A Few Things

So I know it's pretty obvious that we have fallen off the face of the earth the past month or so, It's been a little crazy 'round here. I keep making mental notes that I need to blog about this or that, but do I ever get around to it? Of course not. So here are a few things that are going on in our life and thoughts that I have been having.

• Steve and Jacqui- That is what Sammy has been calling us lately. Come on kid... Mommy and Daddy! It was quite funny at first, but is now getting a little old. Poor Steve is starting to really get his daddy feelings hurt :(
• BFF- abbreviation for our Big Fat Family. Our dear friends who we love so much have so amazingly and graciously opened their house to us to live until we can find a house. Have I mentioned yet that they are amazing? They have 3 of the sweetest little girls in the whole world. Tim and Kristy are such amazing friends to us and I can not ever express how much they mean to us and how extremely thankful I am for all they do for us- We love you guys so much! So watch out, here come our BFF!
• After 6 years, I do not bother to ask why my husband desires to be a crazy fool. Steve is a very daring, fearless adrenaline junkie, so am I ever surprised when he hurts himself doing something that he probably shouldn't be doing? Nope! I will try to post pictures of his daring stunt when I can figure out how to upload the new pictures to my computer w/out a cord.
• I have a very hard time fully believing that we are really in that much of a recession when we go to Disneyland and.it.isPACKED.
• I am starting to relieve my before child days. It has been so long since I have stayed up till 2 am, and I am kinda getting back into the swing of things :)
• Sammy is growing up so fast now. With having to keep up with 3 little girls, Sammy has grown so much. He talks so much, and says the funniest things.
• On the tram ride into Disneyland today Sammy pointed his finger at me and I bit it playingly and here is how our exchange went:

Me: Yummy finger tastes good.

Sammy: Yum, tastes like cookies!

Me: (giggling quite hard) Oh cookies, what kind?

Sammy: (rolling his eyes at his goofy momma) chocolate chip cookies mom!

Duh, what else would they be? On the way back we had a similar exchange but it was the opposite way, and my finger tasted like blueberry muffins.

So this a bit of my pondering over the past days. Hopefully I will be better about my posting in the future.

Black Friday Fun

Friday morning was filled with sleep deprived shopping. Hannah had been up since 3 that morning, so when she came to meet up with Kristy and I in line at Target she provided the much needed pick up and plan to get in and get the goods. One of my favorite things about Black Friday, besides the great deals, is the initial people watching in line. We had some very interesting younger guys in line in front of us. I hate to say it but I would describe them as your typical gamer dorks. I am still unsure of how our conversation started but they were very weirded out by the fact that we really just there for the thrill and for the cheap movies, oh and a camera for me, but I think I'm taking it back. sorry beside the point. So these guys were just very strange. Kristy overheard a conversation between the two about one of their friends sucking their blood- seriously are they vampires- gross! Who does that?

It was pretty busy as expected by the time we were checking out the line was all the way back to the food area. After Target we split from Hannah who is the most amazing Black Friday shopper with her ads and list in hand. and headed to Joann's for fabric. we waited to have fabric cut for and hour. When we drew our number there were 50 people ahead- crazy. After walking the store for what seemed like days we found ourselves a nice spot on the floor in the yarn corner and just waited, slept some, and sat on yarn because the floor was quite hard. I just love the thrill of Black Friday and highly recommend going once just to experience it.

Big News

No, I'm not pregnant. But we have finally moved off our amazing mountain back down to the flat lands. It really was inevitable. Steve and I were talking the other day and were saying how frivolous we have been over the years with our driving up and down the mountain sometimes 4-5 times a week- That is so many hours and gallons of gas. Now I think, man the mountain is so far away, when only 3 weeks ago I thought it was no big deal. Steve is LOVING the fact that Del Taco is right around the corner and we have celebrated a few times :)

My favorite part of being down the hill is being so close to my bestest friends. With this brings many super fun, pee my pants moments. Here was the highlight of my week

*On Wednesday my friend Kristy and I went to Costco to pick up a few things. While there Kristy tried to convince one of her students from 3 years ago was actually someone she graduated with from high school over 10 years ago- too much! Okay maybe not so funny, but I almost peed my pants through the whole ordeal.

