Fuentes, and best of all, Mitt Romney !!! He called the Teenage Republicans over to meet him personally and referred to them in his address later that day ! Here are some pictures !

DiGiorno Houseparty

2010-03-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

We had a DiGiorno houseparty on March 19th. They have a new delicious combo of Pizza, Breadsticks and Marinara. Be sure to try it. It is as good as delivery !

Gourmet Club

2010-03-30T15:18:00.001-07:00

In my Mardi Gras blog I gave the blog address for our Gourmet Club. Here is a picture just to peak your interest. We take turns preparing a 7 course formal dining experience for the rest of the club.

Catching Up !

2010-03-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

When i was filling out an application for a houseparty I realized that I have been on facebook so much I have neglected our blog and so I am catching up now !

I still have to post -

Girls Camp
Camping with friends and family
Nancy's Wedding
Christmas
OCMCO
Brian turns 16
Northern Greens visit
Southern Greens
Halloween

I better get to work !

Mardi Gras House Party from houseparty.com and Zatarains

2010-03-30T14:52:00.000-07:00

Laura and Leo held a Mardi Gras Party for their friends and family. Zatarains offered products for us to try and then we went all out trying some new Cajun/Creole recipes ourselves. We had mask making, Mardi Gras trivia, homemade root beer. It was really good. I even used one of the Zatarains recipes for my Gourmet Club dinner which is really saying alot for Zatarains !

I think that I liked the Zatarains Red Beans and Rice the most out of the mixes. Making Homemade Root Beer was something fun and new. I used the Cajun seasoning in a shrimp dip recipe, in Zatarains BBQ Shrimp recipe and lots more. Enjoy the photos ! for my Gourmet Club photos and recipes go to our blog - bonvivant-oc.blogspot.com.

Cliff and Stacie having a baby !!!

2010-03-30T14:44:00.000-07:00

Well, i guess Cliff and Stacie wanted to celebrate their 1 year anniversary in a big way. Last year we went to Utah the beginning of April for a Bridal Shower and this year we are going up to Utah the beginning of April for a Baby Shower. Baby Calvin is due May 14th !!! We will be Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, and Uncles. Grandma Sharon is really excited to be a Great-Grandma ! How fun for us !!!

Cliff got Married !!!!

2009-05-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

Cliff married Stacie Van Gieson on May 9th in the Seattle Temple. We are so proud of them and excited for their life together.

Vote YES on Prop 8

2008-10-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

What we are up to right now is YES ON PROP 8 in California !!!!

Dear Family & Friends,

Please take a minute to watch and study the video clips and articles below. In our state (California) this November, a very important proposition is on the ballot. I am actively working with many others to get as many people to vote YES for Proposition 8. But before you decide, please watch the video clips and read the article to better understand the consequences to your family and mine if Proposition 8 fails.

This proposition is NOT about limiting rights for anyone. In California we have civil unions which guarantee same sex couples are not discriminated against and at least most of the rights of couples in traditional marriage. Legislature has already been proposed to give same sex partnerships equal rights, which is not enough for the groups opposing prop 8. If prop 8 does not pass we will have great infringments on our religious freedom and our rights to raise our children as we see fit.
I have seen several videos and other material on this subject. Below the clips and article are listed six consequences if Proposition 8 fails.

Check out these videos -

Tell your catholic friends to go to - www.catholicvote.com - they have such a fabulous video there, you will love it, it can bring you to tears !!!!!

Go to www.iprotectmarriage.com and this site has lots of stuff but the best is the link at the top that says The Fine Line and it takes you to a 1/1/2 hour church meeting but they say what you need to hear within the 1st 10 minutes. It is pretty impressive.

Another great article on this issue is at -
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-divine-institution-of-marriage

What is happening in Massachusetts and will happen here if Prop 8 doesn't pass - http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1815820715?bctid=1822459319

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko2-EQss0V4 - this one is almost funny

Same sex marriage doesn’t effect me so why should I be against it?
This one is really good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy639NFMngM

If you care about your gay friends, you want them to be happy and that might mean marrying the person they love. Telling them they can’t get married isn’t very loving is it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C87NqA6-2zg

Why shouldn't homosexuals have the same right to marry according to their orientation?
If people were allowed to marry according to their orientation then
Pedofiles would have to be allowed to be married
Why can’t a man marry his horse?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GpoWm89GSY

Isn’t banning homosexual marriage like banning interracial marriage?
A good response to a troubling question.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mNIVhGrnY

Six Consequences If Proposition 8 Fails -

1. Children in public schools will be taught that both traditional marriage and same-sex marriage are okay.
The California Education Code already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage. (§51890)
Therefore, if the definition of marriage is changed, children will be taught that marriage is a relation between any two adults. There will be serious clashes between the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children their own values and beliefs.
2. Churches will be sued if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings that are open to the public. Ask whether your pastor, priest, minister, bishop, or rabbi is ready to perform such marriages in your chapels and sanctuaries.
3. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston has already closed its doors because of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
4. Religions that sponsor private schools and which provide housing for married students will be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if it runs counter to church doctrine, or lose tax exemptions and benefits.
5. Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages will be sued for hate speech and could be fined by the government. It has already happened in Canada, one of six countries that have legalized gay marriage.
6. It will cost you money. A change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits. Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today's activist judges), think of the money – your money, your church contributions – that will have to be spent on legal fees.

