Life...

Wow, life got in the way of blogging and I just plain haven't taken the time to sit down and write anything!!  In could be that in the span of 2 months we were in Las Vegas; Amelia Island, Florida; Lansing, Michigan; and Chicago!!  Busy, busy, busy...but, oh so fun!!! Now it looks like we are settled in for a while---it's called "tax season!!" :0)

Christmas was great....a little different this year, but still great!  I did, indeed, finish all my "projects" aka "gifts" that I was making!  Whew!!!  Now, I just have a baby girl scrapbook to make for a friend, and since the baby was born in October I am already behind, so no need to rush! :0)

I long ago finished those two books on my last post---both were a great read.  I am about to finish this book, also a great read:

 

And, next up is

 

 

I will let you know how it is!

On my bedside table...

 

This book, "The Shoemaker's Wife,"  was recommended to me by my friend, Nancy.  I have loved every book that she has ever suggested to me, and this book was no exception.  The book was inspired by the author's family and is definitely a page-turner!

 

Next up is "The Light Between Oceans." It also comes highly recommended! 

 

 

Saturday morning tradition...

Our Saturday morning "tradition" is a walk around the Farmer's Market in our downtown.  It's fun to see your friends and neighbors and check out all the food, crafts, produce and plants. Today the live music was a Dad and his two sons playing the banjo, guitar and violin--they were fantastic!!  Living in a small university town is fun, and one of the highlights of our town is definitely the Farmer's Market!

Seattle, 2012

We just returned from a trip to Seattle to get our "Seattle Fix" for the year! :0)  We both love Seattle and spending a few days there every summer is something we always look forward to. This year was especially fun because we had dinner two different nights with old friends. Again, I forgot to take my camera, but my phone camera didn't do too bad a job at capturing some highlights...

The wind turbines in central Washington on our drive over.

A new wine store in Bellevue..."Total Wine."  It was huge!!

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The fresh flowers at Pike Place Market are beautiful!  If I lived close, I would have fresh flowers in my house every day of the year!!!

The view from our table at Anthony's Home Port in Tacoma.

More Pike Place....there is nowhere on earth that has more beautifully presented vegetables!

The flower baskets along the waterfront were incredible!

Mount Rainier was spectacular all week!

Our weekend at the lake....

I forgot my camera, :0(, but my phone did an OK job of capturing the beautiful night by the campfire at Priest Lake.

Getting the fire ready for smores

(Kate attempting to do a Usain Bolt impression!) :0)

(Anders doing his best Usain Bolt impression!)

Doodling...

I'm having so much fun with the "Whole New Doodle 2012" class!!  This is my first attempt at picture doodling.  Stephanie Ackerman, our instructor, does it with such ease, but it takes me a bit longer.  I know the key to the whole thing is practice, practice, practice!!

Little bit of heaven...

This was my view this afternoon as I sat on our deck reading....truly, a little bit of heaven!  While the rest of the country is suffering with incredibly high temperatures, the pacific northwest is enjoying such beautiful weather.  (It's true, I'm not always a fan of our winter's here, but these summer days simply can't be beat!)
Counting my blessings! :0)

Just 12 more days...

It's been 6 (long) months, but in just 12 days we will head east to play with these two little guys!! They grow and change much too quickly.  We will celebrate G's 2nd birthday... it seems like only yesterday we were holding this brand new baby boy for the first time! Can't wait!!

My Dad...

My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.

- Clarence Budington Kelland

A father is respected because

he gives his children leadership...

appreciated because

he gives his children care...

valued because

he gives his children time...

loved because

he gives his children the one thing

they treasure most -

himself!

I really hit the "jackpot" when it came to Dads...mine was the best! I probably didn't appreciate him as much as I should have when I was little, he was just "my Dad," but looking back I realize that I was a very lucky girl.

He was always 100% plugged into our lives and was often heard telling others about "his girls", meaning my sister and me and my Mom.

