Most Peculiar Ride

Fun

2010-04-03T10:44:00.002-05:00

For you, mom and dad :)

2010-03-14T23:14:00.002-05:00

Carson's class went on a field trip last week to Rancho Sierra Vista Satwiwa Native American Indian Cultural Center- a portion of the National Park in the Santa Monica Mountains. A portion of the 3rd grade curriculum focuses on the Chumash tribe who originally inhabited this area of California. The park ranger cast each member of our class into roles for a play that taught them how the Chumash survived using only the resources from their environment. It was cute. We had Chumash, mountain lions, bobcats, eagles, rivers, fish, grasses, oak trees, etc.

The ranger took us on a hike through the oak trees and up a mountainside. I kept thinking how cool it was that we get to hike in the mountains for a field trip!

The Chumash lived in houses with thatched walls/roof. A replica was there for the kids to explore. They used bark from the willow trees to form the frame of the house and bundled grasses to make the thatch covering.

At the end of the field trip, the kids used drills to make a hole in a sea shell and turn it into a necklace.

Carson and I had a great day. So much so, that I hope we go back as a family to hike their many trails. It's only 8 miles from the ocean. . .maybe a hike to the ocean would be fun!

Easter Package Fun

2010-03-03T18:38:00.004-06:00

Hi Memi and Grandaddy! Here is another fun video of the kids opening their care package. Hope you enjoy watching it. We sure did enjoy opening it and dividing everything out :)

Thank You

2010-02-09T22:58:00.005-06:00

Hi Memi and Grandaddy! Thank you for the Valentine presents. We love you!

School Pictures

2009-11-09T21:14:00.000-06:00

Calleigh - 1st Grade

Carson - 3rd Grade

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T18:18:00.003-06:00

Harry Potter and High School Musical Cheerleader

Calleigh Moment

2009-11-02T18:16:00.001-06:00

October 26 -

Calleigh changed her color at school for . . .

Burping over and over.

That's my princess.

Back to School

2009-08-26T10:59:00.003-05:00

It's back to school today! Here is Calleigh, my first grader, in her classroom.

And Carson, my third grader, in his classroom.

And the annual picture in front of the fireplace.

Oh, wait, that's just us being silly! Here are the real annual pictures:

Happy Back To School Day!

Two Gifts From God

2009-08-21T22:27:00.000-05:00

I love these kids!

It's Been A While

2009-08-16T19:39:00.002-05:00

It has been a while since I posted anything on the blog. This summer has been packed with so much fun, that I have not taken the time to write because I've been so tired! :-) Anyway, here is a brief synopsis. . .

This summer we were able to travel back to Texas for a family vacation. It is always good to be surrounded by those we love in the familiarity of home. Despite being native Texans, we were able to do something we've never done. . .touring the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. This stadium is massive and the details to every inch inside and out are unbelievable! So, here is the family far enough away from the stadium to get a picture with it in the background:

Calleigh learned how to jump off the diving board. She is a great little swimmer, but she decided back in May that when we went to Texas for the summer, she wanted to learn how to jump off the diving board. With that goal in mind, she conquered her fears and jumped over and over and over. Way to go Calleigh!

Calleigh and Carson spent a lot of time with their cousins. Here are a couple of pics that my mom took of the kids with their cousin, Sydney. I didn't take my camera to Texas (I know!), so I am relying on pictures from other family members. If you have any, please send them my way!

The rest of the summer has been packed with visits to the beach, Disneyland, Six Flags (this week!), gymnastics, karate, swimming pools, and hanging with friends. It's been a great summer - short, but great. In only 9 days the summer will end and our school year will begin. Look out first grade and third grade. The Crumrine kids are on the way!

Summer Beach Wednesdays Begin!

2009-07-01T22:58:00.004-05:00

There is nothing like a day at the beach to completely relax me. Today kicked off our 2nd annual beach Wednesday playgroup at Zuma beach in Malibu. Just typing "2nd annual" seems strange!

The kids love knowing that Wednesdays are beach days and have been looking forward to spending time there with friends. Last summer we were new to the area and our dear friends Celeste and Colin invited us join them in their beach Wednesday tradition. It was a great chance for the kids and I to meet some of the other mommies and kids from church while enjoying the sand and water.

One year later, I had the chance to not only enjoy beach Wednesday, but I invited three great mommies and their kids from school to enjoy the day with us. It was great fun! As I look back upon this past year, I am so very grateful for the people that God surrounded me with in California. And I am reminded that He is faithful, He hears our prayers, and He is good.

Playing in the surf and sand (Calleigh and her friends from school)

Some of the boys and all three of the girls

Carson chillin' on the sand - Calleigh and her friend building in the sand

My sweet babies all grown up!

My Pretty Princess

2009-06-14T22:31:00.003-05:00

Isn't she beautiful?! Calleigh had a GREAT birthday weekend. She and I went to the American Girl Bistro for a "mommy and me" lunch. Of course, Ashley went with us and sipped tea from her very own tea cup. The food was good, the presentation was great, and the smile on her face throughout the lunch was priceless. Over and over she told me,

"This is the BEST birthday EVER!"

Our fun continued when we met up with Michael and Carson for a "staycation" in Anaheim. The hotel was within walking distance of Disneyland, so we took advantage of the location and walked our way to Downtown Disney for dinner and endless people watching. Calleigh proudly wore her "It's My Birthday" pin - courtesy of Disneyland - and made sure everyone knew she was celebrating. Today we spent the day at Disneyland and California Adventure enjoying the picture perfect weather and minimal crowds. Calleigh proudly wore her birthday pin again (even though it technically was not her birthday), and she thanked the many Disney cast members who wished her birthday blessings. She loved the attention! As we drove off into the distance via the Disney tram, Calleigh cried crocodile tears and said she did not want the day to end. Much like her mommy, she loves the party and would prefer for the fun to last and last.

It's been a fun birthday weekend and one I am sure she will remember for years to come.

Happy Birthday, Princess!

Happy Birthday Princess!

2009-06-13T10:49:00.002-05:00

We kicked off Calleigh's birthday weekend at the house with the Cunningham family and Granny & Pop. Today we are off to the American Girl Bistro for lunch and then to Disneyland. I will post more pictures and stories later. Until then, happy 6th birthday!

You Spin Me Right Round. . .

2009-06-08T18:42:00.002-05:00

Lessons from Calleigh

Oceanography 101

2009-06-06T16:41:00.005-05:00

Calleigh's kindergarten class had an Oceanography unit this spring. During the unit, all of the kids were assigned an ocean animal for which to make a model and write a report. (side note - apparently California schools believe in projects. . .LOTS of projects. . .that are all very detailed and time consuming) Calleigh's assignment was to create a sea turtle model and write a research report about the sea turtle using facts she learned through books checked out from our library.

Celeste helped us come up with a way to make the sea turtle out of a paper plate, paper bowl, and little paint. Thank you Celeste! Your pre-K teacher skills come in handy for these projects. We emptied our beach bucket and came up with enough "real sand" to glue to the bottom of the box. Calleigh cut wave after blue wave out of my scrapbook paper without any complaint. It was her idea to make seaweed and glue it to the sides for a more realistic look.

The actual writing of her report took some time. She was instructed to sound out the words herself and write them without any help. I think she did an awesome job!

She worked so hard on this project and was so proud of her end product, that I thought I would share her work with you all. The final result. . . .Calleigh's Sea Turtle!!

Talking To God

2009-06-05T18:50:00.002-05:00

From the mouth of Calleigh as I tucked her into bed. . .

Dear G0d,

Thank you for today and tonight. And thank you for my great great great mommy. And thank you for my great great great daddy. And thank you for my great great great brother. And thank you for a great great great great great great me.

Amen

Here's To 14 Years, Babe

2009-06-02T23:19:00.002-05:00

Fourteen years ago I married the man of my dreams.

And every year since, I find that my love for him multiplies beyond imagination.

Here's to fourteen great years, babe!

