party all day long

We have been so busy enjoying this summer sun and I love it!  This summer is full of work travel for me, so Ben and I vowed to party in our free time like it's 1999.  Booo for summertime work travel.  Don't these people know I only get 2 solid months of sun with my family?!

our Christmas highlights

What a blessed Christmas we had.  We tried to soak up every second we had off work and enjoy the time together with family and friends.  Here are our highlights.

Christmas greetings

We wish you a  Merry Christmas.

Halloween 1980?

We rocked this Halloween like it was 1980.  We weren't even alive in 1980, but trust me - with pink spandex, pink leg warmers and pink hair - we sure played the punk rockin part!

We {heart} Sara B

There are a few concerts that I refuse to miss when they come to town. Miss Sara Bareilles is one.  This woman is so talented with her incredible voice and the wide array of instruments she has mastered I am in awe every time I see her.  Plus anyone who can run around the stage in heels while playing the piano AND dancing always gets an A+ in my book.  Make that an A {double} +. She does not dissapoint.

We were crazy excited for this concert.  Basically the second we heard she was coming to town we had tickets.  That was February.

2nd year veterans.  No we aren't throwing you the peace sign, although we do hope for world peace.  We are proud to be 2-years-in-a-row veterans to the one and only Sara Bareilles concert.  Last year we had to stand in line in what felt like 90 degree weather to get a good seat!  We were very grateful for assigned seating this year!

1st timers.  I am pretty sure Jesyca and Deneal now love Sara as much as Michelle and I do.  I mean, she was wearing this dress... it is impossible not to love her.

And I will tell you this much, as soon as I use my powerful shopping magic to find this dress 3 inches longer it will be on it's way to my house!  SERIOUSLY, I AM DYING OVER IT!  

Now some amazingness, just for you.  Come on, join us next year!

Mothers.

How grateful we are for the wonderful mothers in our lives.
How willing they are to bless us with their support and unwavering love.

A Mother has such a power to influence good in this world.
She has the power to teach those around her to be better, stronger, more loving and kind.
She has the power to heal wounds with only a kiss and a band-aid to make it "all better".
She has the power to heal hearts with a promise that no matter what, she will stand by your side, she will never leave.

She has that smile that her children look for, even when they're all grown, that says, "I believe in you".
She is the absolute example of sacrifice, of service, of how to treat your fellow man.

What an overwhelming and important responsibility a mother has, but that is why she is your {and my} mother.  She can, and will, take on that responsibility. She knows the reward of influencing a child's life for good far outweighs the importance of a spotless shirt or a quiet house.  She knows the value of being a good, positive example and she, no doubt, will show you through her actions.  Because times are crazy and she wonders to herself how it could possibly get worse, it's then when she surprises even herself - because she smiles and teaches her children to keep pushing on - fighting for good.

Ben and I have both been blessed with amazing mothers. As well as, amazing grandmothers, friends, sisters, aunts and cousins who show, and teach us, every day the amazing power they have to influence lives for good.

Celebrating all of you and wishing you a very wonderful Mother's Day!

California Love

"BEN!" I said as I woke up Friday morning to the amazing California sun shining through our hotel room window, "We NEED to get a chocolate covered banana!! I read on Linny's blog that she and Jared had one and I bet they are amazing!  I REALLY REALLY hope we can find Balboa Island today and get one.  Are you in?"  He opened one eye, looked at me like a crazy person and said, "Ha, sure Amber."

And off to Balboa we went....

 The chocolate covered frozen banana goodness is as amazing as you are imagining.  I had mine dipped in almonds and cinnamon.  Ben had almonds and toffee.  I dreamed about having another one every day that we were there, but I was too busy stuffing my face with other amazing food {like cupcake flavored taffy and giant head sized chocolate chip cookies} that there was really no stomach space for more bananas.

Ben saw dream car after dream car as we drove through the streets.  I think he has found his dream home away from home.

I just got done reading the "PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB ON OR JUMP OFF THE PIER" sign.  I glance over and what is Ben doing?  Breaking the law!

We had lunch at the end of the pier.  I swear I felt the restaurant sway a few times.  Behind the restaurant were hatted men are catching fish after fish after fish.  I don't know what kind of fish they were, but they honestly caught about 100 as we ate lunch.

