The end of June

Rick is going to go to El Salvador on a mission trip with some friends. They'll be there from June 27-July 3rd, building a church in the middle of the jungle. Rick has wanted to go on another mission trip since he visited Costa Rica in 1997... and everything for this one has worked out perfectly. Our friend Kristopher (missions pastor at our church) is organizing this group and Rick loves doing stuff with him. The nicest part is that most of the trip is paid for... we only had to come up with $750... and the day after he committed to go, I got a $150 rebate check from our alarm company and a $350 freelancing check from a magazine! Talk about everything working out! God is really cool. His time off from work is even perfect. Since taking on his new administrative job, he has had to use up some of his personal days from his old position. He hasn't used them yet, but they expire July 1st. So now he will use them for this trip and won't have to use his vacation time even! Man, it's awesome when stuff works out. Just goes to show that when we step back a bit and quit trying to do everything ourselves, God works it out just the way it should go. Coolness :)

Don't you think

Barabbas would make a cute new mascot for Old Navy?



I think so :)
Here's his profile

Thirteen years ago today...

after having sweaty palms all night and acting decidedly awkward, my dear, sweet boyfriend Rick proposed to me at my senior prom. Right after the song, "I can't fight this feeling any longer." tee hee!

It was sweet and precious and wonderful and I couldn't believe how lucky I was that I met my soulmate while I was so young. We danced a bit more while I held up my hand and made the little diamond sparkle in the lights of the disco ball. Then we saw Cirque du Soleil at the Mirage... when it was still in the tent behind the hotel. Then we stood atop the parking garage and looked at the city lights and talked about how we would get married in a few years, after I went to college. I had recently been accepted to school at the University of San Diego, and I couldn't wait to go there. Everything in my life was going perfect.

And thirteen years later, everything still is. :)

He wanted to be Spiderman.

GREEN Spiderman.
*NOT* Red Spiderman.

So that's how Riley got his face painted at the school carnival...


He loved it! Hee hee.

Violet and her friend opted for a more traditional face painting job - and were matching kitty cats for the evening :)


Lots of fun at the carnival. Games & candy & sugar & sweets. Can't beat that when you're a kid.

countdown

to the last day of school.
june 9th.
yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

i am so ready for the year to be over.
so ready to have a fresh start at home.
so ready to not grade papers.
to not haul around a cart of supplies.
to not have to drop off my son at a sitter.
to not have to drive for 45 minutes each morning to get to work.

i am SO ready for summer.
for playing in the pool at papa & mamalali's house.
for traveling.
for doing creative things again.
for getting my house in order.
for working out.
for working on projects around the house.

this has been a good experience for me.
and the income has been good for us - God provided money when we needed it.
so thankful for God. :)
and so ready to move onto the next big thing.

freelancing.
working with technique tuesday from home.
turning my photography into a real-life business.
being available for my kids.
being available for rick.
being available for my friends.
going to spin class during the day.
daring to try the triathlon class.

the countdown has begun.
28 days to go.

without further ado...

Take your child to work day:

Rick and his "mini-me"


khakis, polos & sportcoats! riley even got his hair all gelled back!


Riley had a great time being Rick's helper at work, and was soon running all over the office, creating havoc in his wake. He made himself right at home!


The Oompa Loompa Girl:

Before the performance...


She was right up front - and did all her moves perfectly!


Stealing a glance between acts...


Violet took her role very seriously. ;)


Afterward there were plenty of hugs for her adoring fans!

off to retreat

this weekend. hopefully rick can hold down the fort with the kids. field day at violet's school on friday and a garage sale on saturday. i will come home to the chaos that will be our house on sunday afternoon ;).

have a great weekend - and special congrats to liane and carl on their college graduations! wish i could have been there to see you guys!!

p.s. mel and papa... still waiting!

melinda & papa

get to it. i have friends who want to see the pictures ;)

upping the ante

not only do i need to post violet's oompa loompa photos still, but also rick and riley from "take your kid to school day" - did i mention that they MATCHED? they both wore sportcoat, polo shirts, and khakis. and if you want to see them - mom, dad, melinda, and liane - you'd better get blogging. cause SERIOUSLY.

Do not go gentle...

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas

I was reading a review of the movie "United 93" in the paper this morning. An excellent review. In fact, all of them on this movie have been nothing but praise and accolades. This movie is already stirring up controversy... Is it too soon? Is it wrong to make money off the deaths of others? Should Hollywood be glamourizing this tragedy?

But the truth of the matter is this. Five years ago a tragedy unlike any our nation has ever seen took place. And from the acts of cowardly terrorists, unlikely heroes emerged. People like you and me, taking a plane ride home to see their family, when their worst fears were realized. But the incredible thing is that they did not go gently. They did not submit to their fear. They raged against their foes. They raged against terror. They raged, and they thwarted the plans of their enemy.