My Brother

2009-05-27T06:40:00.003-05:00

Wilshire, Stephen Craig Steve went home to be with his Lord on Saturday morning, May 23, 2009, at his home in Plano after working his Friday night shift at Kirby's Steakhouse in Dallas. He suffered from an extreme case of gout which proved to not only be extremely painful and debilitating, but ultimately fatal. Steve was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, on August 8, 1966, the third child of Roy and Carol Wilshire. He graduated from the University of North Texas in 1990 with a degree in management. He worked his way through college at various positions at Chili's, and then spent his career in the food service industry - including management positions at Chili's, Snuffers, and Cici's, followed by his service as a professional waiter at Kirby's, where he developed a loyal following of customers and many friends. His career allowed him to be available to spend significant and quality time with his two daughters - Kirby and Shelby. He was married to his best friend, Wendy. Not a day went by that he didn't think of this, his very special girl! She brought such happiness into his life and their marriage was one that was so strong for over 17 years. Steve was a soft spoken man, but when he talked, you wanted to listen. His heart was full of compassion for others. Although prone to losing things like his keys, wallet, or cell phone, Steve never lost his sense of humor or his love of life. His courage and laughter, in spite of his illness or tragedies, brought family and friends joy and hope. He was a gentle soul, a Christian, and a member of The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson. He is survived by his loving wife, Wendy (Wolfe), his daughters, Kirby (14) and Shelby (10), his brother, Mark Wilshire of Plano, sisters, Nerissa Silva of Dallas and Andrea (Andi) Crumrine of Simi Valley, California, along with parents, Roy and Carol Wilshire of Plano, and his grandmother, Lucille (Whitten) Watson of Mansfield. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, J.N. Whitten, and Orin and Myrtle Wilshire. He will be deeply missed by a host of family and friends, who all rejoice in knowing that he is in his heavenly home, where there is no more pain and suffering. Services will be held at The Heights Baptist Church Chapel on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 10:00 am with burial at Restland Cemetery. Visitation will be at Restland Cemetery on Tuesday, May 26, 2009, between 6:00 and 8:00 pm.

I love you, Steve!

And the award goes to. . .

2009-05-20T22:39:00.002-05:00

Carson - for working through and completing 2 books in AWANA this year. . .

Calleigh for working through and completing one book in AWANA this year!

The kids started in an AWANA program in January, and they LOVED every minute of it! It was a time of fun, games, friends, and learning scripture. In order to complete a book, they had to memorize a ton of scripture and the books of the Bible. I've never seen my kids so motivated to learn. It is awesome to know that they are committing scripture to memory at such a young age. So tonight we celebrated their accomplishment with dinner out and an awards celebration. Congratulations, kiddos!

2009-05-18T09:33:00.000-05:00

Bee protection while swimming. Always a good idea.

Calleigh's Big News. . .

2009-05-13T09:38:00.001-05:00

. . .she lost her very first tooth last night! Now she can write her name on the giant tooth in her classroom. She is so excited!

Sex Education by Carson

2009-05-06T23:06:00.005-05:00

I had one of those "mommy moments" the other day. One of those moments when you realize you are now entering uncharted territory and your child has entered a new stage in their development. I had the privilege of navigating this milestone without any backup (aka - Michael), and overall it went really well. Before I share the details, I must warn you that this is for grown-up eyes only. Sorry kiddos, you must wait and read once you've entered this stage yourself.

Carson - Mom, you know the outside lunchroom? Someone spray painted graffiti on the wall.

Andi - That's pretty sad.

Carson - They wrote S - E - X. (head nod, little smirk on face)

Andi - That's unfortunate. (trying to hide a giggle)

Carson - I know what it means. (really big head nod, bigger smirk on face)

Andi - REALLY? Please, tell me what you think it means.

Carson - (leaning in to whisper in my ear) It's when a boy and girl make out naked. (very large head nod, very large smirk on face)

Andi - So, what is making out? (a little amazed, a little terrified of where this might lead, a lot curious)

Carson - Kissin' and stuff.

Andi - Well, actually, your definition is very close to the actual definition.

So after a little more discussion about how making' out naked is something God created and is a wonderful thing for husbands and wives, the topic was dropped until bedtime. Then Carson decided to pull out his "let's talk about this a little more" card. And this is what happened. . .

Carson - Mom, is it true that a husband and wife make out naked?

Andi - Yes, it is.

Carson - That's GROSS!!!!!!!

Andi - Well, it may sound gross, but God created it so He can make babies.

pause.................(dot's are being connected)

Carson - So, you and daddy had sex twice?!?!

pause.................(oh crap)

Andi - (trying so hard not to burst out laughing) Yes, Carson, your daddy and I had sex twice. And now I have you and Calleigh. Isn't that wonderful?!

A little more discussion transpires about how this is something all boys and girls need to talk with their mommies and daddies about, and he needs to refrain from talking about it with his friends. There was also some significant emphasis on not talking to anyone about mommy and daddy having sex twice :-) Meanwhile, Carson is giggling throughout this discussion.

Andi - Why are you laughing??

Carson - Your saying s-e-x!!!!!

Andi - (sigh)

I'll save round two for Michael.

Happy Spring!

2009-04-23T19:42:00.000-05:00

Calleigh - 5 years

Carson - 8 years

2009-04-15T10:10:00.002-05:00

Calleigh: Mommy, how old are you?

Andi: I'm 36 years old. (feeling a sense of accomplishment that I actually remembered how old I am.)

Calleigh: WHEW! At least you're not almost 80!

Andi: (thinking. . .do I look almost 80?! It's all a matter of perspective.)

Calleigh Sense

2009-04-14T09:47:00.002-05:00

Background: Carson got a new bouncy ball at the pediatrician yesterday that glows in the dark and looks like an eyeball.

Setting: In the car on the way home from the pediatrician.

Carson: UUUGGGHHH! My eyeball fell out! (one eye squinted shut tightly)

Calleigh: No it didn't. You still have your eyelashes on!

Makes total sense to me :-)

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T09:42:00.003-05:00

Just a day in the foothills. . .

2009-04-07T21:24:00.003-05:00

One Sunday a couple of weeks ago, we took a hike in the foothills near our house. It was a perfect, blue sky, sunny, warm day for a hike. The kids had a lot of fun. They are great little adventurers!

Andi and Calleigh walking on the path at the base of the foothills.

Carson looking out over Simi Valley. Notice the Indiana Jones hat, satchel, and walking stick. It's his exploring gear. The satchel was great for holding all of the rocks he collected along the way. And there were a lot of rocks!

Some cool rocks along the way. See those foothills in the background? We climbed those. It was really cool!

Looking back across the path we traveled. You can see the path on the left side of the picture. The scenery was beautiful. I can't help but wonder about how this area was formed. This was supposedly the bottom of the ocean, but now it is full of mountains and foothills and rocky formations. Just another reminder of God's great power in His creation.

Taking a break.

Strawberry Fields Forever

2009-04-03T15:42:00.002-05:00

Calleigh's class went on a field trip today to Underwood Farms. They turned a group of kindergarten kids and their parents loose in the strawberry fields to pick (and eat) fresh strawberries. It was a lot of fun and I plan to return with the family to pick more fruits and veggies. This is the sort of field trip that makes you want to have this stuff right in your back yard. The strawberries were great. The weather was great. The kids were great. It was a great day!

No, haven't fallen off the map

2009-03-26T00:11:00.007-05:00

I know. I know. It's been too long since I last blogged. I guess you can say we've been a little busy around here. Here is a glimpse of the what we've been up to. . .

Michael took the kids on their very first hike. They had a BLAST! Calleigh made it her job to tell everyone when to take a rest. Carson was designated as the guide. At the top of the hike, they could see the whole valley below them.

Calleigh and Michael went on their very first camping adventure. Granted, they set up camp inside the church auditorium with lots of other daddies and their preschool/kinder kids. Calleigh was so excited to pitch a tent and sleep in a sleeping bag (we had to buy her a new pink one!). They had a great time just spending some much needed daddy and Calleigh time.

I started a new job after spending almost a year of just being mommy and acclimating to California. It's really cool how God's timing played out in this adventure. Around Christmas time I started feeling the desire to go back to work. I had no idea what that would look like, but I knew I did not want to resume counseling others and I wanted to work around the kid's schedule. I just gave the desire to God and trusted that He would lead me to that perfect job. Three weeks ago I was presented with the idea of a temporary job, working part time at our church helping out with administrative duties. It was a prayer come true! I am able to work part time while the kids are in school. I am working for our church in a great environment. I am working for two really great men who are genuinely seeking God's plan in their work world. And I am getting the challenge of organizing and creating procedures and making things efficient. If you know me, then you know this is RIGHT up my alley. I don't know how long this gig will last, but I am having fun.

Michael is busy with work but really enjoying all the challenges and is being so helpful, helping me adjust to my new schedule.

That is us in a nutshell. I will try to post more frequently. Once I get my work/home groove going, I'll be back more often. Until then, hugs to all!

Happy Early Birthday, Calleigh!

2009-03-03T13:47:00.002-06:00

Calleigh's birthday isn't until June, but she received an early birthday present this weekend. Memi and Grandaddy were in town visiting and enjoying some time with Carson and Calleigh. The weather was beautiful - blue skies, low 70's, bright sun. Naturally this weather meant lots of outside play time for the kids.

