Her cake represented all that she loves in life.
Singing happy birthday. Isn't she pretty?

We have a friend who is an ammeter photographer who came and took pictures. I will post more when I get his shots. I'm sure they will be great.

We had around 70 people there, big band music playing in the back ground, old photo albums to look through, and family and friends to catch up with.

The food was fantastic and I ate way way to much.

I talked with my mom yesterday morning and asked if she was all recovered from Saturdays extravaganza? "Oh yes" she tells me, "I'm all rived up and ready for the next 10 years of my life now!"

I guess I better start thinking about her 100th birthday party pretty soon.

Labels: birthdays, friends and family

This is my 89 year old mother doing what she likes to do best. Playing a good hand of Pinochle.

Isn't she cute? I am the youngest child and she gave birth to me just a few months before her 45th birthday. I read once that women who give birth after 40 are twice as likely to live to be 90 as those who don't.

I found myself thinking about this the other day when I was pondering how slow our adoption journey has been. Maybe I should have just tried to get pregnant again?

International adoption is definitely not for the faint of heart. I have been having this nagging feeling over the last few weeks that we should change agencies and adopt older children. Our current agency won't let us go out of birth order. I understand their reasoning, but my heart feels like all of these man made rules are not allowing God to work in our lives. When we started this journey we really wanted to adopt children that were between Paige and Garrett in age. Their is a five year age gap (they are currently 5 and 10) and I really felt we should adopt children in this age range. Then we were told by our agency that we could not adopt out of birth order. It was not until much later that we found out this was not an Ethiopia rule but the rule of our agency. We thought at the time about switching agencies, we prayed about it, and I still wasn't sure.

However, I am having that feeling again. My stomach has been churning and I am feeling very unsettled. I do see the hand of God in our timeline. Paige is in a much better place to welcome a sibling into her world. I have talked before about how far she has come and we talk about her getting a new sister. She seems excited and asks when her new sister will get here.

God's timing was much better than mine. I can see that now. My only question is if he is now nudging us in another direction. We would lose money. People would think we were crazy. I want to have the peace that God is leading us toward the children that were meant to be ours. I am really not feeling that right now. Maybe I am in a pre-adoption funk and it will pass?

We are praying hard at our house for some guidance. Any additional prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Now, back to the cards.

This is the very cute cake my brother in laws mother made my mom for her birthday. If you play pinochle you will recognize it as a double jack of diamonds/queen of spades. This is called a double pinochle and is worth 30 points (or 300 if you don't drop the last number when you score). Needless to say she loved her cake.

Thanks so much, Shirley, for making it for her.

Now, just to confuse you a little more here are some of the men of the family. My Dad is sitting with the blanket on him, he is seven years younger than my mom. She was way ahead of her time on that front. The man on the right is Bill and he is my sister Stacey's father in law. My kids love him. The man standing behind them is my sister Candy's husband, Nino. All of these guys are about the same age. My sister is 18 years older than me and then she married a man 15 years older than her. I know our family is very confusing.

The funny thing about Nino is that I worked in his doctor's office (he was an anesthesiologist) when I was 16 as a summer job. It wasn't until many years later that he started dating my sister and they would marry. It's funny how life turns out sometimes.

Here is some of the crew playing there beloved game.
Three of my kids now play and grandma couldn't be happier about this. Well, as long as they are not beating her. She does not like to lose!
Here is Uncle Barry who moments after this picture was taken put Jo Jo under his jacket and tried to leave with her. As you can imagine Samantha would have none of that!

Well, that's what's been going on here. Thanks for all your prayer's regarding our adoption journey, as always, I will keep you informed.

Labels: Adoption, birthdays, friends and family

Before last Christmas I searched for an Advent book that would capture the spirit of the season and hold the interest of all of my children. Over and over I kept coming across a particular book called Jotham's Journey which many families read together each year and seemed to love.

When I did a search for the book I was dismayed to find out it had been out of print for several years and could only be purchased used. I was determined to find this book but almost fell over when I saw the prices. Ebay had copies for up to $150.00!!!!

I finally decided to just bite the bullet and bid on and won a copy for a mere $75.00. At the time I couldn't believe I had paid that much money for a PAPER BACK BOOK, however, it was WONDERFUL and all of my kids, teens to littles, loved it.

The book is actually a three book set and last week one of the kids asked if I was going to try and find the next one in the series for this Advent season. While I loved this book I don't really want to pay that much for the next book and am hoping to find a much cheaper copy.

That being said you will understand my excitement this morning when I got an email from a friend saying they had re released the book and were selling it here for only $8.99. You can get your own copy (and a brand new one to boot) for 1/10 of what I payed for my used copy.

Go and buy this book. Right now. Really, you won't be disappointed and your kids will love it.

Unfortunately the other two books, Bartholemew's Passage and Tabitha's Travels have not currently been re released. I called the published and they are checking into this for me before I head on over to Ebay to begin bidding.

However, even if I do have to pay a small fortune for the second book it will make me happy to know that you, my friends, are reading your own copy with your families for the bargain price of $8.99.

Enjoy!

Labels: Advent, christmas, friends and family

As you can see Paige didn't like it AT ALL.

She didn't have any fun at her pool party either. It was so sad.

She put the candles on all by herself, and she insisted on a lot of candles.
Opening presents is so much fun!
For some reason we didn't get any pictures of the kids swimming. I guess the photographer (me) was busy doing other things. I am kind of sad about that.

Overall, a wonderful and fun day with friends and family. The cake was a big hit too!

Labels: birthdays, friends and family

Our oldest son had two baseball games this morning. My husband happily took him to the games that are about 30 minutes from our house.

When he gets home from the games he has arranged to meet some friends and there children up at a local park for, what else, an informal baseball game.

After the game one of the other wives and I are going to BBQ while the guys lay by the pool and get waited on.

I think this may be my hubby's Father's Day dream come true.

All baseball. All the time.

Who could ask for anything more?

Labels: friends and family, holidays

Oh my, what a beautiful weekend we had. The weather was in the low 90's and felt soooo wonderful.

I had to laugh when I told the kids to go and jump into the pool and they were hesitant because they thought the water was still a little cold. What a bunch of wimps! I'm sure there counterparts in the northeast would happily jump into a pool of 70 degree water on a day reaching the 90's. Geez.

My little wimps finally jumped in and discovered the water "actually" felt pretty good. I was so proud.

I longed to lay by the pool and read a new book I had picked up at Target. However, hubby and the garage had another idea. Yes, we cleaned out the garage instead of lounging by the pool. It pains me to even type those words. Man, its hard being me (OK, I'm only kidding).

Actually I was thinking this morning about how blessed I truly am. I have a husband who loves me, 5 wonderful healthy children (well, they can be a little bratty at times but I still love them to death), my parents who are 81 and 88 are healthy and happy. I have a good relationship with all my siblings. Even though we don't always agree with each other, we love each other enough to agree to disagree and then move on. So many families can't seem to do this.

After the funeral we attended this weekend I was speaking to the deceased husband. He told me that he was the only son of 8 siblings and there were only him and 2 sister's still living. Those two sisters had not spoken in years so only one was able to come to his wife of over 50 years funeral. What the heck? I just do not understand why people can't talk out there difference's and at least act civil towards each other. I don't think you need to be best friends but you need to act like adults and learn to get along with others. Isn't this what we tell our children?

After the funeral, lunch was served in the church's Fellowship Hall. I ran into an old friend and we started reminiscing. Her mother had been involved with our High School youth group and it was great running into her as well. I asked about her other sister and she says to me rather quickly, "Oh, mom and I don't really talk to her anymore". Now, this sister happens to live in my town and works at the Christian School my Junior High kids go to. I know she is a wonderful Christian woman who does much for her community. The friend I hadn't seen in a long time has a job with a non profit that goes around and talks with inner city kids about Jesus.

I have no idea why these people have not spoken to each other in years. However, it makes me very very sad. Why is it so much easier to show Grace to those outside of our own families?

Now, I also want to add that I do think there are times when you need to separate yourself from family. Obviously if there is abuse of any kind you should not stand for that.

I guess my amazement over the weekend was when I talked with these people they couldn't really remember what started the whole "Were not speaking" thing. If you can't remember it, it must not have been that important.

