Surfs Up!

It's time to unload the Van for another great day at the beach. That job goes to Connor now that he is the only Mills Boy left at home. 

Keith, Connor, Reed, Nathan and Noah headed out at 6;00 am Saturday morning for some great waves and fun in the sun. I came along to watch, walk and enjoy the scenery. 

Connor is having a bite to eat before he gets in the water: Salami and Cheese at 8:00 in the morning?  

 We found a parking spot right across the street from the waves at Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz. 

Keith even brought along my favorite beach cruiser to ride while the guys surfed. Connor is anxious to get to the beach.  I can tell that Keith doesn't want to be left behind. 

Reed Stone and Connor 

Nathan Stone and Connor with boards in hand checking out the waves that were smaller than expected. Still it is a beautiful day!

Of course Keith is in the lead!

I couldn't help taking a picture of these flowers,  They were growing out of the sand on the edge of the cliff; what a precious place to produce such a bright and brilliant flower. This bunch was enjoying a million dollar view on a gorgeous day. 

It was a little blustery as the guys headed out to find some waves.  Not too many takers because of the size and there being a surf contest going on at the pier.  Lucky for them. 

I watched the guys catch a few waves and then headed out on one of my favorite walks along the coast from Pleasure Point to Capitola Pier.  

All of the beach side cottages were rented and busy as people has already began to enjoy their memorial day weekend.  The sun had even decided to come out!

 I was a little envious as I walked by this beauty who's back yard has an unrestricted view of the ocean.  

Just down the road I came a cross this house with really fun new wave architecture. 

I can't imagine how wonderful it would be to look out your window to the backdrop of just ocean and sky day in an day out.   

After my walk, I set up camp right above where the guys were surfing. I

t can't get much better that this. 

The guys are ready to call it a day.  But Keith is still out there. 

It is so great to have another surfer in the Family!  I know that Keith is thrilled that Connor is still with us so that he can have a surfing buddy. Connor makes everything more fun and I am sure that this sumer we'll have a lot more great days like this one. 

LDS Prom:

Is that the new James Bond? 

Connor is dressed in his Brother Jarrett's $100 Tux, purchased in 2002 for CHS Concert Choir.  Since then it has been to every LDS Prom, multiple Junior and Senior Proms along with plays, presentations and productions over the years.  The patent leather dress shoes of course don't fit, but I was surprised that most everything else did.  The only alteration was to let the sleeve length to cover those long arms of Connors, everything else was perfect as you can see. 

Connor head out the door in style.  I can't  believe that this day has come for him .  He is even driving to the dance. 

Connor is happy to have the key's! It's hard to believe he'll be off driving on his own soon. 

If Connor gets any taller, his head is going to touch.  Connor is on his way to pick up Reggie and some of the young women in our ward that needed a ride. Connor is really a great driver, he is looking forward to his test and the freedom that driving will bring him.  

The Dance has a fun 50's Theme.  Soda in glass bottles, 50's music, classic cars out front, poodle skirts for the chaperones, bow ties for the servers.  I am sure that is a bottle root-beer in  Connors hand. Reggie is friend choose my favorite an Orange Crush. 

 Cheers!

It was a great night out for a great guy. We are so proud of Connor and the super person he is!  I hope that this Tux gets a few more outings before it's relegated to the dark closet again. 

Haley Off to BYU

Haley is heading off to BYU and will not step on California black top until Christmas!  

It is a sad to think that we won't have this cute girl around our house anymore.  She is a great cook, a super cleaner, a great workout partner and talented facial giver.  We will miss her smile and great side of humor, we'll miss her voice when we sing hymn at night and Connor will miss his pancakes in the morning.  Who is going to organize my fridge and pantry.  The list could go on and on.  At the same time BYU is a great second home with 3 of her brothers and sister already there. 

Today we are flying on Allegiant for $49 dollars each way!  Haley was limited to a $20 suitcase under 40 pounds so she isn't bringing the typical amount that most college students pack with them.  

I was too cheap to pay for a suitcase so I have all I need for the week packed tightly in to my shoulder bag.  

Beautiful Haley with her new iPhone still in the box.  

On the ground now in Provo Utah.  Haley heads for a bright and happy future as a student for the next 3 years. The airport is in the middle of a field near Utah Lake. Jarrett will be waiting for us and after we get our bags off the baggage carts by the front door of the terminal, he'll so kindly drive us to the Village Apartments where all four of the Mills family will be living this summer; 

WHAT A PARTY!  

