A Thursday Crafty Afternoon

The kids and I each took a bit of time on Thursday afternoon for a bit of

creating. Thanks so an awesome coupon from Fred Meyer, we bought a

new package of 18 Crayon Tristables Colored Pencils (regular price: $5.99;

we paid .99). As soon as we got home, they got to work.

Ryan's masterpiece

Emma's masterpiece
{the front of my fridge is so pleased!}

A dear friend from my college days, Rebecca , introduced me to

hexi's through her blog. These are so much fun! And I could see them becoming quite the

addiction (what a great way to use scraps!)

Dear 5:45 a.m.,

{Photo taken 7:15 a.m. from our front step, at the end of today's walk}

~

5:45 a.m.

Dark.

I, personally, prefer to be snuggled warm in my bed with the thought of morning

still several hours away. It's really a time of day that I prefer not to witness.

That's what I used to think, anyway.

For the past three weeks, a friend and I have been meeting at 6 a.m. to walk for about an hour.

Each morning when my alarm goes off, I slide out of bed (picture: slug) and promise myself

that I'll be right back in that very same spot after our walk. I stumble to the bathroom, get dressed in the dark (I try not to look in the mirror when I get home), and then head out the door. Our houses are .6 of a mile apart, so we meet somewhere in between. We start chatting (quietly so as not to annoy the neighbors) as soon as we meet. Before we know it, our time is getting short and we each have to hurry home so the husbands can leave for work. By the time I get home, I feel so good and wide awake that (almost always) I stay up and continue with my day.

5:45 ain't looking so bad anymore.

I feel so much better.

I get to bed earlier = no more late night snacking.

I have a skirt that's been just too tight to wear.

It's been hanging on the doornob to my closet for a month...just a gentle reminder.
I put it on yesterday...it's time to move it up into the closet with the other clothes that fit.

I've made a commitment to myself to walk for 30 days straight. I started on July 17th and the 30 days ends on my birthday, August 15th. To date, I've missed only three days and walked a total of

approximately 87.4 miles (24 days total).

~

Thanks, 5:45 a.m. (and my walking buddy). I look forward to spending more time with you!

Sneak Peak

{Current Project=Fun!}

Happy Anniversary!

On Sunday, Bob and I celebrated our twelve wedding anniversary.

Let me just say, first, that I can't believe I'm old enough to have been

married 12 years already! Bob? I was 21 when we tied the knot and then turned

22 one week later. Let me say, second, that I'm so glad my wedding dress fits again! :)

I had to try it on and meant to get photos of Bob and I later in "regular" clothes.

Alas...I forgot!

{My incredibly talented mom made my dress while we were 300 miles
apart...and it fit perfectly the FIRST time!}

Twelve years. So hard to believe.

So much has happened.

Most importantly, two incredible kids who I wouldn't trade for the world!

{Although it could be a bad sign right now that, on any given day, I can tell you

the exact number of days until school starts?! 15!!}

Bob and I have had many, many good times and just a few hard times.

We still learn things about each other (just a few years ago we

each discovered that we preferred spaghetti with meat rather than without~the way we'd been eating it for years!)

He supports me in my desire to be a stay-at-home-mom and to not spend all of my time cleaning, but just a bit of it creating instead.

He works hard for us so we can live a good life.

Thanks, Honey!

Emma's Dress

{She prefers it with a cowgirl hat}

{and a horse}

{My first dress...it went together so smoothly.}

WIP

He feels the need for speed!

Dad signed Ryan up for a race camp this summer at our local indoor

go-cart track. He's been driving here for awhile now, but he has to drive the

smaller cars because he's younger than 16. After completion of the race camp, he's now able to drive the adult size cars and race against adults.

Coming around the curve...one-handed.

Dad and Ryan

It's official!

After the course, he got to challenge Dad to a race.

I think he's ready!

I had a hard time taking good moving photos.

The first blur is Ryan and the second one is Hop.

December babies

{Parents relaxing in the shade}

My kids are both December babies. We have a family

birthday party for them right around Christmas, but they aren't

able to invite their friends. We decided to do a 1/2 birthday party

this year with a few friends.

The kids had a great time!

{Badmitton}

{dear friends}

{the birthday kids!}

{5 and 1/2}

{9 and 1/2}

{cake and icecream}

{playing with all of her fun gifts after the party}