Happy Birthday Gramfield

My mom's mom would have been 100 on Feb 9th. My mom, sister, and I went to celebrate by going antiquing, and lunch. This is what my birthday "gift" was from my mom, an antique scale. Hill got a beaded purse and bird necklace....
My mom also found some really cool paper flowers that she bought.... As it so happened, on Sat morn when I went to my home page there was a video tutorial for them! What a coincidence....or not!

I made these this morning for my kid's teachers for Valentine's day.

PS - I also learned that Gramfield used to make ginger bread men cookies and to hang them she would tie the ribbon around their neck! Funnest laugh of the day was over that one!

Apparently

I have always had a thing for blond hair, red handbags, big sunglasses, and accessories.

My favorite thing about this picture (circa 1978ish) though is that it reminds me of my Grams' house. This was taken on her front porch and she had this exact pictured framed in her house in a wooden frame with heart cut outs. I can still hear the clock ticking in her front room. It's amazing how you can miss someone so much that your heart hurts sometimes.

Photogenic

My sister in law from California came up to visit her sister who had recently moved to the area. We were able to see her for a quick Sunday dinner.

This girl is one of the most photogenic ladies I know. Maybe it's her kindness that shines through....seriously, she is one of the kindest I know too.... Lucky Rug.

I want a Boat

This was at the end of our night....but it summed up our boat trip on the Willamette nicely.
We went with some friends to downtown Portland and had dinner on the water.

Me flashing gang signs or something?

Yes, we even swam. I think I was the only one who needed a life jacket. :) I'm such a sucky swimmer. And I needed to be pretty agile to look for sharks anyway.

I will talk Brian into getting another boat someday. Mark my words!

Look What I did

I found this dress for 65 cents at our local thrift store!!!!

I loved the pattern and the pleated skirt. However the sleeves were just a little off.... Soooooo I cut them and used no sew tape on them.

Before:

After:

I think I love it!

I should have got a picture of a twirl, because that is how I felt all day!

38

Guess who turned 38??? Old I tell you.

For his Birthday, B's parents watched the kids overnight and we headed to the Coast. Truly our favorite place to be.
We started out the trip with a new hike for both of us. Cascade Trail just South of Neskowin. Us almost at the Summit. I think it was almost 1300 feet in elevation.

I wanted to run the whole thing....but Bri declined. Just kidding. There were seriously some steep spots that had us stopping to catch our breath.

Lincoln City is to the South.

The Salmon River and Cascade Range.

After the hike we rolled into Oceanside to be greeted with this sunset! I feel so often like this place was created for us.

Waking up in the morning at 10.... Yes, I said 10 am. Reading my "People" magazine taking in this view.

Happy Birthday B!!!

A Random Tuesday Night

We went to see Mindy Gledhill last night, Brian, I and about 250 other girls. Brian can be such a trooper! In all seriousness, we both really enjoyed it. It's hard to screw up live music for us. I had seen her new video on line a few weeks ago and saw that she was touring up in Oregon. I thought to myself how that would be so cool to go see her perform.... and then thought wait, why don't I go see her perform. The concert was at the Venetian in Hillsboro, an intimate theatre with great seats for all. I could have had some great pictures.... had I brought my camera. The below are taken from Brian's blackberry For her last song she had all the kids in the audience come up on stage to help her perform....so cute. Most of the girls were just beaming. Had it not been on a school night, I would have loved to have brought Avery

A close up, signing autographs.

Not bad for a Tuesday night, better than watching bad television!

13.1 x 3

This was my 3rd year attending the Girlfriends half marathon....unfortunately I was not there to run this year (I deferred my registration in hopes of healing my lower back). I seriously wanted to cry..... but it was good because I was there to support a dear friend doing her first half marathon. It was especially meaningful as her mother had just completed her last round of chemo for breast cancer.

It was Sunday after all... Had to get a picture in front of a church.

I seriously LOVE these girls.

At the finish.

It was an amazing day. We were surrounded by inspirational, strong women. Andrea was beaming over the finish line..... I think she is now hooked.

Date Night

It was not quite as exciting as the one with Steve Carrel and Tina Fey.... but only because Mark Walberg wasn't there..... The rest of it was awesome.

This was the view from the roof top of McMinnemins in McMinnville....that's a lot of M's and n's.

We ate here. It was incredible. And I looked good too....although no pictures to prove it. I wore my new boots and a military jacket.

Afterward we listened to a folk rock live band downstairs. 'Boulder Acoustic Society'. We bought their CD and talked to them afterward. One of the band members said they were on Itunes.... I told him that I thought they had "made it " than! He said, "tell that to my wife". I thought that was funny.

Amazing.

The Next Closest thing to a Beach

More catch up from this summer:

Kiran came to visit in Aug, it was a short trip and my heart always hurts when she leaves. We packed a lot of fun in this little visit, including some sunshine.

This spot actually has the word Beach in it's title.... Cottonwood Beach. And it really does feel like a 'beach' without the two our drive right on the Columbia.

Sisters.

I love my sisters. They understand me, make me laugh, make me want to be smarter. Help me to be compasionate. Force me to see myself as I really am, which is mostly better and sometimes worse than I think. I can't think of anyone I would rather be around.

13 Years

September 17, 1997
I'll spare you all the gushy, emotional talk today. All I will say is that I'm so thankful you married me. I know it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. I love you for so many reasons.

143

I Cut Bangs

Thoughts?

I think I love them, today anyway.....