Creating the Good Life...

Snowed in (in Seattle)

 

 

We arrived last Wednesday (10 days ago) to very chilly (but clear) weather.  Flight was not too bad.  Actually very easy (after the first horrible hour of Addie kicking the seat in front of her with all her might.......as soon as we were airborne and seat belt sign was off I readjusted her car seat so she couldn't' get anywhere near the seat in front.)  The first night my mom was up from 1-4 am with the kids (I was passed out thanks to the powers of a sleeping pill.)  By the second night we had all pretty much adjusted to Seattle time.

Saturday night we (me, my brothers and my sister in law) went to a SUPER SUPER FUN ugly Christmas Sweater party (can't wait to get pics from Trish).  I got to visit with so many old friends (many of whom I have known for 25++ years.)  As we were celebrating the night away, the snow started falling.  Matt and Trish and Ben got stuck here overnight and most of Sunday.  It's now Friday and we have only had one drive-able day (which we put to good use by taking the kids to Nordstrom for pictures with Santa).  It was super fun and exciting at first, but now I just want to get out and see people.  I still have not (thanks to the snow) seen a couple of my very best friends.  We have been canceling plans left and right. One of my first and best friends in England (who has spent the last three years in Japan) is at a hotel only 3.8 miles (I googled it just for effect) away and I can't even get to her and her family.  If I don't get out of this house to spend some quality time with Christy I am going to be SUPER upset!!

We have done many a fun thing while snowed in....

 

We decorated the tree and house (Dean made his own display....jamming as many things as he could onto one space.)

 

He loved doing the tree.  When my mom tried to tell him that maybe all the decs didn't have to go up (she has many she keeps out of sentiment, but don't actually do much for the over all effect) he would not hear of it....he has branches loaded two and three ornaments deep.  It was really too cute to change!!

  

Lots and lots of grandma time!

 

Gingerbread house building with Uncle Jimmy.  My brother is so good with the kids.....they think he is the coolest guy in the whole world (and I couldn't agree more...he has the patience of a saint!)

 

Tons of cooking and sweets making. Sunday morning Grandma did sugar cookies with the grandkids while very tired moms and dads lounged around.

  

Yesterday, needing more baking ingredients, mom and I took the kids on a walk to the grocery store.  They were miserable...about half way there it started to snow so hard it was impossible to see....oops!!

Mike arrives in a few short hours (can you say EXCITEMENT and JOY!!!)  We are thinking he is going to have to take a taxi with chains as even my dad's 4X4 Defender 90 is not up to this compact snow and ice.   

Who would have thought we would be snowed in in Seattle....Seattle never gets this kind of weather.  They are predicting a much bigger storm this weekend (more than the 5 inches of snow we got yesterday) and 90 mile an hour winds.  If we can get past that, it sounds like next week will be cold but get-out-able.  We've got big plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas and don't want anyone trapped by the weather.

Hope you are all warm and safe and gearing up for big celebrations next week!

XO

Giving Thanks and Making Merry

That's exactly what we have been up to!!!

It's been a crazy busy time with Thanksgiving, celebrating Addie's second birthday (although her actual birthday isn't until 26 Dec), celebrating our 8 year wedding anniversary, shopping for Christmas, getting ready to head to Seattle for the holidays and wrapping up school for Dean.

On Sunday the 30th of November we officially celebrated Thanksgiving with 40 of our nearest and dearest friends (and their children.)  We spent the long weekend sprucing up the house, doing lots of DIY (finally getting the new chandelier for the dining room that Spike has been wanting) cooking and relaxing with the kids.  I made the turkey from Nigella's new Christmas cookbook and it was so amazing....truly worth it....I am trying to talk my mom into doing it again for Christmas day.  We had a family night out at Pizza Express and a day at the Christmas Market/Carnival in town.  We combined our Thanksgiving celebration with a party for Addie's birthday.....lots and lots of fun....but remind me that 15 is too many kids to have in the house at one time...LOL!!!

***all pictures in this post were taken with Spike's point and shoot camera...my camera is officially retired (ruined is more like it).....i am asking Santa for a new one for Christmas

From our day at the Christmas Fair

 

Dean went on the Ferris wheel FIVE times...he loved it!!  Every time we came round the top he would yell "CANNON BALL!!!!"  So fun!!!

 

Lils and Beth made Addie a bunny cake (she LOVES bunnies!!!)  She was thrilled with it...she kept saying "my bunny, this is my bunny!" 

We had Polly come do a music session with the kids.....which of course Addie was crazy about.  She especially loved the bit where she got to dress up as a princess!  Her and Daddy sang and made music together (while I did photos and a constant run back and forth to the kitchen to check on the turkey.)

 

 

Dean has had two school productions in the last week.  They had their dance show last week and today was their Nativity play.  I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.  The school has a photographer come, so I can't wait to get some of those photos to share! 

On Friday we went to our first Panto (Puss and Boots at Theater Royal in Bury) and I must say, we thought it was amazing!!!  I could easily become a panto junkie...traveling all over the country during the holidays just to watch pantos.  We had (another) Pizza Express night before the theater. 

 

Spike had a little trouble with his party crown in this pic...HAHA!!

We went with a big group of friends and got two boxes at the theater.  Dean sat in the box next to us and half way through the show we looked over to see him putting his arm around one of the girls next to him (all night he had been mesmerized by her, holding hands with her and basically falling in love for the first time.)  SO CUTE!!!

 

Two Pencil Lines layouts from the last couple weeks and then I am off to organize and pack....I will check in from Seattle....so crazy crazy crazy over the moon excited to get there!!!!!

XO

You can call me Birthday Girl

Yup, that's me.....many many years ago this very day!

And then a few years later (Addie has those exact same hair clips (not mine....but doesn't look like "Goodie" has changed it's design in about 30 years.) )

I must be about 6 or 7 or 8 here??????

Again....6 or 7 or 8 (it's 2 AM in Seattle, so I dare not call my mom to ask her right now)

And finally.....Friday night's joint bday party for me and Lils. 

