It Looks Like Christmas!

I was admiring my table setting for Christmas a couple of nights ago. Alisa even thinks it looks nice!!! She said "you should take a picture of it and put it on your blog". So I did and then took a few others so you could see our decorations. Leanne inspired me to go ahead with taking the pictures and then posting them because I loved looking at her decorations.

I love our candycane themed tree this year. It looks beautiful at night with the lights on. It is hard to tell here. By the way, I crossed over the line this year and bought a "fake" tree. It was on a super sale the day after Thanksgiving for $30. Alisa and I are surprized at how much we like it. I am sure it helps that I have a candle scent of a Christmas Tree! :)

Look, we even have stockings hanging on our mantel! Notice the Snowman theme!

The Nativity Counter is my favorite. We now have 10 Nativities to display.

"White Water"

It has been years now that I have been teased about my love of the so called "white water" I call milk. For all of you who love to tease me, I would like you to know I made a very important discovery on the evening of December 8, 2007. I now know what "white water" tastes like and it is disgusting! I can see how McKay recently said it ruins his chocolate chip cookies. :) I have taken a picture of the culprit! I purchased it at Target. If I had to drink this stuff on a regular basis, I would become a calcium pill taker like Alisa or maybe even be willing to spend the points on 1%. Have not fear though...in true "I am Lorraine Barlow's daughter fashion" I am drinking the gallon and not wasting it, but I plug my nose when I do. It is half way gone as of today!

The Cultural Arts

I am feeling very cultured (if that is a word)! In the month of November I had the privledge of seeing three productions for lack of a better word.

It all started on Saturday, November 3 as twelve of us attended the production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. There were some new songs I really liked in it. The lulaby sung to Hannah was beautiful. We looked at it as a birthday celebration for Brock. He loves the movie as it is a family tradition to watch together each Christmas. The best part of watching it together is when the boys mimic the scenes. Garrett, of course, is a pro at it!

On Thursday, November 15 I had a dream come true as I attended the "Lord of the Dance". This is a show I have wanted to see for years. I finally did it with Alisa's encouragement. Dad, Mom, Alisa, Ami Harris and I attended the "Lord of the Dance" performance at the Civic Arts Plaza. It was wonderful. The dancing was amazing. The dancers looked like they were gliding as the pranced and stomped to the music in Celtic fashion. It was very well done.

On Saturday, November 17 I received phone call from Chelsea inviting me to attend the "Nutcracker" with her at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. I was in the middle of a quilting class but decided I wanted to "bond" with Chelsea. I had never seen the "Nutcracker" before so it was a fun, new experience. It turned out that Rachel took Anna & Carly to the same performance along with their friends Becky & Eva. I read on the program to get the storyline of the performance which helped me to understand. I thought it was well done and I really enjoyed going to it with Chelsea.

Ami Harris Birthday Weekend

Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1

We kidnapped Ami for the weekend to celebrate her birthday (8/31). We had a lot of fun with our girl bonding, pampered weekend. I had a really bad cold but was looking forward to this weekend I went anyway. Alisa caught it but I think everyone else stayed healthy.

Friday night we (Corrine, Alisa, Michelle, Ami and Marj ate at Ottavio's Italian Restaurant.

Saturday morning Ami's parents fixed us a yummy breakfast at their home. We (Corrine, Alisa, Ami, Michelle and Pam (then headed for a day of pampering at The Oaks Spa in Ojai. We had facials, body massages, scalp massages, ate lunch, used the steam room, took Yoga classes, and RELAXED!

We capped off the day by eating at a local Ojai restaurant famous for their Strawberry Shortcake. It turned out to be Italian food again. It was delicious. Here is Ami and her "birthday cake".

God Bless America!

September 11, 2007

I woke up today thinking about 9/11/2001. The first thing I did was put my flag out to fly. I am so thankful for the men and women who have and are working to keep this country free. My life is so good because of them and their sacrifices. We are in the middle of war right now and we hardly even feel the effects of it. I am so grateful to live in this great land of America. May the Lord continue to bless America! I am SO thankful to be an AMERICAN!

Ventura County Fair

Monday, August 6th, 2007

Alisa, McKay's family and myself went to the Ventura County Fair for FHE. It was so much fun to see the fair through Anna and Carly's eyes. It was fun for me to see McKay play "Dad" with them at the ride section and carrying them on his back. We ate lots of stuff we shouldn't eat so I am glad the fair and that funnel cake only comes once a year. I would say the girls liked the horses the most.

Reunion Weekend

August 9-13, 2007

I traveled to Utah for my 20th high school reunion. Holy COW - that makes me sound old. Just for the record...I am NOT old. I certainly don't feel like I should be attending my 20th high school reunion. I turned it into a reunion weekend by visiting with mission companions, cousins and hanging out with my sisters. I was nervous about going to the reunion as a single never been married Mormon girl, but I had such a fun time I am REALLY glad I did it.

Picture description going from bottom to top: dinner with companions - me, Elisa Black, Michelle Rosenvall, and Kristi Perry (she is expecting miracle #2); Kate took a picture of me before I left for the reunion; me with Shelley Edens Paskett and her husband...she now has 8 children and lives in Alpine; I introduced Parker's Drive In to Uncle Rich, Aunt Debbie, Melinda, Kate, and Blair; a copy of our agenda at the reunion; a picture of our home on 6000 West - it looks good right now; we celebrated Sean Kirkby's 40th birthday at the Kirkby home - This is Sean, Angela and Nathan.