Out of the Mouth of Babes

Today was a glorious day at the beach.  It was an abundantly sunny, 80 degree day in Malibu.  The beach was not crowded.  The waves were mild.  The sea weed was minimal.  It was a great way to spend our day off from school relaxing with Celeste and Colin.  In the midst of playing in the sand and surf, several humorous things were said by the kids.  I want to pass along these sayings in hopes that you will smile as much as Celeste and I smiled.

Andi - You went out a little too far in the waves last time.  Please don't go out so far this time.

Carson - I go farther than that with Asher!  I've been to the next layer of the ocean!

Colin - I hear the Ice Cream Truck!  Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da (to the tune of Pop Goes the Weasel)

Calleigh - Mom!  There's a sand crab in the bucket!  Wanna come see how whooje (huge in Calleigh-ese) it is?

Calleigh - Mom!  Colin shared his N and N's with me.  (that would be M&M's, my love)

Carson - I know a good joke if we were on a pirate ship.

Andi - Okay.  What is it?

Carson - If someone asks how things are on the ship, we'd say "ship shape!"  Isn't that funny?!

Andi - Yeah.  That would be a great joke.  IF you are on a pirate ship.

Colin - I know how to speak Spanish.  K comprendo!

Thank you Memi

Today the kids came home from a Monday at school and I knew they did not need to jump right into homework.  So, I thought we would do one of my favorite pastimes - bake!  

A little while back the kids each received from Memi a themed bag of cookie mix complete with cookie cutters and icing and sprinkles.  Carson's bag makes a couple dozen cookies resembling baseballs.  Calleigh's bag makes a couple dozen Princess cookies in the shape of stars and sprinkled with fairy dust.  The kids enjoyed baking, but mostly enjoyed eating the fruits of their labor.  So, Memi, this post is for you to say thank you for the afternoon fun.

Busy at work - rolling and cutting

 

The final result. . .pink cookies with pink icing, and shiny sprinkles.  Lots of laughs and tummies full of icing.  Yummy!

Thank You Nana

Carson and Calleigh wanted to send a special thank you to Nana for their new costumes.  I hope you will enjoy the video performances of one ballerina (in a "part" swimsuit with tutu and frilly gloves) and one superhero on the hunt for the enemy.  Thank you Nana for thinking of us!  We love you!

Call Me Crazy

In June I am going to hike Half Dome in Yosemite National Park with a group of friends from church.  Yeah, you heard me right.  Little ol' prissy Andi is going to HIKE.  Funny, I know.  But I am up for the challenge, there are 8 months to train, and at least two of the friends going have accomplished this very hike at least once.

This is Half Dome

According to the Internet, the large granite dome known as Half Dome is possible one of Yosemite's most familiar sights.  The granite crest rises more than 4,737 feet above the valley floor.  Thousands of hikers reach the top of the dome each year by following a trail that is just over 8 miles long.  The final 400 foot steep ascent is completed by using steel cables as handholds.  The cables are fixed with bolts into the granite and raised onto a series of metal poles.  Take a look at the cable route:

The people look like ants, don't they?!?

Are you calling me crazy yet?  It's okay.  I think I am crazy, too.  Keep checking back for updates on the training and stuff.  It will definitely be an adventure!

Newly Made

How often do you invest in significant decorative touches to your home?  Are you one of those who frequents the home decor stores and brings home little treasures to add here and there around the house?  Or does the thought of purchasing home decor completely bore you and seem pointless?  Well, if you know me well, you know that I do not often purchase home decor of any type.  Most of what we have to decorate (furniture, knickknacks, etc) are wonderful hand-me-downs, pieces of furniture that have been in the family for years, or gifts from family and friends.  To be quite honest, I find buying new clothes much more exciting than home decor!

Two Christmases ago, one of my very dear friends surprised me with a truly incredible present - new bedding for our master bed!  She knew me.  She knew how I felt about spending money on decorations.  She also knew that I desperately wanted new bedding, but was having a hard time picking out new bedding.  So when she came across a bedding that fit the colors of our home perfectly, she bought it and blessed us with it at Christmas time.  I told her repeatedly that I felt like royalty sleeping under such wonderful bedding each night.  :-)  The bedding was a great decorative touch to our home in Texas.

Now that we have moved to the perpetually sunny state of California, we've made changes to the feel of our home (downsizing 1000 square feet will help you in that process).  Everything about the house we live in now says light and bright and welcome to sunny California.  One of the major changes we made was to invest in new bedding that also says light and bright and welcome to sunny California.  Although it was sad to part with our royal bedding, we are thoroughly excited about our new California bedding.  Thank you, IKEA, for making decorating a sensible option for people like me.  Now I am California dreamin' in a new way.

