A few of my favorite things...

We just got back from a quick trip to sunny Southern Cal. While we were there we couldn't resist two of our favorite things, apples from Oak Glen and Thrifty's Rocky Road ice cream. These two foods have a special place in my heart and are associated with a lot of great childhood memories. We would always go to Oak Glen in the fall. We would pile into the Chevy Celebrity and drive out on the old Oak Glen Road that had great dips in it and we would beg Dad to drive faster so that it felt like you were on a roller coaster. Weeeeee! Up and down, up and down. We would stop at the stand just around the curve on the upper road and get cider pops and caramel apples. Oh man! They were so good!! Cider pops are made by freezing apple cider in a dixie cup with a popsicle stick, nothing fancy, but we always had to have one.

Thrifty's Rocky Road reminds me of Grandpa Carver. He always had Thrifty's ice cream for us. It is really chocolatey and has toasted almonds and marshmallows in it. I just had a bowl for dessert and it was delicious!!

~ Candice

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday Dad - We love you!

(Mike and Eric don't forget it's Dad's birthday.)

Handmade Clothes

My mother is an amazing seamstress. She can make anything just by the measurements and she can also see a picture of something and make it without a pattern. She truly is amazing. She taught my sister and I how to sew. I didn't like to sew much when I was younger but I do now. What a great asset to have. When we were younger she would make us clothes. I believe we picked out our own fabric for what she was making. I must have chosen this, there is no way my mother would have picked this, the fabric is hideous. You can tell I grew up in the 80's, leggings and a wild shirt. (I think I had just gotten out the pool because Nicole Ewell is still in her swimsuit and my hair is crazy.)

My memories of the little green house

I remember digging a huge hole in the backyard with Mike because we were trying to build a swimming pool. We worked on that hole for days. When it was finally big enough we filled it with water (that quickly turned muddy) and went for a swim. I jumped in and cut my foot with a piece of glass that was hidden in the dirt. It wasn't such a fun pool after all.
I remember my first bike got stolen from the backyard at that house.
I remember hanging Star Wars action figures from the bushes that lined the driveway. There are probably still some buried at that house.
I remember catching fire ants and making ant farms in 5 gallon buckets of dirt. I remember the wall paper in the kitchen was white with strawberries on it.
I remember giving the neighbor kid a bloody nose but I don't remember why he deserved it.
~Candice

Little Green House

When my parents moved to California, they purchased a two bedroom home on Sepulveda Ave. At the time they only had two children, Candice and Michael. Eric and I came along shortly and the four kids slept in one room. My parents divided the room with a thin portable wall. Candice and I shared a bunk bed on one side and Mike on the other side. (Mike has always been pampered!) Eric was in a crib at one end of the room. The rest of the house consisted of another bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, and bathroom. It was a small home but it had a gigantic backyard and a wonderful old lady living next door named Vivian. I only have a few vivid memories of living there but some include watching mom and dad build a treehouse in the big tree, swimming in the little blow up pool, riding my Strawberry Shortcake bike head on into the short stubby palm tree in the backyard, swinging on the swing set, picking apricots off the ground, receiving tiny pastic grocery items for Christmas one year, and writing in our journals with a cover that looks like the back of a jean pocket. I'm sure my older siblings can add more memories in other posts. I only have happy memories of the "little green house". I believe it's because my parents were creative with what we had and loved us and we knew they loved us.

Front Yard

Front Living Room

Kitchen

Backyard

I carried this picture of my baptism day my whole mission. I keep it in my scriptures to this day. I got it while I was in the MTC and I had it glued to a picture of the Saviors baptism and then laminated. The picture has seen better days but it is a good reminder that my dad loves me. Thanks for your example dad.

My Mommy is the BEST Mommy EVER!!!

Today Mom came over after work and weed whacked and edged my driveway, dug weeds out of the cracks, hosed everything down, moved outdoor furniture, sprayed down my bricks, scrubbed hard water off of my living room windows, washed my screen doors and front door, and gave much needed advice. Thanks so much Mom for helping me!!! I love you!
Love, Candice