Sophia Is Named Student of the Month

I went to Pasadena on February 24th because Sophia had been named Student of the Month at Longfellow School and was to receive a certificate in an award ceremony.  I stayed at the Huntington Hotel (very elegant) and invited Sophia, her father Eduardo and his friend, Alison, to join me for dinner that evening to celebrate.

Aunt Lib and Uncle Bob, who are currently vacationing on Marco Island, Florida, ordered beautiful little cupcakes from Polka Dots in Pasadena for Sophia to share with her classmates.  I picked them up to take to school.

This is the bakery counter.  They look quite festive and yummy.

This is Sophia at dinner with her personalized balloons.

Alison, Eduardo and Sophia posed in the lobby of the hotel .

Alison took a picture of Sophia and Grammie, too.

On Friday morning, February 25th, Sophia walks up in front of the school to receive her award at Longfellow School.

Sophia's teacher, Mrs. Edwards, read some very nice things about Sophia's achievements (particularly her mastery of long division). 

Sophia with the fourth grade award winners.  She was very proud.

The certificate was very impressive and I'm sure her father will frame it and put it on the wall in their home in a prominent spot.  Don't miss the video below (taken by Eduardo) of Sophia at the ceremony.  We are all very proud of her.

Lake San Marcos Celebrates Mary's 90th Birthday

At Bob Kreis's request, Norma Beall organized a beautiful Spanish wine tasting dinner for Mary Kreis's 90th Birthday.  The dinner and wine selections were very similar to those we enjoyed in late August.  It was held on February 3rd in the Trophy Room of the Lake San Marcos Country Club.  Bob ordered lots of Cava for us to enjoy as an apperitif as guests arrived.

John Andrew enjoys Spanish Cava with Judy Widener and Dennis Wittmayer.

                        Norma, the party organizer, greets Katie Andrew, Evie Williams, Jeannine Wittmayer and Darlene Aiken.

The dining room had a big U shaped table with lighted candles everywhere.  Large bouquets of pure white roses decorated all the tables.  The chairs were covered in a fabric that matched the table runners.  The effect was quite warm and romantic.

Norma cleverly seated couples across the table from each other so that our snapshots around table are of couples who are not couples.  It was a lot of fun.  Above are Harry Bubnack and Evie Williams.

Tom Strathairn and Dian Pedersen are delighted to sit together.

Eli Whitney always loves to sit next to Katie Andrew

Gene Williams shared a lot of laughs with the always bubbly Sue Bubnack.

Judy Widener mugs with Don Alexander.

John Lee had to travel out of town but Barb came anyway and we all were glad, including Renate.

Carol Alexander enjoyed her time with Wayne Widener.

Pat Kreutzberg thought the Cava was delicious.

Art Pedersen was the envy of all the men sitting next to Terri Strathairn.

Jeannine and Don had a good time.

Mary was quite surprised.  She thought she was attending a wine tasting dinner.

Mary's very close friend Corine LaJoie gave her a warm, loving hug.

We were all given note cards upon which to write Mary special notes.  Everybody had something to express.

Bob read a poem he composed that was quite touching. 

On either side of Bob and Mary at the head table were seated their best friends Corine and Mel LaJoie and Darlene and Wally Aiken.

Three good golfers on hand for the fun: Edgar Engert, Wayne Widener and Gene Williams.

Mary's birthday cake.

Mary and her cake as we all sing "Happy Birthday".

Norma with one of our expert waiters.

Chef Al and his sous chef came in for a round of much deserved applause.

Don and Pat Kreutzberg wish Mary a very happy birthday.

Thanks to Norma for many of these great photos.  Don't miss the video below.  The quality is poor because the light was very low.

Lake San Marcos Yacht Club Christmas Boat Parade

The post is subtitled  "Celebrating a Hawaiian Christmas in Sunny Southern California".

