Student Driver Alert!!!

I remember the minute I turned fifteen, I couldn't wait to start driving. After I had my permit, every time I went anywhere, I would ask my mom or my dad if I could drive and then once I got my license it was FREEDOM to go to my friends houses, to movies, to the mall.

In El Segundo with everyone living within walking distance, the teenagers don't seem to anxious to get their driver's license. All of Sam's friends are sixteen or older and don't have their license, some don't even have their permit.

Before Sam even turned fifteen, Brigitte wanted him to learn to drive so over the last two weeks Sam took an online drivers ed course and on Monday, July 28th we went down to the DMV and he took and passed his permit test.



Even though he had his permit, the requirement is that before he can legally drive with an adult, he has to have two hours of behind the wheel with a driving school so later the same day Sam had his first two hours of behind the wheel instruction (we had gone out driving a few days before in parking lots and after he got his permit we drove the streets of El Segundo - mainly because his first lesson started at the Galleria at 6p and I figured it wouldn't be good for his first time on the road to be during rush hour on Hawthorne). He did really well in his first two hours. The instructor had him drive on the busy streets and go all the way down to San Pedro and then back to El Segundo. He even wanted to take him on the freeway but Sam opted not to at that point.

Why the rush to do everything the same day??? We were heading out on the roadtrip the next morning, and I wanted him to legally be able to drive with me.

It was pretty cool to see how excited he was when he got his permit and every time he drives since it was like pulling teeth to get him to even want to drive.

Swenson Going Away

Going away lunch at El Torito after church to say goodbye to Dana and Phil Swenson. Phil is in the Air Force and their next stop is Dayton, OH for the next year and a half. (My friend, Susie, Andy, who is also in the Air Force, and their three daughters are also moving there so I'm excited to visit all of them.)

Only 4 1/2 more months and you can have a real margarita again Dana. I love how the virgin margaritas are 2x the size of real margaritas and served in water glasses.



James enjoying his cool blue agave martini.

We'll miss you Dana and Phil!!!

Christmas in July

For the past two years, Susie and I have celebrated Christmas in July. No that isn't taking advantage of post Christmas sales or 4th of July sales but just that for the past two years although we get each other Christmas gifts we don't seem to get together until the summer and for whatever reason we seem to think that its better to hang onto them until we see each other than just send them by mail. So in the last week of July before Susie and her family moved to Ohio, we got together to hang out and exchange our Christmas gifts.

I was so excited to get her this scarf since they were the in thing this past winter but as we exited winter and I still had the gift it didn't seem to be the greatest gift and now with her moving to Ohio it will be perfect for their winters.

Picnic Table Debut

I remembered this time!!!

Checked out the Fabulous Diamonds, Neil Diamond cover band, on Sunday, July 20th and THIS TIME, I remembered to bring my picnic table that I had forgotten last time in the car. I had a few random people come up and complement me on the table (thanks Jen) and ask where I got it.

Here's the table filled with lots of food to munch on while at the concert.

Celebrations - Part III

Sorry for the delay on Celebration - Part III...

On Sunday, July 13th I co-hosted a baby shower for my friend, Dana. She's not due until December, but she and her husband and baby boy Swenson are moving to Ohio in early August so we threw her an early shower.

Dana "hearts" Taco Bell so I figured she'd get a big kick (as you can see from the pic she did!!!) out of one of our games - Guess how many Taco Bell sauce packets are in the vase. Lots of trips to the bell and purchasing lots of tacos for that sauce. Try to guess how many hot sauce packets there are (if you weren't at the shower) - the answer is at the bottom of the post.

Hollie, Angela, Anna (not pictured) and I threw Dana the shower.

Phil's mom, Dana's mom and sister, Grace, came out from Minnesota for the shower and to visit for a few days.

the spread...

Janice checking out the tea sandwiches.

The other game we played was guess how big Dana is using toilet paper as a measurement. Nicole won with almost an exact match on size.

Look at all the stuff for the BABY!!!

Some of the gifts Dana received... Jen quilted baby boy Swenson this quilt. Love the frogs and the combo of colors.

