A Little Bit of Everything.......

Currently it is slow, quiet, and relaxing here in El Salvador.....have a massage once a week, work with the kids twice a week, go to town around once a week, play alot of cards and scrabble and loving just reading, reading, reading. Not must news to report so here's just a few misc. pics we didn't get in last update.......

Suzy and David from S/V Sidewider getting ready to head out over the bar ..............

A happy grandma holding Alyssa...............

Marina and hotel at Bahia del Sol, Costa del Sol, El Salvador.....our home away from home!

Mac's Tom's on the way back to El Salvador (SFO, San Franciso Airport).....okay while we were in Napa with Amanda and Donavan we went to the farmers market in downtown Napa. Don got Amanda and I each a pair of Tom's shoes. They are wonderful, comfortable, expandable (very important when you wear them in tropical conditions and your feet swell) and waterproof...you can wade into the water to get into the dinghy and an hour later they are dry. The best part, however, is that Tom's shoes gives a pair to a needy child for every pair you buy. I especially like that part....anyway I love my Tom's and I thought I would take pictures of them in various parts of the world and this is my first shot.....there will be more.

We got to go to Christian (standing) and Mitch's final soccer games just before we left the states. It was a great day, a little cold, but the kids have fun playing soccer and we love being there to watch them.

During our visit with Mom and Dad in Redding we love to swing by Whiskey Town Lake and have a picnic. It's close to Redding so it's a short but beautiful drive. Of course we always love to see the sailboats out on the lake. Once they get in your blood I'm not sure you ever get it out.....oh well, there are worst ways to go I guess.

Dad watching the sailboat......

We love the view of the volcanoes here in El Salvador. On Tuesday, one was blowing some smoke........

The Wedding

We've had a great visit.......the wedding was so much fun and beautiful, the kids never stopped smiling the entire time. It soooooooooooo great to be with the kids and grandkids and just hang out with them. We had a great visit with Mom and Dad in Redding and finally got to go to the Redding Rodeo. We're in Napa for one last visit with the newlyweds and then back to Tracy for the grandsons big soccer tournament and then home to the boat and El Salvador on Monday. Here's a few pictures....................

Grandma & Alli doing their nails before the big event.

Rehersal dinner: Mac, Alan, Sandi and Kirk (Donavan's Dad & Step Mom)

Final prep before heading to the church.

Alan, Mac, Kenny, Donavan, Sandi, Kirk

Andrew and James (Alan's sons)

Barb, Mom, Dad, John, and Stepanie (Mac's sister Barb, brother John, and sister-in-law Steph)

Tim and Suzy (Amanda's Dad & Mom), Amanda, Donavan, Mac, Alan, Sandi, Kirk

Grandma and Grandpa with the kids...

Alyssa and Chirstian

The first dance.........

Christian, Sharon (Mac's daughter-in-law) and Alli

Alan and Andrew enjoying the reception

Mitchel, our oldest grandson, surprised everyone, including Dad and Mom, by his hip/hop/break dancing...............he brought the house down!

Two happy newlyweds, two happy Mom's...

Mac's other sons (Don's friends who where at our house as much as their own during high school)

Good friends April and Jim (first met in Moss Landing while both living on our boats) at their beautiful house in Cobb Mtn. We had a good visit with them after the wedding on our way to Redding.

Belated Mother's Day lunch with Mom.

Alan playing guitar in Mom and Dad's backyard in Redding. If you look closely you will see another one of his "groupies" on the wall in the back.

Mac and her new boyfriend at the Redding Rodeo....

More from Bahia del Sol, El Salvador

Life goes on here in Bahia del Sol.....Mac is still working 2 days a week with Jani and her kids teaching English and trying to learn a little Spanish. We have a swim and visit with other friends every afternoon. On Sundays we have GREAT pizza at the hotel and they set up a big screen and we watch a movie. We're still anchored just outside of the hotel and love watching the local traffic go by. Here's a cute picture of a proud Dad teaching his son to run the boat.

Jani recently celebrated her birthday and we had cupcakes with the kids, they were a big hit!

SV Obsession is heading home for a few months and will be leaving their boat in the yard at Murray and Collette's. Here's a couple pictures of their adventure of hauling out......

Murray and Collete are great people. They're from Canada but own and run a boatyard here in El Salvador. It's not the usual boat lift or yard but they do great work and it's "Paradise" after all.

Mac enjoying her new friend "Poncho"........

Alan is still partial to his feathered friends...............

Well with less than a week before we fly home for Donavan and Amanda's wedding it's time to get Maggie and the boat ready to head down to Murray and Collette's where they will stay until we come home. They have 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 birds and love animals so Mags will be fine. We're getting exciting about seeing family and friends and will bore you with lots of pictures when we get back. Meanwhile here's where Effie and Mags will be staying while we're gone: