[ ash wednesday ]

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The purpose of Lent is to reflect, repent, and soul-search in the 40 days leading up to Easter. It's a time to focus on Jesus and what he did for us. He spent 40 days in the wilderness, so the idea is to give something up for 40 days and in a sense, enter the wilderness like Jesus did.

I always feel a lot of pressure to figure out what to give up for Lent or what to add to my life for these 40 days. It always seems to sneak up on me! I'm not great at giving up things, which is the purpose of giving something up, but still...In college, I gave up Pepsi one year. That was silly. One can not live without it. What was I thinking?! Since then, I have always been adamant about not giving something up. Working with the Youth Group, I feel like I need to set a good example - and if we encourage them to give something up, I should do it too.

I could give up online shopping (thanks for the idea, Whitney!) because heaven knows I'm good at that! But, then, I think - I should've bought my makeup refills yesterday and I do still need to get a birthday gift for my cousin...the list goes on and on. Maybe I could give up buying craft supplies, scrapbook supplies, fabric, and sewing notions online. That would be actually good. Just online, though, right? I could still go to Craft Warehouse?!

What about the idea of adding something?! I heard about that idea in college and really liked it. They say that it takes a period of time to make something a habit - so adding something like reading the Bible everyday, would hopefully create a habit by Easter. I've been doing better about reading scriptures because of my Scripture Challenge I'm doing during 2009. I'm still not great, not consistent, not studying as much as skimming...I could pray more...I could make an effort to go to church each Sunday (what a concept!).

I think I'll do the online crafty shopping. It will be tough, but I can do it. (Plus, it will be a lot easier to pay my taxes!!!) Forty days...here we go!

[ tuesday ]

Today was a crazy day. School wasn't anything new, fun, or exciting...nor bad, awful, or frustrating. Just blah. Jennifer and I were looking for things to keep ourselves busy (well, I had plenty to do - but I liked chatting with Jen and helping her find things to keep her busy!). haha....

After school was another story...

I finally got to meet Liam Fife. He is definitely a Fife with the distinct lips, mouth, and chin! He's precious - we just didn't get started on the right foot. Everytime I held him, he cried. Hopefully our next meeting will be more fun!

I went home real quick and got ready for Junior Miss. Tonight was our public ticket sales, so there was apparently a line forming around 2pm this afternoon for the ticket sales that went on sale at 5:30pm. When I looked at 5:30, there was a line almost all the way down to the band room (ticket sales were at the CHS Breezeway with the ticket table at the door of the auditorium). We have about 60 tickets left - out of 400! WOW!

Our practices are becoming fewer in number, so we're trying to pack as much as possible at each practice. Mom and I were frantic getting to practice tonight, so I hope we didn't put that frantic feeling on the contestants. They are on the crescendo and getting more and more prepared for March 14th. It's coming...and fast! AH!

I left JM early to make it to the Beta meeting. Tonight was the wrap up for the Crafting Retreat, so I had a lot to present and talk about. It went well and we are planning on having it again next year. YAY! I proposed some things to make next year better and I think they were well-received. I hope it works out. We did decide to have the retreat at the Clarion again next year - for all of those who are wondering! :) I think it will either be January 29-31 or February 5-7, 2010.

Anyway - got home tonight and had a bowl of Trix. Rehashing the day with the parents. Staying up way past my bedtime. Decided not to go to the Lenten Breakfast tomorrow morning at 6:30am. Tomorrow will be long enough without being out the door at 6:30am. :)

[ welcome to the world! ]

Liam Patrick Fife

February 21, 2009

8:43 pm

8 lbs. 6 oz. 19 in.

Congratulations Zach, Jessica, and Ronan!

[ irritated ]

Being sick is irritating the crap out of me. I'm feeling ok - but I know I'm sick and I don't want to get other people sick! It's making me miss so many fun things this weekend, including:

• Craft Day with Jessica and Amy. I've really been looking forward to hanging out with them. I really don't want to get them sick - especially Emersyn and Delaney.

• meeting Liam Patrick Fife. He was born last night around 8:45pm. I was hoping that my sickness would be cleared up today so that I could visit Liam and Jessica in the hospital before going to Jessica Perkins' to craft. No such luck. I definitely need to keep my distance from Liam for a few days. BUMMER.

So - I'm here...at home...watching the Food Network...thinking about going downstairs to get something done before my afternoon nap. I slept so long yesterday that I had a terrible sleep night last night. I probably should power through this afternoon to get back on the right schedule, so we'll see.

So - sorry girls. I really wish I could hang out with you. Have fun and post pictures! :)

[ sleep ]

I just woke up from a 3 or 4 hour nap - not sure how long because I don't remember what time I fell asleep. :) Hopefully that will knock this sickness!

For those who are wondering what decisions were made at our class reunion meeting today....NONE! No one else showed up, so I left after waiting 30 minutes. I guess we'll have to reschedule?! or do it via email. I'm not sure.

