Family

To Family...

Can you believe it!?! Emerson James Wonderly has made his entrance into this world. Everything went smoothly and mommy and baby are home already.  He is adorable and I can't wait to hug and squeeze him!

Congrats to proud Mom and Dad, you did it again! And to Aidan, his big sister, I know she is busting with pride!

This post is dedicated to family because much has happened recently. My Dad has a recent health scare. He was admitted to the Hospital with clots in both lungs and one in his leg, which can be life threatening if the clots get loose. But God is good and they discovered the cause of all of his symptoms before it was too late, he was released and able to see his first Grandson! PTL (praise the Lord), as my Mom would say, lol.

There have also been some terrible loses on the Cosgrove side of the family, between an unexpected death and a suicide. Lots of prayer and love their way as they are still healing and dealing with these sudden loses.

I am always reminded that amongst tragedy there is hope, love and unity. It can remind you about what is good in this world and all that we have to be thankful for. 

So I am going to share some recent pictures of our family because family is what I am thankful for. During DJ's last rip back to Ohio, he was able to make our nephew Cash's 5th Birthday party at Chuckie Cheese, and these are some of the photos he took.

Happy Birthday Cash

Look at those eyes, are you not jealous of those lashes!?

Momma and Son

Teeny and Nevaeh!

Such a silly girl!

Grandpa Dave!

I recently went with DJ to some trails and photographed the occassion. All photos to follow, are taken and edited by yours truly.

Here is our little family and our adventures.

DJ getting ready

Turbo couldn't get enough, he watched DJ ride so intently.

Sitting and watching

I am still learning settings, I couldn't figure out the motion settings obviously. Next time!

Turbo by the Trails

After eating some bark on the ground, and me scolding him for doing so, lol

Always watching

Roots

I hope you enjoyed this post! 

Much Love.

Turn It Up!

If you know much about me, I am not always the most outgoing person. It's hard for me to come out of my shell when I am in situations/environments that I am not comfortable in. I am not a big dancer either, you might say that I don't have any rhythm. I am one of those who likes to jump to music, I can't "bust a move" for the life of me. So when DJ and I were invited to a video release party for a music video that DJ edited, I was really apprehensive, it was a red carpet affair at a club in Hollywood, called Eden.  But we did go with our friend Joe Lombardi (who shot the video) and his Mom and we had a lot of fun. We had our picture taken on the red carpet, we had a few drinks (which cost an arm and a leg), watched at fashion show and saw Destenee perform her single. All the while the video DJ and Joe worked on was projected on a wall throughout the whole night. So here is the video that they helped Destenee with, watch it and give her some love. She really is a sweetheart and I wish her loads of success!

Destenee Mckenzie, Turn It Up

Ohh and I forgot to mention in my last post that Alesha and I got together and we made Harry Potter apple pie, yeah you read that right. Harry Potter Apple Pie. Alesha has the Harry Potter cookbook full of yummy recipes. And it was ohhh sooo goood!
Here is the last bit of evidence to prove that it existed!
Lets just say that it didn't last long…

So...

...our laptop started acting up again, leaving me with limited internet time once again. And this time according to Apple we are going to need a new computer. They are going to replace the mother board again, it will work for a little bit but will eventually need replaced. Great. Eventually we might be able to afford that, although not at this moment. I am thankful that we at least have a desktop. It means even more saving lol. We recently had to pay almost $3,000 to have our Mini Cooper repaired. Apparently our extended warranty didn't cover the airbag malfunction light that came on the week after we got the car or the fact that sometimes of seatbelt would lock up. So we are trying to replenish our savings. With all of this happening I am not worried I know God will provide, I just need to have better self control when it come to my spending habits lol (aka shopping). 

I have been seeing loads of status' on Facebook about the coming of autumn to Ohio and I am so madly jealous. We are just now getting into our "summer" weather with temperatures over 100 degrees and it will last through October. Fall is my favorite season and there really isn't a fall here, bummer. I so miss all of the seasons! 

