Jennifer Avila

Adios

2011-01-14T16:34:00.000-08:00

Hello there reader. So I have come to a realization. I am never going to do this blog. If I am not doing it now, with only one child, there is no way that I am going to keep it up when this baby gets here. SOOO...I think I am going to have to say goodbye. Travis is trying to figure out how to get all the content from the past four years off of here so we don't lose it. When he figures that out, I think I will probably just delete it. If I ever decide to do it again, I will just start anew.

Thanks for all the years of laughter, tears and encouragement. It's been fun..and real.

Jenn

Will Once a Week Suffice?

2010-12-28T16:21:00.000-08:00

Hello out there...anyone there? I can't believe it has been since September. Wow. Most of you are on facebook, or are family, so I don't think there is much you have missed. But I have been asked by some to TRY and post at least once a week, just to keep them updated. So, here is my attempt. I will try to post once a week, but as this new baby rapidly approaches, my promise may not last long.

Since September, a lot has happened. We bought a house on the Central Coast, a dream of mine for a decade. My hubby works so hard to make our dreams come true, and I can't believe this one actually did. We love it here, and although family is far away, our friends and the ocean keep us company.

Stella, our baby girl, is weeks away from joining the fam. She hasn't been without drama though. Travis likes to joke that she is already costing us money and stressing us out. Turns out, about half way through my pregnancy, I noticed she wasn't moving much. I mentioned it to the doc, who sent me for an ultrasound. Turns out I have really low amniotic fluid. Apparently, it is common although they have yet to figure out why mine is so low. So poor baby girl is all squished in there, with barely any room to grow. She is measuring small, but with really long legs. I'm thinking....SUPERMODEL!! Just kidding. We are just praying that she is able to stay put as long as she needs to get those lungs strong. I am currently 35 weeks so we are getting really close to the "ok to deliver" zone. I can't believe it is getting so close. We are excited, nervous, anxious...

But big brother couldn't be more excited. He asks me weekly when she is going to come and reminds me that he wants to rock her. He feels, as do I, that this process is WAY TOO long and that it just needs to be over. I keep reminding him that once she is here, we can't take her back. So just enjoy being the only one for these last few weeks! He is getting bigger everyday, and we are just trying to stay on top of his energy. He loves the new house, loves to ride bikes with dad and cruise his new Razor scooter. He is still trying to figure out why school is necessary, but graciously goes so mom can have a few hours a week to recoup.

Trav and I are just taking these next few weeks day by day, trying to enjoy our son and our semi-quiet environment before the baby comes and all sleep is lost.

I think that's it. Consider yourselves caught up. I will hopefully see you back here in a week or less! Let me know if you are still around and reading. I would hate to be updating for myself. I already know what is going on:)

Coupla pics to keep you smilin'.

Oahu Slide

2010-09-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

I know. Go ahead

2010-09-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. Go ahead and give up on me. But first let me tell you why the posts have been so few and far between. My dear hubby took down my computer months ago, and all I have to post with is my iPad. Which is much harder than the desktop. Especially when I comes to pics. So, until the computer gets put back up, or Trav accidentally leaves his laptop behind, a post every now and then will have to suffice.

I will say since our last post we vacationed in Hawaii, and found out that baby Stella will be joining us in February. I think most of you are friends on Facebook so you already know all of this. Hopefully I will get some pics soon. Just waiting for all the family members to send them to us!

Until then hope yOu are doing well and if you hang around there are bound to be more interesting posts ahead.

Jenn

Vegas baby

2010-08-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

This last weekend, Travis and I headed to Las Vegas for a Michael buble concert. About a month ago, i couldn't wait to go. But a few days after getting back from my parents house I came down with something gnarly. Something resembling Salmonella. Not sure if that's exactly what I had, but I had all the symptoms. And because I love my readers so much, I will spare you the details. It was intense though. Thank the Lord my mom the nurse was staying with us. She jumped right into action and before you knew it......

I had lost ALL the weight i had worked so hard to gain. I had finally gotten to a point in my pregnancy where I could eat again and then came down with food poisoning. Needless to say, I wont be eating eggs anytime soon.

After I recovered from that, I was actually starting to look forward to getting away with Trav. Until he infected me with the cold he had been battling the week before. I tried everything to not get that cold from him. I mean everything:). But alas, I ended up with an extreme sore throat and cough. Just in time for Sin City.

So Friday we took off for the luxurious 7 hr drive through the middle of nowhere to Vegas. The highlight of the trip was the amazing hotel we stayed in. It is in then new City Center, next to the Bellagio. The hotel we stayed in is called Vdara. It is a non-smoking, no casino, Eco-friendly hotel. Magical. And the suites were insane. Thankfully, the beds were super comfy because that is where I spent my weekend. Sleeping and coughing.

Atleast the concert was amazing. Great seats, good company, sweet entertainment. I will post pictures soon.

Now off to concentrate on getting better ( hopefully not strep) so that I can really enjoy our next trip in Friday. Oahu!!!!

PS- in case you don't have Facebook, we found out we are having a baby girl this February. Baby Stella Jean showed us mostly her back, but it's a cute one! I'll try to post one of those pics as well.

Time In the LC

2010-08-22T20:38:00.001-07:00

We are back from Lake County. Mimi brought London back into town this afternoon and we had a great reunion. He was so excited to see me when I came up to the car. He started laughing when I gave him kisses and I even saw a tear in his eyes. It was adorable.

Now we are going to adjust to being all together again. Mimi is staying this week to help out and stay with London this weekend while Travis and I head to Las Vegas. All this traveling is really exhausting while being pregnant, but we are trying to have as much fun before this next baby comes.

I off to bed, but thought I would leave you with some pics from time in the country! Sorry they are so small but I don't have access to the right computer right now. I'll blow them up later. The fireman pic is my all time favorite. You couldn't get him to stop smiling!

Back in the Game

2010-08-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

Ok reader out there. I'm back in the game. Ok not really. More like on the IR. (For those out there who AREN'T superfans of sports, that means injured reserve. Basically, I'm good enough to stay on the team, but there is no way the coach is gonna put me in :). I am all of 15 weeks along now. The baby is approximately the size of an apple. At least that is what the little email said. It also said, "By now, you may be showing a little". HA. That is totally meant for the first time mom. I've been out of my jeans since the beginning. Mostly because anything tight made me lose my lunch. Heck, let's face it. Everything made me lose my lunch.

But after losing about 11-15 lbs, I am well on my way to getting huge. Although the scale doesn't show it (and I probably won't here either, at least until it's cute) my belly is growing. Proof that no matter how much I throw up, the baby still grows. Amazing! God must have known there would be moms like me.

So, life continues. Trav is super busy with work and weddings. Moving on up the ladder at a staggering pace, bringing in the big bucks and wowing the crowds. London starts preschool next Tuesday and is really excited to be eating lunch at school now. (Or is that me?) It just means he stays at school an extra hour which sound amazing! He is growing and growing everyday. All his grunting and cooing has turned into new and exciting phrases like, "NO!" and "You're not my best friend anymore!". Ahhhh, three year olds. All kidding aside, he is a precious little soul who loves life and can't wait to meet his sibling.

London has a new cousin, Olivia, and got to be at the hospital almost the entire time I backed him out when Olivia decided to enter the world, mostly because I didn't want him to see all the emotion and commotion in the room and be nervous and anxious for me when it was my turn. But the minute he got to see her, he wanted to hold her, kiss her and never let go. He talked to her sweetly and told her everything was going to be ok. He glared at the nurse when she took her and started poking and prodding, gently telling her not to hurt his baby. He daily talks to my belly with his little "Coochy, coochy, coo!" Super sweet.

As for me, I am still taking it one day at a time. This week I headed up north for some much needed R&R at Mimi and Grandads house. So far I have taken more naps in three days then I have my entire pregnancy. Mostly because London is completely satisfied with tractors, quads, bikes, pools, parks, treats and the love of his Mimi and Grandad. Life is grand when you have the help.

After this week I head home to some adventure. A Mat Kearney acoustic concert this weekend, Vegas with Trav the following weekend, and then off to Hawaii for 8 days! By the time I get back, we should know what this baby has in store for us, as far as brother or sister, which I will happily share with you all! And maybe even a belly pic if you're unlucky:)

Anyway, thanks for hanging in there. It was a long 8 weeks for me too! But hopefully the sign the coach just gestured meant that he is thinking of pulling me off the bench.

Hurting

2010-07-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a week or so since the big news was released. How are you all handling it? I'm telling you over here, it has been rough. Between the throwing up and acid reflux......momma can't catch a break! Not to mentions that my hubby was gone and London has decided at 5:45 is an acceptable time to wake up. Ahhhh!

My latest adventures have led me to the search for foods i can eat. Turns out, not much. Since i am still nauseous all day, there are only a few things that taste good. BUT, after much research, I found out that those foods are on the "unsafe" list for acid reflux. Are you kidding me? So i can either choose to throw up because i don't have enough food in my stomach or I can throw up because of the food i just got In my stomach.

Oh brother.

The saving grace this time around? I know that it ends. With London I felt like these feelings would never end. I even told my OB while in labor, that if all those promises he made about me feeling better after this DID NOT come true, I would kill him. Turns out he was right and is still around to deliver this one too!

My hope this time around is to feel better in less time. With London it was around 26 weeks. Although i had reflux the entire pregnancy. This time, join me in praying for 16. Right before out trip to Oahu. Wouldn't that be nice?

Until then.....all you moms out there, what was your favorite food hike preggo? I might need to give it a try!

J

No recipes....sorry

2010-07-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

It's gonna be quite awhile before I can post recipes. Why, you ask? Because I can't stand food right now.

Why, you ask again?

Here's why.....

Recipes!!

2010-06-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hey there. I know, I know. It has been awhile. Trust me, I missed it as well. And even though these are the finest in my cuisine, these two dishes are quick and tasty!

Enjoy

PENNE WITH BACON, ASPARAGUS AND PARMESEAN

1 lb asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 lb penne
1 tbsp olive oil
5 strips low sodium bacon
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1/2 cup Parmesean cheese, grated
2 cans 98% fat free Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 cups 1% milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Boil water in large pot. Place asparagus in boiling water and cook for 2 minutes. Remove and cool asparagus by running under cold tap water, set aside.
Cook penne, in the pot used for the asparagus for 8 minutes. Strain and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crispy, reserve 2 teaspoons of bacon drippings. Chop bacon into large pieces and saute for 3 minutes with the garlic and onions. Take off heat and set aside.
Combine soup, milk, water, Parmesean cheese and pepper. Mix well. Add soup mixture and cut asparagus to the bacon and onions. Bring to boil and stir in penne, coating pasta evenly with the sauce.

FETTUCCINE ALFREDO WITH BACON

1 (9-oz) package refrigerated fresh fettuccine
2 slices applewood-smoked bacon, chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp flour
1 cup low fat milk
2/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp black pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid.
While pasta cooks, cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 4 minutes or until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove bacon from pan ,reserving drippings. Add garlic to drippings in pan; saute 1 minute, stirring constantly. Sprinkle flour over garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly; cook 2 minutes or until bubbly and slightly thick, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low. Gradually add cheese, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in salt and reserved 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Add hot pasta to pan; toss well to combine. Sprinkle with bacon, parsley, and pepper.

Guess you figured out I had some bacon laying around! I love a good pasta on a cold evening. Hope you like it.

It's good to be back!

J

So sorry friends

2010-06-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry friends, still no recipes this week. Travis' computer crashed so all I have is my iPhone. I love you all, but there is no way I am typing out recipes on this tiny keyboard. He supposed to get it back on Wednesday, so next week I will be up and running again. Until
then, happy cooking!!

A New Dawn (an Early one too)

2010-06-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been so long. I gotta say, I've been pretty busy. And when I get busy, this blog is the first thing to go. I promise I will get back to my recipes and such...but it ain't gonna happen this week. Here are a few things that have been occupying yours truly:

I finished a Digital Yearbook for London's preschool just in time for graduation. It consisted of sifting through thousands of photo's for those precious 400, then putting them to sweet music, and then burning them to DVD's. Let's just say it was nuts and I am glad it will be another year before I have to do that again.

WE MOVED! Well, truth be told.... My hubby, in-laws and parents moved us into our new house while I went on a mini-vaca with my girlfriends. We love the new place. It has a ton of room for London to play and for guests to stay. Now we just have to convince London.He still asks for his other house and hasn't slept through the night since we got here. Hence the early dawn mentioned above.

I went to SF with my girls! It was such an amazing trip. The last two years, a few of my closest girlfriends and I have gone out of town for a much needed break. This year we headed to San Francisco (partly for my birthday) and shopped and ate. It was such an amazing time talking and enjoying peace and quiet.

I've been sewing. My sister-in-law is having a baby girl this August and I have been busy making her burp clothes and bags. It is super fun with my new machine, but definitely takes time. Which isn't London's favorite thing.