Carson and Calleigh wanted to ride their bicycles this weekend, but. . .alas. . .they both had flat tires. Thankfully Michael and Grandaddy came to the rescue and aired up the tires. When we moved, we sold Calleigh's old bicycle in a garage sale. It was too small for her and we had one of Carson's old bicycles that she could ride in the interim. This bicycle did not have training wheels, so Calleigh required the help of one grandaddy to happily push her around the yard on her bicycle. After looking up at Grandaddy with those beautiful blue pleading eyes and asking for some "girlish" training wheels, we loaded up the car and headed off to Walmart. Who could resist that?! Once at Walmart, Memi spotted a new princess bicycle with training wheels and just knew that Calleigh needed it for her birthday. :-) It just makes sense to buy her a present now, something that she will love, and not have to worry about shopping and shipping later on. After a few minutes of consideration, Calleigh was joyfully riding her new bicycle down the aisle at Walmart as we all sang Happy Birthday. It was fun. And she enjoyed getting a bicycle of her own. So, when June 13 rolls around, we'll have to sing Happy Birthday to her again as she rides around on her princess girly bicycle.

The Crumrine Family's New Pet

2009-02-22T15:20:00.003-06:00

Carson came to Michael this morning with a concept of something he wanted to build. He presented a page with a picture of a dog and itemized drawings of the supplies he needed to build the dog. We could tell he really put some thought into this project. After some brainstorming with Michael on how to make it all work, Carson took his supplies outside and created our new family pet all by himself. It turned out so cute, I had to put it on the blog for you to see.

This is Goddard.

This is a picture of Goddard with his tail (toilet paper roll tail makes me laugh!).

Allow Me To Introduce. . .

2009-02-10T18:40:00.002-06:00

. . .Master Carson Crumrine

He is sporting glasses and a new haircut.

Oh, and the look would not be complete without a few Bakugan in the mix.

To Mrs. Moore

2009-02-06T22:14:00.003-06:00

Calleigh has learned so much this year in school. She is just growing leaps and bounds, and she wanted to share some of what she has learned with her pre-K teacher, Mrs. Moore. We LOVE Mrs. Moore! She is an incredible teacher who has a passion for teaching and a genuine love for her students. We were so blessed to have had her as our teacher two years in a row (kinder for Carson and pre-K for Calleigh). Thank you Mrs. Moore for giving Calleigh a wonderful foundation in reading. She is doing great this year and I believe a lot of that is due to your influence on her academics last year. We miss you!

Remember This Little Guy?

2009-02-04T17:02:00.006-06:00

At 3 years old, Carson was a handsome little guy in glasses. Bifocals, no less. After eye surgery at age 4 to correct his eye muscles, Carson went back to a life without glasses.

Before the school year began, I took Carson in for a routine eye exam. At that time, he was borderline nearsighted. It was so borderline, that the ophthalmologist said his vision did not warrant glasses. For the past couple of months, Carson has complained a little that he could not see the white board in the front of his classroom. Then on our trip to Texas over Christmas, we noticed that he could not read the departure/arrival board at the airport. Mental note: make an eye doctor appointment when we get back to California.

Yesterday was that much anticipated eye doctor appointment. After a thorough exam, it was decided that Carson needs glasses to correct his nearsightedness. He is excited about wearing glasses, but a little nervous that the kids at school might make fun of him. He has already expressed a desire to have glasses similar to Harry Potter. What do you think? Good fit?

One thing is for sure, he will be a handsome little boy regardless of what style of glasses we buy.

Mmmmmmmm. . .

2009-02-01T23:31:00.003-06:00

I haven't posted in a week. I know. It's been super busy around here, yet there doesn't seem to be anything worthy of a blog entry. In a nutshell, here is what is going on in our neck of the woods:

Monday - I did the usual Monday thing - grocery shopping, laundry, school stuff. Went to Bible study and it was good.

Tuesday - Carson had a friend over to play after school. Then Colin came over to hang and eat dinner.

Wednesday - Bible study was good. We talked about peace. Next week's focus is patience. I really like Beth Moore studies. I took the kids to the park to play with some friends after school.

Thursday - School holiday (teacher in-service day). Carson's friend came over for a play date. We were pretty much lazy around the house. It was nice.

Friday - School holiday. Took the kids to Disneyland. It was a great day with the family. Met up with some friends there and enjoyed the day.

Saturday - Ran errands. Sat in the sunshine. Went to church.

Sunday - Ironed ALL morning. Watched the Super Bowl. Now the kids are in bed and I have a moment of quiet.

Like I said, it was a week full of little stuff that kept us busy. The week FLEW by (is that a word?). It was a good week. I am looking forward to this week.

The Greatest Love

2009-01-24T21:07:00.000-06:00

This summer Carson began to periodically ask us questions about baptism. He seemed very curious about baptism, but then again he is an inquisitive little guy. On the final day of our Christmas break from school, Carson surprised me by announcing that he wanted to be baptized. As excited as I was to hear him say this, I wanted to make sure he really understood what it meant and I wanted to hear his reasoning for wanting to be baptized. Let's just say that conversation with Carson ended in happy tears (I'm a sentimental girl!) from both Carson and me. Michael and I asked Carson if he wanted to be baptized in "big church" in front of everyone or if he wanted it to be a small family celebration. Without hesitation, Carson said he wanted to be baptized at church because he wants everyone to know that he asked Jesus Christ into his heart. So, last Saturday our little guy was baptized in front of the congregation. It was a great day and one that we will remember forever. Here are some pictures from his baptism:

Pastor Mike and Carson - Pastor Mike asked Carson how old he is and why he wants to be baptized. In front of the whole congregation, Carson announced that he is 8 years old and he wants everyone to know that he asked Jesus into his heart. The congregation clapped and cheered!

I love that he is wearing his God Rocks! shirt :-) Pastor Mike talking privately with Carson before he baptizes him.

The week leading up to his baptism, one song was constantly at the forefront of my mind. I wish I knew the name of the song and the artist who performs the song. But since I do not, I am simply going to condense the verses and chorus. It's been a song that has meant a lot to me since moving to California last summer. I've found great comfort and hope and truth in the lyrics. This past week the lyrics assumed a different meaning to me - expression of love from the heart of a child for a God who first loved us. Here are the lyrics.

The greatest love that anyone could ever know

That overcame the cross and grave to find my soul

All I am I live to see your kingdom come

In my heart I pray, Lord let your will be done

You are the voice that called the universe to be

You are the whisper in my heart that speaks to me

Until I see You face to face

Grace amazing takes me home

I trust in You

I will live to love You

I will live to bring You praise

I will live a child in awe of You

You alone are God of all

You alone are worthy Lord

And with all I am, my soul will bless Your name

Happy Birthday Nana!

2009-01-22T16:57:00.002-06:00

A special birthday message for Nana from two of her biggest fans.

2009-01-15T18:47:00.002-06:00

This is why I love Southern California.

It is mid-January. It is a sunny day with a high in the 70's. The sky is a brilliant blue. And I am sitting on the balcony working on my sun tan as I compile my income tax documents.

Couldn't ask for a better work environment. :-)

January in SoCal

2009-01-13T00:09:00.003-06:00

Have you heard of the Santa Ana winds? Let's just say the terms "windy" and "wind gusts" do not do justice to the true significant force behind the Santa Ana winds.

These are gusts of winds up to 70 miles per hour.

Seriously!

I still catch myself looking around to see where the tornado is coming from when the wind blows through here. I pause only to remind myself that I no longer live in tornado alley and 70 mph winds no longer indicate an imminent tornado in my path.

Maybe I should try a new approach in my thinking. Take Calleigh's perception of the winds, for example. She simply states what we all are really thinking. "I wish the wind would stop smackin' the house!"

The upside is having a 10-day forecast of sunny and mid-70's with lows in the upper 40's. I guess a forecast like that is worth enduring a few days of "wind gusts."

Are You Ready to Bowl?

2009-01-08T21:43:00.003-06:00

Santa brought our family a Wii game system this year for Christmas. We've had so much fun playing Wii games together as a family after dinner. It has become our new family fun time each night. It is great for unwinding after a long day. It is great for friendly competition and banter. It is great for strengthening the one arm that you use to operate the remote control. And it is great for initiating laughter. Everyone needs a good laugh, right? Well, here is one that makes Michael and I laugh every time. This is a clip of Calleigh bowling. She is an excellent bowler and even scores over 100 in a game. However, she has quite an intense swing which nearly catapults her across the room, as you will soon see. Check it out. I dare you not to laugh :-)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-07T18:31:00.002-06:00

Hopelessly Devoted To You

2009-01-05T23:26:00.003-06:00

Who would have thought two little three-year-old kids would proclaim their devotion to each other. Who would have thought those same kids, now eight years old, would continue to proclaim their devotion to each other?

