Finally!!!

It's been some time since I paid any attention to the blog, so here I am updating 6 months worth of pictures. Hope you enjoy... Here you go Sis....I finally did it! :)

It wouldn't be complete if I didn't put a picture of Diesel in here. This is his "Are you talking to me?" look.

These go from most recent, being just a few days ago, to June.

I was just in the Trail of Two Cities Marathon on Sunday. This is our relay team...you didn't really think I would run all 26.2 miles myself did you?! Nick, Dave, Christy and Me. Christy was the brainchild behind it having done a half marathon two years in a row. It was one of the best experiences ever and we will definitely do it again!

Our moral support

After the race


Homecoming...Coya was nominated for homecoming queen!

She and Mr. T

Maddie and Mrs. Yee...Maddie was up for Freshman Princess

Best Buds...Coya and Heather (she was also nominated)

These were her "after the show" shoes.

Friends..... :)

Singing the National Anthem before the game

Like I said, these are in reverse order. Getting ready for the big night. Lots of thanks to Kitty for doing her hair and makeup. She was wonderful!


"Hold still now"

Many thanks as well to Alex, Kitty's daughter, who let Nacoya borrow her gown.

Homecoming activities during the week. The queens had to play "Catch the Pig". That's one way to keep oneself humble!

She caught him!

Here we are now to Jen leaving for England....

Saying our last goodbyes before she boards the plane

The plane...a 747 Jumbo Jet!

A trip to Pismo with two of her close girl friends before leaving for England...

Our favorite place to eat on Pismo Beach

First stop was Hearst's Castle

Silly girls

Lunch with Josh and Jen before he left for UC Irvine. He left for school a week before Jen did.
First day of school...Senior year!!!Here is a random one in the mix...he is a little dog in a big dog's body and thinks he should be able to sit in my lap!

Jen enjoying the telescope that Uncle C.P. gave her.

Coya and Heather take stats for the football team. This was their first home game of the season.

This was a fun surprise....Nacoya's good friend, Tyler, gave her four tickets to see the Jonas Brothers!

A little excited, I'd say!

In front of their bus.

That's Tyler in the red. He had some surgery in the summer and just LOVES fried chicken, so we had him over during his recovery for some southern cooking....fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, and fried apples (which really aren't fried, but loaded with cinnamon, butter and a bit of sugar.)

Another random Diesel shot...this time not of him but of my phone that I accidently left outside on the swing and he found it and ate it. Glad I had a free upgrade coming.

Dave and I took a trip over the summer to see his parents in Arizona. His mom will be 80 in March and we don't see them very often, so we hopped in the jeep and took off for a long weekend.

Jen turned 18 in July, so we invited some friends to Bobby Salazar's for lunch. Best Mexican food in Fresno/Clovis and a Teter favorite!

Jen and Missy

Last but not least, a picture of me with some of my voice students at a recital in June.

Absent

I've been absent for a while, but I am returning soon to post again. I've enjoyed the summer and now I'm ready to get at it again. Stay tuned...I'll return this weekend with more pictures than you probably want to see! Love, Reg :)

Father's Day in Yosemite

We have had no time to get up to Yosemite this spring with all the graduation happenings, so Sunday we took advantage of a free day and headed for the hills! I say it all the time, but we never tire of the drive or of Yosemite. It really is one of God's wonders. Here we are starting out the trip...the girls were a little more than excited to be getting up to the mountains!

Our driver and Father of the Day

We're in the pines!

The tunnel going into Yosemite...we had to roll down the windows and raise our voices as we drove through

First view

Me and my honey

First look at one of the falls

This meadow was SOOOOOOOO green....uh, those are just animated field ornaments out there on the path.

Dave was on the phone wishing his dad a Happy Father's Day too

Lunch before a hike

Fruit and Oven Fried Chicken

...and Macaroni Salad...Yum!

A pretty Dogwood tree

Ready for the hike

Vernal Falls from the bridge
So much water!

Above: the trail leading to the falls

Below: The view from the top of Vernal Falls ...breathtaking!

Coya and her "titanic" moment

We made it to the top! You get to Vernal by way of mist trail (three pictures ago)...I think it should be called shower trail as one gets quite wet on the way up...as evidenced by my hair. Hey! How come I'm the only one that looks like a wet rat?!

Vernal Falls

Our fearless leader, whom Coya affectionately called "Dora the Explorer!" She was determined that we were not only going the 1.5 miles to Vernal, but to Nevada Falls as well...mind you nearly another 2 miles UP!

At the top of Nevada Falls...a little rest was in order.

Dave and I....I took this picture holding the camera...can't believe it actually came out!

