It Could Have Been Worse...

We woke up to an intense wind storm yesterday morning, with winds sustained at 50 mph and gusts as high as 100 mph. 

My son, who had left for school early - before we had even gotten up - left this note for me on the kitchen counter:

Little did he know, that was just the beginning...

By the end of the day, we lost most of our fence and our pool deck, but sustained little damage to the house. Once the wind died down we ventured out to assess the damages...

Even our lights couldn't withstand the wrath, lol!

All the remains of our fence is the gate - isn't that crazy?

and this section in the corner, which was shielded by a shed and pool

The wind was still blowing in the above picture - I can't believe our pool cover lasted! Several grommets were ripped off, but it still held out!

Before yesterdays storm:

After:

It could have been a lot worse, most of our neighbors lost roofing, sheds and trees.

We watched from our bedroom as the wind peeled the siding of the house behind us.

Wow. I have been through hurricanes when we were stationed in Charleston, SC - but we never had damage like this. My neighborhood looks like a war zone. 

On the upside, this gave us all an excuse to get out and finally meet each other. :o)

From Haunted to Stranded to Home Again

We took a little trip to Estes Park Colorado

to see the grandparents and lots of aunts, uncles and cousins too. 

We stayed in the historic Stanley Hotel

Over 100 years old, the hotel and grounds are beautifully maintained. 

Stanley, Estes Park Co

The Stanley is considered the "Most Haunted Hotel in America"

We took the History & Ghost tour, I was there for the history - the kids for the ghosts, of course!

To their disappointment, we never ran into any ghosts, but we left some candy for the "children" who haunt the 4th floor.

We also got to peek at the infamous room 217, where Stephen King stayed and was inspired to write "The Shining".

room 217

And yes. 

we did watch the Shining in anticipation of this vacation.

Mom of the year.

'redrum" on the bell tower door

The elevator was one of my favorite spots. All brass and shiny, it felt very opulent.

...and our reflections in the door made for a kinda cool and spooky picture.

We Also did some hiking at Bear Lake.

Bear Lake, Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park

It was pretty icy, but  I managed to not fall down. 

All the way. On my butt.

be Nice or Leave, Oscar Blues

One night we went to an awesome little spot called Oscar Blues for dinner.

A group of retired Marines were there celebrating Veterans day.

Dru's mom, who has never met a stranger, some how got got the Sarge into the middle of this rowdy celebration.

They kept calling him "Marine" and he kept replying "Air Force". 

Maybe they were too drunk to care, or maybe anyone with a high & tight is a Marine on Veterans Day.

Either way, I was happy, because they had chocolate cake.

One our way home we stopped in Wyoming.

Quite literally. 

On I-80 

because it was closed due to weather conditions.

After 3 hours of not moving we pulled a U-turn on the median and headed back to civilization.

because I had to pee.

really bad.

And in case you have never been there, Wyoming is prairie.

And there is no where for a grown women to pee on the prairie.

Especially when stranded on the highway, surrounded by Semi's.

The kids endured the extension on our vacation by spending all their time in the pool.

It's a hard knock life.

Now I guess we all have to get back to reality. The kids have a ton of make-up work and I have a General Meeting for ASG on Friday I need to prepare for! I have my ugly fabric challenge ready to go (more on that soon!), but I need to get to work on the favors/door prizes.

Going on Vacation

We're going to be away for a few days...
Taking a little family vacation and staying in hauntingly beautiful, and historic spot I've always wanted to check out!

image credit

Be back in about a week!

31 Days to Settle in After a Move: Get a Pool

It will
keep your kids busy
draw every kid within a 2 mile radius
leave you with towels you know you never bought
make you wish you had a degree in chemistry
cost way more than you possibly imagined
and make your house the coolest on the block

can't get a pool?
a trampoline will probably give you similar results.

31 Days to Settle in After a Move: Be Selfish

 After each move my studio is the last room to be unpacked and squared away and sometimes it has been months before I am able to sew again.  And even though I am totally over-focusing on the task at hand - settling in to our new home- I am probably less productive because in the back of my head I wish I was doing something for me. Then I become grumpy & resentful. That makes me a fun person to be around. (We all know the saying "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.")

Learn from my (repeated) mistake.

Don't put your creativity on hold because you have a huge to-do list.
Don't let guilt keep you from doing something just for you.
Don't neglect your hobbies or passions.

Death, Divorce, and Moving are the 3 most stressful experiences in life.
Would you ever deny someone a creative outlet or time to enjoy themselves after a death? or a divorce?
of course not.
So why do we do it to ourselves during a move?

