Congrats Vicki!

My sister-in-law Vicki just told me she got the job of her dreams, working as a faculty member at a branch of West Virginia University. Three cheers for Vicki! I am really excited for her...so much, I had to post it to our blog.

Red Cross Graduates

Yesterday, Lance and I completed the Red Cross Adult/Child/Infant CPR and First Aid Certification. We even bought a CPR mask, in case we will need it in an emergency.

I am even toying with the idea of becoming a member of the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and completing the training program they offer.

I did decide we need to make sure we have a good 72 hour kit and need to store more water. You can never be too prepared in S. California!

The Death of a Bunny

I should be writing my essay for Graduate school right now. But, I have been procrastinating this task for a month now. So I figure, why not procrastinate another 20 minutes?

Top Ten Reasons this Easter Weekend Rocked

10. I didn't have to make a huge ham dinner.

9. My deviled eggs were perfecto. (Thanks again to my Aunt Lorraine for the secret recipe.)

8. Ferris Bueller's Day Off came in the mail from Blockbuster.

7. The Easter Bunny was quite good to Lance and I.


6. We got to chaperone the Irvine Stake's Youth Dance. Loud music, a bunch of LDS teenagers, and Lance having to stop boys swinging from the basketball hoop. Best time EVER.



5. I was asked to dance by a 16 year old boy. I politely refused...But sure, I was flattered! Looking like your 14 yrs. old when you are actually 28 can be a compliment, right?



4. Sofi loved her new stuffed bunny.



3. Cheap stuffed bunny from Ralph's: $9.99. Watching Sofi tear the bunny up: $0. Vet bill for removing stuffing from her intestines: $1000 Lance getting to use the shop vac to vaccuum up the blanket of stuffing off of our floor: Priceless.

Disclaimer: We really didn't have to go to the vet, as I feared. Apparently, Sofi's digestive system is quite mature and can handle a lot of polyester.

2. We were able to talk to most of our family members on the phone.

1. I was able to teach a lesson on Easter and how it relates to us @ church. What a great way to remember the Savior and the true meaning of Easter! I love teaching....

Yes, The Easter Bunny Delivers

Feeling very homesick for MN, my mom, and the Easters I had as a kid, I decided to become the Easter bunny this year. I felt that the non-married males in my family needed an Easter basket surprise. I headed to my two favorite stores to buy Easter goodies - Harry and David's and Target.

I spent way more than I should at Harry and David's but figured it was okay because they sell my beloved Jordan almonds, some tasty gummy bunnies and Lance's fav - truffles. (I can thank my Auntie Lorraine for helping me to discover this great candy store. Another reason to be MN homesick.)

But, my Easter spending spree did not stop there. I went to Target and decided that no only would I send baskets to my brothers and dad, but I would send a package to Lance's little brother who is on a LDS mission. As I unloaded my CARTfull of marshmellowy peeps, chocolate eggs, jelly beans, pastel-colored plastic eggs, M&Ms, Milkyway Bunnies, Crunch bars, etc., the checker's eyes grew large.

Checker: "Wow. Your kids are going to be really happy this Easter."
Kristi: "Why do you say that?"
Checker: "I have never seen anyone buy that much candy for Easter baskets and I have been here a few years."

Thanks Targetman! I guess my kids will be lucky. Not this year, though, since I don't have any kiddies at home. I filled my baskets last night, getting ready to ship them and Lance and Sofi BOTH were stealing some chocolate off of the table. Lance ate so much candy that he didn't eat much of his dinner and Sofi had an upset stomach all night.

I guess I do have some "kids" at home afterall.

Picture Perfect Pup

Isn't she beautiful? We can't help but adore our little girl, Sofi. She is full grown now so she isn't so little anymore. The only way we know she is still a puppy is because she still chews up everything she can find....Pens are her contraband of choice. Good thing we invested in the Green Mean Carpet Cleaning Machine.

Fun Times with the Fam

Luke came out for his Spring break in March with his girlfriend Jamie. We had a lot of fun at Disneyland, the beach, Knott's Berry Farm, and just hanging around. The weather was perfect when they were here - upper 70s and sunny.


Sofi, of course, LOVED Uncle Lukie. She even slept with him one night. The picture above is my favorite picture of the whole trip. We were headed to Newport Beach and Sofi didn't want to sit in back with the Ladies. She had to squeeze her way up front. She got the attention from the boys she desired. Spoiled dog.

Luke refused to wear sun screen so he returned home a little crispy. Here we are at the Dog Beach in Huntington Beach. We tried to have a picnic but unfortunately learned that sand, turkey sandwiches and lots of dogs, don't really go together. Jamie gathered sea shells to take home to her mom and found quite a jackpot in Huntington Beach.

I was very sad to see Luke leave. I couldn't help laugh, though, when he and Jamie returned to two feet of snow in MN and we stayed here with our perfect weather.

California Missions

If I was trained in photography, my first artisitic journey in California would focus on the Catholic missions here. I would make a point to travel to all 21 mission and take pictures of these beautiful locations.

The San Juan Capistrano Mission is my favorite. The picture above is one I took while visiting it with Luke, my brother, last month. Not bad, eh?

I brought both of my visiting brothers out for a visit to this mission when they came to visit in Feb. (Tom's Visit) and in March (Luke's Visit).