My Valentine ....

I just want to talk a little about my wonderful husband. I have truly married my soul mate-my one true love, as the fairy tales explain. I never knew that I would find someone so complimentary to myself, some one who is everything I'm not, everything I am, and everything I need. I will worn you right now, I'm NOT trying to brag, but I've decided that this Valentines (although a little late on the post) that I will write down some things I love about this man. I feel its not very often I actually sit down and think of things I appreciate and love about him. Life gets too busy sometimes to think about some of the most important things in life.....like love!
Russ is smart: I'm always learning something new with him. I swear whatever question I ask, he knows the answer. He loves learning and to tell people what he has learned.
Russ is giving: He's always willing to give a helping hand, especially with those stinky diapers and never ending dishes.
Russ is surprising: I love his little surprises, like coming home to a clean house (like this V-day), a little girl having clipped finger nails, or a very Yummy dinner made. I love when he's hiding around the corner and scares me to death, or creates a monster in the closet for me to be scared by-(I screamed really loud.) Ha ha. I love that I'm able to scare him right back...
Russ is Fun: We're always doing fun things and enjoying ourselves when doing them. We are spur of the moment kind of people and that always brings adventure. We've gone on many trips, seen many things, and enjoyed the company of many people. We always find fun and laughter with each others company-even when sitting at home. He is always having fun with Whitney-he always has her laughing. He is a fun Dad and a fun Uncle Russ-He plays with them like one of the kids!
Russ is wise: I think it takes a wise man to understand a woman. He seems to get me very well, sometimes too well. Also, I'm grateful he has made wise and righteous decisions in his life. Our family is blessed because of it.
Russ is ambitious: He worked and studied his guts out to get an education and now works hard at a job that allows me to stay home and be a mother. That is what I've always wanted to do and I'm every so grateful that he has made it possible for me.
Russ is my best friend!
Love you Russ! Thanks for being such a wonderful Valentine. All my love, XOXOXO

Momma comes to town

Last week we had the enjoyment of my Mother coming to visit for the week. We drove to LAX (2 1/2hr drive) on Saturday the 6th of Feb. That's my Dad's birthday, and what a better way to celebrate than to hang out with his wife! We were thrilled for her to come. The days get pretty boring around here, so I was thankful for the company.While she was here we went to Santa Barbara and walked the pier and window shopped.We went to Solvang and saw all the fun Danish shops.Went to Santa Maria and shopped, and ate at Red Robin-YUM! But what I enjoyed the most was hanging out at home messing up on our cross stitches, getting mad, then laughing at each other for screwing up.
Having a mother as a best friend is so much fun!!
GLAD YOU CAME TO VISIT MOM! MISS YOU ALREADY!
This week with out my mother I have been a little out of sorts. Whitney is a lot of fun and can be very entertaining, but the conversation is lacking just a little. I think Russ misses my mom a lot too since I tend to be a little clingier to him when he gets home. But what do you expect when your home with no one to go visit or talk to all day long. Two more weeks and we are home again. I love the weather, the sunsets, and the nice walks during the day, but I'm excited to be home again!!

BIG FAMILY WEEKEND!

On Saturday we drove a couple of hours south and spent the day at six flags. That evening, Rich, Lisa, and the kids met up with us. We headed back home to start our fun weekend.
It was pretty rainy most the time, but that didn't stop us from having fun. The kids loved watching fun cartoons and playing with toys. Us parents played games, ate good food, and enjoyed each others company. It all began with battling the children at stake conference for two hours. All four of us were happy to see it over-sadly. We were the only ones in the RS room and managed to barricade the kids in with chairs, but they were definitely restless. After church, eating lunch, and nap time, we headed out the door to explore the NASA base at Vandenberg Base. It was still pretty rainy and cloudy, but what we could see was interesting. There was a little four wheeling on the way since the GPS supposedly made the boys get lost.

The next day it rained cats and dogs till around noon. Finally the sun came out letting us go play for a while. We headed out to the base again to go see the ocean and play on the beach. I think Hanna had the most fun-ha ha....

She was being ever so careful not to get wet, and didn't even join the family in walking up to the waves and then running from them. Packer was the only one that couldn't beat the wave.
Packer and Rich went a head of us to explore the beach. Lisa, Kimball, Hanna, and I were on this big rock looking at the view of these huge waves. I was holding Whit, and Russ was heading over to get the camera from me, when all of the sudden a HUGE wave was heading toward us. We all scrambled to the highest point of the rock, Lisa managed to pick up Kimball, and Russ ran faster towards us to find higher ground. The wave came up and hit us about knee length...but as it hit, a huge log managed to sweep Hanna's legs out from under her and started dragging her back with it. Luckily Lisa was quick and grabbed her before she was swept away. She was covered head to toe with sand and sea water. Poor Hanna. She has vowed that she will NEVER go to the beach again. On a happy note, she did manage to find some sea shells.

We went home to change cloths then headed out for a fun afternoon in Solvang. We walked the town window shopping and the kids were lucky to get really cool suckers, while the parents were the suckers in paying too much money for the suckers. But a vacation is a vacation right?$!$!

That night we had pizza, put the kids to bed early, and played games with each other. I must mention, Lisa introduced me to a whole new way of eat my favorite mint cookies (grasshoppers) with milk. Sadly all four of us ate the whole bag--pathetic.....a vacation is a vacation right?!!! (Spending too much money and eating the way you never would normally!)

We were sad to see them go, but happy we still have Isaac here. Whitney is loving her little companion-she's been really hyper and shows off. Its fun to watch them play together!

FUN at the PARK!

At our place is a little park where we can go play. Whit loves going down the slide and playing in the sand. I think I'll be finding a lot of sand in her diapers, apparently to her, sand tastes very Yummy!

BeAuTiFuL CaLi

This is at a beach near our house. This was the first time Whit played in the ocean. The water was ice cold, so it wasn't to fun. After we drove on base and found a beautiful spot to watch the sunrise. BEAUTIFUL!



Here are some other picture of Whit in Lompoc.
This is our back porch, she loves the plants and peeking through the fence.

She discovered something fun....climbing. You name is, she tries to climb all over it.

She is walking really well now. She's wearing her pink slippers...

Santa Barbara visit

OUR NEW PLACE- LOMPOC CA

Here is the tour of our New Place in Lompoc. It has two pools and hot tubs, a gym, and a small park area where Whit can play. It's a funrished apartment, which is perfect since we could only fit so much in our car. It came with a new couch, lamps, and bedding for both bedrooms which is really nice. We even get cable and internet, so I have something to do during the day :D