My wish for you in 2009...

I wish you all Happy New Year! I hope that 2009 is a better year. We have had a pretty rough year in 2008 and we could use some less stressful times come this new year. We had lost loved ones and dear friends. We had health issues, surgeries and recoveries. We lost a job. We watched friends struggle with health, loss and hard times.

We are thankful for all the love and support from family and friends. Because of that, we make it through those tough times. Thank you to you all for wonderful laughs, good times and standing by us in the hard times. We love you all!

One of my favorite songs is My Wish by Rascal Flatts. Here are the lyrics and this is my wish for you in 2009...


I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

Happy New Year and huge hugs to you all.
Laura (And Tom and Lucas and Jake...)

a sewing good day!

Well, with the weather delaying our family get together for Christmas, I found some extra time to make my Christmas gifts. I got to sewing today and ventured out for my first solo quilting projects. Angie and Vicki (aka quilting coaches and overall enablers) have got me hooked on this and now I can't wait to get working on the coordinating throw.


These are a couple pillows that I made today. I am not too good with the top stitching yet so I added some buttons to help cover the messups... But I think they turned out pretty cool. I added the batting under the front so it is a little softer and then the backs of the pillows are a light suede like material. Gees - when I cleaned out my pantry.... I found two bags and two huge rubbermaid tubs full of fabric!!!! Must of been a closet quilter all this time... But this material was just a scrap left from something and was just enough to be the backs of the pillows.

But now it is time to check in on my facebook and maybe call it a night...
Til next time...
Laura

Merry Christmas!

I hope that you all are having a wonderful Christmas day. We are still under snow and iffy weather so we have postponed family get together til things are cleared off and a little safer for travel.

So last night we went to a candlelight service. I haven't been to church in so long and Tom has been wanting to check them out again and see about attending again. I didn't want him to go alone and thought this would be something all of us could do and get into the spirit of Christmas a little bit... It was nice. Lots of carols and singing. May not be a good fit for us though as far as a church - was a little too "something" for us...

Anyway, today, we are just hanging out at home. The boys are playing with their new games for the Wii and I am baking a pie! Oh my - haven't made a pie in so long.... We will see if it comes out edible. Gifts were on a small scale this year. With Tom out of work for so long this year, we just really scaled back on the spending. The boys said they didn't believe in Santa anymore so he did not come. Think they were still happy with what they got though. The boys got me a tea pot and they made Tom a little storage cabinet for out in his shop. Tom built me a large planter box for across under my window to my scrap room. I can't wait til spring when I can plant it full of flowers. I didn't even get Tom anything. He kept changing his mind on what he wanted so I told him to just go ahead and buy something and put my name on it... :)

But it has been a good day so far. We are going to escape for awhile though and go to a movie later this afternoon. I am going stir crazy with being home for the past week and a half!!!


Also, need to send out a huge Happy Birthday to my buddy, Paris! I met Paris through an online scrapbooking group. Over the past couple of years, our friendship has gotten closer as she referred me for the position at Hot Off the Press while she was going to gone traveling with her family as her husband was on sabaticle from work. Over two years later, I never would of thought that I would still be there and she would be off working her own business. But Paris inspires me - she is the Martha Dukes in my life and that dares me to try new recipes and do more cooking than just eating out all the time. Thank you for your friendship, Paris. I hope that you are having a wonderful birthday!

Well, pie is out of the oven and time to go to the movies! So I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy the day with family and friends.

Laura

snow, snow and more snow, then ice and now more snow....

Well, it has been a week of winter weather around here. The boys were not supposed to be out of school til this week for the break, but they had all of last week off.... Looks like the break will be three weeks! Will I make it???

Anyway, Lucas built a snowduck one day. When I was taking the picture, Lucas said - wait, I think he blinked....

It was snow, then melt, then snow, then melt, then more snow and more snow and more snow - a total of 9 inches yesterday on the ground. Then last night started with freezing rain. So then we had ice covered snow. They boys tried to snowboard on the slight slope of the front yard... They got going for about 4 feet and then they were out of yard.

Lucas shoveled out around the trucks a bit today. Jake and I tried to clear off the deck and a little pathway to the garage. By the time we were to the side of the house, it started snowing again and what we had shoveled off the deck was on it's way to another covering of snow..

Tom said tonight that we are expecting a lot more over the week... I have been in this house all week! I was out for a bit friday afternoon for some emergency Christmas shopping but that is it... I love to be home when I have the choice...

