Oh, this one's for Grandma

Derek and his broken wrist. He got a smaller cast 2 days after this picture was taken.

The captured Starfish at 3rd Beach in La Push, WA

Our Starfish. Washed up on the sand. We did release it back into the ocean before leaving.

Camping at Mora Campground, outside of La Push, WA

Family Pictures in June

Project Update -- Trick or Treat Bags

So this is one of the embarrassing projects that's been collecting dust...about 2 years worth of dust.

Here's the story. A little over 2 years ago, a friend asked me if I could make a collapsible Easter basket for her daughter. She had purchased one on E-bay for her son, but couldn't find one she liked for her little girl. I was up for the challenge of figuring it out. It turned out so discus tingly cute I HAD to alter the idea and create trick or treat bags for my kids for Halloween that year. Mind you I said, that year. I had every intention of finishing the project by Halloween. Over the summer I found some fantastic Halloween fabric, then I was hit with my first problem. I wanted it embroidered. I refused to do it by hand on the grounds that it would take to long. Seriously, I could have finished it if I'd just done the embroidery by hand. It wouldn't have taken 2 years. So, because I didn't know where to find an embroidery machine, and I wouldn't compromise the integrity of my idea, and I was too lazy to do it myself, I folded up the fabric and set it aside.

It so happen while I was working on the Countdown blocks I found myself in the Art's and Crafts shop on Post (that's an Army installation for you non-military folks). Turns out they have an embroidery shop. I talked with the lady for a while, we picked out the font and I brought my fabric in a few days later. I'm patiently waiting for the embroidery to be completed. I'd love to be impatient, but really, after 2 years, I don't think I have the right to ask for a rushed job. I should have it in my hands the first week in October. So please wait on the edge of your seats (because I know you are) for the finished product. The kids will be sporting them THIS trick or treating season, no really, they will.

Project Completion #1 -- Countdown Blocks

Alright, so this many not have been a project I've had lurking in the depths of my closet, but it's still a completion and it marks the beginning of a series of completed projects. This project taught me the skills I need to complete a whole pile of projects.

I was asked to teach a class for our wards upcoming Super Saturday. These are all the supplies for the class I'll be teaching. I'm really happy I bought some vinyl at the coolest craft store I've ever seen. Hobby Center in Nampa, Idaho. It's a good thing it's in Idaho or I'd be broke. I was able to learn some mad new skills on this project.

I've never decoupaged anything in my life.

I've never used vinyl lettering.

I learned how to do both, plus I realized I had everything I needed to cut the vinyl letters myself. Very cool.

So this is my finished product. Holiday Countdown Blocks. They were fun to make and I'm looking forward to the class.

New Goal---I'm a finisher

I always find these fun projects and things I want to make. I may even be bold enough to purchase supplies. Sometimes I even go as far as to actually start working on the project. Then life catches up to me in one way or another and that of so exciting, can't wait to start it project gets pushed aside, ends up in some dark recess of a closet and forgotten. Or forgotten enough not to never be finished but remembered enough that it's a nagging prick to my conscience reminding me that I WANTED this thing at one point and spent money on it. Now it's worse than useless. It's a half finished project. My life is filled with half finished projects. Good intentions gone awry. My new goal, starting now is to rid myself of these half finished monstrosities. And by rid, I mean actually finish them so they can become useful members of the household. I have some small and some large. A realistic goal is to finish one a month, no matter the size. I will post pictures of the completed project and if I'm ambitious a before pic of the half finished, project. So if any of you out in cyberland actually read this...help keep me accountable. This half finished stuff has to stop. Maybe if I can get rid of the half finished project problem I have I'll be able to translate it into all the other half finisheds of my life.

ps. I should make a list of all my half finished dust collectors but I'm afraid....I'll leave it at that.

We are still here.

First warm day, playing in the sprinklers.

Leah and Charlie and all their little friends.

Leah at the SLC Aquarium


Leah and Charlie at Grandma's

Charlie playing at the park

We've been keeping ourselves busy lately. I never seem to make time for this blog anymore. I do have pictures and one of these days they will make it from my computer folder into this blog. At least they have made it from my camera to the computer. That's a huge step for me. I have this problem of starting something and then leaving it half finished. I'm working on it and have been able to take a few projects to completion lately.

Leah will be in preschool again this fall. She's doing a 5 day program to get ready for Kindergarten next year. Charlie will be attending childcare at the gym. At least that's my plan while Leah's in preschool, hit the gym 4-5 times a week and get myself in better shape. I did good last school year, but I want to be even better this next year. I'm also hoping to finish some of those half finished projects to get prepared for this next move of ours. Sometime next summer if things go well, we will leave the rainy State of Washington for some sunshine and heat. I'm getting used to it here though and not sure about trading in my cloud cover for sunglasses.

