First Graduation Party

 Today was my last school lunch, ever and forever.  Our school doesn't have a hot lunch program.

My guys were blessed to have our friend Karen working at the high school.  She made her son and our sons and their friends meatball subs for hot lunch several times a year.

She had themed tables, homemade desserts and gave them a chance to get a break from a cold sandwich, which also gave me a break.

  Today Hubby and I brought hot lunch for Max and his friends.  Karen told me what I would need and set a graduation party table.  Meatball subs are the guys' favorite and super easy, and I made chocolate chip cookies and Special K bars.  We had pop, chips and candy too.

 Each of these kids has been so blessed to have Karen aka Mrs. H at school.  She makes it happen with career counseling, class scheduling and making kids feel special.

 I got the stink eye from Max for taking pictures.  I don't care.  I'll snap if I want to.  It was really hard to get a picture where someone wasn't taking a bite.  I tried, I really did, but meatball subs are big and messy.

 A good group of friends ready to take on the world.  I'm so excited for them!

Memorial Day 2012

 I went with Brian and Holly to the Greenacres Memorial Park Festival of Flags for Memorial Day.  Wow!  It is amazing to see 1500+ flags lined up down the avenues.  They are all flags that were presented to family on behalf of the President of the United States  at the death of a veteran.  The family then donates the flag to be flown during Memorial Day weekend at Greenacres.  

All of the flag poles have a brass plaque identifying the veteran.

Eighty nine veterans were buried at Greenacres this year.

 The flag arrives by helicopter and then is raised by the Washington Army National Guard Honor Guard.

 After the Remembrance Ceremony I ran into my favorite WWII reenactor (spelling!?), Stevie.

Stevie was an intern at the museum one Summer and always told me he was my favorite.

Well, he was.  He's listed in my cell phone contacts as 'Stevie your fav'.

 I am so glad I went today.  It was a very meaningful ceremony on a meaningful day.

When your son is a soldier you know that most soldiers killed in action are in their twenties.

And you know that they all had a family that loved them dearly.

God bless them.

 I love bouquets of garden flowers for the graves.  So pretty.  The flowers, the flags fluttering in the breeze, the music and meaningful words made for a beautiful tribute today.

It's a SISTA Trip

I had to attend a very important meeting this morning at Woods Coffee.  My sisters and cousins and myself met for coffee.  To everyone that was at Woods Coffee this morning I'd like to apologize, we all talked at the same time and may have been LOUD.

We're a tad excited.  Giddy even.

In October we are taking a  sista's  trip  to the Big Apple.  New York City!

My cousin Nancy lives in Pennsylvania so we will be staying with her and her husband (who is a saint for allowing us to move in) for three nights and we'll be staying in the city for three nights.  Nancy is here for a visit. She wears Prada shoes, so obviously she's been to the CITY.  

Apparently, we need to wear heels in NYC.  She has all kinds of plans for us.  Bless her heart.

I hope we don't make her crazy.

We bought our airplane tickets at our last meeting.  Today we looked at apartments to rent, talked about ground transportation, Broadway shows, shopping and sights to see.

I announced that I am checking a bag.  I can't be gone for six nights with just carry on luggage.  Well, I could, I guess but HELLO there's shopping in New York City.

I think everyone was relieved with my announcement.  Now everyone can justify their checked luggage with,

"Tami's checking a bag so I may as well."

You're welcome ladies!

This is going to be so much fun, I can hardly wait.

Thursday Thoughts and a Recipe

*I misplaced my camera yesterday so I have no pictures of Max's birthday.  I'll just have to tell you about it with words instead of pics.  Hubby and Max wanted big rib eye steaks for their birthday dinner.  Max's steak filled his entire plate.  He had to eat his dinner in shifts.  He also requested potato skins, which are really easy so I'm not sure why I don't make them more often.  Max wanted cantaloupe. And I made black bottom aka fat bottom cupcakes for dessert.

I wrapped his gift and it was really pretty, wish I had a picture, it was in a pen box.  As he's opening and guessing what it could be, I'm rambling on about college kids needing a pen and pencil set with their name engraved.  He totally thought I accidentally told him what was in his gift box.

"Mom, I'm not done opening." 

"Way to wreck the surprise."

I knew it wasn't open, I was just acting dingy to bug him.

Of course, it was not a pen set.  It was ca$h!  My, he was happy!

*Max is going camping with Kassie's family for Memorial weekend.  I'm sending one of our favorite camping snacks with him for the Otters.  Shhhh, it's a surprise.

Beer Sandwiches UNLESS you are underage then they are called Camping Sandwiches

NO Exceptions!