This morning Spike and the kids served me breakfast in bed (peanut butter toast + coffee)  and Dean gave me a massage (with a rolling wooden "massager" he bought me for my birthday.) 

Spike promptly whisked both kids off (Dean to school and Addie to Lils then Beth's)....so I have the WHOLE day to myself.

As much as I would like to lay in bed and read all day, it's just not in my nature, so I am off for a long run (so I can eat lots of chocolate cake and drink lots of Veuve Clicquot (of which SPike bought a CASE for my birthday (don't worry, we won't drink it all in one night.....two or three should finish it off though...LOL!!!))

Then I am back to putz around the house (all by myself.....wow...that never happens).  Spike has booked me in for a massage and pedicure from 2:00 until 5:00, then my instructions are to get myself home and dressed for cake and present w/ the kids (I am under strict orders not to open ANY presents until Dean is home from school.....he was really very upset that he had to be a school on my birthday)  and then a "romantic" dinner out (not sure where we are going...Spike has been very good with surprises this year!!)   

Needless to say, I feel very very blessed!!!!

XOXO
Annie

It's a...

Super super-skinny jeans, high top converse, and Red Hot Chili Peppers day.  Looking more like a university student than a mother of two, I have been seriously rockin' out (at very high volume) to the music of my youth while baking a chocolate cranberry cake and fig crumble bars. (The picture of the cake on Martha's site is nothing like the cake I made...she is showing the ginger infused bread-pan variation...mine is a very very tall tube cake with glossy glossy icing.)  By the time I got the cake in the oven I decided to take a trip down memory lane and play Sublime's 40 oz. to Freedom album (again at the crazy high volume.)  I know every single word of that album....love the ska-punk-reggae-ness of it all!  Can I say again....serious rockin' out...manic dancing, air guitar, and 1980's glam-rock style high kicks...the kind of rockin' out that falls into the "vigorous exercise" category.

Life is good.

Life is very very good.

It's also a "proud momma" day.

 

Dean is doing so well at school.  He is really coming along with is handwriting and is doing great in his reading...he's still in the stage of "beginning reader" but his ability (and determination) to sound out words is fantastic. 

It goes without saying I want my children to do well and excel academically, but  what has made me SO PROUD (like beaming proud) is the effort Dean puts into his work.   He is incredibly self-motivated for a four year old.  He gets about an hour of homework a week and I have to say at first my attitude was "are you kidding me...he's only FOUR!"  But he loves doing it and does it very well... so....I was clearly wrong on that one!

Last week he got an award for good manners and was invited to a tea party with the head-teacher.  He is all about "please and thank you and pardon me".  He will correct anyone who says "huh, what, or yea."  He's a bit like the manners-police at the moment.  HAHA!!

Love you Dean...so proud of you!!!

Life is good!

It's also a miss Daddy day. He is in Germany until Saturday afternoon.

Whenever Spike has to leave for work before the kids get up, he always leaves little notes + drawings.  They love it.  Addie got to this one first.  The pen was left next to the note and she decided to leave her own little mark.  Dean nearly had a melt down saying "but I was going to look at this every single day and now Addie has ruined it. I can't even see what daddy's face looks like."  Monkeys...they are both little monkeys!!

Life is good!

It's also a "move on from Halloween" day.  I still have my decs up and am not really too anxious to take them down....although I think I will make the effort this weekend.  A couple days ago I finished a Halloween mini album (inspired by a make and take Anna did at our holiday workshop a couple weekends ago.)  Today I changed the "cover" and now feel like it's ready to be added to the basket of minis (after of course the kids have a good flip through.)

This project was so hard to photograph (transparencies + crummy weather + 50 mm fixed lens that I didn't want to change). I had decided not to share it, but have changed my mind...you will just have to imagine that the color is much better than what I could capture and please never mind the glare! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full album Here .

Tonight Mia and Tracy are hosting a birthday bash for Me and Lils (at Mia's.)  Very much looking forward to a night with so many of my favorite people!!

Have a good weekend...and remember...life is good!

On the "good life" note....loved today's quote from Foundation for a Better Life:

“Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls.”

—Melody Beattie; author, journalist

Making Happy

Lots and lots making us happy this past week.

These pictures for a start:

SO CUTE!!!  (even though her coat is buttoned all wrong...OOPS!)  I am so loving big fuzzy sweaters and big furry boots...both for me and Addie.  I am crazy about her little wool coat...however...it's dry clean only (which is CRAZY...who buys dry clean only for their kids??? Clearly I did not read the label before purchasing.)

*On the topic of little girls....my brother and sister-in-law are expecting a BABY GIRL the beginning of March!!  So super super super crazy excited!!  They are going to call her Kate (not Katie...don't call her Katie!) When I told Dean, first saying he would have a new baby girl cousin, then explaining that Ben would have a baby sister just like him he said "I really think Ben is trying to copy me."  Silly little man!!

Other things making us Happy....

*Lots and lots of happy mail.  Lots of birthday presents arriving for me *Smiles*
Halloween packages still coming in for the kiddos.  My sweet sweet niece Stefanie (who is at University in MN) sent the kids a Halloween card which I have read to Dean approximately 25 times....he will say "read the part about playing basketball with me".  Then he will say, "OK find the part about Addie and read that to her."  Thanks Stef!!!!
Friday a Halloween packaged arrived from some friends in the states (the kids godparents/our godson.)  Six year old Alejandro wrote:

            Dear Dean, I love you and miss you.  Are you coming for Christmas?  I wish
            you could come now.  When you come maybe you can have a sleepover
              so your mom can finally get some rest.  You are my best friend and a
           cool dude! 

How sweet and totally funny is that??

More Happiness.....  

*This great story I found through Ali Edward's blog

*Making up our boxes (both at home and at Sunday school yesterday) for Operation Christmas Child.  This Christmas (and every one thereafter!) do something for others. If you have kids, get them involved.  Some of my best childhood memories of the holidays (both Thanksgiving and Christmas) are of the things we did for other people...especially children....whether shopping for a Thanksgiving meal and taking it to our church leaders to distribute to a family in need or wrapping presents at a downtown warehouse to be distributed on Christmas Day.....I remember every little detail of it and feel so passionately about remembering and serving others!!  Dean LOVED shopping for Operation Christmas Child and has talked about it a lot since we filled our boxes.

