Moving

Moving stinks!!! We are moving to our church for a few months. It's a looooooong story as to the dynamics facilitating this change; however, I am happy because I am no longer doing daycare and I am ready for some simplicity in my life. I have a fabulous plethora of curricula for my kids this year! ALL my children will be officially in school which amazes me. I want to spend my time where ur matters most. With my precious children and in the House of God. I can't complain He has been so good to me!!! I love you all and covet your prayers these next few weeks. It's sometimes difficult to move etc because we don't have any family nearby. I have been putting stuff in storage daily and about 50% of the move is complete but the last seems the hardest...especially when trying to please a landlord so as to receive our deposit back.
I'm posting this with my phone, that's why I am a bit rambly LOL!!!

God bless all my friends and even those who really are not. I wish Jesus would come tonight because I am ready to go!

-- Post From My iPhone

I like my iPhone

Here I am sitting in Berean waiting for a bible to be inscribed for a great young person in my church! It's so awesome to be able to post on my blog while I have a spare moment. Much much better than taking the time to log on my pc at home when laundry awaits.

There is a beautiful picture of a little girl standing at a rustic looking door and the scripture "seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you" is printed on it. I am going to imitate it with a picture of Ava for my hubbys office! I can't wait, it's going to be so gorgeous. So now I'm on the hunt for an interesting doorway so if you know of one near me please let me know!!!

Have a great week bloggie friends!!!


-- Post From My iPhone
Ps this is a pic of my kiddos catching chickens!!! Just practicing posting photos, this is so cool!!!

This is a test!!!

Wow, I finally got an iPhone. I am so excited! Ok so there are all these must have apps for it and I just realized I can blog with it too! Hey the other day I actually took a university test on it and aced it so it's all good in the hood peeps. I will be back cuz I definitely love blogging but hate sitting at the computer. Would MUCH rather lay on the couch or something. Cheers!!!!


-- Post From My iPhone

Time is Flyin'

Arrgh...time sure does fly whether you're having fun or not I think!

I can't update my blog much these days because we only have dial up at the house so my internet usage is pretty much limited unless I go to Starbucks which is where I am right now. I come here to do homework, log attendance for the kid's school and other businessish things I need to do. SO by the time I am done with all of that I am usually frozen solid, with my hinder parts numb and my brain fried so blogging is the least of my worries. Plus I usually really miss my family by that time so I am rushing home to kiss them.

Today however, I set aside this whole day to do homework as I have 4 assignements due-2 are due tonight and 2 are due monday night. I wanted to do them all so that I can relax over the weekend in Sacramento. Unfortunately, I got 1 assignement completed and the university server went down and I can't even retrieve my instructor's email addy to inform her of my problem. So I am very frustrated, I have multiple things on my to-do list but #1 was homework so.......*shake fist**stomp foot*

Geronimo

Here are some pics of the kids with our newest family member Geronimo. He's a gorgeous paint gelding who used to do Gymkhana with a little girl named Angela who so graciously has allowed us to provide him a new home. He is fitting right in as you can see!

Here Chandler is riding Geronimo bareback while Elise leads.

Now Caeden is riding bareback while Elise leads.

This is Ava's first time riding!

Just a pretty girl I saw in the field

"Farmer Chundo"

Goats

Well, we got some goats for the little farmers-to-be! They had a blast picking them out. They got a boy and a girl and named them Jack and Jill. Jack is a sweet thing but Jill is as mean as all get out. Doug says if she doesn't straighten up we'll be having goat stew! Anyhow..we got 2 pigs also, I'll try to post pics of them soon. Enjoy these!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Home from Disneyland

Whew! What a trip! Fast and furious and a total blast. After celebrating Thanksgiving for TWO days at my parent's house, we left early Saturday morning to meet my husband's brother and family in L.A. We met them on Sunset Blvd. at Le Croissant Club- a great place to eat if you like Mediterranean food-which I do wholeheartedly. They have a great selection of items for those who would rather stick to chicken fingers and other forms of nonadventerous fare.

We walked up and down Sunset Blvd till evening...stopped at the Disney store for a pre-disney sampling of disney inspired lollipops.

That evening, we drove to Rialto and stayed with our awesome friends Patrick and Holly Garrett...got to see Katie and Philip Booker and their gorgeous kids too-what a treat!

The next day was Sunday so we took a drive to San Diego-did the 8 boat tour deal and finished the day off at Rockin' Baja's Cantina...I love the place but this time all it seemed to do was rock our pocketbook a little too much...I guess it was the "big trip spending initiation night". I told Doug that after that we'd have to survive on PB & J for the rest of the trip...SO on the way home we stopped at Winco and bought a cart full of groceries to last us throughout the week.

