Sunday Drive on Pacific Coast Highway

Mark and I took off for a day on the Pacific Coast Highway. We couldn't have asked for better weather. We stopped and picked up some french bread, salami, cheese, fresh fruit (we didn't want to leave the fruit department as the smell was something we haven't experienced yet in Carolina) drove through Pacifica and bye his ole stomping grounds. Enjoy some of our views of Highway 1. We had quite the entertainment (all the signs and people lined up along the bike path) and laughs along the way as the AIDS bike ride was taking place from SF to San Diego. Needless to say some of those photos we can't add to this blog but left us with crazy memories (only in the Bay can you laugh so hard with what you run into).






Made our way to Capitola. Our favorite camping beach. We were one weekend late getting here as our fellow campers enjoyed the Memorial week hanging out on this beach and town near Santa Cruz, CA. We missed ya'll this year but know fun was being had by all. At least we were able to capture the view this year at a different time.





Continued down to the Monterey Bay. We stopped where we began our courtship seventeen years ago as we certified scuba diving. Picked up a few little items and continued on our wonderful drive.







MADE IT TO CARMEL. We enjoyed our stay relaxing on the beach together and then headed back towards San Francisco.







Just a few more shots of our trip back up the coastline. We really had a great day!

A Weekend in the California SF Bay

We arrived in San Francisco on Saturday afternoon as we were flying in for Mark's Award Ceremony for work. I was smiling ear to ear as we loaded out of the airplane and ready to touch California soil again.

It was a crisp day with the winds but clear and beautiful day. Pictures are a view from our Hotel Room, Golden Gate, a California Salad (Believe me these we miss. Lettuce is bitter back here in the South and avacados are awful and cost about as much as a gallon of gas in California) view from our Dining Table at the Cliff House.

Memorial Day on the Lake!

We had a fun day on the lake. We went out about 10 am until about 2:30. We rowed into some friends and enjoyed lunch as a large group. Than home for a Grill (BBQ they call it back in CA) with our neighbors. It was a Beautiful Day!







MORE PHOTOS OF FUN IN THE SUN!

Memorial Weekend

Well we were going to leave to the beach but found out it was storming on the coast so we stayed home. I think it was supposed to be this way as we received sad news our Spart (kids great Grandpa) passed away. We know he wouldn't have wanted this news to blow our Memorial Weekend so we celebrated our memories of his life but we'll always remember him on this special Memorial holiday. Love to all our family in Arizona gathering to celebrate his new journey tomorrow. Grandma Gloria we love you. He really lived an incredible life and we are glad he was in ours.

EVENTS OF MAY SO FAR

MORGAN IS 11!
A summary of her day! Breakfast in bed in the morning. Her gift (bedding) a remodeled bedroom (in progress) she is so excited for a dot room! Then the finally we had a night of sponge bob cake won it at the cake auction. Happy Birthday Morgan. Hope you had a great day and look forward to decorating your room.



BAND PERFORMANCE
Zach with Andrew they performed this night for the annual Spring Concert. A week before their band competed at Carolwinds and won Superior in their competition. They sounded great but wasn't thrilled I was taking their photos. Teenagers!




4 YEAR OLD PRE-SCHOOL DONE!!!!
Bradley completed his 4 year old pre-school. He is very excited for his 5 year old pre-school (Pre-K) this coming up fall. I think because they have bikes and a zip line that he calls the Go diego Go line! He will love it but miss his friends from his 4 year old pre-school but I have assured him we will still see them with visits to the school. Thank you Ms. Betty and Ms. Allie.

WE ARE OKAY!

