Sunday, March 20, 2011

Joni's BBQ and Pretend City

Last weekend was warm and sunny, the perfect day for a BBQ. Rondi, Sean and Steph put together a nice party for Joni's birthday. Neil was the social director, this time, his assignment was to entertain Carl. Here's Joni with her big birthday smile on.

Teresa, Billie (in the background), Brandie and Crazy Lori chatting it up.

Sean and Stephanie, chef and his assistant.


Neil, doing his job, entertaining Carl. I don't think either of them ever moved from those seats all day.


Carl and I, posing it up.


Joni and Carol. Blue was the color of the day.


Guess who's picture is missing from this BBQ blog??? Rondi, our hostess. Next time, I must take her picture...


That was last weekend... this weekend Ryder stayed with us. I met Amanda at Brea Mall on Friday afternoon to do the child swap. The traffic was so stopped going back north, I decided to call Lacey, so Ryder and I went to Buena Park to visit them. Ryder and Dean love playing together. They played in the backyard on the swings and rode bikes. We went to Chile's for dinner, then drove home around 9 pm.
On Saturday morning (late) we picked up Lacey and Dean and headed to Irvine, to Pretend City. It's a kids hands-on museum. A city just their size. There's a post office, market, farm, gas station, hospital, bank, art school, fishing, a stage with musical instruments and costumes. Each place had the clothing to wear to go to work there.
The boys were working the dispatch desk for the police department here.


Ryder is pumping gas and cleaning the windows of this car.


There's also a garage to repair cars.


The beach is behind the boys. They're going to repair this BMW next.


Going for a spin


Ryder is a construction worker, screwing in screws and bolts with the tools hanging from the wall.


He seemed to take to this job.


Dean in his construction guy wear.

They fitted plumbing pipes. This is such a great place for kids, but I wouldn't go on a Saturday like we did... way too many kids.


There's a theater stage with musical instruments and costumes. Dean found the symbols and the tamborine went on his head. He looked and acted like one of those little wind up monkeys, like from "Phantom of the Opera". He was hysterical and had everyone laughing. I think that Lacey got him on video.


I did to Ryder what I used to do to Shannon as a kid. Make her wear the goofiest stuff. I suggested that he wear those patent leather lime green boots. They covered his entire legs, so funny. Ryder is much shyer than Dean. I think Dean will be an entertainer like his dad and grandpa.


Then we headed to the grocery store. The boys filled their shopping baskets with fake food and went to the cashier (another kid) to pay and check out. There was plenty of play money at the bank.


Ryder trying his hand at cashiering.

Lacey took so many more photos and I'm sure that she will blog about the day.
We ate a late lunch at Dave and Buster's, dropped off Lacey and Dean at home and went home.
Amanda picked up Ryder on Sunday afternoon. Carl and I enjoyed his visit with us. He's a good boy.
Kathy

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