Thursday, July 23, 2009
Buy a CD
Looking for good music? Look no further. This great album can be purchased at WalMart for $9.00. That's right, nine bucks !
Saturday, July 18, 2009
It's a GIRL !
We were blessed this morning at 2:10am with a beautiful little girl. Abbie Elizabeth was born and weighed in at 7lbs 15oz. She is 20 inches in length.
Praise God.
Uncle Blake and Aunt Sarah came down for the day to see the new arrival. Grandma and Grandpa came over with big brother Joshua.
What a day.
Mom did such an excellent job - she is healthy and Abbie is healthy.
Special thanks to Blake for taking the photographs below.
Praise God.
Uncle Blake and Aunt Sarah came down for the day to see the new arrival. Grandma and Grandpa came over with big brother Joshua.
What a day.
Mom did such an excellent job - she is healthy and Abbie is healthy.
Special thanks to Blake for taking the photographs below.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Art, Fireworks, Babies and Jobs!
Blake’s artwork is currently on display at the Artist’s Gallery on Market Street in San Francisco! It’s nearing the end of its stint at the gallery and we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see it so we made the trip to the city yesterday to see it. It was a lot of driving for one day for all of us (2 hour trip one-way), but well worth it. His art looks amazing and he and Sarah treated us to dinner since they’re apartment is on our way home.
We weren’t able to do many of the traditional touristy things while in San Francisco so we definitely want to go back again. The city has beautiful architecture and we look forward to seeing more of that, the Golden Gate Bridge up close and trying some local cuisine. Speaking of – does anyone know what San Francisco is known for other than rice-a-roni?
The 4th of July weekend was a very typical weekend here in California. Mike and Dad were both off on Friday so we got sandwiches from a local deli and ate lunch down at the beach. The weather was so awesome and it felt great to enjoy the sunshine. Mike wiggled into his wetsuit and tried to catch some waves, but the waves just weren’t there that day so he and Dad went to the golf course to play a round of 9 holes before dinner. Saturday was another beautiful day and we celebrated with our friends at a cook-out. There was a friendly rib cook-off that not only ended with a vow for a re-match, but every single rib was devoured in mere minutes after they were finished cooking! You can bet we’ll be at the re-match to reap the rewards again of the duel!
With the rule of thumb, “as long as they don’t leave the ground,” fireworks are legal in Marina so the annual fireworks show on Forest Circle commenced once the sun went down. It was lots of fun with all of the kids staying up WAY past their bedtimes and watching “all the pretty colors” light up in the street. Josh was brave and watched the whole the show sitting on my lap, under a blanket, while chewing on a glow-in-the-dark bracelet. It was so wonderful to spend the time cuddling with him since those times are few and far between now that he’s a “big boy” and about to be a big brother.
Our family was very blessed on June 29 when my step-mom and close friends from church gave me and #2 a baby shower. I only knew the date and time – everything else was a surprise and I had such a good time. The neutral bear theme in green and brown was a perfect fit for the big unknown in my belly. Dad and Debbie worked VERY hard with decorations and made DELICIOUS food – mini-Reuben sandwiches, crab cakes with roasted red pepper aioli, parmesan bruschetta with spinach avocado dip and various fruits and vegetables for dipping. Chocolate-covered gummy bears adorned the food table and I couldn’t keep my hands off of them! We played games including “guess how many teddy grahams” and guessing how big my belly was with string. Finally, we received so many wonderful gifts from our friends and family and we feel so incredibly blessed to have so many people who care about us in our lives. It was great to spend the day with my close friends and family and I know that friends and family from afar were there in spirit!
On a completely different note, earlier this month I was offered a job teaching criminal justice classes at a local college. I was INCREDIBLY flattered to receive the call and to be told that of all of the applicants, I was at the very top of the stack. Unfortunately, the timing was off with the school year divided into quarters and the next quarter starting July 20 – only 6 days before my due date! They were very understanding about the baby situation and willing to work around it, asking me to contact them in early September to teach the next quarter in October, or to even wait until the January quarter if I wanted more time off. I’m very excited about this possible opportunity to share my enthusiasm for criminal justice, and I’m also excited to see this program grow within this college and its branches throughout California.
So we’re in week 38 of 40 and we’re in the home stretch. I really don’t think it’s possible for my belly to get any bigger and I don’t think my back can carry it much longer. Yes, I’m having contractions and labor can come tomorrow or it could be another week or so. We’re packing hospital bags today and making the final preparations so that we’ll be ready when the big day comes!
