E is for Erselius

Tis the Season

2012-01-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

In less than a week I will be heading back to work part time so I figure I should get a quick holiday recap posted before I have to focus on figuring out the routine of work, daycare, and life in general. It has been an amazing 5 months off (1 before Hudson was born and 4 after) but some good things must come to an end. Thankfully we found a daycare that we love and they are doing a stellar job taking care of Hudson and getting him to tolerate taking a bottle.
This year we were able to visit my parents for ten days before Christmas which was an amazing treat. Some highlights: seeing our nephew Tyler perform in the Winter Choral program, spending time with my grandma on the ranch, Keith riding quads with my dad to feed the cows, seeing tons of family and friends, seeing Keith's family on our drive back home, and celebrating our first Christmas with Hudson. Here are some snapshots from the trip. We got an awesome new lens from Keith's parents for our camera so we had fun (mostly Keith, our main photographer) playing with it. The downside of learning a new lens is that many of our photos are a bit blurry as we are still adjusting to shooting with a prime lens.

Annual get together with some of my favorite people and their little people:

Hudson and Santa (who was conveniently at my parents house when we arrived at 9pm after a long day in the car)

I can't get enough of this little guy and all his special smiles and smirks.

Great Grandpa Chaix and Hudson on grandpa's 95 birthday!

Me (Hudson snoozing in a pack on front of me) and my wonderful sister Lyndsey.

Hudson and his handsome dad on Christmas with his first stocking and his Christmas PJs. So cute.

Precious.

A boy and a giraffe

2012-01-10T12:05:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to documents our sweet Hudson's growth we take a photo of him each month (thanks Lara for the convenient stickers). We include Sophie the Giraffe for scale since we are always at different distances and angles. It has been fun so far in even just a few months to see how much he has changed and grown. Our little almost 4 month old is barely fitting into his 3-6 month onesie anymore. I love that his legs are starting to chunk up!

Project: dresser

2011-10-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting around to posting a photo of our DIY project for Hudson's room. We bought an old dresser off Craig's list, sanded it down, and applied several of coats of turquoise paint. Since we didn't know if we were having a girl or boy we had to have a color that would work either way and I love how it turned out! If we had a girl I was going to use antique glass knobs and pulls but think its a bit too fem for our little guy so we used some existing hardware we have for now until I find something permanent. Anyway, here is a picture of the transformation from the yellow odd stain to totally turquoise.

Quick Pics

2011-09-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

I have very little time these days with the arrival of Hudson but wanted to get out some pictures to hold people over until I can write and share more. Gosh this kid is cute (yes, I am very biased!)

The journey to Hudson Keith Erselius

2011-09-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

Lester Gregersen

2011-09-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

1916 – 2011

This world’s loss is heaven’s gain. Lester Gregersen was an amazing man, father, grandfather, husband, and friend to many. Through his 65 years of marriage to my grandma and raising their 5 kids he was able to pass along a piece of himself to each of us. He loved traditions and family gatherings. He loved being outdoors and taking care of his cattle ranch. He loved to laugh, dance, and hum a tune. He was a man with no conceivable enemies and an immediate friend of everyone he met. He had the kindest, blue eyes that sparkled with life and felt like a hug. He took on life with a spring in his step and a whistling tune on his lips.

I can only hope to live a life as full as he and to carry on some of his character in who I am and who I raise my children to be.

One great memory I have from my elementary school days was spending a morning picking blackberries with my grandfather. During late summer his calloused hands were always stained purple from picking berries that my grandma would turn into wonderful jam. He knew all the best places around his ranch and had perfected his methods. You see, the best berries often grow on the top of the 8 foot or taller bushes. Not a problem at all for this seasoned veteran. He had figured out that backing his old ranch truck right into the bush and throwing a 2x4 plank off the side and into the perfect berry-picking spot brought home the best harvest. So, as he taught us, with my old coffee can tied around my waist with bailing wire, a glove on my left hand to pick up the branches, jeans and a long sleeve shirt to protect from the thorns, and a heart swollen with excitement for time with grandpa, he sets me out on my plank to get pickin'. With my can about halfway full I make the overconfident mistake of any kid around 10 years old and reach a little too far, losing my balance off my walking plank and falling flat on my back into the middle of the mammoth sized blackberry bush. Tied down by all the thorns now attached to my clothes I call out for help. Grandpa finally hears me from his own berry-pickin' plank and realizes he can't see me. He scurries over to find me stuck in the middle of the bush and laughs abundantly while asking me, "Well now why d'ya go about doing that?" A few minutes later he had freed me from the claws of the blackberries and set me up picking down on the ground. No more plank walking for me. It is his laughter in his speech and the time he was always willing to share that I will keep with me. How you could tell he loved each and every one of us and truly wanted to be spending his time with us. His life was full and rich and wonderful because he filled it with people and shared part of his heart with each of us.

I figure a little piece of my heart will always have the "Sunday blues" now that he is gone. It’s a term in my family to coin Grandpas sadness on Sundays after the family had been around for the weekend and now everyone had gone home. No one wanted to be the last to leave because those blue, sad eyes would break your heart every time. He cherished his family so much and saying goodbye, even if only for a few weeks, was such sorrow. I know it was his time to go and I know he is in a much better place now. He is waiting for us to someday join him and until then a corner of my heart will have the Sunday Blues, for it has lost a man who has made a great impression on my life.

Little portable pies

2011-09-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

I found a recipe reading Bon Appetit magazine while at the doctor's office this week and decided to give it a try. I have recently realized I always want to make something new when taking dessert to someones house or having people over but that can be quite a risky maneuver if I haven't tested it out first. So, with all my spare time on my hands while I await the arrival of Baby Erselius I decided to give Cherry Hand Pies a trial run. I must say they turned out great and were super easy. They didn't take long at all and were easy to make (even with my limited ability to concentrate these days). I added some orange zest to balance out the sweetness, used frozen cherries since I just couldn't muster up buying and pitting fresh cherries, and I used the tart dried cherries from Trader Joe's since I had them on hand and thought they would again balance out some of the overly sweet cherriness. Overall I am a big fan. I made 8 total and froze 4 of them just before the baking step. Not sure how they the frozen ones will turn out. If you are looking for a fun, easy dessert I would recommend this one!

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/07/cherry-hand-pies

37 Weeks!

2011-08-22T12:13:00.000-07:00

Week 34

2011-08-02T19:38:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe we only have several weeks left until our little one arrives. Boy oh boy do we have a lot to do still.

Here are some prego highlights:
Weeks: 34 (35 on Thursday if anyone wants more specifics)
My belly is outgrowing many of my maternity clothes.
Total weight gain is 26 lbs so far (and counting)
Days left of work: 8

Things I look forward to post pregnancy:
Sleeping on my back and stomach
Zippers and buttons on my pants (instead of elastic that makes them slide down)
Sushi and the occasional glass of wine
Being able to bend over, lean forward, and sit normal

Things I am thankful for:
An amazing husband who takes care of me and cooks me amazing meals
Awesome friends, family, and coworkers who showered us with love and gifts to help us get our life with baby started.
A fairly easy, without complications pregnancy (I have a ton of friends who have had it tough so I appreciate the process I have had)

What did you appreciate post pregnancy or if you're pregnant, what are you looking forward to?

29 weeks!

2011-06-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe Baby Erselius will be here in just about 10 weeks!
The 3rd trimester fatigue is setting in and I am getting more and more uncomfortable. A day in the life of a pregnant lady I guess.

So far, about 45 people (many of them strangers) have predicted we are having a boy and two have predicted we will have a girl. Time will tell.

GORILLA BLOGGING

2011-05-24T17:30:00.000-07:00

Chanda has NO idea i am going to post this. I have been given quite a hard time about not reading the blog but I subscribe to the philosophy that if you share a bed with someone you should not have to read their blog.