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate
family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5:8

Labels: faith, friends and family

Have you heard people say that you can't go home again? Well, today I did.

When I was a sophomore in High School I had a friend who invited me to her church's youth group. I went that Thursday night and also attended on Sunday mornings. I not only met Jesus in those early days of attending church but I also met some of the nicest people I have ever met in my lifetime.

I was 15 and really excited about this new thing I had discovered called Christianity. My mom decided she should go to church with me on Sunday and make sure I hadn't fallen into some cult or child trafficking enterprise.

She came. She found Jesus. We were both baptized.

My Dad also started attending the church and my parent's got involved in the couples ministry and made some really great friends.

My years at that church during High School and College were some of the best of my life. We had a wonderful youth group and I made several life long friends there.

I met my husband at that church and married him there in front of all the people I had grown to love like they were members of my own family.

One of those people died this past week. Her name was Patricia and she was the mother of one of my High School friends as well as a member of the church group my parents socialized with.

I loved going to Pat and her husband Bud's house. It was warm and cozy and made me feel happy. We had many a happy game night in there family room.

I was so saddened to hear she had died from breast cancer this past week. I hadn't seen her in probably 15 years but I still felt like she was a special part of my past.

My mom and I went to her funeral today. At that same church. The one where I met Jesus.

Nothing had changed.

The church still looked exactly the same. When I walked through the doors of the sanctuary I felt like a large blanket had just enveloped me in warmth and comfort. I was home.

I don't feel this way when I enter the doors of our current church. I'm not exactly sure what that means.

We saw people we hadn't seen in a decade. Old friends. Twenty years had passed since I had seen many of these people and yet it was as if time had stood still.

I was home.

One of my old High School buddies is now the pastor of the church. Many of the kids that were in that same youth group attend with there families now.

Same church. Same families. Same warmth.

If this church were not 70 miles away from our home I would be attending there every Sunday. However, it is just to far away.

We attend what would be called a "mega church". We have attended this church for all but two of the past 16 years. It is the only church our children really know.

I was wondering on my drive home today if my kids weren't missing something special by attending such a large church? Yes, we have many friends. However, what I feel is missing is a intimacy with those worshiping around you.

My kids didn't know what a potluck was until a few months ago.

The potluck is one of God's greatest creations (c'mon, you all know you agree with me.).

Sigh.

I feel God nudging us towards making a change. Hubby feels the same thing.

My feelings after today seem to be solidifying this fact.

I think I may be writing a blog post soon with the title "How Many things Can One Family Change In Their lives in one Year"?

I think God has picked 2008 to kick our family in the butt and he wants us to stir things up a little, make some changes, and leave our comfort zone.

OK, Lord, I am here to listen. Again, I can't wait to see where this crazy ride called life will take us.

Labels: faith, friends and family

Grandpa: What were those crunchy things in the cranberry salad you made?

Grandma: You mean the walnuts?

Grandpa: You put Walnuts in the Cranberry salad?

Grandma: Yes, dear, for 30 years now.

Grandpa: Hmm, I guess I never noticed because I always had my teeth in before.

Yes, for some reason, Grandpa didn't put his teeth in yesterday. Which made him talk kind of funny.

Our youngest son asked me if Grandpa was drunk.

No, I told him, he just isn't wearing his teeth.

Really? Cool! he responded.

Any funny stories come from your dinner table last night?

Labels: friends and family, holidays

Yesterday we celebrated my Mom's 88Th Birthday. We had a great time watching football (grandma loves all sports) and playing Pinochle...and eating. The food, oh my, the food was fantastic.

Even though I made it I am still going to state that the food was fantastic.

The best part being I made almost everything one or two days ahead so I had very little food prep to do yesterday. Which allowed me to lay around and eat chips and salsa (and suchi and cucumber sandwiches and lots of other stuff my thighs are thanking me for this morning) with every one else.

It started on Friday when Garrett helped me peel 10 pounds of potato's. This was his first time using the potato peeler and after a few minutes he was a pro. He helped me make these potato's. Let me just tell you my friends, these were a huge hit, and it is doubtful I will ever make regular old mash potato's again.