Spray the cheese product in a piece of folded salami, then place between two crackers.

Enjoy with beer for happy hour.  Or with an age appropriate beverage.

A classy camping happy hour snack that we have enjoyed for years.  We're classy like that.

*May is coming to a close.  For me May is always busy, super expensive and I'm usually relieved when it's over.  This year is no exception.  It's the December of Spring.

*The Lynden Pioneer Museum gift shop is having a sale, a close out on some Gooseberry cookbooks($9) and some discontinued playmobil, including the wedding sets and fire truck sets.  Come and shop this morning!

Leslie and Marjean will be there to help you and that's always fun.

Oh, and I got in new Swaps.  Soooo pretty!

*I'm trying to do one job per day until Max's graduation party.  The windows got washed this week, the mountain of ironing got done, Hubby spray painted the ottoman legs so I can bring it to Gerrit today.  Progress.

Last night, not so much, the Guys begged off citing that they were in a beef coma.

Tonight I'm going to wash the kitchen cabinets.  They're nasty.

*My knee... more on that later.  Sometimes I don't think I'll ever be normal again.

It makes me kinda sad.

*That's enough random.  Have a fantastic Thursday!  The long weekend is coming... Yay!

Happy Birthday Max

Happy Birthday to Max!  Our baby turned 19 today.  Time flies when you're having fun! Cliche but true.  Max has been fun,  most  of  the  time.  His graduation is in two weeks.  After graduation Max will leave to work on the farm in Eastern Washington and then on to Walla Walla Community College in the Fall.  Max takes delight in reminding me that in less than three weeks he will be leaving and then he will come home for visits but won't live here.  And if everything goes according to his plan that is true.
Gulp.  It makes me a little teary.

But in the infamous words of Troy, "you don't want him 35 and still living upstairs!"  He told me that the first time Danny wasn't coming home for Christmas.  And Troy's right.

We do want our guys to get out there, shake the world and move on to bigger and better things.  It makes me excited and proud of Max that he has goals and is so focused.  Though it'd be nice if everyone could just slow down a bit.  To his credit, he has had this plan since he was four years old.  So, it's not like I didn't know it was coming, but it was fun and fast and here we are.

Happy Birthday kiddo!  I love you.  Lots.

Photos are by my sister that is a  Snapsister

A Garden Sort of Day & A Birthday

 On Saturday I did some gardening.  Trimming the ivy (Max helped me), weeding, watering, fertilizing kind of gardening around the yard.  Later in the day I made a little fairy garden for the patio.  It needs a path and more plants but it's a  little  start.

It was Hubby's birthday on Saturday.  I took him for a drive and dinner to celebrate.  

We had a delicious dinner at the Black Forest in Blaine and went for a walk in downtown Blaine.

Then we drove to the Peace Arch State Park.  

Washington state's flower is the rhododendron and it is in full bloom.

We don't have a Discover pass so we could only stay for 15 minutes.  

Never mind that we are Washington citizens.  

Let's not talk about the Discover Pass, the park is very pretty and it's very interesting too, and if I think about the Discover Pass, I get mad.  Let's look at the flowers, foliage and sculptures instead...

 A tiny fairy garden and a BiG garden all in one day.  And a fun birthday for Hubby!  Nice.

Spinners for Our Grad

Last week I mentioned a small project that was ongoing in the laundry room.  It worked out well to quickly start a load, flip a load and work on the project.  

Max does not have a baby book and is scarred however; as of last night he does have two 7 gypsy spinners.  I got my spinner for my birthday several many years ago and then Jerrie gave me her spinner last Fall.  I had two spinners, photo sleeves and card holder tabs.  

I loved the spinners but never did anything with them.  I felt that if I did something with them it should be something fantastic because they were so cool and we got them at TOM(treasury of memories) before it closed and boy howdy, weren't those the scrapin' days?  Intimidating stuff.  I think Jerrie felt the same way.

The spinners had to be used to their full potential!

Now the spinners are centerpieces for Max's graduation party.  

Obviously, I couldn't very well start the baby book at this point.  Too late!

So, I put a new spin on the baby book.  Pun intended.

 I used wallet sized school pictures and cropped snapshots.  I used some things such as old ASB cards, Fair passes, tags from all the Vans he wore.  Max has been wearing the same shoe style, a grey and black slip-on Vans since seventh grade, it's his signature look or something.  
I added some embellishments.  

But not too many cuz guys don't embellish.  I did some embellishing for Becky... miss you miss becky.

 Nothing is in chronological order because nothing is in chronological order in the ginormous rubber maid storage that all photos get dumped in at our house.  I like to think of it as being  fun random scrapping.