So last weekend we took a trip to Auburn to visit family and celebrate our nephews twenty second birthday. It just seems like last week he was twenty one*. We also got to meet Dane Chanda's cousins second child who came into the world with a full head of blond hair.

One of the great joys I have had as an uncle has been watching my four year old niece grow up. On this trip she was infatuated with Chanda and her pregnant stomach. When she would see someone with Chanda she would say "Look at that big 'ol belly... touch it". Quite cute.

We also got to go to her Tee Ball game. A few things to note. No one keeps score. Everyone gets to hit. sitting on the grass is acceptable. One size fits all for hats is a misnomer.

After the game we returned home to watch the Preakness Stakes. My horse came in second. We then went to our nephews baseball game, in which he pitched. A few things to note. They do keep score and if one team leads by 10 in the 5th, they call it. Well, the our team got 9 runs in the first inning and the other team went through four pitchers in the same inning. Needless to say we won in the 5th. Go Justus!

To put a fine cap on the day we ended with a song and dance performance by our nephew Tyler (FYI we have 6 nieces and nephews). Tyler is a killer singer not to be confused with The Killers singer. The show is an annual production called Putting on the Ritz. I have to admit, it was my first time at a Broadwayesque show and i was pretty impressed. As it was the last night they pulled a few pranks which added to my enjoyment. One in particular involving two mascots** got my goose. Tyler, any man that can rock a Morning Coat and sing about the Virtuous Fantine is alright with me.

So that plus 16 hours in the Prius about sums it up. Peace out bloggers and bloggettes.

*It's because he was
**You can see they have red eyes. And according to Twilight this means they eat humans...

A Windy Camping Adventure

2011-05-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

This month Keith and I finally made good on our promise to go camping, pre-baby. We knew we needed to go before the baby was born so it wasn't so overwhelming of a task once the tiny human is here. Both of us love camping and want to make sure its part of our lives and the raising of our kids.

We received some camping gear for Christmas and got a killer deal on our tent and stuff on Craig's List so we were anxious to try out it all out. We had scheduled to go with our dear friends Esther and Ian the month before but I came down with bronchitis and it was raining so we had to cancel (boo). But this month we had a free weekend so on a whim we packed up and headed to Leo Carrillo (on the coast just north of Malibu).

Highlights:
Awesome time camping with my husband.
Quick access to the beach from our campground.
Good food.
I was surprisingly comfortable sleeping on the ground at 5 months pregnant.
Awesome REI tent.
Upgraded our spot when we arrived from "worst" site to one that was really great!

In the middle of the night Friday, 30+ mph winds picked up and tried from every angle to pull our sturdy tent out of its stakes. Unlike most of the other tents in the campground, the now highly recommended REI tent stood its ground and didn't fall, break, or end in demolition. Success! Saturday was still very windy which made cooking on our stove a bit tricky but Saturday night was not as wild so we were able to get a little bit more shut eye. We can't wait to go again!

Sort of windy!

Our awesome camp site and the highly recommended tent from REI (its so tall Keith can stand up inside!)

Keith having fun with the camera at night.

Week 23

2011-05-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

Time is flying by as we finish up Week 23! Everything is on track with weight gain and size measurements... though I do still look like I am having twins. Sigh of relief, my doctor confirms again there is only one tiny human in there. Keith is working hard and doing an excellent job staying in shape as to not add any sympathy weight.

Side Note: Black is a slimming color and was probably not the best choice for the weekly photos as it can be hard to really tell how big I am week by week. Lesson learned.

Half Way Point

2011-05-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

Last week we reached our half way point of pregnancy... 20 weeks! It is funny how it makes the due date seem so much closer but yet so far away all at the same time. Earlier in the week I had told Keith I felt like I had hit a growth stop with my belly and hadn't grown much in the past week or so. He emphatically let me know that I in fact was growing and looking quite large (in a good way). I guess since I see me all day every day the changes aren't as obvious to me.

Another exciting event was feeling the baby move for the first time during the Good Friday service at church. Maybe it was the first time in a while that I sat that still for an extended amount of time so I actually could finally feel our little Sprout moving around (we call the baby "Sprout" sometimes since we don't know the gender and don't really like using "it".)

Current cravings:
Lemonade (or anything tart);
Creamy ice cream or shakes (though I try not to indulge too often);
Mexican food (just about any variety, any time).

Imagine turning on your computer at 5:30am to see this larger than life size as your screen saver. Scary! Keith had some fun with Photoshop making fun of my Lemonade addiction.

Easter

2011-04-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

Since we hung out with our Erselius Family on Saturday for Easter / Pam's birthday we had our Easter Sunday free of activities. After church we had discussed having a picnic at Crystal Cove or somewhere along the beach but overcast, misty skies pushed us back indoors at home. I was in severe need of a nap (not sleeping much these days... big surprise) so after a quick lunch I got a good snooze. In the afternoon the weather cleared and we headed to Terranea, the waterfront resort about 20 minutes from Long Beach where we spent the first few nights of our honeymoon. They have trails all along the property and the bluff overlooking the ocean. We strolled around, Keith took some pictures, and we had a very relaxing, wonderful time.

A Hawaiian Surprise

2011-04-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend we surprised my mother-in-law Pam with a little birthday surprise party during our Easter lunch on Saturday. With decorations, Hawaiian shirts, and a pineapple upside down cake it was quite the party. My father-in-law Allan did an excellent job of pulling it all together. I made my first Pineapple Upside Down Cake which was a fun experiment but we didn't get too many pictures. Here are a couple to entertain you. :)

James, Keith, and Grandma Margie.

Pam opening her gifts.

Week 17

2011-04-03T17:32:00.000-07:00

Week 17
Baby is 9 inches head to toe.
Should be able to feel him/her move soon but nothing noticeable yet.
Weighing in at about 5oz.
Approximately the size of an onion.

Date Weekend

2011-04-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

This weekend ended up being a fun date weekend for Keith and I. Friday night we walked to The Congregation Ale House for dinner from our house (1.6 miles). It was a beautiful day and we sat outside and enjoyed some really great hamburgers. Since I didn't wear the most practical shoes, and I am still getting over Bronchitis, and I'm a tired pregnant lady, we hopped on the local bus system and caught a ride back to our neighborhood. Keith is not a fan of the Passport bus but we had a positive experience this time so hopefully I can drag him on again sometime soon.

Saturday we went to the Santa Anita Horse Races to do some bidding on the ponies and were also pleased that there was a gourmet Food Truck festival in the track infield. There was 80+ food trucks, music, and tons of people. We had a blast walking back and forth between betting on horses and roaming the food truck chaos. Our $2 bets didn't bring us home any richer but we did have an excellent time and hope to go back again soon. Our love for food trucks has hit a bit of a slump though as the lines are really long a lot of the time (2 hours for a grilled cheese is still a bit too much of a time investment for me to brave the line), the portions small, and the prices a bit high. We had some good food and chose lines that were manageable but all in all left a bit hungry and unsatisfied. As we walked our tired little legs back to the car we summarized that it was an excellent time and we were glad we spent the day bettin' on ponies.
We vowed to get some photos of us but only managed to get a photo from the grandstands looking out over the track and the food truck festivities. The other lucky photo we managed to snap was of the horse Free Beer who ended up not being so lucky.
Overall we just had a great weekend spending time together. Something we are trying to cherish (based on the strong recommendation of so many of our friends with small kids) while we have us all to ourselves.

Baby Bump

2011-03-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

So each week Keith and I take a photo of the belly together. In the end I predict that my stomach will almost be touching him. This was one of the first weeks that there was a noticeable difference... also a noticeable difference in the number of items in my closet that I can still wear. I think we may be off in the number of weeks since my doctor moved by due date but I am 13 or so weeks. I had my first inquiry from a brave cashier at Armstrong's Nursery who asked when I was due. Starting to show, discussing what needs to be rearranged around the house, and being confronted by strangers makes it all very real and exciting!!