Good news! Our flights are booked for coming home for the Holidays! We will be leaving LAX on December 28th and staying until January 11th! We are so excited and I do hope I get to see some snow! We will get to spend a week and a half with all our family and friends, and I will finally get to see my new nephew Emerson James Wonderly!!! You would not even believe our surprise that my sister was having a baby boy. We all thought for sure that the baby would be a girl, thinking she would be just like our mom who had four girls before she was blessed with her one boy. He is scheduled to be "evicted"(as my brother in law says) out of the womb this coming Sunday! I am only slightly ecstatic and wish I could be there to met his precious face, but it will have to wait. 

I will be trying harder to keep you posted with what is happening of this end of the world. I still haven't even touched DJ's camera though, I need to get on that. Any ways I am posting some fun pics of the cutest dog in the world, that's right it happens to none other than our dog Turbo!

I mean look at that face, you can't deny that he is adorable!

And then there is DJ always doing something to the poor guy...

Please ignore any bad grammar or misspellings, I never promised I was a natural at this and for whatever reason I can't seem to type today. So don't be annoyed and good night!

Turbo's 2nd Birthday!

You might say we were silly to throw a birthday party for our dog, but it really wasn't extravagant, we just had over some friends and their dogs. I also happened to have cupcakes for the humans... and their dogs!

His birthday bone, he was only slightly excited!

Don't be fooled, he loves kisses!

He literally froze in that position on his own!

He is so cute!

Yum!

Turbo and his party friends: Bella and Tank! A little blurry but it was the best one we captured.

We had a great time with our friends and their dogs. Turbo felt so special and loved by everyone!

Legacy

I have been thinking a lot about what kind of legacy that I will leave behind. You may say that I am too young to be thinking about how I'll be remembered when I am gone, but I beg to differ! My legacy starts here and now and will live on when I am gone (whenever that is). I am a nurse and I have recently taken care of several cancer patients, even the word cancer has such an ominous meaning and it got me thinking. It's hard to think about the end of life on this planet. Luckily for me, I know I am saved by grace and I am not afraid of death, but that doesn't mean I am eager to go anytime soon, lol. I know my time on this planet isn't near it's end. I know that God has a greater plan for me and I am doing my best to be open and receptive of whatever that is. I am the happiest I have ever been, at this point in my life, I feel DJ and I did the right things by moving out to California. Yet, I know I have not yet reach my maximum potential, I know there is more for me. This is not some selfish desire to have more, but it is a longing that I believe God has put in my heart to BE more. I know that I have yet to reach all that is meant for me and I am working on opening my heart and allowing God to show me what that is. I have this intense feeling that is it much more than I have ever dreamed of or thought possible for myself. Do you know how hard it is for me to think of the possibility of drastic change? It really wasn't easy for me to move across country, until we were on our way, I wasn't sure that it was the right decision. I am not as open to change as I wish I were, especially the possibility that my life might be completely different in the end. But I know that I don't want to hold back, I might have more potential than I knew. I feel that if I am true to myself and God's plan for my life, I will leave behind the kind of legacy I would want associated with my name. I hope that I continue to strive to reach my full potential and open my heart to something I didn't think was possible for myself. So I encourage you to think about what kind of legacy you will leave behind and remind you that you have the power to choose to leave behind one worth remembering.

I hope you enjoy reading

because this is a huge post! Sorry I have been away for so long, I have just been finding it harder and harder to find the time to post and my little point and shoot camera was ruined by a huge wave I could not avoid at the beach. RIP little canon. So I will be attempting to learn how to use DJ's Canon 7D.  Obviously a much better camera, that I will be shooting in auto until I learn more about manual settings. I am really excited for this opportunity, even if it is much bigger than my point and shoot and will probably give me neck and back pain (haha!), the quality of my pictures will be much better.

...

