Happy Holidays from the West Coast!

Happy Holidays!!!

I’ll start on Thanksgiving. For the first time ever I hosted Thanksgiving at the apt. and had all of the CHP couples over. We fried the Turkey, which tasted amazing and had everything you can imagine. You would have been proud! That’s about the time work started getting really crazy. I swear the holidays bring out the absolute worst in people sadly. I got stuff thrown at me and yelled at countless times for things that weren’t my fault but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? Anyways I worked for most of December up through Christmas Eve. The good thing was the minute I got home on xmas eve it actually felt like Christmas. Vic and Stef came over and we had tamales and eggnog…interesting combo. And of course, watched a Christmas story:). Then Jed and I moved the mattress in the living room, to sleep by the tree and fire, and exchanged presents. I got my amazing Tiffany Key, Sex in the City, earrings, makeup, a leg lamp night light, and so on. Jed got a new knife for work, three DVD’s, a CHP nutcracker, and Santa suit;) I went to bed watching the Holiday (felt like home). When I got up I ichated you guys!! I swear ichat is the greatest thing on the planet.  It wasn’t quite the same as being there but still pretty good. I had Christmas breakfast with the wives and went on a walk with stef. When I got home I watched Charlie Brown Christmas and then Jed got home. We all saw Sherlock Holmes which was amazing!! I wanna see it again!  Now back to work. Our holiday is actually threw Valentines day because of the semi annual sale. Ug. O forgot!! Also had a bunch of ladies come over the week before Christmas for my first annual Christmas teaJ. I had scones and fudge and quiche!! I can’t wait to spend next Christmas with you guys!! Love and miss you a ton! 

p.s. the Pic was from the CHP Christmas Party which was dec. 18th. Not too much to say about that, fun to dress up, we won a camera, it was cool:)

Paige and Jed

Hippie Thanksgiving (yep I went there)

Hi Mom-
  So this past month was a little less crazy, but still pretty eventful. Halloween,  hate to say, was lame this year especially since you consider the crazy Santa Barbara Halloweens.  Ernie was super sick so I spent the night at Mama's with a sick dog and bad scary movies, BUT at least they have the hot tub.
   November, however, has been pretty hip-tastic.  Seriously!  We got free tickets to go see the Steve Miller Band play at USC and it was incredible.  Then we went and saw this amazing Grateful Dead cover band in Redondo.  The people there were, well you cant really describe the people there.  Its like creepy old men, pot heads, and tie-dye t-shirt salespeople convereged to create this sublime musical moment.  I dont know how you and dad didn't soak up this hippie stuff more when you were younger.  Oh and then last weekend we went to see Led ZepAgain!  Yes that is the real name, and yes they were one of the most incredible music acts I've ever seen.  The spirit of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant completely encompassed the place.  Pretty crazy month with some of the best music I've ever heard!

     I also went to Cirque Solei Kooza before Thanksgiving.  Such an incredible show with this total mystical dream theme... not as good as LOVE I'm sure but still pretty awesome.  And then we had Thanksgiving at Allison's house with your whole family plus all your kids (new and old).  We missed you and dad alot, but you sent us a "few" text messages while you were gone so we felt like we were with you.  It made me really excited for Christmas though when we'll be back in Chicago together!  Ok and as far as movies reviews go I have a couple recommendations for you to go see.  "An Education" may be my favorite film of the year and the music is incredible too (all jazzy french stuff).  "Blind Side" is the official feel good movie of the season and its actually a really good film.  "Pirate Radio" is fairly funny, but may have the best soundtrack of all time.  And the film that everyone is excited to see coming up is "Sherlock Holmes"... Christmas movie?  YES!

  Thats all for now but I love you so much and cant wait to see you in a couple weeks!