Carson and Isabella met in Sunday School at our church in Texas. They begged their mommies to plan a play date so they could spend some fun play time outside of church. And so it began. Despite Isabella moving out of state - twice - and Carson moving across country, the two remain hopelessly devoted to one another. So much so that Carson mailed a jeweled ring to Isabella with a note attached asking her to marry him. He even tells the little girls chasing him at school and church that they can stop their pursuit because he already has a girlfriend.

Over the Christmas holiday, Carson and Isabella spent time together while their families hung out. They picked up right where they left off. They are two very sweet kids and it was fun to see them together again. Who knows what their future holds. But for now, it is cute to see them so enamored with one another.

Back To Bethlehem

2008-12-22T14:47:00.003-06:00

Last night we took the kids back in time to a little town called Bethlehem. Our church hosts this very elaborate production where a portion of the church property is transformed, literally, into Bethlehem. The kids entered into a world of the past when our Savior was born. Some of the things they were to experience included visiting with carpenters and stone masons. . .

pressing olives into olive oil. . .

feeding and petting sheep and goats. . .

and petting a donkey similar to the one Mary rode upon on their journey into Bethlehem. . .

There were also basket weavers, women making bread, potters, people selling their spices and fruits & nuts, shepherds, angels singing in the distance, the Inn which had no room to spare, and a stable with Mary and Joseph holding their newborn baby Jesus.

It was really cool to give the kids a chance to "see" the nativity and experience what life was like when Christ was born. It can be so hard to imagine a different time and place, especially for children who know no different. We can also become so comfortable with the story of Christ's birth that we forget so many significant details of the time period. This was a great holiday tradition for our family, our church, and for the community.

Yes, Virginia. There really is. . .

2008-12-21T23:26:00.003-06:00

. . .a Griswold family.

If only pictures could really capture the extent of the decorations and lights. Merry Christmas from the "Christmas House" in Simi Valley!

Oh Christmas Tree

2008-12-19T11:58:00.003-06:00

This morning Calleigh serenaded us as she dressed for school. One of her songs of choice was Oh Christmas Tree. However, she altered the lyrics a little. Here is her lyrical version. You will have to provide your own musical soundtrack.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

How lovely are your branches

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

How lovely are your branches

My Savior reigns

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

How lovely are your branches (imagine this last line sung long and drawn out)

My heart smiles for my little songbird. Only Calleigh can turn a song about a tree into a worship song. Although I am pretty sure she intended to sing "rains" instead of "reigns" since she has no concept for the latter. :-)

Christmas Scavenger Hunt

2008-12-18T18:05:00.005-06:00

Scavenger hunts are fun. Not only for teenagers trying to win some really cool prizes at a church youth group event. They are fun for little kids, too. Yesterday our kiddos experienced the fun that can be had with such events.

We attended our very first Christmas scavenger hunt. This tradition began years ago with Sandi Seal and the Johnson family. She bought little gifts for the Johnson kids, Haleigh and Dayne, and then hid them around the house. Last year the Cunningham family was invited to join in the fun. So Colin was able to experience a scavenger hunt along with Haleigh and Dayne. This year we were invited to join the fun, and I am so glad we did. Each child had ten little gifts (that is 50 gifts total!) and they were all hidden around the Johnson's house. They took turns finding one gift at a time until all of the gifts were found. Then they were sorted into stacks of ten and the kids ooohhed and aaahhed over their pile of presents.

(the kids and their stack of presents)

After a quick dinner (the kids were anxious to open their presents!), the kids took turns opening their presents. Their squeals of delight when they opened their treasures was priceless. The present that had all of the boys laughing (and the grown-up laughing, too) was the "tooting toy" - you put your finger in this can of gooey stuff and it makes a tooting sound. It sounds so realistic!

(Haleigh and Calleigh) and (Dayne, Colin and Carson)

Today they have enjoyed playing with their goodies - floam, puzzles, cars, etc. It was great fun. Thank you Johnson's for hosting and Sandi for including Carson and Calleigh in your Christmas tradition.

Mystery of the Manger

2008-12-16T08:31:00.005-06:00

This weekend the children's choir performed their Christmas program, The Mystery of the Manger. I was impressed that a group of young children could memorize not only the words to all of the songs, but also all of the choreography for the whole production. It was somethin'!

Carson and Calleigh were both excited to perform their musical. I think in Carson's mind, this is his High School Musical moment :) Calleigh preferred to wear her enthusiasm on the inside, much like her daddy does with his feelings of overwhelming excitement.

Carson had his moves on for the performance, but kept his smiles tucked away as well. Although, he said he didn't smile because he was too nervous and did not want to mess up the moves/songs. A little case of stage fright, I might say.

Regardless of their outward appearances, they had fun and they continue to sing the songs and recite the lines. Even at the top of their lungs while standing in line for rides at Disneyland. Who knew my kids would evangelize in song to the throngs of people on vacation in the land of magic?! I loved every minute of it.

Holiday Welcome

2008-12-12T09:37:00.002-06:00

While my mom was here to visit in November, we spent some time decorating our house for Christmas. One of my favorite spots that we decorated is our front porch. We found this cute little train and tree at a decorating store in Simi (it is an amazing store!) and we added our santa that we used in years past. It makes a cute little holiday welcome.

A Round of Applause

2008-12-04T11:03:00.005-06:00

Each trimester, the kid's school has an awards assembly to celebrate the hard work of each student from the previous trimester. Today Carson earned the Academic Excellence award for Outstanding Reading Skills. This award is presented to the students who are meeting and/or exceeding the majority of the academic requirements as stated on their report card. In the words of Ms. Radloff, the principal, "academically these students are doing very well in school. These students are the ones that I expect to shake their hands when they are getting Honor Roll and Principal's List later on in their school years."

Calleigh earned the Eager Eagle Award award for outstanding effort. This award is given primarily to kindergartners who have worked exceptionally hard during the first trimester to acclimate socially to kindergarten and strive toward academic excellence.

Way to go, kiddos! We are very proud of you!

2008-11-28T18:40:00.003-06:00

Thankful. Simply defined as feeling or expressing gratitude.

This week marked our first family Thanksgiving in California. The day brought new traditions for our family. It also brought a time of reflection and a renewed sense of thankfulness. Here are few of the things for which I am thankful:

An amazingly wonderful husband who has a heart for God, loves me completely and passionately, and is an incredible father who models Christ's love to his kids
Two healthy children who never cease to amaze me and fill me with an overwhelming sense of love and joy and awe
My parents - two of the most wonderful people in my life - who raised me in a loving home and demonstrated daily what it meant to love God and serve others
Wonderful friends who encourage me, love me, and stand by me no matter where life takes us
The chance to live in the beautiful state of California and experience living with the beach and the mountains in our backyard
The blessing of living in The United States of America where we have freedoms, safety, and opportunities beyond measure
Most important - I am thankful for my God. He is faithful, a comfort, a provider, and a friend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T16:42:00.001-06:00

Hope your Thanksgiving Day is wonderful!

Two Thumbs Up

2008-11-23T20:49:00.002-06:00

We took the kids to see Bolt in 3D on Friday night. It was an unplanned movie quest, but it turned out to be a much better movie than I anticipated. The overall messages of perseverance, heroism even if you don't look/act like a superhero, and true friendship is a great message. The kids laughed. Michael laughed. I laughed. I think we all had different characters who were our favorites. I personally liked the pigeons. They were fabulous! With their head wobbles, neck bends, and glowing colors were incredible! The little hamster was a nutcase who had Michael laughing out loud. The kids loved the dog, Bolt. I highly recommend this movie to anyone with little ones.

How Do You Know. . .Thanksgiving

2008-11-20T19:31:00.004-06:00

Remember my post about how one can tell the seasons changing in SoCal? If not, then click here and you can read that post before proceeding with this post. If so, then here you go. This is how you know it is Thanksgiving season in SoCal. . .

Happy Thanksgiving Season to all!!