While gone, a lot, a lot, a lot of things happened that I need to update you on. First, I have been working  three night shifts a week. A couple of weeks ago, I worked Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night, then DJ left for Comic Con (for a job) that very Thursday morning that I came home, for four days.  I was sad to see him go, because when I work it allows very little time for much else. I wake up, eat, get ready for work, work for 12 hours and do it all over again. So I didn't get to spend much time with him before he left BUT he was also taking literally everything with him. He drove, which meant I was without a car, he also took his Canon (I was hoping to use my time alone to learn the camera better), and his computer. Normally that wouldn't be a big deal that he took his computer but we had the laptop worked on just a few days before and since getting it back the internet worked one day and then not the next. So I was left internet- less as well, until I could get the laptop situation figured out. It took me two days to get my internet back and hours and hours on the phone with AT&T and Apple, each saying it was the other companies problem! After all that time spent on the phone, it finally came back and I'm not even sure what the original problem was. I felt completely cut off for a couple of days. I didn't have a car to go anywhere and I didn't have internet! Katie was there to save the day! We were able to get our favorite lattes from Urth Cafe and then we went shopping at the Beverly Center. It was loads of fun and I'm pretty sure she kept me from going insane!

...

So to continue my update, just last week I received a scary call from my husband right as I walk onto my floor at work (to start my shift). He tells me that he was taking Turbo outside and somehow his leash broke off his collar and Turbo was running towards the street. He was running after him calling his name, but Turbo didn't understand he thought it was a game and kept running from him. DJ had little time to react, so he literally tackled our dog and they skid across the side walk. He had scared Turbo (because Turbo didn't understand) so bad, that Turbo had peed right on the spot and they were both scared, hurt, cut and bleeding. 

DJ's arm

His other arm. His chest and hip bones are also scraped up!

(Forgive his private parts) The inside of Turbo's leg.

I am so grateful that DJ had the instinct to jump after Turbo and keep him from running into the street, he saved our dog!! I don't know that I would have done what he did. I am glad that despite the pain and blood that everyone is safe! I worried about them all night, I just kept wishing I was home to care for them.

...

On a happier note, last week Nick came in to town to visit. We kept busy by first taking him to Santa Monica pier and promenade. 

Santa Monica Pier, taken by Nick Cavalier.

Also taken by Nick at the pier.

We then went to the promenade and enjoyed drinks and dinner at Cabo Cantina! Afterwards we walked back to the beach, smoked cigars and watched the sunset before heading home.

...

 The next day we did a two hour hike at Topanga Canyon.

Taken by Nick Cavalier

DJ at the edge of a cliff. Taken by Nick Cavalier.

Then Matt, Katie and Bella met us at Leo Carrillo for a cook out at the beach!

Taken by Nick. 

 The corn was amazing! Taken by Nick.

We stayed until sunset... also by Nick.

...

Then Friday before he left Nick made us his grandmother's "gravy" along with much much more. I got the chance to watch and learn how to make this authentic italian meal! 

The "gravy." He added pork loin and meatballs and let it simmer on the stove for two hours, to allow the meat to cook throughly. 

Nick's loves to cook!

I am excited as you can see!

hmm tasty!

Nick giving it a try.

We also baked sausage in the gravy with green peppers and mozzarella!

For an appetizer he made zucchini carpaccio!

It is now one of my favorites!

good times with friends.

Girls Night!

Who can say that they don't need a night with just the girls every once in a while, ehh? It was Katie's wonderful idea to pick up some champagne, do a little crafting and to watch a chick flick. Yes, a night free from ridicule and judgement from our other halves. It was just that and I for one thoroughly enjoyed our time together! 

We had a little champagne…

Then we put in Eclipse and started to make our pom pom necklaces that Katie found off a blog here.

We went to our local JoAnn Fabrics to pick up the pom poms, chain, rings and shoe string like cord.

This is Katie, working on her yellow necklace, while Turbo tries to attack the pom poms haha!!

My finished product!

Alesha being silly, blurry but fun picture none the less.

Some things that I have learned from this experience:

1.) I thoroughly enjoy champagne and feel the need to drink it more often. (who says life isn't always a celebration?)

2.) Next time if we do crafts, we should pick a movie everyone has seen. Katie basically had no clue what was going on. 

3.) Trader Joe's double cream brie is TEN times better than their light brie! Seriously trust me, don't sacrifice the extra fat and calories lol! Also, brie is very good with strawberries.

4.) Girls night= good for the soul. To further emphasize this conclusion, DJ and Matt spend the night at Joe's place drinking and swimming. They both came home all giddy and happy. Looks like they enjoyed their Guy Night as much as we enjoyed our Girl Night!

That's all for now, I hope everyone is well and that everyone enjoys their 4th of July!