We weren’t able to do many of the traditional touristy things while in San Francisco so we definitely want to go back again. The city has beautiful architecture and we look forward to seeing more of that, the Golden Gate Bridge up close and trying some local cuisine. Speaking of – does anyone know what San Francisco is known for other than rice-a-roni?
The 4th of July weekend was a very typical weekend here in California. Mike and Dad were both off on Friday so we got sandwiches from a local deli and ate lunch down at the beach. The weather was so awesome and it felt great to enjoy the sunshine. Mike wiggled into his wetsuit and tried to catch some waves, but the waves just weren’t there that day so he and Dad went to the golf course to play a round of 9 holes before dinner. Saturday was another beautiful day and we celebrated with our friends at a cook-out. There was a friendly rib cook-off that not only ended with a vow for a re-match, but every single rib was devoured in mere minutes after they were finished cooking! You can bet we’ll be at the re-match to reap the rewards again of the duel!
With the rule of thumb, “as long as they don’t leave the ground,” fireworks are legal in Marina so the annual fireworks show on Forest Circle commenced once the sun went down. It was lots of fun with all of the kids staying up WAY past their bedtimes and watching “all the pretty colors” light up in the street. Josh was brave and watched the whole the show sitting on my lap, under a blanket, while chewing on a glow-in-the-dark bracelet. It was so wonderful to spend the time cuddling with him since those times are few and far between now that he’s a “big boy” and about to be a big brother.
Our family was very blessed on June 29 when my step-mom and close friends from church gave me and #2 a baby shower. I only knew the date and time – everything else was a surprise and I had such a good time. The neutral bear theme in green and brown was a perfect fit for the big unknown in my belly. Dad and Debbie worked VERY hard with decorations and made DELICIOUS food – mini-Reuben sandwiches, crab cakes with roasted red pepper aioli, parmesan bruschetta with spinach avocado dip and various fruits and vegetables for dipping. Chocolate-covered gummy bears adorned the food table and I couldn’t keep my hands off of them! We played games including “guess how many teddy grahams” and guessing how big my belly was with string. Finally, we received so many wonderful gifts from our friends and family and we feel so incredibly blessed to have so many people who care about us in our lives. It was great to spend the day with my close friends and family and I know that friends and family from afar were there in spirit!
On a completely different note, earlier this month I was offered a job teaching criminal justice classes at a local college. I was INCREDIBLY flattered to receive the call and to be told that of all of the applicants, I was at the very top of the stack. Unfortunately, the timing was off with the school year divided into quarters and the next quarter starting July 20 – only 6 days before my due date! They were very understanding about the baby situation and willing to work around it, asking me to contact them in early September to teach the next quarter in October, or to even wait until the January quarter if I wanted more time off. I’m very excited about this possible opportunity to share my enthusiasm for criminal justice, and I’m also excited to see this program grow within this college and its branches throughout California.
So we’re in week 38 of 40 and we’re in the home stretch. I really don’t think it’s possible for my belly to get any bigger and I don’t think my back can carry it much longer. Yes, I’m having contractions and labor can come tomorrow or it could be another week or so. We’re packing hospital bags today and making the final preparations so that we’ll be ready when the big day comes!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Milestones and Holidays
We celebrated three occasions in a row last weekend - June 20 marked our one year mark in California, June 21 was Father's Day and June 22 was my 29th birthday.
Here are a couple shots of Josh from this time last year, shortly after we moved here, and a few from this past month. Wow - what a difference one year makes!!
Then...
Now...
And to top it off - Josh just got his first molar!
For Father's Day, Mike joined Dad and the neighbor Ken for a round of golf at Rancho Canada (a's pronounced like in father, not the country) in Carmel. It was a beautiful day and everyone had a good time. After golf, we had a cook-out at Ken's with some yummy burgers on the grill.
Since our stay at the B&B was also part celebration for my birthday, the big day was spent low-key, hanging with family. Dad took Josh and I out to lunch at a local place and then we had a family dinner at their place where Dad went all out and made a dinner that you just can't find locally - chicken fried steak - YUM! With a Coldstone Creamery Oreo ice cream cake to top it all off, it was a definitely a great birthday. I don't really know how I feel about being 29... it's a mix of emotions considering it's the last "20-something" birthday I'll have, but I guess I can find solace in that it's the last number that I'll actually have to remember, since I'm going to be "29" forever.
Here are a couple shots of Josh from this time last year, shortly after we moved here, and a few from this past month. Wow - what a difference one year makes!!
Then...
Now...
