Just Some Pics

I took these photos with my Blackberry's camera, through my windshield, so I appologize for the quality,

but it did capture what I was trying to.

Isn't the wonder of God's creation so amazing? The sky looked painted on, and the colors were so vived yet soft, it was hard to look away

I think that this one is my favorite of the two. The telephone pole is reminiscent of a cross - I didnt take this photo on purpose! Isn't it amazing that He is everywhere all at once? Just another gentle reminder that there is Someone always watching over us. I LOVE IT!

Crafty Crafts

I'm one of those moms that does crafts with my kids.

Here are some things that we have been working on lately, gearing up for the Fall season and of course practicing for Christmas, when everyone will be blessed with a little piece of Justice's imagination and energy.

Handprint Flowers in Justice-painted toilet paper tube vase.

The sign she made for her door. Move over, bullseye target! lol

door hangers and bookmarks for family

The candy corn people. (Mommy made the one top left, just to show her how to do it.)

She put on ALL the stickers with no help!

She loves all the foam stickers, and that makes it nice and practically mess-free to make people things!

The paper-plate angel is still a work in progress.

Mommy painted these toilet paper tubes so Justice can make some "people" out of them later.

It's Time...

After Kayden got a big boy haircut, Justice was feeling a little left out.

So Kevin and I decided that it was time to get her out of the carseat that she was in, and into a big girl high-backed booster.

She is so excited to use a seatbelt now, and not be strapped in like Kayden.

She really is a big girl, and we are very proud of her.

Big Boy Haircut!

Kayden got his very first BIG BOY haircut on Tuesday. Yes, I finally talked my mom into cutting off all the baby fuzz! He was sooo mad (understatement) to be held down, but he looks like such a big boy now!

We celebrated by buying him hir very first pair of big boy shoes. No more crib shoes or baby sandals. Real big boy sneakers like Daddy's!

The "before".

No, Grammy, get away!!

He was still upset after his haircut, but he loves his grammy.

The back. See! He still has his curls...

Here is Kayden and his bigger boy shoes!

That evening we took the kids to Applebees (where kids eat free) with our friends the Brucias.

I have never seen two kids as happy as mine to get balloons!

Shout Out

...to the loving, supportive and completely awesome friends that sent me a care package while I was down-and-out..

Arent those lovely gifts to receive when you are recovering from surgery?

Thanks, ladies. You sure know how to make a girl (and hubby) turn 3 shades of red...

LOVE YOU!!!

Prayer Warrior

It means different things to different people. To me, the essence of a Prayer Warrior resonates in someone who loves to pray. Someone who takes makes many opportunities throughout the day (and night) to pray.

I have never concidered myself to be a 'warrior' for prayer, but lately I have found myself on my knees a lot more.

A good friend of mine is sick. Without going in to details, this woman is amazing. She battles illness on a daily basis, but now she has more health issues. It is frustrating that she lives so far away. I hurt that she hurts.

An Aunt of mine found a lump. Yes, ladies, in the place where all of us dread finding a lump, my aunt found one. She doesnt know much yet, and has a mamogram on 10/1. Im hoping to report that it is nothing at that time.

Another childhood friend has polycystic ovarian disease and it's pretty scary. A good friend, who was the pregnant Matron of Honor at my wedding is now getting a divorce. They have 2 small boys, and it is sad.

My FIL seems to be on the attack lately, being an all-around jerk, and it adds to the state of constant stress I live in.

Kevin is going to a school in San Diego for 5 days at the end of the month. As if it's not bad enough that I have to be a married-single parent while he is home, he is going to be gone for 5 days (3 of which are his regular days off, which is why this is going to be difficult)!

So given these circumstances, I have turned back to doing the only thing that seems to make complete sence: praying. Not that I would consider myself a prayer warrior...yet. But there is always room for improvement.

*lightbulb! Maybe my purpose through all these circumstances is to learn how to pray better? To learn how to become a prayer warrior......hhhmmm........

Lodi Grape Festival

Thursday (091709) I took the kids to the Lodi Grape Festival with our friend Jenna. Justice and Jenna went on a few rides and the kids got new (cute) hats. We enjoyed some fresh strawberry lemonade and kettle corn. Kayden enjoyed a corn dog, and the kids were pretty wore out after a couple hours, so we got chinese food (where we ran into Gramy) for dinner and went home.

Here are some pictures from our exciting day. Truthfully, I am glad it is over and I don't have to go back until next year. It's not that bad when you go early on a weekday, and leave before all the degenerate east-siders show up.

Justice looks like such a big girl!

Justice on the ferris wheel all by her big-girl self!

