Surf & Turf

January 17, 2011

She is an angel, Elsie S.  Jake’s special little friend who makes him giddy like no other one of his friends does.  They just have a hoot palling around together.  Tonight, we had a bbq at our place with our laid back friends, Kari & Steve.  We met this family at Voyager’s church about 3 years ago, when Kari and I were at a MOPS table together.  They are our laid back, surfer friends who Tony and I enjoy palling around with!

Newport Beach Peninsula

January 16, 2011

Only in Southern California can we experience 80-degree weather in the middle of January!  Yes!  It was a beautiful day and we took full enjoyment of it by riding our beach cruisers down the Newport boardwalk all the way from 15^th Street to The Wedge and back.  Days like this remind me of how fortunate we are to live in a place with great weather all year round.  What a great family day!

Cel-e-bration Time, Come on!

January 15, 2011

It’s a celebration, for Luis’ 40^th birthday.  We haven’t seen Luis since he helped us move into our home 6-months after we got married, so eight years ago, but time hasn’t changed how much we adore Luis, only now there’s more to adore – his beautiful wife, and two children.

We get to spend some time with other friends, too.  Roosevelt and Leah, The Sieberts, Joe Marton, and Robin Williams.  Luis was shocked and delighted to see his buddies!  Everyone sported team jerseys – mostly ones that were opponents to Luis’ favorite team – The Raiders!  The gag gifts were abundant with sports logos, representing a plethora of teams, except of course, The Raiders.  And his cake was a hilarious photo of Luis wearing a Jet’s uniform.  What a fun celebration with our “old” friends.

Friday Movie Night

By the end of the week, we are pooped!  I thought about replacing that which was the first to come to my mind, but I’ll leave it since at four it’s a favorite of our sons and really does describe how we feel.

I’m grateful to create our own family traditions.  This is a family tradition that we’ve created together.  Blow up the queen-sized air mattress; throw on the quilts, pillows, and up hops our 90-pound with dirt Golden Retriever, Rusty!  He loves to be right in the middle of us and he was, after all, our first-born.  He has since been demoted to second fiddle after the birth of our son.  We are set for a relaxing Friday night of…G rated movies – at least for now.  Simple and Special.

Crystal Cove

January 13, 2011

Crystal Cove Beach is gorgeous and I’m grateful to work just 3-minutes up the road from this breathtaking beach.  After a day of teaching 3^rd grade, this is the perfect spot to relax and exercise.  We own a parking-pass to California State Parks that I use to park in the lot here.  From the lot, I journey down to the sand, ditch the shoes, and walk barefoot down this awesome path of soft sand that leads into the beginning of Laguna Beach.  The trip back and forth is usually about an hour plus and this time of the year it’s usually dark by the time I get back to the car.  The sunset is beautiful and I’ve never walked here without spying some dolphin parallel swimming up the coastline.

       Today, I’m walking with my friend Stina, who is very pregnant and nesting to get ready for her baby girl due in February.  It’s so fun to share this exciting journey with her.  We prayed for years for her and her husband, Samuel, to be blessed with a baby.  And now she is on her way!  I can’t wait to meet that precious baby girl.  I’m thankful for God hearing and answering our prayers.

Crash!

January 12, 2011

Silly, silly, silly boys!  Playing with Criss Cross Crash Hot Wheel set, Jake’s 4^th birthday present from his Grandma Bunny.  Lucas and Jake are good friends and their silly conversations make us giggle!  I think these Hot Wheel toys have been around – well, forever!!  

Women Need Women

January 11, 2011

In September 2010, I started attending Women’s Bible Study at Voyager’s Church.  We meet every Tuesday morning in the old sanctuary, which is now the gym, complete with basketball hoops and painted circles on the wood floors.  This is a refreshing part of my week – adult conversation, a chance to refocus on Christ, eat yummy breakfast snacks, and enjoy a complete cup of coffee without any little boy interruptions – Ahhhhh!  It helps my week stay balanced.

There’s something about being a woman and needing other good women in your life.  We connect in prayer, in our book studies (John 1,2, 3 and Becoming a Woman of Simplicity).  Our little group of women is so cool – each one of them is cool!  We give each other support, advice, and prayer.  What a blessing it is for me to be in community with other women.