And to top it off - Josh just got his first molar!
For Father's Day, Mike joined Dad and the neighbor Ken for a round of golf at Rancho Canada (a's pronounced like in father, not the country) in Carmel. It was a beautiful day and everyone had a good time. After golf, we had a cook-out at Ken's with some yummy burgers on the grill.
Since our stay at the B&B was also part celebration for my birthday, the big day was spent low-key, hanging with family. Dad took Josh and I out to lunch at a local place and then we had a family dinner at their place where Dad went all out and made a dinner that you just can't find locally - chicken fried steak - YUM! With a Coldstone Creamery Oreo ice cream cake to top it all off, it was a definitely a great birthday. I don't really know how I feel about being 29... it's a mix of emotions considering it's the last "20-something" birthday I'll have, but I guess I can find solace in that it's the last number that I'll actually have to remember, since I'm going to be "29" forever.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
June Update !
Mike and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary by visiting a bed and breakfast in Paso Robles, which is about 90 minutes south and inland from Monterey . Although it doesn’t have the notoriety of “ Napa ,” Paso Robles is the second-largest wine producing area in California with more than 26,000 acres of vineyards, creating an absolutely beautiful drive.
We spent two glorious, quiet nights and three kid-free days at Seven Quails Vineyard. It’s a small bed and breakfast with only two rooms, but our stay was nothing short of amazing. The bathroom had a HUGE tub, our room had its own private porch where we drank coffee each morning and listened to the hummingbirds as they drank from a tree merely 5 feet away, we each started and finished a book and the hostess cooked an amazing breakfast both mornings. The property is located on about seven acres and the vineyard starts literally just outside the front and back doors of the house. The host gave us a tasting of their wines, which they have made from their own grapes, and gave us a lesson in tasting and about wine in general.
It was hard to miss the large riff along parts of the highway during our drive so one morning Mike asked the host about the San Andreas Fault Line. As it turns out, the riff we saw was part of the Rinconada Fault, but the B&B was merely 25 miles from Parkfield, the earthquake capital of the world. Being the adventurous couple we are, we decided that an outing to this small town was required… and a small town it was! Parkfield has a population of 18 – yes, 18 – with one main road that can’t be longer than ½ mile. There is one school that is about the size of the chapel we got married in, a library that is in a trailer that’s roughly half the size of a normal trailer and one firetruck that eerily resembles a red short bus. But hey, at least we can say we visited the earthquake capital of the world!
We took the scenic route to Parkfield and unintentionally created road kill. Here’s a picture of the creature, although I’m sure most of you guys won’t complain that we killed it.
Josh is getting bigger and bigger every day, just like my belly. He’s traded walking in for running and is starting to eat at the table with mommy and daddy. He dances anytime there's music and is experimenting with falling backwards and jumping off the sofa. He ate an entire piece of halibut earlier this week when Grandpa and I went to Phil’s Fish Market for lunch and he’s eating chicken regularly too. Whew! We thought we had a self-proclaimed vegetarian there for a little bit…
Earlier this month Mike finished the Spring semester at school with A’s in all of his classes. Since January, he has been making a huge push to complete as much as he can before baby #2 arrives. As you can imagine, he has been an incredibly busy man these past 6 months with working full time, taking 9 credits at the college, father, husband, surfer, church worship leader and designated letter helper - free time wasn’t exactly in the schedule. Mike of course will downplay all of the sacrifices he’s made these past few months, but that’s just how he is.
Despite the relief of the semester being over, the studying hasn’t ceased. Mike is currently studying for two certifications, with one of the tests on the 25th and the other to be taken before summer is over. I don’t think the man knows how to “rest.”
He’s really enjoyed surfing since he got the board, but it’s unfortunate that prime surf season is during the winter months here… for the past two weeks, Mike has anxiously watched the waves on his way to work and scoped out the local surf report online and to his dismay, the ocean has been as smooth as glass. It’s beautiful to look at and great if you’re into kayaking, but not so great if you like to hang ten. He’s hanging in there, but I think he may go a little crazy if he doesn’t get into the water and catch something soon.
Our church held a bake sale to benefit local families hurt by the recession. I made mini-loaves of breakfast bread - apple cinnamon and banana chocolate chip. Both were delicious and at the request of the resident taste tester, I've made batches of each variety since the bake sale for our own consumption. The bake sale was a hit with over $430 raised. The next activity will be a BBQ lunch where all of the money raised goes to charity. Not only is it so great to have found a church home here, but it's extremely rewarding to be able to give back to the community and help those in need.
