N.W.C. FOR SHORT

Saturday night I went to a stage show with my good friend Darlynn at the Ivar theater in Hollywood. This particular play is grabbing quite a bit of attention around the country. The controversial play with the controversial title of "N*GGER, WETB*CK, CH*NK" confronts racial stereotypes of three minority groups head on.

In an interview , actors Miles Gregley, Rafael Agustin, and Allan Axibal insisted that their point was not to exacerbate racial tensions or divisions, but to drive home that there is only ONE race, the human race. "The show traces the origins and evolution of three derogatory terms that shaped our lives. In doing this show we hope to de-power these words for ourselves and for our audiences. Oh yeah, and we hope you laugh your ass off, too.”

I thought the show was poignant and absolutely hilarious! It is now touring and if it comes your way, you should go check it out. It is a great show!

Here's New York Time's article about N.W.C

AMAZING & INEXPENSIVE SKIN CARE

I found this girl's blog that focuses a lot on skin care. One of her posts in particular grabbed my attention. She describes how to make and apply an aspirin/ honey mask. Aspirin and Honey? Interesting...I needed to look into this.

Well, I did a bit of research and found it to be legit:

Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, which is made from, but is slightly chemically different from salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a key additive in many skin-care products for the treatment of acne.

Honey is a humectant, which means it attracts and retains water. The skin’s ability to stay moist (or hydrated) is an important factor in its ability to maintain softness, suppleness and elasticity. As skin ages, or as it is exposed to environmental stresses and chemical agents, it loses its ability to retain water; it becomes dry and appears wrinkled. Honey’s natural hydrating properties make it ideal for use in moisturizing products. Honey is also is used to treat minor cuts and burns and even acne, because it kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Studies have also revealed that honey has significant natural antioxidant properties. Antioxidants play a role in protecting the skin from the damage of UV rays, and aiding in skin rejuvenation.

The granules of crushed aspirin exfoliate the skin sloughing off dead skin cells allowing your skin to glow and your moisturizer to be more effective.

I tried it out last week, and OH MY GOODNESS! Immediately after I washed the mask off, my skin felt so extremely soft! After using the mask just two times, people started to comment how clear and smooth my skin looked. I am completely sold on this Aspirin/Honey mask. It is so effective and it is extremely inexpensive! Check out how to make it and apply it here if you are interested. It is a pretty simple process!

IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO ASPRIN OR HONEY DO NOT TRY THIS!
And be careful not to get the aspirin in your mouth!
5 pills of aspirin would yield some 1.5+ grams of acetylsalicylic acid. Most acne medicines yield about 2 grams of salicylic acid.

SINCE OF THE NIGHT OF THE CRASH

Several weeks back at 2:08 in the morning I was abruptly awoken from a deep sleep by the sound of screeching tires and then a deafening crash. I still hear it so vividly in my mind and I tense as I remember it now. I ran outside in my pj’s with Scott close behind and my sister-in-law Jen following him. Many of my neighbors were heading out their doors as well. As I got to the sidewalk and looked down the street I gasped in complete horror. An SUV had crashed into my next-door neighbors' concrete retaining wall separating the hilly yard from the sidewalk. The car was smoking… and hauntingly silent. I did not see anyone in the driver’s seat. All of us on the sidewalk stood in silence as one of my neighbors, a jolly old guy from New Orleans, walked to the other side of the car where he called out in a somber drawl “I don’t know if he’s alive.” Several of us got on our phones instantly calling 911. It was busy, believe it or not. So we called our local police department. They were on their way. As we waited for the police to arrive I took in more of the sight before me. The white concrete wall was completely disintegrated exposing only the earth behind it. A massive 4 foot deep by 4 foot wide concrete column was knocked to the ground just inches from the car. The huge tree next to the street was gouged deeply. I hesitantly walked around to the other side of the car as many of my neighbors stayed back. I figured I could handle whatever sight lay on the other side. That is when I saw an image that forever will be engraved into my brain. Their was an unconscious man in his late 20’s / early 30’s hanging from his waist outside of the passenger window. I won’t go into all the gory details, but let’s just say he was losing blood fast. The police arrived and that is when a witness from across the street surfaced. The witness described the SUV going northbound on our street at about 85 miles an hour. (We live on a busy street, but not that busy) The car jumped the median and landed on the southbound side, bounced back up into the air and then came down right before the curb, which was when the car was then thrusted into the wall. The ambulance arrived quickly and they worked fast as they got the man from the car. The ambulance raced off taking the man, hanging onto life to the nearest hospital, leaving the police to finish assessing the scene, leaving the tow truck to haul away the demolished car and leaving all of us neighbors to remain there at the scene (our homes) in a haunted and stunned insomniac state. I prayed into the morning hours for the unknown man. As my home became light with the fresh morning sun, I continued to pray.