All week we eyed the weather forecast predicting rain to begin on Friday, the 17th, the day of the parade.  Positive souls that we are were, we proceeded with our plans.  It was very cold and damp when we gathered to decorate the boat at the Beall's.  We kept working anyway.  Finally in the afternoon, we had her completed---just before the misting began.  By 3:30 when we boarded to head for the picnic grounds, it was raining.  We got down there before anyone and for the longest time, no one else appeared.  It was pouring, windy and cold by then.  We couldn't blame anyone for not showing up.  Then, finally, several more boats came.  We never saw the Parade Marshall and found out later that crew was warm and dry at John and Barb Lee's with the judges.  All in all it was pretty cold and wet.  Below is a picture of the boat at the picnic gounds dock before the parade.  Tom is holding an umbrella over Tink (Hula Girl) and Santa.  Tink made the volcano out of Christmas lights and chicken wire.  Tom made the sign.  Norma, Renate, Pat and I fashioned the "ocean and waves" out of corrugated paper, tinsel and lots of lights.  The lighted palm tree is compliments of the Engerts.

Tink and Santa brave the windy, cold to wave and yell "Mele Kalikimaka" and "Merry Christmas" to the folks who would stick their necks out of their doors.

Norma got this great photo of Tink with her lighted grass skirt.  That's a Victoria's Secret Santa hat she's wearing.  Is it perfect for her or what?

Unfortunately, Don was not well so Pat was our trusty Skipper.  It's very hard to be at the helm in the dark and rain.  We're talking no visibility.  She did a magnificent job.

The Christmas men.  Thanks to Norma for this photo.

These are the Christmas ladies taken with Norma's camera, probably by Ken.

Our elaborate Hawaiian themed table at the party should have won first prize.  The judges went for traditional.

I took this picture with Nancy's great camera.  These are the four March birthday people.  They have shared many a party together.

Nancy's fun photo of Tink, still plugged in (literally), and Santa at the party.

 

Nancy's photo of Eli and me.  I didn't wear much in the way of Hawaiian attire because it was too cold.

Edgar and Renate in a perfect shot by Nancy.  He owns his Santa costume and has played the role many times.  He was the best ever.  Except after being in the rain for so long in his full suit, hugging him was like hugging a wet dog.

We were awarded first prize and Nancy captured our excitement.  Unfortunately no plaque, money or trophy goes with this.  Just the satisfaction of winning.  After all the work, it was much appreciated.

This is the poor sad "Pond Tune" the morning after.  We had hopes of reusing that paper that was the ocean and the waves.  As you can see, it ended up in the dumpster.  The whole thing was quite an experience.  We could have entered a float in the Rose Parade with less planning and work.

 

Lake San Marcos Formal Dance Club's Old Fashioned Christmas

The Formal Dance Club Christmas party is truly not to be missed.  The decorations, designed by Renate Engert, were the best ever.  The cover of the dance invitation is below.

After Renate saw the invitation, she then searched high and low and found beautiful sleighs which she filled with Christmas greens, flowers and tiny packages.  She positioned the sleighs on cotton "snow".  I've included a photo of the centerpieces for you.

Carol and Don Alexander brought a huge Santa's sleigh full of toys that they use annually for decoration.  It was placed on the side table in the entrance.

In the dining room we had a big lighted Christmas tree and another table featuring old fashioned carolers and a big Santa.  Edgar, Mr. Poinsettia himself, brought a huge box of poinsettias and set them all around everywhere.

Many people chose to wear "vintage" Christmas attire.

Eli is wearing, you guessed it, that same jacket he wore in the July 4th Boat Parade and again at Halloween.  He's also wearing Bob Burnham's cumberbund and bowtie (Bob was a past president of the Formal Dance Club).  Eli's walking cane belonged to his great grandfather.  Renate obtained her vintage attire from several sources as well.

Ginnie and Oscar always get into the spirit of things.

Bob Kreis wore a vintage handlebar mustache---until we were served dinner.

Don and Carol acted as our check-in hosts.

Judy and Peter Bitto visit with Pat Jordan.

Debbie Brown invited her friend, Mara Seideman.

Jim and Jo Ann Murphy attended as guests, in fine vintage formal attire.

Norma got a shot of most of the folks who wore vintage clothes.

That's me on the left with Norma, Katie and Terri (Tink).

Ken, Edgar and Eli wear Pat Kreutzberg's antique coats one more time.

The Formal Dance Board of Directors for 2011.  Edgar Engert is president and he's just the person for the job.