Wordless Wednesday: Animal Cells?

Almost as good as fireworks...

Saw this on Brynn's blog and had to snag it for my friends. Thanks, Brynn! =]
Watch it with your kids!

Chance Encounter...

Hannah was outside feeding Oso. She came in and told me that there was a beautiful yellow butterfly by our Bogenvilia plant. I didn't think much of it, but then she repeated it and said that it was "really big". Okay, this must be something cool, so I asked if I should take my camera with me. "Um, yeah." she says as if to say "Uh, hello...that is what I am trying to tell you..." LOL

So, I went outside and there it was. Beautiful. Most of you are probably thinking 'big deal', but we rarely see anything like this here in our backyard. Seriously. I couldn't get really close, because it was up high on the bush. Thank goodness for zoom.

I am pretty sure that this is a Male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

On the edge of your seats?

Is that where you were since my last post? I am sure you were! Well, I don't want to disappoint you...my faithful blog readers (all 3 of you) that have been wondering where my dear husband whisked me off to this year. I honestly thought that it was going to be a nice dinner at Olive Garden or some great sushi and seafood buffet or something! As usual, my sweet Marco has something else up his sleeve.

He called me from work and said that he already arranged for a sitter to come and stay with the kids. He wanted me to be ready by 5 p.m. and dressed in casual dressy. What? Is that an oxymoron? So, I picked up the girls from their Thursday electives class (which has been great, thankyouverymuch), and hurried home to get ready. I decided to go for my nice, but faded clam digger type capris (can you tell I don't know what they're called?) and my colorful hippy shirt with my black wedge slides.

He gets home and gives me the once over.

"Hmmm....you look nice, but maybe your black knee pants or something (can you tell he doesn't know what these are either?).

So, I change into my black capris.

"Oh, you meant dressy casual? Not casual dressy?" I say.

Anyway, we hustle out of the house and head out. This is when he tells me that we are on our way to Los Angeles (easily an hour away with no traffic). Okaaaaaaaaaaayyyy...what does that mean???, I wonder.

He hands me a gift bag and a card while. I read the card first (Isn't that the polite thing to do - rather than dive right into the gift?)...of course it makes me cry. He filled up the whole left side of the card with sentiment, recollections and promises for our future. He's the best...*sigh*

OH! You're still waiting! I'm sorry... I got caught up in the moment. He told me to look in the bag - so I did.

It was this:

What? What does this mean? Are we...? Could it be?... We haven't been to a "show" since I was pregnant with my first (she will be 13 soon...)

I look over at him and he has a big grin on his face.

We were going to go see Wicked the Musical.

Oh.my.word.

So, we did. It was awesome. I loved all of it. The music, the drama, the humor - oh, my goodness the humor. You all know I like a good laugh and I did laugh. Many times. Out LOUD.

The best part of the evening? Being with my best friend. Leaning in to him during the show, laughing hard together, looking at each other with knowing looks when some of the lines in the show reminded us of recent events (other people) in our lives.

Once again, he really surprised me. That's 15 years straight. I didn't expect anything big, I never do, but he also knows that I love the fact that he has thought ahead to plan something special for me.

I love you Oso!...no that's not my dog...I mean that's his name, but oh, nevermind!

15 Years Ago...

I said, "I do" to my best friend. Now, here we are with 4 beautiful children and more in love than ever. I am the luckiest girl on this planet to have found the perfect man! I wouldn't trade him for anything.
We usually go away for our anniversary. He has always "whisked" me away to some place that he secretly planned. Sometimes, we went all out and others, when things were kind of "tight", we stayed local. We've gone on trips to La Jolla, San Clemente, New York/D.C., Long Beach, Ventura, Big Bear...
This year, because of different circumstances, we won't be going out of town...well, we will - but not for this... ANYWAY, what I wanted to say is - I am okay with staying here. I am happy with him no matter where we are. Seriously. We've gotten to the point where we are just glad to be in each others company.
I will be sure to update you with a photo, because I am sure that we will be going out to dinner. I just wanted to take this time to tell him that I love him and I am thankful that he is in my life. I could not ask for more. Love you!

Wordless Wednesday: School is in session!

Random photos and summers end...

