Sometimes you forget...

Sometimes you forget how things looked when you were a kid. Ya know? This week hanging out with T & D have made me remember how i felt when i was a kid, and what i did when i was a kid. I was trying to think back on those things that babysitters did for me when my parents were away. Or special place my grandparents took us when it was Christmas time. What was i thrilled to do when i was 10 with a really cool older person to hang out with? I admit, I'm the auntie who tries to be really cool & fun, but they just end up seeing as dorky. (As my family, they'll tell you!) But anyway, i had come up with some fantastic ideas. However, i know, they are boys, and i was a girl. There is a big difference there. 

Whenever I'm with the little guys tho, we always hit up the library! WOW! What a far way the library has come since even my days in college maybe 3 of 4 years ago! You can check out books online to see if it's there, transfer books from one library to the library of your choice, pay fees, and on and on! (even E -Books!) Anyway, i even got excited to go to the library a couple times! I remember being young and my mom always telling us that library books were dirty. I still think that today. I almost don't put it down on my bedspread for fear of the germs. I remember 100 pages seeming like a long book! Now i read a 500 page book in no time. But i miss the pictures =)

We snuck a few "late" night snacks in (frozen yogurt at 8pm!!) and a shake tonight after the Great Park Balloon ride (By the way, AWESOME RIDE, not so great park yet).

Driving "CRAZY" in the empty parking lot! (doughnuts and figure eights, OH yeah!).

And even some pep talks. Baby D, who is now 5, told me I'm not his best friend anymore. Since he was born, we have been best buds. I try not to play favorites with him, but we just were.  Anyway, i was heartbroken that my little guy is growing up. It's not cool to give me kisses anymore, or hold my hand in public, tell me he loves me in front of friends, etc...  While it wasn't a surprise, i was sad. I asked him, if i could just be his best friend that's a girl then! He said no, i can't be his girl friend.... 

About 10 min later, after a long pause (which i thought was due to the OREO shake), he said "DeeDee, even if you weren't so OLD, or i was older like you, AND you weren't married, cause uncle Brock wouldn't be happy, i still wouldn't be your boyfriend."... geeze. Thanks Drew. I asked why not. He said, just because. I'm his Auntie Dee, i wouldn't make a good girlfriend, only to Brock i would. Gotta love kid's perspective.

Later, i was sitting in bed, waiting for the hour long shower to be over, and he walks in. "DeeDee, why are you and Brock living with Uncle Danny?"

Me: "Because Mr. & Mrs. H are nice enough to let us live there so we can save money for a house! Plus, you know how uncle Brock is in the Army? HE is going to have to go away soon for a long time, and they want to keep me company so i am not so lonely while living by myself!"

D: "Well, why couldn't they just come stay with you at your apartment? I really liked your apartment. I could lay on the couch and pick one of uncle Brock's movies!..... (long pause)....... well i guess the herrings couldn't leave the house to be with you because of the bird. That's why I'm sure. They have to take care of Mrs. H's bird.".... 

I tried not to laugh. Yes, the only thing stopping my whole family from living with me in my 1 bdrm/1bath apartment was my mom's stupid dying bird. 

That's why i love kids perspective... don't you remember when you were a kid? What was important to you? What amazed you? What was the coolest thing?

I'm glad God gave us children to remind us how we should be in our faith of Him. But even more so, i wonder if its not just to see the simplicity of His love for us. 

• He loved us
• sent His Son
  
• gave us eternal live 
• =)

It's That Time of Year!

I can't believe it's already December 11th! I love this time of year. I love when you look outside and it's dark and dreary.  Makes ya want to snuggle up with a book by the fire. 

I want to bake cookies, and yummy dessert bard, bread and cakes. But i have no where to take it. And my husband wouldn't be happy to have all those sweets around the house. This makes me sad. 

I need a reason to bake ... Until then i will think about what i want to bake:

• Chocolate Chip Cookies
  
• Ultimate Bars
  
• Cheese Bread
  
• marshmellow bars
  
• mexican chocolate cake
  

One of those days...

Do you ever just have one of those days? Where you try to plan everything out just right, but of course, it just doesn't turn out that way!

Well, today T, D & I were planing on going to San Juan Capistrano on the train. We had to take mom & dad to the airport for their flight at 10. So we should be able to catch the 10:30 train, right?... 

WRONG! I passed the street to the Santa Ana Train Station. Then, we arrived 10 min before the train. AWESOME. But no parking, OF COURSE! After parking, RUNNING to the station and get there. We buy our tickets, run our there, and it leaves. AWESOME. Next train? 1.5hrs later.

Moving forward, 2 hours later... we go to the petting zoo at San Juan. What? $13 for 1 adult, 2 kids and 2 cups of food? RIP OFF! Whatever. We feed the Guinna pigs, the bunnies, etc... Head over to the goat pen. The goats ATTACK us. Seriously. Jumping, taking our food, etc... we ran out of there quick. 

So after we saw the Ostrich, Tortoise, Llama, pig and miniature horse we head over the the Mission.

The SJC Mission is beautiful no doubt. But HOARDS of kids come running out. SCHOOL FIELD TRIP. Awesome. We go inside to buy tickets... WHAT? $20 for the 3 of us to get in? Yeah right. With the attention span of a 5 & 10 year old, no way jose! 