Okay the other evening (Tuesday) we had a funnel cloud touch down in the backyard about 5:30 pm. It was a bit scary. The trees were blowing like I've never seen before as I was watching out the windows. Our kids trampoline lifted vertically and hovered for a couple minutes at least five feet in the air as I watched and then realized I shouldn't be watching so I immediately yelled for the kids and they came fast (so I must have sounded scared). As I was yelling the neighbor boys came over hysterically crying saying they were shocked by lighting (which doesn't surprise me as it hit their house and knocked out their cable and their receiver to the television and sound system) with their dog and we all hunkered down under the stairwell. Our trampoline took a beating and landed upside down in the neighbors yard and was hit by lighting (it was a wild night). I asked the boys if it's ever done this before since they have lived here ten years and it hadn't to their knowledge. I had to call Mark and thank him for this move as he was in Texas at the time! He was surprised and enjoyed the kids discription of the event as it went from five feet up to ten feet in the air. It's amazing how fast these weather systems come in and go out. From Carolina blue skies to Black dark clouds, hail and rain downpours within minutes then back to Carolina blue skies.

McKesson Award

We just returned from a very nice evening with Mark's boss Eric. He showed up at work today and presented an ICARE Award to Mark in front of his staff. They are flying and putting us up in San Francisco for the weekend to attend the event. Mark really works hard and I learned a lot about why he earned this award. It surprised him and myself and it was totally unexpected.

The letter states:

Dear Mark:

We are pleased to announce that you have been selected as a McKesson Pharmaceutical 2008 ICARE Award winner. The ICARE Awards recongnize associates who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to the McKesson Shared Principles. You were nominated by your colleagues because of your behaviors that exemplify the ICARE Principles.

A ceremony to recognize the McKesson Pharmaceutical 2008 Awards and Recognition Program winners is being held in San Francisco on Monday, June 2nd. The invitation is attached to this letter.

Thank you for all of the results you achieve everyday for McKesson. Your hard work and dedication help us empower healthcare.

Congratulations on this prestigious achievement!

FATHER SON CAMP OUT!

The boys went on a Father Son campout over the weekend. It was a lot of fun for them until the next morning. The Howder boys did it again! Never a dull moment as they leave a memorable moment for all to reflect on. Zach and Bradley were riding a zipline and as they took off the slack in the rope cause Zach's foot to slip out of the loop and down the rope he slid as they both hung on 25 feet in the air moving quickly. Zach knew this was trouble as Mark watched the whole thing go down. So he held on and when he thought it was safe let go with about 10 feet in the air to fall. He let go, cradled Bradley against his body and took the fall on his sholder and back as all the men rushed to help Mark gather the two of them and check for damages and calm the fears. All turned out okay! Mark took them to the ER since they had some signs of shock and they returned home with bumps and Zach's rope burned hands but no broken bones or head injuries (as far a we can tell so far everything is the same attitude and silliness). Needless to say they are planning on trying it again next year! That would be our boys! Fearless, although this one shook them up a bit. I think Mark was worried about reporting this event to me. The one day I don't carry my cell phone maybe that was a good idea not having it with me this time. I think I would have worried too much. Luckily Mark had just finished a First Aid and CPR training last week at work.

5th Grade Celebration Part One

Morgan had her first part of the end of the year Celebration at Carowinds. She ran the whole day getting on and off of rollercoasters. I was able to go and chaperone. We had a lot of fun! All were tired after a ten hour day. Mark gets to go this Friday with Zach's band.

Fishing Anyone!

Well the kids discovered our neighborhood pond that is stocked with catch and release fish. Here is a view of the fun they have over there as they hang out with the neighbor kids. I know where to find them this summer and it looks like we have to stock up the fishing tackle box. We just talked about how much our ole neighbor Brian would love this in his backyard.

YESTERDAY'S TAKE YOUR KIDS TO WORK DAY

McKesson sponsored a take you kids to work day. Mark took Zach and Morgan to work. I begged him to take Bradley but it's for school age kids (darn! hee hee). I think they had fun. They had to learn about the company and actually work. Some of the kids were bummed about that they thought is was a free out of school day! Then they rewarded them with yummy food, sodas, playing games and snacks.