Keep It Simple

Swimming with the Dolphins

Thursday, July 24, 2008

During our Disney Cruise through the "Mexican Riviera" we took the opportunity to swim with dolphins in Puerto Vallerta. What an experience!

The instructors have you take a quick shower, give you a life jacket and then tell you to jump in the water. Did I mention there were eight dolphins in the water?!?!? After my initial shock, I jumped in and then the kids and Kevin followed.

Our dolphins names were "Nacho" and "Nuna". Here are some of the photos:

Here are some of our observations:

1. Their noses are really hard.
2. Their skin feels like rubber.
3. They like to be patted more than rubbed.
4. They are very fast!

What an amazing day!

A Visit from a Scrapbook Rock Star!

What a whirl-wind of a weekend! Stacy Julian flew in Friday morning and the next thing I knew it was Saturday morning and I was taking her back to the airport!

She is just as genuine in person as she is in her books, on her blog and on audio! What a treat to get to meet, as Delaney would say, "a Scrapbook Rock Star"!!! How else do you explain all that Stacy is to the scrapbook industry. Those who don't scrapbook have no idea who she is and even some that scrapbook still don't know who she is (which is shocking to me but oh well).

She visited with my LOM Group at my house which was so awesome to ask her questions in person about her own LOM system. She brought sample books (remember the "food" one?) as well as a section of her category drawers - so cool!

Then on to dinner with Christine and the other store employees. Where we have officially coined the phrase, "put it in a bubble and blow it away" - thanks Stacy!

Her lecture that evening was phenomenal. It was about so much more than scrapbooking. People left excited, energize and enthusiastic about life (and their scrapbooking). I have never received so many calls and emails from an event at the store. Stacy is a terrific speaker and her message is one that everyone should here.

I for one had an enjoyable two hours alone with her Saturday morning on the way to the airport.

I'm still a little star struck!

Kevin's Birthday

April 19, 2008

Kevin asked for bookmarks for his birthday. Both kids made a bookmark and I thought it would be fun to have a picture of each of them reading their current favorite book.

For Collin that's Harry Potter - Book 5. Which incidentallly he found "boring" and eventually skipped to the last chapter and then moved on to Book 6!

Delaney's current favorite book is The Tale of Despereaux. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. We had just finished reading it as our "bed time" book and she decided she wanted to try to read it herself.

It's the story of a mouse, a princess, a bowl of soup and a spool of thread. Something for everyone.

This is the first year that I don't have a picture of Kevin on his birthday. Why? Delaney got extremely ill on Kevin's birthday with a super high fever. There was no Chili's for dinner this year, we did end up going the following week though.

A Facelift for the Frontyard

April 11-26, 2008

We didn't set out to re-landscape the entire front yard - it just happened. Our cute three stem palm tree that was only 5' tall when we moved in had grown to three stories. With stems leaning on both our house and the neighbors it was time to take it out.

I had no idea how much damage would occur from removing this gigantic palm.

Sergio is up in one of the palm trees. These trees were so huge that he cut them in 2 ft sections that weighed about 60 lbs. each! Every time one would fall the entire house shook! Chunks landed everywhere, denting the grass, mutilating the other shrubs. It was a mess. So much so that by the time the dust settled we'd made the decision to pull out the remaining shrubs and start from scratch.

 

Here is Collin standing on stump of the palm tree! It was HUGE!! Much bigger than I thought it was. The gardener brought over a big saw machine and proceeded to slower cut away the stump. Debris flew everywhere. In the end we had a big empty space in the front yard.

Now the work began, thank goodness we have a great team of guys who know how to work with flagstone. We removed all of the brick, including the edging and replaced it all with flagstone. We also decided to make planter beds around the remaining palm trees. Mom & Collin planted, while Dad & I checked and replaced almost every sprinkler. Eventually there will be a fountain by the window but so far I haven't found one I like.

  

Mom will be happy to know that the plants are all growing well. There is one slight problem... we didn't remove all of the palm tree seeds so now instead of standard weeds, there are thousands little palm trees growing everywhere (I'm not kidding)!! I'm thinking of starting a palm tree farm!

Car Vandalism for a Cause!!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Who wouldn't LOVE to paint a car! Well Delaney's class at school got that wish when her class raised the most money for the Great Race at school! Her class tied with another but there was plenty of "car" to go around!

Just getting started. You can still through the windows and Delaney is still pretty clean.

Now the serious painting begins. The kids slowly started filling every crack and crevice with paint!

Delaney's class after they cleaned up their hands in front of the car for one last photo op!   

Gabi's 1st Communion

Sunday, April 6, 2008

How could I pass up posting a few pictures of this beautiful g irl on her special day? This was my practice run-through using manual settings on my camera.

I just adore this little girl. I've known her since she was one. Congratulations Gabi! 

The Great Race of Agoura

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Today was the day of the Great Race of Agoura. Kevin had been training for the 1/2 mararthon for over a month. Collin, Delaney & I ran the 5K.

He finished in 2:02:07. His goal was 2 hours and he came close! Maybe next time!!

Collin, who is much faster than Delaney and I, ran the 5K in 27:38.90 which put him in 7th place. Then he went and ran the kids 1 mile in 7:42. His legs were jiggly and after the Great Race he went to his track meet!

This was Delaney's first 5K and I ran it with her. She finished in 35:28 which was in 7th place for under 10 year olds. To be fair she placed 2nd for 7 year-olds. We were very proud of her for running such a good race.

It was a fun day for all!

 

Collin's First Assembly Speech & Award

April 4, 2008

Collin was elected to be his 3rd Grade Class Representative for the Student Body at Red Oak. This job requires Collin to speak at Spirit Assemblies and help make decisions about Red Oak. This is Collin at his first Spirit Assembly. He said he was a little nervous but he mostly had fun.

During this same assembly Collin was given an award for improving his reading. Collin's test score improved by 180%!!! Collin now enjoys reading and usually has at least three books being read at the same time.

Spring has Arrived in SoCal

April 3, 2008

Here are some pictures of my blooming flowers. I was practicing using my macro setting on the camera.

Welcome Spring!

Collin's First Track Meet

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Today was Collin's first track meet. He ran the 1500m, 400m, 4x400m relay & the long jump. It was a new experience for all of us. We used this meet to learn how things are done, where Collin goes, when to snack and where to sit. Collin was so nervous that he didn't eat at all during the meet and didn't come up to sit with us. He spent his time down on the track.