A sense of doom, (that’s the only thing I know to call it) enveloped me that night and has stayed with me for quite sometime. I still pray for that unknown man. I hope he is alive. I don’t know if he is. I have tried to contact the hospital, the police department; you name it, just to see if he is alive and stable. Still, after a month now, I don’t know if he has made it or not, but I will continue to pray.

Why do I bring such dreadful, morbid news to you today? Well, I tell you all this only to describe the journey it has set me off on. Like I said, I have carried with me an overwhelming sense of doom since the accident. That single event has caused me to reflect on my life and contemplate just how fragile our existence is, (something that I don’t usually do everyday) but, WOW when you do it changes your perspective on how you live life and what is important to you. I have questioned myself a lot while processing through what happened that June night. I have asked myself over and over again if am I living my life the way I REALLY want to or need to for that matter. Is my small little life making a difference in the lives of others both here in LA and around the world? How do I spend my time? Do I try to make the most of my days, even in the most monotonous activities? Am I living out the dreams that I have tucked away in my heart?

Being completely honest with myself and now completely honest with you, if today was my last, I would have to say that I WOULD regret that I have not fully lived out the things that are in my heart. One HUGE overwhelming desire in me is to go to people in need around the world and do whatever I can with whatever resources I have to help them. I have been trying to do bits and pieces here and there over the years to help people in different countries and here at home, but I feel like I need to do more. I want to start living out those dreams today that have seemed so huge for the present, but fit perfectly in the future.

Scott and I had long, deep conversations about how to start making this happen for me and for our family. Well, the next day after our first long heart to heart and no real concrete answers, a friend of mine, who is a doctor invited our family on a trip to Ensenada Mexico where a medical and dental team from Mosaic sets up a make shift clinic to care for the citizens there over a long weekend. These medical trips have been going on for years and happen twice a year to help the impoverished people who live in pieced together shacks in the hills of Ensenada. The scope of the trip, not only includes medical, but also includes improvements to the community and constructing homes for those in need. So, come one weekend in September, our family will go down to Mexico to paint and construct and embrace the people of Ensenada with love. Simply put, we as a family will do what ever we can to help our fellow man (and woman ☺). I have some ideas for the upcoming year that include Zane’s school, and a trip to an orphanage in Malawi Africa, but we’ll see how things play out. I just have this all consuming thing in me that won’t let me be. A feeling that tells me that no matter what country or culture we are from, we all really belong to each other and that we really need to look out one another.

That tragic and horrifying accident that caused that unknown man to crash into the wall next to my home has also caused me to crash into the buried dreams of my heart, challenging me to intentionally live them out in the now. I hope I will do just that.

What do your dreams look like?

GOOD SUMMER EATS

The other day I was locked away in the kitchen all day making dinner for 60 people who have graciously volunteered their summer days to teach inner city kids at a summer arts program called Illuminate that our church Mosaic puts on. The kids learn dance, photography, drawing, music, drama, painting, you name it. They have an absolute ball and learn from all these amazing professional artists.

Well, when I was in the panic stage of what I was going to make for the masses, I suddenly remembered that I had a great recipe nestled away in a binder that has not seen the light of day since last summer. It is one fantastic, tasty little pasta salad, just perfect for hot summer days. It's pretty simple to make (especially when your making it for only 8 people) so I thought I would share:

PASTA SALAD WITH MOZZARELLA, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND OLIVES

1/2 cup drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
6 tablespoons olive oil ( I use the olive oil from the sun-dried tomatoes)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon drained capers
1 garlic clove, minced

1 pound fusilli or farfalla pasta
12 ounces cherry tomatoes, cut in half
8 ounces fresh water-packed mozzarella cheese, drained, (I get the ciliegine size from TJ's and cut the balls in half)
1 cup (packed) fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 3 ounces)
1/2 cup minced pitted oil-cured black olives (I use pitted minced kalmata olives if I can't find oil-cured olives)

Blend first 5 ingredients in processor until tomatoes are coarsely chopped. Set dressing aside.
Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Transfer to large bowl. Add dressing to hot pasta; toss to coat. Cool, stirring occasionally. Add chopped fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, Parmesan and olives; toss. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

Makes 8 servings



If I had a camera other than the one on my phone, I would have taken a beautiful picture that would make you want to go right out, get the ingredients and make it today, but I don't, so just picture yumminess.