See, he's a pro now. He has been elected official potato peeler for our family. Doesn't he look thrilled?



















I made my Brisket recipe and since I saw Uncle Brad licking the last of it out of the pan last night I am pretty sure it was a huge hit also.

We had ambrosia salad, zucchini casserole, Cole slaw, baked beans (the best beans ever) and Parmesan garlic rolls. We then all exploded. It was very messy.

In between all the eating the cousins had fun playing together.Something funny was going on with the computer and Grandma decided to check it out. Maybe they were reading my blog?
Crazy cousins on the trampoline with the bunny.















Aunt Stacey made her famous Spice Cake and believe it or not I was to full to have a piece last night. I know, I know, shocking.

My piece is all covered up and waiting for me this morning. I'll be inhaling that with my morning coffee. I guess I better hurry and get off the computer before one of the kids sees it and devours it in one bite.

Happy Birthday Mom. We love you so much and can't wait for your 89th!!!!

Labels: birthdays, friends and family, recipes

Our two middle schoolers had Grandparent's Day last week at their school. This is a fun time for the grandparents (or special family friend, aunt, uncle, etc.) to come visit the school and meet the students teachers.

One of my parent's dogs is very sick so Grandpa stayed behind to keep an eye on her. I got up early and drove about 30 miles down the freeway to pick up Grandma for the morning festivities.

Here's Grandma out front with the kids. It was cold so Samantha wore a blanket around herself while we were outside. It just happened to be free dress day so the students could chose to wear a Christian Shirt and jeans if they want. I always think it is funny that Samantha would never miss a chance to wear something different but her brother could really care less. He always just wears his uniform.

Grandma was really excited that the kids put on a Worship service for them. The students did a great job of praying and leading us in songs.

Our school purchased land a few years ago to build a new facility. After much prayer and hard work the new school was finished this year and the students moved in this past September. They were all excited to show their Grandparents around their new digs.

One of the first things my kids said to me when they found out Grandma was coming was "Yeah, we finally get to ride upstairs in the new elevator". Yes, that is a big deal indeed. Only teachers are allowed in the elevators normally, so this was quite a treat. Here is Samantha taking her ride up with my mom. As you can see she is very excited.
OK, here I need to brag a little. Isn't my mom cute? She will be 88 next month (sorry, mom, I had to out you) and is still so beautiful. Her granddaughter got her love of fashion from both of her grandma's. My mom always looks so cute. I love you very much, mom, thanks so much for always being their when we need you.

Alright, I'm done with the mushy stuff (as my kids would say), on with the tour.

Samantha took Grandma into her math class where her teacher has a shrine to the Dodgers. My mom is a Dodger FANATIC! She never misses a game whether it be on radio or TV. She took a picture in front of the little shrine and picked up a baseball signed by someone (sorry, can't remember who). She figured her granddaughter must be in good hands if her teacher was a fan of the Dodgers.


After that Tyler took her in to meet his science teacher. Here they all are.

Then Tyler took a break from touring to play a "quick" game of chess with a friend.


Then off we went to see their lockers. Samantha, being a sixth grader, has a bottom locker. Her older brother has a coveted top locker. She has begged him to switch with her but he won't. Making it even more unfair, in her eyes, is that HE DOES NOT EVEN USE HIS LOCKER. She has many wonderful things in hers, it is decorated as you can see below, she would take such good care of his top locker. However, he refuses, if only to make her life a little more miserable.

After all, what are big brothers for?

Do you remember how exciting it was to get your first locker?

Labels: friends and family

This morning I was sitting in the driveway of the kids school waiting to turn right onto a busy street when the car behind me SLAMMED into my bumper. My head was jerked around pretty good and the bumper needs some work, other than that we are OK. When I exited my car and saw that the driver had a Mercedes I let out a silent groan. What is it with me and women who drive Mercedes lately?

If you drive a Mercedes please don't take offense. I am sure you are a perfectly wonderful person. It just seems that THOSE cars and myself have not been getting along very well lately.

I have been sitting around pouting all day. I wanted to clean my house from top to bottom today. However, the fact that I cant bend my head to the right without it being very uncomfortable has kind of slowed me down a little. I was feeling annoyed.