Lastly, I have been hitting the beach. For 3 yrs we have been trying to get London to want to go to the beach. After all, we pay extra money to live close by. But he never bought it. This past weekend, with all the hot weather, I decided to put him in his new shark trunks and head out for a little peer pressure. With his best girlie in tow, we parked our towels close to the water and waited. My plan worked. After just a few minutes of watching his girl get wet he decided he was ready.

I haven't been able to stop him since.

Well, that's about it. Lots of little things in between, but that's the big stuff. Hopefully we will get back in the swing soon. And hopefully London will decide this place is sweet and sleep a little better. That's always helps!!

London with his new Aviators! Attitude and all...

Lovin the Central Coast

Recipe Sunday

2010-05-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

This week I am getting those recipes out early. We are moving into our new place and as most of you know, the Internet always seems to be the last thing hooked up. So without further ado....

BACON AND WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO WITH SPINACH

4 Cups chicken stock

6 bacon slices

1 cup chopped shallots

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp chopped fresh thyme

4 garlic cloves

4 oz. cremini mushrooms

4 oz. shiitake mushrooms

4 oz. white mushrooms

1 cup uncooked Arborio rice

1/3 cup dry sherry

4 cups baby spinach

1/2 cup grated fresh Asiago cheese

salt and pepper

Bring stock to a simmer in saucepan; keep warm over low heat. Heat large dutch over medium heat. Add bacon to pan, cook 8 minutes or until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove bacon from pan with a spoon. Add shallots, oil, thyme, and garlic to drippings in pan, cook 6 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, cook 8 minutes. Add rice, and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in sherry and cook until the liquid is almost completely absorbed. Stir in 1 cup stock. Cook 4 minutes or until it is almost absorbed. Add the remaining stock 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each portion is absorbed before adding the next (takes about 30 minutes total). Stir in spinach. Remove from heat and stir in cheese, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with bacon.

VEGGIE GRILLED PIZZA

1 cup warm water, divided

10 oz. whole wheat bread flour

1 pkg. dry yeast

10 tsp olive oil, divided

1 tsp kosher salt

2 tbsp yellow cornmeal

1 large red onion, sliced

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1" slices

1 large red pepper, sliced

3 garlic cloves

2/3 cup red spaghetti sauce

1/4 tsp pepper

1 cup shredded fontina cheese

2 tsp fresh thyme

Pour 3/4 cup warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and spoons, level with knife. Add flour to water, mix until combined. Cover and let stand 20 minutes. Combine remaining 1/4 cup water and yeast in a small bowl; let stand 5 minutes until bubbly. Add yeast mixture, 4 tsp oil and 1/2 tsp salt to flour mixture, mix 5 minutes until soft dough forms. Place dough in bowl coated with cooking spray, cover and refrigerate 24 hrs.

Remove dough from refrigerator. Let stand covered 1 hr. Punch dough down. Press dough out to a 12 inch oval on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle with cornmeal. Crimp edges to form border.

Brush onion, zucchini, and pepper with oil. Grill until slightly tender. Coarsely chop veggies and add garlic to the mix. Toss to combine.

Place dough, cornmeal side up, on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill for 4 minutes. Turn dough over, grill 3 minutes. Remove from grill. Spread sauce evenly over top. Arrange veggies and sprinkle with left over salt and pepper. Top with cheese. Return pizza to grill rack and grill for 4 minutes or until thoroughly cooked. Cut pizza into 10 pieces. Sprinkle with thyme.

Challenge: Try and make the dough from scratch. It takes time but tastes so much better. If you do make it, take a picture and let me know about it. I have a prize for you!

Public Works

2010-05-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

This last week it was Public Works night at our local farmers market. Which translates into tractors, street sweepers, buses... It is one of the only nights that I face the college crowd on Marsh, for the excitement and satisfaction of my little guy. This year didn't disappoint. Here are a few pics to prove London had a blast!

He got to "drive" the bus. He immediately got in

and figured out how to shut the doors.

Loves tires that are bigger than him!

Climbed to the top of this Cat and loved every minute.

If It Wasn't For...

2010-05-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

Friends. The Ocean. Target. Avila Barn. Farmers Market. Firestone. Rutiz Farms.

If it wasn't for these things, we would move. This place is amazing, a destination point for so many travelers every year. But it is stinkin' expensive. And let's face it, it is missing something vital to survival. Grandparents.

There are very few people that I ever ask for help, but when I found myself with an extremely sick child, and then wound up sick myself I sent out my S.O.S signal. Straight to my mom. Unfortunately she lives about 7 hrs. away. But fortunately, she would drop anything to come and help me. My mother-in-law is the same way. Totally selfless and always ready to help. I just wish they lived closer. I hear stories from friends about how they drop their kids off at their moms' house so they can run errands, go on dates with their hubbies, or just take a nap. Do they know how good they have it? To have someone that close that loves your child and that you trust with the safety of your child? If you are out there and you are reading this, never take that for granted.

It is my biggest wish. Until then, we will settle for sparse but special moments like these.

Breakfast Ideas

2010-05-13T14:45:00.000-07:00

The recipes are once again late this week. But since my little man was sick last week, and I am sick this week.....

Let's just say this is the best I can do.

I decided on breakfast food this week, mostly because I don't like it. So I figure if I find something that I like, I might as well share it!

Enjoy!

GRANOLA BARS

3/4 cup chopped dried fruit (I used apricots)

Boiling water

3 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar

1/3 cup peanut butter, almond butter, or tahini

1/4 dried fruit water

Place dried fruit in small bowl. Add just enough boiling water to cover fruit. Preheat oven to 250degrees. Oil a 9x13 baking dish. Drain fruit but reserve the soak water. In large mixing bowl, combine oats, seeds, coconut, cinnamon and fruit

Place sweetener, nut seed butter and 1/4 cup soak water in small saucepan. Warm over low heat, stirring until smooth. Pour over oat mixture. Mix thoroughly. Press into prepared baking dish. Bake for 1 hour. Score into squares immediately upon removing from oven. Let cool. Bars will harden as they cool!

JALAPENO, SAUSAGE, JACK AND EGG BREAKFAST BRAID

1(13.8 ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust dough (I use trader joes)

cooking spray

1 tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup chopped onion

4 ounces chicken sausage with jalapeno peppers, chopped

2 large eggs

1/2 cup shredded jack cheese

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup chopped seeded jalapeno pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Unroll dough onto a baking sheet coated with spray; pat into a 15X10 inch rectangle

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sausage; cook 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir in eggs; cook 1 1/2 minute or until set. Remove from heat. Sprinkle jack cheese lengthwise down the center of dough, leaving about a 2 1/2 inch border on each side. Spoon egg mixture evenly over cheese. Sprinkle cheddar over eggs mixture; top with jalapeno peppers.

Make 2-inch long diagonal cuts about 1 inch apart on both sides of dough to within 1/2 in of filling. Arrange strips over filling, alternating strips to make a braid. Press ends under to seal. Brush with egg white if you want.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes to cool. Cut crosswise to serve in slices.

Mother's Day...or something

2010-05-09T19:25:00.001-07:00

Wow. What a day. Today I turned 32. And celebrated being a mom.

By sitting in urgent care with my super sick little boy.

I had such big dreams for this weekend. It is the last weekend my hubby is home for awhile, since wedding season is here and he will be busy hanging with this guy. I wanted to go for a run, shop, sleep, shower, shop some more, hang out with friends....

But I was reminded this morning (and every night since Thursday) that mommies don't get breaks. We are chosen to be the caretakers of our little ones and when they don't feel good, they want us. And looking into his little red-hot feverish eyes today I decided...

I wouldn't want it any other way.

So here's to 32! Come and gone...

Oh, and Happy Mother's Day to my mommy. The best thing since whipped cream cheese!

PS- Thanks to my hubby for trying his best to make this a relaxing day for me! I love you very much!

Out with the Old

2010-05-04T20:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday London and I came home from the park and found this outside.

Our friendly neighborhood kids let the cat out of the bag. That's right folks. The Avila's are moving.

Across the pavement.

One of the bigger units in our complex is going to be vacant June 1st, and the Avila's are taking over. It is still technically a 3 bedroom place, but the rooms are much bigger and there is a lot more living space. My favorite part.....my laundry will be in my house. First time in 9 years. Also, London has his own living space which means extra room for his toys. That means daddy will be happy. Everything will have it's place. We can't wait. Easiest move of our lives. I might not even pack!

Today, we came home and were playing outside and this is what we found:

That's more like it!

Pics to come as we get things figure out. The big move...from Unit I to Unit G.

Recipe Monday

2010-05-03T07:44:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the delay folks. I took the week off to celebrate London turning 3! Then kinda got out of the swing of things, but now I am back. This week is salads. Enjoy!

Arugula, Blood Orange and Blue Cheese Salad

10 cups arugula

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

2 blood oranges

1/4 olive oil

1/4 fresh lemon juice

Combine arugula and cheese in large bowl. Remove peel and white pith from oranges. Cut between orange membranes to release segments into bowl with arugula and cheese. Pour oil and lemon juice over; toss to blend. Season with salt and pepper.

Super easy and super good!

Wilted Spinach Salad with Warm Feta Dressing

1 90z bag fresh spinach leaves

5 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 medium red onion, halved, cut into 1/3 inch wedges with some core attached

1 70z package feta cheese, coarsely crumbled

2 tablespoons Sherry wine vinegar

Place spinach in large bowl. Heat 2 tbsp. oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add onion; saute until brown and softened, about 7 minutes. Transfer to bowl with spinach; remove skillet from heat. Add remaining 3 tbsp. oil and cheese to skillet. Stir to melt cheese slightly, about 1 minute. Stir in vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour over spinach; toss to coat and wilt slightly.

Snap shots

2010-04-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

Some of these are from London's birthday, with a few stragglers from random stuff. Enjoy Mimi and Nana!

Friend TJ on the slide

London driving his friends to the after party!

Princess' of the party

London and Faye wondering when they can dig in!

Trouble

The "digger" at Spyglass

First crack at Carrot/Orange cupcakes

London's massive Easter bunny from his cousin Braden!

Cousin Carson

All the cousins in a row!

Birthday Week Begins

2010-04-27T06:43:00.001-07:00

At 8:33am this morning, our precious One and Only rocked our world. And he hasn't stopped. Today is London's 3rd birthday. I can't believe we have all made it this far! What an accomplishment. I am proud of all of us. We are exactly where I had hoped we would be....a family that loves each other, needs each other, and wants to be together.

We started London's birthday week early, heading over to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for the weekend. Most of his family was there to join him in celebrating. He was so excited. It is all he has been talking about for months. That Saturday morning when he woke up, I told him that today he gets to see the sharks. He jumped up, and said..."let's go!" We had a great breakfast at our favorite place, First Awakenings, and then headed straight to the aquarium. The best part was a friend of ours let us have her passes, so we moved to the front of the crowd and all 11 of us got in for free!

After the aquarium we napped and then headed to Bubba Gump Shrimp for his birthday celebration. My dear friend Stephanie made London the most amazing Thomas the Train cake. It WAS something. London was super excited and kept yelling, "there's a Thomas on my cake!"

After dinner we went to this amazing park called Denis the Menace. We opened presents, and played for hours until the sun went down. It was a perfect weekend.

Today is starting off pretty good as well. The garbage trucks are coming soon, which is always a highlight. Then he gets to take cookies to school, and tonight we will head off to Klondikes for pizza and Doc Bernsteins for ice cream. Tomorrow he will celebrate with friends at his playgroup. And I am sure we will think of more days to celebrate.

After all it is birthday week. Here are some pictures from the weekend. More to come!

Running Grrrls

2010-04-20T13:34:00.000-07:00

Next month I turn 32 yrs. old. That's right. You heard me. Listen, I know that isn't old, but when your husband is turning 29 yrs old not long after, and the kids you used to babysit are now having kids of their own...well....

So I decided it was time. I picked up a new hobby. One I never thought in a million years I would do. I was, what you would call, a stellar athlete in high school. Mind you, I only played one sport, volleyball. But I played it with all my heart. I adored it, lived it, breathed it. And the little known secret is I picked it up because there was no Men's team. Which means my older brother hadn't played it before me. Which meant there were no expectations of my skill level.

My brother Tom was a stud. Is a stud. He can do anything, and do it well. He played all kinds of sports growing up, but his two best were basketball and track. In our small town of K'ville, his name is still in lights. He holds records in things I never even dreamed about accomplishing. His basketball skills were so far beyond what I could do that I didn't even try. And running? Not a chance. In college, my bro ran his signature race, the 800 meter, in less than 2 minutes. That's just nuts. Since then he has run a marathon and even at the ripe ole age of 36, looks better than ever. Some would even say he is HOT (and you know who you are!).

All that to say, that picking up my new hobby was a huge hurdle for me. Not only is it something that I have never really done, but it is something that my brother is best at. Yep.

Running.

Now let's be honest. I'm not great. I'm not even good. I will never run 1/2 mile in under 2 minutes. But I can run. Not too fast. But my legs are moving. And so I joined....

