Testing 1,2,3....

Well, let's see how this goes. It's definitely been a long time since I have blogged. I can't believe Christmas is already here. I am going to post a pic of the boys that we took for our Christmas card this year. If my computer cooperates, then I'll post again in more detail to catch everyone up on the happenings in the DeShong home!

Out of Order!

Sorry folks, but my computer has been on the fritz and it won't allow me to post anything on this blog. I am furiously typing before the window will just shut down, as it has on me everytime I have tried to post! Stay tuned, I will try to post as soon as we figure out this whole computer issue!!

The Fairmont Fair 2007

A highlight event at our church is the annual Awana Fairmont Fair. Our kids participate in the Awana program, as mentioned before, and the clubs put on a classic carnival style fair every year, filled with game booths, fair food, prizes, and lots of fun for very little money.

Last night, our family went down to church to help with the setup. Dave was helping to build the booths, and the boys and I helped paint the signs that went on each game booth. It was a lot of fun! I received the ultimate in complements (if you want to look at it that way). Someone asked if Luke and I were brother and sister. Yes, you heard it right. Brother....and....sister. Are you kidding me? When I told him we were mother and son, he looked at me with a blank stare and said, "Well, I knew you were related, because you look so much alike!" OK. Whatever!

Today, we went to the fair, and had a great time working in the booths, visiting the booths, winning prizes, and eating an extremely healthy lunch. Oh yes, I just love nachos. Yum! The boys ate nachos. And popcorn. And candy. And snow cones. And soda. And soon, we are going to ask them to actually go to sleep???? We'll see how that goes. They even helped their Awana leaders by working in their game booths with them. And Vance and Luke also helped Dave and I work in our booth, as well. They are such sweet helpers.

All in all, a lot of fun was had by all. It is such a joy to be a part of our wonderful church. We are truly blessed by all that goes on inside and outside of its walls.

Out of the woods....Literally!

Well, officials have declared that Santa Clarita is now at no risk of being damaged any further by these horrific wildfires. Our neighboring communities have lost several homes, and that is literally just around the corner. Streets I drive often. God has sovereignly kept our family and all of our friends in this valley safe from harm. Some of our friends reportedly had fire as close as 100 yards away from their homes, but have all returned after evacuations to find their homes still in tact. God is good. By the way, God is good if the house burned down, too.

I forgot to mention one detail that we are thankful for. The truck is now running! After a two-month engine rebuild and some rough edges to smooth out, Dave got it running...just in time to leave in case of fire. How do like them apples???

I intend to put up a video of the engine starting (I know, it's exciting stuff), but the cable to download my pictures is, yes, you guessed it, packed up in the trailer! We are slowly putting things back where they belong and returning back to normal life, if there is such a thing! We are even having some friends over for dinner tomorrow night. Life goes on....

Fire....Close to Home

For those of you not living in our immediate area, several (around 15) wildfires broke out in Southern California simultaneously on Sunday, creating a state of emergency over 7 counties. It is an incredibly treacherous situation here. Included in these fires is the Agua Dulce Fire, which traveled down into Canyon Country, one of our neighboring communities. Yesterday, it started making its way into Saugus, just about 1 mile from our home. As neighborhoods north of us were being evacuated, it became apparent to us that we must prepare to leave. We figured we should start packing up before it's too late and we are rushed out. Better safe than sorry, I always say. So we hitched up the trailer and began filling it with important documents, boxes of pictures, and other important momentos. The boys thought they should bring everything they own, and began to pack up the sheets on their bed even! (Let's just say we had to do some sorting out)! Being raised here in Southern California, wildfires have always been a threat, but I have never gotten to the point of actually starting to pack things up. We watched the news over the course of yesterday afternoon, and thankfully, the fire began to move away from us and evacuations were being lifted. With the Santa Ana winds, extremely low humidity, and the 90 degree heat, however, we are still in danger of flying embers, which have already started countless other fires in the area. So we are ready if we need to leave, althought it's unlikely at this point.

You know, it is these "big life issues" that I have no trouble with. In the big things, such as the loss of a loved one, the loss of a home, etc, I tend to find my heart calm, trusting in God, patient with the outcome no matter which way it goes. I found myself saying yesterday, "it's just a house". Big things remind me that I cannot control the circumstances of life. I would be in desperation if I thought I could do even the slightest thing to change or alter the events that will occur. To know God is to know He is the one in control. He rules this universe and orders every detail. He allows all things, good and bad, according to His purposes. It's the little things I struggle with. Why did the milk get spilled again? Why is there gum on the pants? Why do I always find dirty clothes on the floor every day? Why can't the boys just sit quietly and do their schoolwork? Why...why...why? But God orders the big things as He does with the small. I struggle with thinking that I can control and order the events of my day. What folly! In my own strength and ability I can do nothing. Then I tend to get the frustrated, impatient, controlling attitude, wondering why things aren't going MY way. I need to be content with how God has planned my day, and not try to plan it on my own. It's OK to have a general plan, but I need to truly be content when that plan goes off track.

With all that said, we are thankful to still be in our home. I am thankful for a husband who takes care of us. I am thankful for my sister who is standing by ready to receive us if we have to leave. I am thankful for the countless firefighters and officials who are tirelessly working on our behalf. God is faithful!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Life is busy. There are always things to do. But sometimes we have seasons that occur in this home in which it seems we will never have a quiet moment. This is one of those seasons. In fact, I have attempted to post an update on this blog on several occasions, only to have something more important that needs to be done take precidence.

Comparatively speaking, we are not "busy" people, as are some other families. We are not the "go to soccer, to karate, to sheep shearing lessons, to underwater basking weaving, to the grocery store, to pick up Johnny, to drop off Lisa, to stop for dinner, to stop home and drop the groceries off, to pick up the kids, to drop dead from sheer exhaustion, wake up and do it all the next day" people. I cannot live like that. Some days are like that, don't get me wrong. Like today: School, laundry, off to PE at the park, to the dentist for two "complicated" extractions, and then back home. But we have purposefully made the choice to not be running around people, because we enjoy the simplicity of life at it's minimal activity level. After all, there are always things we delight in doing that keep us busy enough, such as Sunday church and Wednesday night youth ministry, along with our homeschool group's activities.