*Pencil Lines

Last week we had Sasha Holloway as our Guest Designer. She's simply fantastic....love her work and so happy we had her join us. 

For my "admit one VIP (very important person)" layout I used pictures from a big celebration we attended in honor of the 493rd Fighter Squadron winning "Fighter Squadron of the Year" (a very prestigious award!!)  I made a little pocket under the photo gathering so I could include copies of two articles taking about the award and mentioning the "integral role Spike and his team" play in the training and readiness of the squadron.  Might sound like a lot of jargon if you are not familiar with the fighter squadron world.  In a nutshell, Spike works for Boeing...attached to the 493rd FS.  He is a pilot instructor...teaching academics to the pilots and working with them in the simulators. He is also the site manager....overseeing the running of the training operations.  In both the articles the commander of the squadron talks about Spike...his integrity and dedication.....really an honor....you could not find a more dedicated, honest and hardworking man than my Spike!!!!  So proud of him!!

 

This week Cecile Lundstad joined us.  I am only giving you a sneak peak of my layout....you will have to head over the Pencil Lines to see it in all it's glory :)  I used lots of ink and distressing and absolutely love the way it turned out.

*Friday Sara spent the whole day with me and we sorted out and reorganized my scrapping room.  I will take some pics in the next few days to share.  It is like a brand new room.  If you have seen it in the past you simply will not recognize it.  We got lots of matchy-matchy baskets and sorted through all the STUFF I had in there.  I gave several bags of goodies away and put another several (whole garbage bags) into both the trash and recycling.  I feel about 50 pounds lighter...if you know what I mean.  I have an idea for a Halloween mini book that I can't wait to get started on.

*We are going to friends for a game night tonight...very excited!!  Tomorrow Spike has the day off so we are taking Dean to school and then heading to Cambridge for the day (hopefully it won't be as RAINY as it is today....seriously WET WET WET!!)

*OH....and this is really happy news.....we finally have hot water again.  We spent about six weeks with only very very tepid water dripping out of the taps.  It took about 35 minutes (I am not exaggerating) to get about 3 inches in the bath tub....and then we had to get in, quickly wash and get out because it wasn't even warm.....only tepid.  Since we can't have all things in our house working at once....our dishwasher has given out.  Not a crisis as we hand wash a lot, but still needs sorting as we have lots of entertaining coming up.

*From Wednesday to Saturday Spike is in Germany.  He has a conference....but is also going to get his fill of German food and beer (his all time favorite....both the food and beer.)  Very excited for him to meet up with some old friends and enjoy himself!

*Making lots of pumpkin bread....my kids both think it's the best cake in the whole world!!  I have taken the best bits of a couple recipes I've tried and come up with this:

Ingredients:

12 Tablespoons melted butter (1.5 sticks)

2 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp each ground ginger, ground cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree (solid packed pumpkin...not canned pumpkin pie mix)

3 large eggs

glaze (confectioners sugar + milk)

Mix butter, sugars, eggs, and pumpkin. In another bowl mix everything else.  Combine and pour (rather spoon) into two bread pans (or one large round/rectangle pan).  Bake at 350 degrees for 50-ish minutes.  Cool in pan ten minutes then turn out and let cool completely before glazing.

I usually give the kids each a spoon and let them go to town with the glaze....they LOVE IT!!

For all of you that can't get canned pumpkin...so very sorry....you really are missing out :(

That's about us.....(or at least as much as Dean is willing to patiently wait for me to type!!)

*If you haven't signed up to get an email when I update...go back to the top of my blog and simply enter your email address.

XOXO

Happy Halloween, Happy November, Happy Tuesday

Dean was a pirate (obviously!)  Since his cousin's pirate themed second birthday, he has been all about pirates...totally counting down the days until he could sport his outfit (complete with Pirate Vans.....I know, I know....I just couldn't help it.)

Addie spent Halloween day in her snappy orange and black....gosh she is gorgeous (if I do say so myself :)! She changed into super cute pink jammies with a glow in the dark skeleton design and a big pink heart for trick or treating. 

We spent the day at some friends' from Dean's school and then had a BIG Halloween party at one of our neighbors.  It was such great fun.  We really did it up with decs and home made goodies....

 

Two of my personal favorites!!  After trick or treating the kids all went to bed and we got to start the "adult party".  Such great fun friends we have here!! 

And then onto Happy November.  I Love November...and it's not just b/c it's my birthday month and the birthday month of many of my very favorite people (although that does help...it being my birthday month I mean :) ).  I love fall in general...I am a brisk weather kind of gal.  I love fall colors and wearing warm fuzzy sweaters.  I love Thanksgiving...my personal favorite holiday.  This year we are having a very large (one might even say HUGE) Thanksgiving open house the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  We are combining it with Addie's birthday celebration (since no one wants to celebrate being TWO on the 26th of December!)  I am planning the invites at this very moment and getting all geared up!

And then onto Happy Tuesday....What a great day Tuesdays are!!  It's the beginning of the school week for Dean (until after Christmas he is only going four days a week....I really do not know how I will cope when he is going five days a week!!)  Tuesday is also the day my cleaning gals come....YEAH!!!!!!!  Tuesday is the day my exercise week kicks in (at the moment I am walking....since one of the tires to my jogging stroller blew out yesterday.....when I was about 2 miles from home....UGHH!!!)  I am taking Sundays and Mondays as "days off" the running (or walking) so I love Tuesdays when I can get back into it!!  And if that's not enough reason to be a fan of Tuesdays...it's the night Spike and I each get a massage.  Man Tuesdays are GREAT!!  And how awesome that this Tuesday is election day.....VOTE!!!

On a non-Halloween/November/Tuesday topic....I am redoing the albums on my blog, so check back soon for new works and photos.  Also have deleted the very old teaching dates and will be back up with new ones very soon (as soon as I have places to link them.)  I also added an "email subscription" option (at the top left side of the blog) so you can get an email whenever I update....hope to see lots of you taking advantage of that!!