10 Things You May Not Know About Me

2011-02-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

1. I love milk. I drink it almost every night for dinner... with two ice cubes.

2. Until last year I did not have a middle name (now its Chaix).

3. I have an automatic "edit and correct" function in my brain so I am always finding typos (sushi restaurants have the most typos in their menus in my opinion.)

4. I have a tattoo.

5. I wish I looked better with short hair. I would love to chop mine off again but I always regret it.

6. I like storage containers. I have containers in containers in our closet waiting to contain things.

7. Sometimes I put things on my To Do list that I just completed merely for the satisfaction of crossing them off.

8. I have never broken a bone.

9. I am perplexed that there are so many different sizes of dogs (from the size of a rat to the size of a pony) yet there is really only one size of domestic cat. Hmmm.

10. I'm pregnant! Baby Erselius is due in September 2011.

Is that a tent in your living room?

2011-02-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

Keith and I have great aspirations for being a camping family and getting out in the great outdoors. We overcame our last obstacle last month by purchasing our tent. Keith found a guy selling the tent we wanted on Craig's List so we got the tent, footprint, connector garage for the tent, sleeping bag, and a lamp all for the price we would have paid just for the tent. I was so excited about it that Keith and I set it up in our apartment that night (it was raining outside so that wasn't a good option). Though it was a challenge since the poles are about twice the length of our living room we made it work. The monster is so tall that Keith can stand up in it (and he's 6'3"). The pictures are quite humorous as was the challenge of putting up a tent in a tiny apartment living room. Good times had by all.

Cattle Chasers

2011-02-02T18:25:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in life we only know the portion of a person that we directly interact with and are surprised to find out something about this persons life that we had never known. These discoveries helps us grow deeper in friendship and appreciation of the people we interact with and understand them better. Though it may not be a surprise to most, it may be to some of you... I'm a country girl. Raised in Northern CA my life has been a mix of urban and rural. I truly appreciate the variety I have had throughout life but my heart of hearts is a country girl.
Last month Keith and I took a long weekend to go home and visit family. Part of that trip included helping my parents feed the cattle at my grandparents ranch, Gregersen Polled Herfords. It is something I have done since I was a small kid so it was fun to share it with Keith.

The new generation of feeding cattle during the winter has ditched the large ranch truck and increased mobility by using quads and a small trailer. Bitter cold most days, and thankfully not raining the days we helped, it was a great experience. It gave me a great appreciation for the life my grandparents have lived since starting their ranch so long ago.

They were waiting for us to come up over the hill.

Keith dishing out hay (notice his pink cheeks...brrr)

We tried to get a head count and ended up somewhere between 108 and 115.

I can vouch for the cows in my life, happy cows do come from California.

A Happy Year

2011-01-31T20:18:00.000-08:00

In November Keith and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary in Santa Barbara. It was a very fun weekend with hiking, walks on the beach, and plenty of great food. I am a very blessed lady to have such a wonderful husband! Here's some pics:

Europe 2010

2010-11-01T20:38:00.001-07:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Memory snapshots

2010-10-25T21:42:00.000-07:00

Do you ever think back onto a special occasion or a moment in time that struck you and remember specifics so clearly that it seems it was just yesterday? I love that. I regularly am caught off guard by wonderful memories from our wedding day. So, just over 11 months after our wedding I finally am getting around to sharing some memories. I have chosen some pictures that you normally wouldn't see in our album or on our photographers blog but ones that make me laugh when I think of the context or that take me back to the day so vividly I can hear the sounds or smell the scents of the moment.

This one wasn't planned. We had just arrived at the reception and were waiting for our photographer (the amazingly talented Ryan Jones) to gather his gear to head inside. Being that it was November it was a bit chilly out on the LB peninsula so we snuggled up and waited. It was a nice time to just relax and soak it all in before heading into the reception (and thankfully Ryan spied on us and caught the moment).

Oh, this one is fun. We waited to be introduced at the bottom of the staircase and we could hear everyone cheering as our bridal party entered. As we headed up the stairs it was dark but I could see the outlines of many family and friends. I remember turning and looking at Keith, thinking "Is this for real? I love this!"

Holy Moly. Mark's speech. I swear it was probably over 20 minutes long but we loved every second of it. Mark really surprised me with his 3 typed pages but as Ryan captured in this picture, we were thrilled. I remember the awkward laughs from the crowd, the "is this going to end?" occasional looks, and Keith's deep belly laugh throughout the whole thing.

My dear Kristen. Such a kind and loving toast and I remember this exact moment when I was thinking "oh, she's gonna lose it and cry" but she did hold it together and said some very funny and wonderful things. Check out those blue eyes!

Keith is a big fan of this one (probably because he looks like a stud). I remember that we had left the reception so Ryan could get a few more pictures and as he was getting set up and checking lighting I was distracted by some of our family walking through the parking lot. Sorry Ryan but I was jealous of them and ready to be heading back inside to the party.

Oh, this one makes me laugh still. The impromptu tunnel as we exited was fun and festive but what you don't know about this picture is Keith was running through the tunnel behind me holding my hand. In the cramped space he accidentally stepped on my dress, which as you can tell from my reaction, I thought had pulled down to my waist. And then I saw Ryan with his camera flashing straight ahead so I thought this was going to be my first nude photo. Thankfully my dress was secure and no one was traumatized.

Thanks for sharing my moments with me.

Minor Changes

2010-10-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

As you can tell my blog has received a small face lift. I have decided to change things up a bit and am even hoping my husband (who has pretty much abandoned his own blog) will be a guest blogger from time to time. Anyway, more to come but for now I will leave you will a photo of one of my favorite people. Here he is at the beach in Skagen, Denmark, standing in the waters of both the North and Baltic Seas. Pretty awesome (and handsome).

A Tahoe Wedding

2010-08-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

This month Keith and I were able to visit one of my most favorite locales, Lake Tahoe. My sister and her fiance were married (after 15 years) on the top of the mountain at Heavenly overlooking the lake. What a wonderful day and a great chance to hang out with family and friends. There were about 25 of us gathered around for the ceremony. Keith snapped some great pictures which I am pleased to share.

Lyndsey and Clint, the happy couple (check out her cool blue shoes!

One of my favorite pics of my sis!

Siblings & Spouses (a first ever photo)

I made my sisters bouquet of bright colored roses.

Me and my favorite man.

Reception

2010-01-07T12:57:00.001-08:00

I will skip the shocked claims of how long it has been since my last post and jump right into the next slew of postings, 95% of them probably focused on wedding recap.

Our dear friend Robert took some photos for us of our reception before everyone arrived. He did a great job and we are glad we asked him since it gave us a chance to capture the different elements before the place was filled to the brim with guests. Here are some of my favs:

The cake was delicious! That is coffee frosting tucked under the chocolate curls. Keith and I had them save the top tier so we could eat it on our one year anniversary but decided afterward that we would eat it now since it won't last that long. We have been enjoying it all week! YUM.

Candy Bar Favors:

(if you are a lover of gummy coke bottles or salt water taffy let me know... we've got some extras!)

That's all for now. Much more to come.

1 Month Milestone

2009-06-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

A lot has been happening in the last 30 days since Keith and I got engaged but no excuses for neglecting my blog for so long! The day we got engaged started with a trip to Catalina island... a wonderful island I had never visited before.

On the Catalina Express (boat) ... apparently Keith was nervous most of the day since he was aware of the big life milestone awaiting us that evening. I was none the wiser. About 30 minutes into the trip I was certain we weren't going to get engaged. Let's just be honest... once you get to the pre-engagement phase you are always keeping one eye open just in case that day is THE DAY. After I decided it wasn't the day my radar completely turned off.

This photo still makes me giggle. I wish I would have made him lay down alongside the odd little vehicle. I think he would have been longer.

