Coronado, here I come!

I thought I would make it to church this morning. It turns out I'm wrong. I've been running around between parties this weekend trying to get everything taken care of so I can get out of town this afternoon with a clear conscious and a clean house. I still have a lot to do! So Bella and I are at home this morning, sans car, so that I can clean my house, prepare food (as much a I can) for this week and pack. My train leaves Aneheim promptly at 3:39pm and I don't want to miss it!

I would like to say that I really do have the best husband in the world. He has been a proponent of my getting away for the last few months and if it weren't for him, I never would have started looking for a place to retreat. I can't remember the last time I dropped myself off in the middle of a brand new place, completely alone (well, almost completely alone...I will have my Counselor/spiritual guide) for an entire WEEK. Some people, especially some wives and moms, might get freaked out by that. Not me. I'm glad for this time. Christopher and I discussed the other night how I'm a very whimsical person by nature and how my day-to-day life doesn't really allow the type of lifestyle whimsy can bring. He better watch out, because after I get a taste of this, it might have to become a yearly thing (at the very least!).

I'll post again when I come home next weekend! Until then, have a wonderful week. :o)

First Car wash

Not for the car, of course...although those of you who've seen our car lately might think that to be the case. But today, I took our car to get washed and I thought it would be easier to hit up the Shell car wash instead of taking it to get detailed (since I was already getting gas and it was time for Bella's lunch). This was Bella's first experience in a drive through car wash and she was absolutely amazed at what was happening just outside the window...as captured by this photo.

Join me

So I just signed up for this online conference. I've never done anything like this, and I have no idea if it will be any good, but feel free to sign up with me and maybe we can discuss it via my blog when the time comes!

I'm having a hard time inserting the link in my blog, so here's the address if you want to check it out...

http://conference.hem-of-his-garment-bible-study.org/

Some people bring the fun...I bring the spa

I am officially a Sensaria rep.  Throw a party.  Buy stuff from me.  Maybe I'll even give you a personal pedicure.  :o)

Summer's here!

It's been 3 years since I've been able to truly enjoy a summer.  It was the summer before Katrina that was my last good summer.  My apartment complex had a pool.  I was in it almost everyday.  I met people by the pool.  I cooked out with friends...and by myself.  It didn't matter.  I love summer and everything about it.  That was the summer of 2005.

The summer of 2006, we lived in Joplin, MO.  We didn't have a pool.  We did cook out (mostly with Cliff).  That's the summer we found out Bella was on her way.  Immediately we started planning a way to get OUT of Joplin, MO.  So, although it wasn't a bad summer, it wasn't what I'd grown to love, oh, so much.

The summer of 2007, Bella was 3-6 months old.  3-6 month olds are somewhat time consuming.  I'm bad at transitions (and 3-6 months is still part of the transition from not-a-mom to look-at-me-I'm-a-mom).  It took me until Bella's first birthday to feel like myself again.

And here we are beginning the summer of 2008.  It's hot.  It's sunny.  We have a pool at the complex AND we live 2 miles from my in-laws who also have a pool (and awesome barbeque and outdoor dining set...yay).  Today was the first day of summer activity (swimming, grilling, eating outside, naked baby running around in the grass, etc.).  I loved it.  I hope this summer is FULL of all those things!  And maybe the beach.  :o)

Happy Birthday, Honey

Here's to all the wonderful friends who helped make Christopher's day special!  And a big "Thank you" goes out to those individuals who helped throw together the best LOST theme party there could be with 24 hours of planning...Angelo (tech, as usual), Carey (She basically did everything I couldn't...which was a lot!), Travis (intelligence), Tanya (for inspiration), Keith (mid-day ice delivery).   And thanks to the rest of you who somehow didn't already have plans Saturday night so you were able to drop everything and party with us!  Thank you so much!  It was so fun!

Happy Birthday, Honey!  I'm glad we surprised you!

Let the injuries begin

Bella is at the age now where she is very mobile, very curious and very busy.  Sure she's had a few bumps and bruises, but nothing too serious.  Well, last night, as we were getting ready to take Bella over to Grandma's house so Mommy and Daddy could (finally) have a date night, Bella thought it would be a good idea to play in the cabinet that Mommy doesn't let her play in.  Why don't I let her play in that particular cabinet (maybe a better question is why have I not baby proofed that particular cabinet)?  Well, because it's where I keep the Le Creuset pots, which, as many of you know, are extremely dense and heavy.  So I hear Bella scream, and surely enough, she'd dropped one of the lids on her toe.  She continued to cry for a half hour or more and last night she kept waking up, I assume, due to the throbbing of her toe due to the blood build up under her nail.  This is what it looks like today.  Poor baby.

Scope your Life

I don't know how many of you West-Coasters are familiar with something called "scopes", but growing up going to Ocean City, Maryland almost every summer, these little things became some of my favorite keepsakes.  My friend has started an online business where you can upload your own pictures and create these fun little trinkets for yourself, your family members or for party/wedding favors.  They're great!  Check out the site...

www.my-scopes.com

Happy Scoping!

Skype

I finally downloaded Skype so I can talk to my family back in Baltimore and they can see Bella and all that jazz.  So my skype name is LeanneLytle if any of you have it as well and want to give me a ring!  Maybe Oprah will skype me....ooh...how exciting!

Spaaaaaah Party!

Friday night was the Spa Party and it was a success!  There were about 15 women there and we had a great time!  Selina and Christy did a wonderful job pampering us and, so far, this has been the most successful party Selina's had.  I guess that's what happens when there are GREAT products and people get to buy them for a good cause!  

The party won't officially end until May 12, so if you want to place an order, check out www.sensaria.com and then place your order with me (LeanneLytle@gmail.com) or Selina!  As of right now, we've raised over $200 for my trip to Kenya, BUT whatever we raise is being MATCHED by an anonymous giver...so that means almost $450 so far!  Keep in mind that my goal is to go above and beyond my personal needs in this fundraising effort.  Any money that I raise above the $3000 will go either to another person's trip who can't raise the money or straight to the people of Kilaatu and the surrounding villages (and at least $500 of the $3000 is going to help the people of those villages as well).

Thank you to everyone who's made this fundraiser a success.  Thank you especially to Selina for being so generous as to give up her profit to help support this mission!  I'll make sure to give a final update after the party is officially closed!   And don't forget to get your orders in this week!