The Beast gets a shower ....

Someone called the Humane Society? We are mistreating our dog with a shower :)

The best Christmas Present Ever

JOSEPH IS HOME!!!!

Sophie Helen's side of the story:

Joseph gave us the best gift of all! 3am someone is knocking at the door and the dog is barking crazy! I peek through the window and see Ben's Jeep. Ok, Ben is here at 3am, Let's open the door. Nothing came through my mind. I open the door and get out and Ben tells me that he has a Christmas Gift that he thinks I would like right away .... and here it is ... I hear  Joseph's voice from the corner of the house " What can I get for my Parisian Princess for Christmas?". And I lost it. I started to cry and laugh on the same time as Joseph was taking me into his arms. That was the first surprise. The second was that he is not here for only 2 weeks. He is here for good!!!!! He is not going back!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Joseph's side of the story:
Well, I can't condone lying at all, but there are times when stretching the truth can be justified. This was one of those occasions. As many have already heard on the news, the Marine Corps is drawing down its forces in Afghanistan.About three weeks ago I was notified that since there are two Chiefs where I work that one of us had to go home. I was the more logical choice since I have already deployed as a Chief 3 different times and the new Chief there had just recently been promoted to Chief and therefore had no combat time as a Chief. I am married with a child, he is single. I have a home and he had moved out of his apartment before the deployment and put his household goods in storage. And, he wanted to stay. Easy decision. So then came the surprise for Sophie Helen. If I can come home...and the prospect of coming home on Christmas Eve...or Christmas day, why not surprise Sophie Helen since I didn't get her anything for Christmas; I'll give her me.  Because a secret this good is just too juicy to hold on to, I minimized the temptation for others to leak the secret by not telling them in the first place. I only told two people: my niece Courtney Crain, and one of my best friends Ben Cote. I told Courtney because she is in the Air Force and is currently working at the Manas air field in Kyrgyzstan where all U.S. forces going into or out of Afghanistan have to fly through. I needed to tell her just in case she saw my before I saw her. And Ben had to know because he needed to pick me up on base and get me home. Ben didn't even tell his own wife that I was coming home until that night. He is amazing for holding a secret, and well, just an amazing friend all around. The video below tells the  rest of the story.

We called Riley and she did not answer. She called back and Joseph answered the phone. Riley : "wait? what? why are you answering from Sophie's phone?". She was exited and Joseph will tell her all about it when she is back from visiting her mom and her family in WA.

We drove downtown San Diego with Ben and Chara to surprise Stacey and the Kids ....

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Sisters Baking Day with Ruth and Rachel

Today was  "Sisters Baking Day" at Ruth's! Awesome time with the girls baking all the nice little treats that will be devoured on Christmas day. Lots of Musics, Laughters, wine ....

Ruth Rachel and Rebecca

Cruising the canals of Naples Island ...

Ruth and I drove to Naples Island (neighborhood of Long Beach, CA) this evening to enjoy the Christmas light along the canals. Nice time with friends.

4 Cheeses Potatoes Au Gratin a la Sophie

This evening was our Home Group Christmas Party at my house. Ruth came a little early to cook with me. We prepared a nice Pineapple Glazed ham and while She was making macaroni and cheese I made a 4 cheeses Potatoes au Gratin ... Yummy!

Breakfast at ... Stacey's

Aero ...

Quiche Lorraine Recipe

Those past weeks, lots of my friends asked me for my Quiche Lorraine recipe. So here it is.

A simple trifle recipe with layered berries, cake and a sweetened whipped cream...

Today was the Christmas Potluck at my work KOCT. Angela brought a Berry Trifle to die for. I want to share the recipe with you. It was AMAZING!

Well ... Enough Said!

Scallops and Shrimps au Gratin a la Papoulou d'Ecosse (My dad)

New Recipe for this evening diner. Riley is getting spoiled! My dad gave me this idea.

Dumb and Dumber are driving ... Ferrari

Dumb and Dumber are driving ...

Lady's Brunch at Oceanside Vineyard Church

This weekend was our Lady's Brunch at Oceanside Vineyard Church. Lots of good food, fun times with friends ...

Our life according to Little Hayley

Thanksgiving Holiday

What a great week we had with family and friends. Waking up at 5am on Thanksgiving day I cooked the turkey the way Joseph does it when he is home. It took 7 hours but it was delicious!! We joined our friends Scott, Manasseh, Ben and Chara for Thanksgiving diner and we had a nice relax time. Awesome diner, games, secret Chai tea from Scott ... Then on Friday morning I got up at 5 am to experience my first Black Friday with my friends Rachel and Ruth. Got what I needed out it and I was able to not get tempted by their so called Black Friday deals :) 

I found a cute 6 feet high fresh cut tree at Home Depot and Riley and I decorated it, helped by Erin who was visiting. All the while listening to Christmas song, and following this by watching some cute Christmas movies. Love it!!!

