Newport Beach 6/10!

Hardester Family Reunion at Newport Beach Marriott Villas. Woohoo - we had a great time.

We started our excitement at San Jose airport where unexpectedly we ended up riding on the same plane as Eric. He came from Salt Lake through Reno and San Jose. Greg and Eric didn't figure it out until just about 15 minutes before we boarded. Greg said there was a surprise for me. And then he said "And this surprise you will really like." Because he tells me there are surprises for me all the time and I usually don't like them and he knows I won't like them. Anyway, he said I would really like the surprise. And as we looked for seats Eric stood up in front of me and said "Excuse me mam..." They say I screamed. I don't think I did but I do remember gasping and putting my hands to my mouth and I got confused because about the same time a guy sitting behind Eric stood up and said that he was helping save seats for us. But I figured out quickly that I wanted to sit by Eric and I did and even though we were going to see him in about an hour it was so fun to see him earlier - it was a great surprise! And I loved sitting by him that extra hour.
We flew into Orange County - Evan with all of his stuff for college - he made it with two check on bags and two carry ons - he didn't need our extra room at all.

We had to enlist some help to get from the airport to the Marriott - our rental just wouldn't have fit everything - Grandpa Wally and Blair arrived soon after we landed and helped us get to the Marriott.

Waiting for their ride.
Convertibles just don't allow for much luggage space (nor a third person in the back seat - Evan and Eric are double buckled - don't tell anyone).
We spent most of our time at Corona Del Mar beach. It was beautiful and fun. The waves were perfect.

Here's most of our group.





Sunscreen for everyone. We probably made stock prices rise we used so much.
Besides lots of sun and sand we also had plenty of entertainment.





That's Eric with a seaweed wig.



We had our traditional "Surprise Dinner". Everyone was given some money to buy whatever they wanted to contribute to dinner. We think the group is growing up - there wasn't as much candy or desserts as there has been in the past. But it was a very yummy fun dinner.






Claire's contribution to the Surprise Dinner was 2 quarts of chocolate milk. There was a bit left over which Claire claimed as her own. This is her finishing it off on Friday.
OK, so Claire wasn't setting such a good example. This is Hayden finishing off his contribution to the Surprise Dinner.

We love you all and wish we could have stayed longer. The week went by way too fast :-( We can't wait until we see you all again.

Party Time!

Claire turned 16 on Monday June 14th. Tonight was her big celebration.

Her cake was one of her birthday presents. We had the same gal who made her 14th b-day cake make this cake - made to Claire's specifications - to match the invitations Claire made for the party. We think the cake turned out perfect!





"Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you..."
Making a wish.

Yep - we ate it.
Ate it almost all gone.

Movin' Out

Evan starts summer term at BYU in 4 days. Thus, he must have his room cleaned up. It's been quite an archeological dig for him. He's been showing great discipline. Lots of things are going to DI, many things have ended up in the garbage and of course we wouldn't make him throw/give everything away so he has a couple of boxes for the things he'd really like to hold onto. Two things made me laugh.

This hat - he got in Hawaii many years ago when we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. He made the dangling fish that hangs from the hat. This he wanted to keep but I convinced him it would be fine if he gave it away - I suggested he keep the fish since he made it but he felt the hat and fish needed to stay together - so we took this picture for posterity.

And this darling keepsake was made for him by one of my dear friends in the Cherry Glen Ward when he was born. He is not giving it away of course. On turning it over and examining the back Evan discovered the origin of written languages.
Doesn't it look like some eastern language?

There's going to be a party here tomorrow night.

Three Sisters Garden

This is a Three Sisters Garden - or grouping or companion planting - whatever you want to call it. It is corn, beans and squash. Each plant is supposed to offer something for the others. So the corn offers support for pole beans, the beans offer nitrogen for the other plants and squash provides shade to be a sort of mulch for the other two.

I've tried to grow this garden twice before. Each time, I planted the corn and beans at the same time and the beans over took the corn and pulled it down. This year after doing a little more research I decided to let the corn get a good head start before planting the beans. But it took forever for the corn to grow. I think it was because it was coolish here. I let it grow to about 12 inches but I think the beans are going to do it again - over take the corn and pull it down. The squash, having to wait for the others to get going is looking very small for this time of season, for CA anyway - but hopefully it will do its job.

I'll keep you posted ;-)

He's a High School Graduate!

I can't seem to remember that the students always walk across the stage from south to north - but our kids always end up sitting on the south side of the field. Trying to be close to them that's where we end up sitting - on the side where we see their backs as they walk across the stage to get their diplomas. Oh well. Had we been sitting on the north side of the field we would have missed all of Evan's "mugging." Click to make the picture bigger, you'll see him looking at us.


"YEAH! We're Graduates!!" (just FYI, Evan did not throw his cap, you can see him looking up with a grin though.)

Since we didn't get a shot of Evan getting his diploma (and we won't buy one) and they don't really get handed their diplomas anyway until after the ceremony, Greg suggested we get this shot - Evan getting his *real* diploma.
The proud family.


We are so proud of Evan. He had the best academic year of his life this year. He's going to do great in college! "Woo Hoo!" but "sniff, sniff" He starts at BYU Provo as a visiting student on June 21st. Too soon. But really just right. He's going to live with Eric and cousin Blair. It is going to be a great experience with lots of fun.

Happy Birthday Wally!

Something we don't always get to do - wish Wally a happy birthday in person. Greg's dad's birthday is June 10th.
Pictures were taken.
Family looked on.
Candles were blown out.
And Daisy danced.

Happy Birthday Wally!

Evan's 18!

The fun just goes on and on. It was Evan's birthday Wednesday June 9th. He had school, well, grad practice, and he was home by 10am. We went off to shop for his birthday present - a camera. We finished in record time and I mean record time! Evan knew exactly what he wanted and he picked it out lickity split. The camera case however was not such a quick pick but still - the whole camera thing went very quickly. We had time for another gift hunt before we had to pick Claire up at 11:35. So off to Macy's to look at luggage - his graduation present. He picked rolling duffels, just like Eric's.

We had youth swim party Wednesday night. Seeing as it was Evan's birthday I asked the youth leaders if it would be OK if I supplied a birthday cake for Evan and they agreed it was a great idea. Come cake time Evan really didn't want anything to do with it but I pulled two friends aside and Greg and Claire and then tried to light candles outside - then just the few of us would sing hoping no one else would notice. But I couldn't get the candles lit in the wind so we moved inside saying Evan's wish had already come true. But once inside and the candles lit one friend started singing at the top of his lungs and the rest of the group outside caught on and started singing as well. Evan turned red - blew out the candles as fast as he could and that was that.



No one tell Cakewrecks about this cake. I know the "Happy Birthday" part looks like singing and the "Evan" part looks like someone burped. I'm no decorator.
I only set out a few pieces of cake to get everyone started. I think it is so funny how at the end of the night all that was left were these balloons.
Evan's camera. It is so cool!

Happy Birthday Evan. We love you!