First garage sale

October 31 - Another milestone was crossed today as we had our first of two final garage sales before we leave for Georgia. We got up at 5:30am and set up for a very early start!!!Steve & Ken charged for the adventures of the day! Check out Steve's new glasses!!!
There were lots of goodies to set out.
Donuts, cinnamon buns and coffee were a sweet bonus to help us get going!

We had it pretty much set up before the sun had risen!

And then the people started coming!

Ashley was our first customer! And she scored big... a singing Christmas tree, funky beads and some Chinese take away containers.
Deron & Sophie took care of the money box for awhile (that was after Deron got up)!

Folks came through as a solid stream up til around 1pm.

Next one is on Saturday, December 12th!

Last Day at Beach?

October 29 - With grandma under the watchful eyes of Ken & Pam, our entire family had a day off! First, our precious friend Dr. Paul gave us all eye examinations and then set us up with what was needed to see again. We all came out with glasses. Some of us came out with more. Thanks Paul!!! From there we headed to Bolsa Chica Beach, just miniutes away for Paul's office and we did what we do at the beach. Steve & Chad (works for Paul) get ready to head out in to the huge 12 inch surf (there were an ocassional 2 to 3 footer)! Steve & Chad pattling out!
Deron zipping up Paul's suit as they prepare to catch up with Chad & Steve.

Prestin lost in his book and tunes!

Deron

Prestin just chilling!

Jasen messing around with Deron

Or is it the other way around?

Shellie's new wind-blown look! It's awesome times 10!!!

Jasen digging toward China

Just a cool shot

Yep!

Did we mention that Jasen loves the beach?!

Shellie & Deron on a search for shells. A few treasures were actually found!

Mom & Dad Smith

From the beach we took a drive around where to see Steve & Shellie's first apartment. 173 1/2 Nieto Avenue in Long Beach, was just a very small unit above a two car garage, and a few blocks from the beach.

Here's the beach at the end of our street. This was an amazing experience for us inlanders to be so close to the sand (no surf though) as newlyweds - 25 years ago!

Here's our first church, where Steve was the youth pastor for several years. Grace Community Church, Seal Beach is just down the street from the beach (yes there was surf there)!

Jasen greets the seal at the pier in Seal Beach. By the way, it's not real!

On the pier!

At the end of the Seal Beach pier

There is still romance!

Family

More

Looks like a cover for a CD

Still on Seal Beach pier

Still smiling after all these years!!!

Deron yelling (or trying to swallow?) at a sea gull!

"You mean these cost money?"

Back on solid ground!

Just simply cool!

Three amigos!

From Seal Beach we headed down to Huntington Beach, and made our way to the end of the pier, for dinner at Ruby's.

Yummy hamburger with endless fries!

Lots of food overlooking the ocean and sunset!

Prestin

Jasen thorughly enjoyed his double vanilla milkshake!

Deron

As the sunsets...

Shellie was so thrilled to see her first (and last) sunset over the ocean since we arrived here in July 2007.

It actually was quite chilly!

Awesome!

Moon shot!

Capturing the last moments of light!

Jasen

Bearing the elements to get another shot!

The four Smith boys!

"Com'on mom, 300 pictures are enough!"

Beautiful colors of sunset! The four guys are in the shadows at the bottom.

As above, but overexposed!
Main Street, Huntington Beach

Good bye beach!