Weekend Review

This weekend we hosted a pumpkin carving party, and attended another one. Friday night, I made Pumpkin Bars (they were delish!) and we had a few friends over for some pumpkin fun. This photo is the result of that fun evening. Several of our friends brought over tasty fall treats as well and it was a wonderful evening filled with laughter, pumpkin seeds, and the warmth of friendship.

Saturday, I cleaned the house, we went to the grocery store, ran some errands, and then went to a Harvest Party. Tim carved two pumpkins at this event (I was still finished from the night before). When I say Tim carved them...I'm using that term very loosely. He LOVES to do the pumpkins and carved 4 this weekend alone. He makes a drawing on paper - then draws on the pumpkin, then turns on his magic. His pumpkins are always very artistic and inventive. In fact, last night, he had several people watching him instead of doing their own - they were very intrigued with his process.

Today, we went to a new church (we are currently church shopping) and after church went to lunch with some friends. After lunch, my good friend Amanda came over & we worked very hard on our circle journals. I'm happy to report that mine is now ready to go!! I also finished a purse this afternoon. I figured out that if I'm going to make all the purses I need for Christmas gifts, I need to finish one a week - whew - good luck to me!

This evening, Tim & I have been relaxing. He made a wonderful dinner (he's just the best...) and now I'm shifting my thoughts to the upcoming week & preparations for that.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend too - happy Sunday! 

My girls

This should be picture of the year. Uncle Tim captured this sweet moment this summer while the whole family was in South Carolina visiting Nana for the 4th of July. We had a blast. Everytime I look at the photos from that trip, I return to this one again and again - I love it!! Two little girls in swimming suits, with lunch pails, overlooking Lake Murray - adorable.

Ode To Broccoli

This past summer I thought I would plant myself a little garden. I started from seeds that Tim gave to me & I planted Broccoli, Squash, Cucumbers, & Lettuce. No cucumbers came up, the lettuce was fine, the squash plants never produced, so this weekend when I was pulling out all of my disappointing vegetables, I realized that the broccoli had produced one broccoli. I was so excited - I ran in to show Tim. We decided to document the evidence & then promptly after this photo was taken, I ate it. :) It was delish - I LOVE broccoli (I know, wierd, but true) so I've decided that next summer, I will try again....maybe I'll get two broccoli's. 

Up, up, & Away (Take 2)

Here is the other 'good' jump photo from this weekend. Okay, on the count of three...JUMP!!! 

Up, up, & Away

Andrea & I got 'a little carried away' with ourselves this weekend. Some inspiration from our other friend Andrea's blog - we thought we would try a jump photo. It only took about 20 shots to get two good ones, not too bad...

I've been teaching non-stop today - after school, I taught a piano lesson. Then I came home to eat a quick dinner and went to teach Kindermusik for a friend of mine who needed a sub. Just got home from that & I think I'll go retire to the bedroom...must be ready to teach again tomorrow!! 

Ta-Da!

Here it is - my first attempt at 'the clutch you'll never give up'. Thank you Andrea for your one on one knitting tutorial. Your check is in the mail...

I've already begun clutch #2. Hopefully the second of many more Christmas presents to come - don't worry, I won't tell you who's getting one - don't want to ruin the surprise!! Andrea, I think I'm going to need A LOT of help on this next clutch - you'd better come back...

Matt, Andrea, & Ethan left today - I'm a sad, sad girl. I must say that having them surprise me was one of the best things ever - I loved it, I just don't love it when they leave. Nevertheless, thank you so very much for coming - & just so you know, the sheets are clean if you'd like to come back...

Happy Monday all!!

Thursday Afternoon...Thursday Night...

Thursday after school, I decided to go to the grocery store & come home to clean the house (a chore that needed to happen asap). Thursday evening after I finished all of my tasks I was minding my own business, watching TV & relaxing on the couch. Friends was on (gotta love the Tivo) and my cell phone rang - I noticed that it was almost 10:45 & Andrea's Cell was calling me. I paniced, wondering what in the world was wrong - and why was she calling so late? Here's the conversation:
J: Hellooo?!?
A: Hi...
J: Are you okay?
A: Your garage door is up.
J: WHAT? No it's not...what are you talking about?
A: Go look outside, your garage door is up.
J: Shut-up, no it's not...what are you doing?
A: Serious - look outside & check your garage door
(At this point, I'm a litte freaked out...)
J: If I get up off of the couch from underneath my 'lovie' you're going to be in trouble
(I walk to the window & peak out the front)

**It was there that I saw Andrea standing in my driveway waving at me.**
J: AHHHHHH!!!

**End of conversation - because I dropped the phone & ran outside.**

So...that was my wonderful weekend surprise! Matt, Andrea, & EE came to visit. Tim was in on it with them - so they all had a great time surprising me - and of course, I LOVE it. Anytime they want to do that - is fine with me.

This would also explain why we had 1 pair of shoes in the entry way Thursday afternoon, and by Friday morning - it looked like above. So fun!

I will post some more pictures of our weekend adventure tomorrow. G'night.

A Rose By Any Other Name...

...is called a cat toy. Yes, this is Nellie with a cat toy in her mouth. Last night, Laura & the girls came over to visit me for girls night. After an evening of shopping & dinner out, Nellie & Mia settled in for a showing of Beauty and The Beast (and a little cat toy snack). Later in the evening Mia took the cat toy & beat every surface in the living room with it, including her sister. :) Funny little darlings.

After bedtime, Laura & I had a great heart to heart on the couch in the living room. It was a wonderful evening - love my girls. 

How They Usually Spend Their Days...

 

Rub A Dub Dub, Two Cats In A Tub...