Running Grrrls. A group of women running for a cause. It started with a few friends of mine and has grown into something really special. Our motto "Run until it's fun". (Which could be a long time!) Last week I entered my first 10K. With an injured back, I wasn't able to run the whole thing, but I did better than expected. I finished well before half the peeps entered. And I was proud of myself. I am already signed up for my next race, a mere 5K :) Who knows what the future holds.

I may even run a few miles with my bro.

Recipes of the Week

2010-04-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

This week our theme is cheese. Mainly my favorite cheese, goat cheese. The first recipe is brought to us from my dear friend Megan via Cooking Light. It looks incredibly yummy. The second recipe is a my version of a Bon Apetit recipe.

Risotto-Style Fregula with Mushrooms, Abbamele and Goat Cheese

2 1/4 cup fat free chicken broth

1 cup water

1 tbls olive oil

8 ounces wild mushrooms

1/3 cup shallots, chopped

1 1/4 cups uncooked fregula (small, toasted semolina pasta, similar to couscous)

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh chives

1/4 cup goat cheese

1 tbls abbamele, divided (could also use buckwheat honey)

3 tbls chopped walnuts, toasted

Combine broth and 1 cup water in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a simmer. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms; cook 5 minutes or until moisture evaporates. Add shallots; cook 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add fregula and salt; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in wine; cook 30 seconds or until liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly.

Set aside 1/4 cup broth mixture; cover and keep warm. Add remaining broth mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each portion of broth is absorbed before adding the next (about 15 minutes total). Remove from heat.

Stir in reserved 1/4 cup broth mixture, chives, goat cheese, and 1 1/2 tsp abbamele. Sprinkle walnuts. Drizzle each serving with 1/4 tsp abbamele. Serve immediately.

Farfalle with Chicken, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese

2 tbls olive oil

1 large red onion, thinly sliced

2 tbls Sherry wine vinegar

1 tsp sugar

8 ounces farfalle

1 cup dry white wine

1 cup chicken broth

1 1/2 cup julienned sun dried tomatoes

2 cups shredded cooked chicken (best if use a rotisserie chicken)

1/2 cup thinly sliced basil leaves

3 cups baby spinach

3 ounces fresh goat cheese

Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium high heat. Add onions; sprinkle with salt and cook until beginning to brown, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in vinegar and sugar; cook until onions are browned, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Transfer to bowl and set aside. Reserve skillet.

Cook pasta in large pot of salted water, until tender but still firm to bite. Drain.

Add wine to reserved skillet. Boil until reduced to 1/2 cup, 3 minutes. Add pasta, onions, broth and next 4 ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. Stir over medium heat to warm through, about 3 minutes.

Divide spinach among plates. Spoon pasta over spinach. Top with crumbled goat cheese.

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK: Instead of vegetable oil, use olive oil (or no oil) in all your cooking. It is better for your skin and hair!

Patience is a Virtue...(that I don't have!)

2010-04-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

My baby boy is going to be 3 yrs old at the end of this month. I can't believe it. In some ways, if feels like he has always been here and in others, like he just arrived. I have been trying my best to take all the advice and soak in every minute of him.

But it is so stinkin' hard.

Being a mom takes a lot of patience. Something I have never possessed (ask anyone). There is something about being London's ONLY playmate that makes me want to pull my hair out. Especially around 5pm every day. I usually end up calling my mom begging her and dad to move down here! The other day I decided to try my bestest. Not my usual 85%, but 110% to be patient and have fun during the last grueling hours of the day. You know what I'm talking about mommies.....3:30-dad coming home.

So, I decided to include London in my cake making. A friend was coming over and it was her birthday, so we decided to make her a double layer chocolate cake that he could help decorate.

It started off well, each of us taking turns dumping ingredients into the bowl. "Wow", I thought to myself. I should have tried something like this sooner.

Then it came time to mix.

I handed over the whisk to London and told him to blend everything together, while mommy gets the cold coffee (the secret ingredient) measured and ready to pour in. I must have turned my head for 1.2 seconds.

Not a good idea.

It looked like cake batter came raining down in the kitchen. Somehow London had interpreted my "blend everything together" into "throw the batter all over and see how high you can get it stuck!" I was instantly annoyed and ready to give up. But no. I took a deep breath and finished the job, putting the layers in the oven. We decided to frost after nap.

I quietly frosted while London was sleeping, trying to avoid a second disaster and deciding I would just tell London the frosting fairy must have done it while he was sleeping. But I forgot that I had promised he could decorate.

He picked out M&M's and sprinkles for the cake, and I smiled and turned to get it ready. 1.3 seconds later I hear....

"uh oh. Mommy, I need a napkin"

As I turned I see both of London's hands halfway through the first layer of the cake. Apparently he tripped and caught himself in the cake.

"That's it. You are done helping". tears. fit throwing. screaming. And that was just me.

We finally calmed down and finished the job. All the M&M's were put right in the middle of the cake, piled on top of each other. Not my idea of perfection, but I was just wanting it to be over.

I learned a valuable lesson that day.

I have less than 1 second to do something before I need to turn back around.

Food of my Travels

2010-04-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite places I have traveled are York, England and Casablanca, Morocco. York because of the history and Morocco, the culture. But something else I picked up from there was the taste for other food. Every place is so different in the style of food they cook. And I love trying new things. These two recipes are my favorites from these places. The soup, England. The curry, Morocco.

SWEET CORN AND TOMATO SOUP

3 tbsp butter

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 tbsp flour

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 can cream corn

3 medium tomatoes chopped

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 tsp curry powder

1 1/4 cup milk

salt and pepper

Melt butter. Add onions and fry for 4 minutes. Stir in curry powder, tomato paste, and flour. Cook for 2 minutes. Add chopped tomato. Cook 2 minutes. Add in chicken broth and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in milk and cream corn. Season with salt and simmer for 5 minutes.

SPICY CHICKEN CURRY

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

6 cloves of garlic, chopped

1-2 jalapenos, chopped (depending on how hot you want it)

1 tbsp garam masala (really important to have around when making moroccan food)

1/2 tsp ground cumin

2-4 whole cloves

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tbsp curry powder

1/4 cup water

1 chicken, cut into pieces (you can use chicken breast, but a whole chicken is more authentic)

4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

salt

steamed rice (i prefer brown!)

In a food processor combine the onion, garlic, jalapeno, garam masala, cumin and cloves. Process to make a chunky paste. Heat the oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion mixture, curry powder, and 1/4 cup water. Let fry 4-5 minutes. Add chicken pieces, potatoes and salt to taste. Add water to cover, up to 3 cups, and bring to a boil. Simmer until the chicken and potatoes are cooked through, around 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK: Try something new. Sometimes you don't know you like it until you've tried it.

A Day Late

2010-04-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

Recipe Sunday, I Mean Monday...

Butternut Squash Soup

2 tbs butter

1 cup yellow onion, chopped

2 tsp curry powder

3 lbs. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1" pieces

2 cans low sodium chicken broth

2 cups H2O

1 tsp ginger, grated

salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter. Add onions and cook 2 minutes. Stir in curry and cook for another minute. Stir in squash, broth, water, ginger, salt and pepper. Increase heat to high and boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Puree squash in blender. Put back in the pan and simmer for 5 more minutes.

(Swirl in plain yogurt instead of sour cream for a little kick)

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls (easy)

1 cup warm water

2 pkg. active dry yeast

1/2 cup melted butter

1/2 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp salt

4 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

Combine warm water and yeast. Let mixture stand for 5 minutes. Stir in butter, sugar, eggs and salt. Beat in flour, 1 cup at a time, until dough is too stiff to mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hrs.

Grease 9x13 pan. Turn dough on lightly floured board. Divide into 24 equal balls. Place in even rows in pan. Cover and let rise about 1 hr. Preheat at 375 degrees. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Brush with melted butter.

CHALLENGE: Make your bread this week. Find a simple loaf bread recipe and make your bread. Without the preservatives, it is so much better for you! And tastes good too!

www.travisavila.com

2010-04-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

no joke. after 3 years, I've decided it's time to get more serious about some of the writing projects I've been slowly working on. Part of that involved creating my own blog. I'm excited about the site and hope that you will come on over and say hello. I'd love to create a similar community on my personal blog that we've managed to create here. Jenn will still be updating this blog regularly, but it will stay true to the "family" part of the blog's title. She's also a culinary genius, so look forward to seeing more of that in the future.

So please visit travisavila.com and say hi. I'd be honored to have you add my new blog to your Readers/Blogrolls. Thanks, and see you on the dark side.

-Trav

The Latest Babbles...

2010-04-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

Meet "I'm almost tree (3)" and some of his latest babbles:

"Mommy, you need a secret?"

Ok Bubba, you want to tell me a secret?

"Ya", leaning over and putting his mouth to my ear....

"My bottom itches"

Sweet.

"Momma, you like pink or red?"

Um, red.

"Nope. Wrong. You like pink."

Oh.

After doing something wrong..

"Sorry mommy"

Ok Bubs.

"No, you need to say sorry for what?"

Ok, Sorry for what London?

"I don't know."

Headed to the potty..

"Mommy, I need to potty."

Ok. I'm coming.

Once I get there.

"I need pribacy mommy. And then pull up my pants."

Ok Bub.

Headed into his new Big Boy bed..

"Look at my bed momma, it's so tool (cool)"

It is London, so cool.

"Ya, I'm not a baby anymore. I'm as big as daddy"

Almost Bubba.

"So now I can ride his motorcycle?"

I think not.

Lastly...

"Momma most of the time, you're my best friend."

Thanks London.

"Then it is Maeve."

Ok London.

Recipe Monday?

2010-03-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry friends. As luck would have it, wedding season is upon us which means that I head into single parenthood once again (don't worry Curtis, I'm not bitter:) So Travis had his first wedding this Saturday in San Diego. By the time he got home Sunday and we got everything done for the weekend, I was too tired to post anything. So sorry if that threw anyone off.

This week is fish week. Sorry if that excludes you, but we love it over here. Also, I decided every week that I would post a challenge at the end of the recipes. Let me know how they go for you!

Salmon with Mango Tomato Salsa

4 - 4oz salmon pieces, skin on

2 small tomatoes, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 red onion, sliced

2 mango's, skinned, seeded and chopped

salt and pepper

olive oil

Season the salmon with salt and pepper and place on foil-lined baking sheet. Broil for 14 minutes, or until it flakes easily.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in pan. Add garlic and red onion and saute for 3 minutes. Then add diced tomatoes. Cook for about 4-5 minutes. Turn heat down and add mango. Cook until heated through, maybe 3 minutes.

Take skin off salmon and set on plate. Serve mango mixture over it. Maybe some rice on the side!

Shrimp Fried Rice

1 1/2 c. basmati rice

2 tsp veg. oil

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 lb. shrimp, peeled, deveined and coarsely chopped

2 carrots, thinly sliced

2 scallions, sliced

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tbsp ginger, minced

1/4 c soy sauce

1/4 c lime juice (from 2 limes)

In medium saucepan, bring 8 cups water to a boil. Add rice, and boil until tender. Using a sieve, drain rice and immediately rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.

While rice is cooking, heat 1 tsp oil in a skillet. Add eggs; cook until set. Transfer eggs to a cutting board. Cool eggs then cut into strips. Set aside.

In same skillet, heat remaining teaspoon oil over medium heat. Add shrimp, carrots, scallion garlic and ginger. Cook until shrimp are opaque and carrots are crisp-tender. Add eggs, soy sauce, lime juice and cooked rice. Cook, tossing, to heat rice through. Serve warm.

CHALLENGE: Try not using salt in recipes as often, and make the switch from white rice to brown.

Recipe Sunday

2010-03-21T21:36:00.000-07:00

This week there were requests for Chicken Enchiladas and Burgers. So, here are the ones I have for you!

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

1 lb. chicken breast

1/2c H2O

5 tsp. garlic

1 cup chopped onion

4 tsp. oil

2 cans green chilies

4 tsp. chili powder

1 1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cumin & Oregano

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 c. flour

1 1/2 c. chicken broth

1 c. milk

2 c. shredded cheese

12 corn tortillas

1 c. green onions

Combine chicken, H20, 2 tsp. garlic to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Cut chicken into strips, reserve liquid. Saute onion in oil. Add garlic, chilies and saute 1 minute. Add seasoning. Stir in flour. Gradually add broth, milk and reserve liquid. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup of cheese and chicken.

Put a layer of four tortillas in the bottom of a 9x9 casserole dish. Cover with some chicken mixture. Repeat 3 times, ending in chicken. Sprinkle with cheese and green onions. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

TURKEY BURGERS w/GOAT CHEESE

2 lbs. lean ground turkey

3 tbsp. chopped parsley

1 tbsp. chopped rosemary

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

8 whole wheat hamburger buns

4 oz. goat cheese, cut into 8 slices

Prepare grill. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Divide turkey mixture into 8 equal portions. Place patties on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Cook 5 minutes on each side. Place buns, cut sides down, on grill rack. cook 1 minute or until lightly browned. Top each patty with 1 slice goat cheese. serve on buns.

