Wintry Weather

Some of our centers closed due to snow today. Here is proof that it really does snow in California.

Lunch Break

Today I spent my lunch break by the lake. It is not too far from my office and it's a nice place to read a book or just sit and people watch.

See that white stuff? It snowed on the Saddleback Mountains last night.

Holiday Party, It's A Girl & Missing Keys

Jenn and I went to a holiday party this weekend at the Epsteins. They hosted a great party with tasty food (Jen's crab dip and pumpkin cake), music (shout out to Pearl Jam) and entertainment (Rock Band). They are also expecting a baby in May and wanted to share the sex of the baby with close friends and out of state family over the phone.

Jen's Spread

The Guys Rockin OutAt a recent doctor appointment, Jen and Darren had asked their doctor to write the sex of the baby onto a card and seal it in an envelope. Jen then took the sealed card to a bakery and had the baker create either a blue or pink cake, depending on the sex written on the card. Well this weekend, Jen and Darren untaped the tightly sealed cake box and shared at their holiday party that a BABY GIRL will be joining their family next spring. We are so excited for the two of them and can't wait to meet their new addition.

And It's A....

GIRL!

Steve and the Mom To Be

We also went and saw the movie Four Christmases. When we were getting ready to come home, we were unable to find our keys. We looked all over the house and even went back to the movie theatre and restaurant where we had breakfast earlier that morning and no keys!!!!!!!!! I started blaming Jenn because she always misplaces things and Jenn started questioning and blaming me. There was definitely some tension building. Suddenly Jenn started feeling around in her coat pocket that she had been wearing the whole time and discovered that there was a hole in her pocket. The keys had gone through the hole in her pocket and deep into her coat!!!!!!!!! How crazy is that. Needless to say a feeling of relief and joy overcame us. So after a 10 minute lecture that I gave Jenn when we got into the car, all was forgiven and life moves on. I don't get many opportunities to give Jenn the "I told you so" talk (usually it's the other way around) so I definitely relished the rare opportunity. I am going to use this incident later on when I do something wrong or stupid and Jenn attacks me. When she starts in on me, I can say "At least I didn't lose the keys and make us drive all around Santa Clarita Valley looking for them while you had them in your coat pocket the whole time." You don't know how happy that will make me. So all in all we had a fun and eventful weekend. Thank you Darren and Jen for being such great hosts and great friends.

Butt Camp

...I mean boot camp. It's what I will be going to everyday for the next two weeks. I am on day two and can I just tell you how much my derrière hurts. Boot camp consists of early morning workouts, as in 5:30 a.m., at a local junior college. We run, jump, stretch, sweat and most importantly BURN calories!! I am not going to lie, getting up out of my warm bed when it is still dark outside is tough but so far it has been worth it. Before camp started we were given pre-evaluations, measuring and weighing everything. Talk about motivation!

If any of you watch Real Housewives of Orange County, it is the same boot camp they showed on one of the episodes. Tomorrow is day three...wish me luck!

Alma Mater

Yesterday I gave Steve a campus tour of the University of California, Irvine. It is where I spent four years of my life. I showed him where I used to study into the wee hours of the night, where I used to eat lunch and where I lived my freshman year. UCI's campus is shaped in the form of a circle with a huge park in the center. A lot has changed since I graduated. There are new parking structures, buildings and a new student center, but for the most part the atmosphere is still the same. Finals are next week so it was pretty quiet.

Ring Road is the walkway that will take you all around campus.

This is the dorm where I lived my freshman year. Third floor corner behind the tree.

Aldrich Park and in front of the library.

Lecture Hall and Arts Center.

UCI's mascot is an anteater.

'Tis The Season...

To go to the beach. Before the reality of another busy work week sets in, we decided to head over to our spot in Laguna Beach. It's always nice to walk along the shore and sink our toes in the sand. Thought I would share some pictures.

Watch Your Step

A Guy Can Dream

Steve's Crane Technique

Wow I'm Short!

Rooftop Lunch Take #1

Rooftop Lunch Take #2

November Recap

Hello everyone. Jenn and I wanted to write and say Happy Thanksgiving to you all and we hope that you all are having a great holiday season. We are looking forward to spending our Christmas break up north with Jenn's family. It was Jenn's birthday on the 17th and we had a nice time celebrating with friends. Jenn is enjoying her new job. She is learning a lot and meeting a lot of new people. She is the "Magic Johnson" of her company because she does everything there. For some strange reason I am continuing to still close loans. Yes, the market is bad but rates are still good and with a lot of luck I have been able to persuade some of these lenders to close my loans. It hasn't been easy but I have been able to keep my head above water in these tough economic times that we are in. Other than work and the usual play nothing else is really going on with us.

We had a great time hanging out with the family in Simi. Mom did a great job with the feast as usual and I got a blister on my thumb playing rock band with Craig and the kids. What a cool game!!! I know what I am going to be getting myself this year for Christmas. The only other thing I need are for the Fulton kids to come to my house to play with me because Jenn's skills were not up to par. Ha ha. Had to put that one in there. Okay, that's it. Have a Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year. Hope that 2009 brings a stronger economy and good fortune.

Craft Project

I don't consider myself an artsy or crafty person. I can't sew and I'm not very good with a paintbrush. Do stick figures count? But, I think I found something I can do--at least I am going to try. According to http://craft.dow.com/ all it takes is Styrofoam, fabric, scrapbook paper, dental floss, ribbon, ruler, scissors, straight pins and glue--can't go wrong with that, right? If it turns out looking decent I'll post pictures. Wish me luck!

Flashback Friday

Mama Joan and Little Steve

Steve at 4 months

Steve with his big sisters, Janna and Kelley

Steve with his big brother Michael

Isn't this the cutest?

Simi Valley Ball Player
Elder Barlow with Elder Davis

It's a bird, it's a plane....

Actually it's a big orange pumpkin air balloon!

Last night Steve and I decided to check out Great Park's balloon ride. It was free and we live so close, why not? The park isn't actually a park-yet. It is an old marine base with old buildings, overgrown plants and dark empty streets. Kinda eery and completely appropriate for Halloween. We thought the place would be empty, not so much. While we waited our turn to ride the big pumpkin, we took turns trying on my pirate costume (I was a pirate at work today).

We're dorks, I know. When it was our turn to ride, Steve tensed up a little. As we were ascending he grabbed my arm (totally thought he was going to give the little people below a surprise) but when we reached the top he was okay. At about 400 feet the view is spectacular. We could see all of Irvine, Tustin, Lake Forest and the ferris wheel at the Spectrum. It was fun, a little romantic. Steve wants to go back and ride during the day. I haven't quite mastered taking pictures at night. I call it my "artistic" take on the Irvine view