A Golden Birthday!!

On 10/30/11, Scott turned the big 3-0!! That's right, he turned 30, on the 30th, his golden birthday!
He celebrated with dinner out with a few friends and then cake and a surprise party thrown by JT back at home! So, cheers to you Big Guy, we wish you the best this upcoming year!

Here are a few pics of the birthday festivities...

The Birthday Boy

JT all dressed up and ready to surprise his Daddy!

Scott's bday cake made by Sarah

Happy Birthday to you...

Make a wish

Scott's new chair, a gift from Joe!

A special day!!

Customize a photo album

As a special treat from Grandma Ba (Clara) and Grandpa Mike, JT was given the opportunity to go and tour the Riverside Fire Dept, as well have have lunch, made by the firemen themselves! He was also lucky enough to be able to bring along his best buddy, Nolan (and his mom, Cassie) from school. The boys had such a great time! Here's a photo album of that special day!

Let's go to the Derby!

Scott and Sarah and some friends were invited to a great party @ The Santa Anita Race Track to celebrate The Kentucky Derby! The guys and gals got all fancied up in their derby finest and had a great time bettin' on the ponies and sippin' mint juleps!

Who wants to ride a motorcycle???

JT was lucky (?) enough to be able to get to see and sit on Miss Kimmie's motorcycle when she came over for a visit! He seemed to really like it! Hopefully, this is just a passing phase in his life!

JT gets riding lessons from Kimmie

JT, Sarah and Kimmie ( and yes, Sarah is sportin' a Dodgers shirt!)

JT's Mickey Mouse Birthday Party!

This free scrapbook design personalized with Smilebox

Happy Birthday Scott!!!

Happy Birthday wishes to Scott, who turns 28 today! We hope this year is the best ever!Sarah and JT made Scott his favorite devil's food cake, and Joe brought home some pizza, and Sarah made Chicken Fettucini Alfredo and Melissa made Chicken Ravioli's...it was an Italian feast at the house. Uncle Eric , Aunt Melinda, and Uncle Robert all came over to celebrate with the birthday boy! JT helped his daddy blow out his 2 candles-because that's how old JT says Scott is! The weekend will be filled with fun and friends, including trick or treating for JT tomorrow, and will conclude on Sunday with dinner out for Scott's bday!

A DAY AT THE CIRCUS

Today we went to the circus to celebrate JT's 2nd birthday which is coming up on Monday! Family and friends gathered together to celebrate this special occasion!
We had so much fun! Sarah's Dad and Step-mom, rented out a suite at the Honda Center and invited some family and friends, including JT's little buddies!
Sarah and Melissa made Curious George cupcakes and there was a TON of yummy food!
The circus was fantastic, complete with Lions, Tigers, Elephants, Clowns, and Doggies!
Many of us had not been to the circus in years, so it was super fun for everyone!
The kids seemed to have lots of fun! JT danced around to all the music and seemed to love it all! Thanks to all who came out to celebrate this special day!
We put some of the pictures in a scrapbook below, hope you enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Powerful tips for a better life in 2009

Sarah's friend posted these and we liked them so much, we thought that we'd share them with everyone! These are really very powerful. Implement whatever you can.


1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Buy a DVR. Tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in2008.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga or stretching, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured from plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Try to pay an honest compliment to someone you wouldn't normally.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree todisagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil thepresent.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of yourbusiness.
28. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
29. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.Your friends will. Stay in touch.
30. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
31. Envy is a waste of time.. You already have all you need.
32. The best is yet to come.
33. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
34. Do the right thing!
35. Call your family often.
36. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _____. Today I accomplished ______.
37. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
38. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life, so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

We'll miss you Dave!!

We want to send out our congratulations and best wishes to Dave Mc Entarffer (aka Tio Dave) who is leaving sunny southern California for the cold snow of Peoria, Illinois. Dave recently graduated from the fire academy and was offered, and accepted a position in the Peoria Fire Dept. Way to go Dave!! We will all miss you! We know that there are wonderful things in store for you! Don't forget all your friends and family back here who love and miss you!!

Christmas at The Huckeba's

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

31-DERFUL BIRTHDAY WISHES!!!

We want to send birthday wishes to Melissa, (aka Auntie Mel) on her 31st birthday!! We hope that you have a great birthday and that you get all that you wish for!!

