December 28, 2011

Avila Beach

What do you do on a day when there is 76 degree weather and LOTS of sunshine? Bring a picnic and go to the beach :) That's exactly what we did yesterday. We enjoyed an amazing lunch made my mom and had lots of fun. It's so nice to be able to get away from the freezing cold weather that we've been exposed to. We love California!!

 Danielle and Rebecca are obsessed with "shuffling" (the newest dance craze)....so Chris decided to join in.
Here I am at 23 weeks pregnant.

Yea, we love each other!
 Just the girls

Who else thinks my husband should be in GQ?

About a year ago we took this exact same picture, look at us now. 

Happy New Years from the Smeda family
Chris, Alyssa & little baby boy

December 26, 2011

Marian Medical Center

You know those annoying websites that are down because they are "under construction"? Well, this is a type of construction that blew my mind. I have never seen anything so big, so high tech, and so complex. On Saturday Charley, my father in-law took the family to the Marian Medical Center. This is where he is currently working as a superintendent. I know he works very hard to keep food on the table, roof over the head, and the most difficult, keeping his family of all girls happy. 
  
 We're heading off to the hospital...

This is the NICU. There will be about 21 rooms here curtained off for privacy.

 This is inside one of the ICU rooms where patients will receive closer and more intense treatment.

Charley took us to the top of the roof, showed all the piping for the water and also the main Marian Medical Center sign. 

Coming out of the elevators you'll be surrounded by three similar tile artwork. This flows well with the spanish mission style the hospital gives.

For those patients who cannot lift their own weight, these bars which Danielle so lovingly is demonstrating can lift them. I believe this can lift up to 500 lbs.
 Charley had all the keys to the secret entrances haha. This was an electrical room which puts any business management college student to awe.
I believe this one of the large electrical rooms. Much bigger than the picture shows.

 These walls and glasses have been protected by a bulletproof glass window and bulletproof walls. Many pharmacies and other parts of the hospital are high risk for violence because of desperate measures.

One of the few men and geniuses who make a building like this possible.

Kitchell is the contracting company who is responsible for most of this beautiful building. 

May I take this moment to clarify that these pictures above do not give justice for the magnificent work behind those closed doors. Sure the yellow cranes lift heavy steel, Black & Decker power tools create quicker work and lighting makes graveyard shift possible but to grasp the vast creative brain power shatters the simplistic scene of my jagged backyard treehouse. Just to plan this modern monument to Santa Maria in oceanside California took a full decade. Never in my construction life have I ever been introduced to the wide scope of building while magnifying the details to every nail, of every day, in every corner. 

As the Marian Medical Center construction workers look back on the fruit of their labours, I hope that I too can be proud to look back on my life and see the constructive work of my labours and may it be constructive, and not destructive. And perhaps as we jump into a new year of 2012, we can resolve to build a sure foundation of good morals, ethics, and values. For our lives are built upon the foundation of our standards. And when our family and friends take a tour of our lives, may we stand proud with an erect back and shoulders back firm to say confidently, "This is my life, I built it." And just like any major construction work has subcontractors as help, so we hire on our friends and family as our subcontractors to help finish and complete this work, our final finished product, our mortal journey we call life.

nephews

A couple days ago I got to hang out with two of my nephews, Kyle and Shane here at the Dewsnups home. It was good to spend time with them again. They enjoyed playing in the home made Eiffel Tower for a parade and running around chasing a dog. I hoped chasing the dog for 20 minutes would have tired them out but man, these guys have energy. 

Here is Shane posing in the tower while Kyle looks through on the side. 

Kyle too wanted to model the Eiffel Tower. With his usual smile, he can glow any gloomy day.

This part of the backyard tickled their imaginations and before you could blink they had already whipped up a three-course meal in their kitchen, washed the laundry, and fixed any other household malfunction. 

It wasn't long before they hit their mansion, this time in the basement.

Kyle's low-profile ride
Shane has a very similar smile to his brother, Kyle.

Shane, Kyle, and I enjoyed the day together. 

December 23, 2011

12 Days of Epic Fails


Some days we enjoy. Some days feel like torture. Some days are blah. Whatever your day is today, I hope these put a smile on your face.

On the first day of failures my true love gave to me....

On the second day of failures...


On the third day of failures...

On the fourth day of failures...

On the fifth day of failures...



On the sixth day of failures...

On the seventh day of failures...

On the eighth day of failures...


On the ninth day of failures...

On the tenth day of failures...

On the eleventh day of failures...

On the twelfth day of failures...


Now you have to feel like your day is so much better now... right?

December 22, 2011

Family, isn't it about... Time







$5 for a football, $2 for a nerfball, $6 for a volleyball... spending time in the park with the family in 70 degree (21 Celsius) weather... priceless! We are almost counting down the hours until Christmas for 2012 and still are enjoying our time here in central California. We have gone to the park twice in the past two days. I think it's a great way to get out and absorb that vitamin D we all need... yes, the sun! We've played soccer, hot potato, football, a kind of dodgeball, a kind of volleyball, 500, and exploring the wilderness. I couldn't be more happier.




Here are some captions from the last couple days at the park

Danielle

Rebecca

Chris

Alyssa, Danielle, Rebecca waiting to be picked up at the library.

The original Vegas gangstas... except the one in the middle, i'm not too sure what she's doing with her lips haha

Jessica, Danielle, Chris. I think we were playing hot potato here.

Jessica, Danielle, Rebecca swinging.

Gimme some of that sugar lips :)

"I believe I can Fly"

Rebecca, just hanging around

Danielle got so scared going down, she had to go back. But those aviators make up for it.
The couple perfect for each other :)
Love you babe!