{T-R-U-C-K spells Back Relief}

Well, from the post below you already know that last night we bought a new truck for Mike. We're still trying to figure out if we can write this off as a medical expense. Ha, ha! I'm guessing that would send up a red flag to the IRS, huh? So here is the video that we created of Mike's new truck. He picked the music:

{The Camaro} 2005-2009

Well...last night was a sad night. Mike made the decision that his back could no longer handle getting in and out of the Camaro. He's been driving the Expedition for the past 2 weeks because at least it's easier on his back to get in and out of, though still painful. He went after work yesterday and test drove a Ford F-150 truck. He came home, told me it was time...and we went to Cerritos Ford and bought a 2008 F-150 XLT Crew Cab in dark shadow gray. It's a very nice truck. It was sad to give up the only car that Mike ever expressed a wish to own. Below is our video tribute to....{The Camaro}:

Pictures to come later of Mike's new truck.

{Barbara & Leni Visit The 3 Walkers}

On Saturday, Barbara and Leni came up for a visit. We were celebrating Leni's 8th birthday! She got to pick where we went. So she came up and whispered in Aunt Michelle's ear...."I wanna go to that place where we eat first and then get the cards and then Uncle Mike, Meghann and I go and play games!" Oh.....Dave & Buster's! YEAH! We all love Dave & Buster's! So off we went! A little photo slideshow of the day of fun! Happy Birthday, Leni!!

{Meghann's Last Middle School Orchestra Performance @ Disneyland!}

Well, yesterday was the last time Meghann will perform @ Disneyland as a Middle Schooler! She's performed there each of the past 3 years, and it's always been a fun time for the kids and the parents! Dave, Heidi, Max, Kylan, Mike & Michelle all went out to breakfast @ Johnny Rebs, and then headed over to Disneyland to meet up with Heather and watch McAuliffe Middle School perform. This was Meghann & Kendall's last year doing it, but Kylan will start his 3 years of Disneyland performances, next year! The kids were GREAT...as usual! We really enjoyed the performance. Then the kids headed backstage to change over for the rest of the day.
Kylan let Meghann wear his Jack Skellington hat for the day...and she was thrilled! Ky is like her surrogate little brother...Kendall would happily let her have him some days! Larissa, Meghann, Kendall & Rebecca spent a few hours running around Disneyland before the kids had to meet up with their chaperons and go home on the bus. One of the best things about having Annual Passes? Meghann has never had to go home on the bus! We just check Kendall and Megs out and stay for the rest of the night! So we had another few hours to play and then headed home. A WONDERFUL last Middle School performance @ Disneyland! Great Job Kids!!

{Happy 8th Birthday Leni-Loo!!}

Happy 8th Birthday!!

Today our sweet little niece & cousin is 8 years old! WOW! Time flies! Seems like just yesterday when an almost 6 year old Meghann was holding her newborn cousin! And NOW look @ them:

We hope you have a fun day today, Leni! Enjoy ice skating with your friend and we look forward to seeing you next weekend! Start thinking about what you want to do! Do you want to go to Dave & Buster's? Chuck E. Cheese's? Whatever you want, that's what we'll do! We love you....have a Happy 8th Birthday! (We'll call later to sing to you! We know you look forward to the Cha-cha-cha!)

