Empire Mines

It is spring break for the kids this week. We took a day trip with some friends and cousins to Empire Mine in Grass Valley. We had a great time. I even think it is better than Coloma. Here are some pics of our adventure.


Sign and pic of the mine.


Warren standing next to the vault.


Kylie standing next to a "low" door. Kylie is only 5 foot tall. This door is not much bigger than her.


Carlin, Miranda, Anna and me in a mining cart.


Girls, friends, and cousins on a big rock.


The family in the mine.


pretending to turn the valve.


Miranda and Anna found snow by the greenhouse.


Anna and Miranda in the gardens.


Carlin chilling on a bench in the gardens.


The group sitting on the cart that took the miners down into the mine.


deep in the mine.


the group in front of the stamper


Me walking by the fountains


the house on the estate with one of several fountains in the front yard.

Matt goes Rock Climbing with the youth group.

On Friday afternoon, Matt went camping with the youth group. They went camping at a local river. Then went rock climbing the next morning at an indoor rock climbing place. Warren went to go take some pics and fooled around a little bit himself.

Matt climbing some of the different walls.






Matt climbing upside down.




Warren fooling around too.

San Juan Sings

Carlin's school choir got the opportunity to sing with six other school choirs (elementary thru high school). There were almost 400 kids singing together. It was great to hear all the different styles of music represented. They did a great job.

Katie, Alyssa, Haley, Carlin and Tori before the performance.


Carlin smiling while singing.


Carlin singing.


Carlin's group singing Fireflies by Owl City.


All six schools singing If You're Out There


All six schools singing Amani Utupe

Miranda goes rock climbing for the first time!!

Miranda went to a birthday party today that was at Granite Arch. It is an indoor rock climbing place. She had a lot of fun. She was a little monkey!! I stayed and took a few pictures. Here they are!


All harnessed up and ready to go.


Miranda with the guide for the group.


Up she goes!



The most difficult climb of the day. She was the only one in the group to make it to the top.

50's Sock Hop

Friday night was the 50's Sock Hop at the elementary school. I took Carlin and Miranda. Kylie and Warren spent the evening together doing something else. They had a lot of fun with their friends. They had a cake walk (we weren't lucky enough to win anything), limbo, hoola hoop, and bubble gum blowing contests. Here are some pics of the evening.

Alyssa and Carlin posing before we get there.


Anna and Miranda



Some of the amazing decor.


posing with friends before we go in.


Alyssa and Carlin with their guitars


drinking root beer floats


Haley, Carlin and Alyssa stopping for a pose.


Another group shot. Alyssa, Carlin, Noah, Haley, Katie and Dylan.


Anna and Mirand with their guitars.


Hoola hoop contest. Both girls made it to the 2nd round.


Another group pic. Alyssa, Sarah, Lacy and Carlin


Dancing videos

Matt goes to G.A.L.A.

Matt was asked to go to another high school's G.A.L.A. This dance is where the girls ask the guys. He didn't want me to embarrass him by taking pics. but I did get a few. They went to dinner and then to the dance. Here are the pics that I did get!


Matt and Shannon



Group shot of everyone they went to dinner with.

Warren turned 40 today!!

Warren turned the BIG 40 today!! Wow!! Time flies!! We didn't do a big party. I couldn't get him to tell me what he wanted to do. He kept debating whether or not to go dirtbiking. Today would have been the perfect day to go! It was sunny and beautiful. Oh well!! We spent the day working around the house. Then we invited his and my parents to go out to eat with us. We went to El Palmar. The food was good as always. We then came home and visited and had cheesecake. Here are some pics of the evening.

outside the restaurant




John, my parents, Carlin and Kylie


Miranda and Matt


Carlin's hungry. Can you tell?!!


The two Dads.





Warren's gift. The new Nike + Ipod shoe