I have so many special memories of Dad, but one that just brings a smile to my heart every time I think about it ...whenever I was sick and home from school, as a little girl, he would stop by Montgomery Ward and buy me a brand new pair of pajamas and bring them home to me along with a Hershey bar. He really knew how to make a girl feel better! :0)

On Father's Day, and every day, I am so thankful for my Dad.

My Mom....

"A Mother holds her children's hands for a while,

their hearts forever."

I love this quote, and truer words were never spoken.  I was blessed to have a wonderful Mom that taught me how to be a Mom.  I miss her every day but I know she is always with me.

I love you,

Mom!

Heading to the nation's captial...

Jim and I are heading east next week to Washington, DC.  He is on the council for the AICPA and he will be attending the yearly conference there.  But, the highlight of our trip is going to be acting as "tour guides" for our two oldest grandchildren that are going to accompany us!  We have been planning this trip for over and year and all the excitement and anticipation has been great...both from Jim and I and the kids! 

We have a VERY long "to do" list that includes the "Monuments Tour by Night", the Smithsonians, a tour of the White House and the Capital and the Printing Office, a trip to the National Zoo and a cruise down the Potomac River to Mount Vernon,  just to name a few!  We can't wait to get started!!  As "K" said the other day, "Nana, we need to make a list of all the things we want to do so we aren't just walking around wasting time!"  So, the lists are made and we are ready for a fantastic adventure!!

Yipee....

This is where Jim will be going on Wednesday!!

It's NOT snowing...

Finally we have a BEAUTIFUL DAY!  Not a cloud in the sky and no snow...after three days in a row of "April snow showers" this is a very welcome change!  We went to the SARB Easter Egg hunt on the UI campus this morning and the Ad Building looks beautiful against our bright blue sky!!

Just returned home from a wonderful week in Phoenix!!  (Warm weather and sunshine is just what I needed!)  This was the view Connie and I had from our table at "True Foods" at Kierland Commons in Scottsdale.



Wow, this is SO true....

Reading...

"K" is taking her school's "Read-A-Thon" seriously, she has really been logging the minutes to put on her chart this week!  And, one of the perks of all my years teaching Kindergarten is the boxes and boxes of children's books that I have!

Today I took my grandchildren to see "The Lorax,"  and I just have to say it's fantastic!  We loved the movie, and highly recommend it!

Being creative...

This piece was done by Jill McDonald.

What happened to the "baby brother?"....

It's hard to believe that Baby "G" is getting so big!  Wasn't it just yesterday that he was the new baby brother?!  He's growing up way to fast!! 

He doesn't really know how to play Wii, but he loves to sit by his big brother and pretend that he's into all the action!

Good read...

My book review first..."The House at Tyneford" is an excellent book!  Very much like "Downton Abbey", the PBS Series.  If you're a fan of "Downton Abbey" you will love "The House at Tyneford."

On my nightstand now is "Moloka'i."  This book takes place in the 1800's and is about a little girl named Rachel that is sent from her home on Hawaii to the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i.  It's a "page turner!"

I like this....

On my bedside table...

Jim and I are fans of "Downton Abbey" (a show on PBS Masterpiece Theater), about a wealthy English family living in a beautiful manor and the servants that live downstairs in the home.  The  upstairs-downstairs relationships that develop always make for a fascinating story.  "The House at Tyneford" is the story of wealthy, young Jewish girl from Vienna and how her life evolves when she must leave the life she has known and become a parlour maid in England. 

I will let you know how it is.  I would love to hear recommendations for books that you have read and loved!

Father/Son Outing....

This little guy LOVES to play with toy trucks, so when his Daddy took him to a "Monster Truck Show" last week you can only imagine his excitement!!!  I think these pictures tell the story! :0)

Design team...

I did some scrapbooking yesterday for Paper Pals Design Team.  This paper was a challenge for me, but I'm happy with the finished product! (Having a cute picture helped me a lot!!) :0)