Take some time for you, whether it's reading a good book, enjoying a pedicure or getting your craft on.
Do it, and do it often.
You totally deserve it, don't put yourself last.

31 Days to Settle in After a Move: Live in the Moment

Today Kadence turns 11 years old.

I can't think of a better way to enjoy our new home than to celebrate her birthday.

Don't get so carried away in your to do list that you forget to enjoy life.

Live in the moment. 

The house will still be standing tomorrow.

Kadence Carolina

October 25, 2000

31 Days to Settle in After a Move: Family Control Center

Identify your dumping grounds and collection areas.

 It could be by the front door, on your desk or all over your kitchen counter. 

In our home it's the kitchen (a habit I'm breaking) and by the garage door.

 I got tired of shuffling papers around my counter top after we moved here - especially since there was a perfectly good area already built into our family room we could use. It's near the phone, computer and filing cabinet. This seems like a pretty obvious place to put mail, notes, papers, etc, right?? It took a while and met some resistance, but the kids are finally catching on. This is now my "Family Control Center"

However, this bowl in the kitchen is still catching some items before they make their way home...

And you've all seen the garage door solution...

See my keys hanging off the top of the lamp? 

Tacky? definitely!

But have I ever lost my keys since we moved in? Nope!

Where are your dumping grounds and how do you wrangle the mess? 

31 Days to Settle in After a Move: Make New Memories

A new home is an opportunity to make new memories!

What is in store for you over the next 6, or even 12 months? Plan ahead for the next "event" - stir up some excitement, build anticipation, create your bliss!

• Go ahead, dream about decorations, parties and gatherings. 
• Dwell on the small things, from tooth fairy visits to romantic dinners. 
• Celebrate all your "new" firsts, as if they were the very first firsts.

We got our first snow of the season a couple weeks ago. Sure, we've seen snow before, but there was a thrill to it being "the first snow in our new home" - even if it was only a pathetic dusting that quickly melted.

Start thinking now, what events are looming on the horizon for you? 

31 Days to Settle in After a Move: Family Cards

As you meet your new neighbors and make friends within your community you will (hopefully) start giving out your contact info. 

Here's an idea!

Give them something other than your name and number scribbled on the inside of a gum wrapper you just dug out of your purse.

Make "family" cards with all your new info, kids names, whatever, to hand out. 

You not only instantly appear to be so awesome and put together that everyone will want to be your new BFF, but it also helps save you the embarrassment of admitting you haven't memorized your new phone number after 3 months....

Closing Day

For the last 13 years,

Home has always been where the Air Force sent us.

We've been stationed at

Charleston AFB , SC

Kirtland AFB , NM

San Antonio OPLOC, TX

McChord AFB , WA

Holloman AFB, NM

For the last 2 years we've been in Utah, and this will have been our last PCS.

Today we close on our new house.

Now, and for the rest of our lives, we are home.

Fresh Start for January

Since my last post I've been up to a lot.
like what?

well, we took Kadence on her first trip to Disneyland

My mom came up from the Land of Enchantment and visited us for a bit.

She picked up a sewing machine for Kadence while she was here too!

(that's' for another post)

 Speaking of Kadence, besides sewing,

she's learned to ride a bike

(finally)

We took a trip out to my Uncles ranch in Wyoming.

That was a nice little break from reality

Anthony got baptized.

twice.

2 different religions.

(guess he wants to cover all his bases, ha!)

We discovered Anthony has an irrational, yet highly amusing fear of overgrown potatoes.

Of course we had to use this new found knowledge.

I've also

read some great - and not so great - books

Gotten a bunch of sewing done

been elected 2nd Vice President for my chapter of ASG

tried sushi

attended a women's entrepreneur conference (and won a lap top!)

attended a day-long sewing retreat

killed 3 hermit crabs (oopsie!)

and put on weight. Sigh...

So there it is, the good the bad and the ugly.

Sewing Camp for Kids

I admit it.

I do not have the patience to teach my own kids to sew.

I wont even attempt it.

I'm afraid I'll get so frustrated that I'll scar them for life,

ruining any chances of ever getting them to

sit at a sewing machine

pick up a needle

or venture into a fabric store

EVER AGAIN.

So, even tho she has been bugging, begging and asking since she was 4 years old,

Kadence does not know how to sew.

or didn't, that is, until  last week...

Enter my wonderful friend, Tamara.

You my know her as my Fitting Goddess friend, she has many talents.

