DMV

Max needed to go to the DMV this morning for an enhanced driver's license. As I am enjoying my coffee this morning he asks me to check the web site and double check what he needs to take with him.
*Birth Certificate
*Social Security Card
*Proof of Address- but not a bank statement
*A Parent
WHAT?
Seriously. A freakin' guardian.
I was finished with the DMV.
Not so, not so.
Showered, called Troy (boss) and drove to the DMV.

Whoa, it's Thursday. They open an hour later on Thursdays. I forgot.
Whoa, everyone in line is talking about that the DMV computers have been DOWN.
Whoa, yesterday was Veteran's Day, so DMV was closed. Thus everyone who tried to go yesterday showed up this morning.
Fortunately, it wasn't raining. We jumped in line-fifth place, and waited it out.
By the time they opened the line was curling everywhere. Happy to be at the front!

We got to go right up to the counter, zip zap and we're outta there.

*Sidenote- We saw this kid in line and if the fashion police had been around someone would have locked him up and thrown away the key.
BaGGy, huge shorts, like Nike, only BIG! With black socks and patent leather black high tops. I mention this to Max, who I can tell is glancing that way and trying not to stare. It's hard not to look, like a big ole train wreck hard not to stare. I so wanted to take a picture to share with all of you.

Max- "He is a QB for ________JV football team. I hit him a lot."
Me- "Well, you didn't knock any fashion sense into him."
Max-"Mom, I can't do everything."

Too true kiddo.

Driving home I get a bad case of cell phobia. Can't find my cell phone. Flip a U turn at Horton, probably not legal. We're looking, calling my phone. Nothing.
I send Max back in, park and can faintly hear my cell vibrating...yep it was in my purse. Buried deeply in my purse.

I was punished. I had to listen to the Arctic Monkey's at a HIGH volume... all the way home.
Need a vacation? Yep.
Leaving tonight.

Happy Veteran's Day

Thank you to the Veterans who have so willingly served our country. Do you ever go to the store, a football game or church and just feel the freedoms we enjoy? Sometimes I look around myself and am overwhelmed with the blessing of freedom. Sometimes I see people doing things that I don't agree with but I do give thanks that they have the freedom to do what they think is right. Somedays I take it all for granted. Maybe that is the blessing of freedom, we don't have to think about it.

I am a military mom now. It changes how I watch the news. As a family we react differently when we read of Spc. Aaron Aamot of Whatcom County losing his life in Afghanistan while serving his country. His family must be so filled with grief and yet so proud of Aaron. We feel so sad for the tragedy at Fort Hood, we imagine if it was our son. All of these grieving families need our prayers and thanks.

Sam is doing so well. His Dad and I are so proud of him and fascinated with what he is doing in the U.S. Army. On Saturday he moves to the Blue Phase of Basic Training. He has passed many of the requirements. Graduation is coming and we can hardly wait.

Read Psalm 91 today. It's the Soldier's Psalm. Sam and his bunkmates have devotions together and have spent time in Psalm 91. Today because you have the freedom to do so, say Thank You to a veteran, read the Soldier's Psalm, pray for our military men and women, and ask for comfort for the families and friends of the soldiers at Fort Hood and for Aaron's parents and family.

God bless America-

Party Season Begins

Friday evening Hubby made salsa. We needed it for a Pioneer Woman recipe for Saturday evening. He made plenty and it was kind of my dinner plan. Pico de gallo and chips, and wine. We ran errands all day. Eye doctor, Lowe's, JoAnne's, Panda Express, Micheal's, Trader Joe's, Haggen's, Office Max, Goodwill, TJ Maxx and Bed, Bath and Beyond. It was grueling.

Then the phone rang.
Then Mike and Chela brought us Chela's famous tamales.
Then angels sang.
Then we had the perfect dinner.
I get to go to Chela's house to learn how to make tamales. This is a very happy thing for my guys. And for me.

