El Camino Country Club, Oceanside

One of my neighbors, Doris invited Chano and I out for the evening to her country club.  We had some drinks and appetizers and there were Christmas Carolers singing Christmas Carols. We had a nice time out with her.

Thanksgiving in Arizona

For Thanksgiving, we went to Chano's sister, Julia's house in Maricopa, Arizona.  I only took one picture there with my girls with their cousins in the hot tub.  We had a really nice time and it was good to see my sister-in-law, Julia and her husband, Ray.  It was also nice to see my nieces and nephews.  On the way home, we stopped and saw my cousins, Sean and Diane in Sun City West, Arizona. It my good to see my cousins and see their lovely home.

San Luis Rey Mission field trip, Oceanside

I went to the San Luis Rey Mission with Molly and Marina on a school field trip.  It was really neat to go with the class because we had a speaker at the field trip which really gave us a lot of information on the mission and the history of California. The Spanish actually build the Mission.  Then the Mexicans drove the Spanish out of California.  The Mission was empty for 60 years.  Then the United States drove the Mexicans out of California.  Shortly before being assassinated, President Lincoln gave the mission back to the church.  I also learned that there were soldier barracks on the grounds where the Spanish soldiers and their families lived at the mission. U.S. troops wer also stationed there during the Mexican-American War.  There was also a Lavenderia or a laundry where Mission reisdents bathed and washed their clothes.  There was also an outdoor kiln where tiles and bricks were fired to build the Mission.  Because we were part of a group, we got to go into the gardens.  We saw the first Pepper Tree in California.  We also got to see a model of the Mission.  The teacher, Mr. Cohen showed a secret place which is part of the school on the property where there is a fish pond with fish and turtles and a statue of St. Francis of Assisi