Snorkel Trip

When we went on our snorkel trip to Molokini we rented an underwater camera. It was SO worth it because we got some pretty cool pics. I finally have had time to upload them tonight. I hope you enjoy them!

More pics

I thought I'd share a few more from our trip. It's hard to decide which ones because I took a lot.

My parents got in late last night, boy were they beat. We've been trying to recoup all weekend. We're just so tired.

We came home to a huge surprise-my mother in law had our home professionally cleaned, laundry done and the carpets cleaned! I can't even tell you how amazing that feels to have it all super clean at once. I may have to look into that!

Saturday night we took Austin to go see the Dark Knight. I had no interest in seeing this. WOW! It was SO good! Heath Ledger did an amazing job. He seriously should get an academy award for his performance. I need to go back and watch "Batman Begins." This new series is something else!

Work-I have a lot coming up that I'm super excited about! Our Luau crop is this Saturday and it is going to be awesome! So many fun things planned and great food to accommodate it. It is sold out, but be on the watch for the next big crop in the fall. Vendor fair-a mini CHA at the end of the month. With the rising costs of fuel and airfare, a lot of stores opted not to go to Chicago this year. So they collaborated and are hosting the vendor fair. Still all the fun-make and takes, new product and great socializing....can't wait! Karen & I will be going to Creative Escape-Sept 3-6th. The Red Bee's "Tour de Crop" the end of September. I'll be your tour guide! I had such a blast last time, can't wait for this one! I know there is more in the works, do keep up with the calendar of events!

Gotta run, have a great week!

Home

I'm really happy to be back home. It was such a long day yesterday. We didn't get in until 1am. (we had a star sighting! Ozzy & Sharon were in the security line right behind us. Then they got a police escort and I heard Ozzy say he's at gate 23. SO ARE WE!!! They were on our flight on the way home. He was really super nice and posed for pictures. I didn't take any, I guess I'm just too timid to ask and don't want to be a bother.) Zach was zonked and the 3 of us were starving. We had picked up some In & Out on our way home and I think we made it to bed about 2am. Our trip was amazing and I can't say there was one bad thing about it. Maybe some things I wouldn't do again, but you have to learn from experience. I told my kids ahead of time that I would be taking lots and lots of pictures and that I didn't want any grief or ugly faces. They were amazingly cooperative and didn't give me those nasty boy faces that I know they can make. So here are a few pics. If I had bought my new camera before, I'm sure I would have taken triple! I have a lot of learning to do this summer with it.

We had a small scare right before we left for Maui. I had drove my Grandma home on Friday June 27th and on Monday June 30th she had gone to the doctors for some tests and her pulse was so low that they called 911. She had a pacemaker put in on July 1st and we weren't sure she'd be able to go with us. The doctors said to go....you'll be fine. So she flew out with my parents on July8th. My Grandma is a real trooper and has been through so much the last few years. Two kinds of cancer that she still gets regular chemo for, lymphedema and now a pacemaker. I'm so thankful that she's doing well and you'd never know she has all these problems if you were to look at her. Today I went to my friends moms funeral and my heart just ached for her. My other friend was there that lost her mother too a few years ago and I just can't even imagine. I cherish all the times I have with my Grandmother and am so thankful for her strength. With that said, goodnight!

Aloha!

Just wanted to say hi real quick. I should be in bed, tomorrow we're driving to Hana and it's going to be a long day! Our trip has been amazing so far and we don't want it to end. Though I could do without all the creatures that show up in our bathroom! I've had a giant cockaroach, a gecko, and a weird worm that look like a snake! Yuck, yuck, yuck! I've taken so many pictures I can't wait to scrap them! Found a great scrapbook store here that makes their own laser die cuts, paper and mini books. I spent waaaay too much there, but it's totally one of a kind stuff that I couldn't help it. :) Oh yeah...Costco here has an amazing package deal on a Canon Rebel XTi with a bag,2 lens (1 zoom lens), a 1gb card, and some other frills that I'm going to get on my way home. I'd wait til I get home, but tax here is half of what it is in California and if I can save $40 or $50 bucks, isn't it worth it?

Joann, got the emails, thanks a million! I'm going to need that Photoshop class now!
Thanks for the heads up Erika! Holy cow!!!

Jenn, I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart just ached when I read your email. I will be at the service on Friday.