Karen Kingsbury News

So as many of you know I am a bit of a book dork, although I don't get a chance to read as much as I did before Sammy. My all time fav author is Karen Kingsbury. Here is an update on some of her new books for those who love her like I do:

More Baxters? Karen’s Big News!

Since the release of Sunset – the last book about the Baxter family – I’ve been deluged by letters asking me whether I’d ever write about these characters again, and whether I would at least consider writing more about Bailey Flanigan and Cody Coleman. I’ve kept you in suspense long enough. My brand new blockbuster series begins March 9 with Above the Line - Take One. And yes, it is set in Bloomington, Indiana. This series is about two producers who want to change the world with the power of film, but who must be careful not to lose themselves in the process. One of the producers has a daughter – Andi Ellison – who rooms with Bailey Flanigan on the campus of Indiana University. Bailey, Cody, Tim Reed, and Andi will be a major part of this new series. And the Baxters? I can promise you they are in scenes throughout the first book. Andi’s parents live in LA, so the Baxters will serve as her “second family”. In book one, there is even a tender dinner scene with the producers and everyone in the Baxter family gathered at the old Baxter house. So yes, the Baxters serve as background characters in this series, but for those of us who know and love them they will live on at least through the next four books.

Every Now and Then Releases

Because I feel so strongly about the importance of Veteran’s Day, today marks the release for the third and final book in my 9-11 series. Every Now and Then brings back our favorite characters from One Tuesday Morning and Beyond Tuesday Morning, but it features a new character – Alex Brady, a young K9 police officer whose father was killed in the 9/11 collapse of the Twin Towers. Alex is driven to rid Los Angeles of the heartache caused by crime, but first he must learn to deal with his own.

LOVE IT!!!!

Our Big Boy

Sammy truly is growing so much each day. I look at the picture that flash on the computer screen and can hardly remember the days when I though he would be crawling down the aisle for his wedding because he'd never walk- boy was I wrong. Last night as I was giving him a bath he look at me and started counting 1..2..3..um...4! He is also getting his own little preference. He only likes to dry his hands on the blue towel and he doesn't want apple juice much only good juice (naked orange juice). I think we might start itching him some more sign language. When he was a baby we taught him the basic milk, more, cracker, but lately when he talks he has been trying to move his finger to correspond to his words. I am not sure if it's because we have a friend who is deaf and we have seen them quite a few times in the past month or so, or if he is just remembering it from his baby days. I am very excited about it, I am hoping that Steve and I can learn a bit also to really encourage Sammy to keep up with it.

One more thing while I'm on the subject of Sammy getting so independent. We always crack up and I have to say dread a bit when we pick Sammy up from Sunday school. This morning was definitely not an exception. Everyone at our church has such a deep love for us and Sammy, it's just great, and even more great that they can just crack up when today he moved a jacket and diaper bag off a chair that was right next to the snack shelf, climbed up, grab the giganto container of cookies, brought them down onto the chair, UNSCREWED the lid and chowed down! I was just mortified when they told me. My boy loves to eat what can I say? They also had said that he refused to drink out of his sippy cup and wanted a big boy cup. He did very well and only spilled once which he got paper towels for and cleaned all by himself. So BIG!

It snowed a bit this am and there was still a little on the deck when we got home. Sammy and Amos were playing and Sammy feel and wanted to come inside. He kept saying he was so coldie coldie so I gave him a cup of hot chocolate in a mug. He just loved it. He looked up at me and said umm good coffee mom! A boy after my own heart.

Steve's New Ink

Steve is turning 28 in a couple of days and for his birthday I surprised him with a much longed for wedding ring tat'd. Steve has always wanted a ring tat'd, but last winter he lost his wedding ring and that kinda sealed the deal. This was the first time in I have no idea how long that I have been able to surprise him. Happy Birthday Honey!

The prep work...