WANTED: ONE ANGEL KISS

Audrey, my three year old was born with two Hemangiomas , (which are bright red, raised birthmarks often referred to as angel kisses) The birthmarks slowly fade and get smaller as kids grow and most times disappear completely between the ages four and ten.

When she was born, she developed a large one on her forehead and a smaller heart shaped one on her jaw line. Well, yesterday she walked out from the bathroom. (I'm guessing she was looking in the mirror.) She was in complete and utter despair with her bangs pushed up and her hand pressed to the top of her head. With great alarm and panic she exclaimed:
"MAMA! MAMA! MY ANGEL KISS HAS DISAPPEARED!!!!!
What happened to it mum?
I MISS my angel kiss so much."
With drama oozing from every tone in her voice she continued...
"Will it E-VER be red again?"
With that, she hung her head and walked away clasping her tiny hand tightly around her jaw, mumbling:
"At least I still have this one!"

SUNSET ON SEAL BEACH

If our weekend was not busy enough, Scott, the kids and I met up with some friends last night at the beach to soak up some social time around a blazing bon fire in the sand. As we snacked on s'mores and watched the bright pink and orange sun ease its way beneath the ocean horizon, I watched as all my friends laughed, talked or stared into the mesmerizing fire or the painted sky. Their faces were all a glow from the amber light just about to fall into the far off waves. I looked for a moment to take in the darkening vast sea once more before all went black, and to my delight I saw ten or so dolphins just past the breaking point, dancing and jumping in the crashing waves. It was absolutely beautiful!

Here is Scott, as we snuck away for a moment to enjoy the view together!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSE!

Scott the kids and I went to our great friend Jose's birthday party yesterday at his place downtown. It was a significantly special birthday for him this year marking not only his day of birth all those some odd years ago, (Don't worry Jose, I won't say how old you) but one year ago yesterday he was baptized in the ocean and he set off on a whole new journey. Happy Birthday Jose we sure do love you!

I WAS GRAVELY MISTAKEN

The Hollywood Forever cemetery where such greats like Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino and Johnny Ramone are buried, shows movies throughout the summer on a large mausoleum wall.

Scott has always been intrigued by this event and has wanted to check it out for quite sometime now. I, from the first time he ever mentioned it, dismissed the whole idea instantly. But Scott, being the persistent guy that he is, lined up a babysitter Saturday night and surprised me with a date ...at the cemetery. Sounds morbid huh? I thought so too! I thought we would be the only non goth people there, but as we entered the huge iron gates to the cemetery, I was surprised to see a sea full of people ranging from hipsters to nerdy types, from conservative looking dads types to punk girls sporting streaked red hair and black skinny jeans.

We followed the mass of people down a winding road all the way through the cemetery past large massive stone memorials and headstones to the very back of the grounds. No one seemed to veer off road. All seemed to avoid trampling over grave sites. There was unspoken respect amongst the crowd.

When Scott and I finally got to the far east mausoleum, we quickly found a place for our chairs on the green plush lawn surrounding the building. People all around us dined on their picnic dinners and sipped wine in the dim evening light. Some even brought tea light candles to adorn their blanket that marked out their space on the grass. As the movie started people curled up under plaid throws and snuggled with their pillows ready for their graveyard cinema experience.

Well, after the night was over, I had to fess up to Scott and admit that I truly enjoyed myself. I had such a good time that I started planning a return to the graveyard in August to see "Pee Wee's Big Adventure". Scott and I are going to try to get a group of friends to go with us. Perhaps... just perhaps... we will get another cemetery screening convert. BWAAAA HA HA HAAAAAAA!

VISITING FROM NYC

My dear, dear friends Melvin and Lilia and their kids Anika and Dante were In LA visiting from New York. We all hung out Saturday afternoon at our good friend Jose's loft downtown. Scott unfortunately had to work, he was sad to miss the reunion.

It was so wonderful to see them again. I sure do miss Mel and Lil quite a bit. Zane and Audrey are now officially in mourning after having to say goodbye to their good friends on Saturday. I guess, this means we'll just have to get New York soon!

