california dreamin'

ella has already said that she wants to go back. she already misses her friends that she played with all week in california! so needless to say, we had a wonderful time away. we stayed with our friends katie and brian who have 3 kids. so with my 2 kids added to the mix, it was a crazy week! we did manage to have a few good conversations in between the chaotic moments! i think i aged a little through all the craziness...actually i did! i went to CA as a 32 yr old and came home 33! kate took me to a yummy tapas restaurant for my birthday. (thanks kate...we are all so thankful for everything and for hosting us for a week! i love you my friend!)

it would be hard to write about everything we did and saw. so i tried to narrow down the many pictures i took to help recap our time there. enjoy!


these are the friends we stayed with. all 9 of us together. the middle pic is me and katie. the last pic is me, wendi and katie. wendi had her baby the monday night before i got there!





in the bottom right photo are our friends that we met while at northwestern univ. in chicago 5 years ago. they live outside of modesto. they joined us at this place called "happy hallow" where they have a small zoo and fun kid rides.

in the very first picture there is a sea lion (i think) that i didn't even know was there until i uploaded my photos yesterday...very cool!

goin' back to cali

it has been almost 20 years since i was in california. we took a road trip out to LA one summer to see where my mom grew up. but i've never been to northern california. i leave tomorrow (well technically tonight since it's now after midnight!) for san francisco to visit my friends! i'm SO excited. and one of my friends is actually IN LABOR as i type this!! so i will get to meet and hold her newest little boy. i'm excited to see a part of the country i've never seen. but mostly i'm excited to spend time with my best friends for a whole week!

so after a long day...and an even longer day tomorrow...i'm headed to bed! be back in a week!

back to our regularly scheduled programming

my last post was kinda out of the blue and nothing to do with...well...what i normally post about, which is my family. although music is something i love and should be part of "my eleven". anyway, so i'll get back to my regular stuff.

tonite on the way home from the mall, we passed a pumpkin patch. they have those huge inflatable pumpkins, ghosts, frankenstein, and more pumpkins just begging for my children to yell "look mommy, pumpkins! pumpkins"...or rather "punkins, punkins!" and tonite, ella went on to say, "mommy, i love halloween and winter. it's my favorite part of the fourth of july!"

now that is a blog-worthy quote!

continuum

i have to give a plug for my boy john mayer. i treated myself yesterday at target and bought his latest cd "Continuum." it does not disappoint. his previous cd's i continue to enjoy..."Room for Squares" and "Heavier Things". they are the kind of cds where you never want to skip a song b/c all of them are super. and his latest is no exception.

his ability to pull you into his music is amazing. i love how jazzy, soulful, and emotional this cd is....its about life, love, politics and everything in between. he is an incredibly talented songwriter, musician, and singer. can you tell i like him? his gifts continue to just get better and better over time. collaborating with steve jordan and pino palladino (joined him for john mayer trio) have only seemed to push him toward broadening his sounds....and he has shown it in "continuum".

so there is my brief review for what it's worth. just go see for yourself.

a whole lotta "ba-gans" going on

if you don't know who these guys are, well come on over to my house and ella will be glad to introduce you. tasha, uniqua, tyrone, austin, and pablo seem to show up way too often around here. evan calls them "ba-gans"...the official name is Backyardigans. i'm having a hard time limiting their viewing pleasure to 2 backyardigans a day! they LOVE this show. and although i'm getting quite tired of the theme song, i actually think the show is pretty cute. these little guys can sing so well and they have some pretty sweet dance moves! ella's latest favorite episode is the new one, "Mission to Mars." and good thing we have our DVR, cuz i can let her watch it whenever she wants (well, not whenever she wants...i do say "no" on some occasions!).

anyway, so between "Eureka!", "Cave Party", "Quest for the Flying Rock", "Viking Voyage", "Tea Party", "Polka Palace", "Race to the Tower of Power", etc etc....it is actually encouraging my little one's imaginations and increasing their desire to sing and dance. and it brings smiles to their faces and lots of giggles. so i don't mind a little tv if it means those things.