Saturday evening we went to the annual pumpkin carving party at the Party Barn. Except this year we were late so we didn't carve. We just ate, laughed, visited and ate some more.
I made this easy appy.

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Two cans of water chestnuts, facon*, equal parts brown sugar and ketchup(I used about 2/3 cup each). I wrap 1/2 piece of bacon around each water chestnut. You can make them earlier in the day and bake later.

Just wrap, drizzle, bake. I usually bake at about 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. You want the brown sugar to turn into candy.
Candy + bacon=goodness
That is all the math you'll ever need.
I brought them to a barn, a very fancy barn. They did not come home with me.

It was very difficult to Eat Less, Move More this weekend.
I also baked Mariner Moose MoJo Bars. Don't ask.

The holiday are coming, the holidays are coming. I'm scared.

December Daily

Last December I made a December Daily album. Ali Edwards is the queen of this album and encourages everyone to try it. The album is made ahead and in December you just add photos. In theory it's all good.

Reality was that I missed several days, absolutely no clue what I did. I don't have a good printer so I ordered my prints from Costco. Costco Photo lines are out the door in December.

After last year I swore I'd never do it again... never say never.

I was looking at my album from last year and in spite of it's blank spots it is fun to look back and so, yep, I am doing it again.

Last year I made my own album. This year I found this 8x8 album at Micheals 40% off. For $8.99 I am not making one.

I bought three other supplies, k&Company borders and their small pad of paper and the making memories Mistletoe spiral journaling book. The rest I will use what I had left from last year's supplies.


Jerrie taught me to keep all Christmas scrapping supplies separate from other supplies. Good tip!

I have a good start and on the days we will be in Oklahoma at Sam's graduation I used my Army papers and stickers. I do look at my calendar and see what is coming and do plan some pages. The rest I go with Christmas papers and make it work.

If I miss a day I am not going to worry about it. It's still is a fun book to remember the holidays.

One thing I am doing differently is ordering my prints to be delivered to my house.

This year Hubby's family is coming to Lynden for Christmas. We haven't had them here over the holidays before and we're excited so I will add a few extra pages for those dates.

C'mon make one with me. Let me know if you jump in!

Waste Not Thy Hour

Reverb wrote about Ephesians 5: 15,16- Be very careful, then how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Evil? Read what Reverb has to say about this verse.

I had read his post awhile back and was reminded this week as the Whatcom Middle School burned. I loved driving past that school and seeing those big front doors with "Waste Not Thy Hour" above the entry.

Always wanted to stop and take my pic under that quote, never did and now it is too late.

Fill every day with God glorifying minutes, moments and hours. Be reminded.

Before and After Message Center

Yesterday it was our anniversary, our eight years in the Stone House anniversary. It is the longest we have lived in a house. I hope to stay until the end.

We have what I lovingly refer to as a one butt kitchen. It is small. As you walk into the kitchen from the mud room we have our telephone, calendar, message center. I had a piece of furniture that I bought from my Aunt Clarice when we had a garage sale together. It is an unusual desk, the bottom drawer slides out and has a top for a writing space. She got it from my Great Aunt Lula and until 1986 it had been stored in a barn for as long as anyone could remember, then I took it home and smelled up my apartment.

Anyway, not enough storage, always looked cluttered, but we could not find the right replacement. Only 30 inches wide and 12 inches deep made for a long search. On my field trip to Ikea I found the right piece. One problem, it's press board, which Hubby couldn't believe I would bring into our home. Lowered my standards but I'm okay with it.

BEFORE:



After:


I need a black leather bin for the bottom shelf yet.


Some of my heart rocks that the guys collected for me displayed in a jar. A stack of letters from Sam tied with a ribbon. These are a few of my favorite things.

The three lights are from Ikea and give a nice evening light for the kitchen/entry area.

Everything is labeled and organized. I hope it stays neat and tidy.


I am working on files and labels and a few more ideas to make this space work. I am closer now than eight years ago but still have a ways to go.