Thankful Thursday

1. God is always there
2. The roses have begun to bloom
3. Sunshine on my shoulders and arms and legs and...
4. House projects getting done
5. New books to read
6. Clothes fitting better
7. Starbuck's passion tea w/ SF vanilla
8. Shopping with gift cards
9. Felt very loved on my birthday
10. I get to go sit on the porch now...

ex-haus-tion Pt. 2

WARNING...really long post....

I should preface to say that it was my birthday weekend. Yes, at the Canazzi's we celebrate for more than one day. Also, for the last 15 years I have been planning my birthday parties. Really it is just a good reason to have friends get together. Here we are at the very first one in 1994 at the beach...

On Friday...

I made some treats to share for the weekend activities. These are rice krispie pops-basically rice krispie treats shaped into balls, stick inserted, dipped in coating and sprinkles. I also did marshmallows in the same treatment...

My chalkboard message from Amy (DD)... Gary painted my metal chair and stool after having them sand blasted...

Oh and the house needed to be cleaned...

The end of day one...

Then on Saturday I had my "friends" party-they all met me at the Academy in Vancouver and were treated to a photo shoot by my Professional Photographer husband. Some greeted this news better than others. I didn't tell them ahead of time so they couldn't opt out...

We did individuals of each gal and then a few group shots and then different groupings for a cute frame I had purchased. In this photo they are telling stories about how they met me-some are kinda embarrassing for me but they all thought they were funny...

Me-Laurie-Vicki-Tracy-June-Judith-Janene-Teri...

Fred Meyer, 1/2 off the marked down price...couldn't pass it up...

Then we headed to Saturday Market here in town to shop. Here is a photo of me with the balloon hat June bought me. But it was windy so I couldn't wear it-oh darn!

This lady had the coolest magnetic clasp bracelets mad with jewels, but at $52 I couldn't get one...

We then headed back to my house for sack lunches. It was kinda cold and windy, but we had decorated the porch so I made them all sit outside. By the time we were done, Gary had the best images processed and ready for us all to have our very own CD. What a guy!!

Naps for Gary and I were next on the agenda. I didn't sleep well the night before because of the anticipation...

Later we did an engagement shoot for some friends. Corey has been a friend of Nick's (DS) for years and Lauren has been a friend to Gabriele (DS love). We offered them this shoot and prints for their wedding present. Had a lot of fun but took more than the hour we estimated. They got engaged and are getting married at our church's Westside location, so we headed there to start. Then drove down the road a bit to one of our favorite locations.

Dinner out with my free coupon...

The end of day 2...

On Sunday we picked DD up and headed out for lunch and shopping. We tried a new restaurant in Portland called The Grilled Cheese Grill.

This place is so cute and has an outdoor eating eating area as well as indoor inside an old bus. They are painting a mural on the ceiling of the bus that is fantastic.

Then to Stars in the Milwaukee area for some antiquing. Love these stores-lots of vendors inside two roofs so you get a lot of variety.

We then drove around looking at houses and yards for ideas, etc. DD liked the porch railing on this one.

Dinner back at the house was barbecue-here are my dad and Karl (DSIL) getting the burgers on.

oh and fruit salad made by DS and his love-

burger fixins-

After dinner, Amy, Nick and Gabriele played games with me. Pictionary and Scattergories-

The end of day 3...

On Monday morning I helped Gary put up part of a fence and then DS came over to help. Gabriele had homework to do. She is in her first semester of nursing school-so very proud of her!

I painted a little picket fence DD was tossing out to corral my daisies...

The almost finished fence, still have a bit of securing to do...

There will soon be a little covered sitting area in front of it for my wicker chairs-part of my Mother's Day/Birthday gift from my family.

The end of day 3...

So now you see why we were both exhausted!! Oh and I am an introvert by nature-that means I "recharge" by being alone. So that is what I did Monday...recharged.

Today, I am doing some laundry, bookkeeping, photo work, teaching my student about making earrings, blogging, exercising and having grilled pork chops for dinner. Gary will be gone this evening so I will either read a book or watch TV. I will need it by then!

ex-haus-tion

ex·haus·tion (eg zôs′c̸hən, ig-)
noun
the act of exhausting
the state of being exhausted; esp.,
great fatigue or weariness
the condition of being used up; complete consumption

This is what we are feeling at the Canazzi's...so much so that wife had
to take husband a coffee at work! I told him not to smile but look exhausted...