The next morning we began our trek to Disneyland...it was awesome, the crowds were slim Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We park hopped all three days...I had never experienced "Tower of Terror" so one morning, Elise, Caeden, Ava and myself were the first to arrive to California Theme Park...Caeden had said he wanted to go on it, Elise had already been and wanted to go again, poor Ava had no choice in the matter and I figured I'd better get it over with before I got stereotyped as a feathered creature that lays eggs. So we bravely entered the big scary room where they show you videos of scary twilight zon-ish phenomenons.

Oh my goodness...that ride is FREAKY!!! It was VERY cool...I am NOT afraid of it I promise...but I will say I felt like the world's WORST mom for taking my little innocent babies on it. I couldn't even scream I was trying so hard not to puke...Caeden and Ava both had huge eyes and huge mouths the entire time. Ava cried but at the end guess what Caeden said? "THAT was UNbelieveable!" I said "Really Caeden? You liked it?" He said "YES!" I said, "Wanna go again?" He said "NO." BUT when the rest of our party joined us a few minutes later and wanted to ride too, guess who joined them? AVA! Yep, she rode it AGAIN.

So I guess you could say that was one of my big highlights...other than the one time I spent $5.75 on a chimichanga...that was pretty exciting.

On Wednesday night, I left the crew enjoying ice cream at the Ice Cream Parlor so I could have some time of solitude and concentrate on the 4 assignments I had due the next day. Unfortunately, I had severe internet access issues and wasted my entire evening stressing out about it.

The next day, Thursday, was stressful since I knew I still had to complete my homework and the crowds were reaching excessive numbers at Disneyland so we decided California Theme Park was the place to be. We hit downtown Disney that night after the parks closed which is basically what everyone ELSE was doing too which made it very unpleasant for those of us who despise crowded walkways. Really doesn't do too much for self esteem you know...you're just inching along being sandwiched by strangers on all sides...sort of a panicky weird feeling. The looming homework assignments weren't helping me cope either. I ended up staying up till midnight that night completing them.

We took Ava and Caeden to Build-a-Bear which they'd never been, since they both still had some spending $ left. They thought they were in Heaven. It was so neat to see them having so much fun.

The next morning, I had made plans for Maxine, (my sil) and I to go to the LA garment district and the guys were going to keep the kids at the hotel to chill out and do laundry. That plan quickly changed however, when my hubs bro decided to upgrade his tickets for one more day at Disneyland. Our kids have season passes so of course they were eager to join in on one more day of chaos. They had a blast...went on Grizzly River Run a dozen times, got soaked to the skin.

On Saturday, we spent the day with Patrick and Holly again...relaxing...doing the laundry that didn't get done...four wheeling...laughing...basically just goofing off. Didn't leave their house till 6:30 pm...didn't get home till 11:30 pm and by this time I was feeling that tight chest, sore throat, pounding headache coming on. But it was WORTH it!!! I am better already...nothing a few nights of normal sleep couldn't fix!

Managed to get up the next morning for church, after which we had an appointment to meet our new landlord to get the keys to our "new" house. After that we took the kids to pick out a Christmas tree which we took to the "new" house with a thermos of hot chocolate and my ipod with Christmas music on. We set it up and decorated a few areas in the new house before anything else was in it.

This morning, at 9 o'clock 2 trailers arrived at my "old" house to pick up my furniture and any boxes I had ready. (not very many I'm afraid)

SO!!! I have been planted firmly in my computer chair today diligently picking up the pieces of my neglected studies. Finished a paper and took a test...got 100% prayz'im!

I think I might be a bit outta my mind at the moment...so here are a few pics for you to enjoy.

Tomorrow, my mom is coming to help me do the rest of the packing and moving. Hopefully we'll be settled in by the weekend. We'd better cuz Richard and Jessica are coming for the weekend!!! YAAAAY!!!! Can't wait.......partay!!!!!!!!!

Bradley, Elise and Chandler getting ready for the parade

Just a pretty girl I saw at Disneyland
Having a thrilling time on "Dumbo"California Scream!!!!

The gang...minus Brooke who escaped before the camera could get her!

Elise, Minnie and Ava...

My cute niece Brooke

Finally Moving

We are officially moving...our landlord doesn't seem to think they can avoid foreclosure on the home we are renting. We signed papers last night for a different house here in Chowchilla.
It will be a big change...we've lived in our current home for over a year and a half, we've settled in pretty nicely. Same size home but totally different style. Our current home had never been lived in when we moved in...new everything, huge vaulted celings and stark white walls. (which I dislike greatly) We did all the landscaping in the backyard which took lots of time and effort...it's sort of sad to leave it behind but that's just how it is when you rent anyhow.