CHORE WARS

Scott found this game called Chore Wars online. It is supposed to help give incentive to do chores around the house. Well, quite frankly, I think it has got to be the best thing since sliced bread. Here's how it works. You set up "adventures" on the site, like cleaning your room or doing homework or sweeping the floor, you name it. You create a character and then invite your friends, cousins, and siblings or whom ever you want to compete against to join your network. Based on the amount of chores you do, you earn points, strength, experience, intelligence, wisdom, special treasures etc. There may even be monsters lurking as you work. If you encounter one, you just may have to battle it. YIKES!

Well, this morning, we set Zane up on Chore Wars. I was completely blown away as Zane instantly raced and I do mean raced into his room with great eagerness to pick up the toys off his floor. Later on today, he begged me... full on begged me to mop the bathroom floor and he even planned with excitement as embraced the laborious, daunting, horrifying, boring, task of...( hold on to your seats folks)... taking a shower. This awful, miserable thing that I try to get my six year old boy to do on a regular basis has now become something he DEMANDS that he must... MUST do every day. To quote the boy himself:
"You don't understand mom, I have GOT to take a shower- I have to earn some GOLD mom, I might even have to fight the water beetle!"

WOW! Can I just say that who ever created this site is a complete and utter genius!!!! I now have the Chore War creator to thank for my consistently clean bathroom and my consistently clean son! Thanks Chore War creator!

If any kids out there want to join Zanegar and Boba August in their adventure party in the galaxy of chores, check it out here

SUMMER NIGHTS AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

Sunday night I met up with my great friend Lilia who is visiting from NYC. She got us tickets to Groove Armada and Cafe Tacuba. We packed our picnic dinner and set off on the shuttle to the Hollywood Bowl. When we first arrived and walked into the amphitheater, my eyes lit up, my mouth went into automatic perma grin, and my knees started to bounce to the Groove Armada beats bumping from the stage. It seemed every one of the seventeen thousand or so people present there at the 'Bowl' that night were up and shaking their groove thang. Some definitely did it better than others, but no matter how well they danced or (did not dance) everyone put their whole body and soul into their moves. I was quickly brought into the fold and started doing my own version of what I call dance and getting down with my bad white self. I am sure the people behind me had quite a show in addition to the one happening up there on stage, but I didn't care - I was having the time of my life. Lilia and I danced our hearts out. Then came Cafe Tacuba. Which was equally as fun!!!! We continued our dancing trend into the evening. Lilia stopped every once in a while to translate the all Spanish show for me. At one point during the show, the crowd started chanting a larger than life chant in Spanish. I chimed right in, smiling and yelling and carrying on along with the crowd. Lilia graciously leaned over to me and asked if I knew what I was chanting." Nope not a clue" I responded. That's when I found out I was chanting something about...uh... butts. Well, even in all my glorious ignorance, I was not bothered in the least that I could understand only portions at best of what was being said up on stage or in the audience for that matter. I not only love the music, and the energy from Cafe Tacuba, as the lead singer ran around on stage dancing and infecting the audience with the hype, but I also loved the fact that so many thousands of people from all different cultures and sub cultures came crashing together in one small spot in Hollywood California. Ahhhh I love LA!

Well, then, on Wednesday Scott won tickets from Metroblogging LA to go to non-other than the Hollywood Bowl to see the Wattstax concert. David Markland wrote in the above link how the original 1972 Wattstax concert was organized by Stax Records to commemorate the 1965 Watts riots and encourage economic empowerment in the African American community. With a $1 ticket price, over 100,000 filled the L.A. Memorial Coliseum in what became known as ""the Afro-American answer to Woodstock".

By the way there is a great documentary on the 1972 Wattstax concert if your interested.

Many of the same artists like Booker T and Isaac Hayes that played years ago were there Wednesday night. Isaac Hayes' repetitious lyric "can ya dig it?" echoed up the hill and was definitely answered as the crowd got to their feet and yelled with delight during the theme song from "SHAFT". We sat next to the above mentioned David Markland who is one of the writers for Metroblogging LA, (the one Scott won tickets from). It was great talking with him and we even made it into one of his posts in Blogging LA. Scott's favorite moment of the night, however came when Isaac Hayes (aka Chef, aka The Duke of New York, aka Truck Turner) slowed it down for a love song/duet. His creamy low soulful voice started crooning and he was joined by his blonde back up singer by the name of Samantha. Well, Samantha, God bless her, paled in comparison to the low-key vocal style of Isaac Hayes. The audience became somewhat impatient... no let's say ...caustic at this point, cuz if there is anyone that should not be singing with Truck Turner, it's Samantha I am sorry to say. Well, as the duet dragged on, an older black woman from behind us shouted out: "Isaac Hayes better be taking off them shades so he can see the white #@&*% he's singing with!" It echoed across the 'Bowl', followed by much laughter.

