What started out as a rather ordinary day turned into a very enjoyable holiday celebration.

My neighbor, Darren (in the center), who happens to be a chef, invited me up for a delicious barbeque late afternoon. I enjoyed meeting his his nephew (just moved from NY to attend college) & his friend Jordan.

I also got to meet and become friends with David, a friend of Darren’s visiting from Chicago.

David is a landscape designer and we started talking plants and gardens right away… and didn’t stop for most of the night. We plant nerds tend to bond quickly.

We made the drive into Seattle for fireworks over Lake Union…. and, after driving up and down nearly every street, were amazingly lucky to find a parking spot just a couple of blocks from our vantage point above the freeway.

It was a beautiful night and we were gifted with an incredible sunset prior to the fireworks show.

I found what I hoped would be a prime spot for photographing the fireworks and set up my tripod. Darren & David found a less crowded viewing area, so I socialized and discussed classical music with Steve, a local resident. We were surrounded by a very international crowd – I heard several languages being spoken, including Russian, Japanese, French, and what I believe was Farsi.

And then the fun began! This was probably the most artistic fireworks display I’ve ever seen…. simply breathtaking. Here are a few of the 300 pictures I took…

So what did you do for the holiday? See any great fireworks?

Happy birthday to my favorite daughter-in-law…

Jennifer is such a sweet and caring person.  She’s so easy to be around and is such a wonderful hostess. I always feel so welcome when I stay at her home.

She’s a fabulous cook – adventurous in the kitchen. I’ve had something new and delicious every time I visit (I always look forward to it). And she always has dessert

I have no idea how she manages to keep her house spotless with two little girls and a husband home all day!

And very talented!  She has a beautiful voice and is an actress.  Here she is in the musical Seussical.    I admire that she’s always taking a new class, trying a new thing, learning and doing more.

In addition to being a great wife and mom, she is a good friend, a loving daughter and a dear person.  I wish I had known her as a little girl and teenager. I so enjoy our late night conversations whenever I’m in town (she can stay up as late as I do, believe it or not), and hope that we get to spend lots more time together this coming year.

Have a very happy birthday Jennifer!  Love you!

Dear Paul,

I realized today that I didn’t get a birthday card in the mail to you – which I had fully intended to do.  So, instead, this year you get an online birthday greeting. I have no baby pictures of you to share – but did come up with a couple of gems

So…  Happy birthday to one of my favorite people in the world – certainly my favorite former in-law.    I have so many fond memories of times spent with you – most of them filled with laughter and or witty/ironic observations about the insanity that surrounded us.

Thank you for giving me crazy perms and purple, red or blonde hair and making me feel beautiful even when I wasn’t.  Time spent in your salon chair was better than therapy.

Thanks for helping me survive the “Pearce years.”   For the listening ear, the commiserating, the humorous observation, support and the shoulder to cry on.

Thanks for taking me dancing when your brother wouldn’t.  Memories of our trips to the Sun still make me smile.

Thanks for being irreverent and snickering at the back of the room with me at those gawd-awful Christmas parties, where the entertainment was watching videos of the previous year’s entertainment.  I’m so glad I found myself among the troublemakers of the family… there weren’t many of us, but we banded together and had a good time

Thanks for being one of the few people to whom I could send a birthday card I got at Cahoots back in the 80s

Thanks for opening my eyes and completely shifting my perspective and view on being gay…. you were the first person I knew to come out – and, in that very moment, I realized that nearly everything I’d been taught about homosexuality was wrong. And I just keep thinking that if everyone could really know you, they’d all “get it…” and their eyes would be opened too!

And though we are no longer officially related, you feel like family to me… we’re now family by choice. I’m so glad that you finally got online so we could be in regular touch!

You are a bright light and always a joy to be around, Paul. I’m so delighted that you have found a place you love to live, and someone you adore to share your life with. May this year be the best yet.

And yes – I am still planning on coming for a visit before the year is over!

Happy birthday and love you!

P.S. Anyone else want to wish Paul a happy birthday or share a memory of him with us?

On Monday, Kennedy and I stopped by JVDGE Cafe and bought one of those sinful brownies that Ashley is always raving about. Delicious.

Then we took Trax (Kennedy loved it) and met Brandon & family at Clark Planetarium at the Gateway center.

Kennedy, Emily and Marie brought their swimsuits to run through the dancing fountain in 90 degree weather but, unfortuantely, it was closed for maintenance. I spotted another (small) water feature, and we were happily surprised the girls seemed to have just as much fun in it as they would have in the big one.

Back at the planetarium, the girls had an exciting adventure on Mars and well as the moon. Fortunately I was there to capture photos.

We wrapped up our day at the planetarium with the 3D movie, Under The Sea. Very cool – highly recommended, even though Kennedy was startled by a cuttlefish quickly snapping up another fish for dinner, and wouldn’t wear her 3D glasses through much of the movie.

I especially enjoyed the jellyfish, sea dragons and the sea turtles. The girls loved the seals at the very end.

On Wednesday, Kathy brought her grandsons, Ben and Jonas, over and we all walked to the park. They played really cute with Kennedy.