Anyway, so I have been passing the time baking. Banana bread, gingersnaps, and tonight a chocolate cake... Not at all anything we need to have around but it has been nice to have some treats...

Well, other than snow - not much to report here. Keep your fingers crossed we all survive. Cabin fever is a terrible thing!

Til next time...
Laura

let it snow!

The weathermen were actually right! They predicted snow for tonight and we are actually getting it today. Ok, they weren't completely right...

But the boys have been having a blast. They have been outside since the first flakes started to fall this morning. I have had to call them in a couple of times though to warm up and thaw them out a bit.

It is very pretty and I am enjoying watching it fall from inside the cozy house. The wind is making it very cold outside. Good thing Tom doesn't mind driving in this, he can go to the store.

So if you are out in it - be careful. Otherwise, make some hot cocoa and enjoy the beauty.
Laura

actually crossed off a few items on the to-do list today...

One thing on my list today was to finish these cupcakes. Think they turned out pretty cute so thought I would share with you. Then they are filled with chocolates inside...

Been a wild week again. Will have to catch you up on the scouting for food and the lego robotic competition last weekend. We are expecting a big storm this weekend. I have Bunco tonight.... The list goes on. But for now, the tea is ready and I need to meet the girls to carpool to bunco.

So stay warm, have a nice night, and oh - I am so hooked on facebook now... I just can't wait to check it as soon as I get home to see if I have messages. What is this? Am I really this addictive personality??? Ok, don't look in my scrap room or even my dining room table - it is covered with material, batting and a sewing machine...

Anyway, have a wonderful evening and will check in with you again over the weekend.
Laura

Happy Birthday, Cabo!

Angie's puppy, Cabo is the big 1 today.... I think she is pretty cute - Ang might tell you different when telling stories of her chewing up books and making her mark around the house. I just get to see the cute side - well, except the time she chomped on Grandma's thumb because she was caught in her kennel - Cabo, not Grandma... Cabo used to come to work every day with Angie and she would even go to lunch with us. Then of course, it is always a mystery as to what she got into in the car while we were inside. But she really is cute.

Happy birthday, Little Princess.

I have never been an aunt to a dog before - what do you get them for their birthday??? May have to visit PetSmart and see if they have any suggestions. Ever since the meat counter guy was so helpful - I am not afraid to ask anymore when the people in the store ask me if they can help....

So have a great day - mine is full so better get it started.
Laura

Happy Birthday, Kathy Jo!!!

Kathy Jo and I met online back in 2001. We were both going to be attending CKU in Provo, Utah that August. Leading up to the event, an email group got together and chatted online to get to know each other. We chatted back and forth. That was also the summer that Tom got so sick on a motorcycle trip and ended up in a Reno hospital for 3 weeks... And I was putting together the embroidered shirts for the gals attending the event... Oh it was crazy times. But Kathy Jo - even though living in the Chicago area - she kept in touch with me and was always very supportive. When we met in person at the event - it was as if we had always known each other.

Many times when you go to something like this, you meet someone and say - oh let's keep in touch... But you never do. With KJ - it is a lifelong friendship. We continue to email and we have had some getaways with our buddy June. Aside from recruiting her to help me with work. She has traveled to Arizona with me. Once to help in classes I was teaching and another time when we had a booth at the Phoenix convention. I think my most favorite trip though has been our lighthouse tour trip. That was such a perfect weekend.

This is a picture of us when we were working the booth in Phoenix. It was probably at the beginning of the weekend too before she realized what she was really in for!


I treasure all the time that we had on adventures and looking back, it makes me smile. Or laugh - when we were in Mesa we had a handicapped room with an interesting shower and we fed the homeless.

KJ - you are a good egg and I am honored to have you as my friend. Thank you for always being supportive and such a good listener. I can't wait for our trip to Tuscon in January!

Hope you have a very special birthday.
Hugs to you my friend.
Laura

take a day to escape...

That was my theme yesterday. But it didn't really turn out that way in the end.