Congratulations Dave!!

We want to send out our congratulations to Dave Mc Entarffer, (aka Tio Dave), on his graduation from the Fire Training Academy this weekend! We are so proud of all your hard work, and we know that you have a great career ahead of you!! Congrats!!

Being Thankful

I have sat here, wondering what to write...it's Thanksgiving... a time to be thankful.

In church we talked about being thankful and our Pastor mentioned things that were going on in the world and how life is pretty tough for lots of people...we can choose look at the poor economy, the war in Iraq, the elections, and the impact and divisions it made in America...

Some have had a loss in their family,the loss of a job, a home foreclosure, a divorce, illness, etc.whatever it may be, it could be a hard thing for some to feel 'thankful'.

As I sat and listened to Pastor Don I was reminded of the goodness that there is in life. We can't focus simply on what is wrong in our lives, or the discomfort we may feel when things aren't how they "ought to be", it's all about finding the goodness in life!. Finding hope, finding peace, finding love, finding that in all things it is so important to keep our eyes on Him. God is there to help guide us, to nurture us, to give us strength, we are so thankful, there are so many blessings in life. So, our hope is that Thanksgiving becomes a season, and not just a day. Try and think of things through out each day that you can be grateful for... our liberty, our freedom, family, friends.
Whatever it may be, we hope God touches your life and blesses you with His love and grace and extends His mercy on you.

With thankful hearts,

The Huckeba Family

A ranch and some fires!!!

This year our church has decided that instead of our youth girls going to summer camp with all the other churches in our area, that we are going to go to a private camp on our own. We're hoping that this will give our girls and us leaders more time to bond and build relationships with our girls. Oftentimes when we go to girls youth camp there are so many other churches and girls there that we don't really get the chance to connect with our own girls, because they are so busy and scattered. We are hoping that going to this camp will give us more one-on-one time together! So on November 15th Pastor Denise (our Children's Pastor), Bonnie (our Missionette's coordinator),Miss Eddy, and myself headed out to Calicinto Ranch in San Jacinto, Ca. Calicinto Ranch is a private, Christian camp that caters to groups of all size. They have horses, and hiking trails, and all kinds of country themed activities. It is so beautiful out there and it only took us an hour and a half to get there. We all loved it and decided right then and there that this is the camp that we want to take our girls to. So, be praying for us as we get ready for our camp in July of 2009, it's $200 a girl, and we will be doing fundraisers to help the girls raise the money to pay for camp!

(below) the cabins, and a view of the cross @ the top of the mountain

The cute little general store!!

P.S. if you are interested in taking a group to Calicinto Ranch, or you just want to know more about this great place check out....www.calicintoranch.com

P.S. This is also the day that ALL the big wildfires started, we were almost in the path of 3 different ones, we barely made it off the freeways before they started shutting them down, the sky was heavy with smoke and ash, and we send our prayers and best wishes out to all those affected by the fires. We know many people in and around the areas that are on fire, and our hearts go out to them and to the brave firefighters and other disaster personnel.

Here are some photos from our local area showing just how close and how bad the fires are!

GEORGE

Sarah bought JT this adorable stuffed Curious George , and he loves it! JT and George are great friends and he takes him all around with him! He even likes to have him in the highchair with him at meal times, although that's not the best idea...in any case it seems that JT has a new best buddy...and he only cost like $5 at Kohl's and they give 20% of the profit to charity so you can't beat that!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!!

Yesterday was Sarah's 28th birthday!!! We are all very excited to celebrate with her. Since her birthday fell on a Saturday this year it is much easier to celebrate since most people didn't have to work. The day started out with the traditional Happy Birthday banner placed in the dining room and the many phone calls from family and friends. Then Scott, Sarah and JT went to go have a birthday lunch with her Dad, her step-mom, her Gma Vanderpool, and her Aunt Janet, and cousin, Jeff, at BJ's in Brea. Saturday nite, Scott and Sarah headed for Friday's in Brea to celebrate with a bunch of friends--good times! Sunday, still worn out from all the fun on Sat nite, we had a yummy breakfast from Timeout, and then Sarah and JT went with her mom, Kathy to go shopping for her birthday(although JT seemed to end up with the most stuff!). Then instead of the big Sunday meal in honor of her birthday, Sarah opted for a family fave--pizza and breadsticks! We also celebrated with a cheesecake, her fave, and only one candle so we wouldn't have to call the fire dept! Her birthday week, will conclude on Sunday the 21st with a family bday dinner with Scott, JT, Melissa and Joe at Elephant Bar, we couldn't get to it this weekend! Happy Birthday Sarah, hope your wishes come true!!