Thursday night I hosted a sleepover with all three of my granddaughters….. Kennedy nearly 5, Marie age 3 1/2, Emily 5 1/2. The girls decorated foam crowns with jewels, and we watched Beauty and the Beast.

The next day we went to the park, made foam sticker princess story pictures (Emily is quite the little artist), played dress up and Barbies, made cookies, watched several movies/tv shows… It was a very fun 24 hours but exhausting. Fortunately, Brandon and Jennifer picked up all the girls for a sleepover at their house the next night. I really enjoyed sleeping in on Saturday

Ashley returns home tomorrow….      but I’ve had a great time playing grandma the last 10 days!

I arrived in Salt Lake Thursday night.

I am staying with Kennedy at Ashley’s new home while her parents celebrate Justin’s graduation from nursing school, their 7th Anniversary, and enjoy a 2nd honeymoon in Hawaii for 10 days. 

Here’s what I’ve been up to the last few days…

Playing in the backyard, making the Kwanzan cherry tree “rain pink.” 

Making exciting discoveries of new flora – such as a wisteria just starting to bloom.

And, of course, taking pictures.

Meals at Cafe Rio. 

Daily walks to the park (only a block away from the house) where Kennedy pretends the play equipment is a big ship, surrounded by shark infested waters. 

And watching a little bit of Scooby Doo and lot of Phineas and Ferb – and their pet, Perry the Platypus (who is actually a secret agent). Who knew such delights could be repeated over and over again with “On Demand” cable.   

A LOT of Phineas and Ferb.

Kennedy says she’s going to marry Phineas (the triangle head one).

And she’s been singing this song all day.

Enjoy.

Today is the 29th birthday of my first born, Brandon Mark Pearce.  I can hardly believe that my darling little boy is a grown man!  How did that happen????

I was thinking about his childhood this week and thought I’d share a few memories.   

His birth was a both a joyous and frightening time… because although he arrived wide eyed and alert, the medical staff whisked him right away because his blood sugar level was near zero.    He was so tiny - looked like a little bird….   barely 5 lbs and nothing close to chubby.    But he was happy!

More health issues were discovered – he was jaundiced, had issues with reflux and a heart murmer.  I spent my first mothers day in the hospital with my baby in ICU.   And one of the hardest things I’ve ever done was check out of LDS hospital to go home without him.  

I did get to bring him home a few days later – but soon afterward had to rush him to Primary Children’s Hospital where he underwent heart surgery to repair his PDA valve.    Fortunately it worked, and he’s been healthy ever since. The huge scar that wrapped half way around his tiny body is just a small smile of a scar under his arm today.

Brandon has always been very smart and creative.  He walked early, talked early and memorized many songs…. singing them perfectly in tune.  He said lots of cute, funny things that still make me smile today.   

Around age 3, after I’d been in a car accident and my face was bruised and in stitches – I asked him, “Does mommy look ugly?” – and he said, “Yeah, but that’s ok. We’ll just take this head off and buy you a new one at the store.” I’d love to share his Nanny/bathroom story but it might embarrass him. I will if he gives his permission

From about age 3 to 4, Brandon called his reflection “Dags.” We don’t know why – but any time he’d see a picture of himself, or see him self in the mirror, he’s say, “that’s Dags.” He knew that HE was Brandon, but that other kid…. that was Dags.  Even a few years later, when he no longer called his reflection/current pics Dags, he saw a picture of himself at age 3 and said, “that’s Dags.”

When he was about 8 we were eating dinner at the Yummy Tree and, out of the blue, Brandon told me that he thought he might be an alien. He was dead serious. I asked him WHY he thought he was an alien….

Well, he felt ‘different’ from other kids…. and he couldn’t remember being born. How did he know I was his mother?!

I assured him that I remembered him being born, and I definitely WAS his mother…. though sometimes we do seem to be from different planets

Brandon has great motor-dexterity skills – before he could even walk, he’d sit on the floor amidst a pile of colorful bracelets, and one by one, pick them up one at a time and using his thumb and a finger, gracefully flip them over onto his arm.  Once they were all on his arm, he’d dump them off and start over again.

His keyboarding skills won him several awards in school – and benefitted his piano playing.  After only a year of lessons, he took on the challenge of teaching himself very difficult piano pieces.   A bit of a musical prodigy, I think….   he sings, plays piano, teaches others and is assistant director of the Utah Oratorio Society (as well as their web designer).

Brandon has always been very disciplined and organized - qualities that have certainly contributed to his current success.  Qualities which I don’t share, unfortuantely.   And he’s always wanted to be ‘righteous’ – not break any rules, etc.   Again, qualities which I don’t particularly share.     I never worried about him getting into trouble as a teenager – he was pretty much always home by 9 to follow his routine of 100 situps, pushups and scripture reading.   

I recall that at the end of either his junior or senior year of high school, he stopped home with a couple of friends around 9pm and asked if he could stay out late for a party.  I nearly cried for joy.  His friends thought I was nuts, but I literally jumped up and hugged him and said, “YES!!!! YES!!! Stay out as late as you want!!! G0 – have fun! Oh joy, you’re finally a TEENAGER!!!!”     LOL….

