Officially Summertime

Karen and I always celebrate the end of the school year with a trip to Seattle in June.  We take our sisters except none of them could go with us this year.  That didn't stop us.  We leave early to be at the University Village Sidewalk Sale by 9:00 a.m.  We go directly to Pottery Barn and join the mayhem.

This year we scored new lap quilts, glittery Christmas decor, cloth napkins, and more.

My big purchase was a duvet cover for our room, the shams were gone but I plan to use grey shams and linen taupe instead.  The fabric is pictured above as drapes.  In real life it has a more grey color with taupe.

I also scored a new raincoat at eddie bauer.  The Christine trench in stone.

Hello, my name is Tami and I'm addicted to raincoats.

Hubby was happy as I brought home a new salad spinner from William Sonoma.  We use a spinner a lot and just seem to wear them out.  I talked Karen into one too.

A fun day with a department store lunch at Nordstroms in Alderwood.

I always feel that Summer is official after this outing with Karen.

It will be official in two days, I wonder if the weatherman know that little fact?

Thank goodness I bought a new raincoat!

Happy Summer, if you can call it Summer.

Graduation Crafting

Karen passed on the graduation caps for candy and helped me find blue candy.  There's not a lot of blue candy but we found some.

 Besides making the 7 gypsies spinners for Max's graduation party I made a few other decorations for the party.  You can read more about the spinners HERE.  I also had a photo wall.

Right before the party I made a wreath using a wood oval shape that I use at Christmas time too.  I had a lot of wallet photos so I just put them on using glue dots.

 I made a bunting using school colors and my sister's cricut machine for the letters.  I had been watching for navy blue and white and light blue ribbons this spring and had collected a wide variety.  I cut them in 6-8 inch pieces and tied them between the flags.

ShellaFlora did the flowers, four beautiful bouquets for though out the house.  Shelly and I do flowers for each other when we have parties.  If you don't have a flower friend for entertaining, get one.

It was a fun, festive party for our graduate.  I loved every minute.

I packed up the pieces that can be reused and have a shopping bag for my sister who has a grad next year.

I'm finished!

New Routines

Max with his best buddy, Tyler and his parents after Tyler's graduation.  Because every post needs a picture!  And this is a good one.

Well folks, the party is over.  Hubby went back to work this morning.  He had 12 days off, in a row, almost unheard of, a staycation with grads and parties.  I went back to work yesterday and will go again today.  Max leaves for the farm today.  He will be working on the farm this summer and then off to college.  

It was all so much fun.  Now, I think we are all ready for work and routine.  

Hubby and I will ease back into routine.  Routine with a twist as we will be empty nesters.

I think we'll refeather the nest, have some patio time, and enjoy summertime.

Next chapter of life coming right up...

Graduation 2012

It rained yesterday so graduation was held inside the gym with a video stream into the worship and fine arts center.  It worked out fine because this is a smaller than usual class, twenty less kids and families makes a difference.  Max, Kassie and classmates were getting ready to line up as my folks arrived.

The guys with Mr. Thomas before graduation.  They were in deep conversation before I came to take a pic.

Max and Austin, church, football,and and dirt bike buddies .

Max and Kassie after graduation.

Curt, Drew congratulating Max and Collin..

Max and Chad.  Enough said!

 Max and Kassie with Jesse, who still hasn't forgiven me because I wouldn't let Max go to Bellingham one night when they were sophomores and who I never allowed to come to our house anytime in December because he always had to touch my eddie bauer snow globe collection and I just knew he was going to break one but we're still friends I think and he's family because Max and Jesse had the same great great grandparents.  Love Jesse and I'm going to miss him giving me grief!  Maybe.

Jesse's Dad jumped in for a photo too.

It was great to see the grads so happy and ready for the next step in their lives.  The graduates' plans  are announced as they receive their diplomas and I love to hear where they are going next.  Their families and the school have prepared them well and I'm sure they'll all make a difference in the world.

Congratulations Class of 2012!

Max's Graduation Party

It takes a village to bring up our children and last night the village came to our house to celebrate Max.

Max's high school graduation party was last night.

It was a successful party because...

it didn't rain,

family and friends who love Max were there,

we had enough food, whew,

ShellaFlora did the flowers and they were stunning,

Hubby took the week off from work, 

we have a successful grad,

there was tons of reminiscing and laughing,

Aunt Jodi came in the morning and wrapped 10 cans of water chestnuts with bacon which saved my bacon,

Max's Uncle John, Aunt Cherie and Aunt Laura drove for hours to be at his party,

Karen baked Max's most favorite almond cookies,

Elea offered to take my camera and get some shots, thank goodness or there wouldn't have been any pics,

Max's Mama didn't fall over,

Grandpa and Grandma from George came and spent the day,

there were tons of one biter brownies leftover which makes the Grad very happy, I assumed everyone ate a dozen because the Grad did while I was baking them,

there was a hen house and a dads' beer garden,

and mostly importantly...

the Grad was very, very happy!

Graduation Week

It's grad week.  It's here.  We have two graduations this week, Max from Lynden Christian High School and my niece, Katie from Lynden High School.  So many parties!  A lot of cake to eat, graduates to celebrate and good times to be had... It's a fun week and I plan to enjoy it to the MAX!

Many parties to go to and... one to give.  

I have lists and am actually starting to look at them.  :)

Hubby and I are doing the BIG shop today. I've been baking brownie bites, creating a bunting, and cleaning and cleaning and cleaning.

Hubby and Max have been doing yard work.  We need it to stop raining STAT so they can finish.

Hubby waxed the floors.  God bless him and his knees.

Nothing like a party at our house to get us in high gear.  Otherwise we  sluff  along with what I refer to as

"false clean".  You know, where things are put away but really everything is dusty, grimy and needs attention.  Oh, you don't have that at your house?  Well, aren't you something?

I better get busy, I can see dust from here...