Scott and I had so much fun together. It had been a while since we have been able to get out on the town, just the two of us. And what a great way to spend a night out together, sitting underneath the Hollywood stars, listening to some good old fashion funk and soul. Good times!

CELEBS ARE PEOPLE TOO

Have you ever heard of Fantasy football?
Well, several of our guy friends including Scott (who does not typically obsess on sports) gets WAY into it. It becomes an all consuming obsession every fall. The gaming aspect of fantasy football and all that it entails like the strategy, the competitive banter, the gathering together every Sunday to watch the games to see if one of your players will take you to the top and of course the plain and simple overwhelming desire to WIN slowly overtakes these guys. Let's just say many of my girlfriends tend 'loose' the men in their lives to fantasy football each year.

Well, all the 'said' guys got together this past spring and came up with a way to create much needed empathy, compassion and grace in the women having to endure the fantasy football season year after year. So they started a celebrity fantasy league for the girls. This league consists of fourteen friends spread across the country. Some girls are in New York city, some in San Francisco and the rest here in Los Angeles. We all got together one sunday afternoon and picked eight celebrities that we thought would most likely show up in the US weekly magazine. The guys planned out the whole game extremely well. There are certain pages that we get points from. Let's say, if one of your stars shows up in Hot Pics or on the Red Carpet - bingo - you're lovin' life and scoring big. We can even loose points if a celeb shows up too much in the mag - that would be the overexposure clause. I won't bore you with all the details of how the league works, but I WILL tell you that I have become an obsessed, competitive woman. I am up on all the Hollywood gossip. Like who's with who, who's preggers, who's on vacation in Hawaii or France, who's got a DUI, who's in rehab ... the important things in life. Because you know, everyone NEEDS to know when Brittany Spears goes to bathroom in a Taco Bell.

Well I think the guys were successful in their mission, I now understand the drive, the obsession and the will to win that they experience every fall but, in the process of it all, I think they have created fourteen obsessed, paparazzi rooting, celeb hounding, monsters. Probably not their ultimate end goal..... but wow! it sure is fun!!!! (especially when your ranking consistently in the top four... which is me)

oops did I say that in my outside voice?


Here is most of the league.
I swear we're REALLY not this superficial.

WHAT'S YOUR BLOG RATED?

I found this link on my friend Deana's site.

Keep your children close folks cuz...
my blog got a crazy risque' PG rating!!!

Mingle² - Free Online Dating

THE BEACH IS...

a time for push ups

(thus developing your Matthew McConaughe beach bod)

a time for horse play

a time to cheer

a time to think

a time to bask

a time to check your pits

a time to be cute and sandy

a time to conquer

and... a time to eat fresh fish and calm chowder.

4TH OF JULY

We spent Independence day in a war zone...
well that's what it felt like anyway. We went over to our friend's mom's house for the fourth. Rock Star Chad's mom (as we like to call him) was throwing a little shin dig for his birthday and of course for the Fourth of July too.

Many of Chad's mom's neighbors gear up year round for our country's big day commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by getting their hands on what seems like every kind of explosive imaginable. I am not talking your rinky dink sparkler or firecracker or anything I am talking BIG, HUGE professional-like fireworks with plumes of color, BANGS, pops, fizzles SCREAMS and shooting rockets of fire. All the pyrotechnics you could ever want were accounted for and were blowing up right there on her street... outside her door and around the corner and down the block. In addition to the explosions happening on her threshold, Chad's mom lives on top of a hill over looking Echo Park where there is view of the city in all directions. We were bombarded by three firework displays going on which were put on by the city, Dodger Stadium and by someone else whom I could not figure out. Of course... there were more of thee... shall I call them "acquired" explosives going off in every direction you could see, hear and think at the bottom of the hill. So, with all the fire, smoke, booms and bangs, I was a little jittery by the end of the evening. I think I would have been ok, if it were just Scott and I at the party, but I was in full on "keep the kids as far away from the shooting fire" mode. (Which is good I guess)

All in all, even with my wrecked nerves, layers of smoke, and Zane's pounding head ache, the night was really fun. It really was! Chad's friends scurried in off the streets and gathered together on a terrace patio surrounded by a lush yard full of fruit trees where we had desserts by candle light. We even lit some wicks ourselves as we brought out a coconut cake full of candles to celebrate our good friend's birthday. Happy Birthday Rock Star Chad! and Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Here is a gritty, grainy picture off Scott's phone. In all it's graininess, I think it portrays war zone mood quite nicely!