Love,
Uncle Mike, Aunt Michelle & Meghann

{Happy 67th Birthday Mom!!!}

Wow! Has another year really gone by? Seems like I was just wishing you a Happy Birthday! Hee, hee! My Mom is a wonderful woman! She always had/has my best interests at heart. She taught me how to be firm, but loving...nag almost without anyone knowing it (sometimes it wasn't so subtle!)...be caring and compassionate...how to love others more than you love yourself...how to do laundry...how to iron (and if I owned ANY 100% cotton clothes *I* was the one doing all the ironing of them!)...how to run a household so that your husband could concentrate on his job...how to love children (though during those "childcare years" I was pretty sure I'd NEVER love children!)...how to save $ (not that I always listened)...how to clip coupons and file rebates...and just all-around how to be a good human being who loves the Lord and tries every day to follow in His footsteps! (My Mom is my spiritual Mr. Miyagi....if you haven't see the Karate Kid, you won't get it!) I still call her up for her advice, because it's always given with a lot of thought, not just willy-nilly. I love my Mom! I love my Mom for how good of a mother-in-law she is to my husband. I don't think my husband would even consider her a mother "in-law", more just a straight up MOM! I love my Mom for what a wonderful Grandma she is to Meghann. She spends a lot of time doing anything that Meghann is into @ the time! Whether it's American Girl dolls, Webkinz, online games, Mexican Train, painting, crafting...Grandma can and DOES do it all! The BEST Grandma Meghann could ever hope for! We hope you have a wonderful birthday, Mom/Grandma!
Love,
Mike, Michelle & Meghann

The Following Video is for ALL Moms:

{Previews of our Family Photo Shoot}

My friend, Rachael, from elementary, middle, jr. high and high school took some family pictures of us over the Christmas break. She lives in Michigan but THANKFULLY her parents still live in Hemet so we had to opportunity to meet up with her and "borrow" her talent for a few hours. Truth be told? I would have paid for her to fly out to us...we think she's THAT good! Her websites are:
Small and Simple Things and Rachael Brinton Photography. You'll want to check them both out because they are both choc-full of her AMAZING photography! Here are some of the preview pictures from our session.....WOW!

(You can click on any image for a larger one)

{Mike's Back....}

Okay, here's where we stand right now with Mike's back problem. He has 2 herniated discs. One is 7mm and the other is significantly less. He's been on limited duty for over a month now. He was "getting better" aka, the pain wasn't so bad for awhile there. He still goes for physical therapy twice a week, but it's getting worse now. Now the pain goes all the way past his knee and sometimes into his foot. He went to his GP yesterday because his limited duty doctor's note was that he go back on full-duty tomorrow....which wouldn't be good for anyone. His GP told him that he may be compensating for his pain with other muscles which can then cause OTHER problems. He's going to see another specialist and get a 2nd opinion. When he saw the first one, he was feeling better.....so he had suggested to just keep on with the physical therapy. Herniated discs CAN correct themselves. However, with the history of crappy backs that runs in his family, all the lifting that Mike was required to do as a child, the lifting of things in the Marine Corps, the constant sitting in the patrol car with the weight of the belt, being t-boned in his patrol car @ an intersection in April, physical altercations with suspects, etc. have all contributed to a pretty significant herniation. We'll see what the specialist says, but all we know is that Mike is in constant pain and he needs relief from the pain with something other than drugs. We'll keep you all updated as we learn new info! Thank you for your continued prayers for him!!

{Clean Craft Space.....Ahhhhh......}

(Any image can be clicked on for full sized one)The Basic Overview of my Craft StationAll my big tools and drawer units under my craft station. My PS3 tote that is FILLED with cardstock and patterned paper. And my Janome Sew Mini...perfect for crafts!Close up of my Stampin' Up and PaperTrey Ink cardstock as well as my pretty IKEA ribbon jars. All my punches are behind the jars because I want to wait until we buy our house to mount a bar on the wall for them.Background stamps, Making Memories rotating tool holder, Scor-Tape, etc.Close up of my rotating embellishment storage jars. It was a super cute spice rack from Sam's Club a few years ago that was modified to hold all my little buttons, brads, Swarovski crystals, etc. It's the BEST!

I'm so lucky that Mike supports my "habit"! All my friends and family support it as well....with gifts and $$$ for MORE supplies! I know everyone enjoys receiving my handmade cards/gifts so it makes it so much more rewarding for me! I can't wait until we buy our house so that I'll have a whole room just for crafts! It'll be nice to have it out of the "living space", though it does keep me close to my family while I'm working on all the projects I do.

{2008 Year in Review Movie}

If you have a dial-up connection (does anyone really have dial-up anymore?) this probably will NOT load for you. Enjoy a look @ 2008 in pictures....I didn't include anything from our Paso Robles vacation, since those pictures have been posted on the blog already.