On the way back down

Yeah! We made it! It was a great day of a little more exercise than we had planned on, but so worth the scenery. Dave spent a lot of years vacationing in Yosemite before we got married and we spent some of our honeymoon there as well, so it seemed kind of fitting to spend
"his day" in a place he loves so much.

Graduation Party

Whew! It's been a busy couple of weeks preparing for Jenna's graduation and the party. We spent months anticipating this moment and then all of a sudden it was over...sort of sad. I know I said it in my last post too, but I just wanted to slow time and try to take in every moment of the party, surrounded by so many people that have had an impact on Jen's life (and ours). We are blessed! Thank you to all who came, we hope you had as much fun as we did!

My good and long time friend, Cindy (back before we were all married) came over to help me get the food set up. Her daughter, Emily, graduates in a week, so we are helping each other out with all those details that just can't be done until the day of the party.

Food! What is a party without food? It's biblical, you know!

Graduation Cake

I love this picture. If I had a decent scanner, I would have scanned a picture of them when they were young....about 7 or 8 years old. Jen put it on her picture board and they saw it and said "We need the same picture of us now!". From left to right, Hillary, Karissa, Jen, Melissa and Kylee.
Missy gave her a photo book with a picture of them as little girls and one of them now to take with her to England.

Jen and Karissa

My mom with Lois Ann. Her daughter, Joy, and I have been friends for over 20 years and my mom and Lois Ann are like two peas in a pod, must be their southern roots.

Hanging out and visiting


This is Jen with Christoph. He is a foreign exchange student from Germany. His host parents go to church with us, so he has gotten involved with the high school group and is one of the gang now. He leaves in July...they are all very sad to see him go.

Christian and Shane....more kids from church

John, Randy and Christy...they all have girls graduating this year too



Jeremy and Nick with Mr. T.

Best friends, Jen and Melissa. Melissa graduated from Fresno Christian the same night as Jen. After all these years of waiting to see these girls graduate and they end up not being able to be at each other's graduation! Maybe this year CHEFA and Fresno Christian will actually think about coordinating their graduations so that they aren't on the same night! So many people have relationships with both, especially homeschoolers who go part time to FCS....o.k. I'll get off my soap box now....
Jen, Missy and Abby
Josh and Jen...he was such a trooper hanging out all day with us and helping out with the party and clean up....

Silly girls
With Joy and Michael Robbins

With Mr. Salley in our little tiny kitchen! Roger and the whole Salley clan have been great friends to our family and our children...praying for Josh while he is away and always great friends. We laugh a lot together with them!
With Mr. and Mrs. Raber...Ann is one of our school administrators through Tower Christian, our homeschool support group. She graduated her kids a long time ago, but loves education and has stuck around to help us with our kids. Cindy Freeman is our other administrator, she came to the graduation, but with all the kids graduating this year, they sort of split their time between parties. We appreciate them both and all they have done to help us along the way.

Pastor Doug and Carol with us and Christy...
Jess and Sally...parent mentors for the high school group...all the kids love them! Sally is like a mom to all the girls.
Jen with Carol and Doug...they have seen her go from baby to young adult
With Miss Ginger. She teaches English classes to homeschoolers through P.S.C.A. She is one amazing teacher too and the reason Jen was able to succeed at her college level English courses. Thank you, Ginger!!!

Noni and Nunu, her Italian Grandma and Grandpa...well actually they are Nick and Katie's Grandma and Grandpa, but we have adopted them too. Josh has spent many hours in their home between swim sessions eating Noni's food.

With Pastor Chad, her high school youth pastor

With Becca, one of the high school leaders
With Dave Ness...another old friend from our college days
With Dr. Troy and Tina, friends and he's our Chiropractor too...a real miracle worker at times!
More friends.....

Kim and I celebrating our daughter's! Melissa is her first to graduate and we have been there for each other through the ups and downs of homeschooling...she still has a few years to go with her young ones at home. Love you, Kim!

The last few left at the party. David, Hannah and Keith (Beaver), other homeschool friends that just graduated...she has had a great time with her homeschool graduating class...they all bonded well and had a lot of fun together....as you can see here!

Here we are at the end of the party...everyone is gone and Josh and Popcorn (my mom and dad's dog) are crashing.
We were very tired by the end of the evening, but would do it all over again. After Josh's party two years ago, we felt overwhelmed by how many wonderful people played a part in helping us raise J & J. It was no different this time either. God has been so gracious to us to allow us to build such great friendships with our church family and homeschooling family, and we are very grateful!!!

She Graduated!!!

