Thanks for the inspiration little brother

My brother Scott recently put a post on his blog entitled "Flashback." It has some pictures from a year ago that he found on his memory card. Well, last night I too looked back at the pictures that I still have on my camera's memory card and came across some videos from when I was in Georgia over Halloween. They are too cute not to share.

PS) And now I take back the comment I made in my first post - I AM posting pictures of the most beautiful children ever (at least, for now they are... just wait... someday mine just might give them a run for their money ;)

Kaylee playing with one of the party blowers that Nick's Gran sent for them



Allison in her butterfly costume.

Too bad Kaylee's camera shy, huh? ;)

Ladies & Gentlemen - Your next American Idol! (sorry it's sideways)

Still learning

I tried to put this in the same post as the video, but couldn't get it to work. I'm still learning this whole blog thing...

Splash splash splash

This past weekend it was just plain hot here in San Diego! So Nick, being the wonderful godfather that he is, decided that Sage needed her own kiddy pool. (And what kid shouldn't have one?!) So yesterday he went out, looked all over, and finally found one with a slide (HAD to have a slide!). Here's a video of him and Sage playing (sorry, it's not the best quality. I just took it with my cell phone). I'm really not sure who had more fun!!

(The other voice in the video is Kay-Marie, Nick's sister)

I ain't settlin'

I'm a big believer that words manifest thought. If you hear something enough you eventually believe it, whether it's good or bad. That's why I try to surround myself with positive people, and I like music that empowers (without being preachy) instead of just rambles about sex, smoking joints and that kind of thing.

On St. Thomas, I had a Jeep that we affectionately referred to as "the Barbie Jeep." For as much as I loved the Jeep, it didn't have a functioning radio. I, therefore, had to entertain myself (and, unfortunately for them, everyone I happened to drive past) during my 20 minute drive to/from work.

The following song quickly became a popular addition to my "repertoire." It was my anthem for quite a while. I figured that if I heard/sang it enough, then maybe the message would sink in. I like to think it did.

Settlin' by Sugarland

Fifteen minutes left to throw me together
For Mr. Right Now, not Mr. Forever
Don't know why I even try when I know how it ends
Lookin' like another, "Maybe we can be friends."
I've been leaving it up to fate
It's my life so it's mine to make

Chorus:
I ain't settlin'
For just getting by
I've had enough so-so
For the rest of my life
Tired of shooting too low
So raise the bar high
"Just enough," ain't enough this time
I ain't settlin' for anything less than everything

With some good red wine
And my brand new shoes
Gonna dance a blue streak around my living room
Take a chance on love, and try how it feels
With my heart wide open
Yeah, you know I will
Find what it means to be the girl
Who changed her mind
And changed the world

Repeat chorus:
I ain't settlin'
For just getting by
I've had enough so-so
For the rest of my life
Tired of shooting too low
So raise the bar high
"Just enough," ain't enough this time

I ain't settlin'
For just getting by
I've had enough so-so
For the rest of my life
Tired of shooting too low
So raise the bar high

I ain't settlin'
No, no, no, no, no, no
So raise the bar high, high