Hee, hee. Here they are, Ally is the Orange Tabby & Deacon is the Siamese. Both were THRILLED that they got a bath - & we decided it would be hilarious to take photos of them begin wet. Poor kitties. Don't feel too sorry for them though, they sleep 23 hours of the day, get plenty to eat, and they even got a Pounce treat after their baths.

I must say however, they smell great today! With them both being indoor kitties, they shouldn't need another bath anytime soon (hopefully for them).

**No animals were harmed during the filming of this bath**

One Hat, One Day

Yesterday morning as we were getting everyone ready to go to the market, I decided to cast on a hat that I promised a girl from choir I would make for her baby. Yesterday afternoon, while Kim & I were hanging out, I knitted and last night - I finished the hat. I think that's a record for me!

This afternoon was also filled with knitting fun. My friend Nicole (aka my back-up singer) came over and she began knitting a hat for her boyfriend for Christmas and I also began working on Christmas gifts. I'm going to attempt Andrea's clutch purse - it's so cute and I think it will be perfect for gifts. So after a little shopping and several 'first tries' Nicole and I are well on our ways to making Christmas gifts. We did stop for a break, as Nicole brought a fresh baked Apple Pie with her - it was delish!! Thank you again Nicole (I know you're reading this...) for the lovely pie! Yummm.

Photo of the day...

Jeff, Kim, & Elijah

 

The Saturday Market Adventures...

Last night Jeff, Kim, & Elijah came to visit for the weekend. This is Elijah's first trip to visit Uncle Tim & Aunt Jessie, so today was a big day out on the town.

This morning after Kim & I returned from the gym (good job girls) we went to the Saturday Market. We started out at the market with Elijah in the sling that Kim made for him, with me. I've never carried a baby like that before and it was very fun! Until...5 minutes later, Elijah decided he didn't really need his lunch & burped everything up all over himself & the sling. So, he got a clothing change & spent the rest of his trip at the market being passed from mom to dad to uncle to aunt. :) We were able to secure some lovely vegetables & a beautiful bouquet of flowers at the market, as well as some lunch.

On our way home, we made a much needed stop at Starbucks. Hello decaf, nonfat, Pumpkin Spice latte!! Yumm...

This afternoon was spent hanging out and chatting while the boys played video games. Tim's other brother Randy also came up this afternoon to meet his new newphew. Oh and I started a new baby hat today which I hope to finish tonight, so I can begin working on Christmas gifts!! Ohhhh, la, la.

After dinner, Randy left, then shortly after that Jeff & Kim began heading back to Washington. It was a very fun day & we are thrilled that they came to visit. (Plus we got to see Elijah wearing the hat I made for him last month - fun, fun!). I think that the best job in the world right now is being an aunt - with 2 nieces & 2 newphews, I'm starting to get the hang of it. 

Red, Red, Purse

Okay, so here it is, my latest knitting accomplishment. I couldn't discuss or post anything about it before, as it was a birthday gift for Erin. She received it yesterday, so I'm free and clear to discuss it now.

This summer Erin saw Andrea's pictures of her purses on her blog so Erin wrote Andrea to tell her that she would take one in red. I told Andrea that I would take care of that for Erin's birthday this year, so this summer I purchased all of the required materials & made the purse over these last few weeks, just in time for her birthday. To date, it's my favorite purse - I hope you get lots of use out of it Erin - & by the way, 'when is there enough red?' :)

My next project (for the weekend) is a li'l critter baby hat (like the one Andrea first made for Ethan - then decided to give to Max). I made one of these for my newphew & he loves it. In fact, he is coming to visit this weekend (he's 7 weeks old) so if he wears his hat, I'll try to get a photo to share with you later. Anyway, I'm making another one for a friend of mine from choir. By Sunday I hope to be on my way to making the clutch purse that Andrea's making. She promises that it's easy...I let you know what I think when/if I finish it. :) More knitting pics to come - stay tuned!!

Happy Birthday Erin!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN!! Nine years ago, Erin & I met at Willamette, the year we both transfered in. I don't know if we bonded immediately because we were both new to this campus or because we were both music majors, or because we knew we were destined to be fabulous buddies from that moment on...but it worked.

I am so honored to have this fabulous lady in my life. We've shared way too many exciting experiences together, from $40 bagels to our sisters piercing themselves when we left them alone for an afternoon - the journey has been wonderful. Erin has become one of my best friends. I can't imagine I would be the same without her.

This summer Erin came to visit and when she left I cried for two days. Our husbands think we are ridiculous and have both threatened to move the other one nearer. If Erin would just come back, we wouldn't have a problem... :)

I love you Miss Erin & I hope that you have the most wonderful year yet...Happy birthday!

Another One Bites the Dust

I can't believe another weekend has come to an end. So sad - but Monday is quickly approaching. The weekend has been great though, and very productive.

Friday night Tim and I met some friends for dinner and socializing. I ended the evening at 9:30 when I went to bed, I was a very tired girl.

Saturday morning I went to coffee with my friend Amanda. Afterwards, we went in search of a new circle journal, neither of us were successful. Saturday afternoon was filled with a nap, work from school, and traveling up to Portland to visit my sister and have dinner with some good friends of ours.

Sunday (today) we both woke up with colds. Bleh. So, today we grocery shopped, cleaned the house, finished laundry, finished work for school, paid bills, and made dinner. Whew - no wonder I'm tired again!

I also made some Split Pea soup (thank you for the recipe Andrea) for later on in the week when I don't feel like cooking. The house smells delish & we have lunches and dinners ready and waiting for us to use as needed.

I'm off to go wash and straighten my hair - that is quite a process you know for us curly haired people...happy week-end!