Dana received another beautiful quilt and Phil's christening outfit when he was baptized as a baby from Phil's mom.

We, the hosts, got Dana's the Boppy Travel Swing that was on her registry.

Nicole and Carrie got her the diaper bag filled with all sorts of goodies.

Anna did an awesome job recording all the gifts.

510 hot sauce packets...how close was your guess?

Celebrations - Part II

On July 10th, I went to Jami's Breakfast Birthday Bash. Jami's sisters and close friends arranged for a surprise birthday breakfast (and what a surprise it is when your friends show up at 7a at your house to wish you a happy birthday and have breakfast with you before heading off to work). It was my first surprise birthday breakfast but was such a cool idea and a great way to celebrate Jami.

Here are Jami's sisters, Carrie and Staci, hard at work making bacon, eggs, caramel french toast and fruit.

After Jami fell asleep the night before, Jami's sister, Carrie, stayed up all night decorating the place with balloons, streamers and happy birthday signage.

Happy Birthday, Jami!!!

Pic of a few of us enjoying the awesome breakfast food.

Even the kids (Charlie, Siena, Mattie Sue and Malyn) woke up early to wish Jami a Happy Birthday.

Celebrations - Part 1

So here's my first of three posts of "celebrations" for the week.

As most of you know, my friend and neighbor, Brigitte, passed away on June 24th after battling cancer for the past two years. Its been a crazy two years, and God has taken me on quite a journey of spiritual growth, emotions, service and love.

On Tuesday, July 8th there was a memorial celebration of Brigitte at The Farmstand, her favorite restaurant in El Segundo. Unfortunately her mom and sister were unable to fly out from France but about 40 people came whose lives she had touched in the US. The evening was complete with her favorite dish, grilled salmon salad, along with other tasty appetizers, her favorite music playing in the background and everyone gathering to honor Brigitte and get to know each other a little better. The mood was very lighthearted with a few tears shed as we shared how much she meant to each of us, a funny story or just how much she loved Sam and Sarah.

This is one of my favorite photos of Brigitte. Its from several years back as it was originally a photo with Sarah in it and Sarah is about 1 years old. People were given the opportunity to write letters or pass along a memory of Brigitte to Sam and Sarah and put it in the box for them to read at a later time.

Riley and Sophia were two little girls that Brigitte had been tutoring in French over the past year. Even on the days when she was really sick or tired, these two could brighten her mood and day. Their moms (Nubia, Sophia's mom, and Michelle, Riley's mom, are on the left).

Sarah surrounded by all of her friends. They have been a great blanket of support for her. Sarah's Social Studies teacher and Vice Principal also came to support her (no pictures).

Sarah, Sam and I

Jen, Lauren and Dana (in addition to all of my other friends) have been so supportive and understanding over the past two years. They have gotten to know Brigitte, Sam and Sarah pretty well over the last few months. Lupe, Brigitte and my neighbor, also attended.

Brigitte's close friends, Clare (her best friend of 20+ years that she met through Dan, Sam and Sarah's dad), Paola, Armelle and Debbie. The guy popping his head up in the background was from Brigitte's Cancer Support Group.

Dan and Sophia (tutoring kids). She was quite enamoured with him as he's a really talented artist and was drawing her pictures on the paper on the tables.

The following morning 9 of us headed down to Redondo Beach for the scattering of Brigitte's ashes in the Pacific Ocean. The lightheartedness of the night before helped to set the mood for the scattering, and I think Sam and Sarah have walked through both of the events emotional but in a way that would have made Brigitte very happy and proud of them.

We had about 15 minutes after we arrived and before the boat was going to take off so we snapped a few pics.

The mood was a bit more somber once we got on the boat. Before Brigitte's ashes were released into the ocean, there were two poems read by the captain and I had the opportunity to say a prayer (captain was planning to say a generic prayer but I asked everyone if it would be okay if I prayed for Brigitte and the group). This was a huge witness as no one on the boat,including Brigitte, was Christian or had a strong spiritual affliation.