Casting Crowns Concert Weekend!

One of my favorite bands is Casting Crowns and I have been wanting to see them in concert for a few years now.  It seems they aren't going to come to me, so I decided to go to them!  I looked on their website and found they were going to be in Southern California on a weekend that my family could schedule in!  Yay! 

 Family Vacation Weekend 2009! 

Oh, it was such a perfect weekend!  One of those that makes you go, WOW, this is what I always pictured when I was a little girl and wanted a husband and children!  Sorry so Polly-Anna, but it was a

much MUCH MUCH MUCH much

 needed weekend getaway that only laughing, tickling, music, ocean, movies, junk food and the people you love most that makes the daily grind worth it all! 

• The kids watched some great movies on the car ride down (whoever invented the built-in DVD player; I love you sooooo much!). 
• Saturday morning was full of driving around Hollywood trying to get our GPS unit to work with no success, so instead of geo-caching, we played tourists and drove in circles around the Hollywood sign; good times (it is a QCrew tradition to "get lost on purpose" so we see more sights, I truly love this part!)
• Saturday afternoon was spent at Zuma Beach in Malibu enjoying the sand between the toes, waves, and playing tag with little Man, I think we ran a 5k on the beach!
• Finally, time for the Main Event ~ Casting Crowns ~ BEST CONCERT EVER!!!  I would drive to Cali anytime to see them again.  My favorite part?  That my girls loved it when Mark Hall (lead singer who is also a youth pastor) spoke about his faith and told about their new album coming out November 17th, titled Until the Whole World Hears and how their mission with this new cd is to share the love of Christ Jesus with the whole world through World Vision (seriously??? This was their favorite part of our Hollywood / Malibu / Beach weeked???? ).  It was especially touching because we recently started sponsoring a child in Albania through World Vision and just received our first letter from his family!  It really hit home that we are trying to share our faith with others as well! 
• Sunday came way to fast, but we decided to drive to Malibu and up the coast a little then swing over to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.  It was so much more than I expected, they had a full size Air Force One there and a piece of the Berlin Wall.  We spent all afternoon there because we just couldn't leave without seeing absolutely everything!  Of course we got home super late, but it was so worth spending the time doing all we did!
• The ride home was the icing on the cake!  We had an amazing, open, honest, serious life discussion with our teenager about life, love, friends, marriage, music, God, Jesus, family....... it was amazing and I am so grateful we have the family I always prayed for. 

Rose & Bella didn't come out of the water for hours!

Little Man and LaLa didn't make it throught the concert, Casting Crowns weren't as exciting as the beach!

piece of the Berlin Wall

I can't figure out why Air Force One is sideways, sorry to give you a crink (sp?) in your neck!

http://www.worldvision.org/

CastingCrowns.com

 *** Reminder!!  The new album comes out November 17, 2009

 & after hearing most of the songs during the concert, it is going to be aaaaahhhhhmazing! ****

O, Oh, Water!

Hubby and I went to see Cirque du Soleil's "O" pronounced "Eau" which is french for Water; who knew?!  Wow!  I have trying to come up with a description for this amazing show, and I have failed miserably... can't do it justice.  So I must just say, GO SEE "O"!!  I literally cried when it was over because I didn't want it to end!  Hubby gave it props because he didn't get bored (this coming from the poor man who loves me sooooo much that he sat through Celine Dion's A New Day for our last anniversary!).  I just couldn't decide which part of the stage to watch there was always so much going on, dancers, divers, ariel acrobatics, etc.  Since neither of us did any drugs, we can only guess that the show represented what must be a really good hallucinagenic drug trip!  haha, no offense anyone ~ I just really can't think of any other way to describe it!

I must also rave about our fabulous dinner at Olive's... oh I loved the olive tempanade and herbed crackers we had there; I can't find crackers like it anywhere yet, but have found a delicious olive tempanade at Trader Joe's that I have been eating constantly with tomato-basil wheat thins, yummy! Note to anyone who goes there, though.  The atmosphere is very trendy and tables are very close together, so if you want an imtimate dinner, ask for balcony seats; then you can also watch the fountains of Bellagio with a front row seat! 

Our good friends kept the kids for the night (THANK YOU!!)  and I think they all had just as much fun as hubby and I did on our big night out on the town! 

Yes, I am already planning our anniversary date for next year, and you can bet it includes another Cirque du Soleil show (maybe even a repeat of this year's "O"!?) 

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/

Here is the link for you to browse and watch the trailer if you would like to! 

Happy Annivery to the love of my life!

Happy Happy Happy Anniversary to the love of my life!  The one whom I have loved since I was 15 years old and who I have now officially been married to for HALF MY LIFE.....  woah, I feel old.  I thought you may enjoy a couple of pictures from days gone by! 