But even so, life is still so busy right now. There is a long list of "to do's" around here, which all seem to be knocking at poor Dave's door all at once. The truck is still saying "Get me to run, please", the flooring in the garage says "Install me", the kitchen cabinets are arguing with the floors, demanding "no, we come first, we WILL be fixed first!", "no, Dave, you must first spend 8 hours a day with me," whines Dave's job, "Daddy, could you fix my bike", "Dave could you fix the leak in the toilet", "Dave, Dave, Dave"! Poor Dave! At one point, it will all calm down, but for now, there is work to be done. It is hard for me to keep a proper perspective when life gets overwhelming. I tend to crave the order that once characterized our home. It's not the way I like it. I am walking on bare dirty concrete, the house does not appear clean or ordered. Visually, it bugs me! I just want everything to be back to normal! But I am learning that in the busyness of life, there is one constant. God is always the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is always faithful, always merciful, always sovereign. And He wants me to delight in Him, no matter what my circumstances may be. It's nothing deep and theological. God is simply God, and He never changes. It's my stinky attitude that changes, demanding that things go my way. I need to love the road I'm on, not just look for the destination. Enjoy the process of repairing cars and homes, extracting teeth, living in dust, and enjoying the God who gives us these priveleges. They are, indeed priveleges that are bestowed upon us by a gracious God. It is a privelege to be given the means and ability to repair our vehicles and our home. It is a privelege to have dental care. To have an education, and activities by which the children can learn and grow. Thanks be to God for the busyness of our life. Perhaps after Christmas it will all calm down.......

What L.A. Needs is a County Fair....

Yesterday, the boys and I took a field trip to the L.A. County Fair with our homeschool group. OK, well, with another family. No other families showed up! But what a way to go-with a school group! You get free parking, free admission, free milk, and free ride tickets for turning in book reports. The boys probably rode about $100 worth of rides for free! It was such a wonderful day. We spent the day with the Kirby family from our homeschool group, and it was delightful. We saw shows, animals, exhibits, and of course, went on the rides. A highlight for everyone was the Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats. We all sat there with our jaws in our laps for about half an hour. Amazing! I would have gone to the fair just to see them perform. And I went home with a new dry mop for my hardwood floors! What a deal. Everyone left happy! I could have spent hours just perusing the shopping areas, but I spared the boys the torture. And, by the way, our pig didn't win any of the pig races. No free bacon for me this year. Maybe next year!

Work Hard and Be Rewarded

We are in the process of some home improvement projects around here. Our ultimate goal: To install the new hardwood floors we bought! Of course, there are other minor projects we have to finish to get to that goal. This past weekend, we ripped out all of our tile. Here is Suzanne's list of must-have home improvement helps:

1) A handy husband

2) A rented jack-hammer

3) Some male offspring

The combination of the three was entirely too effective in making quick of what otherwise would have been a very long and tedious process! We had a production line: Dave was ripping out tiles, the boys were removing tiles to the wheelbarrow in the backyard, and I was sweeping up the mess! The boys worked SO HARD. Not a complaint. Not a "Daddy, can I take a break?" Not a "what do I get if I help"? Just honest to goodness sweat and hard work. We were so proud of those boys, who truly did make the project so much quicker and easier. Dave loves to reward our boys for hard work, so off to Val Surf to get some much needed new skateboards. The boys have all taken quite an interest in the sport, and have really enjoyed watching the X-Games and using our little mini-ramp in the backyard. So here's to another reason to visit the emergency room, yeah? Well, I'm alright with it. They're boys, and they do boy stuff. All I can do is sit back and enjoy!

Crepes are yummy!

I have had a serious hankering for crepes since we returned from San Francisco, where I partook of that delicious lemon crepe at Pier 39. Can you believe I have never attempted my own crepes? My sis, Karen has been making them for years, and I had convinced myself that they were just "too hard"! Yeah, yeah, nice excuse. Well, this morning I pulled up a simple recipe online, and I was surprised to find how easy they are to make! I whipped up two fillings: one was chopped apples sauted in butter, cinnamon, and allspice, and the second was a nice thick blueberry sauce, simply made from some frozen blueberries, sugar, and some cornstarch to thicken. My kids LOVED them. Well, wouldn't you? A crepe, a little fruit filling, some whipped cream, and a syrup drizzle? Now you're talking. The boys just couldn't get enough. So, if you have never made crepes, and love to eat them, I insist, it really is very simple to do. Impress your family today! Make them crepes!

A Trip Up the Coast!

Austin and I just returned from a whirlwind weekend up the California coast with my Dad (Austin's Papa Steve). In years previous, my Mom and Dad would take this same route every year, the ultimate destination being a party given by a long time friend of my parents, Norm, at his house in Sonoma. Last year, my Dad escorted Karen and Emma on this same trip. This year, Austin and I had the privilege of accompanying him.

We left Thursday afternoon and headed up to Solvang for a little shopping (most stores were closed by the time we got there, however)! We then had dinner at AJ Spurs, which I can honestly say has the BEST beef ribs I have ever tasted! YUM! We then drove another hour or so to our hotel in Arroyo Grande, just a few miles south of San Luis Obispo.

Early the next morning we headed up to Monterey for a visit to the famous and extensive Monterey Bay Aquarium. We all enjoyed perusing the fish, otters, and various sea life. The otter exhibits are amazing! I could have stood there watching their antics for hours. Our visit was paused in the middle for a delicious lunch at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Company (Run, Forrest, Run)! We enjoyed garlic peel and eat shrimp, artichoke dip, and fried calamari. Perfect! Back to the aquarium to finish up, and then we were off to San Francisco.

We arrived around dinnertime, checked in to our hotel, and promptly made our way over by foot to the Rainforest Cafe. This must have been "frog heaven" for Austin, as it was a highly decorated theme restaurant centered around their mascot, Cha Cha the frog. Good grief, what a sight! Waterfalls, animatronic jungle animals, stars, fish tanks...What more could a kid ask for? Ok, some mini hot dogs. There. Now it's complete!

The next day brought many activities in the charming city of San Francisco. Austin and I rode the cable car, and then we all took off on a cruise to Alcatraz. This fascinated Austin, as I can remember it doing for me as a child. We took the audio tour, then browsed the gift shop, where Austin was intrigued by a "rock", which my Dad bought for him along with a historical book of the island. This "rock" is an actual piece of the island that results from the recent renovation they are doing on the island. The proceeds from the sale of these rocks will continue to fund the restoration process. Apparently, this rock is extremely valuable- at least to Austin- he insisted on locking it up in the safe at the hotel for "safe" keeping. No pun intended. We ended our day at the famous Scoma's restaurant, where, after an hour long wait, Dad and I feasted upon the well-worth-the-longest-wait-imaginable: Cioppino. To die for!!!! And the sourdough bread: A masterpiece in itself. A little shopping at Pier 39, along with a lemon dessert crepe, and we were good to go. Not bad for a day's work.

The next morning we awoke and made our way over to a very quaint little local restaurant, the Balboa Cafe for breakfast. Dad insisted this was the BEST breakfast he ever had. He enjoyed corned beef hash, while Austin had the most delicious french toast I have ever laid my eyes on (not to mention my mouth). I had chorizo and eggs scrambled with bell peppers. YUM!

