Happy 80th Birthday, Grandma Janet!

Grandma Janet turned a young year 80 this week!  The family all got together for dinner on Saturday to celebrate.  Since Brandon and I couldn't make it, we sent a couple of surprises...

Us!

Family Photo!

Grandma and her kids :)

Sharon sent me the next pic - she said it freaked her out while eating breakfast at Grandma's house the next morning:

Ha ha ha!!

I painted this pic for Grandma - she's always had a love for birds and she and grandad are the most unique "birds" I know.....love you, Grandma!

Halloween Time at Disneyland

Yesterday, Brandon and I headed to Disneyland for the afternoon and evening.  This was the first time I got to use my "Main Entrance Silverpass" - the employee pass into the park for free and free parking; yay!

We started in Disney's California Adventure where Brandon finally got me to ride Tower of Terror - I screamed the WHOLE time even when the elevator was only traveling up!  I'm such the screamer - doesn't really matter what the ride is.....he just laughs at me....

At Paradise Pier!

Yay!

Brandon enjoying a Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sundae :)

We're having FUN!

LOOK THERE!

Then we headed across the the courtyard to Disneyland!!  Brandon was ready to get inside!!!

How CUTE are the characters!!

Halloween Time!

Haunted Mansion Overlay - "The Nightmare Before Christmas"

up through Christmas!

The ride broke around 7pm and we weren't able to ride.....next time!

We had our picture taken on my photopass in front of the "Great Mickey Pumpkin."

Unfortunately, they had technical difficulties and I haven't seen the pics uploading to my account yet... :(

Here's the Mickey I found online anyways....

Cute right!

But I want my pictures :(

The park was pretty crowded - LONG waits on everything.  Space Mountain had the longest at 90minutes with NO fast pass because of their special Halloween overlay....

We were able to get on Splash Mountain - it's becoming on of Brandon's favorites because of the camera:

There he is in the back and me in front screaming away -  just what am I going to do with him??  :)

We stayed and watch the Fantasmic show and the fireworks - they were GREAT but hard to see - you can pay for "dinner and show" and get reserved special seating; that's what we're going to do next time....

We decided to head home instead of waiting around for anything else - but before leaving, we stopped and bought some Mickey ears!  We'll take them and wear them when we head back soon - it's great living so close to a park with free admission ;)  But hey, I work hard for that "free" admission....!

By the time we got back to the parking structure, exhaustion hit my poor Mickey-eared Brandon.....

A good day indeed :)

Fridge Fun!

I got us some toys for our fridge.....

Brandon loves leaving notes with them.....

look how creative!  :)

Yes, we call each other "mabe" with an m....

And yes, I ate the last doughnut!  

Apt. 18B, HAUNTED!

Goblins and ghouls have taken up a spooky residence in apartment 18B......

October.....one of my most favorite times of the year to DECORATE!!!  Y'all know I LOVE it!

In our hallway....

SNAKES!

Dining Room.....

Mummy head with some creepy friends....

Life-size candy dish!

THE birds....!

Table top Monster party....

Scaredy Cat!

BATS!

Only construction paper!  One of my favorites this year! :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!!!!!

BOO!

An Affair of the Art!

Last night, Brandon and I attended our first "professional" fundraising gala event!  The charity event supported Ryman Arts - an organization dedicated to teaching teens essential skills in life and art and promoting the arts in younger generations.  Mr. Herbert Ryman was an Imagineer who worked with Walt Disney and created the first look of Disneyland.  Check out the website for more info:  www.rymanarts.org

The event was held at another Imagineer's home, Marty Sklar, who is also a former Imagineer and huge supporter of the arts here in Los Angeles.  He and his wife live off of Mullholland Drive - what a house!  Every car was valet parked and the house was essentially turned into an art museum.  Every room had art on the wall from the students and faculty at Ryman Arts and Imagineers who participated.  Tile floors, two swimming pools, a tennis court (which was also turned into an art gallery), wrap around veranda with fire sculptures and more art - unbelievable!  With flowing glasses of cocktails and o'dourves we thoroughly enjoyed our time :)

The best part was access into Marty's home office - pictures of Walt, notes from fellow Imagineers and from when Epcot was being built, and practically every award an Imagineer can receive - incredible and very personal.  It was so neat to be able to sneak a peak into that part of his world.....

No pictures were allowed at the event and....our camera died right when we were trying to take one at home before leaving but I was able to capture this one on my blackberry :)  So nice to be dressed up for a change!

I'm looking forward to next year and the possibility of purchasing some art from one of my favorite artist and also former Imagineer:  Mary Blair!  365 days to save up!