So the "new" house was actually built in the 80's so it's not new at all...recently remodeled, ONE story-THANK YOU JESUS...the sound running and thumping at 6:00 AM will cease. It's on 14 acres of alfalfa, lots of huge mature trees and it has a barn and a dog kennel.

The best thing about it is it has a mother in law's quarters which will NOT be used for its intended purpose but I will use that area to teach my classes and have my little preschool. It will be really nice to have a work place separate from the rest of the house.

It's really funny because before we even moved to Chowchilla, I looked at this particular piece of property and even asked the owner if they would consider renting it out. (It was on the market) They said no at that time, but now it's been 2 years and I took a leap of faith and decided to ask again and they said they'd like to work it out. We are praying we can be able to purchase it from them after awhile.

So its a horrible time to have to move...we are gong to Disneyland right after Thanksgiving for a whole week so I have scads of stuff to do before we leave. Not only that but I have a 12 page research paper due Monday. I have 3 more assignemnts due before we leave for the Thanksgiving holiday. Do you think I have even started them? Nah. I think I will be burning the midnight oil a LOT this weekend!!!

PRAY SAINTS PRAY!!!

Commercial for moms or any other clean freak

My life is crazy busy right now...research papers due, a 3000 square ft. home to pack up to move, a 7 day trip to prepare a family of 6 for, a wedding to plan, a "pre" thanksgiving dinner to plan for Saturday, sunday school lesson to prepare for Sunday and the list goes ON!!!

BUT I thought I would take a brief moment to fill you in on the latest gadget I've fallen in love with. I'm sure you've seen or heard about the little handy steam cleaning machines you can pick up for about $30 at Walmart or Target...well, I never tried one so I can't say how they perform but my neighbor let me borrow her Shark Pro-Steam Blast by Euro-Pro. It costs $99 at Lowes, and let me tell you it is worth every single penny! It is amazing...I was cleaning my bathroom sink area and has already wiped it down with a rag when I decided to try this steam thing and when I did the additional crud it dislodged AFTER I had already supposedly cleaned was incredible. I cleaned my fridge with ease...the steam just blasted the junk out of all the little rubber seals and hinges. The only thing I think is that you should have a shopvac with a small attachment nearby to suck up the debris as the steamer doesn't do that, the directions say to have a rag handy to wipe up the mess which works fine for small jobs, but a job like my refrigerator needed a bit more...I just let the mess fall to the floor then I sucked it up with the vacuum later.
Lastly, after my refrigerator, sink, stove, microwave, window sills and countertops were sparkling, I swept the floor and used the steamer's floor attachment to sanitize the floor. Little chunks of gunk that I had been to lazy to scrub up for days came up with ease! My floors were so clean and with no dulling or sticky residue. The fresh steam clean smell just made me the happiest housekeeper on the planet. I will say it isn't the most quiet machine I've ever used...I was cleaning out our empty 55 gallon fish tank to sell on craigslist, (such a fun chore hubby left me with) I had my head in the fish tank with the steamer and I had a few moments of feeling like I was inside a jet engine) It produces a LOT of steam too...I could hardly see inside the fish tank...lol.

But overall, I was impressed exponentially. So...go out and get yourself one...I plan to as soon as I can!

"Can someone say gangbanguh?"

While swaying side to side, this is what my five year old said today while trying on some pants he thought were too baggy.

Check out my latest work of art...

I got this canvas of Caeden in the mail yesterday...I am so thrilled with it! I got it from Canvas on Demand and they did a fabulous job! These are available for my customers also...oh, the "do not copy" is not on the canvas itself.

Homemade Pesto Anyone?

Inspired by my friend Misha far far away in Pennsylvania, I was looking at my garden, bemoaning the fact that soon my beautiful summer bounty will be slowing and the need to pull out the plants I worked so hard to maintain. My basil plants specifically as they are huge and I LOVE to pick fresh basil for nearly every meal but most loved is my special combination of garden tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and cracked pepper salad. (If you frequent Macaroni Grill this specific combination of ingredients will set you back $9.95 for a sparse sampling)