Justice having fun Justice on the train ride Me and the kids with their new hats at the Festival Kayden is soooo cute!!! taking a sip of Mommy's strawberry lemonade Justice on the biggest horse on the carousel Justice wasn't big enough to ride on the motorcycle by herself, so they stuck her on the back of an already occupied one. Bummer! Kayden enjoyed a corn dog. My favorite grape mural My next favorite. I love Nightmare Before Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving! This mural was awesome. Kayden being goofy with his hat Justice in her new cowgirl hat

THRIVE!

THRIVE! started last night for the kids. It was awesome to be able to finally get Justice (AND Kayden, which is new) involved deeper in the church, and into scripture. The Bear Creek THRIVE! program is similar to the Awana program. Only different. (lol). It runs Sept 16th - March 31st. It was considerably cheaper than Awanas, at only $25 per child. Justice got a cool t-shirt to wear, and an adorable little tote bag to bring home all her goodies in. The t-shirts are color coordinated by age group, which makes it safer and easier for leaders to keep track of their kids. Class sizes are kept low, for safety and so that leaders can spend one-on-one time with each child to help them with their memory verse, or the craft, or really anything a child might need help with. Kevin sat in last night, because it was the first meeting of the year, to observe. He bounced back and forth (just across the hallway) between Justice's and Kayden's room. What was also terrific was that I was meeting for Bible Study right around the corner from where the kids are (Bait of Satan - LOVE IT!) . Because I still am hesitant to leave my children in the care of the church, this eased my anxieties. Thanks, in part, to Zoe Blue, the nursery director, who has made it a point to know my children -by name- and check on them during services. (Justice is still in the Bear Cubs room for kids aged 2-3, right across the hall from where Kayden is in the 1-2 year olds room. That is one slight difference from where we were going to church, where we had Justice in with the 4 year olds. The pace seemed to match her a little better with kids older.)

Bear Creek has been a good place for us to go these past few months, and we are taking the member's class 101A this Sunday. It seems to be a good fit for our family and we are happy to call it home. One thing that really sets the tone for Sunday worship is the greeters, and the morning fellowship time. People seem to genuinely want to say hello. It is contagious, I am afraid. I am not one to jump out of my seat and seek strangers out at church (or anywhere, for that matter), and I dont think that I have the personality of a 'people-person' but it is refreshing to take 3 minutes out of your Sunday morning and say hello to people who have jumped out of their seats just to shake your hand.

Another thing that I prefer about this church to others that we have been to, is the prayer connection. During the times of worship, there are leaders at the front of the sanctuary , eager to pray with you. There is also a place, near the 'altar' (if you can call it that?) that you can go and take your prayers to God by yourself. They have an on-site bookstore which has already proven helpful, and the BCCC family has very strong 'One Church' principles.

Post-Op

Monday was my post-op appointment with Dr. Hickox. He removed my stitches and commented on how "strained" my incisions looked, but other than that, said I should be completely healed in another 6 weeks.
Kevin asked Dr. Hickox "is there a reason she should still be in pain?" And he said (Dr. Hickox reminds me of a funny gay guy who should have been in The Hangover) "Well, yeah! She had major surgery through little holes!". His attitude was hilarious! But it was relieving that I'm still supposed to be uncomfortable, since I am.
He also said that without treatment, I stand a 50% chance of my endometriosis coming back in a year, and my abdoninal/lower back pain, and the pain I have when I relieve myself, will return with no warning - even if there is no endo!
There is an agressive treatment that would keep me pain free for about 8-10 months and endo free for a year. Here is the catch: if I take this treatment, there is a 75% chance that my endo will retun in 2-3 years.
We (kevin and I) elected to go with the treatment - at least it can gaurentee me being pain-free for a while and that sounds marvelous to me. The treatment is Lupron injections every 4 weeks for 6 months. These shots will basically slow my ovarian production of estrogen down so much that my body will think I'm going through menopause. To combat menopausal side effects (hot flashes, mood swings, etc) I will have to take supplimental hormones (basically estrogen) in pill form.

Lodi K9 Trial

September 12, 2009 was Lodi Police Department's annual Police K-9 Trial. (They've been held every year for about the last 20something, but this was the 6th year it has been dedicated to the memory of Art O'Keefe, who used to be one of the K9 team's favorite agitators). The morning started out wayyy too early at 6am, before the sun was up, we were out at Tony Zupo field, putting up shades, and setting up. Yes, "we". That includes me and both my kids. I have had the responsibility for the past 3 years, to sell t-shirts during the k9 trial. Because I have been so graciously volunteered by my husband for this duty, I am usually unable to take pictures, or enjoy the trial experience. I was able to watch Kevin and Bronx compete during each phase, and I was able to snap a couple pictures this year.

The rain clouds were hovering all day long, but we only got sprinkled on a couple times. I made the kids shirts this year. They turned out ok.. ... "Team Bronx" ...

Kevin and Bronx won 4th Place in Agility! He is turning into a regular trial dog! (j/k kev!)

