A Historical Moment

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

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

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

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

Answered Prayers

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

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

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

Brush With Celebrity

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

Gas 101

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Crumrine Sibs

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

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

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

So You Think You Can Dance?

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

Wordless Tuesday