December nights

Joseph and Riley went to December Nights. But it seems that San Diego got overwelmed by their success. Way too many people!! They got to eat some good food and participate in the Christmas festivities.

Thanksgiving at the Crain's

This Thanksgiving week, Stacey and her kids joined us to spend it with us all the way until today (the day after Turkey Day). The week started with an evening at the Jolly Rogers, then quiet time at home with a glass of wine sharing "war stories".

Christmas Decoration at Church

Awesome Monday! I spend part of the day decorating the church for Christmas with others friends.

Joseph is finally back from deployment!!!!

Joseph is back! Riley and I went to pick him up on Saturday evening and they were "only" 2 hours late! It was so nice to go home all the three of us! Joseph has a lot to share and he is so exited to be back home.

Camp Pendleton organised a little homecoming party and prepared barbecue, candies, drinks for the family while we were waiting for the buses to arrive

1st Breakfast and Riley and Joseph are already talking shop: 2 months ago, Riley made a list of cars that she would like as a first car ... She is her father's daughter!!

1st Night out with Ben and Chara and Joseph is enjoying a full plate of Beefy Ribs at Phil's BBQ!!

Riley's homecoming and Halloween

Last weekend was BUSY! Riley was helping with homecoming game on friday, she went to homecoming dance, and we had halloween! Some friends from church helped with Riley getting ready for the dance. My friend Kim did her hair and make up and Janet did her nails. She was the cutest girl in town!!!!!

Birthday, Pumpkin & Co

AWESOME weekend preparing Halloween with the pumpkin patch and pumpkin carving and celebrating the birthday of Madison, our own little Dew Crew princess.

A princess and two witches

Pumpkin Patch

bunch of Pumpkin

Punk Rocker Ben and Super Ninja Chara

A supergirl on a pumpkin



The new game: how to eat Donut without hands

 

Playing Wii ... Carson is on!!!

Madison making a wish in Stacey's arms

First Spin Class with Chara at 24H Fitness

This morning after my daily work out I went with Chara to participate in my first Spin Class at the gym! I loved it even if I felt like I would die! Lucky for me that Chara was there to help me through the hour but I finished it!

Sunday at Disney ... With the SoCal Dew Crew

So today Riley and I went to Disney with Ben, Stacey and the kids. Riley had decided to dress up as Superman (girl version). She has won a Superman cape on her Youth Group Trip to Six Flag in September so we completed the outfit. Too bad for Riley, Disney has a policy against Costumes inside the parks and only kids are allowed to wear costumes. We got rid of the cape and thanks to Ben's straight face we were able to enter. When they asked us if she was wearing a costume Ben answered: "No. It's just a T shirt".

Riley Superman and Ben Monster Hat

Swimming in October ... Love California

I picked up Riley after school today and we went on Del Mar Beach on Base to enjoy some time in the Ocean. After the first "cold chock" entering the ocean, we got used to it and stayed an hour with our body board, getting slapped in the face by nice waves.

Before going in the water

After the hour in the water!

Sunday at Del Mar Beach on Camp Pendleton

After church some friends and I went for lunch at the Pit Stop in Oceanside. Nice little eatery with way too big portion! I ended up eating only half of my wrap and Riley ate the other half!

Then my friend and I went with her kids to Del Mar Beach on Camp Pendleton Base. Way much better than trying to find a parking sport on Oceanside Harbor and a spot free of teenagers on the beach. We enjoyed 3 hours of sun, sight of Dolphins in front of us, cold water on our feet and Sand Castle!

No comment!!!!

Enjoying the sun!!!

Ferocious little Joe!

Kim trying to get McKinley's feet wet ...

END OF THE WEEKEND!

BACK ON TRACK AND ON MY WAY TO THE GYM REALLY SOON

Saturday Downtown San Diego

It was Jerry's last weekend down here with us. Friday evening Jerry and I went to see Life as we know it with Katherine Heigel and Josh Duhamel. It was a really nice movie with both sad and funny moments.

This morning we went to pick up Ben and Chara and drove down to San Diego for a breaskfast at the "The Hash House a go go" on Hillcrest on 5th. OMG! Those plates were huge, the food so good, the ambiance nice.

 

Here is the menu (for breakfast, because the back of this is for lunch and diner)

Riley and her french toast and her frozen mint mocha with homemade whipped cream

Chara's choice of the famous Chicken Benedict (mine was the same but with fresh smoked salmon)

 Ben's pancake (you could imagine the size of it by seeing the fork on the side)

and Extra biscuit

You could understand easily that after this we went for some relaxing time at Balboa Park. Laying down on the grass, enjoying the sun and the music playing on the park.

Nice nap with nice friends

Once Stacey joined us we drove downtown to enjoy a drink at "La puerta", enjoying the happy hour with appetizers ...

And ended up walking to another place so that Ben could compete against Sean on a ping pong tournament.

Chara told us funny story ...

And then it was time to go home ...

Oceanside Harbor Days

And It's this time of the year again when the city of Oceanside organizes a nice event on the Harbor with bunch of booths selling everything from house remodel to jewelery, from kids clothes to dog clothes! And lets not forget the food: Mexican, Greek, Tri Tip, Burgers ... Lots of Slides for the kids, Shaved Ice, Ice Cream .. Jerry joined us this weekend from WA. Riley and I, Ben, Chara, Stacey, Sean and the kids joined him for a fun afternoon at the harbor, followed by diner at Ben's house with Wine and Cheese, Shrimps and other Sea Food.

Ben, Chara (with Monty), Me, Stacey and Jerry

A Baptism in the desert, written by Joseph

I have a man named Kevin in my Bible Study class who is from Kenya and he has been here since I have been here. Chris has only been here about a month and automatically began congregating with the other contracted workers from Kenya. We have about 8 from Kenya and about 25 from India. Chris had learned from Kevin that I was an ordained minister from his country and one day a little over a week ago asked if he could come and talk to me about something. I agreed and he came to my tent one evening where the Battalion Aid Station is. He had something private that he wanted to talk to me about…”I have been reading Acts chapters 8 and 9”…he went on to tell me about how the account of Philip and the Ethiopian and then Saul’s conversion had really spoken to him. He felt such an immediacy to be baptized that he wanted to know if I would baptize him out here. No problem…some sandbags and some tarp on a wooden pallet and Chris was baptized this last Sunday in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan!

Explaining the story of Chris

"Do you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God?"

"Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?"

"Based on your profession of Faith it is my pleasure to baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!"

Tremendous elation is expressed!

Chris is very thankful for this opportunity and explains to everyone how thankful he is.

Wedding at San Diego Marina

After dropping Riley, I got ready for my pastor's youngest daughter's wedding. I carpooled with my friend Kim as the wedding was down in San Diego. Nice view of the Marina and Californian Sun.

Marina

Riley goes to Six Flags with her Youth Group

Saturday Morning I dropped Riley on the parking of the Calvary Chapel. She was going with her youth group to 6 Flags for a fun day. Riley told me that they went to a Concert there, had some Hennes done, won some game. She actually came back with a Superman Cape!!!

Riley with her friends at 6 Flags

Need to comment? ... Riley's Cape

Back to School Night with Riley

This evening was Back to School Night at El Camino High School. Riley and I went there from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

On a hike with Chara

Chara, little Monty and I went on a hike this morning right after dropping Riley at school and Ben at the train station. We were smart to start early so that we enjoyed some shade and did not have too much sun to burn our shoulders! Here are some pictures ...