Hi Dad!

Today was an unusual day. Sierra came home at noon- a full hour and a half earlier than usual. She is a highly organized and scheduled person and she likes it that way.
She wanted to do "something" which means she doesn't know what exactly she wanted to do and what ideas she had were completely out of the question (climb Mt. Everest). I have very few days that are quiet and alone at home, so on the rare occasion that I do get one, I have a hard time changing what I am doing to accomodate even a bored daughter because I, like her, am also sheduled and somewhat organized.
While she went to get Savanna from school, Bryan came in, which is the unusual part of the day, since he has been gone about 14 hours a day lately, and he was quietly reading the paper in the kitchen when she walked in still asking me what she could do now.
She looked at Bryan and asked why he was home and then Savanna walked in and ask the same question. He replied that he did live there and it was his house, to which they reminded him that he had been mostly gone the last little while.
It is good to know that they miss him and are glad to see him, even if it is a surprise!

Happy Birthday, Jackson!

My son is 21.

I don't know if I am ready for that.

He was such a cute, fat baby.

He gave me more heartache in his first month of life than the entire 20 years and 11 months since--thankfully.

I keep getting these letters from him--at least I think it is him--his spelling hasn't changed but the words have, and the man he has become is an amazing person that I can hardly wait the 20--no 19 days- he has before he returns, with honor, to his old home and his old parents, and older looking sisters, and to his puppy dog that has been waiting for 2 long years to kiss his face and get hair all over his dark suit.

Winter Wonderland Quilt

I have been working on this project for a year now.

It has embroidery, which I love, and some quilting which I am learning to get better at. It is a pattern by Crab Apple Hill and it was done in red, but I just couldn't see making snowmen in red when blue is much more fitting! It turned our darling and I can't wait to get it quilted. I have since decided to add a 4 1/2 inch white border to it and bind it in the blue poka dots that frame the embroidered center.

Happy Anniversary!

Before and After

It was even very simple to install--except the part of removing the old head. I had to call our sweet neighbor for reinforcement and correct tools before I said bad words.

I am not very good at surprising Bryan, nor am I very good at getting something that he really likes either.

I took a chance at a new shower head for our 23rd anniversary--I installed it and everything (he doesn't enjoy anything about installation either).

After enjoying the one at Jenny's house I decided it would be wonderful to have one like it. I am not one for standing in the shower and just letting the water run over my head, but Bryan does. He also enjoys HOT water for so long that when he gets out his skin is all red!

Halloween

We were slow-pokes and didn't make it to Grandma's house on time to be in the "family" Halloween picture so these are the best we can do this year.

Sierra is a pirate and Savanna a witch. I dug out the old clown costume and went to have puffed rice balls at Marj's. They are one of my favorite Marj treats along with date swirls. I have tried to convince her, in vain, to skip making fruit cake and just make more date swirls!

Sunrise

I am not much of a photographer and I was driving when I took this picture, but, this sunrise was gorgeous. It was a few days before day-light-savings ended and the colors were amazing. It was about 7:30 a.m.

3 Witches

I had planned to get a picture of these 3 witches earlier, but I didn't so here they are. They are made of scrap boards we found laying around. The hair is tumble weed and the eyes are pennies that we painted orange. Their noses are bent nails also painted orange. It was a great project that the girls and I had a blast making!