The Perks of College Life

Hello Mother,
So as you already know quite well, I have been a bum with this whole blogging thing. But I will try not to make this a habit so I will stop on top of this for the future. Well, Azusa is pretty great! It has it's ups and it's downs. Things are starting to wind up because of Thanksgiving right around the corner. Soo excited for some good ole' grub. Well, to start, school has been fun. My time has been consumed with school work, my job as a campus safety officer, friends, and a girlfriend. Yup, the new relationship is going really well and Chandler and I are very happy. We have a really fun, solid group of friends now and I feel like I know all the transfers and everyone is extremely friendly. It's an interesting experience going from working in ministry for the past two years to being a full time student. I feel like I went from adulthood and back a few steps into a college boy's life. It's nice, but sometimes it's hard to relate with college students who are still trying to figure out who they are. Anyway, I'm finding all the different areas to get involved in. It looks like I'm going to still serve in youth ministry at local churches which is great! I'm excited to see what God is going to do with the opportunities he has given me at this school. And there are a lot. I'm just trying to figure out the steps. I'm really glad you and dad got to meet my friends and Chandler. They all love you guys and they call us the "beautiful family." It's pretty funny. I'm glad I get to see you in a month! Hooray! I'll be spending thanksgiving with the rest of our fam. But we will be missing the best part of our family during our Thanksgiving meal (you and dad). Then I'm going to spend the rest of the weekend with Chandler and her family. She wants me to meet all of her friends. It should be a lot of fun! Well, I miss you a lot and soon enough Christmas break will be here and we will see each other again. Until then, we'll be chatting soon. Love you mom.

-Your son,
Trent

Minor Out... Cato In!

Well of course lots has changed this month but I don't need to be telling you that! And I have a million pictures from it but I’m not quite as tech-savy as Mallory so you’re getting one and the others will be on Facebook☺. The wedding was amazing and perfect and I wouldn't have changed a thing. The Ceremony was my favorite part and I’m so glad Todd got it all on film! I'll get you the pictures as soon as I get them! The Geneva Inn was so much fun…it felt like Somewhere In Time. Hah. We’re so thankful we got to stay a few days longer but it made it harder to leave and adjust to Ca. I'm now officially moved in and the apartment is finally looking like home. Today the weather also changed and decided not to be July but October instead...which is nice. Jed is back at work and loving it! And I'm currently looking for a job. I’m starting work at Victoria’s Secret on Sunday! I’m actually really nervous cuz I haven’t done retail but hopefully I’ll be ok. On Halloween the guys had work so Stefanie and I went to Huntington to visit her friend Lauren and we got all dressed up (I was a peacock) and took pictures at Lauren’s photo studio. Then we went out for a little while…we’re old married people and can barely function after 11pm though. Anyways…We miss you guys sooo much and hopefully we get to see u soooooooon!!
Love Paige

Hi ☺ we’ve been super busy since we’ve been back. A lot has been going on, but they’re all good things. Married life is so fun and a HUGE comfort knowing that neither of us is alone anymore. Now we HAVE to be together hahaha. Im glad you’re doing well. I miss you both and kaia… and Illinois too ;)

JED

What a ridiculous (-ly fun) month!?!

Wow I cant believe how fast this last month went! Ok well since too much has happened to just post 1 picture, I posted a collage to show you all thats gone down. First, and the biggest was Paige's wedding (well you know, you were there). It had to be one of the funnest days of my life (and yes I know I wasn't the one getting married), but that Maid of Honor gig is pretty awesome because you get all of the party, and you dont have all the pressure. Paige's friends are incredible too which made it so much fun. But the best part was seeing how happy Paige was and how happy her and Jed were together. And now I have a new brother too (and you gained another son, ya know because Trent's been such a joy and all you probably wanted another one....ha). So the wedding was amazing and thanks to you and dad for really making it so great (plus you both looked pretty darn good yourselves)!
Other than the wedding, Africa plans are coming along great and it looks like we may be going with people from your church to Kenya, to work with Oasis for Orphans. More on this later .... oh but my vaccinations start this week so bring on the flu-like symptoms and hallucinations... ha if you were just reading this you might think I was talking about shrooms or something. Also, went to Santa Barbara to meet Garretts new GF and hang with him and Everett which was great. But the other anazing thing I got to do was go to Club 33 in Disneyland. If you dont know Club 33 is the really exclusive club in Disneyland (by the Blue Bayou) where Walt Disney used to entertain his VIP guests, and it was his private dining quarters where his apartment connected. It was incredible. I got invited to go with a friend, and the whole place is amazing (even the toilets are like throwns .... see picture). The chandeliers in the private dining room have microphones in them so Walt could hear if people were laughing when he put on a show. There were also original drawings for Pirates ride and Mary Poppins (see pic) and set pieces from Happiest Millionare, Mary Poppins, and Tiki Room. Plus the meal was incredible too (5 courses of heaven). Anyway, you and dad would have been in heaven and loved it... I mean movies, Disneyland great food, and we had a front row view of Fantasmic on the private balcony. Right??? Like I said heaven. K well I miss you a bunch and cant wait to see you in a couple months!!!! Hope you are feeling better. I love you!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!!

