Fundraisers

Last week was a week of fundraisers. Apparently here in California, Girls Camp and Scout Camp are ridiculously expensive. Which should have been obvious to me; everything is expensive here, even the outdoors. Probably especially the outdoors, as they are more difficult to come by. Well every ward holds a fundraiser or two so the kids can earn a little cash to get to their fun-filled week of spiritual and personal growth.

First we went to our current ward's fundraiser, a 50's sock hop and auction. We had burgers, a bake sale (my rollo cookies were a hit!), and basically looked cool:

Yeah, Mark's got a comb in his pocket too.


The next night was our old ward's Luau/auction fundraiser, and we just had to go! As a sizable portion of the ward is Polynesian, it ends up being quite the cultural experience. An enormous, real Hawiian BBQ by our very favorite Darren Hatori, and several traditional dances! The boys did the Haka (spelling??), the young women attempted some hula dancing, and they even brought in some real Tahitian dancers; one of the young women competes on a team.

This is Alvin, he sang and played a Ukulele. WOW that boy can sing. And he's huge. I told him and he said "Why thank you." We had him hold Mac for a while in hopes that some of that would rub off.

And the Hatori ladies, my favorites!! Somer, Ilaina, and Kiani. We were in young women's and pregnant together. I'm not going to lie, I'm going to do everything I can to get Mac and Kiani married someday. I am all for arranged marriages, as long as it's me doing the arranging. I think my wishes might have a sporting chance ... Mac definitely got into the haka (kept flapping is arms and squealing while the boys were dancing) and he could not take his eyes off the Tahitian dancers! So if Kiani can learn to wiggle her hips like crazy, I think it will be a done deal. :)

Dad

Well . . . I have wanted to blog about all my family members on their birthdays, and already I have messed up!!! Dad's birthday was April 17th, and I forgot to send him some blog love. Gee I should do all the Gunns too .... I'll contemplate that.

So Dad, sorry this is so belated, but happy happy day!

My Pops is fantastic. He filled our minds with beautiful, creative stories; inspired us to dream, to love, and made sure we learned how to work. He is definitely a man who believes strongly in self-sufficiency, but I always knew he would do anything for us. My dad is not super open with people he doesn't know, though he is always kind. Somehow he pulls off two very different personas: one a stern, intimidating hulk of a man who squints his eyes and purses his lips when he isn't happy. (Like say, his oldest daughter happens to have a bunch of friends over and some of them are boys and are hanging out in her room ... gee I still remember him coming in and just staring at everyone with his arms folded, till one by one they disappeared. I think he melted them with lasers from his eyes. Oh I was so mad!) But those who know him at all know that he is just a big cuddly teddy bear who loves to laugh and is quite passionate and imaginative. No boy I ever dated ever saw that side of him, (except for Mark, which is one of the many reasons I just had to marry him) but all my girlfriends just thought he was precious.

I love to see Dad with all his brothers and sisters. Our Thomas family reunions never fail to be quite thoroughly entertaining. Dad picked up the role as the peace-maker, I think. Where most of the family is strong-willed and sarcastic, Dad is forgiving and sincere. Its fun to see their personalities bounce off of one another. I remember being probably ... ten or something like that, and my hilarious cousin Paige decided to label each family. I'm not sure what everyone else got pegged with, but my family was titled the goofy family. I'm pretty sure I was offended. As I have grown a bit, I have learned how true it is, and now love it!

Thanks Pops, for being so wonderful. Now I have turned him into a Grandpa, or Bumpa as we will call him, and wow is he good at that. I think the years have worn away almost all of that "stern" side of him I remember as a kid, and Mac is going to be spoiled rotten. Can't wait.

Week 2 Break Adventures

This was another superb week. We had a fantastic spring break; I'm really glad we stuck around and got to know our area a bit better. Now we know more fun things to do if you ever come visit us! Here are some lessons learned:

• Visiting teachers can be fun. Incredible, actually. Especially when they provide you and your husband with tickets to accompany them to an Angel's game for visiting teaching that month. Mine must be inspired. Thanks Janae.
• Tide Pools provide hours of entertainment. Poking anemones, finding shells, even seeing enormous slugs, cute barking seals, and dolphins. Lindy and Ryan know all the secrets of Southern California.
• People in Corona del Mar are wealthy. Their houses are fun to stare at.
  
• Mark does not even need to try in order to annihilate everyone at Clue. In fact, he will just guess on his third turn and win. Twice. In a row.
• Jeff is slightly less recognizable without a bandanna. Mac enjoys the colorful foreheads. He also thoroughly enjoys Jeff's adorable date. He is already a lady killer. I'm going to have my hands full in the future, I think.
• Bridger loves my homemade Cafe Rio burritos. Gabe does not. However, Gabe likes them more than pumpkin pancakes; there is no dry heaving when forced to have a bite.
  
• Gabe does, however, like buttermilk syrup.
  
• Mac loves Bridger's face. And Gabe's. And Madelyn's singing. And Colin's studliness.
• Mac likes little people.
• Ceely has some awesome friends.
• If you happen to go to the beach and it is windy and miserable, try again the next day. If it is again, go a third day. It's destined to be good weather one of the three; this is California we're talking about here.
• Don't ever park in the three minute parking and leave your kids in the car while you buy a delicious raspberry-cream cheese donut. You will be confronted by a mean little woman.
• Mark is a good boy scout; he can roast twenty hot dogs and fifteen s'mores in a stolen fire pit at break-neck speed with ease.

• Movie night should be every night.
• Ikea will never let you down.
• The sound of crashing waves will put Mac to sleep every time.
  

• Hot tubs are great for relaxing after a cold windy day at the beach; also good for cleaning off a bunch of sandy, sticky kids before they go in your house.
• Everyone should have Ceely and Alicia come stay at your house. They will spoil you rotten.