Heritage Day Picnic 2011



This weekend we celebrated our pioneer heritage with our annual Heritage Day Picnic at the fairgrounds.  We have done this for many years and I think this is one of the largest turn outs we have had.  As part of the program this year we presented Heritage Preservation Awards to the Kolb Family of Dublin, the Dublin Historical Perservation Association and the City of Dublin for their work in preserving the pioneer heritage of the valley.  They just completed a wonderful Heritage Park comprised of the old Kolb family home and out building, the old pioneer cemetery, the old dublin church and etc.  It is a very nice area.  We had about 900 people there and the recipients were very impressed with the awards and our recognition.  It was a great time by all

President Cooper presenting the city of Dublin with their award.

Nathan and Jason being taught the game of pull the stick by Matt.

I am not sure who won but they are both laughing very hard!!

Nathan and Jason panning for gold!!  I hope they find a lot!

It looks like Jason found some!!

Nathan and Jillian (neighbor) are trying to win the 3-legged race.

Gunny Sack races were very popular as well.  Nathan is lined up on the left and Jason is in front of Memor on the right side. 

Papa/Fafa challenged some of the kids to a race and it was a good thing they all fell down before I did.  I think they actually got up and still beat me across the finish line.

I'm not sure what Nathan is looking at but Fafa/Papa and Memor are sure looking at Nathan. 

Looks like Fafa has just finished a cookie!

Jason is trying to avoid heading for home by hiding behind the tree.  It didn't work.

You can't hide behind those glasses either!

You can't hide either Andrea!

I guess true pioneers had to walk home after fun things.  Follow the tracks and you will get there eventually!

Happy Birthday to Memor

Memor finds the best things to do on her birthday and this year was no exception.  She enjoys the outdoor activities the most so on Saturday we took off to Lake Chabot for another adventure in celebration of the great event of her birth!!  (won't say how long ago it way -- she can't remember anyway).  We had not done this before but it was a blast and I think everyone had a great time.  We love you Memor and wish you many more wonderful years of great adventures!!

We started the adventure off by getting a couple of patio boats that were electric and barely moved but were fast enough to keep ahead of the geese.  We had lots of bread and boy did we draw a flock around the boats!   Lots of fun and excitment.

We had a picnic table that was close to grass for the games and birthday congo squares.  You just had to beware of cleaning your shoes from all the goose poop before getting into the cars!

Some good social time was had as well.

We went through the motions of fishing but were not very serious about it.  Kids had fun however!

Brodie and Nathan keep the geese following us by giving out generous portions of bread.

Alli and Jay -- I am sure they are overseeing the games.

Memor enjoying her day with Jason.  See all the geese waiting for their "birthday treat".

Nathan and Jaxon playing cowboy horseshoes. 

Matt and Andrea enjoying the lake as well.  Where are all the kids???

It was birthday song time and the family came through with all five languages as usual!.  Great birthday celebration with a great family.

Happy Birthday Memor!!!

It's Fair Time 2011

What a great time we had at the fair this year.  We went twice to make sure we got to enjoy as much of the family as possible.  The first time we had Matt, Andrea, Nathan and Jason there and we all linked up with Jay, Alli, Jayla, Jaxon and Brodie.  Auntie Hoot joined us as well so the kids had one more "kid" to go on the rides with.  I think they actually went on enough rides to get her stomach going just a little bit. They all got wrist bands and proceeded to ride the rides for the next several hours.  It was a lot of fun and the kids enjoyed going on the rides together.  The second time it was just Nathan and Jason with Memor and me.  We hit a lot of rides and of course both times we had to enjoy a corn dog.  Things are sure more expensive than they used to be but we enjoyed it anyway. (Won't tell anyone we went on senior days so we got in free).

This year the fair had a much more diversified menu.  I am afraid that I still went with the corn dog option!!  No one in our group was adventurous enough to try the scorpion!

Cute picture of the Cheeseman Family walking to the next ride.

What a fun group to hang out with.  Most were very ready to try new things except Papa. 

Nathan and Memor on top of the ferris wheel.

Jason enjoying the small rollercoaster!  His height kept him from some of the rides he wanted to go on.

The boys on one of the smaller roller coaster rides.  All had a great time!

Nathan and Jason participated twice in the little western show.  They were of course the stars of the show and even had the MC going when they started to adlib and caused the show to take a few turns they had not intended it to take.  "A Star is Born!"

Nathan and Jason both entered the tractor pull and Nathan won this heat.  Both did very well and had a good time.  Way to go boys!!

Ice Cream treat after the tractor pull competition.  Notice the T-shirts.

Matt thought the fried Oreo's were pretty good and tried to get Kristin to indulge.

What's a fair without a milking competion.  Watch out for the teats!!

(Be sure to read the sign Jason)

Jaxon and Jayla on top of the ferris wheel.

Beautiful Day At Sunol Regional Park

Memor and Papa decided it was a wonderful day to go for a walk, a talk and some good outdoors fun with Nathan and Jason.  We went to the Sunol Regional Park and did a mile hike ending at the stream where we cooled our feet and tried to catch some minows -- with no luck!!   It was a beautiful day that we all enjoyed. 

Independence Day -- July 4th

We have so much to be thankful for as we celebrate this wonderful reminder of freedom!!  Let Freedom Ring and may we always be willing to pay the price it takes to keep us free!!

Trekking at Point Lobos Preserve

After our Whale Watching we headed south a few miles to Point Lobos and enjoyed a sunny trek around the part there.  It was a beautiful day and the wildflowers were in bloom to add to the beauty.  The colors of the water, sky and flowers were spectacular!

If you look close at the rock behind Marianne you will see some sea lions sunning themselves.  There was no sand on this beach -- it was all pebbles and rocks.

Nice view of the two inlets we hiked around.  Beautiful colors.

Across the inlet is the loan cypress that you always see in pictures of the Monterey area.  From this angle it is hard to point it out because it blends in with the other cypress trees behind it.

Marianne with the lone cypress behind her.

Hiking through the cypress grove.

This was a panoramic picture taken with the camera.  The rock in the center is the once that seals sun themselves on.  There were about a dozen there on this day.

Cypress cove.

Beach just south of Point Lobos.  Notice the lighthouse on the point of the rock.  It was not open to the public so we didn't visit it.

What a handsome couple we are! 

Blue and white and rocks and seals and a good time.

More wonderful colors as the waters rolled in and out for this cove.  It was great!!