2.16.2009

Laser Light Show

Oh yes! At the end of Mike and Tawnia's rehearsal dinner there was, yet another, LASER LIGHT SHOW! It has been 5 years since this crew put on such a show... and they've still got "IT"!!

The preparation...
The laser beginning...
The first skit... this time starring JUDE!
Casey Chop as Father Time...
Skit number 2... something about a deer
More lasers of course...
The dance party scene...
Brandon's magic trick...

And the finale... Mike and Tawnia dancing!!!
... with lasers, of course!
The last time a laser light show happened was at our rehearsal dinner 5 years ago! I think that one was just as confusing for most people as this one. But still... fun was had by all. Mike cried through the whole thing, laughing of course. I manned a video camera... oh yes, this is on video! I think Tawnia and Elizabeth were the most excited about getting to see a Laser Light Show... finally! The boys have been talking about them for years... and this was the time! Great job guys... you out did yourselves!

2.09.2009

Life...

... has been really good lately. I had a baby shower this last Saturday that was so much fun and such a blessing to Brent and me. I still can't believe the excitement and generosity flowing from these women in my life. I have so much to be thankful for. Truly. Many in my family came from all over the place to be here to celebrate with me. It was wonderful. Everyone is so excited about the coming of Asher... most of all us! He is moving and kicking inside all the time these days. It has become sort of second nature and is not quite as surprising each time, but just as awesome. I can't wait to see his little face, hold his hand, and look in his eyes.

This coming weekend our friends Mike and Tawnia are getting married! And we are so excited for them. It's a big day! We are already looking forward to celebrating with them and blessing them in their new life together... what a beautiful and wonderful thing!

1.25.2009

Nichols Wedding

Adam and Dani were married last weekend in a beautiful ceremony in Dana Point! Do they look happy or what?
Mom and son...


My sweet husband was a groomsman

Here comes the bride...
... and Adam is SO excited!

Another gorgeous January day, just like when we got married!


And here they are... Mr. and Mrs. Nichols!


Showing off the boots!
7 months pregnant

The reception was at the San Clemente Golf Course and it was really nice!Align Center Holli and Dani... awesome job on those decorations and flowers. WOW!
Congratulations Adam and Dani!
We are so happy for you!

1.19.2009

Westmont...

Last weekend we also visited Westmont on our trip to Santa Barbara. We wanted to see what the campus looks like after the fires and spend some time in one of our favorite places. It was sad for me to see that so much of it doesn't look like my memories. But new life is already starting to grow amidst the damage and my favorite parts of campus were mostly spared! Thank you God!

English Dept is almost completely unseen from the road because of all the temporary buildings on the "lawn." It's not really a lawn right now.

Fire raged down the middle of campus burning most of a major river bed area that is typically completely green. These are the parking lots below VK.
This is from the parking lot below the Physics building which is really not a parking lot at all right now, mostly just a construction zone. Through the machinery you can see the track area.

This is on the far side of the library. They are starting construction on the new Arts Building here, looks like the fire swept through this area also.

Page Hall
The hills behind Page Hall
From the Page Hall parking lot you can see straight through to the ocean because so much of the greenery is gone.
This is near Kerrwood Hall, looking towards the mailboxes
Looking towards the gardens from Kerwood Hall
After seeing Westmont we drove around in the hills to see the rest of Montecito. It's sort of hard to tell from the photos but you can see the hillsides here that are just gone...
Brent took some great videos to really show "walking tour style" what things look like in the middle of campus. Enjoy...

1.11.2009

5 Years...

... of marriage and what better place to celebrate than in Santa Barbara, our favorite place! We went up on Friday night and stayed at our little Holiday Inn Express in Carpinteria. It was so nice to be together again and away from home after the craziness of the last couple of weeks since we got home from Kauai. And we always like to go away at least for a night on our anniversary to talk about the upcoming year, pray together, and dream together. It's such a wonderful tradition that we have started.

On Saturday we got up late and went to the Cajun Kitchen on Carp for breakfast, mmm! Then we headed into to SB. We stopped at Westmont (see next post) and did some driving around Montecito. It was one of THE MOST gorgeous days I've seen in SB since I lived there. Truly, we were incredibly blessed.
We stopped at Blenders on the Mesa for a snack and shared the "Peanut Butter" with chocolate in it! As good as always!
Then we went to Shoreline Park... oh my! It was unbelievably beautiful there, the ocean was so clear, there was a breeze, and the smell was heavenly. Santa Barbara just has a distinct smell about it... it's a mix of the ocean, eucalyptus trees, and something else that I can't put my finger on. But it makes me happy whenever I am there, and it is always a wonderful surprise.


We spent all afternoon sitting in the sun, talking, reading, watching people. Brent played on his new Google phone, which he REALLY likes!
Baby on board...
For dinner Brent had the brilliant idea to head up to Cold Spring Tavern. Mmmmmmmm... it was delicious as always and such a fun place to be on our anniversary. All day we were talking about what we were doing at exactly that moment 5 years ago. It was so fun that this anniversary fell on a Saturday, same as our wedding! We were sitting at Shoreline Park during the time of our ceremony, then we were at Cold Spring Tavern during the time of our reception. So much to remember and be thankful for!

I ate my usual (which will NEVER get old for me), the Cold Spring Chicken, while Brent braved the Wild Boar. Yum.


My amazing husband also bought me a ring to commemorate our 5 years. It is absolutely amazing and a TOTAL surprise. He shocked me with it on Friday night when we got to the hotel. He snuck the box into our room and put it on the bed with a note before I came it. It was such a fun surprise. I am just in awe of all the God has done in these last 5 years and how much we have to thank Him for. This weekend is just another to add to that list.
Brent,
I am so blessed to be married to you. Thank you for making this weekend so special. But mostly, thank you for being an amazing husband to me.
All my love and respect,
Kim

1.02.2009

Happy New Year...

... here's to 2009! I can't believe it's here.

Blessings on everyone that reads this blog!

Love,
Brent and Kim