Here we are again at Costco sampling their three scoop strawberry gelato. 

Both Riley and Jarrett have decided that the strawberry is the best. They also just did their part in polishing off a large pizza; sending only a few pieces home with them. 

Ty and Jenna chose 180 Tacos for their dinner out with me.  It is a fabulous little taco shop with tastes from all over the world; imagine a Caribbean or Korean taco. TASTY.  Jenna had just finished a 10 hour day at the BYU Health Clinic and looks gorgeous as usual. It was so much fun to get caught up on all that is going on for this talented couple.

BYU Women's Conference was wonderful.  Mom, Heather, Kari and I enjoyed two days of great talks,  fun times, delicious food, sleep overs, chocolate covered cinnamon bears and the best company ever. Here we are taking a rest on the lawn outside the Marriott Center before the last session. 

 You could tag this picture below as,  The Mills family "forced ride."  All showed up willing or not to make their mother happy; going on a family bike ride, just like old times.  We borrowed bikes from Aunt Heather and picked up a few more at the local bike shop. We enjoy the morning together outside riding along a pictuersque trail running along the mountain ridge in Provo. 

Jarrett stood the last half of the trip due to a sore behind.  The rented bike seats where anything but comfortable. They must have been meant for a more seasoned rear end.  

Haley makes everything look beautiful and easy.  I think that she enjoyed the ride as much as her mother and wanted to keep going when everyone else was ready to turn back. 

Riley was our driver today and has been so kind letting me use his car for the entire week. 

Riley choose his favorite Tai Restaurant for our family meal after the bike trip. We had all worked up and appetite, the food was delicious.  

We each chose a different curry and then shared.  I think our favorite was the peanut and yellow curry with a never ending bowl of rice. 

General Conference: Tickets Anyone?

This year Connor and I decided to take a road trip to SLC for Conference.  Connor needed driving time for his upcoming driving test. I was missing the majority of my family who have all "left me!" 

 What a great adventure it was.  Connor drove through most of Nevada even though it made him really sleepy. He kept me company with his great sense of humor and interesting topics of conversations.  We also had 48 hours of book on tape to get through so there was never a dull or quiet moment. 

Sadly we had no conference ticket, but we weren't going to let that stop us from seeing conference in person.  Petitioning for them, made it all the more exciting.  

With our homemade sign in hand, Riley got two ticket within the first 10 minutes.  Amazingly enough he caught the eye of a girl in the Singles Branch here in Turlock who recognized him and mentioned that amazingly, she had two extra tickets from our stake and didn't know what to do with them. Score Riley! 

Jarrett and Connor were strategically placed in the Stand By Line just in case we weren't lucky with the tickets.  The line was massive and both were excited to leave and head to our seats in the Conference Center to hear in person the Saturday morning opening session 

              It can't get better than this.  Center Front Plaza Floor with my three handsome sons!

My Favorite People.

 Food For Thought.

There is beauty all around when you are temple square.  The refection pool is to the side of us and the Temple is majestically rising in front of us.  The music is drifting over the loudspeakers and the scent and color of flowers is everywhere.  Riley even has a bed to stretch out on while we eat our tasty lunch in between sessions. 

Back to work for afternoon session seats.  This time we put Connor to work.  The competition is heavy and there are people with fingers up and signs all around.  Connor's height and charm win out as an elderly lady comes up and tells Connor was a wonderful young man he is and that she'd like him to have her husbands ticket who couldn't make it.  

One down, three more tickets to go. 

 Riley was chosen amid all the other finger holders for ticket number two. Sadly we didn't get any more tickets and with time running out found two young kids from Guatemala that needed tickets for their family and they enthusiastically accepted our two.   

 After waiting in a long line, we made it into the Joseph Smith Auditorium where we listened to the conference message in soft seats, total darkness and the speakers larger than life!  

 The rest of our time Connor stayed with his brothers, in what I am sure was a three day party. We meet for a number of hot dogs, pizza slices and Gelato at Costco our favorite place to eat and shop.

 Sadly we had to head back home and were surprised to find ourselves in a blizzard just out of Salt Lake City.  Luckily it cleared up and Connor again took the wheel and expertly drove me back home.

Connor really enjoyed driving the fast and twisty roads through the Sierra's.  He said that is was like Grand Tourismo real life.  My knuckles were white at first and my eye alert while my heart beat a little faster than usual as he speed down those winding roads.  Connor did such a fine job that after a while I closed my eyes, listened to our book on tape and even fell asleep.  He'll pass that test easily.  

 What a great road trip!