A PEAK AT MY WEEK WITH JEN & THE KIDS

My sister-in-law, Jen along with my nephew and niece came into town last week. We had SOOOO much fun while they were here. We tried our best to escape the HOT California sun (there is only so much 101 degree temperatures a Seattlite can handle and well...that I can handle for that matter too) So we packed up our sun screen and water bottles and spent most days on the west side where the ocean breeze is enough to cool the desert rays. Santa Monica Pier and the beach were first on our list. The cousins had so much fun seeing each other again as they peered out over the ocean in hopes to spot whales, sharks or at the very least a dolphin. But when waves were the only things spotted, the kids lost interest and were suddenly beach bound. The wooden stairs led us straight to the beach and the moment our feet hit the fine white sand, August and Zane ran off to dig the deepest hole that Santa Monica shore has ever seen. While the kids buried themselves in sand, I soaked up much needed time with my dear friend and sister-in-law, Jen.

Here are some pictures that Jen took. (I am still without camera :( )


We stayed on the beach till the sun set and then we meandered back across town in the lovely LA traffic. I did have to stop at one very important place on the way home though. What would a hot day in Los Angeles be without PINKBERRY frozen yogurt, well, obviously not a very good one. So we stopped in and committed ourselves to the winding line hanging outside the Pinkberry door only to hook Jen up with a new addiction.

Here I am with the kids in Pinkberry bliss

Not only were the sandy beaches, ocean waves and pinkberry lines the sites to be seen on their visit, but we even saw a few stars while they were here. Courteney Cox sat next to us at lunch one day and David Arquette showed up as we were leaving, Michael Rapaport was at a movie, and Scott Weiland from Velvet Revolver was next to us at dinner one night.

Our days were full of various activities, we shopped, we played, we ate at some of my favorite restaurants like Hurry Curry of Tokyo and Doughboys , and we even attended a beautiful baptism for another one of Jen's nieces.

After the ceremony Jen, August and Hazel took off for the reception at a mansion up in the Beverly Hills where they were served by butlers, explored secret rooms and lounged pool side for the afternoon. Zane, Audrey and I met Scott in Westwood for the Family Film festival. We watched some incredible tap dancers from LA Ironworks which is an amazing dance company that gets kids off the street and out of gangs and teaches them tap. After the beats of shoes intermingled with drums and tambourines went silent, we meandered over to the art tent and made some Disney drawings. Audrey heard animals calling her name from across the street so we promptly answered her furry friends and fed camels, goats and geese, ponies, pigs and bunnies. We also met Tigger and Dom DeLuise that day and Zane, of course, made a new friend.


All the cousins sat still on this bench outside of the Beverly Hills Church after the baptism for all of three seconds, just enough to get this picture.


Later that night after a very full day for everyone, we decided to make it even fuller. So we hurried off to the drive-in to see Ratatouille. (Which is SO great btw if you have not seen it yet)


Here are the girls after getting a special braids and bows beauty treatment from Aunt Jen.


Jen, Scott and I were fortunate to get out one night while the kids stayed home with one of our good friends who was gracious enough to watch all four kids, and well... owed Jen a HUGE favor, and lucky for us, she cashed in on it while she was here. We went to see "Sicko" and then had plenty to discuss afterwards while we dined outdoors at a place called Magnolia on Sunset. It was a great night sitting there underneath the Hollywood city lights eating, talking and laughing. It made me wish more than ever that we all lived a little closer to each other.

As their visit came to an end, we were all so sad to see them leave. My kids were in tears as we left the airport. They awoke the next morning feeling the void as did I. Zane and Audrey quickly posted pictures all over the house of their cousins asking when we were going to Seattle?

It is a pretty awesome thing to have family that you can call best friends and that you spend the time between visits counting down the days until you see each other again?