After a successful day at Balboa Island we headed to Fashion Island to get our shop on.  Well I got my shop on.  Ben got his very patient husband sitting on the shop couch on. As we were walking from store to store you will NEVER guess what we spotted..... A HUGE EASTER BUNNY!  "We must get a picture!!" I yelled as I ran toward him.  Ben hesitantly followed and was even more hesitant about getting in the picture with the over-sized creepy bunny.  I agree, the huge Easter Bunny was totally creepy, but you do what you gotta do for your favorite holiday... aka - Easter.

Friday night we met the happy couple and all their friends and family for a pre wedding BBQ.  Afterward, all the boys took Ben bowling as his last single-man hoo-rah.  I was the tag-a-long wife trying not to crash the boys night out bowling party.  Just think of me as the photographer for this partay.

The wedding day was as beautiful as you can imagine.  The Newport Beach Temple is amazing.  Ben and Tasha's day was perfect and we had such a wonderful time being there to celebrate.  

I must give credit to Jenny for this lovely picture of the new couple

 

Jump on it

We are children, and not just at heart.  Take eight adults, a building full of trampolines, dodge-balls and a jumping pit and you will get sheer madness.  Watch out kids, we might be bigger than you - but when a flurry of childhood trampoline games come rushing from our memories we don't hold back, we will push, jump and dodge-ball you right out of our way.  Everything is free game when trampolines are involved.

I told you - I will handstand anytime, anywhere.

Ben is laying some serious smackdown with the dodge-ball.  He was also crazy fearless flipping into the foam pit.  Some of us weren't as fearless... I won't name names.

Check out Deneal's awesome delt and triceps.  I am impressed.

Amanda was being a bit of a peeping Tom trying to check on the dodgeball game in the next pit over.  Tim was also very serious about flipping into the foam pit.  Why are tall people so fearless?  Don't they run a greater risk of smacking their tall heads?

The guys were super into the dodgeball game.  The girls kept getting attacked by flying balls as soon as they stepped on the court.  Needless to say, the girls decided jumping without the dodgeball game was more fun.  

I am officially ninja chopping Shannon in the blurry picture.  This is a warning to anyone who thinks they may mess with me.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

Life in Real-D

At least Tuesday Movie Night was.

Real-D.  It's the new 3D.  I know I am late on my observation of this, but it seems since 85% of movies out these days come in 3D and my husband is talking about a Real-D TV in our home - I  should give it some attention.

The glasses are better than what they used to be. When I saw Michael Jackson in 3D at Disneyland when I was 12 we wore paper glasses, one red lens, one blue. They worked though, I remember some furry creature shooting out of the screen right at me. Come to think of it, I don't think the glasses were even this cool when we saw Avatar in 3D even last year.

For all you know it was just a sunny day in the NW and we bought twinner sunglasses that we didn't want to take off when it got dark.  Yep, they have come that far.

And look who came to our far-far away city to join us for TMN!!! {Tuesday Movie Night}

Deneal and Tim!!  I know, we were excited to see them too.  This was Deneal's FIRST 3D, and Real-D, movie.  I was happy I could share this experience with her. :)

So my real question is, do we need everything in 3D?  Do people really need 3D TV's in their homes and do I need to have a pair of overpriced twinner sunglasses so everyone can watch?  That seems a bit much. When I think of 3D I still think animation like, Tangled or Toy Story.  I guess it made sense to watch movies like Tron or the Green Hornet in 3D since they are the action-type and the graphics really did look amazing.  But, Gulliver's Travels, Sanctum and Justin Bieber or ESPN and Food Network?  

Either way, I LOVE Tuesday Movie night, so I better just get on board. 

Times are a changing people.  Life is in Real-D.  

A jumping we will go

Well our good friend Tim recently had a birthday.  Deneal, Tim's wife, told me MONTHS ago that she was going to take Tim for a surprise birthday bungee jump since he had never been before.  She suggested I bring Ben, but the worrier in me thought -  "yeah, I don't know that I should fling my new husband off the side of a bridge..."  {If you remember - Deneal, Shannon, Dan and I went bungee jumping over 1 year ago to commemorate mine and Deneal's birthday here and it was AMAZING} so as the days grew closer the excitement of jumping of a bridge grew and I thought this was something I certainly didn't want to miss.  Ben was on board from the beginning.  I would ask every day, "Are you SURE you want to go??" "Are you making this decision all on your own??", he assured me he was - rain or shine, sickness and health he was jumping off that bridge.  Well alright!