We spent a fun month visiting family. I'm really happy we were able to see so many of them. My side of the family is enormous. I don't even know a number to put a number to it. I think I remember my Grandmother saying I have 62 or 63 cousins (and counting) on my Dad's side of the family alone, those are first cousins mind you. It was fun spending time with everyone and I hope next summer while we are moving we can do it again.

For those of you dying to have one, here is one picture. I'll try to make more follow soon.

Happenings

We have been in limbo for a while now. We have been waiting to hear if we are moving this year or staying for a while. There was a chance of another deployment in the fall, possible move across the country this fall or staying right where we are for another year or so. I was fine with any of these choices really, I just wanted answers and they were coming very slowly. Things are still a little up in the air, but he won't be deploying in the fall, we won't be moving in the fall, we'll be staying right were we are for another year plus. Now we are waiting to find out what his new job will be. At least the moving part was answered. Now I have the great enjoyment of watching all my dear friends that helped me through this last deployment move over the next several months. It will be difficult being the lone one left, but I'm sure new friends will be found, Leah will make sure of that, my little social butterfly. I've come to rely much on these friends. They are my sanity and will be sorely missed.

Reading List from 2009

Many of you know I am a book worm. I love books, I love to read and I love finding new great books and becoming open to books I would never have chosen to read on my own. I love my book club. They are an amazing group of ladies and we always end up reading some terrific books. I was able to sneak in a few books that were not book club books this year.

So to start something new this year, I'm going to have a post instead of a running total of the books I've read and actually talk a little about each one and what I liked or didn't like about it. Call it my own book review.

5 Star rating system
***** Loved it!!!
**** Really liked it.
*** Good, Okay
** Didn't like it.
* Hated it.

****The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I couldn't put it down. I never chose non-fiction on my own and was pleasantly surprised by this one. I love learning about new cultures and people.

***The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
I did like this book, but it never really grabbed me like his others have. It was a bit predictable and very much in Dan Brown fashion. I was hoping for more...

****Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
Even though this was fairly predictable, it sucked me in and I couldn't wait to find out what happened.

***1/2 Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
I liked this, it was a fun genre, werewolves and vampires. It was an easy, engaging read.

*****The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The was by far the best book I read this year! I would recommend it to anyone. It haunted me for weeks after I read it.

*****Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Amazing...can't wait for number 3

*****City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
This one sucked me in from the beginning. I loved the twist on the typical fantasy world.

*****The Lost City of Z by David Grann
I must admit, I didn't read this one, I listened to it. It was fantastic, very interesting history, non-fiction again. I've always loved archeology and this made me glad I didn't change my major, the grim and grit of the archeology world.

****The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
I love historical fiction. This was a re-read for me and I liked it better the first time than the second.

****The Work and The Glory, Like a Fire is Burning by Gerald N. Lund
****The Work and The Glory, Pillar of Light by Gerald N. Lund

**Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
I was disappointed by this book. I was expecting so much more than it gave me. It's the first in a series and I have no desire to read more.

****The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
I loved the mystery in this one. It kept me guessing to the end.

***Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Interesting book but not her best work. I still love her and will read her. I guess if I hadn't read any of her other works, I would have liked this one more.

*****Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
I found this book fascinating. I've never read a Christian novel before. Sure my church fiction but not one from the general christian world. I really enjoyed seeing this book develop. I couldn't put it down.

**Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella
I really like Sophie Kinsella but this book wasn't great. There was some humor and interesting parts but I would never read it again.

****River Secrets by Shannon Hale
I fell in love with the Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. This is a continuation of that story. I didn't like it as much as the first one, but it's still a great read.

****Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
I love fantasy. This was such a fun children's fantasy novel. I have the second one, I just need time to read it.

*The Frog Prince by Jane Porter
This was a light read but so predictable it was boring. This story has been told time and time again and there was nothing original brought to it by the author. It had promise but failed to achieve anything original. Don't waste your time.

**The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
I was expecting more. It was well written and it made me cry but I never really liked or got the characters in the book. I have no desire to read more about them.

*****Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Relin
I loved this book! Again another non-fiction I fell in love with. Though I must say I probably loved it so much because I was able to attend a lecture given by the author David Relin. He was a powerful speaker and really made the book and the characters come alive. I couldn't put the book down after listening to him.

*****Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
*****Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
*****New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
*****Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Do I even need to review these?

So I hope you liked my simple reviews of the book, I didn't want to get into detail about what they were about, you can go to Barnes and Noble for a better summary than I could write, I just wanted to give my brief feelings on the books.

25 Books this year...not bad. So now to start a new list for the new year...