We were then on our way to Sonoma, but before we crossed the beautiful Golden Gate bridge, we stopped for some postcard perfect pictures. We checked in at the Sonoma Valley Inn, and then off to Norm's party. It was a wonderful party, and Austin had an absolute ball. There was swimming, casino tables (where Austin learned to play Blackjack using chips of no real value), a bounce house, cotton candy, popcorn, a pinata, Mexican buffet for dinner, ping pong, etc. etc. We all had a wonderful time. We ended the evening with a lovely soak in the hot tub back at the hotel. Oh, and Aunt Jan and Uncle Ron even came out from Vegas to the party. It was lovely chatting with them and seeing them.

The following morning, it was already time to leave. We had breakfast with Aunt Jan and Uncle Ron at the local cafe, where I had the most superior biscuits and gravy on the entire PLANET. No, I was not lacking in good food this entire weekend. I don't think I tasted one thing that wasn't worthy of an A+ rating. We made our way down the coast in six hours flat and back to reality. My Dad was very sweet, very generous, and really enjoyed himself, as did Austin and I as well. This will be a trip we will not soon forget. Thanks for everything, Dad (and Papa Steve). We enjoyed our time with you.

Back to School

The boys in our school room!

Last week was our first week of school! This marks the 6th year of homeschooling for our family. Austin is now in 5th grade, Luke in 3rd, and Vance in 1st. We have a busy year ahead of us, as we chug along through math, spelling, poetry, language, penmanship, ancient history, life science, typing and reading. We will start the AWANA program at our church mid-September. This is always a highlight for the kids as they get to go to church Wednesday nights for Bible lessons, game time, and snacks with their friends! Dave and I will continue to serve as leaders in 2nd grade Sparks!

The second week of homeschooling marks the first week of "whining". They are always so excited to start, and that wears off REAL QUICK, as they realize that work really isn't all it's cracked up to be. Playing is just much more fun. But it is both my duty and delight to train these boys to be diligent hard workers, so that someday they will be excellent husbands and fathers themselves. Mind you, that is NOT an easy task. Three boys with all their wiggles, joking, distractions, etc.

So here's to days of diligent work for all of us in this family, including myself! I must also pray daily for wisdom, patience, strength, and joy as I begin this new school year. I am fully aware that I cannot do any of it in my own strength. What I can do is rely on God to get me through it! And to get through it ALIVE!!!!

By the way, as a footnote, I am so thankful for my newly designed (well semi-newly designed) school room, complete with built in countertops and workstations for each of us, and organized shelving in the closet. Thanks to my handy husband for making it all possible for us to be organized and comfortable as we school together!

She's pulling triple duty tonight....

On the way home from church, the Tooth Fairy was sent a summons from both Austin and Luke. Two teeth lost in 2 minutes flat. Within 30 minutes of arriving home, Vance requested a visit, as well. Three teeth...one day. She's going to be busy tonight! Not to mention BROKE!!! What are the chances of all three boys losing a tooth on the same day? Definitely a "bloggable" moment!

Boys Love Swimming!

My boys really love swimming. It's like they were born in the water! We enjoyed one last swim day at our friends, the Linahans' house yesterday, and the boys had a blast. School year, here we come!

Luke, My personal "Mr. Miyagi"

Let it be known today that my son, Luke can now be called "Mr. Miyagi" from here on out. He has the amazing ability to kill a fly with his bare hands, every time, and the first time. It truly is a sight to behold. He doesn't even need the chopsticks. I can chase the buggers around the house for hours on end, swatting them numerous times an hour and missing. I could have just asked Luke, whom, with a single smack of the bare hand, can disable a fly and mortally wound it. Then he just picks it up by the wing and throws it in the potty. No problem. With this being prime fly season around here, it seems there are always about 4-5 flying around. So Luke is a particularly helpful boy around here these days! I should pay him for each one he kills.

I just thought I would share this special talent of his, in case any of you mothers of girls need a good shrill, or any of you other boy moms a laugh and an "oh yes, I understand." Wax on...wax off...

Camping in Big Bear

If you read about our last camping trip, then you know that it didn't go so well. Let's just say this one was a complete 180 in the other direction! Everyone came home healthy and injury free! Vance still has all the teeth he left Santa Clarita with, and no chins have been cut open.

This was our first "real" camping trip with our new trailer. Without a doubt, having a bathroom with an actual door on it, a microwave, refrigerator/freezer, A/C, and walls that don't have to pop up and down far exceeds sleeping in a tent. For those of you out there saying "Come on, that's not REALLY camping," I would beg to differ. This is the way to go! More power to you who brave the whole tent thing. Good grief! Let's just say we are very thankful to have such a nice way to camp in the great outdoors without actually having to sleep in the great outdoors. I don't know, bears eating me while I sleep and bugs biting me to death doesn't sound inviting.

We went to Big Bear Lake for 5 days with two wonderful families, our dear friends the Tubbs and the Brooks. My sis, Karen came up with Emma and Drew for a couple of nights and stayed with us. It was so nice to be able to have a trailer big enough for all of us (well, Drew wanted to sleep in their new Jeep, so he did!)

We have known the Brooks family for many years, and the Tubbs for maybe 2 or 2 1/2 years. They both have wonderful families and are just such easy people to spend time with. They each have 7 children, whom my kids absolutely adore. So our group of three families was a cool 23 people.

We spent the weekend fishing, swimming, boating, eating, and jetskiing. The boys could fish just steps from our campsite, which was right on a cove of the lake at a private RV park with a marina. They really enjoyed that a lot, and Vance caught two fish, one of which made for some good eatin' one sunny afternoon. The other boys caught various small fish and a couple of crawfish. We rented pontoon boats one day, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed swimming and fishing off the boats. The weather was perfect, and the lake beautiful. Dave drove one boat, and Robert the other. The little kids all got the chance to drive the boat, which was a highlight. A relative of Todd's allowed them the use of their three seater jetski for the weekend, so we all had the opportunity to enjoy using that several times over the course of the weekend. The boys all had a blast riding the waves, as they have never been on anything like that before. We also visited the Moonridge Animal Park, which serves the community by rescuing wild animals, rehabilitating them, and caring for them. We saw a snow leopard, Grizzly Bears, Bald Eagles, foxes, raccoons, and many more "special" animals. One of the bald eagles had double cataracts, one bear three legs, etc. We all enjoyed the experience, and it was very educational for the kids. We're hoping it will prepare them for starting school next week...OK wishful thinking!