Hope to post some pics when I get home this weekend.

Mahalo!

Saturday

Wow....so much time has passed by again! Life just seems crazy busy and is only going to stay that way until we leave THURSDAY!!! Small recap....my family went to Yosemite and came back Thursday. Yesterday I drove my Grandma back to Palm Desert. My sister tagged along. We planned an impromptu photo shoot with Joann for this morning. It's really hard to get everyone all together at once, so I'm happy it worked out. Zach had his soccer, I had a hair appt. Tomorrow I work and then Monday & Tuesday I have to pack. Wednesday I have my QK Club and then that's it......we'll be off! Don't know if I'll get the chance to blog between now and leaving. If I don't....ALOHA! See ya in a couple of weeks!

The Green isn't working for me

I decided this green background is yucky! Thought I'd change it up so I'll be playing around with it. :)

What a busy couple of days I've had! My sister flew in Thursday afternoon....my brother Garrett took the boys to the beach that same day and then later that night we all had In and Out. My sister craves it when she comes to California because they don't' have it in NY. Friday I drove out to Palm Desert to get my Grandma and bring her back to my parents. They all left for Yosemite Saturday morning. That drive (to P.D) is long and boring.....but I had my sister with me and we talked the entire time! I even made her go to Collective Journey with me on my way out. I thought she'd crash on their couch, but she was really impressed and liked all the cute decorated projects. I'm thinking about making her a mini-book of her Yosemite trip if I can sneak her camera away and upload her pics!

So I have a crazy story to tell, and it's a long one. On Saturday...the freaking HOTTEST day on earth, Zach started his Little Kicks Soccer. Thank goodness it was indoors. Then we were invited to a birthday party somewhere in L.A. Let me see if I can explain this. My husband's aunt, Bertina, has lived on the same street for 20 years and so have her neighbors Jack & Letty. Well Jack is Jewish and from Israel (as is my husband and his family, but his mom&aunt were born in Romania) and Letty is Hispanic. They weren't ever able to get pregnant and finally had a child 2 years ago, Eran. It was his party. So is this sounding weird so far? I have never met these people, but Ryan has. Any ways, it must be a cultural thing to invite extended family/friends. Could you imagine? So were at this party and Letty has gone all out on the decorations, food, entertainment. It really was a good time. My mother in law went too and she knows all these people. It's like all the Jewish/Romanians know one another, it's weird. (could I possibly say weird any more? hee-hee) So we're sitting there and this lady comes up and she looks a little familiar....can't place her. Then after she walks away Ryan's aunt says she is Shia LaBeouf's mom! OMG!!!! She (the mom) said if he wasn't filming he would have been there too. ( But she never mentioned his name in conversation, it was like everyone knew.) Apparently Jack owned a factory and Ms. LaBeouf worked for him when Shia was a small boy, like 5. Now there's an immediate connection because he's Jewish and from Israel and I believe she is too and I guess Jack is an amazing person and helps her and Shia out financially for years and basically he (Jack) is considered Shia's uncle! SO INTERESTING! I just kept thinking on the drive home, wouldn't that have been something if he was there!

Today we're just trying to stay cool like everyone else in So Cal. Getting some stuff ready for our trip....can't believe it's just 10 days away! Stay cool!

Wednesday

Tomorrow my sister flies in for 11 days! I'm really excited to see her. Last time she was here we didn't spend any time together because she was here for a friends' wedding and only stayed a few short days. She is going to Yosemite for a few days with my parents and then will be back. We're having a "girls night out" on Friday. My cousin and her friend will be going. Can't wait!

I was browsing blogs today and found out about this Etsy shop. I know this lady from scrapbooking and knew she made her own jewelry. It is gorgeous and wanted to share it with you!

Tomorrow is Austin's last day of school....YEAH! Tonight I'm scrapbooking at the Bee, please forgive me if I'm a tired wreck tomorrow! I haven't scrapbooked on a weeknight in about a year!

Stay cool!

Tuesday

First off I'm SO GLAD that Erika posted about Dinosaur Live yesterday. We had just watched a little snippet on BBC about it. I had no idea it was coming here! So we bought tickets last night. I really think it's going to be an amazing show and I can't wait. (Erika, we are going Sunday @5pm section 207 row F. Ryan said to buy the best seats we could. Acck! I agree, hope it's not too scary.)