ANYHOW, I was contemplating my dilemma and suddenly remembered Misha's little dabbling with home economics and other Martha Stewartish behaviors.
(you're much more talented Mish) I went and harvested as much fresh basil as possible, (leaves are beginning to fade in color due to the cooler weather) I brought them in and washed them thoroughly. Then I cut up about 4 large cloves of fresh garlic and began sauteing them in about 2 tbs of olive oil. I added about 1/4 cup of pine nuts, a few dashes of salt and some cracked pepper. After the pine nuts began to look toasty, I added a few more tbs. of olive oil and added the fresh basil leaves. The amount of leaves after my de-stemming/washing was about 3 cups. I lightly sauteed these leaves until they were JUST barely looking brighter green and BEGINNING to be limp-ish. (I don't like anything overcooked-the nutritional value and taste imo is reduced greatly by overcooking) I then dumped the entire mixture into my vita-mix machine. (a blender would be sufficient) I added about 1/4 cup more olive oil and blended until it was just the texture I like pesto to be! THEN I poured the mixture into an ice cube tray and put it in the freezer. This morning, I took the tray out and put the little pesto cubes into freezer bag to grab for immediate tasty additions to all my soups, pastas and anything else needing a little pep! Oh I forgot to mention that I scraped the remaining tidbit of pesto from the vita-mix into the pasta I had cooking on the stove...it was scrumptious!
I was too busy flinging this stuff all over the place to get my camera out to take pics...I'll probably be able to do it one more time before the first frost hits and destroys the plants so hopefully then I will remember to take pictures so my blog will genuinely rival with Misha's!

6 year old british super star

Due to popular demand I decided to open my blog back up...
Scroll down to the bottom of my blog and watch this little girl sing...she is amazing! If you want to hear more of her music, go to my photography blog and listen via my player there.
TTFN!

Ava's Happy Day

It was mine and Ava's birthday last week, which most of you know marks a very special time and place in my life and heart. We spent time with my mom celebrating on the 16th, then on the 20th, Ava had a cowgirl princess party with all of her little friends. It was quite a party and the little celebrity just glowed all day with the festivites.

I had a fiasco at the bakery when picking up her cake-it was nowhere to be found and once they "found" it (more like whipped it up real quick in the back) it wasn't even close to what I had ordered-solid white with plain pink writing "Happy Birthday". I had ordered this spectacular "My Little Pony" cake with a castle on it and everything and it was all I would settle for. It was quite humorous really because technically, Ava had no idea I was getting so frantic about this cake thing, she was in fact happily pushing her own little cart in the store and was gloating in her birthday glory while wearing her birthday best-the boots and petti you see in the pics. She had just taken a sharp turn in her glee and had toppled her cart over, spilling its contents. It wasn't a huge deal, I scolded her ever so gently for the spill, but as tenderhearted as she is, she was quite downcast and heartbroken at this latest turn of events...I used this to my advantage, and said to the negligent baker lady, "Do you think I can tell HER that she won't be having a "My Little Pony" cake?" The lady said, "Oh of course not honey, we'll get you your cake!" OMW I thought I was going to come unglued, I had this huge lump in my throat like I was going to cry, so I had to be really strong and tell them I was not paying for that pathetic looking cake but that I was not leaving without a cake. (this was 1 hour before the party started mind you!) Needless to say, I got my cake, a few gray hairs added to my collection but all went well after that.

Alls well that ends well!

Patriot Day 9-11 Remembered

Well I know many will post about this today, since today marks the anniversary of that fateful day 7 years ago when our nation was rocked by the heartless attacks on the twin towers and the pentagon.

I remember that morning, our trailer was parked at The Rock Church, in the parking lot, and my husband was going to be preaching the back-to-school covering service that was being held that Tuesday morning there. My husband woke me up early that morning, saying "Babe we've been hit, we've been hit!" In my sleepy state of mind, I thought maybe I was unconscious or something and we'd been in a car accident. Then I thought our trailer had been hit by a vehicle in the parking lot. I couldn't figure out what he meant. Then as I came to my senses, my husband explained to me what he meant. The full reality of the situation didn't really hit until days later when we were able to see footage of the wreckage and the aftermath of the disaster.

I'll never forget that day, as I know it marks a piece of history for our country. Indignation and anger wells up in my heart again for the lives that were destroyed that terrible day.

May we remember those who hurt today, pray for them and continue to pray for this nation that our leaders will keep us protected and safe in the future.

God BLESS the USA.

San Fran Whooee!!!

This weekend my husband and I celebrated our 12th anniversary! We went to San Fransisco-rented a 2 seater convertible and buzzed all over the city in it. It was so awesome! We got there Saturday afternoon and met our friends Neil and Sherah Hyler for dinner on the wharf at Joe's Crab Shak. We had a BLAST with them!

On Sunday morning, we went to church in Hayward. We went out to lunch with Bro. and Sis. Hall and their sweet daughters. We had so much fun catching up with them!