Evenings were spent cooking and eating, playing games around the campfire, and just chatting. Todd and Robert stayed up late one night watching the meteor shower (the one that never happened) and solving the world's problems. Us old people just went to bed exhausted! Oh, and we did play a mean Sequence tournament. Suffice it to say, the women won again. Those poor guys, cheaters never do prosper. Just kidding! We just so much enjoyed being in the outdoors and being with these wonderful Christian people God has sovereignly brought into our lives. We have so much to learn from them, and are so blessed to have them as friends. What a fantastic long weekend!

Vance's favorite camp activity: Jetskiing ($3/gallon)

Luke's favorite camp activity: Playing with Hunter, Cody, and Jimmy (the cost of some fishing poles and dirtbike toys)

Austin's favorite camp activity: Playing "The Name Game" around the campfire (paper, pencils, and some fire wood)

Dad and Mom's favorite camp activity: Sleeping in a real bed at the end of the day (priceless!)

Wrapping up the summer...A summary of Summer 2007!

All I have to say is, I can't believe summer is almost over already! We are taking our last camping trip this weekend to Big Bear, and then we return to start school in a couple of weeks. This summer has been very relaxing and enjoyable. The summer is truly a whole different animal for me. The school year is very demanding since we homeschool. I am up early, I am very diligent with meal planning, exercise, and the like. Summer is wake up when you feel like it, have a bowl of cereal for breakfast, and whatever dinner makes its way to the table works for me! And exercise....HA! What's that??? I guess you can see the effects of that on my hips.

We started off the summer with our trip to NY, followed by our trip to Yosemite, which was wonderful. We have had a couple of beach days to Zuma, and also several trips to the Aquatic Center, as well. The boys really enjoy the water. We just spent the day at Magic Mountain recently, which was a highlight.

As for homeschooling, many people ask me what curriculum I use, how I can possibly homeschool not being a professional teacher, and why would I want to do that anyways? After all, most moms are very happy to "get rid" of their kids for the day, especially after a long summer of having them home all day every day.

Well, since I have been homeschooling my kids from the get-go, I really don't have any other school experience, except my own, to base an opinion on. I chose homeschooling for many reasons. The main factor being that I love my kids and can't possibly imagine sending them away all day, every day! Call me selfish. It is not easy by any means, and I am not saying the days aren't long and challenging. But I am being given the opportunity to shape my children's hearts and lives by tailoring their education and environment towards living productive and God-fearing lives. I can immediately deal with every harsh word and every bad attitude, and protect them from the world's evils which I care not for them to participate in. On top of that, we have the freedom to have lunch with Daddy, go on field trips, visit unique places, take unique trips, and be a part of unique life experiences that we would otherwise not be able to do.

So with that said, here are my curriculum choices for this year, in case any of you out in blogdom are interested. A big thanks to my dear friend Nancy (yes, you!) for her much appreciated wisdom and insight she shared with me recently on homeschooling. She let me "pick her brain", and for that I am very thankful!

Math, penmanship, phonics, language, and spelling: A Beka Book
Science: God's Design for Creation, Three book series on life
History: Story of the World, Volume 1
Bible: Bible Study Guide for all Ages, Book 1
Logic and Critical Thinking: Mind Benders book A1 and Building Thinking Skills, level 2

I am really looking forward to starting up our routine again soon, and to reunite with the homeschooling families in Lighthouse, our homeschool group. We have enjoyed a wonderful summer and are thankful for the opportunities we were able to participate in! But for now, Big Bear, here we come!

A day at Magic Mountain

During the school year, the boys all participated in the "Read to Succeed" program, where each child reads for a total of 6 hours and earns a free ticket to Magic Mountain. I even got a free "teacher ticket"! So this past Monday, we all redeemed our tickets. We only live about 10 minutes away, which makes this an ideal place to visit. The boys and I headed over when they opened, and Daddy met us there after work. We stayed until they closed at 10:00pm, and then got in line for some funnel cake-YUM!

The boys are at such a great age for this place! They are all tall enough to go on most every ride. The boys were so brave! They all went on Goliath, Superman, the ever infamous Colossus, and much more. Austin tried out Batman and loved it! We pretty much went on every ride in the park, and some twice, with the exception of about 3 coasters that Luke and Vance weren't tall enough for, and Austin wasn't interested in. We just had a great time enjoying the look on the boys faces during the rides, and just savoring their excitement throughout the day. They loved the big coasters as well as the silly little kid rides in Bugs Bunny World! There were a couple of rides that we literally paid them to go on. But they ended up loving it, of course! The park was not crowded at all like I had anticipated, and we literally walked right on to most of the rides. It was a very pleasant day and we enjoyed being together immensely. Vance and Dave bonded being "ride buddies". He always requested to sit with him on all the coasters. Very cute.

To describe their "coaster personalities", I would say this about each one:

Austin: Reserved Daredevil-will try anything once!

Luke: Total Chicken, but secretly loves the thrill!

Vance: Has to be convinced it's a good idea and loves it afterward!

My three boys are fantastic and I'm so thankful to spend this life with them. They are truly a blessing to my heart. Did I mention I must pray a lot???!!!

"Dirty Jobs", and Red Sunsets

I'm going to go watch "Dirty Jobs", Vance proclaims.

Thinking he was speaking of the TV show, Dave is confused to find him pulling up a folding chair next to his truck that he is repairing. "What are you doing?"

"I'm watching Dirty Jobs!"

I guess Dave with grease up his arms working on his truck qualifies as a "Dirty Job!"

Another day, one of the boys pointed out a beautiful red and pink sky as we were driving in the car and the sun was setting. Luke asked, "How does it get that color", to which Vance immediately responds, "It's the sun reflecting off the clouds!" DUH.......!! The youngest educating the rest.

Thanks for entertaining us so much, Vance. You are such a funny boy! By the way, do you dig his new buzz cut? We cut off his "cuh-rols"! Indeed they will grow back.

You know you're getting old when.....

You know you're getting old when....Your sister calls to tell you your oldest nephew just passed the driver's test! Yes, that's right, Drew, who turns 16 years old today, just passed the driver's test with flying colors. I guess that means that I am ___ years old! Not telling!!! Just old!

I remember when Drew was just two, sporting his SDSU T-shirt and diaper cover. He was so cute!!! Now he is all grown up, and I honestly don't know where the time has gone. I have enjoyed every minute watching him grow up. He is my boys' hero, without a doubt. He loves playing with them, teasing them, and entertaining them. I am truly grateful to God for the young man he has become. He is truly an amazing person, thoughtful, helpful, giving, and serving. I am sad, in a way, to see him grow up, because before you know it, he'll be married and having children of his own. But at least Karen has grandchildren to look forward to some day!

Congratulations, Drew, on a very excellent passing score on your test! We love you!

There's really great camping trips....and then there was this one!