Happiness in a Box

2008-11-17T14:38:00.006-06:00

This weekend I posted on Facebook that "Andi is wishing she was not so homesick today." Several of my dear friends commented on that status. One person not only commented, she had a brilliant plan to cheer me up. The plan. . .a field trip to Sprinkles in Beverly Hills. If you have not heard of Sprinkles, let me just tell you that they are little cupcakes packed full of yumminess. Everyday they bake different flavors of cupcakes, so I went online this morning and made a list of the cupcakes I wanted to buy and bring home. I couldn't resist the pumpkin cupcake with cream cheese frosting (I LOVE pumpkin flavor stuff!). But then I hear the red velvet cupcake is out of this world. I'll test that one later and let you know how it tastes. :-) And the kids wanted a simple yellow cupcake with chocolate icing covered in chocolate sprinkles. Michael wanted the dark chocolate with dark chocolate icing & sprinkles. And one can never go wrong with their black and white - a simple chocolate cupcake with cream cheese icing and chocolate shavings. They are so yummy. Each and every bite. Here is a look at the beauties. . .

Another cool part of this field trip is that the Sprinkles store is right off Rodeo Drive!! Rodeo Drive, Baby! Think Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and Alicia Silverstone in Clueless. And so as to not be underdone, the holiday decor along the light towers on Rodeo Drive are crystal chandeliers suspended in glass boxes. I kid you not! They are beautiful, exquisite, and VERY Beverly Hills. :-)

The best part of the field trip was driving in a convertible with a sweet friend who took time out of her day to help cheer me up. Thank you! Hopefully this will be the first of many more field trips to come. This is one happy girl. . .

Sing, Sing, Sing

2008-11-15T21:22:00.005-06:00

The children's choir led worship in "big church" at church this weekend. This is Carson and Calleigh's first time to be a part of a choir, and their first time to be on stage in front of the congregation. They both said they felt very nervous and shy, but they did great! Here are some pre-show pictures:

Aren't they the cutest kids?!

The choir led three worship songs and then performed one song from their upcoming Christmas Program, "The Mystery of the Manger: It's The Gospel Truth!" Here is a clip from their practice tonight:

The kids will sing again tomorrow morning in both services. Now that they have essentially "been there, done that" with the Saturday night service, maybe they will be more relaxed and animated tomorrow morning. The only thing that would make this any better would be to have my family here to see the kids. Miss you all so very much!

Art Fair

2008-11-13T17:54:00.003-06:00

Big Springs Elementary School hosted an Art Fair today. The cafeteria was decorated with displays of framed watercolor paintings created by each of the children at Big Springs. The students in each class painted a picture based upon a specific topic. The children in Calleigh's class painted a picture of their family. The children in Carson's class painted a picture of a flower. During the Art Fair, parents were given the option to purchase their child's framed paintings, and a portion of the proceeds goes back to the school. It is a great fundraiser! Here are the kid's paintings:

Calleigh, Carson, Andi, Michael, and Sammy. Great job, Calleigh!

Red flower - it has great texture because he put salt crystals on the wet paint and it gave it this wonderful 3 dimensional look. Very cool.

Karate Kid

2008-11-11T19:08:00.005-06:00

I sat at the computer this afternoon answering e-mail, and what to my wandering eyes appear? A vision of Calleigh in the midst of karate moves. She did not know that I was watching. She only knew that she could see her reflection in the sliding glass doors. I very carefully pulled out the camera, slid open the sliding glass door, and videotaped my karate kid in action. She was a little surprised and embarrassed when she saw me with the camera. But it was too cute to not tape it! Here she is. . .don't know why it is so fuzzy, but you'll get the idea of her talent.

Work of Art

2008-11-09T22:06:00.002-06:00

This weekend we nursed Calleigh back to health after a very rough battle with the stomach flu. She is a great little trooper - she even smiles when she is sick! I must admit that I have never watched more Barbie and Dora and God Rocks! DVDs than I watched this weekend. Wow.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well Carson handled the weekend seclusion of Calleigh and constant attention towards Calleigh. He proved how self-sufficient he can be when necessary. But he also prove how deep his love is towards his little sister. He loves to draw and took it upon himself to make Calleigh pictures of the movies that she watched. Here are a few of his weekend artwork projects:

Dora and Boots

Sugar Plum Princess (love the phonetical spelling! and check out the eyelashes!)

The Nutcracker (from Barbie and the Nutcracker - again, cute phonics! but what is up with everyone having only 3 fingers?!)

Carson has such a tender heart. He constantly peeked his head around the corner of the room to get an update on how Calleigh was feeling. He wanted to buy her a Barbie toy from Target. He drew her pictures. And on Friday night, after he was tucked into bed, he came down the stairs and told me that he couldn't sleep. I asked him what was wrong and he simply replied, "It's hard to sleep when Calleigh isn't in her room." Awwww. They DO love each other! Sigh and smile.

It is moments like this that I will treasure and recall on those days when they want to beat the living tar out of each other. Yes, love comes in many ways. Apparently sibling rivalry is one of them. But for now, true and genuine concern for one another is their form of love.

2008-11-04T10:49:00.003-06:00

It is exciting to see your child find reading an exciting adventure. It is cool to walk downstairs at 7:00 am to find your child already dressed for school and reading his book on the couch. It is fun to listen to your child recount the mysteries and wonderland of which he just read. Carson has discovered the Harry Potter book series and does not want to put them down. On his own, he has read book one and book two already. He is now on to book three Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I just think it is cool that reading is associated with fun. Way to go little man!

2008-11-01T16:52:00.003-05:00

Andi: You were a beautiful ballerina tonight.

Calleigh: I know.

Happy Halloween from Indiana Jones and Ballerina Princess

2008-10-31T09:28:00.002-05:00

Carvin' Out Some Fun

2008-10-27T17:48:00.003-05:00

This weekend we went to an annual pumpkin carving party hosted by Lynn and Neil Johnson. There were lots of families there to participate in the carving fun and enjoy some fellowship with friends. Calleigh stuck to carving a traditional jack-o-lantern. Carson strategically planned to carve a Dallas Cowboys pumpkin, complete with a star, "D", and football carved into the pumpkin. He did this with the assumption that Lynn and Neil, avid Dallas Cowboys fans, would be the people judging the pumpkins. You have to admit that was smart thinking on his part. The only thing was Lynn and Neil were not the judges. Better luck next year, buddy! The pumpkins that did win were very elaborate and way beyond my creative ability. They were impressive! Here are my little pumpkin carvers with their pumpkins. . .

Introducing. . .The Beautiful One

2008-10-24T10:05:00.003-05:00

Andi: Do you feel beautiful today, Calleigh?

Calleigh: I don't feel beautiful. I am beautiful!

No lack of self-confidence with this little girl. :-)

She stands in awe. . .of her hair

2008-10-21T13:18:00.002-05:00

Picture this. . .Calleigh slept in braids all night so her hair would be all crimped for school. As the braids are removed from her hair, she stands wide-eyed looking at herself in the mirror. After several self-proclamations of how beautiful her hair is, she proceeds to have this conversation with Michael.

Calleigh: I still love you daddy.

Michael: Okay.

Calleigh: Even though my hair is beautiful, I still love you.

All of this said while she continues to admire herself in the mirror.

I have to admit she really did look cute.

How Do You Know. . .

2008-10-16T18:08:00.005-05:00

For those of you with little princesses around the house, you probably think I am about to break out into Giselle's song "How Do You Know" from the movie Enchanted. Although it is one of Calleigh's and my favorite songs to sing around the house, I will spare you the dramatic entertainment.

Instead, I want to share how you know when the seasons change in Southern California. The weather here for the most part is a consistent 70-80 degrees. The sun always shines. The leaves stay green and on the trees. You can swim in your pool year round or go to the beach (granted, wearing layers due to the breeze off the ocean). So it is hard to tell the difference between Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. However, I have noticed one very tell-tell sign that the seasons are changing. Inflatables. So far I have witnessed inflatables of every imaginable size. They rest in the yards of well-manicured homes. The sit on top of high rise office buildings. Seriously. The take up every inch of yard space in the homes of some overly zealous season fanatics. Inflatables are everywhere. Right now we have pumpkin inflatables. I hear that I will also witness giant turkey inflatables, gingerbread houses, Santa with palm trees, etc. I am really looking forward to the changing

of seasons. For now, I'll leave you with this picture. I'll be sure to post more pictures later as I encounter more seasons and more inflatables.

If you really want to hear the song How Do You Know from the movie Enchanted, you can click Enchanted and prepare to be enchanted.

What I Learned

2008-10-15T10:39:00.002-05:00

We've lived in SoCal for four months now, and I can honestly say that we are official Californians. We've experienced the fun things like Hollywood, the beach, and Disneyland. We've experienced the uniquely Californian things like earthquakes, Santa Ana winds, and wildfires. Now that we've had our first wildfire experience, I can look back and reflect on what I've learned from the past two days.

