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).

New Chair Volunteer Position

I have always wanted to be a leader in the community. Almost like one of those dreams you have when you are a kid. (Like being the first female president. Yup, had that dream.) I always thought I would serve on the school board someday and maybe even be a city council member.

Well, I am getting a taste of this aspiration. And I am not even sure I want it anymore!!! I am now the Local Area Affilliate Chair for the Orange County Affliate of Resolve. (I offered to help after the former chair resigned, not knowing my offer would land me this position.) Ahhh!!! What did I volunteer myself for??? At least 4 hours of volunteer work a week (sometimes at up to 8 hours), a new email address just for Resolve and many challenges.

I am excited to work with all of the volunteers, though, and really believe in what Resolve stands for. I want to help other families who struggle building their own families. I hope I can do a good job. They can't fire me because it is a volunteer position. What a relief, right?

Peek-a-Boo

We are trying mighy hard to train Sofi to NOT beg while we are eating at the dinner table. Our lessons are not well received so Sofi spends most meal times locked up in "time-out." We can't help but laugh at her naughtiness sometimes, however. Here is some evidence of our little beggar. (Note: The first picture is of Sofi peeking through Lance's arm as he eats his lunch. She tries to be sneaky, by poking her nose through our arms at first. After that, she decides to be bold, and jumps up in plain view.)

Bringing Romance Back

Valentine's Day went by quietly for us this year. We did use a coupon at a local steak house and received a fairly decent meal after a long, long wait. Lance surprised me with roses a few days before Valentine's Day and I bought him candy after Valentine's Day (gotta love the 50% off deals!). Before you think romance has left our marriage, let me reassure you it hasn't! Romance just waits for the weekend now.


We went a very mini-retreat to Pismo Beach, a city north of Santa Barbara, and took advantage of my President's Day holiday. The drive up the coast was delightful and the central vineyards refreshing to my eyes. California is a geographic wonder - you can delight in beach, mountains, farmland, forests and lakes, all in the same state.




Our hotel came with complimentary fuzzy bathrobes, a living room and a balcony overlooking the ocean.

We had a late night dinner at The Cracked Crab and dined on the the famous Bucket-O-Crabs. The watress dumbed two kinds of crab legs and shrimp, potatoes, corn and cajun sausage on our butcher paper covered table. No plates or silverware. Only special crab cracking tools and bare hands allowed. Melted butter and crab legs. Yum.

Here is a view of the ocean from out hotel room.