Thought I'd post some random pics from the summer. School starts tomorrow. Where did the summer go? I have no idea, but it's always too short. I had a big 'ole post that I wrote up. It was deep. Lot's of pondering thoughts and what not. Decided I'd sit on it for a while.

Before I get into the photos, I thought I'd thank those of you that stop by and read my blog. I'd love to hear who you all are. How about giving me a little "shout out" that you were here? Some of you leave regular comments (which I love), but many of you just flit through and I'd love to know you better. =] Have a great week Bloggers!

Taryn got a Webkinz and spent a lot of time this summer figuring it out. She's hooked!

Hannah is playing the guitar and will continue lessons at school.

Marco walks and gets some big boy shoes!

Spent many, many hours out here.

Scrapbooking....

Card making...better than idle time, right?

Marco finally gets some of his own toys. No more borrowing the Barbie car to play. LOL

Attended my niece's Quincenera (Sweet 15th) Dedication

Went bowling with Uncle Jaime

Marco's first trip to the beach.

Spent time with friends. This is my dear friend Miriam...

and our dear friends Lorany and Robert

Lots of summer fun with the youth group. Here are just a few of them at my house after a video scavenger hunt.

We finally got a chance to go to the San Diego Zoo. Awesome!

Got closer to my hubby. He's such a hard worker, yet he always makes time for me and the kids!

Amazing Casting Crowns concert. There are no words.

August 12 on 12

I knew that I wanted to take things slow today - I needed it - then I realized it was 12 on 12 day! Ugh. How could I "jazz" up my day? Well...nevermind. It's supposed to be a day in the life - right? So here it is. My exciting day. =]

Gotta love my Senseo breakfast blend coffee with vanilla creamer. Yes, it must be in this mug. I just like how it fits in my hand...oh, and I have this thing for pumpkins. LOL

First one to wake up and of course, every morning, she greets me with a "Good Morning Mom." in her sleepy voice.

The girls and I had to run to a friend's house and I told the girls to make sure they ate something before we went...well, there were no "quick fix" lunch items so I ended up being a "dollar-naire" at Pollo Loco. LOL We all got something and the grand total was $5.35 =]

Uh oh...looks like we need to fix someone's straps on the car seat! Eek! That's not good.

Hannah got sucked into the Twilight series and we had gone to D's house to pick up the second book. Here's D's girls seeing us off after our great visit with them.

My little guy is getting way too big for this car seat carrier. He was on fast forward mode the whole time at D's house. He fell asleep the second we got him into the van in his seat.

Had to get home and cook up some dinner before Marco and I headed out for work. Actually, he would be coming home from work, eating dinner and going right back out to work with me. Poor guy - such a hard worker...never complains. Anyway, here's some boneless skinless chicken tenderloin grilling...oops! Looks like I got messy with the seasoning.

Here's dinner. Grilled chicken salad. Everybody likes a different dressing. Marco likes 4 cheese Italian, I like the red wine salad spritzer and the kids love Ranch...well, who doesn't like Ranch, right? Naomi calls Ranch dressing "dipper". She associates it with chicken nuggets. lol

These popsicles have been a great treat this summer.

The prices are getting a little better at some of the stations.

Ugh. The carts. See those frames at the end of the carts? That's where the ads go that I change out every month. This chain of stores actually will not be continuing with us, so I have been removing every frame at every store for the last couple of weeks. A job not for whimps. Yuck.

This is what I came home to. Looks like my little guy was looking for something. LOL He was probably looking for a guy toy among all those girly things. =]

There's my day. I came home late, hugged my kids, soaked in the bath and started finally reading Twilight. I was going to read it first, but Hannah got a hold of it. She's done and on to the second one so I can finally start! See ya 'round!

It is but for a moment...

My pastor (my sweet husband) preached a message this Sunday that is still with me today. I have been playing the Scripture he shared over and over in my mind. My heart has been heavy lately with some things that I think I do have control over - but lost it - and some things that I don't have control over at all. I don't like it when things are "unsure" or "unsettled". I like a plan. I like to know what to expect...no, I am not a control freak. Why do you ask? *Ehem*

Anyway, he preached from 2 Corinthians 4:15-18 which says:

15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Aren't those verses powerful? I was so encouraged by it. We can not understand why bad things happen to good people. We will never understand why storms come into our lives, but let's remember that they are but for a moment.

