Kent Getting Arrested

Did I get your attention with that title? Kent and some guys from church filmed a "Cops" video for church tomorrow. I haven't seen the video yet, but I loved this picture. Hopefully there was no body cavity search involved.

Easter Sunday

This year for Easter we received an invite from our freinds Justin and Brooke to spend the day at Justin's parent's ranch about 25 minutes away. It was really beautiful and "Texas-y", because when you pull off the country road to their long gravel driveway you are surrounded by pastures with horses and cows. They had an awesome house with lots of wood inside and cowboy decor. We had an Easter egg hunt (which I Jana won for finding the most eggs :-) and some good barbeque. I also was able to feed the large bull named Cuddles (see pic), and help take some of their horses into the barn for the night. It was a great day with great freinds- and a very nice way to celebrate Easter. My last 6 Easters have been spent in London UK, Long Beach CA, Costa Rica, San Clemente CA, the Pacific Ocean on a ship, and now in Texas. Where will we be next year? I am rooting for Paris.

Video of the B-17

Totally Awesome B-17 and B-25

The last couple of days we have been spotting a WW II era B-17 flying right over our house. Since I read a couple of books about the B-17 (which is was what the Memphis Belle was), I decided to Google this plane and see why it is here. As it turns out, there is an air museum in Galveston, and this weekend they flew the planes to a small airport in Spring, which is a few miles away. For $425 they were offering 25 minute rides on the B-17, but for $6 we could go inside and check it out. So... We drove to Spring and were able to see the B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-25, and a Stearman bi-plane. What a treat! The 50 cal. guns were still in the B-17, with dummy rounds hanging out. I was able to see the Norden Bombsight ( a top-secret device invented in WW II to make bombing more accurate) , the ball turret underneath the fuselage, and everything else inside. Memphis Belle was and is one of my favorite movies, so to see a real B-17 was a treat. Apparently they used this plane in the movie, not as the Memphis Belle, but as another plane in the squadron.

The B-25 was also very cool. This is the model of bomber they used in the Doolittle raids on Tokyo in April of 1942, to get back at Japan for Pearl Harbor. Since no plane at that time could hold enough fuel to fly from Hawaii to Tokyo, 16 B-25's were stripped of all unnecessary items to make them lighter, and pilots had to learn to take off of aircraft carriers. If you have seen the movie Pearl Harbor, Ben Affleck's character pilots one in the Doolittle raid.

Anyway, it was VERY cool to see the four engines fired up and the B-17 taxi around the runway. What a treat!

kent's first post

My wife jana is a hottie...

Houston Rodeo & Rascal Flatts

Last night Kent and I had our first rodeo experience at the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show. My parent's friends Jim and Christy Bailey were in town from Newbury Park, CA to visit their daughter Sally and her boyfriend Greg, so we all hooked up at the rodeo. We saw bareback bronco riding, bull riding, wagon racing, calf roping, calf wrestling, and a lady ride standing up carrying an American flag with fireworks coming out (only in Texas). I saw A LOT of cowboy boots and cowboy hats- something I had not seen since moving here. They even prayed at the beginning of the rodeo for the safety of the riders and the animals! Can you imagine? PRAYER to GOD at a big sporting event. It was awesome. Those cowboys love them some Jesus.

After the rodeo portion of the evening, there was a Rascal Flatts concert, which we enjoyed. We even knew some of the words (don't tell anyone :-)Anyway, it was a really fun night and we appreciate the Baileys for inviting us!

No pictures yet.

Houston Rockets Game

Our friend Jason hooked us up with some awesome Houston Rockets seats on Saturday night. I have never been seated so close to the players at any professional sports game, so it was very cool. We were 4 rows from the court. Kent was in heaven.

Anyway, Yao was out with his foot surgery, but the Rockets won without him :-) It was a great game. They are 19-0 now.

I am posting a short video for my basketball loving family members. (Kinnoins- That means you guys).

Classic 2004: True Love

He's trying to kill me and we are not even married yet.

George and Sophie Attack Fake Raccoon

A Cake Diploma!!!

Yes friends! Saturday, with little pomp and circumstance, I received a "Wilton Method Cake Decorating Course I" certificate! Yesterday I passed my "final" and officially completed course one. Next week I begin course two, in which all variations of fondant and royal icing flowers will be mastered.

I am posting some pics of the last two weeks worth of cakes...

Space Cadet

Last week when my cousin Jill was here, Grandma Jo, Jill and I went down to the NASA Space Center in Houston. I am not really into "space stuff", but it was actually really cool. We took a tram ride around the NASA facility, and were able to view (1) the central command center in which all the Apollo missions were monitored (as seen in Apollo 13, and The Right Stuff), (2) the current astronaut training center with life-size reproductions of the International Space Station, and (3) a MASSIVE retired rocket that propelled the space shuttles during the 1960's through the 1980's/90's(?). The rocket was my favorite, because it was seriously huge. It was on its side enclosed in a big warehouse, and was truly gargantuan.

I am posting a few photos for your viewing enjoyment :-)

This past Friday we decided to powerwash our driveway and front walkway. It was like taking a gigantic eraser and wiping out the years of moss and mold on our concrete. It turned black moldy concrete to a nice clean creamy color. When it was done five hours later, it looked SO much better. I wish I had taken a before and after picture, but I didn't. Even Grandma Jo took a turn with the powerwasher (which is gas powered and NOISY, because Kent couldn't settle for a "wimpy" electric one). Grandma Jo did some major concrete square-footage, and some plants as well (See pic :-) Slowly our little "fixer-upper" is becoming a very nice place to live.