Hanging out on the jetty away from the hussle and bussle of town.

Once we got back Keith went home and showered up. I worked and remained in my dingy clothes with my hair in a ponytail. One of us (that being me) was completely not expecting an engagement! (For the details on the engagement... check out Keith's blog).

Keith had brought all these candles and glasses so we could have a romantic dinner out on the patio.

Lara stopped by that night so we were able to get a picture of us post-engagement! Such an amazing man and such an amazing day. Our engagement was perfect. It truly represented us and Keith really thought through it and made it special for us. Our first date was making dinner at my house so it was awesome to get engaged in the same place. I am a very blessed lady!

Wedding updates to come...

In his words...

2009-05-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

Good news travels fast so hopefully you already know that I, Chanda Chaix, I am engaged to a wonderful man, Keith Erselius! To make that reality even better is that he took the time to put the details onto his blog in his own words. To hear him tell the story and see some pics you can visit Keith's blog: http://thatskeith.blogspot.com/

May

2009-05-19T18:42:00.001-07:00

When words and time are lacking... post pictures! :) These are from this month on a sunny Sunday where we grabbed a blanket, books, and headed to the bluff a block from my house to enjoy the warm spring weather.

Saigon

2009-04-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City if you use the technical government name) was the last stop on our Amazing Race. We were able to spend multiple nights in the same hotel which was a welcome treat after our 2 weeks of jumping from location to location. Saigon was one of my favorite places on the trip. It is a bustling city with lots of history and very friendly people. One of my favorite parts of the trip was the day my dad and I opted out of the tour trip and walked around the city for a few hours. We chatted about his time in the war, the current state of the country, his experiences traveling there for the past few years, and the highlights of our trip. For a daughter it was cherished time. Here are some pics of Dave and Chanda's day on the town.

Having a drink on the rooftop bar of the Rex Hotel to cool ourselves down after walking around town in the 90 degree weather with high humidity. hot hot hot!

Thirty five years working in telecommunications and my dad has never quite seen anything like the overhead cables that fill the streets of Vietnam. Pretty impressive.

Traffic... did I mention there is a bit of traffic in Vietnam. You could sit for hours and just watch people almost hit each other. Non stop entertainment.

Well, folks, that's it for Vietnam. I can't tell you enough how amazing of a place it is, how nice the people are, and how thankful I am that I decided to go. The time with my family and sharing the experience of visiting the orphanages in Vietnam was priceless. Thanks for journeying along with me!

Orphanages Part 2 and Nhatrang

2009-04-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

After much delay I will pick back up with the remainder of my Vietnam trip. Must get these updates finished so I can let you know about weekend trips camping, visting AZ for Spring Training, and being home for Easter. So many blog updates... so little time. :)

During the middle of our trip our group was able to spend 2 full days at the orphanages. Part of our group made up a small medical team and were able to treat dozens of the nuns and children. It was awesome to see them able to address some medical problems, give advice, and provide funds for medicine to treat some ailments they diagnosed.

The children were definately the highlight. So sweet, caring, and fun to be around.

The youngest children lined up in their play room in the infant dormitory. Their sweet smiles and loving affection stole our hearts.

Where there are children, there is laundry... lots of it! The fence for the garden makes a great place for line drying clothes.

After leaving the orphanages we traveled a few days and eventually ended up in Nhatrang, a gorgeous beach town on the South China Sea. Warm salt water, sandy beaches, and some much needed resting and relaxation were in order.

Two weeks minus Keith made for a sad Chanda. :)

Amazing views and a diverse collection of travelers from all over the world. Plus, it was our first chance to have ice cream since leaving the US which made for happy travelers.

Vinh Son Orphanage

2009-03-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

The highlight of our trip, and the main reason each of us embarked on this journey, involved visiting the orphanages in the Central Highlands. We landed in Pleiku which is the area where my dad and some of the other men on our trip were stationed during the war. How blessed I am that I was able to visit these locations and here from them about their time during the war. The Chaix clan on the trip consisted of my parents, my uncle Gary and aunt Bonnie, my aunt (and champion roommate for the trip) Jan, and myself. The mountain in the center of the skyline behind my family was where the army base was located during the war.

The orphanages we work with are Catholic orphanages, the first and largest one is behind a beautiful old wooden church. This is the orphanage that Friends of Vinh Son have been working with the longest. It was amazing to see the projects I have heard my dad talk about over the years: dormitories being built, kitchens being repaired after a fire so the kids could have baked bread to take to school, and a small barn to house pigs that are raised for food and to sell as income for the orphanage. The kids sang songs for us, held our hands as we toured the facilities, and laughed and played with us until we had to part ways. Many of them know basic English including "hi", "how are you?", "what's your name?", and "where you from?". It was so sweet to hear them talk, laugh, and sing.

My mom looking in on a pair of 10 day old twins whose lives were saved because the nuns brought these little ones into their care.

A group of the kids in front of the boys dormitory just before they escorted us through for a tour. It was amazing how clean and well kept it was and how proud they were to show each of us their beds where they stayed.

Singing for us during our visit.

Up next: more from the orphanages!

Good Morning Vietnam!

2009-03-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

After our time in Laos, our group headed to Vietnam for the remainder of our trip. We started in Hanoi but weren't there long before heading to Halong Bay. We were able to see the embalmed Ho Chi Minh and a couple historic locations before loading the bus for the bay. I would say our time in Halong Bay was one of my favorite parts of my trip for two reasons: 1) the location is so amazing and unique 2) our rigorous schedule up until then was suspended since we were forced to relax on a boat for 24 hours.

Our Vietnam guide "Tano". My dad has been fortunate to have Tano as a guide on most of his trips to Vietnam and has been able to meet his family and even visit Tano when he came to the US. He truly made our trip the best it could be. This is Tano in front of one of our many tour buses with our "Vinh Son Orphanage, Dave Chaix, 4th Infantry Division" sign.

Overhead view of an intersection in Hanoi. There aren't really traffic "laws" but there are suggestions. Right-of-way goes to buses, trucks, cars, motor bikes, bikes, and pedestrians... in that order. So to cross the street you just have to jump out there and slowly work your way through traffic as dozens of motor bikes weave around you. The picture below is during a time of minimal traffic. Wait until you see what it was like in Saigon!

In Halong Bay, our junk boat housed our entire group and crew of around 10 for 24 hours. We were able to eat some amazing seafood, relax, and take in the gorgeous view.

Halong Bay is truly an amazing place. It is currently trying to achieve the New 7 Wonders of the World award. If you ever get a chance to visit I highly recommend taking the time to travel from Hanoi and staying the night on a junk boat. Such a wonderful experience.

Here we are on the roof of our junk boat enjoying the view and each other's company.

Next: off to the orphanages!

The Journey Begins... Laos

2009-03-09T21:07:00.001-07:00

As promised, this starts a series of blogs walking you through my recent trip to Laos and Vietnam. For those who don't know, my dad started a non-profit with some friends years ago to raise support for a few orphanages in an area they were in during the Vietnam War. Over the years they have been able to help improve the conditions for so many children who live in the orphanages. It has been truly great to be a part of and makes me so proud of my dad and the group he works with. This year a group of 24 involved with the non-profit traveled for 2 weeks to visit the orphanage and tour Vietnam and Laos. These are some snapshots and captions from along the way. Please don't let reading these updates replace a chance for us to catch up personally. I just hope to be able to share some pictures and small notes, broken into small digestible portions for those who aren't brave (or unfortunate) enough to endure looking through an hour of photos like Keith had to.

Let the fun begin.

First, let me introduce my parents, Dave and Elaine. Aren't they cute? :) You will see plenty of them through the photo journey. This is day 1 in Laos before our baggage had even arrived. Lesson learned: always pack a spare outfit in your carry-on!

Giving alms to the monks at 6am, a daily part of the culture in Laos.