And as a good treat to finish the holiday, I went with Rachel to see (again) Breaking Dawn Part 1. No shame!

Awesome Birthday ... 29 y/o

Saturday was a great day, spent with friends and with Riley. 29y/o! I can't believe how time flies! 

My loving Joseph had Scott and Manasseh delivered me some gorgeous flowers and a card with words that melted my heart. We are now three months into the deployment ... 9 more to go!

I got spoiled by my friends and we had an awesome time, chatting, drinking some nice wine, eating some delicious goodies, and having a Twilight Marathon. I know that sounds strange but two of my friends had not seen it and we wanna go see the new one coming out this Thursday. 

Awesome cake made by Rebecca

Watching the movie on the curtains!!!

So romantic! Thank you Madison and Carson. You are the cutest kids ever!

Baby Shower for our Indonesian Girl

All of us girls from Vineyard Church had the pleasure to organise a baby shower for Rebeka who just received the news that she is waiting for a girl! Lots of gifts, cakes and taco bar. Rebeka is due to return to Indonesia this week. than you Rachel and Ruth for a great evening ...

Halloween with the Dew Crew

Introduce yourself ... Who's that guy??

Riley at the Fortune 500 Most Powerful Women Conference, Ritz Carlton, Laguna Nigel, CA

Monday Riley was invited with 35 military daughters to be a guest at the Fortune 500 Most Powerful Women Conference at the Ritz Carlton. Here is the link to our earlier post on Shopping for the occasion and program for the conference. Preparation and Program to the Conference . She had an amazing experience, meeting with interesting women. Tyra Banks talked to the girls and then each of them got to interview 4 or 5 of the guests at the conference. Riley interviewed Singer Rosanna Cash amoung others. They met with politics, business owners, journalists, actresses ...

At the end of the conference they had a HUGE surprise for the girls ... each of them received a new IPAD 2 and other gifts (like gift card ...)

All ready to go after Make up by Ruth

... and Hair by Rachel

Tyra Banks addressing the girls

35 military daughters ... Riley is right in front,  white shirt, dark grey pants, pink belt

Reviewing the bio of the women they are about to interview

Notebooks for the girls to take note during interviews

Nail and Sail at Oceanside Harbor Days

Yep! It's that time of the year again! I remember Jerry being here last year for Harbor Days! This Year Scott and Manasseh joined the team! Not much sailing but The fun was there!!!

Scott is part of the team this year with Ben 

Riley .... at the Fortune 500 Most Powerful Women Conference

On October 3rd, Fortune 500 organizes The Most Powerful Women Conference in Irvine, CA. This year they have decided to invite/sponsor 35 military teenage girls from Military Family. Riley is one of them! 

Getting back with the Chiefs Crew from St Mawgan

Awesome Labor Day Weekend with a Crew that I missed so much!!!! The Chiefs that were based with us in England, getting back, together in Oklahoma City at Terri and John's house. I can't believe it's been 2 or 3 years since I saw them. Karen, Paul, Peggy, Jon, Terri and John .... How much I have missed you!!!!

I wanted to see a little more than airport this time so I flew to Omaha, NE to join Paul and Karen and I drove with them to Kansas city for diner and night then headed to Oklahoma City, OK to join the rest of the crew.

Fun time with the girls!

A first day for everyone

Today was a big day ... Riley started her junior year at school and ... I got an interview ... AND the job!!!!

A bonefire at the beach to end the summer

Riley and her friends organised a bonfire at the beach to celebrate the end of the summer and the start of the new school year. 

Riley is the 5th from the left

Riley at a Sweet 16 Tea Party

Riley joined some friends for a Sweet 16 Tea Party. She had an awesome time, they made Hats and  had lots of sweets lounging by the pool ...

It's not a goodbye ... Just a see you soon

The Riley Elf ... Cruising all along

Two days ago we finally started the Riley Elf!!!! So much work and sweat over that car ...

Rebuilding the engine, Part 3

The SoCal Dew Crew is on the move ... Scott and Ben helped Joseph to put some parts on the car. Joseph hurts himself while running on Monday morning and needed some help. 

Rebuilding the engine, Part 2

After a great service at church this morning, Joseph went back to work on the Riley Elf! And here are the pictures ...

Ben came to help ...

Une petite video ...

Rebuilding the engine

Read this book: The Help

-> Click on the link below to read about the book and see the Movie Trailer (August 2011) <-

Riley at Pismo Beach