The month of October is known for the Santa Ana winds and wildfires in SoCal.
The Santa Ana winds really blow.
The Santa Ana winds magnify the destruction of wildfires.
You just never know when it comes to wildfires. The fire may be moving one direction one minute, and then the complete opposite direction ten minutes later. There is no guarantee because the wind and the fire have a life of their own.
Much like native Texans view tornado watches as "just" a tornado watch and don't really feel a sense of urgency until a tornado warning is issued, those who have lived in SoCal for any length of time view wildfires as "just another fire" and they don't prepare for evacuations until the fire has reached the house next door.
In fact, they really don't call for evacuations until the fire is right upon your house.
Face masks are not just for mowing lawns. They are a necessity. The smoke lingers for days.
It really does rain ash. Looks a lot like large white/grey snowflakes coming down.
You get used to the smell of smoke on your clothes. Even when they are fresh out of the dryer.
Some people don't have a clue what they would take in case of an evacuation. Other people have a list of what they would take. Whether or not they know where those items are is another thing. Me - I have my things in Rubbermaid tubs on a shelf in the garage ready to load into the car. The only outstanding items to grab in the house are medicines and Eddie & Myrtle. I guess I suffer from the I'm New To California And I've Never Done This disease.
The helicopters and airplanes that bring water to the fires are really cool. And they are huge! And they retrieve water anywhere it can be found. The golf course in our neighborhood, for example.
You get really tired of hearing the same helicopters and airplanes constantly flying overhead. And then, when they are gone, you kind of miss their noise.
The people here are really generous and thoughtful. Many offers came our way to camp out at their houses in case we needed to evacuate. SoCal people take care of each other.
Schools and businesses close for fire days instead of ice days.
Everything is just material. It's all stuff. You find out what is really important to you when you have to fit it all inside of a four door sedan.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

2008-10-13T22:08:00.007-05:00

Part I - Driving up to church yesterday morning, the kids and I noticed a cloud of smoke in the distance. It was immediately apparent this cloud was a result of a wildfire. Seeing this as a teachable moment (you know me!), I explained to the kids about the threat of wildfires and how the Santa Ana winds play a factor in spreading the fires rapidly across the mountains. We said a prayer that the firefighters would be safe as they attempted to put out the fire, and that anyone living in the path of that fire would also be safe.

Part II - Michael and I awoke last night around 3:30am to the electricity flickering on and off and the sound of high winds (the forecasted Santa Ana winds finally arrived). Eventful enough. . .so I thought.

Part III - I turned the news on as the kids were getting ready for school and noticed that same wildfire from yesterday plastered across our tv screen. It not only was not contained, it was spreading quickly. Thankfully, I noted that it did not appear to be coming our way, the kids and I said another prayer for safety, and I carted them off to school.

Part IV - In the midst of my Monday morning errand runs, I walk out into the parking lot and see this. . .

which quickly turned into this. . .

I rush home to check out the news and learned that the winds accelerated the spread of the fire and shifted the fire in our direction. The visual of brilliant blue skies assaulted by orange/grey plumes of smoke was surreal. The smell of smoked quickly filled the air. It really was something I have never experienced before. This is what it looked like when I pulled up at home. . .

In the meantime, Michael is at work. The news reports state the fire is spreading into Porter Ranch and Chatsworth, right where our church is located. Celeste calls to tell me the church pre-school is being evacuated. Michael checks in to tell me that he is safe, but needs to remain on the church campus to ensure everyone gets evacuated and everything is in order at church. A little later he calls to tell me the land surrounding the church is on fire, the fire department is using our church parking lot as a staging area to combat the fire, and they are stuck (literally) at the church as all roads leading to/from are closed. From his vantage point he can see the fire coming over the mountain heading to the church. . .

the fire approaching the lower church parking lot. . .

the fire approaching the upper church parking lot. . .

the fire surrounding the church property. . .

and the amazingly braze men and women fighting hard to keep our city safe. . .

The vast majority of Michael's day was spent under a cloud of unforgiving orange/grey smoke. The winds changed direction and the fire moved away from Simi Valley. The smoke cleared. The charred effects of a day of wildfire remain on the land, but our church and our home remain untouched (see pic below). I was blessed by friends who called to check on us and offer their home as refuge should we need to evacuate. I was thankful for the word, "Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." I was blessed by family who called to check on us and solicit the prayers of their church family. We are so very thankful.

Part V - After a long and very exhausting day for all involved, Carson gave Michael this bit of consolation, "I'm glad nothing happened to you today daddy. Cause mom would have to remarry and I wouldn't have anyone to play football with." Interesting train of thought, son. Goodnight to all. I am exhausted!

Fall Fun

2008-10-11T19:14:00.012-05:00

This afternoon while Michael was at church, I took the kids to a pumpkin patch in Simi Valley. Having driven by this particular pumpkin patch several times, it just looked like something the kids would enjoy. In the past we always made a point to go to the pumpkin patch in downtown Rockwall, and they loved every minute of it. So when I told the kids that we were going to go to a pumpkin patch, they were thrilled!

This particular pumpkin patch has lots of things to entertain the kids - petting zoo, bounce houses, slides, rides, and pumpkins. Carson kicked off the fun with some jumping. . .

He was a little scared of jumping too high and was not about to attempt a flip. I kept telling him to jump like he was at Tyler's house. That made him smile.

Calleigh took a turn on the "tea cups". . .

She is fearless! She loves the fast rides, the high rides, the daring rides. I think I have a little risk taker on my hands. But her smile throughout the ride is worth a million bucks!

We left with pumpkins in hand and came home to paint our pumpkins and set them on the front porch. In many ways this was very similar to our pumpkin patch/pumpkin painting tradition we started in Rockwall several years ago. Regardless of the geography, it is still great fall fun!

Good Advertising

2008-10-07T23:14:00.002-05:00

Setting: Downstairs watching a movie while the children sleep peacefully upstairs. Or so I thought.

Enter Carson

Andi: What's up buddy?

Carson: My toe hurts. (he scraped it outside earlier this evening)

Andi: Well, then, let's go upstairs and doctor it.

Carson: Let's put Neosporin on it because the commercial says "Neosporin stops the pain and heals 4 days faster than any other medicine."

Now that is good advertising. At least he listens and remembers something. Maybe next time he'll remember to put his dirty clothes in the laundry hamper. But wait. There's not a commercial for that. Oh well.

Rainy Day in Simi

2008-10-04T16:13:00.003-05:00

All week the weather forecast has called for rain on Saturday. And since it doesn't rain here very often, this is BIG news. Kind of like when Dallas has a wintry weather mix with ice in the forecast and it consumes the headlines of the newspapers and every news broadcast. Everyone is talking about the pending rain. The L.A. Times mentions the "Early Fall Storm" heading our way. Even the moms at school were full of conversation about the upcoming rain. "You know it is going to rain on Saturday." "Can you believe it is going to rain on Saturday?" "The weather is calling for rain on Saturday!"

And so we awoke this sleepy Saturday morning to none other than rain. A slow every-now-and-then sprinkle is more like it. But since there has been no precipitation of any kind since I've moved here, I'll joyfully take the little sprinkling of rain. The mountains look stunning with rain clouds hanging low over the tops. The air feels cool (high of only 67 degrees today). The city seems to have come to a stop in awe of the rain. It is good. It is very good.

Carson's Letter

2008-10-03T22:56:00.002-05:00

In Carson's class, they are learning the art of letter writing. What follows is Carson's letter. My reason for posting it is that I think in very simple terms, it wraps up what we are all feeling as a family as we adjust to our move.

Dear Nana and Papa,

It is great here. I am having lots of fun. But I miss you. I wish I could come to your house on Mondays and Thursdays. I have some friends and their names are Dane, Wytte, Roaman, Tanner, Andrew, Angel, Madason, Abby, Sara and Colin. They are all very nice. I miss you alot.

Love, Carson

Praises from a Songbird

2008-10-02T00:17:00.002-05:00

Calleigh is my little songbird. She constantly sings. Her playtime is surrounded in song - sometimes a wonderfully creative made-up tune of her own and sometimes a song from church or God Rocks. She even sings her conversations and prayers. I guess she gets that last one from me. I am always singing around the house and I firmly believe that simple conversation sounds so much more fun when it is said in song. Regardless, she is my songbird and tonight she wanted to sing a song for me. I couldn't resist pulling out the video camera simply for her outfit (notice the little pink tutu) and for the performance. Little did I know what song she would choose. Sweet, simple, praises. Words of truth. Words that are frequently sung by children yet are often lost in the fullness of their meaning by adulthood. Thank you, Calleigh, for singing a song for me. Thank you, God, for your sweet reminders through the innocence of a child.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

2008-09-30T22:43:00.002-05:00

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

2008-09-29T19:11:00.006-05:00

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

2008-09-27T21:12:00.006-05:00

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

2008-09-24T16:51:00.007-05:00

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

2008-09-22T22:15:00.000-05:00

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

2008-09-19T17:04:00.003-05:00

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

2008-09-17T23:01:00.004-05:00

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

2008-09-16T17:03:00.005-05:00

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

2008-09-11T22:45:00.003-05:00

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

2008-09-09T17:23:00.004-05:00

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

2008-09-07T22:58:00.000-05:00

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?