Anxious to try out the new Toy Hauler we just purchased a few weeks ago, we decided to take a last minute weekend trip up to Lake Isabella with our friends, the Berggrens, who also recently purchased their first trailer. We wanted to give it a trial run before our long weekend to Big Bear coming up in a few weeks. We were all packed up and ready to go! We were excited! We loaded up, hitched up, and hit the road. Well, we came to a not-so-screeching halt when Dave realized his brakes were just not working properly. Something was not right. So we turned back for home. After some phone calls and investigation, Dave decided to change the brakes and calipers. So, four hours later, we were back on the road. Then began the very "uncomfortable" 3 hour drive up to the lake. It was about 105 outside, with no air conditioning in the truck. Dave had taken the truck to have the freon recharged a while back, but it kept leaking back out, which proved there are other problems, which up to this moment, have not been repaired yet. Then add climbing several hills pulling a large trailer, and you get a truck that's overheating (along with a family of 5!) It literally felt like someone had a blowdryer on my body! It's been a long day!!! We're hot, we're hungry, we're tired! We can't wait to get there!

I figured we would find relief from the heat once we got there, but to my surprise, it was not cooling down, even after the sunset. It was very hot and humid, especially inside the trailer. We ran the air conditioning in the trailer until quiet hours began at 10pm, and then we had to shut off our generator, so no more air ): It was miserably hot inside the trailer, and no better outside, which amounted to most of our family being up most of the night!

The next morning brought new hopes of a better day. We packed up our lunch and swim gear, and headed up the lake to the Kern River. Ahhh.....lovely! The lake was refreshing and so much fun. Dave bought a raft,Scott bought a tube, and we took turns going down the river (it was like mini-rapids!) It was so much fun, and so very cool! We had a lovely lunch and continued to play in the river. Then it all went downhill from there. Kassie began vomiting, and this began what we soon would find out would be a nasty and highly contagious flu which we would all end up with by the next day. Within 3 hours of Kassie coming down with it, Claire, Paige, and Scott would all have it. And it was NASTY! And in a trailer, to boot! We originally had plans to leave and go home Saturday night, because we didn't want to deal with the heat any longer, but decided it to be wise to stay overnight with our friends, in case they needed anything. Scott was in no position to drive home. We got permission from the camp host to run our generators the second night, so the air conditioning in the trailer made a huge difference in our comfort level the second night. We hitched up and left by 9am Sunday morning. A couple of hours later, the Berggrens were able to get on the road, with Kelly having to drive home. (She would later come down with the flu the minute they got home! God knew she needed to take care of her sick family!)

At last, we were safely back home, after a much cooler and relaxing drive home, and glad to be there! God was so gracious, and still sovereign over every detail. A few hours after our arrival home, Luke began vomiting, followed by Vance, and then Dave. My stomach was not right, and I have been nauseous since Sunday, but no vomiting. Austin never had a symptom at all. He must have "Super-Immune-System"! All in all, it turned out to be an interesting weekend, to say the least. One of the weekends where you look back and say, "Had I known, I just would have stayed home!" But it was a good exercise in patience, thankfulness, and joy in the midst of dealing with things that are hard and uncomfortable. We have been given so much by a gracious God. We can't complain!

First One to Double Digits

Monday the 25th marked my oldest son's entry into the world of double digits-Austin turned a whopping 10 years old. I just can't believe it has been ten years since I entered the world of motherhood. He was my first child, the one who began it all for me, and I honestly don't know where the time has gone. It seems like yesterday that I was holding his tiny little body and sparse head of blonde hair in my arms. Oh, how he has grown in so many ways!

Austin's Requested Birthday Menu:

Breakfast: Bacon, hash browns, and eggs

Lunch: Spaghettios...YUCKY!!!

Dinner : Steak, mashed potatoes, salad with blue cheese dressing, homemade biscuits

Cake: Mint chip ice cream cake with a fudge/oreo layer and whipped cream frosting.

Our day was pretty uneventful, since it was a weekday. The gifts we ordered him online did not come, and still have not come (Walmart is on my hit list right now). So poor Austin has still not opened his presents. But I did take him over to the store to pick out something he had his eye on for a while (just so he would have something exciting happen on his B-day)! It was a plug in Wheel of Fortune game that you play on the TV. He just loves that game. He is very interested in all kinds of game shows.

Austin is such a unique and wonderful son, and we have been so blessed to watch him grow over the last ten years. TEN YEARS. I still can't figure out how that happened!!! I love you Buddy, Freaky Pete, my special froggy lover! You are a blessing and joy to me (and your Dad).

My little fishies.....

Well, now that it's summer, the season has begun for shriveled up fingers and toes, sunburns, and bleached blonde hair in my family! My boys are all water babies, and love to swim tremendously. I was a little fish as a young girl, and they have all inherited my love of the water. Tuesday, we went to Zuma beach, and they enjoyed swimming and boogie boarding for several hours. Nevermind lunch, just "can I go in the water now??" Gosh, just give me a minute to get the sunscreen on!

Yesterday, we visited the Santa Clarita Aquatics Center, which we visit several times each summer. It is a great place. They have a large waterslide, large shallow beach entry swim area with water guns and waterfalls, and then an Olympic sized pool with two regular diving boards and a high dive.

Last summer, Vance was the last of the boys to learn to swim. Phew! Now that they are all water safe, the pool is a lot less stressful for me. At the Aquatic Center, if you are under 13, you have to take a "swim test" (swim one entire length of the pool without stopping-25 yards) if you want to use the diving boards. This year, Vance was given the first opportunity to do this. So the story goes like this....

I walked with Vance over to the swim test area, where he waited in line for about 15 minutes. While he was waiting, I told him he could use the lane closest to the wall, because I had seen the previous lifeguard allow the kids to use this one. Well, Vance started swimming, and the life guard told him he needed to use the next lane over (I am assuming so they will not be given the opportunity to grab the wall). Well, Vance was very upset over this, crying and going on how he could not get under the rope to go into the other lane. I explained to him that all he had to do was lift it up and go under it. But, nope, he was convinced he COULD NOT do it. And so he walked away disappointed, crying, and utterly hopeless. I could not convince him to try again. After all, it was just too hard. End of story. He is funny that way.

About an hour later, it was time to check up on how the boys were doing, so I walked around and spotted, Austin, then spotted Luke, but no Vance. I could not find him anywhere. Karen and I were looking around together, and she looked over to where the kids were in line for the swim test, and she said to me "Is that Vance in line for the swim test?" Lo and behold, it was him. He was going to try again, without even telling me. So I pretended to not see him, watched him swim underneath the rope and across the entire length of the pool without a problem. He came running up to me, proudly displaying his green wristband (the symbol of his huge accomplishment). Is that not the funniest thing? It had to be on his own time, with his own personal motivation, and without the pressure of me watching him. The kid cracks me up. So Vance spent the remainder of his afternoon jumping off both the low and high dives, over, and over, and over again, until there was just no more jump in his step. I was so proud of my little fuzzy. Ah, the simple pleasures in life. It is my joy to watch them grow and learn something new each day.

