memorial day....just happens to be my sister''s birthday too....

i took a little trip this past week with my mom and dad. we had a little visit with my aunt and uncle and grandmother in fresno and drove up to stay in stockton. my dear friend from 1st grade came down and had dinner with me. since i had the hotel room to myself, she ended up staying and we had THE BEST time!!!! we went and got a bottle of wine and just laid in bed talking for hours....what a NICE visit. i can't even wait to go visit her again this summer...i think i get 2 trips!!! i really think she is one of my favorite people on the earth.

we got up and drove to the cemetary in lodi where my sister is buried. her marker is in place, but my parents have not seen it, so that was a big part of the reason for the trip.

i think it was a healing thing for them to see it. i know that it was a part of closure for me to see it there......it really is a beautiful setting.

the flags above are from the veterans section of the cemetary. it was quite touching to see them there.....

ok....off to drive to san jose......we stopped in fairfield at the jelly belly factory and took the tour. what a fun little place. my sister liked going there....the colors are amazingly beautiful as they lay there in there bins by the millions.....and of course we had to buy some....they make the VERY BEST lemon drops i have ever had---got some of those too.....YUM!

we drove by my grandparents old house. still looks nearly the same....had lunch at a great little deli and then went to dick's bakery on meridian for two burnt almond cakes. my sister LOVED them--heck, we ALL love them....they are famous for their burnt almond cakes....anyway, they are good enough to warrant a trip to san jose from chino hills for a birthday cake! dick's opened inm 1953 and my dad's family has gone there ever since....these cakes are amazing!! we then drove from san jose down to chino hills and finally got there about 11 p.m.

what a whirl wind trip to see a grave marker and to buy the cakes, but the trip sure was worth it, we had to get up early the next morning for another fun day--jenna and matt graduated from college.....that is gonna be blogged about tomorrow, then, i am gonna write about the FUN day we had today....hopefully one day i will get to actually blog about my cruise!