We spent the rest of the day shopping and driving around the crazy city.

On Monday, we drove across the Golden Gate bridge and went into Sausalito-admired all the beautiful homes and yachts...we hit Starbucks and Jamba Juice at least 5 times each...yikes...I'm glad our trip was only 3 days!
Anyhow, we had a great time, it was a much needed mini vacation.
Now its back to the grind...school, babysitting, home school, work, bills, weeds, laundry, messy kids...and the list goes on and on my friend!

My Lovely Daughter

Since all anyone ever sees pictures of are my adorable kids, I figured I'd post something ugly today!!!!! Ava absolutely HAD to have these...

Hubby's health update

Well, my husband had his surgery on Thursday. I was probably more nervous than he was since he's never had any sort of surgery before. I'm really panicky when it comes to anesthesia...I know they do it hundreds of times a day but there's just something weird about it to me.
I stayed with him until they took him into the operating room and they told me it would be 45 minutes to an hour before they would be done. I had actually planned to go to the college for a little while to sign up for a few additional classes, but once I got there, there were so many students waiting in huge lines everywhere I knew there was no way I would be back to the hospital in time. So I went to Starbucks instead. Almost as soon as I returned the anesthesiologist came out and told me everything had gone well and that Doug was in recovery. Whew!!! That was super fast!
They prescribed him FORTY lortabs (a form of extra strong vicodin) and I am so proud to say he has not had even ONE! He has been feeling great...not even any complaints, I am so impressed. He was doing laundry and even grilled some tri-tip on the barbie last night. He preached like a house-a-fire this morning. I know the surgery wasn't invasive or major; however, I did expect him to be a little more on the needy side after this procedure.
I suppose the tissue they removed will be sent to pathology to be certain it wasn't sinister-so keep us in your prayers for yet another good report please!
So once again I thank you for all your love, concern and prayers, we serve an AWESOME God!!!

My landlord finally responded back to me and informed me that they are indeed having severe financial issues and are "working with the banks" whatever that means. I'm just going to take it one day at a time and remember God is in control.

In thte meantime, in addition to college, homeschooling, church duties, church business planning I will also be reorganizing and cleaning our cupboards and drawers in preparation for the inevitable move that hopefully won't be in December!!! But if it is, we will be content no matter what.

Just checking in...

Well, I can't think of anything deep or intellectual to post today but I know my blog is overdue for something so here I is!

I started class today-I have 3 classes, Leadership in Organizations, and 2 Child Development classes. I cannot wait to be done with school. I am also working on getting licensed for our church to have a preschool. So if any of you have tips, knowledge or advice in that department feel free to email me.

I feel very blessed to be able to live in a beautiful home that we are renting. In Elk Grove, the cheapest house on the market was just inside our means-1100 sq. ft. 1950's oldie. Here in Chowchilla we rent a house 3 times as big for 1/2 of the price our mortgage was then! Go figure. We've lived in this house for about a year and a half. Anyhow, a few days ago, a woman knocked on my door and asked if I was the owner. When I told her I wasn't, that I was a mere tenant, she took my contact info down and asked me to notify the owner that "what they are working on at the bank is still in process". Okaaaaayyyy...what does that mean? I know they could be refinancing, I also know it could mean they are losing the house which would NOT be a pleasant experience for me. Unfortunately, the rent market has gone up considerably so getting a house as big as mine is (3100 sq. ft.) for the price we pay will be impossible-barring a miracle that is. I wouldn't be too worried except for the fact that I have tried calling my landlord several times as well as emailed him with no response. THAT's the kicker I guess. So! I really really REALLY don't want to move right now, I'd really like to wait until we are ready to buy so it will be a one time deal for a looooong time. So the house I really really want is 3800 sq. ft. and its on the market right now for $324,000. Sigh...OR there's one in the country on FORTY ACRES I am NOT lying and its priced at $419,000. Its priced low like that because its not completely finished and there are no trees or landscaping at all. Its a gorgeous home though. So pray with me folks that a miracle takes place SOON so we can take advantage of the real estate market's position.

On another note, keep my husband in your prayers this week too. He is having surgery on thursday, its not supposed to be any big deal but he is a little stressed out since he's never been put under nor cut on. He's doing MUCH better in all other aspects. GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!

Well, I think I've typed enough for anyone super bored to get even more bored so I'm going to check out and head off to Starbuck's where I am teaching a bible study tonight.

Venti Iced Soy Caramel Macchiatto here I come...ciao!

Me and my sidekick

Elise and I had so much fun hanging out together at camp...she is crazy just like me!