A joyful moment....

This morning I enjoyed a sweet and joyful moment with one of my children. It was worthy of mention just so that I can remember why I am training these children and to look back and see how much fruit we have reaped in the process. Some days I wonder if my boys have heard or comprehended a word we have taught them over the last years. Some days when I find their pajamas on the floor, I wonder if they will ever catch on...after all I've only been teaching them to pick up their clothes since they were old enough to walk! But I have learned to not look to the results, but just to be faithful to keep training them the way God has asked me to in His Word.

Well, back to the story. This morning, we had a little bit of two kinds of cereal left that needed to be finished off. It really was just enough for the four of us to have breakfast. Of course, there was 3 servings of the kind they didn't want, and one serving of the kind they did. Austin was the last to the table, and Luke and Vance had already been served, so I asked Austin if the other kind was good for him. Austin paused a minute (which really meant, "No I really don't want that kind"). Before I could even wink an eye, Luke was handing his full bowl of cereal to Austin with a huge smile on his face. I think tears came to my eyes. He had actually sacrificed what he wanted for his brother, and he did it on his own and with a joyful heart. Precisely the way God calls us to sacrifice and think of others as more important than ourselves.

Philippians 2:2-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

I was so proud of my son this morning. It is these little things that give you hope that in the future, all the hard work, training, and love will someday pay off. All I desire is that someday he will really and truly understand Christ's love and sacrifice on his behalf, and see his need for the Savior's forgiveness and turn in repentance towards him. That is all I want for all of my boys. Academic success, having their own family, being able to live a full life...these are just icing on the cake in comparison to that. The eternal state of their soul is what really counts, for the soul lives forever.

John 10:18 Jesus said "No one has taken it (my life) away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."

John 14:6 Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life;
Nobody comes to the Father but through me."

John 15:12-14 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
You are My friends if you do what I command you."

It's a Beef Jerky Kinda Day....

My husband's culinary appetite doesn't quite need the quenching that I need. He is a simple eater. Meat and potatoes, nothing with "cream of anything soup" in it, and some good "man snacks", and he is quite happy. Dave does like to eat and we enjoy eating a variety of foods together, but he won't go out of his way for a good bagel, for instance (I won't mention who demanded we walk 7-8 blocks from our hotel in NYC to get one...) Is that too much to ask??

Anyways, I say all this because Dave does like BEEF JERKY! His mom used to make it for him (yes, homemade) regularly while he was growing up. In fact the first time I went to his house when we first met, he had a stash in a ziploc in his dresser. After we got married, I know he longed for that homemade beef jerky again. So I searched and searched for recipes, and talked to my mother-in-law, whose painstaking process including laying out each individual piece onto the oven racks, and cooking it on low for hours on end. Laying it out isn't as painstaking as washing the oven racks, I might add.

I was going to go for it, after all, my husband was (and still is) worth it! Even if it took me all day, I was going to make some of my own beef jerky. Well, I think the first batch turned out well, and put me on a course of searching for the ultimate beef jerky recipe. I have since tried out probably half a dozen recipes, and I am still trying to nail it down. Sometimes it comes out too salty, sometimes not salty enough, too spicy, not spicy enough.....Never has it not gotten scarfed down within the first few hours of it's completion, however.

I have since upgraded a couple of years ago to a food dehydrator. Something that makes jerky making a lot easier, I must say. It has about 8 circular "shelves" to place the meat on, and it's much more manageable to wash. I have not made jerky in a long while, as I have been lazy and just bought it. But there is really nothing like the taste of that homemade jerky like you get at a roadside stand (for the price of gold). So today is a jerky making day! I decided to make a batch for Dave for Fathers' Day. He is worthy of every effort. It takes a long time to cut the meat, marinate, and then cook. But in the end you have a big beautiful batch of unbelievable jerky. Happy Father's Day to Dave, and to all the Fathers in my life!

So here's how you do it, for you adventurous at heart:

Start with your meat. I have previously used london broil, and beef brisket. Today I used an eye of round roast. It's all good. Partially freeze your meat to make it easier to slice. Slice it along the grain into 1/8 inch-1/4 inch slices (whatever you like).

There are many ways to marinate your meat. I have used soy and worchestershire based sauces with added spices, as well as bottled teriyaki sauce. You really can't go wrong. Find a recipe with ingredients you like, and go for it! There are two schools of thought for marinating. One is to marinate it overnight. The other is just to briefly marinate (10 minutes or so). It really depends on if you prefer that saturated flavor, or a more natural meat flavor.

Now, if you don't have a food dehydrator, just use your oven. First you will want to lay out some foil on the bottom of the oven to catch drippings from the marinade. Then, lay out the meat in a single layer onto your oven racks. You will want to cook it at the lowest oven temperature, and leave the door cracked open just a tad. After an hour of cooking, flip your meat. From here on out, just check your meat ever hour, pulling out pieces that are done cooking. To test for doneness, bend the meat slightly. It should bend a bit, but not break. It should look dry, as well. Don't worry, it will continue to dry out after it is removed from the oven as well. The process can take anywhere from 3-4 hours for the smaller and thinner pieces, up to 8-10 hours, possibly even longer. Just try to be patient. You will be rewarded at the end with your very own delicious beef jerky. Give it try, it's well worth the wait!

A camping trip to remember....

This was our second annual camping trip to Yosemite. It is by far, THE best place to camp! It is well worth the 2 + hours I spent on the phone and internet in January trying to secure a campsite. We went with 5 other families this year (Brooks, Harasicks, Hoyers, Berggrens, Tubbs), which gave us a group total of 28 kids and 12 parents. All of our sites were centrally located to one another, which was nice, and allowed us to enjoy many things together as a group. We kicked off our first day's events with a bike/hike to Yosemite Falls. Since the water levels were much lower than last year, we were able to hike in places that were literally underwater last year. We enjoyed climbing up the rocks to Lower Yosemite Falls. The views were breathtaking. We also swam in the Merced River, Mirror Lake, and hiked the Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Falls. This is always my favorite activity, since you can view beautiful rapids, trees, and wildlife on the way up to the falls, not to mention get some great leg burn after climbing 200 + steps carved out of rock to get there. Is is quite an accomplishment and feels exhilirating when you reach the top! In addition, we took a drive up to Glacier Point, where you can look down thousands of feet into the Valley floor, and get a bird's eye view of Half Dome and all the falls.