Although we haven’t written much about it, the biggest news in our house (apartment) would be my ever-growing belly. The countdown is officially on with only 5 weeks left to go. Our calendars are now marked with weekly doctor appointments, hospital visits and pending visits from family for after the arrival of #2 – which, if you haven’t noticed, is the official nickname of the baby since we don’t know the gender. Some say it’s a girl, some say it’s a boy, but we’re all going to have to wait to find out. To those wanting to visit, let us know ASAP so we can tentatively mark dates in our calendar. We’d love to see everyone, but we need a few days of downtime between visits to at least wash the sheets!
We spent two glorious, quiet nights and three kid-free days at Seven Quails Vineyard. It’s a small bed and breakfast with only two rooms, but our stay was nothing short of amazing. The bathroom had a HUGE tub, our room had its own private porch where we drank coffee each morning and listened to the hummingbirds as they drank from a tree merely 5 feet away, we each started and finished a book and the hostess cooked an amazing breakfast both mornings. The property is located on about seven acres and the vineyard starts literally just outside the front and back doors of the house. The host gave us a tasting of their wines, which they have made from their own grapes, and gave us a lesson in tasting and about wine in general.
It was hard to miss the large riff along parts of the highway during our drive so one morning Mike asked the host about the San Andreas Fault Line. As it turns out, the riff we saw was part of the Rinconada Fault, but the B&B was merely 25 miles from Parkfield, the earthquake capital of the world. Being the adventurous couple we are, we decided that an outing to this small town was required… and a small town it was! Parkfield has a population of 18 – yes, 18 – with one main road that can’t be longer than ½ mile. There is one school that is about the size of the chapel we got married in, a library that is in a trailer that’s roughly half the size of a normal trailer and one firetruck that eerily resembles a red short bus. But hey, at least we can say we visited the earthquake capital of the world!
We took the scenic route to Parkfield and unintentionally created road kill. Here’s a picture of the creature, although I’m sure most of you guys won’t complain that we killed it.
Josh is getting bigger and bigger every day, just like my belly. He’s traded walking in for running and is starting to eat at the table with mommy and daddy. He dances anytime there's music and is experimenting with falling backwards and jumping off the sofa. He ate an entire piece of halibut earlier this week when Grandpa and I went to Phil’s Fish Market for lunch and he’s eating chicken regularly too. Whew! We thought we had a self-proclaimed vegetarian there for a little bit…
Earlier this month Mike finished the Spring semester at school with A’s in all of his classes. Since January, he has been making a huge push to complete as much as he can before baby #2 arrives. As you can imagine, he has been an incredibly busy man these past 6 months with working full time, taking 9 credits at the college, father, husband, surfer, church worship leader and designated letter helper - free time wasn’t exactly in the schedule. Mike of course will downplay all of the sacrifices he’s made these past few months, but that’s just how he is.
Despite the relief of the semester being over, the studying hasn’t ceased. Mike is currently studying for two certifications, with one of the tests on the 25th and the other to be taken before summer is over. I don’t think the man knows how to “rest.”
He’s really enjoyed surfing since he got the board, but it’s unfortunate that prime surf season is during the winter months here… for the past two weeks, Mike has anxiously watched the waves on his way to work and scoped out the local surf report online and to his dismay, the ocean has been as smooth as glass. It’s beautiful to look at and great if you’re into kayaking, but not so great if you like to hang ten. He’s hanging in there, but I think he may go a little crazy if he doesn’t get into the water and catch something soon.
Our church held a bake sale to benefit local families hurt by the recession. I made mini-loaves of breakfast bread - apple cinnamon and banana chocolate chip. Both were delicious and at the request of the resident taste tester, I've made batches of each variety since the bake sale for our own consumption. The bake sale was a hit with over $430 raised. The next activity will be a BBQ lunch where all of the money raised goes to charity. Not only is it so great to have found a church home here, but it's extremely rewarding to be able to give back to the community and help those in need.
Although we haven’t written much about it, the biggest news in our house (apartment) would be my ever-growing belly. The countdown is officially on with only 5 weeks left to go. Our calendars are now marked with weekly doctor appointments, hospital visits and pending visits from family for after the arrival of #2 – which, if you haven’t noticed, is the official nickname of the baby since we don’t know the gender. Some say it’s a girl, some say it’s a boy, but we’re all going to have to wait to find out. To those wanting to visit, let us know ASAP so we can tentatively mark dates in our calendar. We’d love to see everyone, but we need a few days of downtime between visits to at least wash the sheets!
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