So, I decided to take a little break and see what was going on in the blogosphere this afternoon. I clicked over to my sweet friend Kelli's site to find out she is in the hospital. Kelli needs a kidney transplant very badly and has been fighting off infections and all manner of other things lately. To say she has had more than her fair share of trials lately would be an understatement.

Through it all she is always upbeat and trusting in God to get her through.

It made me disgusted with myself for moaning and groaning over my little old stiff neck.

If you get a minute will you please go and leave a comment for sweet (and very bored) Kelli. I know she and her family would much appreciate any prayers and encouragement you can give them.

Labels: friends and family, Mom Stuff

I have been feeling guilty lately about neglecting my parents. Though I speak to them on the phone several times a week I haven't actually seen them in almost a month.

With the end of summer, and getting everyone ready to go back to school, time has just seemed to get away from me.

I was just getting ready to pick up the phone and give them a call when the phone rang. My Mom was on the other end of the line asking when I might be coming by with the kids? We made plans for me to drive out and see them today after the kids morning dentist appointment.

Mom was very excited and said "You'll bring books right"?

What?

She goes on to explain that while she is really looking forward to seeing me, she had hoped I had a few new books to pass along her way. It seems she had nothing to read.

My parents don't have a library close by so over the past few years I have become my Mom's lending tree. I try and keep her supplied in books. Obviously, I had fallen down on the job and she was having literary withdrawals.

I guess the apple really doesn't fall to far from the tree.

My mom loves reading and baseball. If the Dodgers are playing a game DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER CALLING HER. She may or may not pick up the phone and if she does she wants you to get right to the point. If the game is not on TV she listens to it on the radio.

As you can see my entire family takes the game of Baseball to an all new obsessive level.

Well, I'm off to search for books.

Have a great Wednesday.

Labels: friends and family

It's 8:00am and Paige and I are out running errands while the older kids sleep in.

I whip into my friendly neighborhood Carl's Jr. to get Paige some French Toast and Hash Brown Nuggets for Breakfast.

As I pull up to the window the nice cashier waves at me and says "We were all talking about you last week. We wondered if everything was OK".

Umm, yes, why?

Well, she reports, you usually come by 2 or 3 times a week and get your morning caffeine (diet coke) and buy your little one breakfast. We were wondering why you stopped coming by.

Summer vacation is what happened. I was happily sleeping in my bed early in the morning instead of yelling at children to move it along and get in the car for school.

I admit to feeling very touched that I had aparantly formed such a close relationship with the folks in the drive through.

However, I begun to wonder how much money I could save by going cold turkey and stopping my morning drive thru addiction.

Then I decided not to worry about it.

After all what kind of friend would I be if I stopped visiting and stopping by to chat about the weather and new menu items a few times a week.

My mama always told me that good friends are like gold and you can never have to many of them.

I whole heartedly agree.

Labels: friends and family, stuff

Last Thursday I got a call from my neighbor telling me that her daughter was having a graduation party Saturday night and they had hired a DJ. She wanted to give me a heads up because she knows we have little ones and was worried the noise might disturb them. I really appreciated this, and told her not to worry. We could live through anything for one night.

We started talking about the party and what they had planned. Her husband rented a big tent for the back yard to put the DJ in ($900.00), the DJ was one of those big time DJ's from LA ($1,500) they were having the food catered (cost unknown) and expecting over 100 people.

Wow, I thought. What are they going to do when she gets married?

This lead me back to a conversation I had with my parents and a good friend a few months back.

They were worried that our children's generation was destined for disappointment and failure. They were calling our kids the "entertainment generation".

My kids have gone to Disneyland over 100 times. Up until a few years ago we had yearly passes. We could go whenever we wanted. Some Sunday afternoons we would tell the kids we were going and they would act disappointed. Do we have to? I really don't want to go today. I never would have said that when I was a kid. Then again, my family went once a year. Not 3 or 4 times a month.

It was about this time I started thinking that maybe I was ruining our kids.

By giving them so much I was ruining their experience of the simple pleasures in life.