Saturday morning the sky poured rain and Ben coughed, sniffled and sneezed -having contracted my latest cold - and I asked one more time, "Are you SURE you want to go?" his answer was most assuredly, yes.  I packed a backpack of our warmest clothes and the entire medicine cabinet and some snacks for the hour drive and we were off to meet our friends.

When we got there the skies had cleared and Deneal, Tim and Travis were already suited up and ready to go.  So Ben, Billy, Cameron and I suited up, weighed in and signed our life into their hands.  We were ready to go!

Walking onto this bridge is a weird feeling - as you look down 500 feet to the ground below {which is a river that was very full this time as opposed to the rock/creek floor from last year}a little bit of panic sets in as you think, "seriously I am jumping into that?" and then there is an eerie calming feeling as you look at the giant bungees attached to the steel frame of the bridge promising to hold 9,000 pounds and think, "it's all in good fun!".

Tim, the birthday boy, was the first to go - it was kind of like he listened to the instructions, climbed over the platform and jumped. There was no thought at all, which is the best way to do it!  

Ben was next. I am not sure who was more nervous, me or him. Probably me. I asked him to repeat all the instructions back to me and then to the jump master.  I know, I am insane, but I can't take any chances here!

 

He suited up and... well, see for yourself....

And then for the second jump, backwards. 

And he is back, safe and sound - I can breathe again!

If you are wondering why we are all wearing helmets, it is not to save our lives.  Travis had this really cool helmet cam that recorded our faces as we fell.  Seeing your face react to the fall is the icing on top of this lovely bungee cake.

Next was Billy. The boys were all so funny - you see, Deneal and I were the only ones who had done this before.  They all knew that and admitted later that even though they were terrified they knew there was no turning back because you can't let a couple of girls be more brave than you! So, they all did what any brave man would do, they jumped right off that bridge. 

Billy 

Travis

Next, Deneal. She was tad nervous the second go round, but after a good pep talk she did what any sane person would do, she turned around and jumped.

Then Cam, who after Deneal's pep talk wasn't sure this jump was as easy as everyone had made it look.

And lastly, me.  This is the problem about bungee jumping being short, you have to use different ropes and get stuck going last.... 

Closing my eyes as I stand on the platform, 3...2...1...

Now, I just have to share the most scariest thing ever about this whole experience... For me, the worst part about bungee jumping is climbing over the railing and standing on the platform.  In my opinion so many things could go wrong in those moments that I want to pee my pants just thinking about that railing.  When you get to the bottom of the jump and stop bouncing around the jump masters send you down a carabiner to attach to your harness and hoist you up.  Now we are wearing this big helmet {see the above picture of me, my head is huge!} so when they send down the carabiner I can't see around the huge thing and attach it to what I THINK is the right harness.  As they are pulling me up I immediately feel like someone is picking me up by a backpack and think, "HOLY CRAP, I attached it to the wrong one!!" As I get to the top, I tell the girl that I am attached by the top, not the bottom, harness in my best trying-to-cover-the-sheer-panic voice.  She says, "Oh." and gets me to mentioned above terrible platform.  At this point she is trying to get the carabiner unattached from the harness so I can crawl back over the death railing, but SHE CAN'T GET IT UNATTACHED.  Every time she tries to get me loose instead it  hoists me up a little more! I really don't need to explain this... but my legs are very SHORT, so I am BARELY touching said death platform. Now, I realize that I am still attached to bungees and should I fall the likelihood of me being just fine are very good.  But here I am, done with my jump thinking, "This is not okay, NOW I am going to die??!"  So I rip the helmet off, because the inability for me to see is NOT helping. Finally, the other jump master comes over and very easily let's me down.  Problem adverted... but as I hung there tippy toeing the platform and thinking off all the ways this could go wrong, I almost swore off bungee jumping. Almost.

Here we are all safe and sound and feeling like we can pretty much do anything now!  Bring it on world!