Every evening was spent eating dinner together as a group, and of course, roasting marshmallows for s'mores. The kids love being with all their friends, riding bikes, playing games, and getting dirty! Sunday morning, Rich taught all the kids a Bible lesson, complete with coloring and cookies, along with a couple of songs of worship to God led by Courtney Brooks and Lindsay Tubbs. What a perfect place to worship the Creator!

Yosemite is such an awe-inspiring place. With the granite mountains the size of, well, mountains, the animals, the birds, the trees, the waterfalls, the fresh air....You get the picture. It is a place of serenity and beauty unimaginable. It is a small foretaste of heaven for me. I could have stayed another week to see it all. Thanks be to God for His gift of beauty for us to enjoy! Until next year's trip....

More thoughts on New York....

Yosemite's

Half Dome

NYC's

Chrysler Building

This morning as I was having my morning Bible study, thoughts of my time in New York were still on my mind. You know, after you come home from a new experience, your mind continues to ponder it all...well at least that's what happens to me! I was trying to tie together all my thoughts regarding why New York has left such an impact on me. I came home just completely awed by it all. Well, I am amazed by simple things, so you can imagine my thoughts after just seeing the Statue of Liberty, etc. I figured out that the most amazing thing about New York was its history and architecture. Dave pointed out that when most of the buildings in New York were built, they didn't have computer drafting, or even welding! Everything was done by hand. Which makes the simple fact that the Empire State Building was erected in just 15 short months an amazing feat of man. So here is where my mind wandered. The city is filled with amazing feats of man. So I said to myself, "self"...if I am so amazed at what man can create, how much MORE SO should I be amazed at what God has made? As our family prepares to leave tomorrow for a long weekend in Yosemite, I am preparing myself for just that. Yosemite lies is stark contrast with New York in that it is a place completely created by God. When did man ever create a mountain? Or the seas? Or an amazing waterfall? Or the birds, squirrels, or even man himself? Yosemite is the perfect place to be in awe over what God has done. It is a place where I can worship God simply because of what I can visibly see. But faith is worshipping God based on what I cannot see. My faith is based on the son of God being sent to earth to die in place of sinful men. But I have never seen Jesus, so where is my proof? My proof is in the creation. Romans 1: 18-20 says:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Nobody has the excuse of unbelief because we have proof through what God has made! We see it each day when we go outside! So as we leave for our trip, I am preparing for 5 days filled with wonder over what God has done. It far surpasses anything that man can ever create with his own hands. And to top it all, God made it all in 6 days. Beat that!

A Week in The Big Apple

We just returned last Friday from a week spent in New York City. Dave was there on business installing (shhh.......) some effects for the new Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum in Times Square. Well, he was there watching other people work. The construction site was not ready for him, and so he babysat and made sure his wiring/plumbing/etc. was being properly installed so another Technifex employee, who is going out this week, can finish the job. So, if you could call it work, yes, he worked from about 7am-3pm. He also inspected the site at FAO Schwarz, where they are installing the most darling little miniature Barbie Model Runway, complete with Barbies that come down the catwalk, do a little turn and then go back behind the stage, just like the real models! By the way, that FAO toy store is REMARKABLE, to say the least.

So let me begin by saying this was a TOTAL VACATION for the both of us. Nevermind the few measly little hours Dave had to spend at work. All expenses paid, except my own airfare made this a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. Our hotel was beautiful, and not to mention they put us up in a suite that was about 500 square feet! And I did not lift a finger the entire week. It was so strange for me. No cooking. No cleaning. Nobody else to care for. No laundry. No pets. No responsibilities. And plenty of things to see and do...That's my idea of a "real" vacation! Oh, I did pick up my dirty clothes off of the floor. Does that count as work? This is the longest time I have ever been away from the boys, and it was very hard. I missed them tremedendously. But they were off at Auntie K's house having a blast. And Karen got a reminder of how little boys live on a regular basis! Click here to read her blog about their time together!

So, we began our trip by spending the whole day on Sunday (his one full day off) touring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Unbelievable!! It really is nostalgic to see her in person. To see her stand there in the New York Harbor, and to know what she stands there for. It truly is an icon of our freedom here in this country. Ellis Island was personal for me. My grandfather came into this country there. His name was in the computer database of immigrants who entered there. We also toured most of lower Manhattan that morning, seeing Ground Zero (the former World Trade Center Sight), some amazing cathedral churches, the Stock Exchange, Federal Building where Washington was inaugurated and that at one point housed congress and served as the Capitol, Wall Street and the famous "Bull", etc. etc. Standing at the World Trade Center sight was quite eerie and sobering. To think of the large cloud of debris and the images I remember seeing on TV of people running down the streets of the city were suddenly so real and personal. There is just a sense of nostalgia in the city no matter where you go.

The rest of the days were devoted to traveling around the various other parts of the city, seeing Central Park, the Natural History Museum (seen recently in "Night at the Museum"), the Empire State Building (we went to the top on our Anniversary!), the famous Chrysler Building, riding the Subway, viewing the Brooklyn Bridge from the South Street Seaport, riding the Staten Island Ferry, Grand Central Station, shopping, eating, seeing Times Square, and much more. We really enjoyed the unique energy that is present in the city. Everyone is getting somewhere and fast (except if you are in a car, then you're going nowhere fast). It is such a different lifestyle than we are used to, and I could not and would not ever live there. But it is somewhere I would highly recommend visiting. The city is full of rich history and amazing feats of architecture. Every building is a work of art. Your neck will be sore from looking up (hey, that explains why my neck has been hurting...I just figured that out!) And your feet will be sore from walking. The subway was a fantastic way to get around, and cheap! And we found the city to be extremely safe. Police presence was everywhere and everything is very clean. I felt comfortable walking around by myself even carrying a purse, and I observed many other young women doing the same. All in all, is was such a blessing to be able to see this wonderful place in person. I would certainly love to return someday. And I sure will miss the NY pizza and bagels!

Taking a breather....

I find this whole blogging thing kind of therapeutic at times. Right now I am using it to get all my thoughts straightened out! Whew.....just thinging about all I need to accomplish in the next 2 1/2 weeks is mind boggling. Whoever said that being a stay at home mom is meaningless, unfulfilling, and downright boring needs to just eat their words and fall off the planet....Come ON!!!

