West Side-West Side!


Today we were able to sneak a quick trip to the beach before the rain came. It was absolutely breathtaking! There was a flood watch so waves were very rough.

We spent the rest of the day shopping at the outdoor mall.. where we were soaked.. not fun to shop at an outdoor mall in the rain! We also took a trip to the Commissary and the PX.. pretty cool and very good deals. I've become slightly jealous of all the perks of our military men and women.. free housing, utilities, and discount stores!

And yes, I put in a special request to visit Hollywood for A & I's sake.. not necessarily the Hollywood they were hoping for but Hollywood nonetheless! I love and miss you guys!

I'm going to Hollywood..

My days in Cali have finally arrived! Michael surprised me with a ticket to California to visit my best friend growing up, Jolene, for a week. My Dad mentioned to the kids that I might visit Hollywood and to our surprise, the girls connected "i'm going to Hollywood" with AMERICAN IDOL. Alexandra apparently told everyone at church yesterday that I was going to Hollywood to be on American Idol!! And Alexandra even mentioned me in her prayers.. hoping I would do well! LOL.. boy I would hate to hear what Simon would have to say about me!!

Anyways, I am actually in Monterey California on an old military base. Jolene's husband Dave is a linguist studying Persian. My friend suggested a military initiation before staying the night at their house.. so there I was, forced to put on military attire and stand on my head for two hours. I was forced to complete countless hours of military drills and undergo extensive questioning. Anyways, I apparently passed and was permitted to stay.

Upon arrival, I was having major stomach issues.. I was just praying I wouldn't throw up all over the man sitting next to me in the plane. Jolene picked me up and she had poison oak all over her.. i've included a wondeful picture of her bandaged up. And Dave has been hopping around after running 17 miles training for a marathon. So to say the least the house is full of the inflicted. Hopefully we will all recover quickly. We've spent the day on the couch watching movies.. it has been raining all day! We then decided we needed a change in scenery and went to see the movie Because I Said So.. i know big change huh? We also went to old Monterey where we visited galleries which I loved doing. I was always into art and.. as was stated in The Notebook.. "I don't paint anymore." Anyways, just wanted to keep the fam. updated.. sorry for my rambling!

Valentine's Day Surpises..

On Valentine's Day, our girls awoke to Valentine's Day Surpises! They were so surprised. Aunt Kathy and Uncle Steve manage to send or deliver goodies to the girls every holiday.. even the smaller holidays! The girls ripped open the bags and gifts and paper were everywhere! They immediately dressed themselves in their new princess attire... shirts, skirts, shoes, sunglasses, bows & ribbons.. you name it and they were "princified". Next they insisted trying out some of their new bubble bath.. wait I thought I was the one to be pampered on V-day.. apparently I was wrong. Isabel absolutely loved wearing her glasses and new "daddy loves me t-shirt".. so included is one of her glamorous shots!

Pappy's Big 50th!

The family got together after church to celebrate Pappy's big 50! The day before, Alexandra and Isabel went with Grandma to pick out all of the party supplies. Grandma attempted to pick out a Care Bear cake topper since it was on sale and Alexandra insisted that Pappy needed a boy topper such as Superman... which is exactly what he got. We had wonderful food and a fantastic time.