Long-tailed boats on the Mekong River, which we took to see one of many temples and pagodas while in Laos.

Tuk Tuks, our means of transportation while in Laos. It took 4 to cart around our crew.

A view from our tuk tuk of a typical street in Laung Prabang, Laos. Tourism is still getting going in this area so it is far less crowded and modern than what you will see in Vietnam. Laos really took our group by surprise. Since we were only spending 2 days there I didn't spend much time thinking about this portion of our trip before we left. I was blessed by the culture in Laos, the amazing people and food, and the beautiful scenery. A wonderful place to check out yourself if you ever get a chance.

Up Next... Hanoi and Halong Bay, Vietnam.

*Special thanks to the many Vietnam travelers for the photos used during my photo essays.

18 Days

2009-01-26T21:07:00.001-08:00

I figure since it has been over a month since my last post that most of my "regulars" have given up on me and are sick of checking in on my blog to continually see me, Keith, and Elmo. Never fear. In 18 days I leave for Vietnam and will be full of great pictures and photos once I return. If you do the math of 18 days you will realize I will be gone for Valentine's Day. The picture below was after Keith surprised me for a month early Valentine's dinner. He's pretty amazing.

Elmo

2008-12-14T22:18:00.000-08:00

Because I want to be the envy of all your children I decided to post my new favorite picture of two of my favorite people: Elmo and Keith.

Let Your Life Speak

2008-11-16T16:08:00.001-08:00

Today I finished a book I have been slowly reading over the past couple months, Let Your Life Speak by Parker J. Palmer. It is an interesting book that provoked some great times of thought. The last chapter provides the analogy of our lives being similar to seasons. I have always enjoyed this idea. He writes way better than I do so here are some of his thoughts that I appreciated:

"The notion that our lives are like the eternal cycle of the seasons does not deny the struggle or the joy, the loss or the gain, the darkness or the light, but encourages us to embrace it all - and to find in all of it opportunity for growth"

"Transformation is difficult, so it is good to know that there is comfort as well as challenge in the metaphor of life as a cycle of seasons."

"Summer is the season when all the promissory notes of autumn and winter and spring come due, and each year the debts are repaid with compound interest. In summer, it is hard to remember that we had ever doubted the natural process, had ever ceded death the last word, had ever lost faith in the powers of new life. Summer is a reminder that our faith is not nearly as strong as the things we profess to have faith in - a reminder that for this single season, at least, we might cease our anxious machinations* and give ourselves to the abiding and abundant grace of our common life."

*mach·i·na·tion: a scheming or crafty action or artful design intended to accomplish some usually evil end. (I learned a new word today and now maybe you will too)

I hope you are appreciating the life you have to live each day and the season it brings, whether autumn, winter, spring, or summer.

Any recommendations on what I should read next?

Memory Lane

2008-11-12T20:51:00.000-08:00

Some photos are just too priceless to pass up. This photo is of my grandpa, Roy Chaix, taken a couple weeks ago. He is standing on the street where our family owns property, appropriately named Memory Lane. My grandpa grew up near this area and has so many stories to share about it. Though I don't get to see him nearly as much as I would like I at least have precious photos like this one to hold me over.

Pumpkins on the Porch

2008-10-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

Keith and I carved pumpkins. One of us cheated and used a stencil. One of us did not. Can you guess which of us is the pumpkin carving cheater?

Me waiting for Keith to set up the camera... silently dreading the fact that he is going to make my try to mimic the face on my pumpkin.

Pumpkin mimicking faces. Mine, not so convincing.

In spite of the bad pictures we had a great time carving pumpkins and they look FABULOUS on my front porch!

3am

2008-10-25T03:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the sleeplessness becomes so common that being wide awake at 3am for no reason doesn't phase me. So here I sit, watching The Waitress, wishing I was making one of the pies in the movie but still needing to do the dishes from today's birthday cake making expedition, and now having to find something else to do as my late night awake-ness has outlived the battery life of my laptop. On to new and adventurous 3am activities... just wish it was sleeping.

Columbus Day

2008-10-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

I have a new favorite holiday (at least until Thanksgiving rolls around). Monday I took the day off so I could relax after a busy week at work and spend some time with Keith, who recently returned from surfing in Costa Rica. We ended up grabbing some sandwiches and had a picnic at a local park. We were both able to spend time reading and then finished the time at the park in complete shock regarding the parking ticket on the car (whoops). This favorite new holiday was finished off with Beer, Bratwurst, and friends at the Krohmers. I am counting down the days until next Columbus Day!

Chair Facelift

2008-10-01T19:25:00.001-07:00

Recently I took on a project where I have zero experience... reupholstering my dining room chairs. When Eryn and I moved to our new place I bought a great antique Pecan dining table and tea cart for a bargain price. They aren't quite my style but have really grown on me. The turning point where I really started loving the set was once I started picking out fabric to reupholster. A few hours and a ton of staples later I am thrilled with the outcome.. and the new addition of a staple gun to my workbench. I chose to go with a stripe on the side chairs (4) and a coordinating paisley on the arm chairs (2). I hadn't seen mixed chairs before but really liked the idea of it. Here are some pics of the outcome:

Stokke Wedding

2008-09-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend we got to share in the marriage of our friends Hans and Amy Stokke. Such a fun event with everything from bocce ball to 12 different kinds of cake. Here is a snapshot of some bocce playing between the ceremony and reception and a pic of Keith and I once we got back. I am sure Amy will post some pictures once she is back from her honeymoon (link to her blog under "Amy").

Introducing Keith

2008-09-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

Single, white, male who likes surfing, long walks along on the bluff, and distracting people while they try to shop at IKEA. Excellent cook with specialty dishes of Spaghetti Carbonara, pad thai, and just about anything BBQ'd. Extremely attractive (especially in his new glasses), huge distaste for wearing shirts, and ability to psychologically analyze anything though he refrains 99.9% of the time unless he's at work. Talented bocce ball player just recently taking 2nd place in the Bocce Collective league. Taken.

Tis the season!

2008-09-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

I may be premature but I am officially starting my celebration of Fall. No need to wait until the leaves changing color and cooler temperatures catch up with my excitement. I am full speed ahead embracing Autumn. Hopefully by November it will be cool enough here to break out my scarves! So brace yourself for my ridiculous love for Fall and all that comes with it. I anticipate that this year's Fall may be one of my favorites ever.

Meet Lucy

2008-08-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

I finally did it. After 2 years of living near the water I finally bought a beach cruiser. She is spectacular! This now begins the barrage of posts related to trips taken on my bike.

Vacation, Days 2 - 4

2008-08-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

Tuesday and Wednesday this week were spend on the beaches of Lake Tahoe with my mom. We got to have a wonderful dinner at Sunnyside with my friend Dave who is working in Tahoe, sandwiches from PDQ in Tahoma, and plenty of time relaxing, reading, and people watching on the beach. The weather was great!

Thursday my mom and I went to the Nevada County Fair with my aunt, cousins, and grandma. I must confess that I LOVE county fairs and have had the pleasure of visiting two in the last few weeks. I had a blast riding the Super Slide with my cousins Jarrett and Tyler, got the famous cinnamon rolls to take home, and ran into my nephew Justus who was running around with one of his friends. Overall, vacation has been quite a success. Starting to get worried that I am going to have a hard time adjusting to a full work week again. Guess I will put off thinking about that until reality hits on Monday.

Vacation, Day 1

2008-08-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

If today is any indication of how this weeks vacation will go then I have a week of blessing ahead of me. After a late night and very little sleep I was quickly on my way up to Sacramento. My parents and I went down to have lunch with my Grandpa Chaix, who impresses me with each and every day with how well he is doing. Moving at the speed of a 91 year old set this vacation off on a good note. We had a leisurely lunch, picked some fruit from the tree behind the house, traveled up to Auburn where we took a quad ride over to see my Gregersen Grandparents, picking up my niece on the way. Noteworthy observations from today: it takes just a couple hours of hanging out with my parents to understand completely where I get my humor and sarcasm, my brother is quite the farmer with an impressive vegetable garden, and changing up the pace of life from time to time is very healthy. Here are some pics from the day:

Grandpa Chaix and I at lunch (unfortunately the camera caught him pre-smile).

