Pictures from Tahoe

 These 2 pictures are of the main cabin.

People at work who are around my age. We are at Harrah's Casino!

Our South SF office! (well those who could go to Tahoe!)

The not-always-Golden Bear

Wow, my past weekends have been busy and filled with excitement. Two weeks ago my office went to Tahoe to celebrate reaching our yearly goal of reaching $150,000 in profit. I joined this office at an exciting time, because our business is booming and we are hitting and then surpassing our estimated goals. Our boss likes to celebrate the hard work (which also encourages us to keep working) so he rented 2 beautiful cabins in Tahoe. The pictures below are of the main cabin that the boys stayed in. It had a dozen bedrooms, 2 bars, flat screen TVs, lazy boy chairs, an indoor hot tub with a disco ball above it, a piano, balcony, and 2 kitchens! It felt like "Real World: Aerotek."

Then this weekend I had a blast at home! It felt good to connect with Angela and Natalie. We get so busy that we never talk on the phone anymore, especially with Angela since she works at night. It was fun to watch her try on dresses, and luckily everyone stayed upbeat and although it got tiring at the end--we had a great bonding day. I also enjoyed seeing my Bobathia and hearing about her life. Ya know, it was okay seeing Daddy Doug (haha, funny). I fed him all weekend! If it wasn't for me who gave him Filipino food Saturday night and pasta on Sunday--who knows when he would have eaten!! I especially loved seeing my Mommy. She's such a baller at the fiesta: everyone runs up to her: Oooo, Barbara Ferris!!! You are the bomb.com and I love you.

I think I broke the blogging rules of going on for too long. Love each of you :)

Happy Birthday, Chick!

28 years ago tomorrow, we anxiously awaited the arrival of our first child!  What a joyous day that was!  And Maryann has brought joy to us every day since then!  We will be thinking of you all this weekend, Chick,  and will be reminded of you everytime we use the security code (1982) to enter the school during the Fiesta.  Have a wonderful, relaxing birthday weekend!   Love and kisses, Mom and Dad

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARYANN :)

On October 9th, our beautiful, hardworking, faithful, and wonderful sister Maryann will celebrate her 28th birthday. How lucky the world is to have Maryann in it!

Maryann: Hope your birthday is full of love and relaxation! Enjoy your trip and the spa! I am sorry I can't be there on your special day, but know that my love is there with you :)
Have a wonderful weekend-
Bridget

The Youngest Eldest

This post is particularly for our dad, Doug.

Dear Dad,

My birthday is on Saturday.  For my birthday I would like you to write me a handwritten letter.  In this letter I would like you to give me some advice.  My address is: 1814 Nicola Drive, Petaluma, Ca.
I would also like you to write Nicole a letter.  She will have to let you know her address.  I would also like you to write Bridget a letter; you don't have to mail her letter; you can just put it on her bed.  Maybe you can also write Mom a letter? :)

I have this idea because when I visited your parents, your dad showed me a little book that Aunt Michelle gave him.  In the book was a # of letters that your dad had written to her over the years.  He is quite the letter writer!  I'm sure he passed this skill on to you, just as you inherited his ability to fall asleep at the drop of a hat!

I think that we, your girls, would ALL love to receive a letter from you--so really this gift is SO many gifts all rolled into one.  I'm asking this for my birthday because I think this will move the writing of the letters from the 5 year list to maybe the 5 week list? ;)

Thanks, thanks, thanks, and thanks!
:)
Maryann

Cutest Blog Ever!

Check this blog out: http://www.todaysletters.com/
I wish we all could find the fun and lightness of the everyday!
For some reason Maryann and Nicole it reminded me of all the crazy words/phrases our family came up with through the years: butt-bonus, "go tinkle", etc. Can you remember any more funny Ferris terms?
Here is a photograph of one of Mama's paintings. Download it and use it as your laptop background. It looks really good!

love ya
Bridget

Posting from the Father

Today I went to Hollywood Park and saw the 18th running of the Lady's Secret Stakes. Zenyatta was going for her 19th win without a loss. She won by half a length and is now pointing for the Breeder's Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov 6th. She is quite a mare. 

Emily's Baby Shower

On October 2nd, the Ferris Family gathered together to celebrate the coming arrival of Henry Ferris Baedeker at Aunt Connie's house in Camarillo, CA. The party was hosted by mother/daughter teams Connie/Maggie and Barbara/Bridget. The party was lovely! (the first two pictures are of Aunt Connie and her beautifully knitted pieces. Isn't the ballerina the cutest thing you have ever seen?)

Mama Van Gogh

On September 25th, our wonderfully talented grandmother was one of the highlighted artists at a showing at Anthony's Frame House in San Marino. Below are some pictures from the event. Not surprisingly, one of Mama's beautiful paintings caught the eye of one lucky observer who paid only $250 dollars for the piece. Good times were enjoyed by all :)

Sr. Consolata's Visit! :)

On Friday Marin Catholic celebrated the Feast of St. Francis (yes, 3 days early!)--and it was such a treat to have 2 Capuchin Franciscans at Mass and 1 Sister of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyrs St. George! 

Fr. Daly (President of MC), Sr. Consolata, Br. Hai, Br. Peter

 

 

 

The liturgy was beautiful.  I really wanted a "Franciscan" feel to the Mass---so, since St. Francis is the Patron Saint of Animals & Nature, I wanted this reflected in the environment.  Here's how it all came to life!  

1. I emailed all of the MC parents this info: "This Friday our MC community gathers to celebrate Mass in honor of St. Francis, the co-founder of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.  Since St. Francis is the Patron Saint of animals and nature, we are hoping to decorate the altar on Friday with a beautiful display of flowers and plants.  If you could spare some flowers and plants from your garden to adorn the altar, please deliver the plants and flowers to Lynn Gray at the front office by 3 pm this Thursday.  Your plants and flowers can be in a vase or not; we will put them all together in a wonderful display around the Eucharistic table."

2. I asked 2 of our school landscapers to borrow plants from a nursery.

Here's the final product!

They didn't bring the plants until Thursday afternoon, so next time I will be sure to get some burlap to "swaddle" the containers!

3. Although I do not love EVERY part of the Los Angeles Cathedral; I love the tapestries!  (Remember Mom that you gave me a poster that featured one of the tapestries?)  It is very moving to "see" the Communion of Saints--facing the altar--in communion with us.  I asked one of our senior students to draw St. Francis so that he would be facing the altar.  I was almost speechless when I saw what she created:

We hung the poster from a basketball hoop.  Here's the "full picture", but the poster was blowing at this point because we had yet to turn the air off:

4. For the offertory--I asked a staff member to bring up his parakeets--they are blue, like Bert!--and they sang sweetly during the liturgy of the Eucharist.

Sr. Consolata spoke at the end of Mass and throughout the day to various Theology classes.  A few things that stuck me from talking with her & listening to her talks:

a) She began thinking of being a nun in the 2nd grade.

b) She has quite a devotion to the Sacred Heart--the pierced Christ.

c) Compare=Despair

d) Everyone should spend more time reading God's word--even just 5 minutes in reading the Bible.

e) When "Good" is coming/growing, be on guard against "evil" that will try to tear down the good.

f) Religious life really is NOT THAT DIFFERENT from married life!

All in all, it was a privilege to spend so much time with Sr. Consolata!  :)