[ yuck ]

I think I have strep. Yuck.

{ tagged }

Thanks for the tag, Jennifer! I love being tagged!! :)

Rules: 1) post the rules on your blog. 2) Answer the six "8" items. 3)Let people you tagged know by leaving a commment.

8 favorite tv shows:
1. The Real Housewives of Orange County
2. Big Brother
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. CSI
5. The Ellen Degeneres Show
6. House Hunters
7. So You Think You Can Dance
8. Jeopardy

8 things I did yesterday:
1. took Samson to the groomer
2. hung out with Jessica and Emersyn
3. meet baby Hailey Serra
4. pieced a quilt together
5. played "Yard Sale" on my iPhone
6. went to Target
7. enjoyed Starbucks
8. went to Craft Warehouse for absolutely no reason at all

8 things I am looking forward to:
1. going to Vancouver, BC for Spring Break
2. having my life back (after Junior Miss)
3. football season with Jessica and Emersyn!
4. SPRING
5. finishing a quilt
6. 10-year class reunion
7. craft retreat in April
8. summer at Priest Lake!

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Outback
2. PF Changs
3. Starbucks (you can buy food there!)
4. McDonalds
5. Anthony's
6. Mei Lings
7. Twigs
8. Fiesta

8 things on my wishlist:
1. go to Minnesota

2. go to NYC
3. experience the Northeast (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, etc.)
4. bigger craft room
5. more sleep
6. more days off (the last two were SOOO nice!)

7. the new Quilts and More magazine

8. for July to come!

2 people I tagged:
1. Jessica
2. Kira

3. Jande

4. Mikaela

5. Annette

6. Amy

7. Ashley

8. Jamie

[ terrible blogger ]

I have been a terrible blogger lately. I guess I haven't had much going on that is blog worthy.

I have been going like crazy - and soooo thankful for this wonderful 4-day weekend. I don't think I've been so excited for days off in a long time!

Backing up...

Thursday, I went to the basketball games in Burbank and met Jessica & Emersyn. Emersyn is growing up to be such a big girl! She has developed a fun personality. It has been a long time since we've gotten to hang out, so it was fun to be together. The games were pretty good too, not that we really watch them.

On Friday, I got my hair colored after school. Small peas, I know, but I love getting my hair cut and colored. I didn't change anything, but it's still wonderful to get a fresh cut and to cover the vast gray that appears after a few weeks.

Friday night, we took Grandma out to dinner at Mei Lings for an early Valentine...Mei Lings is always fabulous!!

Ok - Saturday - Junior Miss in the morning, then I went to the Regional Wrestling Meet that was here yesterday. In high school, I never even went to a wrestling meet, but my first year at CHS, I was coerced into coaching wrestling cheerleading. Although I hated the long long days at tournaments, I grew to appreciate wrestling. Shocking. Anyway - I was excited to support the werestlers yesterday. They are great. It's a difficult sport, but we have some great athletes! I had to leave early, so I'm not sure how many of our students qualified, but CHS will definitely be represented well in Tacoma at the state tournament next weekend.

I met Mom & Dad at Michael Jay's last night for their delish prime rib and seafood buffet. YUM!

That gets us to today. I'm planning on running some errands in the Tri-Cities with my Mom later this morning and then relaxing/crafting this afternoon. Tomorrow is a full day!

[ happy valentines day ]

[ yum! }

Since the first of the year, Dad has been travelling to Olympia for a few days each week. This last week, he brought home a special treat that we like to call { dinner }:

YUM! Fresh crab and pan-fried oysters...plus we had delicious asparagus a la Hawkins. (We used Hawkins' recipe that is AMAZING! I could eat it every day! It's just asparagus marinated for 10 minutes in olive oil, Johnny's seasoning salt, and Montreal steak seasoning.)

Anyway - just had to brag....Did I say how amazing it was!?

[ baby shower ]

Today was Jessica (Fife)'s baby shower at PF Changs!

This is the diaper cake that Kate & I made - it made a great centerpiece!

It was nice to be together with everyone, relax, and enjoy lunch together.

[ craft projects ]

Finally, I had an opportunity to take some pictures of the scrapbook pages I completed last weekend at the Crafters Getaway, an update to my Scripture Challenge cards, and some other things I've been working on.

Here are the Scripture Challenge cards. The past two weeks' words were change and peace. Finding the "peace" scripture was easy - it's one of my all-time favorite scriptures - John 14:27 {Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.}

Finding the atc cards that these Scripture Challenges are supposed to go on wasn't so easy. I put them in a really safe, really logical place and cannot find them. I have looked on THREE separate occasions and still cannot locate them. I hate when that happens!!

Here are the scrapbook pages I created last weekend, plus a quick one I put together today. Have I said lately how much I love scrapbooking with kits? I love the trendy paper and embellishments that come in the kits (things I would never buy on my own, but love having in my stash and on my pages) and I love having specific instructions that create beautiful pages. I will claim to be crafty, but I am not creative. I have a terrible time coming up with cool looking pages...with that, I leave you with these:

Since they're a little hard to see...