Picking nectarines (YUM!).

Grandpa Gregersen and I.
He was pretty impressed with my arm-stretching camera skills.

Cassidy, Mom, and I on our quad ride.

Grandma Gregersen and her great granddaughter, Cassidy.

Earthquake!

2008-07-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

I think I can officially consider myself a Southern CA resident now that I have experienced a legitimate earthquake. The 5.4 quake out of Chino Hills rattled my conference call to a halt today. We easily made our way downstairs and out into the parking lot with the others in our manufacturing facility. It was actually pretty entertaining and I am glad that I can now say I have lived to experience an earthquake, especially since there were no real injuries or major damages to report.

Lessons learned

2008-07-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

One of my summer reads is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I read a couple sentences the other night that stopped me and caused me to set my book down to think more of the ramifications of such a statement.

"They learned no compassion from their own anguish. Thus their suffering was wasted."

For me it is in the times when suffering is something I have gone through, not something I am in the midst of, that these sort of ideas can soak in. In the midst of suffering everything is too raw and consuming. In my life some of my greatest times of growth and learning have come through the difficult seasons. I also recognize that in times of prosperity and ease it is so common for me to forget the lessons learned. The above quote rang so true in my heart that if I don't keep close the lessons I learn in the midst of the suffering that those times of suffering were a waste. I pray that I can take time to reflect back on some of the lessons God has taught me in the midst of suffering.

Tuesday 4PM

2008-07-16T22:25:00.000-07:00

Isn't it always the case that your car never breaks down when you have time to spare. Let me tell you a little of my experience from yesterday. 6am to 4pm went fairly smooth. Work, running errands at lunch, prepping for an upcoming meeting. Normal everyday. I even made it out the door by 4pm as I had hoped (which if you know me, the words "I'm gonna try to leave early today" are a curse that almost always results in me leaving work extra late). The events after 4PM weren't quite as smooth. Not a mile from work my car decide it didn't want to run anymore at a very inopportune time. After one more attempt to drive it I finally ended up on the side of the road in desperate need of a tow truck. A few phone calls, a 30 minute wait on a grassy knoll on the side of the road and... God sendeth me Shaun, the attractive tow truck driver. Shaun was fast to the task and got me quickly to the car dealership that just 5 days prior I had fired after my 4 faithful years of patronage to this horrendous excuse for a business (a whole other story). Paperwork, transport to the rental car location, more paperwork, and I was back on the road... ironically in the almost exact make and model car I had left at the repair shop, just 4 years newer than mine. The speedy efforts of the amazing Customer Service Rep at AAA, Shaun the attractive tow truck driver, Tim the repair shop guy, and Emily the rental car agent, all paid off as we worked together for the common goal of getting me to the Coldplay concert on time. Next post... Coldplay (Binoculars Required).

It's official...

2008-07-10T22:16:00.000-07:00

Vacation is planned! Though there are no exotic islands or foreign dialects involved I will still be spending a whole week away from work! I am looking forward to a week of being with my family, seeing my grandparents, laying on the beach in Tahoe for a few days, and hopefully seeing some faithful friends. So NorCal ladies, lets start chatting about when we may be able to meet up. I get into town on August 4th and head to Tahoe toward the end of the week, heading back to SoCal on the 11th (tentatively). Counting down the days!

Oh, and I now have a new old-school paper calendar after the tragic death of my PDA (with all calendar entries, contacts, and notes) after packing, and not being able to find my charger, thus leaving my PDA "too dead". Let the calendar entries begin!

Friday... all week long

2008-07-06T22:36:00.000-07:00

My friend Esther is on a week long vacation in Mexico and I get to babysit her bike, appropriately named "Friday". I can't wait to spin the wheels all over town and fully anticipate that the beach cruiser I have been considering (and putting off buying) for the last two years will officially make it onto my shopping list.

Here are some pics from today's adventures with Heather and Chelle. I am still working on my photographing-while-biking skills (my newest adventure since the state of CA has taken away my cellphone-talking-while-driving opportunities).

Hands-free = Hazard

2008-07-02T22:37:00.000-07:00

Most of you are well aware of the new cell phone "Hands-free" law that has now been in action for just two days. Today I attempted to switch back to using a wired earpiece I have from a couple years ago to be a law abiding citizen and avoid the fees of a ticket. Of course, this corded item is only compatible with my work cell phone. So, now I am driving with a distracting wire hanging from the side of my face, fussing with the piece in my ear that is giving me a headache and keeps falling out due to my small ear canal that does not like items inserted in it, looking up numbers on my personal cell phone, dialing them into my work cell phone, attempting to adjust the volume, moving my arm while forgetting about the wire hanging from my face - in effect sending the attached cell phone onto my passenger seat, and scurrying for the phone to hang up, all while saying "Can you hear me OK?" 13 times per conversation. And this is supposed to be a safety law? I think I am living the letter and not the meaning of the law. I am in the market for a hands-free wireless option and hope to bring you good news of a safe future soon. Until then, watch out on the roads in you live in Monrovia, Long Beach, or anywhere in between on the 605 freeway. I will miss talking with all of you that are so faithfully part of entertaining me during my commute.

Catching up...

2008-06-29T21:09:00.000-07:00

So I recognize it has been a couple weeks since I've posted any stories so I will try to give a brief random overview.

Moving... I have successfully relocated and LOVE my new place. It is quite amazing and we are blessed to live here. One of its best qualities is it is quite so I have been sleeping a whole lot better. We are down to our last dozen or so boxes so there is light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to being settled in.

Living room before furniture.

Backyard.

Walk for Grain... Last Sunday our church family did a 5K walk to raise money for families in Burkina Faso, Africa. I don't have the total number raised at this point but am very thankful to the family, friends, co-workers, and my employer for the generous donations.

Friends hanging out before the walk.

Angels v. Dodgers... Today I got to enjoy the Angles / Dodgers game from right behind 3rd base. Awesome seats, great friends, and though it came down the the last pitches of the last inning the Angels were able to pull off the win.

Hans, Amy, Chanda, and Mark (Three Dodgers and an Angel)

Beach Cruisin'

2008-06-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

Though I didn't get to spend Father's Day with my dad (which would have been ideal), Southern CA did offer me quite a lovely day. My friend Esther and I jumped on beach cruisers and biked down along the water. It was the kind of day that made me thankful for the wonderful city I get to live in. I did discover though that taking pictures while biking can be hazardous. After almost hitting the pavement a few times and taking Esther and her bike with me I decided to put the camera away and avoid the road burn. I will work on my biking-camera skills for future posts. :)

Cruising down the street (and yes, I do have a shirt on even though it doesn't show up here).

Esther rockin' it on her bike, Friday.

The last picture that snapped before the near face plant on the bike path.

Walk for Grain

2008-06-07T21:50:00.000-07:00

In two weeks I will be participating in a 5K walk to raise money for a program called Walk for Grain. My church partners with families in Burkina Faso, Africa and this year the community of subsistence farmers faced the worst crop failure in decades. So, along with many friends and families from my church we will be strapping on our tennis shoes and raising funds to buy grain for families facing famine. A $26 bag of grain will feed a family of 5 for one month. If you are interested in more information and / or would like to support this cause please visit the web site:

http://www.walkforgrain.org/

For me, I have a special place in my heart for Africa since my travels to Malawi years ago. Though I haven't visited Burkina Faso myself I know the importance of crops for those who farm merely to feed their families, like many of the women and children I met. Personally, I too often forget how blessed I am to have food each day, and not only that but a variety of food available. The thought of depending on the crops I farm for survival and then having those crops fail, leaving me with nothing is something I have a hard time wrapping my head around. It is a true reminder though to be thankful for the blessings in abundance that I too commonly take for granted each day.

