The Kingdom Challenge Part 2

So if you missed my first blog about the Kingdom Challenge...back up and visit that page before viewing this one. Here's the link...it's worth the peek....
http://nikkicrockett.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html

This past weekend we went back to the Serenity House for our final work day. We had to do the landscaping, touch up the airplane riding toy with a propeller, paint the standing planter that Chad and Greg built, add some color on the fence with some cute plastic thingamabobs and plant the cute little succulents that we bought along with the rest of the flowers. We had a great day, finished all of our tasks and ended the day with a barb-q with some of the moms and children from the Serenity House. To say I enjoyed this whole experience is definitely an understatement. It was a total blast and what the heck is more rewarding than knowing that you are making someone's life just a little bit better than what it was before. And on top of that the woman who runs the organization, Dana is an inspiration. I spent a pretty good chunk of the time talking with her and hearing her story and she really is an amazing woman. I took a ton of pictures but can't post them all so sorry fellow workers if you didn't make the cut.


Each of us in our home group painted these individual pots for the 9 kids in the Child Development Center.



If you ever need some fabulous polka dots (or an amazing mural) ...Allison's your woman. (who is also 3 weeks away from delivering baby #2 here!!!!)

Couldn't resist posting this disgustingly gigantic spider...I looked it up and it's a "false black widow"....a biter, but not as dangerous as the true black widow. No thanks, Mr. Spider.


The finished product...


I thought I took a picture of the landscaping when we were finished but I didn't. :( Here's an almost finished picture...


And meet the kids...

This little guy was adopted by Dana, a drug baby who now is as healthy as a horse and is an amazing athlete. A touching story that will absolutely grab your heart.






The Work Crew (missing is my fellow expert landscaper, Dana Perez)

Sunnys skies and happy faces!

Uncle Greg and "Uncle Brian" (Greg's good friend) drove out from Arizona last weekend for a quick visit. We had a great time and filled up our days with some fun outdoor activities...first a nice hike by Lake Hodges down to Felicita Creek...


Lots of beautiful wild flowers are blooming everywhere right now...




Mr Algae man himself...

This little critter poked his head up right behind me and collected about 10 pieces of green leaves in his hole before covering up his little house. This little guy has some serious teeth...he was sort of like a miniature beaver.

We all gathered at our place for the UCONN basketball game....



Jaedyn learned the phrase "GO HUSKIES!" pretty quickly...



UCONN won...wooo hooo!

We headed to one of our favorite pizza places and breweries......Pizza Port



And a pit stop to Solana Beach...









Thanks for visiting Greg and Brian...we can't wait for you to come out again. :)

Steaming Hot = Trip to La Jolla Cove

My parents and I took the kids and headed to the Children's beach at La Jolla Cove last week. We had a heat wave here for a couple of days so we took advantage of the toastie weather and landed our tootsies in that warm silky sand.

Yes, that's my Dad running like a kid from the waves.





I'm pretty sure my Dad was ready to pitch a tent right out on that rock. He was loving it.

Jack's Pond....a cute little find.

We went and staked out a new little spot to play and explore last week. It's a cute little place called Jack's Pond. There's a hiking trail which leads to the pond and then continues down a dirt path to a small river. There's also a cute building that looks like a barn with a playground nearby. Spring is in the air here which means my macro lens is also alive and well. :0)