Skip to main content

Julie's birthday wish in LA

Forty and fabulous, Julie!
Julie and I walked across the street from the NBC studio for a quick break.My sister, Julie, turned 40 on November 1. We have a family tradition to get together when each of our siblings turns 40 to celebrate it together, and Julie was the fifth and final one to reach that milestone. Julie, who lives in Utah, thought it would be fun to have everyone go to Los Angeles and be contestants on one of our old favorite game shows, The Price is Right.

Julie later changed her mind and decided she wanted to go to the Ellen show instead. In the meantime, some hearts were set on the first plan, so we divided into one group going to TPIR and another going to the Ellen Degeneres show on the same day. It was a long day of waiting in lines, or in the holding pen, as Ellen show guests do, but it turned out to be a fun adventure.My sister, Valerie, and her husband, Sean, took my mom and my dad--who are no longer a couple and divorced when I was five-years-old--to see Bob Barker while the rest of us went to the Ellen show with the birthday girl. Valerie got called to "come on down!" as the second person called on the TPIR show which will air on December 22. She bid on a marble fireplace and was the top bidder. She didn't win any more beyond that, but loved being up on stage with Bob.The Ellen show that we were on was actually two shows. One episode was this past Friday with Brittany Murphy on the show, the same day that Janet Jackson appeared. However, the segment with Janet had been recorded with another audience on a previous day. Then Ellen changed clothes and the "surprise guest" that she had there with us the latter half of the day was Robin Williams. That show will air tomorrow, November 15. I couldn't complain about the long wait too much after getting my new karaoke machine and Happy Feet compact disc and penguin, which was given to everyone in the audience.

I am in love with Kevin Costner and snapped a photo of his star on Hollywood Boulevard when I saw it. I also took one of Robin Williams since we were in the same building as him last week.
Later that evening, we bowled at the Lucky Strike Bowl, the night of a new Jack Black movie premiere. There was paparazzi and red carpet everywhere, and people watching to see the stars arrive, but we didn't hang around to observe. It was my first time there and it was kind of fun to check out.
We went to the Getty Center the next day and I have several pretty pictures from that outing to add. Left to right, it's me, Tracy, Marc's wife Penni, Marc, Julie, and her husband Tom. Valerie wasn't here for the siblings photo op. From birth, it goes Tracy, Marc, Kelly, Valerie, and Julie.

Comments

Heidi said…
That is a really fun tradition you have in your fam! Looks like a great time. I love the Getty but haven't been since high school.
Anonymous said…
Looks like lots of fun! I guess being from Cali we take for granted all those things people go on vacation to see. My cousin was on TPIR years back and won everything, inc the showcase showdown. It was such a trip. We still scream and laugh every time we watch it on VHS as if it was the first time seeing it ;-) VHS...That's how long ago it was.
Kelly said…
"Anonymous" quote is from Summer.

Popular posts from this blog

Book of Mormon Stories Pool Party!

Hopefully this title, Book of Mormon Stories Pool Party , does not sound irreverent, because as an Activity Days leader, I felt compelled to come up with a fun end-of-the-summer event that is also uplifting, and after all, who doesn't love a splash in the pool on a hot day in August?  My current church calling, or official role that I volunteer for, allows me to plan two activities each month for girls ages 8 to 11, that will encourage them to learn and live the gospel, serve others, and use the talents Heavenly Father has given them, to learn to do many good things.  This year's seminary course of study for high school students is The Book of Mormon, and since I am a huge fan of this inspired book of scripture, I came up with this idea to have each girl show up to my house with a written summary of one of her favorite stories from within its many pages, and share it with the rest of the girls, while outside in our swimsuits near our backyard swimming pool!  As each girl shares

Our new daughter!

This picture was taken at church a few days ago while Kelly was on his way to the US for work this week. We have some wonderful news to share.  We are adopting 7-year-old Yeh Min Yu, who has been in our home off and on the last couple of months.  There's a lot that goes into making this official, dealing with US Homeland Security to arrange for her immigration visa, Taiwan courts and Chinese documents, getting a home study done by a licensed, qualified person, applying for a passport.  You have no idea.  I'll be glad when it's all done, but I couldn't wait to share this bit of joy with everyone.  We will name her Hannah to go on her new US birth certificate.  She's excited and nervous to go to America with us.  She can say more than 100 words in English so far.  Some of her favorite things to say are "small dog, butterfly, apple, pig."  She says it more like pig-uh.  We love her and feel this is one of the reasons we came to Taiwan.  Who would have thoug

Elder Larson to return from Thailand soon

Soon is relative, I suppose. Our son has been away from home more than a year and a half as he has been volunteering as a full-time missionary in the Thailand Bangkok Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since September 14, 2016. He will be home in four months and is working so hard, knowing his time there is winding down. He has been assigned to train Elder Ben Meyer, from Sydney, Australia, as they serve in Ubon, Thailand. Christopher has been there since November. We are very proud of his dedication and hard work. This week in Thailand, the new prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, with his wife, Wendy Nelson, along with one of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, and his wife, Patricia Holland, will be on their world ministering tour and be where our son is. The Church members and missionaries in Thailand are very excited and happy for this special visit! I can't wait to hear how it goes, and I look forward to pictures and stories to come.