Movin' on...

2008-06-04T20:02:00.000-07:00

The rumors are true. In just under 3 weeks my roommate and I will be loading up our possessions into a moving van and waving goodbye to our current residence (big sigh of relief if you have ever heard the stories of our obnoxious neighbors). We found a place that is adorable and only 2 blocks from the beach. We are counting down the days and knowing what lies ahead makes packing a little less horrendous. So, for now my life is full of boxes, packaging tape, and the bliss of counting down the days until we can call our new place home.

Indian Creek

2008-04-15T22:21:00.000-07:00

3 days. 75 family, friends, and friends of family I don't even know. No cell phone reception. Decades of tradition. The first weekend of April my family joins together on our property in the foothills outside Sacramento for The Chaix Family Picnic. I don't even know how long this tradition has been going on but I can say that it has only been a half dozen times in my life that I have missed it. This was not one of those years. I had such a blast hanging out with my family, relaxing in the warm weather, and even getting to see the Mathison family who joined us for the day. A few pics here and more are saved on my Flickr account (link to the right).

My mom and Cassidy "The Face" Craig.

The Mathison Family (and no, no one actually sleeps in the tepee).

Kel and Reese.

HTH 5

2008-03-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

As many of you may know, March to me represents more than just the changing of seasons, the blooming of flowers, and the preparation of income taxes. To me, March holds one of the best traditions with some of the greatest friends. HTH (Hotter Than Hell) is an annual trip to not only cheer on the Angels at Spring Training but a time to consume some amazing food, listen to unique and thoughtfully composed road trip CDs, and spend time soaking in the sun with friends. This year, HTH 5 did not disappoint. We were able to see the Angels defeat the Cubs, Diamondback, and (sad to say) the Giants. I have included some pics on my Flickr account if you're interested in seeing some highlights. And until next year, I raise my glass (of Fat Tire, of course) to the fearless crew who makes March the month to look forward to! 11 months to go until HTH 6.

Shallow Thoughts

2008-03-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

I realized today that I find it so much more disappointing to be let down by someone I find really attractive. For example, it was so much more of a let down today that the hottie at Verizon couldn't fix my cell phone compared to any other average guy. He had such potential to be hot AND save the day. Such a waste of such cuteness.

A Birthday Wish

2008-02-19T07:15:00.001-08:00

Today I celebrate one of my favorite people in the world. The person I followed around all the years of my young life. Today is my big sister Lyndsey's birthday. As sisters we've been bitter enemies and the best of friends. We are exact opposites and exactly the same in so many ways. I cherish the years of growing up together, the joy we get laughing at life's current circumstances, and look forward to all our years to come. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and family, she has a ridiculous number of pets, and she doesn't give herself nearly enough credit for the talents she has. I can say that because as her little sister I have had a whole lifetime of looking up to her and realizing just how cool she really is. In the world of sisters I wouldn't trade her in for anything. I'm pretty darn lucky.
Happy Birthday Wheezie! Just like in the photo above, I will be chowing down some ice cream in your honor today.

Did you know...?

2008-01-31T11:59:00.000-08:00

Following the example of my many wise friends I thought I would share 10 things about me you may not know:

I can't eat yogurt or bananas in the morning because the texture makes me gag.
I despise blowing my nose.
I have an acute ability to detect silk in clothing and ginger in food... neither of which I like.
I drink a glass of milk with two ice cubes almost every day.
I always check behind shower curtains before using the bathroom.
I rarely breathe through my mouth... even when I sleep.
I only chew half a piece of gum and I usually chew it long after it has lost its flavor.
I like that I don' t have a middle name.
I only eat tuna sandwiches in the summer when it is warm outside.
When I say "a few" or "a couple" to describe quantities it in no way means 3 or 2 but could range anywhere up to 10.

Blank Sheet of Paper

2008-01-21T20:29:00.000-08:00

There is a song I have enjoyed over the last couple years that seems to be sticking with me lately. Tim McGraw's "Blank Sheet of Paper" keeps wandering through my mind. It isn't the circumstances in the song but the idea of having so much to say swirling around in your head but not being able to translate the words down onto paper. The 21 days that 2008 has had to offer haven't all been bad but they certainly have not been what you wish for when the clock strikes 12 on New Year's Eve. Somewhere in the midst of trying to make sense of its joys, tragedies, freedoms, and restraints I hope to be able to translate my words onto paper. I am hopeful that the words will come and I already see 2008 taking an upward turn. Until the words come ...

1920 - 2008

2008-01-07T22:27:00.000-08:00

This week I lost my grandma, Helen Chaix. She was a wonderful woman. For those of you who have lost someone you love you may recognize where I am at; that blurred phase where it just isn't quite real yet... even after almost a week. A few things that are part of me that came from her: my English ancestors, a love for gardenia flowers, an appreciation of relaxing in the spa, my sassy (sometimes spit-fire) attitude, and hand-me-down shoes when I was in elementary school and we wore the same size. She was a petite little thing and had the most beautiful silver hair. She fought cancer years ago and won. She was an impeccably matched dresser, even in her trendy velour sweatsuits. She always remembered birthdays and she loved my grandpa, Roy. Sixty eight years of marriage is something I can't even begin to imagine. I cherish the legacy she left behind as a woman who loved her family and I have only started the process of missing her. I love you Grandma.

Garlic Mash

2008-01-07T21:36:00.000-08:00

This event actually occured in my house this week. My roommate, so in love with the garlic mashed potatoes I made, actually hugged the container of leftovers. It was priceless!

Newest addition

2007-12-16T21:18:00.000-08:00

The newest member of my Mac family that I am loving these days! Makes a great jogging partner, barely weighs a thing, and gives a portion of its proceeds to AIDS efforts in Africa. Thanks Mom and Papa! Happy birthday to me!

Digital Download

2007-12-16T20:49:00.000-08:00

So I finally downloaded the pictures from my digital camera so you will now get a photo essay of random events from the last few months.

Tony came to visit me and we spent the day at Disneyland. Here we are in line for the water ride in CA Adventure where we ruled the raft and drenched a family visiting the US from England. Down with those awesome sounding Brits.

Christa and I on the bus as a group of our friends traveled to watch the Long Beach Christmas Boat Parade in celebration of Esther's Birthday.

Chelle, Esther, and I waiting for the bus to take us home after the Boat Parade. Notice the parkas and scarves? It was a chilly 57 degrees in Long Beach that night!

First photo on record of my fabulous friend Lara and I.

Here is a keeper! Esther, Heather, and I sporting some awesome Tacky Christmas Sweaters for our Christmas Party.

Give Thanks!

2007-12-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

This past Thanksgiving was a great one. Quality time with family and friends with a side dish of rest, great food, and no lines at the airport. It was such a blessing to spend so much time (a full 6 days) in Nor Cal with some of my favorite people. I can say that I share life with such amazing people. Thank you all for being great friends and family. I am blessed.

A couple more...

2007-11-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

A few more Halloween pics. My nephew Tyler and nieces Jessica and Cassidy (aka "The Face") all dressed up. I also included one of Esther and myself who ended up unexpectedly looking like twins. I promise this will be my last Halloween blog.

"Oh my!" to "Yee-haw"

2007-11-01T22:43:00.000-07:00

Lions and tigers and bears! Oh, my! The day took a sharp turn that lead to freckles and cowboy boots in place of Toto and red sparkly slippers. Due to the extremely cold temperatures here in Long Beach (a harsh 62 degrees last night) I did a quick switch from Dorothy to be a cowgirl for our Community Carnival last night. It was a blast seeing all the little kiddos dressed up. Hope y'all had a great Halloween! Yee-haw.