Road Tested

I've been waiting for the kids to start school so I can complete a few "to-do's" that would be easier to complete sans children.  One of the "to-do's" at the top of my list was to get my California driver's license.  Of course this meant a trip to the DMV, taking a test over the driving laws in California, and having the dreaded driver's license picture taken.  Needless to say, I did not jump at the chance to visit the DMV on the first day of school.  The second day of school brought eight wonderful members of my family in town to visit for a week.  After another week passed, I decided to bite the bullet and check this "to-do" off my list.  I drive to the DMV, explain to the attendant that I recently moved from TX and need to obtain a CA license (then listen to her snicker. . .talk about how most people move the other direction. . .blah, blah, blah), and grab the driver's license application out of her hand.  Whew!  As I complete the application, it asks for my TX DL number.  I have to admit I have never memorized this number.  There are way too many things floating around in my brain, so I dedicated that little space of memory for something more worthy than a DL number.  I reach in my purse, pull out my TX DL, write down the number and expiration date. . .WAIT!  My TX DL expired on September 1st!  My TX DL is EXPIRED!  I am totally driving around town (and have been for almost two weeks now) with a completely invalid license.  Oops!  No pressure now, huh?  The only thing I could think of now was that I HAD to pass the test today, or else I would continue to drive illegally (but extremely carefully) until I could take the test again.  When it was all said and done, I passed the California test and received a temporary license.   Hopefully next time I'll pay more attention to the expiration date.  I have until 2013. 

A Historical Moment

Deep in the heart of Hollywood, the El Capitan Theater made its debut in 1926 as Hollywood's "First Home of Spoken Drama."  In 1989, Disney took the reigns of the theater and remodeled it to its original grandeur.  Today the El Capitan is home of movie premiers and live shows.

In honor of its 50th anniversary, Disney is showing the digitally remastered Sleeping Beauty at the El Capitan.  Since Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) is Calleigh's favorite Disney princess, I wanted to make sure we took the time to venture down to Hollywood and see the movie at the one and only Disney theater.  Calleigh donned her princess gown, sparkling slippers, crown, and pink cloak.  She turned a few heads as we walked down the streets in Hollywood  :-)

Big brother, Carson, and dear friend, Colin, came along for the fun.  I am not quite sure the boys really wanted to see a "chic flick," but they did not want to miss out on something that could be fun.  Their favorite part of the movie was the dragon fighting scene at the end.  They also proceeded to cover their eyes during the true love's kiss at the end of the movie.  Go figure.

Now my little princess is a sleeping beauty upstairs in her bed.  She enjoyed the movie, getting dressed up, and seeing the real Aurora during the pre-movie show.  Her question to me was, "Mommy, how come Aurora came all the way here from Disneyland?"  My answer, "to see beautiful princesses like you watching her movie."  Good times, and good memories for my little princess.  It is once in a lifetime opportunity for my little girl.  I'm so glad we did it.

Answered Prayers

Back in April, when Michael accepted the job offer from The Church at Rocky Peak, I knew we were in store for a roller coaster ride like none that I've ever experienced.  We quickly buckled ourselves up, held on tight, and prepared for the adventure.  

Fast forward to today, mid-September, and the ride is finally slowing down in some respects.  As I look back over the past few months, I've seen how God has guided us along this ride through His answered prayers.  Now, don't get me wrong.  My prayers have not always been answered in the time frame that I would have liked, or in the manner that I would prefer.  But they are answered, my faith has grown, and I've learned how to trust God in a world beyond my Texas borders.  

As of this afternoon, we are no longer the owners of 1625 Cresthill Drive in Rockwall, Texas.  Our house has finally SOLD!  This is a huge answer to prayer.  Although it took longer to sell than I hoped, I've learned one very important lesson.  This really cool house was not our home.  It was just a house.  Bricks and mortar.  What happened inside the house was our home. The laughter, the tears, and the memories created were our home.  The people inside the house - Michael and the kids - were my home.  The only difference is geography.  I still have my home.  I still have the memories made in Texas.  I still have laughter and tears.  I still make memories, just in a different house which happens to be in a different state.  I still have my incredible husband and wonderful kids.  I still have my home.  Wherever God takes us on this roller coaster or the next, one thing will not change.  Home.  And that is an answer to prayer.

Brush With Celebrity

Living in SoCal means running into a celebrity here and there.  They are normal people just like you and me.  The only difference is they live their life in the public eye and make an enormous amount of money for doing so.  Today Michael had a brush with a celebrity from the good old 1980's (and present day, too, but really the 1980's for all of us hair band people).  Read all about it on Michael's blog.