The country will not forget that terrible day. But it's been awhile. And those wounds have begun to heal - the scars are not so visible. And perhaps this story will remind us of the good that is in people. That heroes come in all forms. This movie was not created to exploit the situation... and it's obvious because there are no big-name stars attached to the film. They are actors you don't know - so you can truly experience the situation without thinking about the celebrity. Wherever possible (air traffic controllers, military officers, etc), the actual person who experienced the event was used in the film. How amazing. To create a true documentary of what happened. To remind everyone what happened.

There may be those who disagree, but I want to see the movie. I want to feel it. I want to understand it. I don't want to go gentle.

why won't my family blog?

isn't it about time for dad's semi-annual blog update? and what about mom? and mimby? and liane??

i have cute pictures of a 5 year old oompa loompa that i am holding hostage until my family blogs. so there. :p

Personal DNA

A Very Cool Personality Test.
This test did a really good job of gauging me and my personality...

My Personal Dna Report

Dynamic Creator

See what yours is, too!

From Riley's mouth...

after sneezing, "Mommy, my nose was coughing."

Easter 2006

We went to the Sunrise service at CornerStone... it was nice and small, with worship just the way we like it. A couple guys and their guitars. No big musical productions, no show. Just us & God celebrating His resurrection.


After church we came home and Violet and I made a Bunny cake. I remember that photo of me when I was about this age, with my bunny cake. I think I will need to dig it out and do a little "comparison scrapping"...


Check out Riley's cool Easter duds. Note the shirt - Uncle Yooke - we bought it in your honor. There are skull & crossbones all over it :)



Riley & Michael. Still best buds. So cool :).


The results of the Easter Egg hunt - Violet came out the leader in this one. She ended up with over $12 in cash!!!


Pretty flowers growing in Tish's yard...

It was a lovely Easter. Grandma Jane came, and although her hair wasn't done up perfect and she seemed older than I expected, there were glimmers of her spunky self here and there. So glad to see that side of her again!

And Pam was in town! That was a nice surprise. She's loving Seattle - though apparently it's still pretty dang cold outside, so coming here was a nice, warm change for her. And it was fun having her around.

The Easter Bunny visited our house, too... the kids have new socks and pencils and they even got a golden egg that had a DOLLAR in it!! These kids are so lucky :). Riley of course ate half the chocolate in his basket before we were even awake. LOL

We've been spending our Spring Break time organizing, cleaning, and painting in the house. Our new IKEA furniture is fabulous :) :) :). The garage is clean enough for Rick to park his jeep! :) :) :)... Riley loves his new loft bed :) :) :)... and we are in the process of moving all Rick's computer stuff to the downstairs office and the big room upstairs will soon be MINE ALL MINE... muahahahahaaha!!!!!! We're painting it this week and then... I think... our house will be good (for now! LOL)

A couple photos...

from a photo shoot I did last weekend.
There were lots of really great ones, but for some reason these gave me the giggles ;)

last weekend in pictures...

we stayed at this cute bed & breakfast in st. george, utah, with friends the Dahirs, the Castillos and the Smiths...


we decided to take a hike to see the beautiful Virgin River.



Not so beautiful - and oh yeah, the random cell phone that rang while we were standing there. kinda freaky!!!! the guys went looking for it in the underbrush... we all thought they'd find a dead body!!


kristopher showing some leg. kind of terrifying.


kristopher and rick acting decidedly gay at Tuacahn. hahaha


Rick "rock climbing"


we took cute couple shots while we were there....


doesn't everyone look so cute & in love? :)


awwwwww...


precious!!!


good lord. this was *NOT* one of the couples shots. dude. guys. DUDE.


the group hams it up. well, except the photographer. :p


lunch at a local deli was the perfect way to end the hike...


and then a fancy dinner that night!


we all ordered yummy food & cocktails!


restaurant is called "The Painted Pony." stop in if you are in St. George!


fine wine, good food, and good company.


and if the waiter thinks you are gay, he'll bring you an "extra special" coffee cup!!

Can't wait till next year!!!

62 pages.

All by herself.
My daughter read to me Green Eggs and Ham.

My heart.
So full.
So proud.

Ten K.

Ten Grand.
Ten Thousand.

That's how many photos I have taken with my Rebel XT since getting it in May of last year.

10,000 photos.
TEN THOUSAND.

wow!!!! ! ! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!! ! !!

to celebrate, here's one i took of my dear sweet Melaroo...

It's mid-march in Las Vegas

and it's snowing outside right now.
C R A Z Y !!! ! ! ! ! !! !

CONGRATULATIONS CARLOS!!!

http://www.printingresponsibly.com/cd2006/winners/

The Winnah!!!!
Woohooooooooo and all that!! SO TOTALLY PROUD OF YOU! :) :)