Dave just gave me the news a few days ago that he needs to go to New York to do an installation for Technifex. New York, like right in Times Square, New York! He then asked me, after seeing the inexpensive cost of airfare, "Could you, would you, join me?" SHRIEK!!!! You mean visit the place I have dreamed of seeing in person since I was a little girl? Hmmm...let me think about that? You mean I can go to New York and only have to pay for airfare? YES!!!! Then reality struck when I looked at my calendar and realized that I have food to prepare for a baby shower, Seminary Graduation, Awana Awards Ceremony, not to mention countless birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate (including my own anniversary, which, by the way, will be celebrated while we are in New York!), and then a camping trip to Yosemite which we leave for just 5 short days after returning from out of state! Feeling tired? I then stopped for a moment and realized that God would allow me to accomplish all of these tasks only if I relied on His grace, mercy, and help to do them. I prayed that I would not do any of it begrudgingly or out of duty, but to genuinely help and serve others and in so doing, I serve God Himself. So, I wrote every task I need to accomplish down in an orderly fashion, and then scheduled a day to do each one. God is already demonstrating his grace: There were more than enough days to do it! It just has to be well planned and executed! Karen and I are doing all the food for a baby shower for 50 people, and the shower falls the morning after I return from New York! So that means all the food is made and frozen ahead of time. All the camping stuff will be purchased before we leave, as well. Then it's off to New York!

We will be staying just a few blocks from Times Square, and while Dave is working during the day, I plan to stragetically visit all the wonderful sights I can reach by bus or foot, including Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Broadway, The Museum of Natural History, Ground Zero, the NYSE and Wall Street, and many historic sites and shopping areas. Together, we will see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, and perhaps take a bike ride through Central Park. It's all still in the planning phase. But we are very excited and can't wait to go. It's one of those places you just want to see in person after seeing it in the movies and on TV so many times! Stay tuned for pictures when we return!

And then there were TWO!

This morning we all had the revelation that we should get one more rat so Daisy can have an inmate (uh, I mean soul mate...) Now is the time to introduce another one, because often once they are older, they will fight with one another if introduced later. So Austin and Dad went to the pet store this morning and picked out a companion for Daisy (perhaps it is even her sister, as they were in the same cage at the pet store). The new one is a white rat, just like Lilly, and we have named her Rosie. We can already see that she is very different from Daisy. Daisy is very laid back and relaxed, and Rosie is a total spaz! I'm sure they will be great friends. The boys just can't get enough of them. They are so cute!

The newest member of our family....It's a girl!!!!

Our beloved pet rat, Lilly, passed away last week from a large tumor that had grown on her chest. The boys wanted to bury her in the backyard, so they dug a hole, buried her, and placed a Calla Lily from our garden on top...A lily for Lilly. Luke made a "headstone" out of a piece of bark and wanted to carve R.I.P. on it!

Well, wouldn't you know it, the boys begged for a new rat. And although I relished in the absence of the cage shavings that were always dragged all over the house, I was inclined to acquiesce to their request....means "YES!" So today, we stopped at Petco and picked out a darling new little baby girl. She is white and gray, and we affectionately chose the name Daisy just to continue the flower name theme. She is very sweet, but a little nervous and scared. It will just take some time for her to get used to her new home. The boys are already doting upon her and loving her up. She will be loved genuinely three times over! Welcome to the family, Daisy!

Vance goes to Disneyland!

Vance's birthday present from his Auntie K this year was an all expense paid trip to Disneyland! He was "abducted" from church on Wednesday night for a sleepover and trip to Disneyland yesterday. He started off his day with his favorite flavor of Pop Tarts, and then it was off to the Magic Kingdom with Auntie K and cousins Drew and Emma. They had a fantastic day full of rides, food, and fun. He especially enjoyed Space Mountain and Soar over California at California Adventure. He also went on Tower of Terror and the Indian Jones ride for the first time. Karen said Vance buried his head under the seat during Indiana Jones for the entire duration of the ride out of sheer fear, yet after the ride was finished, he said "I loved it!!!" Go figure! He was very adventurous and enjoyed all the rides they went on. My sister asked me on the phone during the day, "Does he eat you out of house and home?" My answer: "YES!!!" He pigged out during the day on chicken tenders, fries, lollipops, and ice cream sandwiches, and then scarfed an entire In 'N Out Burger on the way home. All in all, he had a great time, and they only had to wait a few minutes at the most for the rides, which made for an enjoyable day. Vance was returned to me this morning with pirate accessories in tote, including sword, eye patch, and all. Thanks for the fun day, Harasick family! And Happy Birthday again to Vance!

"Wicked", TOTALLY WICKED!!!

This past weekend, I had the immense privilege of seeing the Broadway musical "Wicked", the story of the witches of Oz. Karen had been to see it earlier in the month, and enjoyed it so much that she wanted to see it again. So we decided to take my Dad as a gift for his birthday. We then found out about the Wicked "lottery". About 3 hours before each show, you can appear at the box office and put your name into the lottery. They then pick 13 names, and sell the winners each two tickets in the front row for $25 a piece. What a deal, considering those tickets are worth over $150 each! Well, Karen tried for the lottery last Saturday, and their name was not called. She decided to try again Sunday afternoon while she was at the box office. I mean, you may as well try for the cheap tickets before buying them full price! Well, Karen gave me a heads up and told me to be ready to go out the door if they won, because the four of us would be going (Karen, Emma, my Dad, and I). I said "Yeah, right, chances of us winning are pretty slim." Well, wouldn't you know it, Drew's name was picked!!! Two tickets in the FRONT ROW!!! Karen was then able to find two more single tickets at the box office in nearby seats. So I rushed down to the Pantages, my Dad met us there (he was on the way back from Pacific Palisades at the time), and we all relished in the quick moment we had to take it all in- we were at WICKED!!! Emma was absolutely beside herself!!! And not to mention the fact that she met "Glinda, the good witch" in person when she walked outside of the theatre to walk some friends out.

So anyways, the show was phenomenal. Absolutely stunning in every way, from the music, to the costumes, to the professional cast. To say the story is creative would be a huge understatement! The writer thought of every single detail, and the story was flawless! I would highly recommend this show to anyone. Just be warned, it is addictive, and you will not only find yourself humming the songs all day, but you will find yourself somewhat obsessed with how you can return to see it as soon as possible! The four of us had a wonderful time together. We stopped at Jerry's Famous deli on Ventura Blvd. for a late night snack and synopsis discussion afterward. Happy birthday to my Dad a little early!!!

A trip to Islands In Honor of Mom

April 9th is my Mom's Birthday, and since she passed away, we have gathered as a family each year with my Dad at her favorite restaurant, Islands, for dinner. It is a good way to remember her, by enjoying something she really enjoyed...a good hamburger. My Mom would often pass up a good steak at a nice restaurant in favor of the classic American food we call the hamburger. My Dad would tease her about that, too. She was a simple woman, and in many ways, so am I. Austin wrote a very cute poem about my Mom and Islands shortly after she passed away, and read it at the restaurant last time we went. Well, my Dad brought the poem to the restaurant again this year, and asked Austin to read it out loud. It was very sweet. We had a lovely evening together eating, laughing, and remembering Mom. We all miss her so much, but are thankful for all the memories we have of her life, including her love of hamburgers!