Bronx biting the ‘bad guy’ during the Protection phase.

Kayden only napped once, for about 10 minutes. But he was sooo cute!

A Little More Landscaping

Another phase of our landscaping project has started! Yes!! I am happy to report that we got most of the weedblock laid, and we also got out old flagstone pieces laid in one section of the front yard. WooHoo!

Most everything that we have wanted to do has been put on hold because of the LPD K9 Trial today and tomorrow. (ugh!) So hopefully now that the trials are just about over, we can get back to doing some more work on our yard. I am really excited to get more done before the fall and rain set in.

The view from the driveway.

The flagstone around the pepper tree.

View from the front door. I can't wait to get more flagstone and a few plants put in on the left!

'Color Me' House

Today I went to Costco with my mom and I bought Justice an Kayden the 'Color Me' House. It is awesome!! It is just a cardboard box made to look like a little house, that you put together. I never thought that I would ever have paid $20 for cardboard before, but this totally rocks. Justice had a blast coloring, stamping, and sticker-ing the playhouse while Kayden was napping.

This playhouse is most definately NOT going to stay in the livingroom, but for now, until I decide which of the kids' rooms it will go in, it is only obtrusive if you sit on the far side of the couch.

Enjoy the pictures I took of the 'Color Me' House, and Justice decorating it:

Justice and the 'Color Me' House after about an hour of decorating.

Justice putting on some stickers

Side view: before

Kayden Update

Kayden Noah will be 18 months old on Saturday 9/5. He has hit a growth spurt and I am anxious for his 18 month check-up so I can see if the doctors measurements match my suspicion. Along with growing physically, it seems Kayden is learning things so quickly. He can count to "four", he has hit the climbing stage and he seems to be getting into everything! Definitely becoming a little BOY and not a baby anymore. He has such an adorable personality and he is learning how to push my buttons. He is trying to manipulate Mommy with fake cries, and pouty faces. If he wasn't so adorable, I'm sure it wouldn't work at all!

I caught Kayden climbing in the bookshelf this morning. It was funny until he got stuck, but I had to catch it with my camera.

Here is Kayden when he climbed up on a kitchen chair to reach the computer.

Here is a quick video I got of Kayden counting to three. He can count to four, and one day I'll catch him! lol

Addressing the Address

The blogging community seems to be buzzing about Obama's address to public school children slated for September 8th. I must admit that I am a little confused. I think that the question at the forefront of my mind is: Why is the President going to address pre K-12th grade students? I understand that Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush gave nationally televised address to students. But why now? Why again? What possibly does he have to say? And... would I want my children to hear it??

Don't get me wrong, I do not believe that Obama is the Antichrist. But I also do not believe that he is a good man, with traditional Christian values - and that scares me. I haven't seen yet where parents have the right to opt their children OUT of watching the address. That also concerns me. Why can't this address be a televised-in-the-evening type of thing, where parents have a firm grip on their children, and the opportunity to filter what is said through their own standards/beliefs? I feel like this is an evasive attack on the nation's children. Something about the whole thing just doesn't feel right to me.

Well, maybe this whole thing doesn't make sense, and maybe neither does this post. But there is my own 2 cents. Take it or leave it. :)

Thanks To Everyone!

Of all the flowers and cards that my gracious and loving friends have given/sent, I think the most unique plant is this one. It is just an ornamental pepper plant, but it is truly amazing to look at! Maleia and Shannon, some friends of mine from days of yore, stopped by for a surprise visit on Saturday. It was great to see them and hang out for a bit. Justice loved playing with Lily, Maleia's beautiful little girl. This plant suits me (it loves dryness and sun -i.e. hard to kill) and I enjoy looking at it. It is a reminder that something can be different and interesting still fit in in God's earth. Hhmm.... *wink*

Of all the generous gifts, the Hess' brought us dinner Monday night. Katrina made chicken feduccine alfredo, salad, and (mmmm-mmmmm) apple pie. And bonus: they stayed for Rockband! It was so nice to hang out and get to know them better. They are amazing people, Katrina and Kevin. Their sons are adorable and my kids love playing with them. They are all relatively close in age, so that makes it nice. And my Kevin and Kevin Hess do the same work. We have so much in common! It is great to have friends who "get" where you're at - if you know what I mean?

I can't mention gifts without saying thanks to Kimber and Erica for my box of goodies. Only a PW and true friend would know what would cheer me up so well. Thanks, from the bottom of my "heart". (I'll get you both back, you can count on it!)

I also got a Get Well Soon card from my Bible Study group, which made me smile. The Brucias brought me a nice daisy plant (my fave) to go with my relandscaped/in-the-process-of-being-finished front yard. Perfect!

I also got a pretty flower arrangement from First Baptist. I wish I knew who I could call and thank! Pink is my favorite color!