This page is dedicated to Dad being sworn into his 2nd term as Franklin County Commissioner. I haven't finished journaling about it. I have a lot to say. ;)

My Christmas card letter and photo card:

This is us getting ready for Christmas...

Christmas Eve:

Christmas around the house:

(Before you starting giving me a bad time about being caught up on my scrapbooking, let me just tell you that I do not scrapbook in any sort of order. I see what kits I have, the themes, what pictures I have...and pick something that I WANT to scrapbook, not something I HAVE to scrapbook because it comes next in the chronological progression. I have only recently begun scrapping this way and it has really relieved the pressure. I went through many recessions in my scrapbooking because I felt pressure to scrapbook in chronological order and that's just not the way I work. I feel so FREE with this approach!)

My Birthday....a CHANG GOOD TIME!:

Wine Tasting in Chelan:

These are my favorite RED Stampin' Up 3-ring Scrapbooks. I love them. All of the pages inside of them have been created with page kits. ah....

This is a new quilt top that I began working on last weekend....until my sewing machine had to go into time out. I tried taking it out again this morning, but it still is acting up. Not sure what is wrong...I don't know enough about it to screw around with it too much.

My fabric stash is overflowing! I even had to get a separate Rubbermaid tub for it. These are just the charm packs and scraps (and some fat quarters, it looks like). Oh my...

My mom got this basket for my favorite quilting magazines to go in. I really really love this magazine. Like, really really. The projects in it seem do-able to ME and it has more trendy quilt ideas than old-lady ones. I'm picky about that! This magazine only comes out quarterly, but the next one is supposed to be on shelves on March 2nd. You bet I'll be on the lookout!

And, finally - these aren't crafty, but I need them while I craft. I am in love with these Nestle White Fudge Flipz. They're a little hard to find, but I saw them last week at the Dollar Tree, so I loaded up with about 8 bags. I think I need to get a few more while they're there. It's such a great price! I really think they get my creative juices flowing, too...what an excuse!

How's that, Jess?! That should tide you over for a while! :)
I have a grooming appt for Samson next Tuesday (no school - inservice day and I am NOT going!), so maybe we can get together with a Target date again or something. I found some little things for Emersyn when I was in town yesterday.

I have one more crafty thing up my sleeve that I've been holding out on posting a picture of. Kate and I made it for Jessica Fife's baby shower that we're having tomorrow at PF Chang's. I'm not sure if Jessica reads my blog or not and I don't want to chance it since we're pretty excited about our project. I took pictures of it today, so I'll post them tomorrow evening after the shower. You'll have to come back and check it out.

[ american bandstand ]

Last night, we enjoyed Pasco High School's 10th Avenue Singers annual show! This is the third year we've gone and I would say that this year's is the best one yet! The theme was "American Bandstand" and they took us from the 1960s to the 1980s in about 2 hours! It was fabulous - they have shows today at 1pm and tonight at 7:30pm. Tickets are available at the door. If you can - GO! It's worth it!

On my list of to-do items today is taking pictures of what I accomplished at the Crafters Getaway last weekend and posting them. I hope it happens! :)

[ one for you jess ]

Ok, Jess...

Here's a post for you.

• Yes, I cannot believe that Emersyn is almost a year old. Where di the time go!?! I miss hanging out with you guys SOOOO much!!
• I don't know where that random purple pen came from...and I DON'T think Atty Cat is writing SOS letters from under your bed!
• I really want to craft with you guys - but I think you will intimidate me!
• American Idol...I don't like it after auditions are over. I'd rather watch Grey's Anatomy, of course! :)
• I really really really miss you at CHS...when I'm having a bad day, you're not there to cheer me up and I have no where to hide during lunch duty! Plus - I just miss you and your take on life at CHS.

How's that for a post today!? :)

[ just a little game ]

Thanks for the fun game, Kim! :)

If you'd like to join in the fun, leave me a comment and let me know you want to play. I'll assign you a letter. Then you post at least 10 things you love that begin with the assigned letter.

1. Koffee at Starbucks

2. Kabin at Priest Lake

(K is HARD!)

3. Klocks

4. Kids

5. Kicks on Wii

6. Krocs

7. Kate

8. Krafting

9. Kanine Samson

10. Kristmas

Whew!

Edited: Duh! My Mom just read my post and said, what about the "Koch's"?! Oh my - a true "K". Guess I'll have to add it!

[ crafters getaway ]

The 2009 Beta Psi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Crafters Getaway was a huge success! I have several ideas rolling around in my brain to make improvements for 2010. It was a lot of fun, I got a lot accomplished, and enjoyed time with good friends.

I'll post pictures soon - maybe tomorrow. I got 4 hours of sleep last night and am exhausted. Good exhausted. :)