Peer Pressure

2007-10-31T11:52:00.000-07:00

I should learn to be very careful not to fall prey to peer pressure. Let yourself be influenced by others and the next thing you know you are dressed up like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and parading around your office on what would normally be a typical Wednesday at work. I will learn this time and say "NO" to peer pressure next year when Halloween planning begins. (I think we will win the Best Group category in the contest though for the second year in a row so at least we get a prize for being so ridiculous!)

Apple Hill Substitute

2007-10-23T20:17:00.001-07:00

For those of you from Nor Cal you will likely understand how the changing of the seasons brings about a desire to pack in the car and head to Apple Hill for the day to enjoy all the benefits of Fall. For us in So Cal we don't have tons of options for enjoying the seasons but we do have a few. This month a group of us spent the day enjoying apple picking, great food, and searching for the perfect pumpkin. It was a great day and it did a fabulous job of fulfilling my Apple Hill longings for this year. Hope you all get a chance to enjoy Fall! Here is a photo of some of my crazy friends enjoying the pumpkin patch.

October

2007-10-17T21:23:00.001-07:00

Those who know me well probably know Fall is my favorite season, and more specifically, October is my favorite month. I love most things that symbalize October: leaves changing color, cool windy weather, sweaters and jeans, and of course, candy corn. This is also the time of year that I shelf my distaste for Starbucks and enjoy their beloved Pumpkin Scones.

So take some time to toast a nice warm latte and have some candy corn in honor of October, my most favorite month of all.

Nona

2007-10-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

I met a woman this week and she has been stuck in my thoughts ever since. Her name is Nona and she is in her 60's. She wore a florescent yellow t-shirt and had the best "live life to the fullest and don't worry what other people think" mentality. What started out as a friendly conversation outside of Dairy Queen, bantering back and forth about jazz music, with my friends turned into a tearful conversation as she shared about her estranged son. He had spoken harsh words to her and she was crushed. I was struck by how heavy of a burden she carried for the damaged relationships in her life and how it affected her so profoundly that her words and tears spilled out to total strangers. She really just needed someone else to hear how heavy her heart was and to share the burden for even just a brief conversation. It makes me wonder how many people I come across are carrying those heavy burdens but they just haven't spilled out yet. How much are we willing to carry and what is it that brings us to that point where we let it all spill out?

What a Croc!

2007-09-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years American culture has been inundated by a fashion disaster, otherwise referred to as "Crocs". These rubbery where-it-everywhere shoes have made their way from the appropriate settings of the beach and garden and have found themselves sporting through shopping malls, churches, and dare I say, businesses. Since when did beach attire become socially acceptable at work? Maybe I was born in the wrong generation but I continue to question the blurring lines between casual and work attire. This leads to the fundamental question of footwear: "Is it ever appropriate to wear a sock with a shoe intended for water sports?". I mean, isn't the essence of the Croc that it can get wet and yet provide the foot protection needed in beach and gardening situations? So, how then does the white athletic sock fit into the picture I ask. Like wearing a t-shirt and underwear under a bathing suit, it is just not right. I would like to propose a return of society back to its intended use for Crocs.

I would like to apologize to any inappropriate-wearing Croc-lovers who are offended by this blog.

** The exception to this blog is for children under the age of 6 where Crocs in most circumstances are appropriate due to the fact that little itty bitty feet in jelly shoes are just too darn cute.

Summer Recap

2007-09-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

Blogging is sort of like exercising. When you get out of the habit it is hard to get back into a routine. That is where I find myself. So I decided on a quick summer recap followed by ignoring my two month lapse in blogs. :) Summer had some great highlights including visits from both family and friends, a trip to Tahoe with my mom, the Angels clenching the American League West, and making my first apple pie. The downfall of the summer is the recent passing of my cousin Chris. With so many events it is hard to jump in and have anything to say.

As I mentioned I spent some time at the end of summer in Lake Tahoe with my mom (hence the photo above). I decided that everyone has a place in this world that brings them peace and restores their soul. Tahoe is this place for me. Whether it is childhood nostalgia, God's beautiful creation surrounding me, escaping the city lifestyle, or a combination of them all something about the lake is good for me. I hope you each have a chance to visit the place that brings you peace and restores your soul.

29 Miles

2007-08-01T21:55:00.000-07:00

If I step out onto my porch tonight I believe I can hear the faint booing from the fans at Dodgers Stadium as Barry Bonds steps up to bat, positioned to hit a milestone home run. 29 miles of booing.

Conditional Reflexes

2007-07-14T23:03:00.000-07:00

Fountain Pepsi and Goldfish Crackers. Pavlov was onto something when he discovered and researched the idea of conditional reflexes. I realized recently that whenever I eat Goldfish crackers (I keep a stash in my desk at work) I crave Pepsi. I trace it back to a couple years in high school of after school snacks of Better Cheddars and Pepsi with my sister, Lyndsey, while watching Days of Our Lives. Anyway, this new awareness of my conditioned craving led me to thinking about Ivan Pavlov with his research with dogs (though I agree I have grossly simplified his research and scientific intentions). All this thinking has made me aware of these reflexes randomly throughout the day. There are numerous menial responses all the way up to more serious ones, for instance, how I respond when I'm hurt by someone (or even predicting being hurt) by putting up walls with people. It makes me wonder where else I may respond this way. I want to live a life that is intentional and not conditional. I pray that God will make me aware of these responses and lead me to live an intentional life, each day. Though I do anticipate consuming the occasional fountain Pepsi and Goldfish cracker.

MapMyRun.com

2007-07-12T21:33:00.000-07:00

My New Favorite Web Site! I pioneered a new jogging route and with this site I was able to map it out to find out the distance. Super cool. Give it a try.

http://www.mapmyrun.com

Renewed Love

2007-05-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my love for my Weber propane portable grill was renewed. For the first time of the season I fired up the grill and was reminded just how much I love it. I can tell it is going to be a great summer. I have included a horrible self portrait of me and my Weber from my Mother’s Day Dinner BBQ. Mom, wish I could have been in your backyard for the BBQ with the fam! I would like to send out my deepest thanks to Phil and Stacy for getting me my fabulous grill that made my day, maybe even my week. And yes, I am going to get the stand so I don’t have to huddle on the ground over my precious Weber.

Oh, for those waiting for more Maui pictures some can be found via the Flickr link to the right. Enjoy. My vacation tan is already fading... so sad.

ALOHA!

2007-05-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the land of sandy beaches, sunny skies, and not having a clue what day (let alone what time) it is. Kristen and I are loving the vacation life and find ourselves relaxed and well refreshed. From those of you who know us well, I can hear a resounding "Amen" from you all. From Kristen's big scuba diving experience, my relaxing massage, and getting pummeled against the sand today in 10 foot waves on Big Beach we aren't quite sure we want to head home yet. With a few more days until we head home we thought we would share a couple pictures and let everyone know we are doing well. More stories and pics to come when we get home. Miss you all. Aloha!

Spring Is Here

2007-03-09T18:19:00.000-08:00

Top 5 Favorite Things about Spring:
5. Kiss of sun from warm weather
4. Flowers galore
3. Peeps candy
2. First paid day off from work since New Years
1. Spring Training!

For the third year in a row a group of friends have treked out to Arizona for our HTH trip (Hotter Than Hell, dubbed after the original trip to AZ in August). We relish in the warm weather, Fat Tire on tap (even at the stadiums), Cracker Barrel for breakfast, Oregano's pizza, and a great chance to see our teams up close. To all the HTH crew... I am already anxiously awaiting next year. HTH5 Cancel or Allow? Allow.

Give me a minute... I'm new at this.

2007-03-05T21:17:00.000-08:00

So... after much debate I have finally joined the blog world. Right now I am just enjoying the blank slate and trying to figure this whole thing out. More to come soon. Promise.