XOXO

Annie

ETA: Typepad has not been nice to me...so I realize this is going live on Wednesday....freakin' computers!!  :)

where to begin.....

All is good

The proof is in the pictures (taken this morning as we set out for a shopping and coffee/biscuit trip into town):

The thing about blogging is, the longer I go in between posts, the harder it gets to do it.  I get this feeling like "there is so much to say, so many pictures to share, so much happening I simply can't do it all justice".  So I keep putting off and putting it off.  So today I am just doing it.

WARNING...this will not be t a "catch up" post.....it will be a short and sweet "checking in" post. 

Random (in no order) tid bits from the last few week:

*Dean had croup (awful, terrible, horrible)  It only lasted a weekend and he is totally recovered.  The worst part was the fear in his little eyes when he couldn't catch his breath...heart breaking!

*At the same time as above, Addie had FIVE days of vomiting/diarrhea + fever (again, awful).  Thankfully, both Spike and I had fabulous books to read, so we would take turns holding and cuddling the kids and reading our books (they were so sick the didn't want games or stories or even movies.....just cuddles and sleep.)

*I have been volunteering a LOT at Dean's school.  Helping with fund-raisers, Harvest Festival, and Harvest sales.  It's taking up all my "free time" (the few hours a week Addie goes to our friend Kathy) but I am loving being part of it all (and meeting some great people in the process.)

*Dean has the next two weeks off of school for "half term" break.  We are planning a nice relaxing couple weeks. 

*Sunday Spike and Dean are going to Wembley stadium to see an NFL (American Football) game.  They are both so excited, I just hope Dean can sit through such a very long game (as they always turn out to be.)

*I finished the Twilight series and loved it (I even loved the forth one which has gotten very mixed reviews)

*I started The Girl with the Dragon Tattooo...it's gotten amazing praise and honors, so excited to get into it.

*Friday night, as girlfriends were arriving and we we getting ready to head out (to return for dinner, drinks and VERY long night of chat) Dean thew up ALL OVER ME!!  All down my back, in my hair, down my jeans, and all over the floor.  He had fallen down a few stairs (don't worry he was not hurt) and got the wind knocked out of him.  It upset him and he threw up from all the crying.  He had just finished his dinner when this happened.  Spike ended up being drinks man while I went and showered and washed my clothes out in the tub.  

*In approximately 50 days we will be heading to Seattle for the holidays...YEAH!!!!!!!

*The only scrapbooking I have been doing is for Pencil Lines and upcoming classes (Holiday workshop in Buckden beginning of November and classes in Oct/Nov at Your Touch of Craft.)  I am averaging a layout about every ten days....I used to do roughly a layout a day, but just don't have the drive to do much...which is totally ok with me, I am just taking it as it comes.

These last few weeks Pencil Lines has had some amazing guest designers and a SUPER EXCITING collaboration.  

Three weeks ago we had Ayako as our Guest Designer.  Her work is so detailed and colorful and just amazes me. My layout was inspired by the song This Little Light of Mine.  Dean is always singing it (often rocking out to my Bruce Springsteen Live in Dublin version.)  He is such a bright little light and well...it just came right together.

I love the story behind this layout.  (I did get lots of grief about the pictures looking nothing like Addie and "not doing her justice"....but the story is too cute to let pass just b/c she looks like a boy in the pics.) 

She refuses to wear hats...totally and completely (she always has.) She has lots of super cute hats (berrets, crocheted flowery stocking caps, etc) and she will not wear them.  I keep trying, determined that someday she will leave one on her head.  A couple weeks ago she pulled this out of Dean's basket, put it on and squealed "like Dean, I'm just like Dean."  She wore the hat the WHOLE day (don't think I didn't try to get it off her.....the fight was just not worth it.)  She was SO HAPPY in his hat.  When he came home he said "Cute Addie, now you're Batgirl."  She was thrilled beyond belief, totally over the moon and went around all evening saying "Addie's Batgirl."

Last week we collaborated with One Little Word (man those girls ROCK!!)  
I just love this picture of Dean in his uniform.  We had parent teacher conference the other night, so my journaling is all about what his teacher said.  He's an amazing little guy.  He is truly so kind and generous.  His teacher says he is so diplomatic and sorts out any problems the kids are having during game time or PE or any other time they are trying to work together.  He is really young for his class, but is doing amazing....right up there with the rest of them.

Last week we also introduced a new member to our team....Michelle Filo.  WOW.....she inspires and blows me away on a very regular basis.  Our Reader's Galleries have been filled with her work.  When we decided to add a new designer, it just seemed natural to invite her to join us.

This week we have Cari Fennell guest with us.  Another awesome lady!!
The pictures I used are from the post-assembly party Dean's year had (a few weeks ago.)  They invited the parents to have tea and coffee while the students got to have party snacks.  Addie went right up to Dean and said "Me too?"  Dean didn't miss a beat, he asked his teacher "will you please set up another place for my baby sister?"  He is so good like that, always looking to include her...see, I told you he was one of a kind amazing kid!!

Dean is out with a friend this afternoon and Addie should be waking up any time now, so much get off and get us organized for the afternoon.  I have two HUGE zucchinis that we are going to make cakes with (such FABULOUS cake!!)  We are going to do the rounds delivering to the neighborhood and then freezing some.

And I really must share this picture too....I think it's so cute!

XO

Run Baby Run.....I did it!!!

I finished the Berlin Marathon (26.3 miles) in 3 hours and 55 minutes!!  Whoot Whoot!!!  I loved every single minute of it!!!  It was an incredible high....a massive rush....WOW...I would do it again tomorrow (OK, maybe not tomorrow....but next week certainly!)

On your mark, get set, go....

On Friday we went to check out the starting point (so glad we did b/c yesterday in was MANIC!!)

Saturday went out to a huge Expo to get my race number

The guys had to drop me off about two hours before the race started....very handy to have all those runners around to take our picture!