I did manage to get a couple field trips in though. After taking the boys to school and trying to figure out what time everyone needs to be picked up - seems like it is different for each kid on each day... I need to cover my windshield with a calendar! But got everything figured out and a few minutes, so I dropped by JoAnn's. I got a good coupon in their email yesterday morning so figured I would stop and get some batting for my next tree skirt. Oh it was like being loose in a candy store. This could get dangerous so fast - just like the whole scrapbooking hobby. But I just don't have room in my house to get too carried away. Anyway, dropped a call to my quilting coaches to see what I needed. They were wondering if the store opened early for me because I was in there before 9. Well, they opened at 8. I wasn't standing at the door with coupon in my hand saying "Open.... Open... Open...." :) But after wandering the store (actually kind of a scary store at this location - it is an old store) I found that the batting was in a little dark room in the back corner of the store. I refrained from buying any fabrics, but oh - there were some great ones. I used my coupon, bought my batting and was on my way to Moonstruck.

Oh what a yummy place. It smells of wonderful chocolate! I got my caramel hot chocolate and sat down to read my book for a bit. Then Sherri and Jaci arrived. And shortly after that, Shauna was there too. It was great to see all the girls. I miss the days when I got to see all of them at work, now we have playdates. :) Anyway, we had a quick visit and I was then on my way to meet up with my quilting coaches. They were going to the fabric mart to pick up some things and I wanted to tag along.

Oh what another dangerous place. Luckily fabric is only on the bolts there so I had to walk away. But I still managed to find some goodies in my cart. Then later Angie and Vicki surprised me with "Merry Christmas" - they bought my stuff in my cart along with many more goodies and the cutting tool that I was really trying to buy at JoAnn's but they kept telling me, no don't buy it... So thank you so very much to both of you! I even started pinning my next skirt together last night. Guess the right term is sandwiched the top with the batting and muslin backing....

After a quick lunch, I was on my way back to the school to pick up Lucas. He has been complaining that his left ankle and knee have been bothering him and we are supposed to watch for these kinds of signs. It is common that since he compensated on that left side for his right hip so long, we need to watch for the left to slip. So off to the doc again. Got there and they asked if we had the x-rays. What x-rays??? Apparently they called the house and wanted x-rays done before we got there. So off we were to get those done. Got there and they were - what x-rays? Did they fax in the order? I don't know. They told me to come here, you were waiting for us. Well, they couldn't find the order. The gal I was talking to asked the gal next to her if she had it - nope. She called the girls in the back, they didn't have it. So ended up calling the doc's office to see if they could fax again.... Really? This craziness really is not helping my theme of the day - to escape! So after asking some questions about insurance and why we were there and such, I had said x-rays of the hips, frog legs. Because that is what the nurse said. We had already been there 15 minutes trying to figure this out.... The other girl turns around and says, oh I have that! It was right there in her basket right on top.... Seriously? Anyway, Lucas goes back with the tech and then the tech comes back out. Why are we checking his hip when he is saying his ankle hurts? Ok, communication is broken here.... So then I had to explain the whole thing to her! Geez.... She walks away, oh ok...

Back to the doc we went after the x-ray. He is doing pretty good. The left hip is not slipping and the right is holding with the pin. Lucas will walk with the limp because that leg is a little shorter now because of the hip slipping. If it really bothers him, we can have a lift put in his shoe. The pain in his ankle and knee though is not constant. Doc thinks that since he was on crutches for so long, he just isn't used to standing on his own. So we need to keep him active. Glad to hear that was all it was.

What a day - then I had to figure out dinner. Thank you little man at the meat counter in Albertsons. He came out and asked if he could help. I said - yes, I need a dinner idea... He said ok - well, how about chicken cour don blue (Sp?), roasted potatoes and brocoli? Ok - give me 4! He wrapped up 4, wrote on the paper how long to cook and at what temp. I went to get brocoli and we were out of there... Maybe I need to ask the meat counter guy what's for dinner more often! That was pretty easy.

Anyway today is a work day so I better get going. Lucas is still sleeping and I am out of coffee. So have a good day.

Paris - I hope you are doing well. That all went well yesterday. Just rest and call if you need anything ok?

Til next time...
Laura

juror #7

That was my number. I reported for jury duty today with 359 other people. They had ten trials today and when the first case came up, I was first called. Oh man.... The bad dreams of being sequestered in Hillsboro was starting to come true. We went into the courtroom. There was lots of questioning and lots of legal talk... Was interesting. But in the end, I was not chosen to be part of the jury of six. Was kind of relieved but at the same time was disappointed that I spent most of my day there for nothing.. Anyway, my obligation was fulfilled and I am free from jury duty now for two years.

Back to my world again.
And I am calling it a day.
Til next time.
Laura