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.

Today

Today - I already went to the grocery store - I think we are all set for Christmas and if we aren't all I have to say is "oh well!" We may be going into my mom's to play The Band with the family! We are like the Partridges I tell you! The whole family loves Guitar Hero and Alex just bought The Band - should be fun. Taking it easy today. Will worry about cleaning and such tomorrow.

This is a cutie snowman given to me (and made by) my sweet friend Susan! I think he belongs here with the snowman family plates.
Found these Charles Dickens ornaments at the LC store for 50¢ - thought they were too cute (and too cheap) to pass up!
Enjoy your weekend before Christmas.

Peace. Love. Joy.

LPM Open House

Friday night was the museum's annual Open House. The museum is celebrating 31(?) years this year! Yea!

Archer was the night's photographer and did a fine job! He got pictures of almost everyone working (I didn't show them all here). This is a new camera for the family and he is 12, so I think the pics turned out pretty good. I didn't "fix" any of them and a few have glasses glare, but you can still see a great time was had by all. You may also notice that he tended to take pics of people he knows, hence the pics of Calob and Callie...he did take a few of other visitors interacting with the exhibits and presenters...

*Tami (my loyal blog reader, mini-bookclub member, and 'boss' -hehe - of the museum) and I

*Cheryl & Callie. Enjoying the night...waiting to go home!

Callie in the Children's Bedroom (one of the newest exhibits done by an intern from WWU).

Callie and Calob on the Hotel balcony.

Susan & Karen. Just hanging out.

Terence in the Parlor. The organ behind belonged to my great-Grandmother.

Belly up to the bar and visit with Bob. I am sure he wasn't serving actual drinks. Right Tami? :)

Troy, Larry the Logger, and ? Larry is the resident logger - volunteers to 'dress down' and participate in the Open House and Education programs.

Col. Jim the egg and constant joke-telling man! He has been with the museum since it began in 1976! Wow - that is dedication!

Troy being Troy. He is in the Natural Resources exhibit. He particularly likes the chirping birds (which don't chirp at this time - thank goodness) because this one is right below his office!

Thanks for the pictures Archer!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! What a fun day. As a teacher I received many sweet cards and just plain sweets from students all around the building!

When I came home Archer decided we should go to Syro's (YUM) for dinner. Then we stopped by the museum and visited a little bit.

I love that Archer is so comfortable talking with and being with adults. This most likely stems from being an only child who was basically raised at a museum (not a lot of children hanging out there). This is a pic of Archer and our dear, sweet, wonderful friend Susan. He enjoys chatting with her, going over and hanging out on her couch, eating her food! (I think he is just being nice until she gives him that love seat in her sitting room! haha) I also think he likes her because she treats him the same as she treats everyone else - like he is important to her, like she cares about he thinks, like he is her friend. Wonderful. And isn't she the cutest?

Charli's Grad Party

This weekend was Charli Ann's graduation party. Fun times had by all. The whole family and lots of friends gathered at Bob & Kelly's for a big celebration. Me & little brother Alex

Troy & John Huff

Me, Archer, and Nicholas

The graduate, Charli, and her proud parents Kelly & Bob

"The Kids" John, Alex, DeAnne, me, Nicholas (behind us - John Huff & Aunt Susan)

John & Nick

My broken brother: an update

Remember my broken brother? If you need a little refresher....here ya go! Well, he did it again. I tried to take him for a very belated birthday dinner only to get a text that says he's on his way to the ER with our Aunt Susan. WHAT? You have to know that this doesn't really surprise anyone in our family...It has been over a year since his last ER visit AND he just bought a new mountain bike so it was bound to happen, right?

A little crash and burn on the mountain and he walks away with a broken collar bone (OUCH) and a nasty case of road rash that covers his back. Poor brother...this is not how he wanted to spend the rest of his summer...(and yes, he was wearing his helmet and the bike is fine!)