mish mash on Monday

"Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after."
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

This is truly going to be one of those "this and that" posts. Not a lot going on here. Due to weather and attitude I haven't been out and about much. Been holing up and staying home.

1. On Saturday I went to my friend Susan's house for the afternoon. She is teaching me to knit. This is the start to my very first washcloth. I am almost finished with it now. I have to say, knitting is fun, addictive even. And anyone who knows me knows I love paper - the scrapbook store is like a little piece of heaven on earth. I can see the yarn stores becoming that way...I really can. This picture isn't great, it was taken with my cell phone, however it shows that a) I can knit and b) the cool orange/yellow/white yarn I picked up for my first project. Fun, fun. Thanks Susan!


2. I met my mom this morning at Starbucks. Gotta love that. She was up for the day, teaching CPR, errands, etc...So, before her busy start we met for a little breakfast, coffee for me (of course), and hot cocoa for her. I use to see my mom at least once a week and since she's moved it has been closer to once a month. I still drop by the house and see "the kids," however it is so not the same. I miss my mom, BUT here she is...today!

3. I just found out my grandma, my only living grandparent, had a mild heart attack sometime in the last few days, not sure quite when, but she is doing well and is in the hospital making nurses question their profession! The quote is for her. Grandma did NOT want that tea they gave her, she doesn't like tea, coffee for her (and of course my coffee-lovin' cousin did the duty and smuggled some in...naughty, naughty. I would never do such a thing. hahahehe!).

4. Big Love starts Sunday. HBO. Be there. 'Nuf said.

5. I found Shimmy on FitTV. Now that is some fun stuff. I am glad I am doing it in my living room...I do not think I should be doing this anywhere in public or even at home in front of people. I know my friend Katrina has done belly dancing classes - she is much braver than me. However, I am lovin' the shimmy at home.

It has been one week since my last post. Hmmm...Sounds like a confession. What is my penance? Anyway...I do not like the excuse "busy." When someone says "I'm too busy" or "I was too busy" I think it is a cop out. Just say "other things were more important" or "I don't want to." I think "busy" is a term people use to make an excuse when they don't want to give a real reason...a good reason. Believe me, I know what busy is. However, everything I do is a choice and sometimes my choices are based on how busy I am, but my excuse isn't busyness - no my excuse is choices. Anyway...this is deep-rooted in me, this pet peeve about busy being an excuse. Let's move on...

So, I am going to say that I had other things occupying my time. Not even important things. Really. I spent A LOT of time on the computer - doing nothing. Reading blogs, hanging on Facebook, playing games. I read. I hung out with family and friends. I actually wasn't busy. Just enjoying a bit of R&R.

Now here I am. A week out and feeling a bit off. No sure where to start.

How about with my parents. They have moved. To Marysville. It is a little over an hour drive from our house - a big difference from 15 -20 minutes. Alex, DeAnne, Archer and I went down to visit and see their new home for the first time. It is smaller than the house they left in Bellingham, where Alex and DeAnne will continue to live. However, it is cute and I think the perfect size (I am not a big house person).

Happy new home owners. (If you enlarge the photo you may be able to see the "ghosts" in the door.)

Mom & Dad @ the new house.

Alex evidently thought I was the paparazzi.

Cuddling at Grandma & Grandpa's house.

Cuddlin'

I find it interesting when people move to see their "old" stuff in a new surrounding. My parent's *stuff* is all from their house (which leaves Alex & De w/ little, but they are young they don't need much) and it looks completely different. When I go down this weekend I will try to take some pictures and find some of the old house. Just a little interesting thought.

Coming this week: DeAnne (a before and after pictorial), first day of school excitement (or second or third day...we'll see), Lynde 500 (early next week) and a little bit more of {this and that}.

a little bit of pomp and circumstance

"The best way to predict your future is to create it." - unknown

Well. She did it. My little sister, the youngest of four (with a 22 year age span) walked the stage and received her high school diploma from Bellingham High School. I want to say this has been a long time coming, however it really hasn't. It was the same amount of time that most others wait. Thirteen years of public school and two years of pre-K. She must be a well-educated girl.

"I like nonsense. It wakes up the brain cells." Dr. Seuss

I like graduations. I like the speeches (when they are funny and filled with wisdom...not just long and preachy). I like the caps and gowns and fresh faces ready to face the world. It is a day that just feels good - parents are happy, students are off for new adventures (teachers are getting a little vaca...oh...ya).

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." Gandhi

A BHS graduation feels especially good. I wasn't a big "high school fan." I didn't participate in a lot of activities, wasn't overly involved, however I do have good memories (they get better the longer I've been out). A BHS graduation feels like going home. The principal was a teacher when I was there, some of the other teachers are the same. The school fight song is familiar and the red and white colors bring back good memories.

There comes a moment when you realize that virtually anything is possible - that nothing is too good to be true." Kobi Yamada

BHS is a legacy in our family. We had quite a few alumni (from our family) in attendance last night. The proud parents. Wheeewwww...Four down - zero to go! (Dad - BHS alum)

"Go boldly in the direction of your dreams." Henry David Thoreau

BHS siblings! Class of 1992, Class 2008, Class of 2005.

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." Dr. Seuss

With her Godparents - Bob & Kelly (BHS alum)

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't ---you are right." Henry Ford

With Auntie Berta...

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on earth." Mark Twain

All dressed up. Red & White Roses from mom and dad. Notice the pretty belt we made with ribbon!

"Be the change you want to see in the world." Gandhi

And my last quote for today. I love this one. Enjoy.

"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the
status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." Jack Kerouac

And DeAnne? Congratulations. I am so happy for you, proud of you. I love being your sister!
Happy Graduation!

sunny Sunday!

Archer woke up this morning and requested a trip to Grandma & Grandpa's house. So, we got ready and made a trip to the big city of Bellingham (haha! doesn't even sound like a big city name does it?)...we ran some errands and then made it to Gma & Gpa's just in time to do some yard work! Archer did yard work - I took pictures. He helped Grandpa weed and spread bark...I went shopping with Grandma! Seems fair doesn't it? Archer even got paid for his efforts - he was very excited by that. Of course he would do the work without the reward of payment, but he wouldn't say no to getting a little moolah.

Working hard.A little break.
Grandpa framed by his lilacs.
I learned about lilacs and that I loved them so when I was in middle school after mom & David got married. Love these.
Have a great week!

Wedding Flashback: Part 3

A few more wedding pictures to share. Me and my mom. I always really liked this picture. I had a hard time during pictures - I laughed almost the entire time!

Me and my bridesmaid - my little sister DeAnne. She refused to be a flower girl (so we didn't have one) - she wanted to be a bridesmaid because she was already a flower girl and didn't want to do that again. The first experience was fine - she just had the "been there done that" attitude. She was adorable and made a wonderful bridesmaid! (Look at how little she was. Now she is 18, getting ready to graduate high school and is a few inches taller than me! Time flies!)

My brother, John, gave me away. I think this was the day he looked forward to most of our lives together - giving away the little sister must feel really good! (haha). I was glad he could come home from Texas for a few days to help us celebrate our day.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today my mom is 57! Oooops! Did I just give that away? I love all her "old" pictures, especially some of those school pictures. So cute! Happy Day Mom!Edited: Oooooooppppps! Sorry my mom is 56 not 57! How dare I? Happy 56th Birthday Year! :)