I serve mine with grilled onions, tomatoes, avocado slices and pesto (instead of mayo).

ENJOY!!!!

The Jones'

2010-03-19T21:10:00.000-07:00

You know them...the ones we are trying to "keep up with"? I feel like sometimes I have been trying my entire life to keep up with "them". You know, those people that have it all together. Those super moms, that have eighteen kids, eight bedroom home, husband who works in the high rise, driving a Beemer, with two dogs and Gucci glasses. AND, anytime you enter their home it is pristine.

So I tried and I tried. Sometimes feeling like giving up, but feeling lazy for not striving. No one was pushing me but myself. My need to feel like I could do it all myself.

Guess what.

I can't.

And they can't either.

Something has to give. That old picture with the woman flexing her muscles, with the title "We can do it!", is so true. But what it doesn't say is "We can do it ALL". I'm almost 32 and I just figured that out. I only have one son. And my house isn't that big. My husband DOES work hard, but I stay home. And because of that, we rent. I DO drive a nice car, but it isn't a Beemer. (We do have a apple TV, which I am told is something pretty special but have yet to really understand its' worth).

And yet, I still leave the house in my jammies, sometimes only eat pb&j for three days, and my house is covered in dust. It used to make me crazy. WHY can't I do it all? I should be able to, right? Well, after talking with a girlfriend of mine I realized something. It is the ol "quality of life" question. What would I rather be doing? Stressing myself out to make sure that my house was always perfect, my clothes were pressed, and I put on a great display of "having it all together", OR be at the park with my 3 yr old son, sliding down slides and having a smoothie.

Easy answer for me. "YES I CAN" play with my son and let the dishes sit a little longer.

Robert Pattinson is stealing our bitches

2010-03-14T22:30:00.000-07:00

Seriously. This guy must be stopped.

Anyone remember this...?

Exactly. No one cared about him when he was Cedric. And therein lies my problem.

Listen. I've got no problem with my wife being attracted to other men. I get it. Unless it's Robert Pattinson. This guy, in less that one year, went from dorky Cedric Diggory to Edward Cullen...sexiest man alive. Why? Because he played a vampire. Gilbert Gottfried could play a vampire and wind up a sex kitten the next day.

Now, I know what you're saying. And you're right. I'm totally jealous. But you've got to admit, the numbers just don't add up. He's a normal looking dude in an incredibly romantic role. It's the romance that girls dig. Rob is just another guy. Maybe I should have "I am Robert Pattinson" shirts made up. That's what I'll do. And start a club....nay....a coalition against our long toothed nemesis. Husbands unite!

-Trav

(Interesting side note: Just as I began typing this post, I got a bloody nose. Dang. This guy can even kick my ass from England)

Snacks and St. Patties

2010-03-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

This week I am determined to make at least one yummy snack for London so we can lay off the Goldfish crackers for a bit. He loves these zucchini chips...try them out! At the end there is a fun alternative to corn beef and cabbage for St. Pat's!

ZUCCHINI OVEN CHIPS

1/4 c. homemade breadcrumbs (made with whole wheat bread)

1/4 c. Parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp. garlic

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 tbsp milk

3 cups sliced zucchini, thin

Combine the first 5 ingredients, stirring with a whisk. Dip zucchini in milk, then in spices. Place coated slices on cooking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 425 degrees for 30 minutes, or until crisp.

HOMEMADE HUMMUS AND PITA CHIPS

1 can garbanzo beans (15 oz)

4 tbsp olive oil

3 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp. sesame oil

2 cloves garlic, peeled

Pour garbanzo over strainer, saving liquid. Blend beans, 2 tbsp oil, lemon juice, sesame oil, garlic and 1/3 c reserved liquid in blender until creamy. If to thick, continue to add reserve liquid until it is the consistency you desire. Put is serving dish and drizzle with 2 more tbsp oil.

Cut pita bread into triangles and toast in toaster over until crisp. Serve with hummus.

GUINNESS STEW

1 tsp thyme, fresh is possible

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

3 lbs. stew meat, cut into 2" cubes

1 c. chopped yellow onion

1c. beef broth

1 6 pack Guinness Stout beer (you will only use 1 for the recipe, but you can drink the rest!)

pearl onions

8 oz. white mushrooms

1/4 c. water

2 tbsp. flour

3/4 c. cranberries

8 c. egg noodles, prepared.

Combine 1st 3 ingredients. Sprinkle over beef. Coat pan w/spray. Add beef and cook 6 minutes. Add chopped onion, broth, and stout. Bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 2 hrs. Stir in pearl onions and mushrooms. Cook covered for 15 minutes. Combine 1/4 c water and flour. Add to pan with cranberries, cook 5 minutes. Serve over hot noodles!

I promise to blog this week, something other than recipes!! Enjoy!

Recipes of the Week

2010-03-07T12:31:00.001-08:00

Here it goes. Some yummy I'm cookin up this week!

Vegetable Soup

2 tblsp olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

2 celery stalks, chopped

3-14 oz cans of chicken, vegetable broth

1 cup H2O

2 yukon gold potatoes

1 tsp thyme leaves, dried

1/2 tsp salt

1-14oz diced tomatoes

1/4 lb green beans

1 cup chopped broccoli

heat oil in saucepan. add onion, carrot, and celery. cook until tender (5 min). Add broth, water, potatoes, thyme and salt. Increase heat to high and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer partially covered 15 minutes. Add tomatoes, beans and broccoli; cook 5-10 minutes or until tender.

Serve with warm whole wheat bread! yummy!

Taco Chili

1 lb ground turkey

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1 pkg low sodium taco seasoning

1 pkg low fat ranch dressing

1 1/2 c water

1 can pinto beans

1 can kidney beans

1 can diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces

1 can whole kernel corn

1 can tomato sauce-15 oz

1 can chopped green chili 4.5 ounces

Cook onion and meat in large soup pot with 1 tblsp. oil. Stir in both seasoning packets, stir well. Add water and stir. Open all the cans and just dump them in the pot, undrained. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 1 hour. Let cool in pot.

Garnish with tortilla chips, cheese, avocado, sour cream....whatever you like!

Tastes great the next day!

I would love feedback on whether or not anyone is reading these...just to know if I should keep going!

Jenn

Really?

2010-03-04T20:12:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry if your child isn't pictured in this photo, because this is the cutest thing I have ever seen. May I introduce to you, the Prince London and Princess Eden!

Jenn

Skinning baby giraffes, part 1

2010-03-02T20:34:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing I won't let this blog get, it's too sissy. I don't know about you, but me...I'm a man's man, and all this talk about recipes and arts and crafts and doilies and stuff is making me sick. So I'm about to get all Dwight Schrute on your asses and start a "how to" series on skinning. Cause the fact of the matter is, anyone can skin a cat or a deer or a wildebeest. But what if you need to skin a butterfly or a baby giraffe* or something. Then what?

Exactly.

So friends, let me finish with this. What my wife is to cooking and creativity and crafts - I am to testosterone. There's no reason why I shouldn't fill you fools in on my skinning skills. So while Jenn is giving you tips on cooking, I'll be giving you tips on how to skin what your wives will be cooking.

Booyah.

-Trav

*for some reason, there are currently no guides on skinning baby giraffes. once again, my insight and foresight and hindsight are ahead of the pack, which means that i will have to write another "how to" manual.

This Weeks Eats

2010-02-28T13:30:00.000-08:00

Here goes nothing. The recipes listed below are open for variation, and just happen to be what the Avila's will be snacking on this week! Enjoy.

Chicken Souvlaki

4 pieces of pita bread (we get ours from Trader Joe's)

2 tomatoes, diced

2 cups shredded lettuce

1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

3/4 cup feta cheese (one of the lowest fat cheese's!)

1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme

2 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

5 tablespoons olive oil

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into pieces

Heat oven to 200 F. Wrap the pita in foil and place in oven to heat. In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, Feta, and olives. In a larger bowl, combine the oregano, thyme, vinegar, and lemon juice. Slowly add the oil, whisking constantly. Pour about 2 tablespoons of that mixture over the tomato mixture. Stir, cover, and put tomato mixture in fridge. Add chicken to the remaining vinaigrette, toss and set aside.

Heat a bit of oil in large skillet. Transfer chicken into the skillet, cook until no longer pink, or about 6 minutes. Set aside.

Take pita out of oven. Place on plates, and put lettuce on top. Divide chicken among the four pita's. Then top with tomato mixture. Either eat like a taco, or just like a tostada.

Garden-Style Lasagna

2 cups chopped yellow onion

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp. olive oil

2 cups chopped zucchini

2 cups chopped yellow squash

2 cups chopped carrot

2 cups chopped broccoli

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup flour

3 1/2 cups low fat milk

1 cup Parmesan cheese

dash of nutmeg

1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, or fresh (almost 2 cups)

1 1/2 cups low fat cottage cheese

2 cups low fat mozzarella cheese, shredded

12 wheat lasagna noodles

Preheat over to 375 F. Heat a large dutch oven over medium heat. Coat with cooking spray. Add onion and saute for 4 minutes. Add garlic and saute 1 minute. Set aside in large bowl.

Heat 1 tsp oil in pan. Add zucchini and squash and saute 4 minutes or until tender. Add to onion mixture in bowl.

Heat remaining oil in pan. Add sliced carrot, saute 4 minutes. Add chopped broccoli, saute and add mixture to onion. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp salt, toss well to combine.

Place flour in saucepan. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook 2 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat. Add 1/2 cup Parmesan, remaining 1/2 tsp salt and nutmeg. Stir until smooth. Stir in spinach.

Combine cottage cheese and 1 1/2 cups mozzarella; stir well. Spread 1/2 cup spinach mixture in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 4 noodles over spinach mixture in dish. Top with half of cottage cheese mixture, half vegetable mixture, and about 1 cup spinach mixture. Repeat layer, (noodles, cottage cheese, veggies and spinach). End with noodles. Spread remaining spinach mixture over noodles; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan and remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.

Cover and bake at 375 F for 20 minutes. Uncover and back an additional 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and browning. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

oops

2010-02-25T06:56:00.001-08:00

I asked for your feedback then forgot to "allow" your comments. that is all fixed now. bring it on!

All Messed Up

2010-02-24T15:42:00.001-08:00

London made this Mr. Potato Head yesterday. The more I looked at it, the more I realized it is exactly how I feel. All messed up. I don't know why exactly. But I just feel out of sorts. Finding my way I suppose. Talking with some of my friends I think we are coming to this realization; I want more. Not more stuff....just more for me. I want to be something more than a mom, a wife, a daughter. I guess I am just trying to find me. My loves, my interests, my desires, what I love, what I want to do.

It is a lot to think about. And by the end of the day I do feel like my tongue is my ear and my ear is my nose.

I got back to the basics though this week. What do I love? Of course I love being a mom, but when he is out of the house, then what? Who am I when he is not around? I thought and thought....

You know what I like?

Food. Cooking. Inventing. Reading. Creating.

So what does that look like in everyday life? Not sure. But my husband has brought to my attention, that maybe (just maybe) someone out there in cyber space would benefit from what I learn. Every coupla weeks I make longs lists of groceries, plan out my meals, make healthy alternatives and substitutions, and try to make my family the happiest healthiest people I can.

Would anyone out there want to hear about that? I don't know. But I think I might do it anyway. Just once in a while I will let you know what is going on in my food world. And if it helps you, great.

In the meantime, here are a few more pics of something I love. Can't pass it up.

another piece of pie

2010-02-19T15:18:00.001-08:00

So the new blog is still not ready. but here are some more cute pics of my son. he's a good filler...

Looking good throwing a fit in his pirate hat!

Learned to love his bath times.....finally.

Our little Ewok!

Sorry

2010-02-15T19:47:00.000-08:00

I know it has been awhile. Trav is working on a new blog, and I have been patiently waiting. But he still hasn't gotten to it, so i thought i would post a few pics of London for those out there who might still be reading this.

I promise we will get to it soon......

Jenn

Revamp

2010-01-27T12:39:00.000-08:00

Sorry faithful blog readers. We are currently under construction over here at the Avila Blog. I know some of you have been trying to comment and it isn't accepting you. We are switching over to a member only blog, but are hitting some bumps along the way. For now, read away, but most likely you won't be able to comment.

So sorry. We will fix it as soon as my hubby can sit down and work on it with me. Jenn=not so technically savy.

Thanks

Jenn

Bugs or Monsters

2010-01-25T14:19:00.001-08:00

Those of you who knew I was doing a detox to help with my sleep...here is the outcome.

NO SLEEP!

But not because of the detox. My poor little Bubba has been having nightmares. About 7 times a night he is waking up crying or screaming, talking about the bugs or monsters that are getting him. He is terrified, I am tired, and we are all cranky.