does anyone know what kind of animal "uniqua" is?? i haven't quite figured that one out yet...i'm sure i could look it up, but it's not in my internet surfing plans right now...."now it's time for us to have a snack meet you next time wheeeeen weeeee're baaaaaaack with your friends the backyaaaaardigans!" :)

some pics from the wedding

the wedding was amazing...read my previous post to know what wedding i'm talking about! the location was beautiful...it was held at Frogtown winery outside of dahlonega. it was the perfect setting for this couple who LOVE the outdoors...they are avid mountain bikers, hikers, runners, etc)...so it just fit them perfectly. jenn looked absoulutely beautiful. the view was breathtaking. the food was divine. the wine was fantastic. it was a fun night. here are some pics...

pretty background, huh?


sweet kids...they had fun at the wedding. ella wondered why she wasn't the flower girl. :)


the happy couple

jenn and me

the other happy couple :)

amy (wisch) and me (another one of my bridesmaids)

the last one to tie the knot

so i know this sounds obnoxious...but i had 12 bridesmaids. i really wouldn't have had it any other way. half of them were high school friends and the other half were my college friends...plus my sister who was my matron of honor. and there would have been 13, but one of my college friends was living in japan at the time (i still say she was a bridesmaid even though she wasn't there)!

i was in 10 of those bridesmaid's weddings. oh what a plethora of bridesmaids dresses i have in my closet! pink, green, blue, black, etc. (still don't know what to do with them). here is the rundown of when everyone else got married (this is mainly for my sake to have it recorded when i'm old and can't remember anything!):

1. Jorja - August 1991 (she discipled me in college)
2. Tracy - April 1995 (H.S. friend)
3. Michelle - July 1995 (H.S. friend)
4. Stacy - September 1995 (sister)
5. Katie - May 1997 (college friend)
6. Amy - October 1997 (college friend)
7. Angela - November 1997 (college friend)
8. Sandy - May 1998 (H.S. friend)
9. Lori - September 1999 (H.S. friend)
10. Rebecca - May 1999 (college roommate)
11. Wendi - December 2000 (college friend)
12. Heidi - April 2002 (H.S. friend)
13. Jennifer - October 2006 (college friend)

and yes, jenn is the last one to tie the knot...TODAY!! it's pretty exciting to see that all of my friends are married and, for the most part, have happy, healthy marriages! its a miracle, really, considering the divorce rate these days. as i typed each of their names, it brings back many memories with each of them. some of them i keep in touch with more than others and i'm ok with that. most of them will be lifetime friends that i will continue to hang on to because they are so dear to me. there's a lot of history there in those relationships that helped define and make me who i am today.

last night i attended the rehearsal dinner for jennifer and the wedding is tonight in dahlonega, georgia....a beautiful outdoor setting in the mountains. a great celebration of my last bridesmaid to get married!

here's a photo of my wedding...it's a photo of a photo...my scanner is on the outs. so its not a great picture, but still wanted to post it.
amy, jorja, jenn, angela, katie, stacy, me, heidi, tracy, michelle, lori, sandy, rebecca

lost is back

i'm pretty excited about the LOST premiere tomorrow night. we haven't missed an episode of this addictive show. it will be interesting to see how this season compares with previous ones. the minute i start doubting if they can keep it exciting and keep my interest, the writers throw a curve ball and one of those shocking scenes that leave your mouth wide open at the end of the show. now that "the others" are being revealed and after capturing some of our beloved castaways, i'm so curious to see what will happen next. in my limited capacity for imagination, i just can't figure out how the show can keep getting better....but it has.

and i'm committed.

and i'll be watching tomorrow night!

will you?

sweet words of worship

haven't felt much like blogging lately. just been busy since i got back from columbus. enjoying some much needed family time.

worship this morning was really great...my hubby played some of my favorite songs (thanks honey!) :) this is one of my favorite hymns and we sang it this morning. i love the words and love the tune.

Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.

Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.