Holly and Kathi came over last night to stitch and scrap.  I needed a block of time to get it finished.  They were very encouraging.  I just have to order a few more wallet photos and Max's "book" will be finished.

I just checked 7 gypsies site and if you want to make a spinner they are available online at 

7 gypsies website. And here I thought I had the last two in the whole world.  Sheesh.

Before, Pain, and After

In March I bought this cabinet at the museum's garage sale.  Marjean and Leslie were docents at the museum that morning and I'd like to blame them for this purchase slash nightmare.  But I can only blame myself.    That said, Marjean and Leslie did influence me a tad.  And we did influence Marjean to purchase a fringed and beaded leather jacket, so you can imagine that there was some peer pressure going on that Thursday morning.  Leslie bought a sweet pink cream and sugar set, which has since broken.

 I had walked past the cabinet many times without opening it.  Once I opened it and saw the radio and the phonograph I was pretty smitten.  This is where I always get carried away and imagine the AFTER and do not give one thought to the DURING of the project.

 I got it home, unloaded it and started sanding.  I plugged it in and the turn table started turning.  Jackpot!

Chris K.!  Don't read this next bit!  Not kidding!

I thought I'd use Annie Sloan Paint.  I went to buy a quart and wax but it was almost three times the price of the cabinet!  I just couldn't do it.  I went on Pinterest and found a recipe for homemade chalk paint.  I mixed up a batch, happily painted my cabinet while daydreaming about all the records Hubby and I would play while dancing the nights away.

 There was no dancing or swaying or singing along after the paint dried.  

The stain bled through.

I painted a coat of just regular paint.  I hadn't used the whole quart to mix up Pinterest chalk paint.

It bled.

I painted a coat of KILZ.

It bled.

I painted a coat of super duper primer blocker paint.

It covered.  Good thing because I was ready to toss everything on the burn pile.

Then I had a ski accident and every project came to a halt.

This week, finally...

I painted one more coat of the original paint from the original quart of paint.

It's covered.

I replaced the speaker fabric, not with the fabric I had chosen in my dreams because apparently it is only available in my dreams.  Hubby screwed everything back together.  We need a new needle and then we'll spin some tunes.

 I bought some vinyl, Hawaiian Paradise.

 It looks fine.  It's not my best project.  It started out fun and then just spiraled down hill fast.

The paint issues, the insides which are great but prevented me from being able to paint or replace the hardware, the disagreements that Hubby and I had over this piece, the fact that I haven't distressed it like I planned, the fabric that is only in my mind so I settled and all the time it took... 

it kind of just makes me cringe.

Possibly once we get the records spinning, a cocktail mixed and sway to the music it will redeem itself.

Until then... it is what it is.

The Babies

Hana (February), Zach (March) and Max (May) were born the same year.  We called them  the babies  and still refer to them as  the babies.  My Mom and Jodi took them as toddlers to Sears for a group shot.  I was at work and warned them that it would be crazy to take Max to the mall, let alone to try to get him to sit still for a picture.  Of course, it was  a zoo!  Max wouldn't sit on the bench or hold still.  There were three of them  and two adults.  My Mom said she was sweating by  the time they left Sears.  This was the best shot.

Today I organized  the babies  for a group shot.  I think Grandma and Jodi had an easier time at Sears.

Now, there's attitude, or should I say bigger attitude.

 They showed up and I am eternally grateful for their sacrifices.

Because...

I wrecked Max's fun, his plans and his life by asking for this ten minutes.

And poor Hana!  It costs her three. dollars. for. gas. to. come. to. the. picture!

Zach was quite pleasant.

Zach has been at WSU, he's been away from home.

Hana leaves for Minneapolis on Wednesday for a job.

Max leaves in June for farming and Walla Walla Community College.

 Zach has been homesick and knows how it feels to miss family.

Hana and Max, not so much.

Thanks for showing up!  I love you, babies!

Mother's Day and Sunshine

On Sunday we had brunch at Jeff and Kathi's place for Mother's Day.  It was delicious food, including creme brulee French toast, biscuits and gravy egg bake (pinterest), raspberry coffee cake, another egg bake, sausage, a beautiful fruit platter, raspberry coffee cake and mimosas.  

The guys served and the Moms were loved on.

 Well, except for these guys...  they were watching the game and wondering when the Moms would be through the line so they could get their food.

 I've been busy planting the patio pots, painting, cleaning, weeding etc.  The sun feels so good, it's hard to come inside to keep the laundry going and the meals made.  I just want to be outside.

 Enjoy the sunshine today!