***We will post the bday pics from Friday's in a bit, but for now here are some shots from other bday celebrations this weekend!***

(below) family pic on her bday(9-13-08)

Her birthday cheesecake!

(below) Sarah and her cake......birthday dinner...PIZZA!

New car for Miss Tiffany

Family friend, Tiffany, just got her new car today, and she came over to show it to JT, Sarah, and Melissa. She got the new car because she was in an accident a few weeks back, luckily the only damage was to her car! She purchased a new 2008, Ford Escape, with all the bells and whistles.....congrats Tiff, we can't wait to go for a ride in it!!

(below) Sarah, JT and Tiffany with her new car

Tiffany gives JT a tour of the car!

(below)The front of the car.....inside the trunk!

I love my neighbors!! (By Melissa)

So, maybe you live on a street where everybody knows everyone, and you're all great friends and you have block parties and it's like a big family reunion everytime you see one another, and if that's how your neighborhood is, then great you are lucky. But, for most of us, gone are the days where the neighbors were your best friends...no Lucy and Ethel here...for most of us, our neighbors are the people we pass on the street and casually smile or wave hello to, they're the ones you talk to when the ambulance comes to house next door and you all gather around to get the scoop on what's going, they're the ones you silently curse under your breath because their dog barks 24/7, or their kid screams all the time...for most of us, that's what our neighborhoods are like. My grandparents lived in a different time, their neighbors were their best friends, they played cards together, shared the bounty of their gardens with each other, went on trips together...it was an extention of the family...those were the days...or so I thought. Recently, I started attending a church around the corner from our house, and unbeknownst to me, a neighbor of mine with whom I also attended high school and shared many mutual friends with, also attends the church with her family. I was happy to reconnect with Shannon and her family, since I really had, had little contact with her since high school, other than the ocassional wave across the street as we passed each other in our cars. So, today was Shannon's 30th bday, and I saw her daughters at church and they were talking about this peach cake, that their dad made for her birthday, so when I saw Shannon I asked for the recipe. Well after I got home,(thanks for the ride Namahoe family) I was sharing with Sarah about church and the peach cake, when lo and behold Scott came and handed me a plate with 2 pieces of peach cake and said 2 girls came to the door and brought this for me. It was such a nice thing to do...the neighborly thing to do..I ran out the door to thank them and there was Shannon walking down the street to check on the girls...we stood on the sidewalk and talked for 30 mins, her son, hubby, and sister came and talked too, not to mention a neighbor from around the corner walking his big, pretty doggy. It took me back to the days when my grandparents would stand in the yard and chat with their neighbors, or back to those memories of," I love Lucy", when the Ricardo's would share dessert with the Mertzes'....it was a real nice feeling to realize that your neighbors don't just have to be the people you wave to on your way to work, or who you say hi to on ocassion, your neighbors can become your friends, and can make your neighborhood into a family of it's own. So, if you like so many of us, don't really know your neighbors, say hi, bake a cake and take it over, or just go a bit out of your way to be a friend and not just a regular neighbor! It's like Mr. Rogers always said...let's make the most of this beautiful day, since we're together we might as well say...could you be mine...would you be mine ...won't you be my neighbor...please won't you be my neighbor????

The Loose Cannons Broadcast

So, if you're a sports fan, you may have heard of the Loose Cannons, a sports talk show on AM 570 KLAC. Well both Scott and Dave (aka..Tio Dave) are big fans of the show, and especially of Vic the Brick, one of the co-hosts, and a native Whittier resident himself. So, on May 14th The Loose Cannons were braodcasting live from the Block in Orange, and giving away a few Lakers tickets, so Dave and Scott decided to go down and see if they could win tix---hundreds of other people had the same idea, so they didn't get tickets, but they had a lot of fun!!

(below) VTB, Scott, Dave and Steve Hartman hang out!
VTB--- Feeelin' You!!