It is so sad to hear his little scare voice. We have been really careful about what he is watching, reading and observing. We have been praying over him and his room every night. We talk to him about how he is safe here with mommy and daddy. We look every night, for bugs and monsters in the room.

And still, come 10:30pm, his first wake-up scream comes.

It just breaks my heart.

Poor guy fell asleep in the car at 11:00 yesterday, he was so tired.

S.O.S- Any suggestions from you parents out there?

Fate and Probability

2010-01-21T23:25:00.000-08:00

Stochasticity.

It's a five syllable smarty pants word for randomness. I heard a few stories today that seemed too random to be anything but fate. Problem is, the scientists say that fate doesn't exist. It's more an issue of statistics than anything else. Let's say I win the lotto three times in a row. How would you describe that? Statisticians would probably say that someone was bound to win the lotto three times in a row. When you pull back a bit, statistically, it's not improbable. The error comes when you are too close to see the inevitability of someone winning the lotto three times in a row.

Personally, I don't like probability; it removes the magic. Take, for example, the multi-universe theory. A part of the theory states that, given enough matter, there is bound to be another universe exactly like ours. A universe where the particles are arranged in such a way that there is another Travis Avila typing this blog post at exactly the same time. And there is yet another universe with a Travis Bavila who is typing a New Yorker article at the moment. And yet another universe with someone 87% like me, and so on and so forth.

For some folks, this provokes a sense of awe and mystery. To me though, it just seems boring and devoid of purpose. But then again, Christians hate probability. Try telling a Christian that this world was bound to exist. That it was only a matter of time before particles arranged themselves in such a way that life on Earth was possible. Tell a Christian that and see what happens. I suppose it begs the question, why does stochasticity make perfect sense to some, but gives me the heebie jeebies? How about you? Where do you fall in the spectrum?

-Trav

Convergence

2010-01-20T22:31:00.000-08:00

I am a 28-year old husband, father, oxygen salesman, son, aspiring non-writing writer, friend, and glute master. Typically, at least for most men I know, these things exist mentally independent of one another. I put on my salesman hat at work and my husband hat while speaking with Jenn. Sometimes I get confused and put on my glutemaster hat while leading worship. When that happens, my world goes into a tizzy.

I've heard it said that men go into "buckets." That we are only able to focus on one thing at a time, while women thrive on multi-tasking. I am compelled to believe that this is true because I just spilled my beer on the table while trying to reach for the remote. Whether this is true or not makes no difference at the moment. My point is that all of my hats seem to be converging, heading towards an inevitable collision. I've been asking myself how all of these things relate to one another and what that means for my life. Specifically, how do I pursue what I'm passionate about while doing what is necessary to put food on the table.

I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who share a similar struggle. In talking with a few people I trust, the answers have been very much the same. Basically, they say something to do with seasons of life and responsibility. I can't say that I disagree with them. Obviously God doesn't want me writing full-time at the moment because I'm not writing full-time. But for creative people, creativity is woven into our fabric. Artistic outlets are second only to breath. The most common response is, "Sure, but you can find ways to be creative with what you've been given, right?" Of course I can. But it doesn't satisfy completely. Maybe nothing ever will. Who knows. But recently, I have this insatiable desire to write and be creative, which wars against the knowledge that I can't. At least not right now. Or can I? That's the question. I suppose the answer is that you do what you can when you can.

Truth is, I am more passionate about my family than writing. So for now, I am working hard, trying to give us the best life possible. I can't stop writing though, and no one expects me to. I just wish the two were a little more friendly in their interactions.

-Trav

Detox-Day One

2010-01-19T12:56:00.000-08:00

Here I go. Today I started my detox. In case you aren't a facebook friend, I am trying a four day detox that is supposed to help me with my sleeping. I am a raging insomniac and have tried everything they throw my way. This is the next try. I figured it can't hurt. At the least, it will clean out the system of the toxins I have acquired from years of candy and soda! :)

So this morning, I woke up ready to go. I love a challenge.

Then I had my first cup of coffee (cup, literally) with my allotted 1 tsp of milk.

Nasty.

Ok, I'll just move on. Fruit for breakfast, apple for a snack, green lettuce and celery for lunch.

Doing good.

Then fresh squeezed lemon, with 1/2 c of water and 1 tblsp of psyllium husk stirred in.

Back to nasty.

This is going to be a really long four days. I'll keep you posted. (Whether you like it or not)

Oh, and P.S.- NO, I am not making my husband do this with me. Tonight he will be dining on Salmon with Mango Salsa, rice and a salad.

I will be eating 3/4 c black beans with 1 cup cooked spinach.

Sweet.

100%

2010-01-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

When you are 2 1/2, almost 3, you do everything 100%. That is what I am learning from my son. There is no "half way". He giggles with everything he has. He throws a fit that uses more energy than I have in a day. He wrestles with the intensity of a WWF, but even more real (hate to break it to you, but WWF is not real. And while we are breaking hearts, Santa isn't either).

I am loving to see what my son chooses to do with his energy and his imagination. Right now, his attention is divided between riding bikes, playing trucks with his friends, wrestling with his dad (he can already take me down), and for down time, watching movies. I remember praying for the day that London would watch some TV just so I could take a shower or cook dinner or something. But he LOVES it. Which has become sort of an issue.

Overall though, he is pretty ok with letting me turn it off. As long as I have something else fun planned. His favorite movies right now are 101 Dalmatians, Finding Nemo, and coming in at #1-Monsters Inc. Boo has become an obsession. A friend of mine was taking her children down to Disney last week, so I asked if she could pick up a Boo doll for London. I knew he would be into it, since he always asks if he can hold her. I picked it up today and he was so excited. She hasn't left his side.

Everything....100%

London getting to ride his friend Marcellos' bike. Super cool!

Playing the Wii Fit Balance games. He loves it!

Learning to lean into the turns.

He was super excited when I picked him up from school. Then he

asked me to watch this.....

Yes, that is my son breast feeding his Boo doll. He said she wanted milk.

Ummm, all I can say is that he sees a lot breast feeding at the park,

I just had no idea he was paying attention.

After a long morning with Boo, they book took a nap. I think Boo is going

to be good for us.

For the Fam(and Bubba lovers Everywhere!)

2010-01-12T11:18:00.000-08:00

It has been brought to my attention(dad) that there hasn't been a post in since Christmas. First of all, only ADAM the faithful, poured his heart out to Travis, begging him to come back. Because of the lack of effort, I do believe it will be awhile before you see anything from Trav.

So I guess I will have to do for now. For the family out there that has been begging for pictures of London, here a few Trav snapped the other night. He is becoming quite the ham and will do anything for a laugh. No matter what he does, either falling down or hitting you..he finishes each action with..

"Was that funny mom?"

"Hitting is never funny London."

"I thought it was funny." he says.

Uh oh.

London took a shot at taking pictures of his train table. Very artsy don't you think?

This is London's superLondon cape that his Auntie Kelly made him for Christmas.

And no, our Christmas tree isn't still up. I just wanted to include this pic.

He LOVES his train table and is constantly asking,"You wanna play choo choo with me?"

London and daddy after a wresting match. His other favorite thing to do.

Just plain being silly.

(Isn't that train table sweet?)

There you have it. All I have to offer at the moment. Hope it ties you over until my next deep thought. Which could be awhile. Although I am starting a 4 day detox next week which could make for some lively conversations!

Christmas in Bullet Points

2010-01-05T14:15:00.001-08:00

Since Christmas is behind us, and I don't like to look to the past, I decided to make this post on Christmas short and sweet. Here are some bullet points from Christmas.

Travis' boss, Uncle Matt, came with us to Nana and Pops this year and fit right in. We just love our Uncle Matt.
There were, at one point, almost 20 people at Christmas, with people sleeping on the floors and couches. Nothing like family at Christmas time.
London spent most of the time riding his bike and chasing the dogs around. He still doesn't get Christmas. (Which might I add, is kinda nice for us parents)
Travis, Uncle Matt, Uncle Brian, and Uncle Pat played the Wii all weekend and made for some good laughs.
Since we had so many laughs, we decided to go out and buy our own Wii. There have already been many late night bowling sessions and Biggest Loser workouts! I love it! Bob is my trainer, and Jillian is Travis'. We will see who is still standing in the end! For those skeptics out there, after the first workout with Bob, I couldn't lift my arms for two days. It's legit!
London scored a train table from Mimi and DadDad, which he plays with almost constantly. He also received tons of fun learning games from his Nana and Pops. He loves it all!

Best of all, we spent tons of time as a family. Trav took as much time away from work as possible (and still met all his goals!), which meant a lot to London and I. It was a blast just to hang out and play together. We miss it already.

Something I realized this Christmas break is how much London is looking like his dad. They do everything alike. They have the same facial expressions, are always needing a salty snack, and pretty much love goofing around. They slept in together over the break (something London has never done with his momma) and they enjoyed the finer things in life. It is so cute to see London enjoying his daddy. He is constantly looking for his dads affirmation, which makes me so proud that Travis is such a great dad. He'll always be there.

Here's to a New Year and new adventures.

Oh, P.S.- All you faithful followers out there who are missing Travis, please give him a shout out. If you are missing his posts, let him know. Flood his inbox with love and affection. Maybe that will get him back online. Poor guy just needs a little motivation. Nothing like 200 comments to get him back in the game!

Jenn

Don't stress

2009-12-23T13:57:00.000-08:00

Man, is it just me? Is this time of year super crazy? Today, I have decided to undertake cooking a pre-Christmas meal for one of Travis' friends, and for our new Uncle Matt! (more on him later). I don't know why I chose the day BEFORE we leave out of town, but that is just when it worked out.

So I found myself sitting on the couch, running through ingredients, time schedules and layout of the table settings and it just overwhelmed me. I put my head in my hands and let out a big sigh.

Me: "Ahhhhh"

London: "You ok mommy?" pat, pat, pat

Me: "Ya buddy".

London: "Don't stress mommy"

WHAT? Where did he get that word. As he been listening to me everyday for the last four weeks, complain and verbalize every feeling? I guess so. It made me think.

I don't want London to think that Christmas means stress. Isn't it supposed to mean JOY? I know it is hard this time of year to relax and enjoy the process. But I really think it would help and be a much better example to our kids. Afterall, if it doesn't get done, who cares?

So, we sat down together and watched Curious George: A Monkey Christmas and ate a strawberry candy cane. Much better.

Remember to not stress, but to love. One will kill you, and one will keep you alive!

Tis the Season

2009-12-19T13:24:00.001-08:00

We tried a new tradition this year. Making a gingerbread house with London. It sounded like so much fun, and I knew that London would love the candy part. I just never thought it all through. He is, after all, 2.5 yrs old. And I am, after all, a complete control freak. Needless to say, the equation didn't add up.

This is what it is supposed to look like. I thought, no problem. I will put the frosting on, then show London where to put the candies. I even had the box on the table as an example.

This is what it turned out looking like. And that is only because dad stepped in. After the millionth time of me asking London to wait until I put the frosting on, I gave up and walked away. Daddy and London had to finish up.
I am guessing that this may be the first and last gingerbread house that I partake in. :)

Thursday night, London had his first Christmas Program at school. I had no idea what to expect. I did assume that he wouldn't get through it. He would either not make it onto the stage OR see me in the audience and start crying. He had one task....sing Jingle Bells while shaking his Jingle Bells! We got him dressed up in his Christmas jammies and got him to school in plenty of time. Besides being confused about why he was going out after dark, in his jammie, he seemed to be up for the job. I dropped him off and headed for my seat. Trav was volunteered to video the performance and make a DVD for parents to buy, so we were worried that London might sabotage the whole thing. Instead,

He put his star on the board,

sat down and sang the last three words of Jingle Bells,

And then got to enjoy Christmas cookies with his BFF Isabella.

Oh what fun! He was so brave. We were so proud.

Thanks so much to the Allshouse, Siems, and the Stricker(s) family

for coming out and supporting London. He still talks about how

his friends came to see him at his school!

My boy....

2009-12-15T14:39:00.001-08:00

Out for Christmas card photo's and got some other shots as well. Does it get any cuter than this?

I am Glutacus

2009-12-14T20:36:00.000-08:00

My lovely aunt is letting me borrow her Total Gym for a while so that I can get all ripped and stuff. I'm not getting any younger, so I think it's time to start taking care of my body a little more. I NEVER exercise. Ever. Mostly because it hurts so bad.

If I'm going to put myself through that much pain, then I'm going to only work one muscle group and make darn sure that it's ripped. So? Hello glutes.

-Trav

Sweetest Darn Thing

2009-12-12T20:46:00.000-08:00

My husband just said the sweetest darn thing.

(side bar: a few days ago, my hubby was awarded a prize for top sales in his company. He did very well last quarter, and in turn was entered in a pool to win some awesome prizes. Thursday we found out that he won SHOES FOR A YEAR! That's right, $2500 worth of shoes in one year)

Trav: I don't know girls shoes really, but I want you to find some that are "must have's", ones that you wouldn't normally get. Shoes that will last you a lifetime. And I want to get them for you".