She teaches kids sewing camp over the summer, and of course I signed Kadence up for Camps I & II

She starts with the basics, as in how to turn on the machine, thread the machine, wind bobbins, etc,

and before you know it - Voila! - your little one is actually sewing!

and enjoying it!

For those of you who are brave patient enough, to try it with your kiddos, here was the basic curriculum.

For the rest of you, this is just me showing off Kadences newly acquired skills.

 First a trial run with no thread, just getting used to the feel of the foot pedal and sewing straight.

 (our machine did not like running thread-less, and the error message kept popping up to check thread and bobbin)

 Next they practiced pivoting and curves on some print outs

 How about some dot-to-dot pictures to keep it fun?

(even added thread now!)

I know you are thinking you could totally do this with your kiddos, right?

Once they've got the feel of the machine they add some layers. They sew the shape first (the sandwich is a layer of paper towels in between craft paper) then trim it with pinking shears
all the other girls made a mitten, Kadence choose a tree

Too cute!

How awesome would these be for Christmas tags/favors? Love it!!

 Now they move onto making their "soft shapes" - also  available in several shapes.

Here they were taught how to use their presser foot to space their stitching lines (like quilting)

Once again the quilt sandwich is cut out with pinking shears when done

The next project they work on is making a tote bag. A simple rectangle shape with one pocket on the front and 2 handles.

Kadence choose her own fabrics, can you tell?

Also, she was the only one to make fabric handles, everyone else choose webbing. (Brag!)

Check out her top stitching - this girl has got some mad skills for a 9 year old!

Last project of the week, 1 pair of shorts

I think this is a pretty ambitious project, with side seams, hems and an elastic casing, but all the girls pulled it off and they did everything themselves, from cutting the pattern to the hems.

 

and, one more shot of her amazingly straight stitching...

now, I admit, all of her stitching is not this perfect.

she is nine after all, and this is her first lesson!

But I am super proud of all she has done and how well she did it.

I'm also extremely relieved that she is walking away with not only the sewing skills, but an excitement and passion to use them.

I don't think we would have made it that far if I had tried to reach her myself,

and for that, I am

Eternally Grateful

to my friend!

Today is the First Day of the Rest of My Summer

This afternoon I took Slick to the airport. He's flying out for the summer.

Even though he's a big guy now, 15, I still had a hard time letting him go.

I had a hard time letting him pack.

That's a lie.

I didn't let him pack.

I did it for him.

Which really irritated him and ensued proclamations of
"I'm not a baby!

UGH!

Why won't you let me do this"

etc, etc...

To which I poured on the guilt

"Why can't you just let me do this for you?

can't I just mother you before you leave me for the whole summer

Can't you just let it go for me?

Come on, just make your mother happy"

I win.

I love my son tremendously...

he's a good kid...

and I will miss him...

But he is a teenager

and oh man, am I going to enjoy this summer!

Technically, Summer starts on the 21st, but for me it starts as soon as his plane lands safely in California. Happy Summer everyone!

Happy Birthday Son!

Today Anthony,

my baby

my first born

my only son

turned 15.

::sniff:::

::pout::

For the record, I am way to young to have a 15 year old.

 He's received a nice chunk of change this year as presents

Wednesday is "the" 9th grade dance

Thursday is "Lagoon Day" for 9th graders

Friday is the last (half) day of school,

followed by a trip to the DMV for a learners permit.

Sounds like a pretty sweet week for a 15 year old!

Happy 15th Birthday Son, I love ya!

Tie-Dyed and Paper Mache Easter Eggs

This year we put a little spin on our traditional Easter egg dying method, and tie dyed them.

Literally

using silk ties

I got the idea from the girls over at Best Bites - they looked so amazing I had to try it!

I found my ties at the thrift store for 2 bucks a piece. Anthony did the honors of picking them out, I think he made some great choices!

Didn't they turn out lovely?

I was also inspired by Kim and Kris from The DIY Dish to make some of their faux paper mache eggs as well.

I love these because they don't scream EASTER! ya know?

They'd just look pretty for spring nestled in, well, a nest!

Of course we made some more of the panoramic sugar eggs as well, and Kadence had a friend over to join in the fun. I decided to try making one from a regular ol' plastic Easter egg, and it worked! Well kind of, I didn't attempt to hollow it out so it's not a "panoramic" egg, but it's still super cute.

You can find the tutorial for making panoramic sugar eggs below!

We had so much fun trying new egg techniques this year I think each one will become a tradition from here on out!

What ever method you use, I hope your eggs came out lovely, and you have a Blissful Easter!