Junior Prom 1990

Christmas 1990

The Proposal - Valentine's Day 1991

September 7, 1991

While I am being nostalgic, here is the story of how we met as well!

The summer before my freshman year of high school, I attended the "Last Chance Dance" before football season started.  Where I grew up, Football is FOOTBALL and the boys aren't allowed to talk to girls or socialize (too much) because it distracts them from the FOOTBALL, thus the "Last Chance Dance" where, you got it, it's their last chance until FOOTBALL season is over! 
I went to the dance with my best friend, who, like most girls at our school, had a major crush on the quarterback.  The dance was held in my TINY town at the old abandoned swimming pool / skating rink.  I don't remember the dance being held there any other time, but it was a good place to have a dance ie; spooky background for silly girls who need a shoulder to cling to; but I digress....  Bestie wanted to ask QB to dance, but didn't want to go alone.  She dared me to ask quarterback's friend to dance so she wouldn't have to walk across the dance floor by herself. 

And then I met the love of my life....

He was funny, tall, dark hair, handsome, witty and sarcastic!  We danced, laughed, and goofed around all night and I don't think I ever stopped laughing the whole time!  I was very much smitten!  I couldn't believe I didn't know of him before the dance, after all, he was going to be a senior, and he was best friends with the quarterback of the FOOTBALL team.  I asked him if he played football and he said that he loved football, but wasn't very good at it so they let him be the waterboy.  Huh?  The waterboy?  In my town, they let EVERYONE play FOOTBALL - it's just that important!  Ok, whatever...... he is so funny, tall, dark hair, handsome, witty and sarcastic.... I guess I can get over the fact that he doesn't play on the FOOTBALL team, right?  Right. 

Fast-forward to the first day of my high school career - Fresh Meat.  The Cheerleaders had a pep assembly to welcome the new year and get everyone riled up for the football game later that week.  I was just enjoying the show, when the head cheerleader announced that the FOOTBALL CAPTAIN was going to come up and give a speech.... you guessed it.... it was my WATERBOY! 

Did I mention he was funny?  I do believe that was what hooked me - his humility, sense of humor, beautiful green eyes and his ability to make me feel like the most beautiful, loved, capable woman in the world at the same time he makes me realize how completely dorky, quirky and vulnerable I am!  I absolutely adore you, Husband, even if you are only the waterboy. 

You are my best friend and my love

Dolphins & kisses

 for ever and for always! 

Oh, My Minnions ~ you may serve me now!

Princess LaLa is the big FOUR!
We went to a bbq at our Pastor's house and it turned into a shin-dig for LaLa!  She was in heaven and a true princess enjoying all the attention and love from everyone!

I was soooo excited to give LaLa her presents this year!  I got her "Bitty Twins" by American Girl!  These dolls are a BIG deal in our house!  Rose is too old for them now, but Bella and LaLa sure love to play with her old ones and theirs.  Many, many, many happy hours have been spent in our home combing hair, changing clothes and pretending with these beautiful dollies and I couldn't wait to give LaLa her very own babies to love!  The fun thing about this gift was the fact that they were twins!!  You can get boy/girl combinations and customize to hair / eye color (although a little dissappointing that the brown hair boy only had brown eyes and the blonde boy had blue eyes - I guess they don't get enough orders for boy dolls? I had to settle for a brown eyed boy which took the little man about 0.1 seconds to point out that the boy doll didn't have blue eyes.  oh well....).

Little man and LaLa are only 15 months apart, which qualifies them to be called "Irish Twins".  They really are like twins, so close in age and best friends forever!  LaLa thinks she is going to marry little Man and gets so upset when I tell her it isn't gonna happen!  They are little partners in crime!  So I thought it would be soooo adorable to get LaLa a set of twins to play with! 

In true Princess LaLa fashion, she promptly named the babies after herself & her brother! 

Little girl, I love you so much 

You are the little bonus baby God knew I would adore! 

You are my sunshine, my silly willy, picadilly, alligator stare..... you are my ice cream sandwich, my watermelon gum, my soda pop, my lollipop, my yummy yummy yum! (borrowed from our favorite book "You're my little Love Bug" by Heidi Weimer)

  Our family is complete!  September 6, 2005

LaLa made quite the entrance, didn't wait for the Dr to arrive and was delivered by the Nurse!

She's 1!

at her first b-day party, begging food from sissy! 

LaLa sneakin' some frosting from her Magenta Cake for her 2nd Bday!

She's 3 and a true Barbie Princess!

(Love Bella covering brother's mouth!)