Awwwwwww. That's right. Jimmy Choo here I come. I might not be super girly, but I know good shoes when I see them.

So Trav took off to hang with some friends tonight.

And I am browsing the internet, making my list of "must have's" shoes.

All while watching the Heisman Trophy Award presentation that I recorded from earlier.

Hey, like I said....I am not super girly.

Jenn

Anise Awards

2009-12-07T22:42:00.000-08:00

Every once in a great while, something so genius comes along that it deserves the greatly coveted "Anise Award." Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with extreme pleasure that I present to you two such winners.

The first goes to a local pizzeria with a name so brilliant that upon seeing it from the road, I immediately pulled into the parking lot, ran into the store, struck up a conversation with the owner and vowed to order a pizza very soon. Turns out that the story behind the name isn't the least bit funny, so I won't share it here. It has something to do with math and geography. But the man wins an Anise Award for having the sheer moxie to name a restaurant such as he did.

My favorite part might not even be the name. The tag line is brilliant! "From Our Pi-Whole To Yours!" Is he kidding with that!? Incredible.

Anise Award number two (pun intended) goes to a product which inspired the award itself. I had the privilege of seeing this product on our trip to Utah and it initiated a slew of jokes aimed at the user. The merchandise is toothpaste created by a brand called "Nature's Gate," which will be even more funny once you see the main ingredient...

Your eyes are not fooling you. It really says, "Creme de Anise - Natural Toothpaste with baking soda and anise oil." Call me juvenile, but I laughed my butt off when I saw this. I'm all for saving the environment and recycling natural resources, but c'mon people. Where do we draw the line!?

I'd like to thank and congratulate the genius' behind these products. You've allowed me to say far more butt jokes than should be allowed in normal conversation.

-Trav

Utah

2009-12-07T22:30:00.000-08:00

My friend Curtis and I flew to Salt Lake City last weekend to film a wedding. Utah is beautiful...and cold. But most importantly, they have sweet rental cars. Check out our chick magnet.

"Fourteens"

Friends are Forever

2009-12-04T20:36:00.000-08:00

Remember that cheesy Mike W. Smith song, "Friends are Friends Forever"? Well, as much as that song rubs me the wrong way, I really wish some of those lyrics true for London. He has such great friends and has so much fun with them. They are like siblings to him and they feel like part of our family. He wakes up asking to play with them and goes to sleep praying for them.

Here's to hoping that they are life long friends.

Thanksgiving Fun

2009-12-03T20:18:00.000-08:00

Thanks

2009-11-25T20:41:00.000-08:00

We dove right into our Thanksgiving day traditions this week. First, London has to get really sick and require some sort of Antibiotic or something. Then, we watch Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving. Lastly, we talk about what we are thankful for.

Mom: London, mommy is thankful that you are feeling better and thankful daddy and I have you. (followed by a kiss on the head)

Mom: What are you thankful for London?

London: Um....my truck. And my stickers.

We are working on the important things.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Avila's

The Owens

2009-11-07T20:22:00.000-08:00

We have friends that our in the fight of their lives. Please join us in praying for them, their family, and for little Gavin.

Check out Gavin's story here: www.gavinowens.com

Pray whole heartedly for this family. I want them to feel the prayers of the saints.

If you feel led to help them in anyway, check out Gavin's House.

Lowness of Spirit

2009-11-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God..........And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5,7

"For a moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, " says the Lord, your Redeemer." Isaiah 54:7-8

There is no feeling as deep as loss. If you have ever grieved a huge loss you know what I am talking about. That hole that opens up in your heart. That feeling of breathlessness, where the effort it takes to exist seems beyond worth it.

There is nothing like that.

I have had those moments. They have been few, but they have touched me so deeply, no amount of time will ever erase their memory. They have been etched deep into my heart. And even though time has passed and they have become easier to process, the memory has not faded. I can tell you EXACTLY what I was feeling at that moment, and if I dwell on it long enough, all of those emotions flood back in. Which just proves to me that I have not hid them as deep as I thought. The lay right on the surface of my everyday.

I have a dear friend who has just entered that world. I don't think it was her first time, and I am quite sure that I will not be her last. But this hurt, hurt to the core. I knew her ache...the wailing that takes place in the soul. The longing for a different outcome. The "why" questions that come like a fast moving stream. I had no words for her. Nothing a mere human can say can comfort in times like that.

But as I thought about her tragedy, it brought me back to my own. And some of those "why" questions got answered. ".......that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God". I have suffered loss in my life, trials that seemed so purposeless, just for moments such as these.

Our baby Selah would be 3 on November 28th. Sometimes I think I have moved on from that time. And then something will catch my eye and make me think of him. What would he look like? Would he have been a quiet soul, or a spirited one like London? I haven't forgotten about him. Every November I put on my Blue Topaz ring (birthstone of November) that Travis got me in memory of our baby, and I wear it everyday. It is my way of celebrating our son. Remembering that time. Remembering the pain, but also rejoicing in the faithfulness of our Lord. In that dark moment, it seemed nothing would ever be able to pull me out. I am not sure if I even wanted out. I wanted to go Home. With him. Hold him. Comfort him.

But God had different plans....."With a little wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, " says the Lord, your Redeemer.

Having Him be quiet while I lay in a heap on the floor, screaming out for answers; that was the deepest pain I had ever felt. Forsaken.

But He had mercy on me. His mercies are new every morning. And every morning I look into my son London's eyes and remember. The Lord had his reasons. I like to believe that Selah was too great for this world, so God yanked him up to be with him.

God knew we needed London. He teaches me lessons everyday. And if I had had my way, and Selah would have survived, London wouldn't be here. It doesn't erase the pain I felt during that time, but it answers some questions I longed to have answered back then.

I will never forget. And I pray for my friend everyday. That God's word would prove true and that I would be able to comfort her, with the comfort that came to me. Daily choosing to focus on the tiny (and grand) miracles that are in front of me everyday.

Sporty Spice

2009-11-03T22:48:00.000-08:00

I was invited to "the club" tonight. Not a glow stick, Night at the Roxbury kind of club though. This was a legitimate, athletic club and day spa kind of club. My buddy is a member of such a club and was kind enough to invite me for an evening of tennis, swimming and hot tubing. I arrived at the club 30 minutes late due to a talkative patient I had to see. When I arrived, the front desk lady asked, "Are you Travis Avila?" "Yes I am," I responded. "Mr. Higgins is waiting for you at the court furthest from the club," she said. One could get used to this kind of treatment.

I strolled down the walkway past the lap pool, hot tub and sauna and found my friend, who had of course already run a few miles and hit enough tennis balls to make Pete Sampras look like a sissy girl. Keep in my that my hips already hurt from walking to the courts. He made me hit about five thousand tennis balls, shot from a machine that I could tell didn't like me very much. I'd never played tennis in my life, so I'm sure this was pretty amusing to my buddy. He hasn't played much tennis either, but at least he's athletic. As I was leaving the house, I asked Jenn if I looked too much like Sporty Spice. I had to scrounge around my closet to find any sort of athletic apparel. I think I pulled it off though. At least I looked like I sort of belonged.

Neither of us knew how to keep score, so we used the closest scoring system we could think of.

Ping Pong

We played two games, and he won both...but only by two points. Both games had to go into overtime, which I was pretty proud of. I thought for sure I'd throw up at a few points in the game, but I managed to keep it in and finished both games with a small amount of dignity. (He brought his wife's purple racquet, if that gives you any indication of the faith he had in me)

After a few rounds of tennis we decided to hit the pool. We swam a few laps in the pool and then hit the hot tub, where we schmoozed with some real estate broker/lawyer guy. After another quick dip in the pool, we headed to the locker room to change and hit the road. While in the men's locker room, I realized that men in general are not afraid of having their twig and berries hanging out all over the place. It was disconcerting at best.

All in all, it was a great night. Being one that doesn't typically enjoy exercising, I have to say that it felt great getting the heart pumping while playing a sport rather than running on a treadmill. Will I join the club? Well, that remains to be seen. But one could certainly get used to the lifestyle.

-Trav

Happy Halloween

2009-11-02T20:02:00.001-08:00

London was an "Army Dude" this year. An Army dude with a new obsession for treats. He was asking everyone he ran into for candy. We went to three parties and at every one, you were sure to see London wandering around, asking every guest there for a treat. Preceded by his request was a hearty, "Happy Walloween."

Long Time Comin'

2009-10-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

I know. I know.

You missed us.

I was so nicely informed by my family (uh hemmm, no names mentioned) that we haven't updated the blog since Oct 8th. " Really" I asked. Had it been that long? Why?

Oh right...we were busy.

Here is what we were up to.

-Trav, my handsome and ever so helpful husband, had 3 weddings this month on top of his normal, everyday job were he had his biggest month EVER! The man is unstoppable. However, with the stress of keeping all that up, the blog fell to the wayside. I tried to keep it up, but I really don't have much to talk about.

So once again, I will just talk about what I know.

Bubba.

-This month, London learned about patience in school. He had his first ever Harvest Festival, where he sold tickets and raised money for his school. In fact, he was the highest earning student for pledges, which meant he got a free meal AND a free all day pass to all the events. Funny thing though. If you know Bubba, he doesn't play games...he won't bounce on a bounce house...he won't get his face painted in a million years. So he wore the bracelet with pride, but didn't go on anything.

-London went to his first Circus. Granted it was a 1 yr old's birthday party, but nonetheless, it was a circus. Candy, clowns, games, balloon animals, and all.

-He also had his first major accident which involved chasing his friend at school and falling into the asphalt, biting through both his upper and lower lip. NO stitches needed, but it made for a bloody mess. The following day, his friend was chasing him at the park and ran into a piece of playground equipment with her head. SHE was not so fortunate and ended up with 11 stitches.

-London went the entire month without having a nighttime accident, which we decided makes him an official "big boy". Although if you ask him, he would say he is a "real boy". You know, like Pinocchio.

-His favorite movies include Finding Nemo (except any part that takes place in the dentist office), Mary Poppins (which he calls Hairy Pippins), and Lady and the Tramp (sweetly referred to as "Doggies").

-London made up his first word that he insists we use everyday. "Weeeeya". It is used like "Weeee, wasn't that fun!" Except it is bigger than weee. It is WEEEEEYA!

-He also got to go to Mimi and DadDad's house for vacation this last week. It was so much fun. He loves his Mimi and DadDad so much that when we were leaving he asked us where we were going. Daddy said, "We are going home". He cried. "I want to go to Mimi's house again". So cute. The last day we were there, he had the most amazing day. He got to go to the fire station and sit in a firetruck, then went to the airport and watched an airplane practice touch-and-go's, the saw a Reach helicopter take off, then ride a motorcycle with Dad, then drive a tractor with DadDad and then honk the horn in a REAL semi-truck. You couldn't wipe the smile off his face. He is still talking about it.

That brings us to today...where mom is so wiped out I can't write another thing. Just praying that tomorrow goes smoothly without Dad around. It has been so nice having him home and London has enjoyed it so much, it is going to be a rough day for everyone.

London at the Circus. He is growling like the lion, even

though his head is in the seal.

They both had fun.

Big owies on the lips. Poor Bubba.

Sitting in the semi with DadDad.

The tractor ride. Epic.

Trav and I visited this Castle in Napa Valley

It is actually a winery. Unreal. Would have

been more enjoyable without a 2 yr old.

A taste of where I come from.

London and his bestie Maeve. They love each other.

Eat Your Heart Out Monet

2009-10-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

Artistic talent runs in the family. It skipped me, but I think we can all tell who got it!

This is a recent painting my mom did of my hometown street.
She did it in mostly one afternoon.

This is London's Turkey he did in school.
Also done in one afternoon.
(If you can't tell it's a turkey, you have issues)

Bubba play

2009-10-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

London woke up from his nap and said....

"Bubba Play.."

So, we did.

Mommy and Bubby

Always finding a stick

Cheese...sucking on my nasty blankie. (trust me...it's nasty)

Finally swinging on a big boy swing.

So much more fun to drink water out of the cap.

Bummer for mom though. Wasted all her water.

Sacrifice.

Isn't that the definition of Mom?

In My Humble Opinion

2009-09-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

In my humble opinion, allergies are straight from hell. My poor son has got them bad, and this year has yielded NO rain...which for someone with allergies mean, no relief. After weeks of trying over-the-counter stuff, I finally gave in and called the doc. "I NEED SOMETHING STRONG!" (side note: has anyone else found it extremely difficult to advocate for your child?)

After intense bribing, we ended up with something MILDLY stronger than what we were taking. Now, not only was his face swelling, nose running and eyes rubbed raw.... he was a walking zombie.

I wish that was the last of it. The new "wonder drug" left my son....um...without the ability to poop. So last night I became Nurse Jenn.