Steve said that it didn't hurt as bad as he thought it would, although it hurt pretty bad around the knuckle area- He had to stop and take a couple of deep breathes because he was super dizzy.

Finished product. The picture didn't turn out very well, but it's a cross with forever faithful in Hebrew in the middle with splashes of blue shining out from the sides.

Fall is here

Well it has actually been for awhile I know, but it hasn't felt like it till last night. Steve piled up some leaves for us to play in till we froze to death.

Sorry it's so blurry

Rembrance of last year:

We were talking to our next door neighbors yesterday about not remembering having so many leaves last year and we were all quickly reminded that we don't remember because none of us were here for it. It's hard to think that last year our mountain was in such a state of desperation and much hopelessness. A year later most have forgotten the devastation of the fire. I even sometimes forget it. Most of the little green bushes have grown back and the snow washed away all of the black. Most of the people that we knew who lost their homes have bought a new house or have started to rebuild, most of the rebuilding won't be done till next year. I have learned so much from friends who have lost their homes. They are all so strong and have grown closer as a family though it- funny how tragedies do that. My friend Brita was one who lost her house. She wrote this the other day and I was very blessed by her heart.

one year and the growth that comes with it
One year ago today the house burnt down. It is so weird to think a year has past since our family's life was turned upside down. A few things I have learned from this trial is our family has a great strength based on our Heavenly Father. Also I have a new faith in the Lord, when everything you had and loved is gone you realize what is important in life. The Lord never left us but instead taught me to be humble and trusting He is in control. Friendships, and family is so important, everything else is just stuff. Now we are blessed as our house is in the process of being rebuilt.

Across the street from the camp (actually the property we want to buy!)

Right across from our grass, you can compare with this years pics above.

Pumpkin Carving

Thursday we decided it was time to break into our pumpkins to get out all of those yummy seeds. He was so excited to have a big pumpkin, the one he got from the pumpkin patch was teensy.

Okay who gave him the Sharpie again? (You can still see the remnants of his zebra stripes)

Steve is definitely the artist in our family

Not sure what to think of the insides

My sorry excuse for a Mickey pumpkin

Steve was the spiritual one- good job!
Sammy has a new fascination with pirates-argh!

Don't worry, we didn't leave them lit outside. We didn't want to be the cause of the next big fire.

Zebra Boy

Tuesday morning I had to send out an email super fast so I sat down at the computer to find a link to something to send it to my sister in law Melissa. While I was at the computer, Sammy had found a Sharpie marker that had accidentally found it's way in to the tray of his easel and proceeded to draw ALL over his legs and even decided to throw a few stripes on the couch. UGH! The neatest thing is that he had colored on his right hand so i think we have a left-handed little boy. We called Daddy home and upon Steve asking why he did it Sammy replied "Zebra!". My goodness he is too cute. So that night Daddy scrubbed his legs to try to get it off, it worked for the most part but I think we will have grey stripes for awhile.

Pumpkin Patch

We went over to the Live Oak Pumpkin Patch a few weeks ago. Here are some picks from our super fun day.

Steve's Bee Sting

We had quite the exciting day yesterday. On Tuesday afternoon Steve had gotten stung by a stupid little yellow jacket a work- No big deal right? Well that's what we had thought. Tues. night the sting was a bit swollen but nothing more than normal, I'd say half a baseball, he took some benadryl and went to bed. Wed. he woke up to it about the size of a hot dog bun. I called the Dr and they had said really not a big deal, just take benadryl- so Steve took a double dose around 10 am. Noon: Steve came home for lunch and it had swollen almost to his elbow and up through his hand, so bad that he could not bend his wrist. Of course the whole time Steve thinks it's fine and he will just get over it w/ more benadryl. We went to urgent care and waited for 2 hours (I really dislike urgent care), I started to get a bit worried that it was taking so long as I am watching the swelling creep up past his elbow- scary huh. We finally got called back and saw the DR super fast. Poor Steve had to get a steroid shot in his butt and the doc prescribed some steroids to take for the next 5 days. As of 2:30 today the swelling has gone down a little. He is still quite funny with all the benadryl he's got pumping through his body, his hand and arm are still really swollen, but don't look like they are going to pop anymore.

