North to Alaska #2-Watch for flying whales!

The countdown is on...only 3 days until we leave! Here's another home video...this one my mom gets credit for. My favorite part is her thanking God, not for creating an absurdly wonderful creature like the humpback whale, but thanking God for capturing it on camera. She's so cute:)

the perfect weekend...

We had a super fun weekend, but I'll let Ellie tell you about it on her blog.

Oh, and I got my driver's license renewed! Not really something to be so excited about, but I was beyond ready to update my 8 1/2 months pregnant, puffy faced, tired looking picture. I'm usually not that vain...but it was bad, believe me!

I need a vacation read...

Ok...so I have vacation on the mind. With the thoughts of vacation come the hopes for reading an actual book (a luxury in my life right now)! I need some suggestions. For those of you that know me, you know what I would like...so let me hear your pitch!

North to Alaska...How NOT to catch a halibut

My fam and I are headed to Glacier Bay, Alaska for summer vacation in just 12 days! In preparation, we're whipping out some of our home videos of Alaska trips past, and came across this classic captured by my good friend KK. Here's what our travel checklist is looking like:
-fishing coveralls with last year's halibut slime...check
-fishing gaff (when really a harpoon should be used)...check
-green plastic garbage bucket to store fresh catch...check
-fishing guide with strong Oklahoma drawl (ie "keel"="kill") a.k.a. my dad...check
-small 16' skiff that really should not be used to catch 100lb. plus fish in the pacific ocean...check
So, please watch the video and see how the action unwinds when your gear is not up to par and your experience is lacking...but I really couldn't enjoy it any other way!

red, white, blue...and fried chicken

One of the things I get to do at Capital Christian Center is coordinate all of our major events. This one is our Senior Pastor's favorite, because we've been doing it since the first year of the church, 25 years ago...and he is a US history buff! We've learned from experience how to make this event work, and we feel like we finally did it right this year! Low key, relaxing, family friendly fun that celebrates our blessed country and our beloved church family. Thanks, Marcus, for capturing it so well!
Oh, and REGION 5 is #1!!!


Food and Freedom from Marcus Hackler on Vimeo.

Here's to You #2...Olympic Swimming Mom

Since I'm closing in on the big 3-0 and I've had two children, I've pretty much scratched off my bucket list "winning an olympic medal". But this mom and 41 year old hasn't! Dana Torres made the U.S. Olympic swimming team for a record fifth time, winning the 100-meter freestyle over Natalie Coughlin at the trials. You can read more about it here.
I could use some of that determination! Am I the only one pumped about the 2008 Olympics???