It seems like a whole year just flew by in a few moments last night as Jenna graduated from High School. We have been planning all year for graduation and then all of a sudden I just wanted to slow time and make the evening last as long as possible.

We all got ready and before we left for dinner, she opened a few family gifts...

Auntie Tina and Uncle Terrell gave her a beautiful Brighton bracelet

Uncle Robby and Auntie Joanna gave her this really cool watch

And Dave and I gave her the diamond earrings that my dad gave me when I graduated

Fun pictures with everyone!

We are soooooo happy that Grandma and Grandpa made it in.

Becca, Jen and Coya...all dressed up and ready to go

Proud parents

Below: Dinner at Shanghai...it's tradition...we ate there too before Josh graduated

At the church, greeting everyone before the graduation...

In her cap and gown

Jen and J.T.

Jen and Kelsey

Pictures with Aunt Kimmie and Kay Kay

Jen and Kaylee

Girlfriends

Jen, Kaylee, Hannah, Kelsey and Maddie

Jen and Samantha

Passing the time before the graduation begins

Kaylee was the vocal soloist for the evening. She did such a great job, as always!

Jen reading the class verse

Singing in the Senior Ensemble

Senior Sponsor Appreciation

Presenting Jen with her diploma and blessing

The senior ensemble

Visiting with friends afterwards

Sam, Jen and Katie....two of her homeschool, now Central High buddies

Group photo!

Tractor update!!!

I just updated minutes ago (so keep scrolling down and you'll see LOTS more stuff), but Christy sent these to me, so I just had to put them up! Her camera has such good color and....

...she got close ups that I didn't get.
...a happy man!

Thanks, Randy and Christy!

Weekend Happenings...Graduations and Parties

Saturday was one busy day with it all starting at 10:30 in the morning with a brunch for a good friend's daughter graduating from college and not ending until 10:30pm when we picked up my niece, Rebecca at the airport.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take the camera to the first party of the day, so we will begin with Kelsey and Samantha's graduation party. There are eight of Jen's friends that she has known since we began homeschooling in the 4th grade graduating this year. (Not to mention all the other friends graduting as well...) Some of them have gone on to public or private school, but they are all still very close. Kelsey and Sam started the party circuit off this season. We were only there a short time due to the next stop....

...Josh Yee's graduation. He is another good friend that she first met when we began homeschooling. He went on to University High School, a college prep school on the Fresno State campus. They have kept in touch over the years and remained good friends. His graduation was event number 3 of 5 Saturday.

An empty diploma? The high schools don't give out the real diploma at graduation anymore (at least around here). They get it mailed to them later in the week. Next stop, Nacoya's play....

She was in a 3 act play of a medley of Shakespeare works. She played Kate from "Taming of the Shrew". Event 4 of 5.

Here she is with her friend, Austin, another Shakespearean actor. Next stop...the airport to pick up Rebecca!

Arriving at the airport. They recently did some remodeling. There are these HUGE Sequoia replica's. They are really pretty cool.

Nacoya and Jen passing the time until Rebecca arrives.....

...she's here!!! Her last day of high school for the year was last week, so she came to spend the week with Jen and be at her graduation. Whew! We made it 5 of 5. Now to head home, get some sleep and start again tomorrow with the annual Memorial Day Rocca Party!

Leaving for the Rocca party!

Line dancing to a little Earth, Wind and Fire

Mrs. Rocca and Mrs. Rocca watching the volleyball game

Hanging out with friends

We always end the evening with an outdoor movie...this year Madagascar 2.

Wrapped up in blankets to watch the movie.

Jen and Becca...so glad to be together again.

Oh yes, Christy and I were on "security" detail (go ahead...chuckle, chuckle, laugh, laugh) back in the spring for the Easter outreach. We didn't get our official shirts until after the week, so we had to find a reason to wear them....I'm sure everyone felt safer with us there.

Before the girls and I got out there, Dave went over for a little therapy...tractor duty. He had had a really stressful week, so Randy said come on out and mow the side lot on the tractor. Well, that was an offer Dave just couldn't refuse! He was such a pro that he even got more offers...he may have found a new way to decompress.

We ended our very busy weekend on Monday afternoon with Josh Yee's graduation party.
Dave and I enjoying the afternoon relaxing at the party.

Group photo at the party....Josh and Jen are right in the middle (hint: if you click on any picture it usually enlarges it)
Jenna and Jenna. One of Josh's two sister's is a Jenna as well.

Josh, Jon, Jen and J.T. (That's a lot of J's!!)

And that was the end of a very busy, but fun weekend. Now it's our turn to kick it into high gear for Jen's graduation on Friday and the party on Saturday!