When I was a kid birthday parties consisted of cake, ice cream, pin the tail on the donkey, maybe a pinata, and if your party was really cool some goody bags and maybe a clown.

Our kids have gone to Birthday parties that probably were as elaborate and cost as much as my wedding. Huge theme parties, with carnival atmospheres.

I didn't get a manicure and pedicure for the first time until I was in my 20's. My mom didn't get one until she was in her 70's. Yet the teenagers I run into today seem to get manicures weekly and Mom and Dad hand over the cash for this "must have" expense without question.

What is going to happen when our kids move out? Very few of them will be able to afford all of the "extras" that there parents have bestowed upon them on a weekly basis.

I am sure that all of these parent love their kids very much and want to make them happy. I want my kids to be happy too. However, I am a little worried.

Will they feel discontent with their lives? Will they ever feel satisfied? Will they know contentment and thankfulness for what they have. Are we robbing them of the personal satisfaction of working hard for something and then having the ability to buy it themselves?

I have been thinking and praying about this topic a lot lately. The Bible talks a lot about expectations for parents and how we should be raising our children.

Am I teaching my children to be givers instead of receivers? Am I correcting them as the Bible would have me do or am I giving in to their earthly desires?

The Bible is full of stories about children who didn't turn out very well because there parent's made sure they never wanted for anything.

Our oldest son wants a new baseball bat. I could go and buy it for him. I said no.

However, I did tell him that if he re stained the wooden play set in the backyard I would pay him a good wage. He could earn the money for his bat himself.

He wasn't very happy. Why can't I just buy it for him?

We live in what I would call an upper middle class neighborhood. We were lucky. We bought before the big boom and now our home is worth 3 times what we paid for it.

The area above us was recently developed and beautiful homes were built where there used to be Orange Groves and open space. These homes sold for between 1-3 million dollars.

Our town has changed a lot. I'm not sure I like it.

Our kids go to school with friends whose parents are very wealthy. The parking lot at the school is full of BMW's, Mercedes, and new SUV's. No this is not the teachers parking lot but the student parking lot.

I feel like our kids are growing up in a fairy tale world where if you want it you can just get it. Most of these kids will tell you that they will be wealthy like their parents when they grow up. However, if you ask them how that will happen they have no idea.

I find myself wanting to sell our home, move to the south or mid west, buy some land, and build a home in a simpler place.

I am really tired of California and the "Hollywood mentality" of more is better.

Friends, I need help. Tell me what part of the country you live in and if these same trends have permeated your towns.

How do you handle them?

If we were to consider moving where should we move to? Where is the best place you know of to raise a family?

Are there still places out there where life is simple and family is number one?

What do you think?

Editors Note: I just read an article that said 80% of all breast augmentations (boob jobs) are done in California. Why am I not surprised?

Labels: friends and family, questions

Well, you might want to try this....





I have been told that this is the only way to properly wash and load the dishes into the dishwasher. Apparently it also doesn't give you dish pan hands. My guess is because you are not actually touching a dish during this process. Hmmm.

For those of you with toddlers this may be a helpful tip. Bathe said toddler in a nice warm bath and get fresh new PJ's on him/her. Turn your back for one moment, and after toddler disappears, go to look for her. You will maybe find this....


Apparently going into the back yard, pouring the dogs water bowl into the planter, and then rolling around in said planter, is a proper bedtime activity.

Who could have known?

My third and final tip for the day is this...

To have a truly relaxing Saturday afternoon invite your sons entire baseball team and their families over for a BBQ and pool party.

By my last count we are at over 50 people, half of whom are 9 and under.

I am off now to grocery shop and look for a good over the counter sedative.

Pray for me people.

Labels: baseball, friends and family, kids

I have a different family. My mom was almost 45 when she had me. Two of my older sisters were already married and had a few children of their own so I was an aunt from birth. My two older sisters ended up having a combined 5 children and we were more like cousins than the aunt/niece-nephew relationship. I had 4 nephews and one niece.

I always wanted to have a close relationship with my niece. We are only 9 months apart and it would have really been nice. Unfortunately, there seems to have always been some underlying tension in our relationship. I think my sisters resented our mom having me and I can kind of understand that. They were starting a special time in their own lives and wanted my mom to be a grandma to their children, not a mom to her own new baby. As you can imagine I was very spoiled. We didn't have a lot of money but my parents have always thought I could do no wrong.