2008-09-05T00:14:00.006-05:00

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

2008-09-02T20:03:00.000-05:00

A Brand New Day

2008-08-27T18:43:00.004-05:00

Today was the first day of school for my kiddos. Whew! As you know, I have prayed and prayed and prayed about my kid's education, their teachers, their peers, what they are taught, etc. We were blessed to have the most amazing experiences in Rockwall, so the thought of moving and putting the kids into a new school/school district was a cause for much more prayer (and a little worry, if I'm being honest here).

Calleigh started her day bounding out of bed full of excitement. She was so ready to start kindergarten. She carried her new side backpack (she HAD to have one just like her brother's) and her new lunchbox (which looks a lot like a purse) into class. She walked in and sat right down. No tears. No anxiety. No worries. She is a confident little girl.

Carson walked hand-in-hand with Michael to his class. He was a little timid and shy, but was okay when it was time for us to leave him in class. Going to a new school and having to meet new kids is overwhelming. Not to mention aesthetic differences play a factor. Gone is the huge building with all the hallways opening up to classrooms. Now we have little buildings all around with the door to each classroom outside (think of Grease, Beverly Hills 90210) and they have picnic tables outside their class for snack time outside (that's cool!).

My prayer today was that my kids would have a positive experience with their first day at Big Springs Elementary and that they would meet one friend. God not only answered that prayer, he provided over and above! Both kids came out happy and talked about the TWO friends they each met! Carson even said it was a better day than he expected. Calleigh even said she didn't even miss me :-)

I am very proud of my kids. They stepped out of their comfort zone and walked into a world unknown. They had fun and met two friends. In my eyes, they are brave!

Tony Hawk Time

2008-08-23T17:31:00.003-05:00

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk seems to be at the forefront of Carson's mind these days. Although he has never seen a picture of Tony Hawk or never seen him skateboard, he professes to be a Tony Hawk expert (thanks to owning two Tony Hawk swim trunks!). While taking a break from swimming in the spa (which is a ginormous kiddie pool), Carson wanted to show me his best Tony Hawk pose. And of course, Calleigh had to show me her best Tony Hawk's sister's pose. Don't know if he even has a sister, but she had to find a way to throw herself into the mix. At least she decided to wear her safety gear instead of just holding it like Carson. Here you go:

My Babies are Growing Up

2008-08-22T22:00:00.003-05:00

Just the other day I was broadsided with the fact that my kids are growing up incredibly fast. Carson is tall. He has this awesome tan. His hands are huge! He has great highlights in his long surfer-dude hair from our days at the beach. Calleigh is stunning. She wakes up every morning with a smile on her face. She no longer has a baby face. She is totally into clothes. She sings all the time and dances around the house. She has grown at least 2 inches this summer. I love my kids and I love watching them grow. They are great kids. Here is a look back at how they've grown. . .

2003 - dressed for Halloween as a pumpkin and the incredible hulk

2004 - just trying to get them both to look at the camera and smile at the same time was fun

2005 - we always enjoyed our days at the Dallas Arboretum, picnics, playing in the water, running through the park

2007 - dressed for halloween as harry potter and dorothy

2008 - on the tram to Disneyland - Calleigh loves her big brother

That's My Man

2008-08-19T23:37:00.003-05:00

Anderson guitar: way too much $$

Amps and pedals and other guitar gear: even more $$

Having a husband who can rock out on guitar: priceless

Thoughts

2008-08-18T22:34:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had to do something so difficult it made it hard for you to breathe? Have you ever experienced a realization that you are completely out of your element and beyond any illusion of control? Have you ever longed for the security of the "knowns" in your existence?

"For I know the plans I have for, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future." Jeremiah 29:11

So I sit and trust in God's promise. And despite my mood or my circumstances, I will continue to persevere in my search for knowing my God more intimately.

"I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. . .Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. . .The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all whose who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. . ." Psalm 145

My God knows. My God understands. My God overcame.

Great Kids

2008-08-17T12:13:00.003-05:00

Carson

Calleigh

Cousins and best buddies - Carson and Tyler

Hooray for Hollywood

2008-08-11T23:10:00.004-05:00

Ever since the kids learned we were moving to California, they have talked about going to Hollywood. In their little minds, going to Hollywood is like winning the lottery. Why? Because of American Idol, of course. "You're going to Hollywood!!! (insert screams of joy)" This week we have our family JD, Kim, Tyler, and Tanner in town to visit. We've taken them to the beach, to Venice, to church, etc. So today we took them to Hollywood. What exactly is Hollywood? Well, in the minds of our kids, Hollywood is. . .

seeing the Hollywood sign in the mountains

sipping root beer floats with Mickey Mouse at his soda shop

swinging with Elvis outside of a souvenir shop

the hand prints and foot prints of the main characters in Harry Potter

the Kodak Theater where American Idol is held

It was a fun day for all in the land of tourist wonder and city of dreams. Now all the kids can say they have been to Hollywood. It is definitely a place for all to experience when they visit. Consider that your warning. . .we will take you to Hollywood now that we know where it is and what it encompasses.

Feeling the magic of Disneyland

2008-08-05T14:09:00.008-05:00

We made our first trip to Disneyland since moving to SoCal. I know, I can't believe we waited this long to go either. But we finally decided to take the plunge, get our season passes, and enjoy a day of magic and wonder at Disneyland. This was Carson's first trip to Disneyland, having been to Disney World twice already. He was excited to finally get to experience what Calleigh experienced last summer. Here we are on the tram ready to get to the park. Aren't they cute?

We went with our friends Celeste and Colin and it was such an enjoyable day. We spent the first half of the day at Disney's California Adventure riding the rides in A Bug's Life, waiting in line to ride the highly anticipated and well worth the wait 3D Toy Story Mania ride, riding the high-flying ferris wheel, and soaring across the US on the super cool flying simulator called Soarin'.

Carson driving the doodle bug bumper cars

Carson, Calleigh, and Colin in their 3D glasses

Talking with Mr. Potato Head while waiting for the Toy Story ride

We spent the second half of the day at Disneyland. We rode cool rides like Buzz Lightyear, Nemo's Adventure (a submarine ride!), and Peter Pan. The Indiana Jones ride was not working, so we just took a picture of the kids running away from the big boulder. We also watched Jedi Training - this really cool "show" where they pull kids from the audience, dress them in Star Wars Jedi costumes, and teach them how to use their light sabers. Then the infamous Darth Vader and his Storm Troopers come out and challenge the new Jedi in a light saber battle. It was so cool! Carson loved it and wants to be one of the kids chosen when we go back to the park next week. Yes, we are going back next week. Our family and friends, the other Crumrine family, will be here to visit for the first time and we are taking them to Disneyland while they are here.

Carson, Calleigh, and Colin in front of the castle and statue of Walt Disney & Mickey.

Making fishy faces while waiting for the Nemo ride

Darth entering the stage at Jedi training

Watch out for the rock!

It was a great day for all. We ended up spending the whole day at Disneyland and practically closing down the park. The kids had a fabulous time, were full of energy the entire day, and were in the best moods all day. I can not wait to go again next week.

5.4

2008-07-29T14:42:00.003-05:00

Well, it is official. We have experienced our first earthquake. And I have to tell you that I am so glad we went to the California Science Center last week for their earthquake simulator. Before I describe what it was like for me and the kids, let me say that earthquakes can be exceedingly dangerous and devastating. In no way am I minimizing the power of earthquakes. I am merely sharing our first earthquake experience.

It is a beautiful, sunny, blue sky day in SoCal. I have the sliding glass doors and windows open to let the gently breeze fill the house. As I stand in the kitchen preparing lunch for the kids, I thought to myself, "Wow! The wind is really picking up." Then I hear the house making that creaking sound that houses make in Texas when the wind is really blowing fierce. Then I realize my feet are moving side to side. It was like trying to stand on your mattress while someone is shaking it back and forth. Not that I've ever tried that. Then it dawns on me that this is an earthquake! Within seconds it was over and the kids come running to me in the kitchen. Carson proclaims, "That was AWESOME!" Calleigh was not quite as excited as Carson. She was a little scared, but was quickly reassured.