There for forty thousand runners and over a million spectators.  The course packed like this the whole way (which was the only frustrating part as it made it very difficult to maneuverer/move up.)  There were sixty bands lining the course playing all kinds of music (I only used my iPod about ten of the 26+ miles.) 

Spike got this shot at the mile 10 water station. 

At about mile 15 I ran right off the course to give my boys a little lovin'.  We got to see each other five times over the course of the 26+ miles which was pretty amazing with SO MANY people running/supporting.  I was prepared to just meet them after I finished and was so delighted and SIKED every single time I saw their crazy smiling shouting faces!!

Going strong at twenty miles.  I think the last six miles were my very best.  I felt so good and just cranked up the speed.  The packs had thinned (but only slightly) so I was able to rev it up a bit.

 

And then poof...it was over.  Dean got the medal (I figured his support was "gold medal" worthy, so immediately upon our reunion he took possession.)

It was an awesome trip. Berlin is amazing.  Dean was a super star traveler and by all accounts Addie has a super time at home. 

I will get some pics of the city and our trip up when I can...right now I have some train tracks to build and a little girl about to wake up from her nap.

XO

PS When I wasn't running I was reading....totally hooked on this series...swore it was not for me, but I am sucked right in!

Berlin Bound

It seems time has just slipped through my fingers these last few weeks.   From the moment I wake up (super early....criminally early if you ask me) until my head hits the pillow (late) at night we seem to be on the GO (and I mean GO with big capital letters!!) 

Right now (well in about twenty minutes) our "GO" is Berlin, Germany....we are off for the weekend...we are off for my marathon.....26.5 miles....here I come....I am ready....I am siked!

All the training....all the hard work.....all the preparation (and eating of FAR TOO many starchy carbs for my liking) are about to be put to the test!!  Your thoughts and prayers and well wishes are SO APPRECIATED!!!!  Thanks!!

Full report to come early next week....earlier rather than later....honest :)

XOXO

She needs a holiday and I need a leg massage

Yesterday Addie asked to go visit our friend Kathy.  I said "We can't go see her Addie, she's still on holiday." Addie replied (with a very dramatic hand up to her forehead like she was totally exasperated) "I need a holiday!" followed by a big sigh and a "Really!!"  I started laughing hysterically and liking nothing more than getting us to laugh, She went around all day telling anyone who will listen that she really needed a holiday.  She is such a funny girl!!  The things she says and her little mannerism just amaze me...quite a little character for being only 20 months old!!

Words + Photos = this week's Pencil Lines Layout:

I must say I LOVE the way the layout came together...love all the bold brightness and can't get enough of those black on white letters (found them at the gas station (dirt cheap), being advertised as lettering for garbage cans/mailboxes/house plaques.)

Becky Novacek is our Guest Designer this week.  I simply love everything about Becky...her amazing scrapbooking and rockin' photography are only the tip of the iceberg!  The faith, honesty and sensitivity with which she writes are so refreshing and uplifting (and her play lists always rock!!!!)

On the running front...I ran 20 miles again today.  It was a GREAT run (much better than last week.)  I got the most incredible second wind at 15 miles....I felt like superwoman the last bit of the run.  It drizzled most of the time, but at about mile 17 it started to POUR....the torrential downpour/flash-flood kind of rain.  My feet were literally swimming in water and my skin burned with the force of the rain but I was NOT going to give up with only three miles left.  So glad I don't have to go that distance again until the actual race day!

I am off to watch football (of the NFL variety) with Spike (and hopefully get a very good leg massage!!!!)

Hope you have a wonderful week!!

XO

sooooo......

I have spent the last hour shopping on line at Gymboree (very big sale if you have little people.)  I got on the computer with strict intentions of updating my blog and then getting right off, but then of course I had to check email and then of course I had to follow the link on the HUGE SALE email and then of course I had to order about one of everything for Addie.

So, here I am....

Today Dean started back to school:

He was SO EXCITED!!!!  I can't wait to go pick him up in an hour and see how he got on.

He looks so darn cute in his uniform!!  My grandpa bought him new school shoes (took him to the Nordstrom sale, marched him right up to a salesperson and told them to find him the best shoes in the store.....just like he used to take me and my brothers every year.)  When we put the shoes on today he said "Ah...the shoes my great-grandpa got me."  What a good little memory he has!

In running news....after much back and forth, we have decided to leave Addie with friends and only take Dean to Berlin for my marathon.  He is so excited to watch me run (mind you he is SURE I am going to win.....thanks for the vote of confidence buddy, but I don't think it's in the cards.)  After looking at the course and seeing how much ground (mostly via subway) the guys are going to have to cover to meet me at the checkpoints, it just seems like we will all be less stressed if Addie stays with friends.

Other running news....I ran 20 miles on Saturday.  The first fifteen felt AMAZING and I ran so fast I thought perhaps I needed to make this whole running thing a career.....let's just say the last five miles proved to be much much harder (and much slower!)  But I am happy to have it done and am anxious to do it again this Saturday.  I think above all I have to eat MORE.  I sure feel like I eat a lot, but I just didn't have the gas I needed for the really long distance.  (as much as I would like it to be a free ticket to eat as much chocolate and sweets as I want, it's the rice and potatoes I have to drastically increase....not so much looking forward to that.)

I did 8 miles today, will do 5 tomorrow and then have a few days off to get ready for another 20 miler.

In scrapbooking news:  Pencil Lines has had the most amazing sponsorship and guest designers lately....please tell me you have checked it out!!!

Two weeks ago Jenni Bowlin sponsored the whole Design Team (I carried all the kits back from Seattle in one of my suitcases.)  Mellette Berezoski was our Guest Designer....doesn't get much better than Jenni Bowlin + Mellette!!!  

 

This week is our 100th sketch and Kelli Crowe is our Guest Designer.  I simply adore ALL of her work and feel giddy with I think about her working with us!!

