CHRISTOPHER'S BIG BIRTHDAY PARTY

We threw Christopher a big birthday party on July 11 since Todd's parents were still in town after our trip to the Grand Canyon. It was fun, but a lot of work! Christopher's actual birthday is on July 20. Can't believe a year has gone by!

THE CANYON THAT IS GRAND

We took a mini-vacation to the Grand Canyon July 6-8. We took Todd's parents who had never been, and it was also Christopher's first time. This was our third trip, but it's never "enough." It's only a six-hour drive from Fontana, and it is so awe-inspiring! God is definitely a creative Being!

DREAM THEATER DRUMMER DISCUSSES EACH SONG FROM NEW ALBUM

Interesting! I'm loving the new album...

NEW DREAM THEATER ALBUM - AVAILABLE NOW!

Dream Theater, one of my all-time favorite bands has just released their 10th studio album, Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Excellent musicianship, plus great, positive lyrics. Check it out!
(Link includes samples)

JUNE SPECIAL OCCASIONS

June is our big month for special occasions. We have our Anniversary on June 14, then Father's Day, then Susan's birthday on the 20th.

For our anniversary, I took Susan to see "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." She wanted to see it and we were happy that it was still playing in theaters.

For Susan's birthday, we went to our good friend Dave Epler's 40th Birthday party and then just our family went out to dinner at Tokyo Kitchen, a great Japanese "cook in front of you" restaurant.

For Father's Day, we hung out at my in-laws' house in Upland after church and swam & just relaxed.

Here are some photos from the 2009 celebrations.

MY BEAUTIFUL KIDS

So we were in Von's grocery store in Upland, minding our own business last April, when a stranger approached us and said that he was with a certain well-known portrait studio and that they were going to have an in-store portrait set-up the following week. Would we like to have pictures taken at a GREAT deal?

Well, here are the results of our answer. :)

STAR TREK

I went by myself to see it tonight. I sort of agree with Jason's review, that it wasn’t as “different” as maybe it was billed to be. In fact, call me crazy, but it actually reminded me a little of the most RECENT “Star Trek” movie, “Nemesis,” which everyone hated (but me).

**SPOILER-FILLED PARAGRAPH**

I liked it. My biggest complaint, though, is the big (and I mean HUGE) thing they wrote into the story that permanently changes everything in the “future” (meaning, PAST) episodes and films. I’m talking about the **SPOILER--highlight to read** destruction of Vulcan, and to a lesser degree, the death of Amanda. But I “get it” that this movie is a literal “reboot” which means the possible forthcoming adventures for THIS cast is whatever the writers want it to be. But as a longtime fan of the previous franchise, that bugged me a little. But only a little. Great movie, and I found myself “choking up” a tad during certain moments as the characters I’ve loved since childhood were developed more fully. I had several “Wow–that makes sense!” moments, and I also enjoyed the ironic moments, such as **SPOILER** when Bones says he likes Spock after their first encounter. Too funny!