Our trip is getting closer.....16 more days! Bought our luggage this weekend. I think I'm done with buying things for this trip. Now we're trying to figure out an itinerary for the 2 weeks so we utilize our time well while we're there with my parents.

I got to scrap a little on Saturday while I helped with our crop. I haven't scrapped in close to a month. I feel so out of the loop and I'm so far behind. I feel like I've lost my sense of style with it. I know that sounds weird, but with all that's been going on scrapbooking has been put on the back burner a lot lately. I am working to finish my book that I took with Suzy, but it's hard since I have no pictures yet. I am going to go crop on Wednesday night with a group of gals that are the Bee's "regulars." They are such a fun group of ladies. I know I'll pay dearly for going on a weeknight! Here's a few layouts I worked on. (kind of boring) Thanks for looking!

12 days late and $200 short!

It's not what you think....

Madonna tickets. Boo-hoo. I didn't know they were on sale. *sniff-sniff* They went on sale on June 1st apparently. Not that it really matters, becuase I wouldn't want the "cheap" seats. And how sad is this...the cheap seats are $98! Doesn't she know that I have wanted to see her for the last 18 years but just can't pay $350 for a decent ticket? I would be willing to pay the $165, but not to sit up in the nose bleed seats.....I just can't do it. And besides, all her decent venues would be a weekend (or midweek) trip. Which that equals to more $$$$ My girlfriend Sandra and I have had a pact for years that we will see her in concert some day.........some day when money grows on trees!

My brother's graduation was really nice. After the ceremony they lit fireworks. How cool is that? It was funny after the ceremony my parents looked at one another and said, "well that's it!"

Have a great weekend....I have an all day crop I'm helping with tomorrow and then we are going out for Father's Day.

Happy Graduation Garrett!

My baby brother graduates in about 3.5 hours. I can't believe it. I remember the day he was born and babysat him all through the years and now he's done with high school. We're going to dinner in about 40 minutes then it's off to Fullerton Stadium. This seems to be the most flattering picture I have of him. He's a goof ball so all the others aren't as nice. :)

Monday

I know I haven't blogged in sometime, but we (I) seriously have been so busy! My QK Club last week was great! I had four new ladies come and 3 of them joined, so we're at 18 members. I'm so jazzed about that. Ryan had school Thursday night and Austin & I left at 4am on Friday so all day on Thursday I was cleaning so I wouldn't have to do it this weekend. Saturday morning Ryan left to go golfing with my dad out at my Grandma's and came back Sunday with my Grandma to celebrate my baby brother's graduation. Today I'm just trying to catch up!

Sacramento was interesting. I wouldn't say the trip was "fun" because I truly was exhausted. The tour guide had us on a tight, tight schedule. Here are a few pics from that;

Austin would have stayed all weekend, he really enjoyed the tour. I was so ready to be home by the time we ate dinner, but it was great that he and I spent a whole day together because we don't get very many of those.

So have I mentioned we leavefor Hawaii in 23 days?! We're all getting so excited. Today I shopped for some luggage. Gonna check a couple more places out. If anyone has any reccommendations I'd love to hear them.

Saturday I went to Diane's to buy a bathing suit. I took my mother in law and the boys. It was such a nice day I thought they might enjoy going to Corona Del Mar. I was wrong. They were so cranky. Oh well! I ended up getting a tankini by Sunsets....it's called "Ginger Black." Black background with blue hibiscus flowers. The tankini part is a halter and then ties in the back like a bikini top and is open. Strange I know. But I love it and can't wait for it to get here! We also got 6 cupcakes from Sprinkles. Oh my! I had only ever had one once. We bought Strawberry, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Red Velvet, Banana Chocolate, Dark Chocolate and Black & White. (we really like chocolate) Oh thank goodness this place is FAR AWAY! They were so worth the $19.50!

I've been seriously exercising for the last 3 1/2 weeks. Lots of walking, situps and doing some weights to slim my arms down. Well yesterday I kicked it up a notch and jogged. I don't run. Ever. I did for about 15 minutes and today for about 20. My legs hurt. I figure most people that run are skinny so there must be something to this running business! I'm planning on doing it everyday until we leave. Ok, every opportunity that I have which has been about 4-5 times a week. I'm hoping for a miracle......

This post is waaaaay longer than I expected, so I'll cut it off for now. Peace out!