Gas 101

I've learned a lot of new things since moving to California.  Some learned things are small and trivial, such as always take a lightweight jacket with you, come prepared with snacks when you go to the beach, Disneyland is super crowded on weekends during the summer.  While other learned things are much more significant.  I experienced one of these just last night, as a matter of fact.  So sit back, read on, and learn from my inexperience.

Setting:  late afternoon, dinner in the oven, Carson upstairs in his bedroom, Calleigh and I sitting at the dining room table working on her homework (yes, that's right, homework in kindergarten, but that is a different story)

When out of the blue, our gas monitor begins to shriek very loudly.  Now, I know that I bought this monitor as a safety precaution, but I fully believed I would never hear it or have to deal with it.  So my mental intake of the directions for said monitor was minimal at best.

I jump from the table, move the couch (because the monitor was behind the couch), read GAS on the display and unplug the unit from the wall.  I take the monitor outside where it stops shrieking, and go back into the house.  Don't smell gas.  Not one bit.  I open the doors and proceed to finish homework with Calleigh.  Carson is now downstairs scared out of his mind and thinking there is a fire in the house.  After some reassuring him that there is no fire, everything seems normal around the house.

Did I mention that I am naive?  Well. . .

Michael calls a few minutes later.  I fill him in on the details.  He asks if I have left the house and called the gas company.  I say "no" and tell him I didn't smell gas.  He thinks I've lost my mind.  He tells me to hang up, go outside, and call the gas company.  I do as instructed.  I'm prompted through a series of number prompts by the gas company's wonderful automated line and instructed to report a gas leak.  A gas leak?  Doesn't that equal an explosion?!  By now the feeling of panic has settled into my little mind and I am keeping the kids outside of the house in case it blows up!  

The gas company arrives two hours later (thank you McDonalds!) and finds no gas leak.  They asked what the "beep pattern" was from the monitor.  Beep pattern?  What is that?  It seems that the monitor has a very specific beep pattern for when it is a false alarm, when the batteries are low, and when there really is a gas leak.  Who knew?  Apparently we have a stove with no ventilation outside and the gas monitor was too close to the stove.  The gas fumes, although at perfectly normal levels, were swirling around in my little kitchen and living room with no place to go but inside the monitor.  Their recommendation:  open a window or sliding glass door when using the stove to allow for proper ventilation.  

Lesson learned:  When the gas monitor shrieks, do not ignore it and declare it a false alarm.  Remember the beep pattern.  Get out of the house.  Call the gas company.

What?  Did you really think this post would be about tooting?  No, that is on Celeste's blog.  Go here to read all about it.

The Crumrine Sibs

Carson likes the Jonas Bros.  You know, that boy band comprised of three brothers from the Jonas family?  They are all the rage in the land of Disney.  His favorite is Joe Jonas.  Go ahead.  Google him.  He is the one with the long straight hair.  It is Carson's hope that his hair will not only grow long enough to have him considered a surfer dude, but that his hair will look like Joe Jonas.  Although it may seem silly that an eight year old is already looking at those in the movie/music industry and finding someone to emulate, I remember very well doing the same thing.  Only mine was Olivia Newton John in her Grease days.  At least when I was eight years old.

So now that the Disney Channel has flooded our tv with the new movie Camp Rock, Carson's affinity for the Jonas Bros. has only increased and his desire to emulate Joe Jonas has grown exponentially.  Carson listens to the soundtrack frequently (aka - All The Time!) and distorts his voice in such a way that he really believes he sounds EXACTLY like Joe Jonas.  It is cute, really.  

The kids gave us a concert, complete with microphones and six full songs from the Camp Rock soundtrack.  It was great.  Calleigh singing the girl songs.  Full of expression.  Lots of raised arms and closed eyes.  Carson sang every Joe Jonas song.  Full of emotion.  Full of expression.  Full of angst.  Lots of throwing himself against the wall with his arms outstretched.  Lots of getting down on his knees and pleading through song.  Even a few guitar licks thrown in there for fun.  Watching this concert was a pleasant distraction from the business of our day.  I love seeing the kids work together to coordinate a concert.  I love seeing them use music as a form of expression and art.  I love that music is fun for them.  Who knows.  We may have the next kid music group blooming in our very own home.  The Crumrine Sibs.  It could work.  Or maybe not.  :-)

So You Think You Can Dance?

The kids gave a mini concert for me today full of songs from Disney's new Camp Rock movie.  This one made me belly laugh.  Get ready to see some head banging, beat boxing, and all around rockin' moves.  Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly present the Crumrine kids!

Wordless Tuesday