Remember when you went through that hardship a while back? At the time, it seemed impossible to get through - but you did. Now, it is but a memory. You may have even grown from the situation. I know that when it rains, it pours. Yes, some things will not pass away as easily, but it is what life is all about. We have to take the good and the bad.

Do not be discouraged my friend. Like I said, my heart has been heavy and still is in some areas, but I feel as if the burden was made lighter by this Scripture reference.

It is my prayer, for all of my friends and family out there, that you will look on that which you can not see - not just what is in front of you - and have faith. Be strong. You too can be renewed day by day.

He is...

So, I wanted to try out Wordle. It was something I had seen on a few of my friends' blogs. It was pretty cool! I want to add more words to this, but thought I'd go ahead and post what I've already done. You should try it, too! (If you click on it, it will enlarge)

A necessary thing....

So my posts have been a little blah and generic lately. I know that. You don't even have to tell me! It's just that I have been really going through a lot these days. I think there may have been too much to even blog about, things that I can not really even find the words for. *sigh* I can't even fix that preposition that is dangling at the end of that last sentence. I will move on...even though it is hurting my knee. LOL

I have been wanting to write. I have been aching to write, but it won't come. So, I decided to ramble and just type. Maybe that will at least loosen things up. Ugh, another blasted preposition!

I had one of the best evenings ever last Friday. My dear husband suggested that I take our oldest daughter out for some one on one time with mom. I had a gift card to a restaraunt that I had been saving for Marco and I, but he insisted that I use it on her. We have been very busy lately, working a lot of extra hours and will be working even more hours this week. Hannah has been helping so much. Not only does she watch the kids, but she cooks, cleans up and more.

He was right. It would be good for both of us. So, Girls Night Out it was! We went to Applebees and decided we would get the special. It had a starter, main course and mini dessert. Perfect!

Afterward, we went to the Plaza. We wanted to head straight over to the Borders bookstore (she's hooked on a new series of books - thanks Desiree!), but heard some great Swing/Big Band music and decided to see what was going on. There was a live band playing in the center of the plaza. I wish I would have gotten some pictures of it! It was great. We sat and listened then finally ventured over to Borders. We browsed, got something from the Coffee place and I bought her a little something that she had been eyeing, but knew we didn't really have extra money for it and so she didn't even ask. She had gone to use the bathroom and while I was waiting, I thought that it was the least I could do for her.

I am really blessed to have such a great daughter. We really had some good talks that evening and of course, we laughed our heads off! She's becoming a bright, beautiful young lady - wow! How did that happen? I thanked God for her and thanked my hubby for the great idea. He knew that we needed it and I love him for that.

Husband Spotlight!

I've been tagged by Lee ... keep reading to see if YOU have been tagged!

So here we go...


What is his name? Marco, Daddy, or Pastor

How long have you been married? It will be 15 years this month!

How long did you date? Almost 4 years

How old is he? Almost 38!

Who eats more? He does, but unfortunately, I can usually keep up if I had to. LOL

Who said I love you first? He did. It kind of slipped out, but then he stuck with it. =]

Who is taller? He is.

Who sings better? That would probably be me, but he's not bad either. I like singing WITH him when he is serious.

Who's temper is worse? Mine. Move along...

Who does the laundry? Me usually, but he knows how and will when he needs something right away. =D

Who pays the bills? He makes the money, I write the checks. Ha!

Who cooks dinner? That would be me...or Hannah. She is awesome in the kitchen!

Who mows the lawn? Hmmm...we had a lawn guy, but I don't think that happens anymore. He does when it gets out of control and he can find the time.

Who wears the pants in the family? Let's just say that he is in charge. Of course, there are some things that he will gladly leave in my hands like the school work, the house stuff.... he will totally get involved if we need him to, but otherwise - he has enough on his plate.

OK, so I need to tag someone ... I think everyone has had this on their blog already! LOL I tag...Esther, Rachel and Desiree! Now go!

Wordless Wednesday: These shoes were made for walking...