I have always felt like their was some secret competition between my niece and I. As I have gotten older and looked at the relationship from an adult point of view I see that this perceived competition was put their by our parents. For some reason my mom and sister have perpetuated this throughout the years and continue to this day.

We both have daughters that are one week apart. I swore that I would not allow their relationship to be poisoned the way my niece's and mine was. They adore each other and for that I am so thankful. However, a couple of times I have had to say something to both of their grandma's when one of them would start going on about how one of them was better at something than the other. Knock it off, NOW!!! I think they have gotten the message and things have been fine for a while now.

However, I want to go back to my relationship with my niece. For some reason we have never been able to heal. I prayed about this over and over but the truth is we are just sooo different. I doubt we would be friends if we were not related. This came to light the other day when we were talking on the phone for the first time in quite a while.

She told me her husband was going in for a vasectomy that morning and she was so happy because she really did not want any more kids. They have two ages 11 and 12. I told her that was great and I was happy if she was happy. She then asked when Dave would be having his. I told her I doubted he ever would because he secretly hopes for another baby. She started going on about how we already had 5 (like we were not aware of this) and how could we even think of having any more. I told her that we knew a lot of families with four or more and in the area we lived in it was not that uncommon for people to have more than 2 kids. Then she said it, the statement of all statements.

"Well, here in the OC people don't have more than two". The OC would be Orange County. You know the one they made the TV series about. The one called the OC with all the pretentious rich people. There is also another show on BRAVO if you get cable called The Housewives of Orange County. Basically the same stuff, but it is real people instead of a script.

This is why we will never be close friends. She is all about the plastic lifestyle. How things look are very important to her. Her house is always perfect, she always has a new manicure, kids are never dirty, and every one she knows has new perky breasts. That is not the life I lead, or would I want to. My house is never perfect, my kids play in the mud, and my breasts sag to my knees from all that breastfeeding.

She was putting me down for having 5 kids. My husband thinks it is hilarious. He keeps laughing about it. I think I may have a few more just to annoy her. Seriously!

In closing, here is my adorable 3 year old. You know, the one who wouldn't have been born if we lived in the OC. She is having a cupcake for dessert after breakfast. Did you know there was dessert after breakfast? Neither did I, but apparently their is.



Do you think they have adorable pink casts in the OC?

Labels: friends and family

Grandpa turned ## this week. I am not allowed to say his real age, but I think I should be as he looks and acts decades younger than he is. OK, let's just say that Grandpa was between 35 and 40 when I was born and I am 42. I can't get in trouble because I only gave you a hint (right Dad?).

The whole family went over to grandma and grandpa's this past Wednesday night for dinner. Grandma made lasagna and everyone ate it and liked it. How come the kids don't eat it when I make lasagna? I guess I better get Grandma's recipe.

Our oldest daughter, Samantha, made grandpa a beautiful card from all of us. Our youngest son, Garrett, was appalled that we weren't actually going to give grandpa a gift we could wrap. Because, lets be honest, what's a party without gifts to unwrap (according to my children putting something in a gift bag does not count).

Garrett went up to his room and found an old World War 2 book. He really likes looking at the old pictures in this book, and since grandpa served in WW2, he thought he might like it for his birthday gift. Grandpa did indeed like it and Garrett and all of the kids enjoyed looking through the book and hearing stories about Grandpa's war days. When it was time to leave we decided that Garrett could keep the book but bring it back when we visited again so they could share some more stories. My little son is so sweet, and tender hearted. He gave his grandpa the best gift ever by offering to give something up that he cared about for someone he loved very much. I doubt their was anything in a store we could have bought Grandpa that would have meant as much to him.

Here are some pics of our fun evening together.


Grandpa and Garrett sharing a laugh

Our middle son Tyler, sitting in chair, really likes to talk "war stories" with Grandpa.


Grandma cooking dinner



Hubby and the kids playing "concentration". I think my parents have had this same game since I was a little girl. My kids love it.