I loved working on a transparency (I always shy away from them b/c they are very tough to photograph for upload, but Lillian saved me by pulling out her clothes line during a break in the rain...thanks!!)  The story is about Addie's new "bunny."  (she had a pink bunny she adored and took EVERYWHERE....we lost it in Seattle...TERRIBLE!!!  after trying out nearly every cuddly toy in all of the Seattle and the surrounding suburbs, Dean found this bear in my mom's garage....Addie took one look at it, squealed with delight and shouted "BUNNY"  she cuddled it and kissed it and has not put it down since...she insists it's "BUNNY", NOT A BEAR...PLEASE DO NOT CALL IT A BEAR!)

The photos were some I took last week at Anna's:

 

 

 

I have so many other pictures I want to share (we had a great weekend....friends over for BBQ on Saturday and a BBQ/birthday party on Sunday) but I think I have run out of time...must get Addie up and get ready to make a move to get Dean from school.

Before I dash off, the November 2nd is the date for the next Scrapping Angles (holiday) workshop in Buckden.  Anna is sure to have the details posted very soon.  It's going to be AMAZING, so do not miss out!!!  

XOXO

half marathon + simple woman + cute photos of Addie

This morning I ran a half marathon....that's right, 13.1 miles.  It took me 1 hour and 45 minutes.  It was not an official/organized run.  It was me, my iPod, my Garmin Forerunner Watch, and the road.  (and if you're not "in the know" I am training for the Berlin Marathon the end of September)  I felt GREAT at the end of my run...I felt certain I could do another 13 miles no problem.  Now next Saturday I need to do 20 miles (and hopefully feel as great at the end as I did today.)

Leaving the running talk behind, I came across a very cool post on Crystal's blog earlier in the week.  It was a list type journal entry titled "Simple Woman."  (more about it on the Simple Woman Blog.)  I like the idea of slowing down, of taking stock of the moment....the right here and right now.  I like the idea of reflecting and counting blessings.  And it sure would make a great start to a scrapbook page.  I have decided to do it today and would LOVE read your thoughts and reflections, so copy and paste it into your own blog and leave a comment below so I can come check it out. 

For Today...

Outside my Window: Spike and the kids are playing baseball, laughing and having a great time

I am thinking... how good my run felt (13 + miles)

I am thankful for...the sunshine (which we haven't seen much of lately)

From the kitchen...Pineapple Coconut cake (again) and Blackberry Crumble bars (so thankful for Doug stopping to pick all the blackberries for us!)

I am wearing...black Nike Perfect Fit Pants (which look like the perfect pair of casual pants...nothing like workout pants AND which Spike says are "crazy sexy") and a bright turquoise tshirt with big flouncy sleeves

I am reading...Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult (and so excited to start the Twilight Series which my mom has just sent me......I know, she just sent over 60 books, but we decided we had to find out what all this hype was about....it does not sound like my kind of read, but I will give it a try)

I am hoping...my brother and Trish (aka awesome sister in law) are having the time of their lives in New York City (their adults only vacation before new baby arrives)

I am hearing...my kitchen timer (second loaf of Pineapple Coconut cake is done)

I am creating... layouts for Pencil Lines

Around the house...we are trying to get back to "normal" (whatever that is) after being gone for four weeks and then having visitors for three weeks

One of my favorite things...the first few minutes after my kids wake up and they are so very excited to see each other ... they cuddle and kiss and say each other's name about a dozen times

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...scrapping tonight while Spike is at Fantasy Football draft, church tomorrow (I have missed church SO MUCH!!), lots of running and general easy family time

*now go on and do a little reflection.....and link it up  here

Must get that cake out of the oven, but first can't resist sharing these pictures Trish's  friend Colleen took while we were in Seattle:

 

 

 

If I could turn these into wallpaper I would put it all over my house!!!  Instead I have ordered HUGE prints of them (will be much like a wall paper effect :) )

Have a great weekend!

XO

PS (and I did run and get the cake out of the oven, so don't stress that it is getting burned).....Marjorie (who makes amazing altered/mixed media art) left me a comment about the number FOUR (see my previous post) having ancient meanings of family and stability....LOVE THAT!!!!!

FOUR

This seems to be my number today....

FOUR-the number of miles I ran this morning (did 8 yesterday, took Monday off and did 12 Sunday)

FOUR- the number apples I have eaten today......HEY, they were small and I have been running a lot!

FOUR-the number of shirts Addie has been through today....and it's only 2:00 (first shirt victim of toothpaste wars (hers vs. Dean's.....she climbed onto the toilet and into the sink to reach the toothpaste and then decided to squeeze and bash the tubes together) sleeves of second shirt covered in mud from Park, third shirt (which was actually a onesie/all in one) off b/c of very messy diarrhea diaper which caused wetness all around legs and forth shirt covered in Mac and Cheese (lunch).  She is now asleep, so hopefully will be able to wear current shirt for at least a couple hours

FOUR-the number of times I have talked to Lillian in the last hour (we are trying to diagnose whether her son has chicken pox....certianly better that we debate it than she take him to the Dr.  LOL!)

FOUR- the number of days we will be in Germany (Berlin) next month (only just now booked.....nothing like planning ahead....HAHA!!!  When it comes to travel (or visitors) we either plan months (even years) ahead or we do it totally last minute.  We only now book for a trip that will be happening in four weeks, while at the same time having all of next summer planned....literally from 15 June to 15 September is booked out and planned.) Go figure!

FOUR-the last four people I have talked to are pregnant (Candace (with twins), Trisher my sister in law, Manda one of my dearest and oldest friends (who happens to have the exact same due date as Trisher) and my neighbor.) 

I keep saying to Spike "Every single person we know is pregnant."  To which he points out "this is not true because roughly half of the people we know are men."  To which I reply "don't be a smart ass, you know what I mean." 

And then he starts naming women we know who are not pregnant and then I come up with at least one relative (usually a sister or sister in law) who is pregnant and then he says "aha, Elana is NOT pregnant and neither are any of her sister or sister in laws" and then (all exasperated I say) "THAT DOES NOT COUNT, SHE JUST HAD A BABY LIKE FIVE MINUTET AGO." 

Do you think I might be obsessing a little about babies?  I definitely want another baby, but I do not want to have (as in be pregnant and birth)another baby. So I am settling for going to Seattle for the births of my new niece/nephew and Manda's baby.  I am also trying to convince Candace to give me one of hers...what are friends for if not to share!!  HA!