I knew Brandon was going to serve his mission in Japan and told him so.  Brandon has a very formal, respectful manner about him.  He actually ENJOYS wearing suits.  All that bowing and social formality in Japan came very naturally to him.   He served well and while he did I kept up a website for him to post some of his letters, pictures, etc.   It’s still up – though very outdated now.

Brandon is also really goofy. He loves puns and silly humor. He has a rubber face and actually practices making strange faces in the mirror.  He thoroughly amuses his daughters, and it’s fun to watch how cute and playful he is with them.  When he and Ashley get together, they go particularly nuts – and are great fun.   And I have no idea where they get it from.

Seven years ago, he married the fabulous Jennifer Greene, and they have two beautiful daughters. 

Brandon has combined his music teaching experience with his web programming skills and created a very successful business called Music Teachers Helper.   He’s created a wonderful life for himself and his family (which you can read about on his blog) – and I couldn’t be more proud. 

Happy Birthday, Brandon!

Do you have a Brandon memory you’d like to share??

While in Hawaii, Ashley informed me that she and Brandon were going in together on a birthday gift for me, and we proceeded to look through various shops and fairs for local artisans to locate the perfect item.  I found a couple of things that I quite liked, but they weren’t perfect…  or were way out of budget   

So I asked if it would be ok if I waited til I got home to find a gift from my favorite local artists store – Musings Artist Inspired.   Local artist Celeste Stuhring has created dichroic glass watches that catch my eye every time I visit.   Here is what I selected: 

Isn’t it beautiful!? I haven’t worn a watch for years – not since I started carrying a cell phone – but I’m very excited about wearing this piece of art every day.

Thanks Brandon, Ashley and families!!

Yes, we’re still in Kauai.

Visiting Kauai with Kristin is awesome – she knows all the hidden away little waterfalls, best places to view waves, which beaches offer the best sand or most privacy.

Yesterday she drove us to these beautiful falls.

I’ve taken a lot more photos, but haven’t had time yet to sort through and post them… I will as soon as I can.

Today the girls had surf lessons in Hanalei Bay. They had a cute instructor named Teva.

(Chris, I thought of you when I caught a glimpse of him shirtless…. you would have oggled and drooled )

The water was quite rough, but they did great! They even rode their boards all the way to shore a few times.

Kris and I watched from the pier, cameras in hand. Ashley may add some video to her site.

Hawaiian Surfing Adventures supplied the sunny yellow rash guards – which was a good thing, because those boards are rough on the skin. All that climbing on and off, kneeling and standing… both girls’ knees are raw, and they have blisters on the tops of their toes. Teva recommended aloe vera.

But it was all worth it. If the waves look good, they may go back out for a few hours on their own tomorrow or Monday before we return home.

Today’s pictoral essay is about sea maidens and sea monsters. 

I happen to fall into both categories with this shot….  a sea maiden (sea wench?) creating a simulation of a whale breach. 

We actually have seen whales off shore – but no full breaches yet.  Except by me, in the pool.
 
 
J’Neil was attacked by a terrifying snorkle monster at Anini Beach.

And a 6 eyed sea monster tried sneaking up on Ashley in the pool.

Ashley the mermaid rejoices upon discovering she has legs. Heretofore, she had been bound to the watery depths by her fins.  

Isn’t magic wonderful?

Side note: I’d like to be able to believe it was magic that created her toned body, & that I could get some of that magic for myself… but alas, it is not magic, but hard work.  Like pilates at the beach.

I think I’ll go eat another chocolate covered macadamia nut.

Kristin the mermaid is enjoying playing in the falls.

Some lovely water ballet performed by J’Neil and Kristin.

And finally, J’Neil the mermaid posing on a rock by the sea…

Today I’ll let the images tell the story.

Well, with a little explanation.

I was a pain in the butt today.

Insisted that Kristin drive down dirt roads (many with DO NOT ENTER signs). She was very patient and humored me.

At the end of one such road, we discovered a very cool old cemetary – all the headstones were in Japanese – some from the early 1900’s.

After another night of mesmerizing rainfall, the waterfalls were just as captivating as the day before.

Every time we looked at the mountain ridge, we’d spot another fall that we hadn’t noticed before.

It’s incredible to think of how many feet these falls plummet, and the volume of water rushing through the several rivers that lead to the ocean.

On our drive to Haena Beach park, I again insisted on stopping so that I could photograph this lovely field of blue flowers. Ashley was particularly fond of the horses.

Across from the beach is the Dry Cave. Pretty cool….

The day was mostly overcast and rainy – but the sun did come out for awhile, and we took advantage of it.

Ashley and J’neil played in the water, posed and we all built a sand castle.

Until it rained us out.

And we’re all jealous of Ashley’s abs….. though she’s the only one who does a half hour of ab-tightening pilates every night before bed…..

My final photo demand of the day was a stop at the taro fields on the wayhome…..

More tomorrow………