Father's Day in Pandemic Era

We've been together a long time - and one of the greatest blessings in our lives is our kids, spouses, and grandkids.

 

Grateful when Bonny found Bruce - and so thankful for their 4 lovely daughters - and almost 2 sons-in-law.

 

Plenty of Harrys to go around! 

 

Phoebe found David - the best - and this sweet baby is doing MTC at home - and is doing a great job!

 

Eliza and Matt are a great team - and we love all the Selander kids - and miss them!

David is a GREAT dad - always ready to instruct!

 

We love Robbie - and miss seeing Hannah and the kids too  - miss not being able to go to France too!

 

Noah and Taylor make a great team - and Keesa, Francis and Lee are stellar teammates!

 

Harry continues to do Sunday dish duty - in fact in these pandemic days, he does dish-duty every night!

 

There have not been sleepovers for awhile - but Grandpa Bob stories continue to be written!

Harry is a great dad - as are the wonderful fathers of our grandchildren!

Happy Father's Day!!

The Rock Store!

Katie Harvey posted some photos of geodes and I responded with a comment about Burminco, the Rock Store, and she didn't remember it!  I was somewhat aghast - because I thought everyone in Monrovia knew about Burminco.  But I guess they didn't!

I told her that if she saw a picture of the place, she'd probably remember it.  So I went hunting for a photo - and look what I found??  A photo of George Burnham - founder of Burminco.  Originally it was Burnham's Mineral Company - Bur min co!!  Very clever!

 

Also found a photo of the store - which was a house really.  The Burminco store was started in a 3-car garage that George Burham owned on Encinitas! They lived there and ran the store.  Actually George was often spending months away from home, traveling around the world, gathering rocks and minerals!!

 

When I taught at Wildrose, I took 2 students a month to Burminco - a prize for doing your work, behaving, working hard - earning tickets for all sorts of good behavior - and then we had a drawing. The prize was a walk to Burminco - and no one was ever disappointed!!

I've taken Cub Scout dens, grandchildren, and of course children!!  I was sad to see it go - it has re-located in San Dimas - not quite the same though!

Just a little "walk down Memory Lane!"

Christmas Memories!

The year we rented the place up in the mountains.  An ill-fated venture!

 

It did start out well enough though!

 

And the kids had fun.

 

And Robbie showed his mettle!!

 

You need the not so good to appreciate the really good!!

Christmas Memories!!

Often, at Christmas time, we think about taking family photos - maybe because we are all together!!

Somebody remind me to wear my glasses - Dad too!

 

When Kelly set this up, I was convinced it wouldn't work - but it certainly did!!

 

At long last Noah will not be "a Lone Ranger" and will have Taylor by his side!! The group total will be 33!

But, next year, Ara will be on a mission - and there will only be 32 - unless someone has something to tell us!!

Christmas Memories!!

Christmas celebrations with Bill and Marjorie - we miss them!!

 

We miss Karl too!

 

There are still plenty of babies though!!

 

And the gift opening on Christmas day is much sparser than in years past - but that's okay too!

The clutter is every year though!!

Christmas Memories!

The Helen Terrill Family party - a few years ago - any guesses - Drake looks pretty young here!!

 

The "pageant" was a long-running tradition!

 

The children all love Santa!

 

It was after 2007 because Doug was doing the Santa honors!

 

And Lorie was the angel!!

Those parties were fun - there are some great memories we all share!

Christmas Memories!

One of the first Christmases after we moved back to CA - I think it's 1980!

 

This is Christmas 1971 - our first "family photo!!" And you know where it was taken!

 

Grandma Helen's family party - 1989 from the looks of Noah!

 

David's a little boy - and that is Richard behind him - not sure of the year though - I don't think I was living at home - not sure why I took a photo - maybe we were visiting - but we didn't often come down at Christmas.

Billy and Bobby with the neighbor boy - maybe I was in college for this??

There is something to be said for dating photos!! 

Christmas Memories!!

Christmas 1971 found us all at the Clayton homestead - which called for a group photo!!

 

This is one of the many Messiah Sing Along performances we have attended over the years - not sure what year! They all blend after awhile.  Ara looks pretty young!

 

Eve looks young too!!

 

This is a year ago I think - because Deacon is only two now!

Oh the Christmas seasons come and go!!

Christmas Memories!!

Bonny's first Christmas - spent in SoCal - and she was indeed the apple of everyone's eye!

 

Christmas in the early 60's at the house on Emery.

 

Harry's first Christmas - and one of the few candid baby photos of him.

 

One year - 1998 I think - we rented a house in Laguna - and hired a photographer for a family photo - but Harry F. didn't make it!!

 

1970 - last time I saw my Grandpa Clayton - at least he got to meet Bonny!

Random memories - so many Christmases - so many memories!!

Christmas Memories!

Family visits - the best part of Christmas!!

 

And friends come in a close second!!

 

Clocker's Corner - still a hit after all these years - we keep thinking we won't do it - but we always do!

 

Some of the little kids think they are at the races!!

 

Perhaps a template for an emoji here??