FOUR: the number of hours it took me to put away all the books my mom has sent me (ok, that's an exaggeration, I was just getting carried away with this "four thing"...but has taken me a long time.... it was two huge boxes.... 60++ books)

FOUR-the number of photos I am going to post (two being layouts)....here goes:

 

My Pencil Lines layout from two weeks ago...which happens to be about Dean being FOUR!!!!!!!!!!  I got the journaling idea from Stacy Julian's book the big picture.  It's a must have book (but don't tell Anna b/c I have her copy sitting on my desk and I do not want to give it back :) )

 

My Pencil Lines layout for this week.  We had the awesome Mou Saha as our guest (I just love her work...go check out her blog!)  The DT really did some awesome layouts, so be sure to head over if you haven't.

I love the pictures I used (it's Elana's baby....ok, so he's a little more than five minutes old, but you can see the point I was trying to make.)  I am just bursting with emotion for that little guy and really wishing I could reach through time and space and just cuddle him.

 

We went to London two weekends ago and you know if I go to London I HAVE to go to the British Museum.  We also saw Lion King which was AWESOME!!  Dean loved the first half and slept through the entire second half!

Last week we went to two parties at Mia's...one was a birthday party for her brother (where this was taken) and the other a swimming party for the kids.....both SUPER FUN...LOVE YOU MIA!!!!!  I just can't believe how big Addie is getting....she is like a proper "little girl" (as opposed to an "improper little girl"....no just kidding, I meant as opposed to a "baby girl")

Now, I am going to go and try to read FOUR chapters in my book before the kids wake up from naps (yes, Dean is having a nap today.....the last seven weeks of travel + visitors have just tired him out!)

XO

Some more pics and a layout

I told you I took more pictures of Dean......

*At my brother's house....I played a little with some of the Polka Dot Potato actions

*We were SO HAPPY to be able to celebrate my nephew Ben's second birthday while in Seattle.  It was a pirate party and Dean was TOTALLY into the props!!  He went around saying "RRRRRRR" all afternoon.

*Add at a water park in Seattle.  I REALLY messed with Polka Dot Potato Action on this one....used the Polaroid and vignette actions.   I love the grainy old color feel of it!

This was my Pencil Lines layout last week.  We had a big family 4th of July party in MN...my grandma sent her the dress and it was a total hit (how could it not be....she was SO CUTE in it!!)  

We have had a busy week, with another busy week ahead of us....we are all anxious for life to slow down a little.

I have been running like crazy.  It hasn't been easy b/c it's so humid around here.....the kind where you perpetually feel like you just got out of the shower....doesn't make running very easy!  I have roughly 7 weeks before my marathon....WOW.....I am very excited!

Still lots of pictures to share....but will have to wait.....dole them out in very small doses :)

Have a great weekend!
XO

Hey Annie Where ya been?

I know, I know, it's been ages....over a month actually.  Sorry to disappoint those who were hoping for travel updates (we were away for a month... 10 days in Minnesota (MN) and nearly three weeks in Seattle.... It was tremendous fun and very exhausting!!)   I took a big fat break from the computer while we were away.

We got home Monday night.   I sent Spike and the kids to the seaside on Tuesday (so I could unpack, sort through a month's worth of mail, try (unsuccessfully) to get my camera fixed and spend a little quality time with Beth before she runs off to South Africa).  Wednesday I went off to see Anna and her girls.  And today we met up with a big group at the park and then went out to restock our cupboards. So...yes, we are unpacked settled in and caught up with friends around here....so ready to share tales of our adventures.

The flight to Minneapolis was rough (and I don't mean turbulence.)  At one point I was convinced we were going to have to hire someone to pack our house and send it all back to America because I was never getting on a plane with Addie again.  She redeemed herself by being a star on the flight from MSP to Seattle and then doing extremely well from Seattle to London (everyone having an entire row to themselves to stretch out on probably helped!)

We always love going to MN, but I have to say this was our best time yet.  I think it was because Dean is at such a fun age and he was really able to bond with everyone (he is SO LUCKY to have such AWESOME cousins....they are all so much older than him, but still take the time to hang out with him, play games with him and make him feel SUPER SPECIAL....he was in heaven....he still asks every day when we are going back.)  Adding to the big fun was the new pool one of Spike's brother's just had put in...we spent so much time in the water we were all starting to grow fins.  Another brother of Spike's has acres of land and a big tractor, so when we weren't swimming Dean was being driven around on the tractor....a dream come true for a little boy.

A few Addie MN pics:

 

Trying to decide if she is going to give the pool a try or not (she finally did and she loved it!)

 

We had a big Hafermann family 4th of July party....how perfect is this dress my Grandmother sent???

 

Practicing her 4th of July routine....she really thought she was hot stuff with that flag!

As always, we loved our time in Seattle.  It always goes by so fast.  There are always so many people to see and so much family to catch up with.  We spent lots of time with my brothers, sister in a law and nephew.....AWESOME TIMES!  My grandparents came up from Arizona for a week.  It was just really great family and friends time.  I have the most amazing group of girlfriends in Seattle (all whom I have known for 25-30 years).  It's such fun to get our kids together, watch them play and get to know each other.

I have so many great pictures to share (many of which are still stuck on my camera.....URGH...so they will have to wait)

I must limit myself to just a couple favorites at the moment (otherwise I will end up with dozens of pics uploaded tonight.)

*honestly, I have equal numbers of Addie and Dean pictures, these are just the only ones I can get to at the moment:

 

The park next to my folks....lots of hours spent there!

 

Uncle Jimmy took us all to the zoo...the kids loved the carousel.

 

I think Dean and I have had our pic taken at this very same spot at Woodland Park Zoo every time we have gone to Seattle.

It's cookie baking time, so I really must run, but will share my last two Pencil Lines layouts.  I am so excited for the great sketches and sponsorship coming up on Pencil Lines (I brought lots of great stash home for the ladies!!) 

Lots of new Pictures

It's summer....it's getting close to end of term for Dean...lots happening with Spike's work.  All = lots of photos!