After hours of crying because he had to poop but couldn't (saddest darn thing you have ever seen) I decided it was time to search the fridge. That's right...glycerin suppositories. Don't knock it till you tried it. I got my Ziploc out (sanitary reasons) and we held the bubba down. Yes, it takes two of us.

laying down, waiting for poop.

I'll spare you the details, but we did get the job done.

Poor guy. Who knew a reaction to pollen and smoke could cause such drama.

Monday Night Heaven

2009-09-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

and...

No Love Lost

2009-09-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

I just got back from an extended weekend in Las Vegas with my parents (more on that later). London was pretty excited to see me last night, but then immediately wanted his daddy. Mom was definitely out! Understandable. No love lost....

Until this morning.

London: Mommy has owwies? (always remembering my surgery on my stomach)

Me: Yep, mommy still has owwies!

London: (Kicks mommy in stomach)

Me: Ow London. (whimper, whimper. real cry combined with fake cry)

London: Oh mom. Stop whining.

Wow. Maybe I should have stayed in Vegas.

J

Just let it go....

2009-09-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

My hubby has blessed me with time away. That's right. I'm headed to Vegas baby! Trav took London to nana and pops this morning and I am heading out to Vegas tomorrow morning. London was really tough this week and by Friday I thought he couldn't leave soon enough. Then last night came. I was packing everyone and started freaking out.

What if they forget to ask him to go potty?
What if they don't understand what he is asking for?
What if he needs his back stratched and doesn't know who to ask?
Will they remember to give him his allergy medicine, but only if he needs it?

Seriously, you can ask trav. I FREAKED! Which is so weird because it isn't the first time I have left him. So why the drama?

Because no one takes care of bubba like his momma. No one knows him in and out like me. And I realized I never want him to be without

so weird.

I guess I am a mom that just can't let go. Never would have guessed.

Nothing a few slot machines can't cure!

J

For the Love Of the Game

2009-09-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

Tonight was opening night for the NFL. After staying up late helping my hubby draft his Fantasy Football team for his work, tonight I couldn't wait to sit and enjoy the rewards.

And then I realized.

Tonight was London's Welcome to the Fall Ice Cream Social at school. Dang. What was I going to do.

Obvious answer.

My dear, sweet hubby took London to the Ice Cream Social so that Mom could stay home and watch the opener alone.

For the Love of the Game.

Thanks Babe.

How Indie Are You?

2009-09-04T20:28:00.000-07:00

HT: G2

-Trav

It's Lookin Up!

2009-09-02T14:08:00.001-07:00

Man, it seemed like a long summer. I may be the only one, but I am super glad that August is over. Since I don't have school aged kids that were home, I don't relate to the whole "my life is gonna be crazy now" thing that some of my mom friends are going through.

Nothing really changes for me.

BUT, things are looking up. Three major things happened these last few weeks, that will now make my life much more enjoyable. And since I am usually the one with the downer news, I thought I should probably share.

1. Football season is here. Unusual for a girl to say, I know. But if you knew me at all you would know that it takes every ounce in me not to order the super duper cable that allows you every sports channel in the world. But pre-season football is here and I couldn't be more ready.

I thank God for it.

2. Our super annoying, loud, and obnoxious neighbors are being evicted. Three cheers! Hip hip horray! I guess all that complaining and naggin the owners really worked. They have until the end of the month to get out. And to top it off, I finally got that face to face discussion I have been wanting with the dude. And Boss.....I got to say everything I wanted! Makes me super happy.

Last but not least..

3. My not-quite-2 1/2yr old boy it totally potty-trained. YEP. He decided he wanted to do it, and he did. A few gummy worms, Pez dispensers and a holy fear of ruining his Spidermanunderwear did the trick. He loves his underwear and is so excited to tell everyone about it. And at this point, I really don't care. He should be proud. Everyone told him he couldn't do it. He was too young. He is a boy, and lets face it, even some grown men can't hit the hole right. But he took all of that and threw it right back in their faces. He even likes to read while he poops.

I love it. I hate diapers and will gleefully enjoy the break I get from them before the next gromcomes along (and no, I am not pregnant.) He even has this super cute "lean" he does since he refuses to pee sitting down. Can't blame him. Daddy doesn't, so why should he, right?

Oh, and P.S.- My husband is kicking butt at his job and really working hard to provide for us. His boss loves him and is constantly affirming him. HUGE! So proud of him. Thanks babe!

At the Altar

2009-08-30T20:23:00.001-07:00

Does it ever feel like God left you at the altar?

You've got your dress on and the vows written. This is you at your most vulnerable, and he doesn't show. So, you try and explain to your guests that this is very uncharacteristic...

If you've never felt this way, you're lying (or you don't believe in God in the first place and this metaphor means nothing to you). I've felt this way plenty of times in my life. Too many to count, actually. You start asking yourself the why's and how's. "Why did you let this happen?" "How is this 'working for the good of those who love you?'" My pastor and his family recently went through a tragedy involving the loss of a family member. He told us today that he was asking himself those questions. He reminded us of Job (we Christians always look to Job when going through difficulty). For me, it's not that reading about Job makes my suffering feel any less difficult. I just think, "sucks to be Job." He got it much worse than I hopefully ever will. But it's not about his suffering. I am always amazed at his resolve. Even his wife was pleading with him to "curse God and die." Some point out the fact that he got twice as much as he had before. That's all fine and well, but he still lost everything...sons and daughters even. He would carry that grief with him throughout his lifetime. If you ask me, Job's real victory was in his resolve to trust God through the hard times.

Joy and pain conjugate in real life. Pain is the other side of the coin. I am becoming more and more convinced that you cannot experience joy without having first experienced pain. The necessity is to remember that God hasn't left us at the alter - he's already at the reception.

-Trav

2009-08-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

I've been getting back into golf lately. In High School, I took a hiatus from baseball my senior year and joined the golf team instead. I instantly became a ladies magnet.

No, not really.

But I had fun. I'd been playing since I was a kid, but being on the team gave me a chance to hone my skills and play on some of the best courses Coalinga, CA had to offer.

After High School, I didn't play much at all. Maybe once a year. Last month though, I purchased new clubs with the help of some generous family members, so I'm back on the links again! It's becoming a bit of an obsession. Jenn and London are even being subjected to watching tournaments all day on the weekends. Lucky for them it's a fast-paced sport. Unfortunately, playing is expensive, so I don't do it often. Plus, it takes all stinking day to play 18 holes. Not the easiest pitch to a wife on a Saturday morning, believe you me. Maybe this is why golf is viewed as a sport for older, retired folks. Speaking of which, I think it's funny that a 28 year old is so into a sport whose main sponsor is Cialis.

Reluctant Optimist

2009-08-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

That's me.

Jenn is a seasoned pessimist. I'm not ratting her out, she'd be the first to admit it. My mother would call herself a "realist." I would call her a pessimist. I know quite a few optimists as well. Some of them are tolerable, but there are others I'd like to punch in the throat.

I'd consider myself a 60/40 pessimist. I have a tendency to be cynical, jaded, and doubtful; I am also a firm believer in maintaining hope through tough situations. It is critically important to remove fear and doubt and replace it with hope and love. My faith is largely responsible for this belief, although I'm sad to say it takes effort at times to get there. Despite how painful life can be at times, I chose to fight for hope...even if I do it begrudgingly. Because of this resolution, I call myself a reluctant optimist.

Which camp are you in?

Yaris Numero Dos

2009-08-16T21:47:00.000-07:00

Remember this? Well, let's hope Yaris #2 doesn't suffer the same demise. This time 'round, we opted for 4 doors, automatic transmission, power doors and locks, and.....no red. Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce to you, White Lightning....

-Trav

Defend My Walls

2009-08-15T22:43:00.000-07:00

We are not solitary creatures. As much as I'd like to believe otherwise, experience has taught me that with life, comes struggle - and at times, the struggle is enough to breach the walls. I remember hearing a true story of an experience U2 had at one of their shows. They were campaigning for Martin Luther King Day in the late eighties and had received some trouble for their support. While in Arizona, they acquired a few death threats. One specifically, that the FBI took seriously said, "Don't go ahead with the concert. And if you do, don't sing 'Pride (In the Name of Love),' because if you do, I am gonna blow your head off, and you won't be able to stop this from happening."

Bono put it out of his head, but as it happened, during "Pride," the thought popped into his mind. "What if someone actually planned this out and is sitting in the rafters?" He closed his eyes and sang the verse about Mr. King, trying to forget about the ugliness of the threat and remember the beauty that is suggested in the song. Bono looked up at the end of that verse, and Adam was standing in front of him, ready to take a bullet for his friend if it was required of him.

I think about that story often as I remember the importance of having friends around me - defending my walls. There is nothing quite like opening your eyes after a storm and seeing yourself hedged by loved ones who, "defend the silver lining," as John Mayer would say.

So tonight, I am thankful for my friends, my family, and you all who continue reading this blog. Everyone mentioned has helped me defend and, when needed, repair my walls.

-Trav

Can't Blame Him

2009-08-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

I have never loved breakfast food. Occasionally a bagel, or English muffin actually sounds good. But for the most part I don't like it. I have never really liked eggs and even though I try to eat them because I know they are good for me, after a few bites I gag.

(oh, and spare me the "breakfast is the most important meal speech, will ya?)

If it were up to me, (which I realized just a few years ago that it is) I would just eat whatever I want in the morning. If I wanted cereal, then great! If I wanted last nights' dinner, then great!

So I couldn't blame London this morning, when he chose what he wanted for breakfast.

That's right. That is pickle and Blueberry muffin.
And he ate it.

Up Late

2009-08-12T00:35:00.000-07:00

It's 12:35am, and I'm amazed by how many people are up this late. I am unable to sleep at the moment, so I decided to catch up on some work emails, do some cleaning, and listen to music. I walked out to my car (which is parked on the street outside our complex) to grab my iPod and was surprised to see so many lights on and people moving about. I just got an email from my Regional Director and my first question was, "what are you doing up this late?" When I realized that he could ask ME the same question, I wondered if staying up this late is normal for most people.

I don't know most people, but I do know you. At least I think we are still friends. So I'll ask you. Is staying up until midnight normal for you?

-Trav

OH MY GOSH!!

2009-08-05T13:03:00.000-07:00

Today we took our mom's group to Firestation 21 to visit the firemen and see lots of firetrucks. I made the mistake of telling London last night, which meant not a lot of sleep. He just kept saying, "Firetrucks tomorrow!"

When we pulled up, London's eyes were huge. He just stared and said "Oh My Gosh". Hilarious.

Well, it was well worth it. The firemen were great and gave us a great tour. We thanked them with five plates of goodies!

Be Like Daddy

2009-08-03T21:44:00.000-07:00

London is really into his dad right now. Everything has to be "like daddy". Even when I put him to sleep I have to tell him that daddy is sleeping too! Yesterday was the cutesy. He wanted to ride the bike like daddy. He even wanted to wear daddy's jacket while he was doing it. Super super cute.

Mellow it Out

2009-07-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

After the intense (Albeit much needed) post the other day, I thought I would mellow it out a bit and show a few pics of what London has been up to lately. The boy keeps me on my toes and there is never a break. Auntie Nae said it perfectly when she was visiting. "He never really stops, does he?"

Never.

There is a lot of potty training in London's circle of friends. Which in turn, means lots of nakedness. I love it. And I think they do too!

We have been enjoying the outdoors, although it has been a bit cold. Which means London wants to sit on momma's lap a lot.

We feed the ducks a lot, which asks a lot of Mom, who despises birds.

The truck at Kmart has been used a lot lately as a bribe to get shopping done. Germ-fest......Ugh.

Because of my latest injury (which is a relapse of a previous one) London has been moved into a big boy bed. Doctors orders. As of two nights ago, the bed is winning. He has fallen out 6 times. Today, I rigged it with a make-shift rail. Thank God.

Stay away

2009-07-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

That's right. Stay away from my marriage. I am so sick and tired of you interferring. Your nasty comments and outrageous lies. God sent you into the depths of Hell for a reason. Stay the hell away from us and our friends.

J

A New Do

2009-07-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

With the helpful urging of Auntie Nae, we decided to give London his first clipper cut. I love it. What do you think?

Before

AND

After

Put a DNR on your ministry

2009-07-20T21:38:00.001-07:00

(Let me begin by saying that I was not thinking of one specific church, person, or leadership group when writing this post. This is an issue I've seen in almost every church I've been in or visited. If you have complaints or hate mail, please send them to junkmail@avilafam.com)

It all starts simple enough. God puts something on your heart and you begin building - working day and night. For a while, you're on your own. If all goes well, you put together a team. Coffee is bought, meetings are hosted, and your ministry grows legs. This is your God-ordained baby. Good folks approach you and tell you that they are blessed. You wonder how the church ever did without this ministry. Your ministry might be making coffee, leading worship, teaching sunday school, or even pastoring. Whatever it is, this ministry has become part of the church service. And you thank God for allowing you to be a part of it.

Months or years pass and either you or the ministry begin to feel sterile. It may even look the same or better than it did from birth, but you know that the guts have been removed. You know, deep down, that the spirit has gone.