Lighting the candles on the birthday brownies. Hubby stopped on his way home from work and got a cocunut cream pie for the birthday boy. The grown ups enjoyed that very much!



The new addition to their family. Our oldest had fun playing with her.

The entire family had a great time. Happy Birthday Grandpa! We love you very much!

Labels: friends and family

Not long after meeting Barry he told us of his plans to take an early retirement, buy a boat, and go cruising to other countries. Well, I thought, I am sure this will change. After all, he hadn't known my sister for that long and he really must not understand what kind of a gal she is. Her? Living on a boat? Cruising around to who knows where, not seeing land for several days at a time? Hmm, I couldn't really picture it and was sure it would NOT happen.

Over the years I noticed his plans never changed and my sister started talking like she thought it might be fun. I think it was around three years ago I got word that they were selling their house and had purchased a big boat. Sis told me they would live on the boat in the Marina while getting training and preparing for their big adventure together. OK, at this point I was getting annoyed. I really did not think of my sister as the adventurous type. She enjoyed nice hotels and laying by the pool. How in the heck was she going to live on a boat, this was not a luxurious yacht, this was a nice sailboat but it was just a boat.

The two of them got to work. They had garage sales, gave things away, stored things at family members homes (my kitchen is full of some of her treasurers) and rented a storage place for those special items that had to be saved. At this point I started getting into the spirit of this whole thing. How cathartic to just get rid of all your worldly possessions and live with the bare minimum.

They moved onto their boat three years ago and have never looked back. I think my sister was a little unsure at first how she would like it but I give her so much praise for following her hubbies dream and making it a reality. They left this past November for their third tour on the boat. They have decided that they will leave in November each year and return in late May. They bought a home in the mountains that had belonged to bil's parents this last summer when they were home. They now have a home to return to each year.

We miss them while they are gone, and my kids ask frequently when they are coming back. However, I am so impressed with their fearless determination to make their dream a reality. I like the beach, but the ocean water scares me. One of my great fears in life is drowning in the ocean. I would never have enough courage to do what my sis and her hubby are doing. They are having a great time. They recently left Guatemala for Costa Rica. They should be there by now.

My sister shared with me that one of the few things she misses while gone is the fellowship with other Christians. She has a blog that she updates periodically and posts pictures of their adventures. If any of you have time will you please go over and tell her Hi? I know she would really appreciate it and so would I.

Here is the long walk to one of the bathroom accommodations they had to use. I told you, she is an adventure girl now!


Here's praying that God gives us all the courage to jump on a boat and live out our dream's, because if he didn't want us to live them, perhaps he wouldn't give them to us in the first place. Do you have a dream, and if so what is it?


Blessings,
Julie

Labels: friends and family

Our three year old did come down with the stomach virus so it has gone through our entire family except me. I seem to have a very mild case (thank you Lord) and only feel a little under the weather. We have a beautiful day here in Southern California. The temperature is suppose to reach 80 today so I have all the windows open airing out the house hoping any lingering germs will just fly away. All the sheets have been changed, bathrooms sanitized (for the umpteenth time), and hand washing is at its maximum capacity. I am praying that all of this will have this fun little bugger hopping away and not ever ever returning (hey, a mom can hope.).

The older kids are excited for the Super Bowl this afternoon, and young ens are excited for the food that comes with the Super Bowl. We are having lil smokies wrapped in bacon, little pizza's, sushi (hubby's favorite, I think it's yukky), deviled eggs,veggie and fruit platters, and various chips with cheese and ranch dip. I am making a big pot of chili and some cornbread for after the game. Should be lots of family fun which will be a nice reprieve from everyone feeling so yukky the last week or so.

I am wishing you all a fun Super Bowl with your families also. What are you serving, are you making anything special? Please tell me, I am always looking for new recipes and ideas. Do any of you actually get out of watching the Super Bowl? Hope to hear from you.

Blessings,
Julie

Labels: friends and family

Their is nothing better than a good old fashioned
pillow fight. Especially when big brother lets you
win!!!

























p.s Bloggy love is when you let all of bloggerdom see your messy bedroom. I wanted to make you feel better in case you have a messy one too!

Labels: friends and family