And think of all the unintended consequences that we cannot even foresee at this time. Where will it end?
It's your children, your grandchildren, your money, and your liberties.
Lets work together to protect them.

Sweet 16 !!!!!

2008-07-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

Melanie turns 16 on July 15th !!! Time sure flies. She isn't driving yet but we hope that she will schedule her drivers training class soon. Mom can't wait to get her driving the younger kids around.

Movies

2008-07-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Our family does like movies and recently we saw...

Get Smart - It was hilarious and we love Anne Hathaway and Steve Carrel which made it even better. Everyone in the theater was laughing out loud. Hint - whenever the critics don't like a movie it means that it will be entertaining for the rest of us.

Kit Kittredge (American Girl) - We thought this movie would be O.K. and at least appropriate for the whole family. Boy were we surprised that we all enjoyed it alot. It was entertaining, great actors were in it, and we learned alot about life during the depressing. So kids, parents and even grandma loved it. To quote Grandma "All movies should be like this". And Grandma is usually hard to please when it comes to kid friendly movies.

Movies to Rent

2008-03-16T01:02:00.000-07:00

Well, this week has been good for us in the movie rental/purchase department. There are 3 movies we would recommend for you to rent or buy for your families.

Dan In Real Life - my daughter Melanie saw this and said it was hysterical.
Nancy Drew - We all liked it and it was so wholesome and fun with scary stuff too.
Enchanted - This is going to be one of our all time favorites. The acting is great. It is a meaningful movie and fairy tale at the same time. Really happy and fun songs too that we like to sing around the house.

Hope you can enjoy these movies soon.

Catching up with old friends...

2008-03-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed visiting with my high school friends in January. Tami (Bishop) Farnsworth, Pauline Bennett, Karen (Andonian) Svadjian.

Politics....

2008-03-11T17:58:00.000-07:00

We went to a Mitt Romney ralley in Long Beach the night before our California primaries. It was so fun. His speech was fantastic. We are looking forward to 2012.

With our friends the Ostergars - Alan IV, Jane, Adam, Cathy - at the Long Beach airport.

Samantha enjoys the political scene.

Mitt holding his newest grandbaby. His son lives in San Diego.

Elder Kevin Hale Returns After Successful Mission to Texas !!!

2008-03-11T00:41:00.001-07:00

After 2 years serving in the Texas Fort Worth Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Elder Kevin Hale has returned home on February 7th 2008. The crowds were cheering as he descended down the escalator. Elder Hale can now be hugged and can be called Kevster-rooni. Kevin is going to live, work and go to school in Utah. Right now he is enjoying substitute teaching at local schools and after a little vacation back home for Easter he will return and get to room in an apartment with his brother, Cliff, also a successful returned missionary. (I wish I knew how to blog when Cliff was on his mission.) Jon Shelton, a "brother from another mother" was on hand for Kevin's homecoming as he is now graduated from BYU and working in Los Angeles.

"I'm a model, you know what I mean and I do my little dance on the catwalk"

2008-03-11T00:33:00.000-07:00

Cliff looking handsome in his new tux at his first UVU Chamber Orchestra concert. Cliff plays the cello.

Melanie and Brian are into waterpolo...

2008-03-11T00:23:00.001-07:00

Melanie is playing waterpolo in high school. This is her 2nd year. She loves it. This time of year she is on the swim team.

Brian is in 8th grade and started waterpolo after school this year. He is enjoying it and lots of friends are playing it too. This team is co-ed for now so Annaliese is in this photo too.

Daddy and Daughter Dance

2008-03-08T23:57:00.000-08:00

Doesn't Sam look beautiful

2008-03-08T23:52:00.002-08:00

Samantha gettting ready for the Ball

2008-03-08T23:45:00.001-08:00

Daddy Daughter Royal Ball

2008-03-08T23:18:00.000-08:00

Samantha and her Dad, Leo, attended a Royal Ball this evening for Princesses and their Dads. Samantha wore a Cinderella Ball Gown, her princess bracelet from Aunt Carole, and my necklace. At Activity Days she made a coursage for herself and a bouttenier for her dad. Leo looked so handsome as he escorted his princess to the ball.

Enjoy the photos !

Welcome

2008-03-08T23:13:00.000-08:00

Welcome Family !!!

We thought this might be a fun way to let you know "What we're up to". You can let us know "what you're up to" by emailing me and I can post your stuff or you can just add comments to our posts.

Love you guys and gals,
Laura and family