You decide, despite mental anguish and guilt, to leave this ministry to someone "more capable." Leadership then takes it on themselves to fill your spot. After all, there must be someone to carry the torch and lead this established ministry. No matter the state or health of the ministry, it has become integrated into the church and your position must be satisfied. Eventually, someone decides to give it a shot. Usually, they are under qualified and are led by a sense of guilt rather than a Spirit of power, but they do their best and for that, they should be commended....or shot. The problem however, isn't with the person who left or the one who fills their shoes. The problem is our conviction that a ministry once begun, must continue, despite crutches for those serving and those being served.

I firmly believe that every ministry, or rather every form or model of a ministry, has a shelf life. I believe that we must be willing to let a ministry "die" when it has run it's course. God gifts and empowers certain individuals for a certain task for a certain time. We diminish a ministry's legacy when we put it on life support. This is simple enough when it's a ministry that "doesn't matter." But what if it's teaching or worship? I'm not trying to devalue the place of teaching or worship in our services. I'm just saying that it's better to have a Spirit filled ministry than a "man filled" ministry (I hate myself for using a phrase like that).

What I mean practically is that if there is no one who feels led or wants to lead worship that Sunday, then don't have worship. Instead, use the time to pray for one another or just cut the meeting time short by twenty minutes. If there is no one to run the children's ministry, then don't have it. Let the children come into the sanctuary. Let there be chaos until someone, truly, truly feels empowered by the Spirit to begin again. In the meantime, people will leave. Let them. Better to have a Spirit led ministry than have individuals carrying a ministry like pallbearers.

So put a DNR tag on your ministry and know that when it has run it's course, it doesn't mean that you or the ministry has lost favor with God. Just let it die and let God start something brand new.

-Trav

Someday

2009-07-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

Someday I won't remember the sound of the compressing spring latch as I open London's door to check on him at night. Someday I won't remember the sound of our creaky bedroom floor as I tried to make my way to bed without waking Jenn. Someday I won't remember the sound of the ticking clocks and noise makers as I sit and write in our quiet house. Someday I won't remember the feel of London's little toes in my hands. Someday I won't remember the look on his face when he says, "BIG TRUCK!" Someday Jenn and I will need help standing on our own two feet, and I won't remember the time we ran to catch the train in Scotland. Someday her wedding ring will be tattered and dull and I won't remember how I broke the box that held the ring on the flight to England, because I couldn't stop looking at it shine.

Someday I'll leave this earth just as I came. And the only thing I'll have to show for it is what I left to those around me. We should be very conscious about what we leave to those we love. There should be no doubt that we love those whom we say we love.

-Trav

It's Official

2009-07-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

I am getting off Facebook. I kept going back and forth on whether I like the thing or not, and turns out...

I am sick and tired of it. I am sick of trying to keep up with everyone. I am sick of having to come up with some nifty status update when all I really do all day is "drink coffee" and "watch Bubba". Not very exciting.

I am just sick of the stress it has put on my life. Personally.

Farewell facebook friends. I guess you will just have to read the blog if you want to know what is going on!

Jenn

my birthday is SO gay

2009-07-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

For my birthday tomorrow, Jenn surprised me with a weekend trip to Santa Barbara. Her parents are watching London while we spend some time together. We arrived in Santa Barbara yesterday afternoon, and so far it's been great. Very, very relaxing. We are staying at a bed and breakfast just off of State Street, which is where most of the shops and restaurants are located. We had a great dinner yesterday at The Melting Pot and then went to bed at 9:15pm. It's strange how, when you finally get to the point where you don't HAVE to do anything, your body just wants to shut down and get the sleep it so desperately needs.

We woke up this morning and walked down to a place called Jeannine's where we are sitting now. The morning sun is coming through the window we are sitting next to. This is perfect. Jenn is reading a book and I am dorking it up, writing a post to you fools when I should be spending time with my wife ;) So I'll make this quick. Here's a photo I took while we were walking to breakfast. Santa Barbara is beautiful.

We were sitting in a gazebo at our B&B yesterday, enjoying wine and cheese when we noticed something interesting. We were the only straight couple in the place. We realized this morning that we are the only straight couple in the city. Okay, slight exaggeration, but the reason I bring it up is to tell you that this is Pride Weekend in Santa Barbara. Actually, I think quite a few cities in California are celebrating this weekend.

I'm not upset or bothered by this at all, EXCEPT that I shop where all the gay dudes shop. So I'll be pissed if everything I want is out of stock.

-Trav

The Crash

2009-07-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I was in a pretty serious car accident yesterday. Here's what happened.

I was driving southbound on highway 101. In between Arroyo Grande and Nipomo. I was in the fast lane, driving 65mph. There was a California Department of Transportation truck in the slow lane, with a sign reading, "CAUTION. SHOULDER WORK AHEAD." Just when I saw the truck, it merged into my lane and then pulled over into the median, turned around and began heading northbound. "Hmm," I thought. "Must be headed somewhere to post that sign." At that section of the 101, the road dips into a bit of a valley and turns left, so you can't see cars that are more than 1/4 mile ahead of you. I, stupidly, reached down to grab something for work off of the passenger floorboard and when I looked up (2 seconds later) there was a car in front of me. I didn't even have time to hit my brakes. I slammed into the back of a Hyundai Santa Fe which was stopped because of some road construction ahead of it. My car, a Toyota Yaris, which is the size of a thimble, was thrown up onto the median where it came to a stop. Luckily, the median was a hillside. Had it not have been, I would have been pushed into oncoming traffic.

I crawled out the passenger side door, because my door wouldn't open, and walked over to make sure the person I hit was okay. The woman in the Santa Fe met me halfway and we both made sure the other person was fine. Her car looked pretty good all things considered. The back end was a bit jacked up, so they towed it to a repair shop. My car, however, is totalled. The entire front end is basically gone. But I will say this, the car did what it was designed to do. The airbags deployed and the front end took the energy of the impact. Everything from the doors back looks immaculate. It's crazy. Even the dashboard is fine. Nothing inside the car was damaged at all. Just the front end. Still though, the car is a total loss. I think the frame was bent and once the claims adjuster got to $16,000 she just stopped counting and told me that they'd send me a check for what the car is selling for new.

The interesting thing is that just minutes after my accident, there was a five car collision on the northbound lane just one mile south of me. That accident was caused by the same roadwork they were doing on my side, which there were no signs for. That stretch of highway is especially dangerous and notorious for accidents, but then without proper signage, drivers just weren't prepared for cars to be stopped in front of them. That accident was much worse than mine, although I don't think there were any fatalities, thank God. I'm not trying to remove fault from myself. But still, CalTrans should have had some signs posted or something.

In any case, I walked away from a serious accident without a scratch on me. I'm not even sore. The little Yaris did great, and I obviously got some help from the Lord on this one. I'd never been in an accident before, so I thought I'd just go big on my first one. I mean, the Yaris might not have been built like a tank, but I am. I'm not really surprised that I walked away unharmed. I'm sure none of you are surprised either. Actually, with the size of the Yaris, I probably could have just tucked it under my arm and walked away from the crash site, but I thought it was wiser just to wait for the police.

Here are a few photos

-Trav

The Man in the Mirror

2009-07-02T21:57:00.001-07:00

I need to clarify the last few posts I've written. Just in case some of you think I'm ready to jump off a bridge.

Have you ever felt disconnected from the world around you? Like you are just going through the motions? For me, it's been a slow progression towards apathy for the past few years. I've given up on a few dreams that I shouldn't have given up on. I've told myself that I'm making the right decision, done what's best for my family, etc. The dreams weren't right for me, but that's not the point. The point is that I gave up. I've been far too logical with my dreams.

That's only part of it. The other part is that I've become hard hearted, to use a biblical word. As you get hurt, the natural tendency is to put up walls to protect yourself. There's just one problem. Building walls around your heart is like fabricating a dam in a river. Everything below the dam gets the life choked out of it. Eventually, you become numb. Which I suppose is the point. These days, I tend to believe that's a short term gain, long term loss. I believe that we have to maintain the willingness to be vulnerable. Even if it means we'll get hurt.

This all sounds very dramatic, and maybe it is. But I just needed to write some stuff for my own sake. Sorry if it was cryptic and depressing. I think I'm starting to feel again, which is nice. I hope I get some of my passions back. In the meantime, it's nice to at least have some feeling back in the extremities.

-Trav

Happy 4th....

2009-07-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

my carpeted heart

2009-07-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

the carpeted hallways feel transient. it's as if someone was planning for hard times and heavy footprints and foolishly thought that the best solution would be that after the trampling, the carpet could just be ripped up and replaced. "I prefer hardwood floors," I say to myself as i walk the hallways, with one hand dragging along the wall. "They can take a beating, but they show character." Carpet is the easy way. Cheap, durable and easily replaceable. People walk over you all day, but it doesn't matter what they leave behind, because you know that it will be replaced. If the plan all along is replacement, then they might as well tread heavily, because it just doesn't matter.

i walk through the double doors. you know, the ones with the small plastic windows on each door. everything about this place is transitory, just like the folks within the walls. Everyone is coming or going. Everyone enters through the same doors, but what happens inside the walls will determine from which door they leave.

there are doors on either side of me. people pass me by on either side, but do not make eye contact. it's wrong to look inside the open doors, but everyone does it. much like looking inside lit windows after sundown. i look inside one door to find my family gathered around a bedside. they stare down at the man in the bed who's eyes are closed and who's skin has gone gray. Everyone seems concerned. they are taking turns telling the man that they love him, that they want him to wake up, that they need him to wake up. There are statements of longing and remorse. I walk right up to the bed, but no one notices me. I listen to their pleas and wait for the man to respond. Surely he should. But he doesn't. He just lies there cold and gray.

I reach out and touch his hand. His eyes open and we come alive....

-trav

you can lead a horse to water,

2009-07-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

unless it wants to die of thirst.

My defense mechanism has been an amputation of the heart. I shut down, put up walls...become numb. I've used it on just about everyone I know, including you, if you hurt me. It's not healthy, but it's effective. After all, how can you hurt me if I don't feel?

Sometimes Jenn will talk about the "old Travis." Usually a phrase like that is meant to depict the vile, misrepresentation of the true self. When Jenn says it, it's a statement of longing. I've been numb for a long time,

but times are 'a changing...

Victory

2009-06-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

I have been rocked this week. Brought to tears...humbled...kicked while down...I really needed some encouragement. Besides my friend Ryan leading worship at church today, I saw this video on my pal Tony's blog. I feel better.

J

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

Terrified

2009-06-18T00:56:00.001-07:00

It is 1 a.m. and I am still awake. My mind is racing.

I hate the dark. I hate what it brings to me. Not only sleeplessness, but fear.

Wednesday was a really hard day in my heart. I tried to pass it off as nothing, but as I lay in bed tonight, I realized just how hard it was. Details are private, and really only because I want to spare myself the harsh debates in the comment section that would undoubtedly come if I told you the whole story.

But what really gets to me is that I feel like Satan is laughing. It is almost like I can here the deep giggle. It haunts me sometimes and tonight is one of the worst. I want to turn on the television and drown it out, but I know what the Lord really wants is for me to talk to Him about it. It has been years of these sleepless nights. Years of nights where I try to solve my problems, his problems, their problems....

They never get solved.

When will I learn.

I want to take his giggle and shove it where the sun don't shine...

I want to tell him, I know what I did was right. God is in control. He will work things out for the good. He always does right?

Do I even believe that?

Obviously not with my whole heart or I wouldn't be up writing on this blog.

I would be sound asleep, resting in the peace that passes all understanding.

Darkness....I really do hate it.

Falling

2009-06-18T00:50:00.001-07:00

I fell in love here.

and here...

and here....

and I want to continue to fall.

-j

London's 2nd Birthday

2009-06-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

London has given us more joy than any other thing on this blessed Earth. He is sweet and feisty, caring and impatient, intelligent and completely oblivious. He has revealed some things in Jenn and I that we don't particularly like being revealed, such as our own impatience, but London has been the perfect addition to our family. People say that kids grow up fast, and there's a reason why they say it. Because it's true. Two years have passed since the day our little boy joined us, and we just cannot believe it. We are trying to cherish these moments the best that parents can. When I get home from work, his little laugh absolutely makes my day. I know that as soon as I walk through the door, I will be greeted by a, "Daddy wath (watch)." And I know that I have an evening of fire trucks and tractors to look forward to.

For London's second birthday, we took him, both sets of parents, and our good friend Jamie to Disneyland. London had a blast. We rode every train in the park, took a stroll down ToonTown and got a hug from Winnie the Pooh. And as you'll see in the video, London got a special present for his birthday from some people who love him very much. Enjoy.

Question of the Day

2009-06-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I asked a question about Cynicism that garnered some amazing responses. Now I've got another for you. No pressure, but your answer just might tell me everything I need to know about you as a person.

What do you carry in your pockets?

-Trav