And they celebrate another year older together...Happy Birthday Mama and Billy!

Bill was born on his mom's birthday....Back in the day...as the story goes...Shirley went into labor that day...and drove herself to the hospital that afternoon to bring Bill into the world. Giving a phone call later to Gaylord that he has another son...Nothing like how we have it these days...Birthing centers..in room baby stays...dad's assisting in everything but Cesearan's...She has 5 children. Bill is 3rd in line. But it still amazes me to have this gift on your birthday. She is an amazing mama to all her kids. She's an awesome Grandma to all of our kids. The cake I brought. Baskin Robbin's Mint Chip with Chocolate cake. Yes that's right. YUM!

The birthday love-bugs... and Troy on the right....

The sun hid from us on Supercross Saturday...But on Sunday for Bill and Shirley's bbq it came out. Super sweet. Perfect for bbq'n. (It was still freezing though, always on the water in winter..)

Our BBQ Queen. Vicki did an awesome job putting together all the sides for yummy hot-links, and Polish Dogs...there was grilled onions, sauerkraut, bellpeppers stirred fried with onions. And all the salad sides.

Toasty yummy buns....

So as the photographer blogger that I am...as I'm cleaning the kitchen in preparation mode for cake, I look over and see Gaylord preparing coffee for everyone. He always so sweetly puts this little addition out..and it just made my heart melt to think of the years he's celebrated for his wife, for his son...working so hard for them to give all of them a strong sense of self. He's raised every one of his kids to be hardworking, successful and tenacious in everything they do. Cheers Gaylord!

Bill's sissa Sandra! She's the baby of the clan....with 3 girls and 1 son of her own...and all athletes...

Cousins! From the left, Riki Lyn, Regina, Reese and Miss. Kali...

Happy Birthday Shirley and Bill.

This is how we do it...Supercross Birthday Bash 2011

Every year we celebrate Bill's Birthday at Anaheim's Stadium...with a Tailgate party and good times. Here is Jay, Hope, Me, Bill, Jaymee and Sean. More good friends that travel from Valencia and Saugus to be with us in our tradition of Supercross Tailgator. My new camera was set on Antique mode I guess...Looks like the 60's huh? yea right, with the toy hauler in the back and all the graphic's worn. haha.

What do you get someone that has pretty much everything? I made Bill this Shadow Box with one of his 1980's racing shirts inside, along with trophy placards, and pictures of him..."back in the day"- A trophy top also added from his collection. He'll put in our Havasu garage...more memories to reflect on...

The race. Actually a very good race.

The birthday boy.

Kristopher 21 years....

Bill, Shannon and friends...(woops can't remember other two girls' names...) However Bill and Shannon and her husband Greg have known eachother since out of high school. They are super fun...they live in San Clemente and with 3 kids of their own, and Greg in the Fire Dept; it's hard to plan much..it's these friends that we look forward to seeing at our Annual Supercross get together...

More good friends...Sean and Bill......

Beautiful Jaymee. What's in your coffee cup Miss. Jaymee?

Kali and MacKenzie....besties at their first Supercross together....Good Times...these girls were troopers..

Kris and Sean....the warmest place..? In the trailer. It was freeezzzinnng!

Fatal Beautiful Girls....Justine, Nicole, Alyssa, and Lauren....more fun times....

Dylan and Corey. They've been friends with Kris since middle school. Corey works for us, and is an amazing kid. He drove our trailer at 6am to the stadium. Set it all up...waited until 1pm for us to arrive...and came back later at 2am to drive it home safely. Super super sweet boy. Dylan and Corey have grown up together. It's so neat to be with our sons friends, watching them grown into men, celebrating, having fun...and capturing my own memoires with them.

Finally going home. I caught my little trio coming down the little hall.

Until next year......see ya Supercross!

Another favorite spot...Birthday Dinner Friday night January 2011

Years ago Bill and I were in Scottsdale, AZ and came across this restaurant, and loved it. Turns out they have one in Newport. We head over every once in a while. I treated my birthday boy to dinner. The food is absolutely amazing. The Lemon Drop Martini's are also. They take reservations, and the service is superb. It's a nice drive up PCH at Sunset for anyone who'd like to try it out. It's the typical Newport crowd, but a warm feel inside.

The birthday boy......

The best Lemon Drop's

Their artichoke is amazing. However to me, it's a tie with Walts Warf in Seal Beach.

The reason we drive to Bandera's is simply because of this corn bread. IT IS AMAZING. The picture doesn't do the size and flavor justice. You simply must go and order.

Bill caught me coming back from the ladies room. The one and only picture of me. Nice lol!
Look at the waitress behind me. Hmmm crazy lady alert.

I love him.

Happy Birthday Bill. Cheers to another healthy good year!

Los Al vs. Huntington Beach High and..my favorite Health Sandwich bar...Jan 2011

We tied...therefore our Coach came down on the girls. So their departure bus ride home..from what I hear was very quiet. They are still so beautiful...Go Lady Griffins! You played tough. HB played a little dirty. And 2 more knucklehead ref's didn't help. Don't know where Kali is in this shot. Probably better she didn't see me in there grabbing a shot. Depending on her mood for the moment..sometimes I get the eye...and sometimes I get a beautiful smile. ahhh hormones...yawn. There's Kali. She played tough.