And to think Steve usually gets stung once a year... I am a little sacred of the next time!

These two were taken as we were loading up into the car to go to Urgent care... Look at the hand.After the shot :)

Date Night

A few weeks ago Steve and I started our Thursday night dates. We decided to picnic up at Big Bear Lake and go fishing. It was so cold, so we only lasted for about an hour and a half. We got some coffee and just sat and caught up with or comings and goings. Unfortunately the past 2 weeks Steve has had to work during the weeknights, but next week is so on, and I can hardly wait.

We would love some great date ideas, so please help us.

Just leave your great ideas as a comment.

Hugemongo IN-N-Out Misunderstanding

I am very sorry to say that the post below is some sad joke! Sorry no super cheapo in-n-out for us- oh well full price is still great too. Sorry If we've mislead anyone. All of the guys up here were super bummed about it. What kind of mean person would get one's hopes up like that? Meanies!

To all you In-N-Out lover's (Like Us)

In-n-Out’s 60th Year Anniversary is Wednesday, October 22nd.

All hamburgers will be sold for 25 cents, Cheeseburgers 30 cents, Fries 15 cents, and drinks are 10 cents!!! So mark your calendars!

A quick note.

Only in Southern California can I be freezing my butt off one day, and be in shorts and flip flops the next- this is just crazy. I am ready for it to start getting cold, but this new day of heat is driving me bonkers!

Curly haired boy...

I have been waiting (not very patiently) to see if one day our little boy would have beautiful curls in his hair like his daddy... I think the day is finally here! I have been seeing that his hair gets curly on the ends after he gets out of the bath for a couple months now. So yesterday I decided to put some curl product into his hair and viola! Isn't he so cute. Now I think that any part of me in him is down the drain- he is 100% his dad.

Unfortunately the curl fell out after half the day, but maybe when it gets a bit longer.

Sammy's Ear Tube Surgery

Yippee For us! yes we truly are very excited about this. We met with an ENT yesterday and discussed, well actually there was not much discussion, it was really just to hear what the Dr though about Sammy getting tubes in his ears. All four Dr.'s (UCLA, Ped., our specialist, and the Ent) all hands down were routing for it. Our Pediatrician actually had said that if the ENT tried to discourage the tubes to have him call her immediately. The UCLA Dr is hoping that by taking his monthly ear infections out of the equation that it will allow his body to start to build up his IGG levels. It is great to have such a great medical team behind us. So surgery is set for Sept 19. Please pray that we will be the first ones in. We will not know until the day before when surgery time will be, and Sammy cannot eat/drink after midnight the night before. I can already anticipate the fight that it will be. Thanks again to all for keeping Sammy's health in your prayers.

BigBearMarathon

Have I ever told you my husband is amazing? This past weekend Steve, his dad, and our friend Eric decided to participate in the bike tour part of the marathon. Although Steve will be the first to say it was easy peasy, it kicked their butts fairly hard. I think Steve decided that he will run it next year, not ride. He said he will leave the riding to the 100 milers and run the 26 milers... He's my hero!! Congrats to everyone else who ran/walked it. Good job!


Registration on Friday:



After; they don't look too tuckered.

Disneyland

It's now surprise that we love Disneyland. So whenever we can steal away for a couple of days we head on down to Gramma's and visit the happiest place on earth! At least for us it is. Our first day was quite crowded and very hot, but thankfully our second day was much better. We rode every ride at California Adventure a few times, and Tower of Terror somewhere around 6 times. It was crazy slow. Steve and I were talking the other day and he brought up a good point about why we love d-land so much. Taking Sammy just makes everything 100 times more magical. I think there is now better feeling then seeing his eyes light up when mickey comes by. I hope that these pictures can capture our magic, even just a little.

Sammy Waiting to ride the new Toy Story ride at California Adventure!

I'm talking Magic!