So far, we've had a crazy July!

We're back from our travels boy did we have a really great time! I'll post more on that soon as soon as everything is back to normal. But first, this is what we've been up to since we've returned:

We were excited to start off our "fun" summer with a trip and come back and keep up the fun. But sadly after our return it has not been at all as we would have hoped for. After a few days of settling in putting things back into place and cleaning everything in the house from top to bottom (having room service and living with just the essentials for 13 days gave me a fresh -I realize not totally realistic- perspective to my home, but it did give me the urge to spring clean all over again.) So I went through things and threw out what we really didn't need, cleaned, reorganized, and then came the discovery...we have little tiny bugs in our kitchen. No, we have a whole bunch of bugs in our kitchen! So out came everything stored in all the cupboards which has been on display to this day in my kitchen. Then I've sprayed and wiped down all surfaces with bleach. I've followed what it recommends online to get rid of them. First get rid of the sources: all flour, corn starch, anything with the bugs-check. Then freeze anything you have that doesn't have bugs like rice, noodles, etc. for 4-5 days-check. Then wipe everything down with a bleach solution-check.I think it has been over 12 days like that and still the flour bugs seem to come out of the woodwork. I'm going to the store tomorrow to get some really good stuff. I'm sick and tired of these bugs literally! So then we move on to our health. Lauren and I started to feel sick on the flight home and so for a few days it was us recovering. Then we were well for a couple of days to do all this cleaning and celebrate the 4th of July at Newport, then San Juan Capistrano on Sunday, then Manhattan Beach on Monday. Then Jim and I have been sick for the past 7. Can't we have a little fun in our lives without getting sick? Luckily it has not been Lauren that has been sick this time around but Jim and I, we're having these consistent rotating coughs that feel very unproductive, just head-ache inducing. Oy! No fun. I would instead love to be back on the boat laying out in Bermuda with all the wonderful amenities! This is not how I imagined my month of July. I've had to cancel violin lessons, Jim missed some work(he never misses work) cancel going to church, and going just about anywhere for the past week. My Dad was kind enough to help fix our car and it was a chance for Lauren to get out and play with the family dog. How sad for Lauren. She misses school and her friends. I haven't wanted to go around anyone. This cold is a bad one. Don't want you to get it. Well, off to bed for more sleep and more bugs to clean in the morning. Hopefully not for long though! Will post more as soon as this weeks settles in and I have more energy. I'm counting my blessings though, my life could have been a whole lot worse but it is not, thankfully. ;) Have a great week!

Wedding and Vacation Happenings...

Going Here Very Soon...can you guess where?

We've got some exciting things coming up soon. My youngest brother is getting married in Salt Lake City to a really wonderful girl. Her name is Lauren Magleby.

I'm so happy, all my brothers have such great wives! Lucky me, I get to have awesome sister-in-laws! I love Jim's sisters too!

Then we're going on a trip taking a cruise to Bermuda! (Still can't believe we're going.)

So I just wanted to say, if we don't come back because of some rogue wave or hurricane, love you all! Just kidding. I admit, I am a wee bit nervous because we're going on a cruise and I've seen way too many movies with boats that end up sunken ships with no survivors. Well, all I had to see was The Titanic, and that did it for me. Those scenes are vividly stored in my head of just what could happen to me. I know, I'll be fine, we'll be fine. We'll take lots of pictures and we'll post them sometime this next year =).

Violin Happenings...

I've been so grateful to get a bunch of side violin gigs lately that have been keeping me busy (some weeks have been too busy.) I've enjoyed subbing at a couple of music institutes, subbing for someone in a local orchestra, recording with the OCMCO, and playing/recording with a couple of quartets for weddings and other projects. It is fun. I am really grateful performing can still be a part of my life. I am grateful to my friends whom I play with keep calling me even though I'm a Mom now and life is full enough with being a Wife, Mom, and teaching violin to a growing violin studio. Oh, and throw in there a church calling too.

Well, sometimes those side gigs turn into other opportunities. We did a recording a while back for a girl wanting to submit something to David Blaine for one of his stunts. So we showed up, we were totally informally introduced and we got to work recording something for her. Well, I can recall her asking us for our autographs on the sheet music that was composed after we finished recording. We were thinking, oh, yeah, like our autographs are a big deal because they aren't (except if it is written on one of my checks.) Maybe she wanted to keep it for her history sake.? Well, it turns out we probably should have been asking her for her autograph! We sort of knew she was once a Fanta girl, dancer for the black-eyed peas, on a few music videos, did some modeling...Well, some of you (if you watch these kind of shows) might know her as Bonnie from The Vampire Diaries. Her name is Katerina Graham. We got a call around mid-April asking us to play with her again and accompany her on American Idol for the release of one of her latest songs. We were so excited! We went to Hollywood one night and played through the music that was written for us to play with her music and it was really fun. After that night, Katerina went back to Atlanta to finish filming the end of the season for Vampire Diaries and we were told they would be in contact with us. Unfortunately, we were contacted a week and a half before the scheduled show and told that the gig was cancelled. So Katerina didn't get to perform that night and we didn't as well. We were so close, but there some things that didn't work out. She said that she would call us back in the future and thanked us for playing when needed for the past few years. Oh, I just read she got cast in Honey 2-I'm not that familiar with but she is cast in place of Jessica Alba.

It is so fun to play for those types of gigs! Just wanted to record that story somewhere. Here I am on her website katerina-graham.com recording for David Blaine:

katerina-graham.com

katerinagraham.org

Girly girl stuff

Lauren got her first hair cut by Rachel Faulkner. She did a really cute bob that I think looks great on her but to me, reminds me that my little girl is growing up! Since the cut she's looked all grown up.

I wanted to post some cute pictures of Lauren's very closest friends. These girls have had a ton of fun playing, learning, and growing up together because they live so close to each other. Cute girls! We love em!