So we end up eating lunch at Ruby's... great, 1 hour later, were waiting for the train. Of course we missed one by 5 min. So we wait the hour for the next one. I buy our tickets at the kiosk like the elderly man at the "help" booth told us. 2:40 rolls around and we hear the train. Walk on and the lady tells us we bought the wrong tickets! AWESOME! We run to the ticket counter, (where we can not get a refund for the other tickets we got) Thank GOD we got on the train. I would have killed myself.

So when mom & dad called tonight, guess what the highlights were of the day?:

-Dee got lost, we were late for our first train! We had to wait for an hour for the next one!

-We went to the zoo. The goat hit me in the crotch! 

-Dee bought the wrong tickets and we had to run, buy more and the get on the train.

Great... thanks guys... glad i made such and impression on you =)

What did you just say?

 

These kids kill me they are so funny...

While T & D were playing Lego Star Wars on Wii, D starts screaming at T : 

"TUSHHYYY, Get your big fat Jedi Booty outa my way!" 

What the heck is going on? Did you also know you can make a male & femail star wars whatever kiss eachother? The boys are chasing eachother around trying to kiss the other one. GREAT. Just what i needed... that and to explain how babies are really born when Padamae *sp* pops out two lego  babies at the end of the game. Do they realize who their audiance IS?

3 Doors Down: Citizen Soldier

http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJRthpxDM10

My friend, Kellie, shared this song with me. In these past couple years i feel like i have really become more aware of our soldiers. Brock's dad, John, was a marine, Our brother in law, Aaron ,was a marine, Dawna's boyfriend, is in the Navy. And now Brock, is in the Army:National Guard. But i never really paid attention to this song while it played at the movie theater. But now, that Brock is in the National Guard, and ironically, serving the weekend i saw this music video, it really hit me. I also have been helping Brock memorize the Army core values, and mission statement, etc... i guess I'm becoming a Army wife, but only slightly.... step by step. Which is nice for me.

I'm thankful that my husband hasn't shipped off.
I'm thankful i don't have to be alone... yet.
I'm thankful that my husband believes in what he is doing, and who he is serving.

I'm proud that my husband is here to protect and serve our country.
I'm proud that my husband is fighting for freedom.
I'm proud of my Citizen Soldier.

---------------------------------------

Beyond the boundaries of your city's lights,

Stand the heroes waiting for your cries.

So many times you did not bring this on yourself,

When that moment finally comes,

I'll be there to help.

On that day when you need your brothers and sisters to care,

I'll be right here.

Citizen soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair.

Standing on guard for the ones that we sheltered,

We'll always be ready because we will always be there.

When there are people crying in the streets,

When they're starving for a meal to eat,

When they simply need a place to make their beds,

Right here underneath my wing,

You can rest your head.

On that day when you need your brothers and sisters to care,

I'll be right here!

Citizen soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair.

Standing on guard for the ones that we sheltered,

We'll always be ready because we will always be there...

There... there... there...

Hope and pray that you'll never need me,

But rest assured I will not let you down.I'll walk beside you but you may not see me,

The strongest among you may not wear a crown.

On that day when you need your brothers and sisters to care,

I'll be right here!

On that day when you don't have the strength for the burden you bear,

I'll be right here!

Citizen soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair.

(Citizen soldiers)Standing on guard for the ones that we sheltered,

We'll always be ready because we will always be there.

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving! Baking, Eating, Family, Friends, More Eating!!! Shopping the day after, craft day with Laura, Shopping, Eating, Friends, Family! It was a busy busy week!!! But it was great seeing Brock's parents and sister & family.

Sunday we went to Church for our holiday one service. It was so great. I mean, our Church is wonderful, and i am so glad we are part of Calvary. It is great to see where our church is headed and where we have come from. But i have to say, Sunday was amazing. It was one of those services you leave, and you just feel amazed by God's grace and how he is working in His people! We are finishing up the book of Nehemiah. Pastor Dave has just been rocking my socks off. I love hearing Brent & Eric, but i miss hearing Pastor Dave as often. So anyway, he was amazing. I loved seeing our entire Church family praying around the Sanctuary! I have also been especially moved by this song we have been singing by Chris Tomlin: God of this City. It seems like this book of Nehemiah has come at such a pivotal time in our nations history and just for me personally.

I know it might be Christianise, or cliche, but sometimes there is just a song that i get so into! This song just so expresses Nehemiah and i want to this to be the desire of my heart, as it is His.

You're the God of this city

You're the King of these people

You're the Lord of this nation

You Are

For there is no one like our God

There is no one like our God

Greater things have yet to come

Great things are still to be done

In this city

Greater things are still to come

And greater things are still to be done here

You're the Lord of Creation

The Creator of all things

You're the King above all Kings

You Are

You're the strength in our weakness

You're the love to the broken

You're the joy in the sadness

You Are

Greater things have yet to come

Great things are still to be done

In this city

Where glory shines from hearts alive

With praise for you and love for you

In this city

Greater things have yet to come

Great things are still to be done

In this city

Greater things are still to come

And greater things are still to be done here