It was so hot, the icing melted off the cake - gotta love the 110 degree September days!

The cutest scrunchie face EVER!!

and this is how I remember MY bitty twins! 

School Days

First day of school is finally here! Rose has been counting down days for weeks (ok, months) and is so ready for her first day of the last year of middle school - she is in 8th grade now,

Bella is excited to be able to wear her cute new clothes to 5th grade, and is happy to have one year in elementary with her brother,

and the little man is so ready for Kindergarten!

Poor Princess LaLa, one more year....

Oh,  how I love those kids... they are growing way, way, way too fast.  I am so thankful that I get to be their Momma!

Off he goes into the world

Have a great year my QCrew, I love you ~ Dolphins & Kisses!

Bright Future

I love listening to Focus on the Family via podcast when I do chores at home or streaming at work while I push papers. I listened to one last week that is sticking with me. It was just a little comment at the end of the show, but God is continually whispering it in my ear. I hope it lifts you as well:

I have a heritage that I cannot yet see,

but the hands that bled are holding it for me.

My favorite song lately has the same message:

Jeremy Camp Lyrics – There Will Be A Day Song Words
Song Words by Artist / Band : Jeremy Camp

Title : There Will Be A Day

Available on Album : Speaking Louder Than Before

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have

But I feel the weight of what it brings,

and the hurt that tries to grab

The many trials that seem to never end,

His word declares this truth

That we will enter in this rest with wonders a new

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings

That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,

we’ll see Jesus face to face

But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long

You feel you’re walking on your own

But there has never been a step

Where you’ve walked out all alone

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,

we’ll see Jesus face to face

But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart

Cause joy and peace he brings

And the beauty that’s in store

Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting
I cant wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always

will wipe awaythe sorrow that I’ve faced

To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery

this is why this is why I sing

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,

we'll see Jesus face to face

But until that day, we'll hold on to you always.

http://www.jeremycamp.com/

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/

One Foot, Two Foot

So, I did it!
I joined a running group AND signed up for a 1/2 Marathon in December! I have been running with the running group on saturday mornings for a month now.... yes, I have gotten up at 5:00 every Saturday for the last five weeks and went running! Hubby thinks I am an alien being who is just a substitute for his adorable, sleepy, grumpy in the morning wifie.
I must say, I am actually addicted to running now and love chatting with new friends while I am out on those longer runs (only up to four miles, but hey - race day isn't until DECEMBER!). I love the running group so far and have learned a lot of new things about the sport. The typical Saturday morning routine is:

• arrive at 5:30 and stretch for 15 minutes with the instructor while people are trying to pry their eyes open. My trick is to just use the toothpicks to keep them open - thank you Tom & Jerry, you did come in handy! (although the coffee does help! :)
• Walk / Run for the determined amount of time per your own customized training schedule (some people are just crazy and are doing the whole marathon, and everyone is at different skill levels). The running group uses the Galloway Method, which is walk 3 minutes, then run 2, repeat for duration of run. Every week we switch the minutes walking / running until we are running 4 minutes, walking 1 for recovery. It's great, I always thought you had to RUN, no wonder I always got frustrated. It's nice to be able to enjoy it and breathe!
• Finish at local Trader Joe's who provides us with bananas and water.
• Cool down walk back to the Sports Club.
• Stretching and more stretching while a local fitness professional gives a lecture and hands out tons of samples! Yay! Love this part! We have listened to a Kinesiologist, Physical Therapist and Shoe Store Owner Guy. Who knew there was so much to running?!
• Home just in time for little ones to wake up and start the weekend!

I went and bought new shoes last week, got a gait analysis done and Shoe Store Owner Guy recommended totally different shoes than I have been running in.......

I now have blisters on the backs of my heels and muscles hurt from running that haven't hurt before. I guess it's my first dissappointment with this new sport and I am irritated. Now I need to drive all the way across town and complain about how my fancy shoes that the gait machine told me would be perfect for me don't like me. Shoes that cost that much moola shouldn't eat your feet for lunch. Just sayin'.

I really don't want to lose my momentum and let this get me down. After all, this is what I am doing for ME AND ONLY ME. This busy life of mine can be exhausting and frustrating and running has become my outlet. So, rather than be grumpy, I guess I should drive back to the shoe store and try new shoes tonight so that by our run on Saturday I am looking forward to the run and can pry myself out of my comfy bed and into friendly, cushy, spiffy new shoes!

So, to end on a positive note - I will focus on the fact that I have logged 30 MILES this month and I'm just getting started! I have noticed my shape changing and tightening and have lost several pounds, so what if I have a couple of blisters. They'll heal, and I'll run!