And our beautiful goalie Savannah....

The highlight of this game was I knew the minute it was over I would run over to Main. St. and grab my favorite sandwich special at a place that I've been going to since I was Kali's age. Jan's Health Bar in Huntington Beach..at one point was located inside Huntington Surf and Sport. But when I was little my parents would take us there, and I can't remember exactly where. Jan was ALWAYS there, the place was ALWAYS packed and the food is amazing. The smoothies are amazing..and the Surfer Special is the hit. You get half sandwich with soup. And Havachips (which are super yummy). Well, Jan sold out the store. A few weeks ago Kali and I stopped in for lunch and I asked where she was, after I noticed it was repainted, new brightly lit un-Jan like signs, and NO JAN! She sold to a former employee. There are two pictures up. The same food, but the vibe just feels different. Anybody in the area, it's on Main St. up by the bike shop. And the food is delish!

There's Jan in the middle with her legs crossed. One of the two pictures left in her health bar. I guess the feeling reminds me of my parents. Now the room is painted bright green. Gusto! lol

After I leave the sandwich shop I decide to take PCH home, to meet the bus back at the high school. Well...this is my view as I'm heading up Main. Then I get to PCH and I sit in awe at the light. I pulled down into the parking lot, jumped out and grabbed a few shots. The ocean was being rained on. However Catalina had what looked like sunny beautiful sky.

Mother Nature. You simply amaze me. Rain pouring onto the ocean. Surfers and paddle boarders still out there getting their groove on. Brah!

You can see the Island. Those aren't clouds on the bottom portion. That's the island.

And yes, I was about 10 minutes late to pick up Kali. uh oh....

Soccer pasta party at The Dutton home 2011

The night before each soccer game our girls attend a Pasta Party hosted at a family's home that is willing to cook, host and have 25 girls come over directly after practice and STARVING! Cindy cooked amazing pasta, a huge salad and the girls went through 5 loaves of Garlic french bread. Super yummy. I brought Chocolate cake. Yum! Kali and Mackenzie

The Dutton Dining area....She had cute little vases with "Go Lady Griffins" inside..with confetti strings...so cute.

Food! Food! Pasta! Pasta! Salad and Bread! Bring it on! These girls are starrrvvviing!

Yum!

Happy and fed! After the girls ate, and had desert, they played a board game and had a blast. Parents picked up at 6:30ish outside while the girls played hide-n-seek. Good times!

Thank you Duttons!

Last date night of 2010...and CAN WE GET A CAB?

After our picnic on the beach...with margarita's in tow...we headed home.
I was cozy of course. Totally cozy with my black leggings, long flowing black shirt...but it was only 3pm. Kali had plans, Kris of course too. And there we sat. Bill said "hun, I'm taking you out on the town". I was, at first a little hesitant, only because Kali was at her first party...close by, and Kris was heading to Downtown LA to a Rave. Don't know why...I just felt more safer staying in...just in case..One of them needed us. But he said, nope! Get ready let's go. At first his mission, was Downtown LB to visit YardHouse. And bar hop down there...but as we boarded the cab I asked if we can just stay local. Of course he said...yes...Main St. Seal Beach.
On our patio. Trying out my new camera. On the timer.
At 320 on Main. THE BEST Garlic fries, I've ever had. And yes they lingered until last night.

Evidence..better yet our breath was.

Their signature News Years Eve drink. Champagne mixed with something. It was terrible. Can you tell? haha.

I stole my kiss before midnight. I love kisses. And by the fireplace...priceless.

Our favorite beer. By the fire.

We were draped with New Years garb the minute we walked in, making the festive mood. I sat there reflecting on how fast 2010 went. It really blazed by.

So....as we filled up with cocktails, dinner, long day of really doing nothing..and just getting plain lazy...me requesting to head home to watch the ball drop, making our own cocktails, jumping in the jacuzzi, he agreed. We called the cab company that dropped us off. The name on the card given to us at departure was "Mahalfi". Well, we called Mahalfi...no answer, ring, ring ring...no answer. Left a polite message, no answer. So we call The Cab Company...busy busy busy signals.. To no prevail could we get a cab! At first, I laughed, I thought oh my gosh, this is weird. Then an hour later of still no answers, busy signals, Mahalfi not answering...I was getting scared. I thought "are we gonna have to walk home over the bridge?" haha. So we sat there...scratching our heads...well..drinking actually. Bill would step outside, try again...then FINALLY, I just ordered a Corona...and I see him waving arms running towards me "I got one" come on! It dawned on me the next morning...I didn't pay my bill on that one Corona! I will go back and make good. Karma. But I do have a whole different outlook on cabs on New Years Eve...

Welcome 2011...Happy New Year!

My aunt requested that I draw this in the sand for her...So Bill and I headed over to the beautiful beach...with an amazing view...surf was up...wind was calm. Nice little picnic, fun pictures...my perfect way to say goodbye to another year. May you all be happy, healthy and safe for many more years to come!

My favorite place to be...at the beach....