One thing that I find interesting - A friend who has been a longtime California resident and through two major earthquakes called me shortly after the earthquake to find out what to do during an earthquake! She said that since I was recently at the science museum and have taken the time to educate myself, she wanted to know what the experts are now saying to do during/after an earthquake (they no longer tell you to stand in the doorway). From what I am hearing on the news, it has been so long since California has had an earthquake of any significant magnitude, most people have forgotten what to do and how to be prepared for an earthquake. They news anchors are encouraging everyone to treat today's earthquake as a drill and to use this time to become prepared for a stronger earthquake. So, I shared with my friend what I learned at the museum, and I told her that I will be happy to share the contents of my earthquake readiness box (you know me. . .of course I already have one of those stocked with flashlights, weather radio, extra clothes, food, water, etc).

Thankfully, we are all safe. Thankfully, we were well educated. Thankfully, my kids reacted well to what could have been a very frightening experience. But most of all, thankfully we have a God who is bigger than any earthquake.

Exploring Again - The Getty Center

2008-07-26T19:21:00.002-05:00

I took the kids to the Getty Center in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains in LA. I had never heard of the Getty Center prior to moving to SoCal, but my curiosity was peaked when a wonderful lady at church told me about it. Since admission to the museum is free and all you have to do is pay to park, I thought this would be a fun half day exploring adventure.

The Getty Center is a museum, but so much more than just a museum. Spread across 750 acres are beautiful buildings housing famous artwork, photography, and sculptures. There are fountains throughout, a beautiful garden, waterfalls, and a flowering maze. In case you are thinking, "that doesn't sound like a kid-friendly place," then let me tell you what else they have. There is a Family Room where parents and kids can spy art in treasure hunt walls, step into a painting, decorate an oversized medieval manuscript, build a giant sculpture, and relax in a bed like 18th century royalty. This Family Room allows kids to explore various art displayed throughout the museum - only on their level and at their size and where they can touch/feel it.
The Getty Center also has these cool Art Detective Cards - baseball size cards with a picture of a piece of art (painting or sculpture) found throughout the museum. The cards tell you where to find the actual pieces of art (so you go on a treasure hunt) and then gives you questions to ask about the pieces.
There are some green grassy areas where kids roll down the hill and run around while parents sit under the shade of a tree and relax.
You have to ride a totally cool monorail to get from the parking garage to the museum at the top of the foothill. The kids LOVED that part.
It would be a great date night thing - live music, beautiful scenery, relaxed atmosphere. . .

The kids actually outlasted me at the Getty Center today. There were two times when I asked if they were ready to go and they both said NO! They wanted to see more! Never thought I would hear that from my kids. I have to say this exploring adventure was a hit. And, I didn't get lost this time! That makes it even better for me :-)

America's Team

2008-07-26T11:42:00.004-05:00

We are fortunate to have a little bit of Texas in California for the next few weeks. The Dallas Cowboys are in Oxnard for training camp, and that is just a short little drive from our house. Michael took Carson yesterday on the first day of training camp to catch a glimpse of America's Team. Carson proudly wore his Romo jersey and Cowboys baseball hat. Although they were not close enough to get autographs or meet the players (there were thousands of people there), Carson did see Romo in action. It was a good "daddy time" day for Carson.

All in the Name of Education

2008-07-22T22:16:00.002-05:00

This past week was a very educational week for me in the area of earthquake preparedness. We have not experienced one first hand (praise God!), but I was briefed by many adults who have been through their share of earthquakes. There were some who claimed the small earthquakes are fun, really, like roller coaster rides. There were some who lived through the 1994 Northridge earthquake and who are still affected by the trauma that inflicted. You remember, the big one where the bridge collapsed? It was just right up the road. Been on that road. I digress. . .

One very helpful tidbit gleaned from these conversations was to take my kids to the California Science Museum where we can experience first hand what an earthquake feels like in their earthquake simulator. Since I have yet to prepare my kids for the natural disaster of earthquakes in California (Calleigh was rattled enough by the thought of rattlesnakes - no pun intended!), I jumped at this opportunity to educate my kids. But this also meant that I had to drive into downtown LA by myself for the first time. I've heard stories about that, too.

I load up the kids, get the movie playing in the car because this is going to be a long ride, set up the GPS system, and set my mapquest directions & LA map out on the seat in front of me. One can never be too prepared, right? Well, apparently I was not all that prepared. The roads in CA are confusing to this native Texan. Some exits are on the right, some are on the left. There is little signage for what is coming up next. There are no service roads where you can easily just make a u-turn and go the other way. And the traffic - oh, the traffic. I've never driven to downtown LA, but I can now say that I am a semi-professional. I managed to miss our exit on the way and end up in Chinatown. No big deal. Just a few minutes at the gas station to read the map and then we were on our merry way again. As we left the museum, we could not exit where we entered, so I had to take another road that led us into the hood. No big deal. We made a very illegal u-turn, and found our way back to the highway. I would rather risk a ticket than getting lost any further there. My kids had no clue that mommy was getting us lost either time. They were merrily singing God Rocks Bible tunes in the back seat. I am 100% positive the scriptures quoted through song out of my kid's mouths is what guided us back to the right roads. God heard our prayers.

The museum was very nice. The earthquake simulator was cool. Their whole section about structures and how things are built in Southern California to withstand earthquakes was great. It was so helpful for me to educate myself and my kids at the same time. Carson loved the simulator and wanted to go through it twice! Now, as I tuck my kids in bed, I can rest assured that they now know what an earthquake is, that we have them in SoCal, and what to do when we experience the real thing.

Picture Perfect

2008-07-21T18:25:00.002-05:00

Calleigh asked me to take her picture with Michael. She is enamored with her daddy. I hope she never runs out of kisses for Michael.

Carson wanted in on the photo session, too. So he posed with Michael for a quick shot.

Then Calleigh decided she could take a picture with me, too. But only one. So much for sharing the love with the momma. :-)

Mermaids at the Lake?

2008-07-16T22:52:00.002-05:00

This week is VBS week at Rocky Peak and I am helping out in the Bible Blast storytelling room. The sets, props, and costumes are quite elaborate and it has been fun watching all of the day's dramas come together.

Today we told the story of Peter walking on water. Our set was a boat in which the children sat, an old Jerusalem-type city skyline in the background, and ocean waves around the perimeter. I told you it was elaborate! As we were building the set yesterday, the team's creative minds decided it would be fun to add an orca whale, sea bird, and mermaid to the set by having members of the team dress up as such characters.

I was nominated to be the mermaid. I wore a floor-length royal blue sequined dress with aqua and royal blue sequined scarves tied to my wrist and wrapped around my head as if a crown. It was something! And the kids loved it! The little girls were in awe of the sequins. Calleigh proudly told her friends "that is my mom!" The orca whale was fabulous! She even talked whale like Dory in Finding Nemo. The sea bird was hilarious! She squawked, did the whole "mine" thing from the "mine" birds in Finding Nemo. She even squawked things throughout the story like "focus on Jesus, squawk!" The whole production was a sight. Our storyteller was Captain Courageous, and she did a great job communicating the Bible story to the kids while making it a fun learning opportunity. So, I guess there really are mermaids, whales, and sea birds at the lake!

Thank God for New Friends

2008-07-08T22:58:00.005-05:00

We've been in Simi for almost one month now, and I can't begin to explain the warmth and hospitality of the wonderful people we have met so far. Our church welcomed us home with two huge tubs full of much needed household necessities and super fun goodies (plus toys for the kids!). We've been invited to BBQ's, dinners with swimming and fellowship, one-on-one lunch, low-key hanging out time, play group at the beach, and swimming during the day at friend's houses. Our kids have been included in sand play, ocean & pool play, and re-enacting the musical numbers from the new Disney movie Camp Rock. From the moment we arrived, we have been loved on, included, and welcomed with open arms.

Moving across country is hard. When you have lived 35 years in essentially one place and have been surrounded by your entire family since birth, moving away from all that you know and all those you love is a grief beyond explanation. But the healing grace of my God abounds. He has surrounded my family with other believers who are passionate about our God and who extend love in abundance. It is a wonderful blessing to know that I not only rest in my God's arms, I rest in the arms of the ones He places around me. As one of my dear friends once said, "New friends build a fence around the hole in your heart left by leaving old friends. They can't fill the space but they keep you from falling in." I thank God for each one of our new friends and the fence you are building around our hearts.