Me...I will be on the couch catching up on DVR recordings and doing as little as possible today. Will be back tomorrow with a long post about why we are exhausted!!

Thankful Thursday

Today's thankful list comes from Phil. 413
" I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

1. I can garden
2. I can craft
3. I can cook
4. I can decorate
5. I can encourage others
6. I can bake
7. I can create memories
8. I can be a friend
9. I can organize
10. I can write

Christ enables me to do all these things
and be there for others as needs arise.
For that I am truly thankful.

Monday Memories

My birthday is this week so I am posting some photos from my 7th birthday...
Notice the table and chairs-so like my own. I loved the bright yellow then. My brother David always knew when the camera was on! I love the look on my brother Mike's face and the fact that his clothes are too small. I love the outfit I have on...

There were actually a few more photos from this day in the set and in all of them with presents, I am holding up dresses.

Thankful Thursday

My many Blessings....

1. The day I finally said "yes Lord", peace amongst the storm called being a teenager.

2. The day I met this man. I didn't know my life was about to change. He is so strong and is my sanity when I am unstable. I am loving spending time with just him without having others here all the time. This is my Gary-

3. Since I was a child, I was a nurturer. I always wanted to have a different life than my mom.The day I became a Mom fullfiled those dreams, I got to be a stay-at-home mom and fill my children's lives with all sorts of fun. This is my Amy with her lovely, Karl-

4. Three and a half years later my fun-loving boy arrived. I didn't know what I was in for! He has turned out to be an amazing young man who is extremely caring and creative. His videos amaze me, how he has a simple vision and turns it into something awesome.

This is Nick and his lovely, Gabriele-

5. My home...just over 1000 sq. ft. of lovely- I love that my children want to come back to visit often. That friends feel comfortable and relaxed here. That it is now "just the right size."

6. My craft cottage-a little 10x12 room filled with most everything I need to scrapbook and create cards and other great projects.

7. My yard-huge by some standards but filled with lots of flowers and just a bit of grass. It is calming to look out and see what new color is blooming.8. Great quotes-I am always looking for ones that remind me to slow down and take a look at things differently.

9. My friends (see April 30 post) they love me just as I am...something I am trying to learn myself!

10. My blogs- I have never been one who kept a daily journal. This blog allows me to do that and my other one reminds me to take joy in my everyday life.

10 A. Each day I get to try again... Lamentations 3:21-23 " Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

What's happening...

Sunday Gary and Amy made lunch-

cooking up taco meat for salads. One pan has onions and peppers the other is plain.Then my present...I love presents...
Yep, they are paying for supplies and installing a cover and lights so I can sit out there on rainy summer nights!

Then some photos of what is blooming currently....Spirea and lilac and a big, huge house next door-

More lilac, different color and my tree peony-

Amy was trying to get a close-up of the tree peony and Nick was bugging her...He did a lot of that on Sunday...brought back a lot of good memories...what younger brother doesn't do things to bug his "big" sister? Love it!!

Monday memories on Wednesday...

Found this card in my grandma's things after she passed.... I made it but I can't tell you when. I am guessing early teen's. That "ninny" he pops off the page. Glad I have improved through the years!

All I wanted...

This is all I ever wanted...to be a wife and mother.
To let my children experience life and grow.

To be with them every step of the way.

I am blessed...

Thankful Thursday

I read this quote today:
"Eventually I discovered for myself the utterly simple prescription for creativity:
be intensely yourself. Don't try to be outstanding; don't try to be a success;
don't try to do pictures for others to look at-just please yourself." by Ralph Steiner

That is where my 10 things come from today...

1. I can take a day (or two) and read all day
2. I am glad I took the time to make scrapbooks
3. I am proud of the mom I was and am
4. I love my house
5. I blog as a journal-for me
6. I miss my mom and grandma (remember, not everyone wants to be around theirs!)
7. I like myself, just as I am
8. I don't have to be everything to anyone
9. I send cards etc, just because-not looking for something back
10. I am working on becoming complete in my mind