Love the picture of Spike!!  It was taken on Father's Day.  We had a big BBQ with about five other families and I snapped this as he was smiling at one of the kids running by. 

Yesterday we went to a special air show and BBQ at Duxford Air Museum.  The squadron Spike works with just won a very prestigious award, so there was a huge family celebration.   Tonight the festivities continue with a "Gold Tie Ball" at Dunston Hall.  (the men will all be wearing gold bow ties with their tuxes....sounds tacky, I know...but they managed to find a very nice, even classy gold!) 

The women were encouraged to wear gold dresses....again, sounds a bit ish....think champagne gold and it sounds much better.  I did not have the time (not he inclination) to shop for a ball gown, so asked a friend if I could borrow one (not mentioning that ideally it would be gold....b/c really, who has a gold gown hanging in the closet.)  Last week she brought me three gowns to try on......you will not believe it, but the first bag I opened contained the most gorgeous champagne dress with perfectly subtle gold threads running all through it...and it fits like a glove!!!!  WHAT ARE THE CHANCES??? 

A night on the town.....
Last Saturday we had a surprise party at The Angel Hotel for our friend Andrew.  As per usual, Lil had it planned to perfection...a private room, a mouthwatering menu, a stunning cake (that she made), and just the right group of people.

Another picture from Dean's birthday....I had just showed him his cake and he said "Mommy, how many candles is my cake going to have?"  I said "four you silly boy." He replied "I'm not actually three until tomorrow, so I just wonder if anyone will mind me having four candles."  What a sweetie!!!

Today his school did a production called "Sherwood Forest." He was a mouse.  He was so very very cute!!!

He kept looking back and giving us the sweetest smiles and tiny little waves.

In the last few days I have managed some scrapping, but it's all been for Pencil Lines and classes, so nothing to share at the moment.

And with that a little lady is calling from her crib...nap time is officially over!!

XOXO

Happy Birthday to Dean!!!

He is the sweetest kid I know.....just pure sweetness and goodness and love.  He's about as close to perfect as God makes them!

He has had two parties in two days....consumed massive quantities of sweets, burned thousands of calories on bouncy castles and huffed and puffed and blown the candles out (race track cake for Saturday's party and Spiderman cupcakes for today's party.)  On Saturday he shared a party with three other boys in his class, so between us we hired a village hall brought in two bouncy castles, a team of crafting divas, and had FOUR cakes. It was great fun.  Today we hauled another bouncy castle and our BBQ to our local village hall.  It was a gorgeous day (rare around here these days), so the kids split time jumping, eating, and playing in the fields.  It was a great day for parents and kids as we had some stellar cooks on the BBQ (and the "to make for Dean's party list".....thanks all of you!!!!)  It was a perfect day for a perfect little man.

Needless to say, we are all exhausted....I have so many pictures to share from the parties and the last two weeks, but they will just have to wait!

XO

We are GRAND.....

just unfathomably busy.

I know.....I know....I was going to slow down this year.  Really I have been slowing down...paying more attention to the things I am doing.  But it seems like from the 1st of May through the end of July we are booked solid....every weekend is booked and in most cases double and triple booked.  At the moment we are loving it...absolutely loving it.

Weekend before last Dean and I were sick...and I mean horribly, not leaving the bathroom sick.  Not nice!  Addie and Spike had Daddy daughter weekend, went to BBQs, went to church, did lots of DIY....just the two of them....that was nice....but Dean and I huddled on the couch.....not nice!

This last weekend, fully restored to health, Dean had a friend stay the night on Friday and Saturday (different friends.)  We had  a picnic at Dean's school Saturday morning, friends for dinner Saturday night (+ the sleepover), a birthday/bowling party Sunday and a birthday BBQ Sunday night. And then sports day first thing Monday.

I bake a lot...nearly every day.  But this weekend I think I set a person record....In 24 hours (from Friday afternoon to Saturday) I used 18 eggs and 9 sticks of butter....I baked a Chocolate Amaretti Cake (for dinner Sat), a Black Russian Cake (for birthday man on Sunday), Pineapple/Coconut Loaf Cake (so good...try it...but I would use tidbits not chunks of pineapple as it made the cake VERY bottom heavy) for the Sunday BBQ, four loaves of Banana Loaf cake (one for our friends who just had baby, one for our friends who thought they were in labor (but false alarm),  one for Amanda at Your Touch of Craft, and one our neighbors.)  Then, b/c I had made nothing for my family to just enjoy as and when they liked, I baked chocolate cookies w/ white chocolate chips. Baking...not blogging...that's what I have been doing!

And some pics...

Ad loved the slide at Anna's

My mom got this dress (Hannah Anderson) for like five dollars at their sale.....excellent job mom!!!

She has a shoe fetish.  She is constantly wanting her shoes changed (she has so many shoes.....I will not tell you how many pairs.....but will tell you it is inappropriate number.....I have only ever purchased ONE pair for her....others gifts....who can resist buying little girl's shoes, they are so cute.)  OK, I totally digressed for a minute.  When she has had enough of her own shoes, she puts on everyone else's (often right over whatever shoes she happens to have on.)

Thank you to the ones who organized face painting for the school picnic.  On Sunday people kept commenting that Dean really had a tan....but oh no, it was just that the red face paint had stained his FACE!!

Love the way the kids are always laughing w/ their Daddy!!

My Pencil Lines from last two weeks:

And I am off....to bake of course (seriously though....have baby shower tonight and am in charge of baked goods.) : )

XO

ETA: Re: Pineapple/Coconut cake recipe.....Deb asked "what is sour cream"?
It's the same thing as creme freche'.  I must also add, (b/c anyone who knows me will certainly know my feelings on this and likely not believe I actually touched the container, let alone used in it a recipe) I think on principle sour cream is gross.  I NEVER EVER eat it and the coconut pineapple cake is the fist time in my entire life I have cooked with it.  I did eat a piece of the cake (if you know me, stop rolling your eyes....I DID EAT SOME OF THE CAKE) and it was amazing and did not have a single hint of sour cream/creme freche'.