Hi Mom-
For your birthday, since this is the first year we will all be far away from each other, we decided that the best thing to do was to create a place where its all Minor all the time. Ha. But for real, we wanted to make a special place for you to keep up with us and for us to keep up with you. How it works is every month each of your kids will post a picture and letter of what is going on in our lives. Then, by the end of the year, you will have 36 posts from all over the world, and a lot of memories. We hope you like it! Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!
So for our first post, we took a picture of all of us at APU, and each wrote 3 qualities that we love about you, and also a favorite memory we have with you..... Enjoy!

The 3 things I LOVE most about my Mommy :)

1.) Your Kind, Gentle, and Loving Heart all meshed in One.

2.) Your Rosie the Riveter "Yes We Can" mentality a.k.a.- your power to you give to women and leadership

3.) You just know how to have FUN!

There are too many fun moments to count of great laughs and memories with you mom. I loved the times when we would salsa dance to Mark Anthony and when you would teach me how to swing dance. Or the times when you would take me out of class for a fun day hanging out with you, either going shopping or going to Gameworks. But most of all, I love the times you reveal how loving you are and how much you care for me even if I do act like a nerd sometimes. I am so happy that I have a lot of the same attributes as you (just look at strength finders). You're pretty much me in a wiser, more mature, and much prettier, female form! Andrea Minor, you're kind of a big deal. Anyway, bottom line is that you're pretty awesome mom and I hope you enjoy you're Birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!
Love your son, Trent

1) You are hilarious. You are a little cheerleader and make everyone smile. You're also super independent and not afraid of trying new things and taking new challenges. You inspire me to do the same.

2) You are always so supportive. You cry with us, laugh with us, and are our #1 fan.

3) You love better than anyone I know. You love Dad, us kids, and your friends and have no problem showing it.

I was always a mommy's girl. I used to sit on the opposite side of the backseat in the car just so I could see your pretty face. Hah. I also seemed to be surgically attached to your leg until I was 5. We had days of cuddling and watching movies, but my favorite memory in my early years would have to be when I was in second grade. Each year you would "kidnap" us from school for a day. I remember getting my name called over the PA and when I got down to the office there you were. "Let's get out of here!" you said with a mischievous little smile. We spent the day getting my ears pierced and shopping at the mall. That was the moment I realized I had a "cool" mom:) Memories from more recent years consist of being your assistant (which was surprisingly fun) and planning a wedding. I still love cuddling and watching movies with you ...having award parties for the Oscars...eating popcorn and mnm's...going to Long Grove, Deerpark, or Woodfield...days Downtown...or sitting inside with hot chocolate. When I think of you I think of all of these little wonderful memories. I also think of Linda Eder and the smell of chocolate chip cookies...but only you know why:) You are one of my very best friends and I love you very much.
Love, Paige

1) Your constant support and encouragement no matter the circumstance (or dumb things that your kids do). You exude unconditional love and you have showed us how to love our family and our friends.
2) The way that you seize a moment to make it the best it can be. You can make any situation, and I mean ANY, situation so much more fun. You make staying in on a Friday night look good.
3) The way in which you lead and cause others to want to be the best version of themselves all the time. You empower and create the kind of community in which people thrive and do things they didn't think were possible. And you never take the credit but always say how good God is for making it happen. It is so inspiring.
There really are so many memories that make me smile and so grateful to have a mom like you. Honestly, coming home everyday to cookies and milk after school, even when Michael Bolton and Kenny G were playing, was always the best part of my day as a kid (better than coming home to you and dad making out in the kitchen :-) ... haha. You always had some new music you loved, and whenever I hear Linda Eder, Amy Grant Christmas, Marc Anthony, or pretty much any Broadway song I think of you. Also, you raised us on classic film, and I know its the reason I love film so much today. You taught us how to appreciate the arts in a very real and tangible way and I am so so grateful for that because it enriches life like nothing else. One of favorite memories though was when I was about 8 years old and you took me to see the Sandlot in Colorado. The movie was over and we were going to leave when we notices Pure Country was also playing there. You said "Hey you want to sneak in and make it a double feature".... and it was awesome! One of the best days ever. In that moment I knew I had a cool mom who would always keep life exciting. I love you Mom! Thank you for being an amazaing friend, woman of God, wife, and incredible mom!
Love, Mal