.Creating the Life I Love.

January 22, 2012

. fun Saturday night .

After being cooped up all week because of the snow and ice, Nick, Kate, and Kamryn got to come to our house on Saturday night to share dinner and play games. Kamryn keeps us entertained all night long.

She is brushing Samson’s hair here—he was a good sport and didn’t really make a move or peep while she was doing it. He’s so tolerant!

Kamryn found a bottle of nail polish in our living room and immediately took off her socks to polish her toes. That girl knows where it’s at! :) Luckily, even the adults couldn’t get the cap off the bottle of polish and Melissa took over polishing duties. Kamryn was so serious watching Melissa polish her little toes!

I had found a recipe on Pinterest last week that sounded delish, so Mom made it last night. It’s a one-pot pan of red potatoes, chicken, and asparagus with butter and lemon. It was yummy! No pictures since we dove in so fast!

Mom, Melissa, Kate, and I played the game “Carcassonne” which is like Settlers of Cataan, but easier (according to Kate). It’s really fun and I even downloaded the iPad app after Nick and Kate left last night!

Love these days spent with such good friends. Nick made the comment that our house feels like a second home…”for the past 30 years.” :) The feeling is mutual! They’re going to visit Dave and Angie for 2 weeks in February and I’m really going to miss them!!

.frances and louise visit WA.

We got to spend the afternoon with Lisa, Frances, Louise, and the rest of the Heider crew today! The girls are growing so much and every time we get to see them, they have new tricks to show us!

Frances got pretty snuggly with Uncle Kev for a while – so cute!

Melissa got a new iMac, so she took it to Doug and Vicky’s so that Craig could help her figure it out. It didn’t take long for Photo Booth to come out and play!

Warning: Some of these are SCARY looking!

Louise & I

Melissa, Lisa, and Frances

Frances loved the special effects!

Frances & Grandma Marcial

Frances and Grandpa Doug

Lisa, Doug, and Frances

I wish we lived closer to them – every time we get to spend time together it is so fun!

January 16, 2012

.beta holiday party.

A few years ago, we switched our Beta “husband/wife” holiday party to January since December is so crazy and hard to pick a date that works for everyone. It was genius – now there is something to look forward to in January and everyone is a lot more laid back and relaxed!

Karen Vanderbilt shared these pictures with my Mom…

Melissa and her “friend” Ryan (there is a funny story behind that “friend”…)

Amy Kleinbach and my Mom

Kate and I

The guys:
Dad, Nick and Eric Mauseth

Dave Kleinbach and Zach Fife

Rich and Amy Carmody and Andy, Teresa, and Eileen Sawyer

Danny and Martha Holt and Tom and Jennifer Walker

Dana Soltero and Bob Vanderbilt

So much fun with the Beta Babes! We know how to have a great time!

January 15, 2012

366 days – week #2

January 8 (top left): Fabric cut for Thimble Blossoms’ Swoon Quilt
January 9 (top right): a new pattern and happy mail from Camille
January 10 (bottom left): My Outlook calendar for the week – full of meetings!
January 11 (bottom right): Kahlua for two

January 12: Kamryn playing “peek-a-DOO” at Arby’s

January 13: My school notebook where I keep notes and reminders about EVERYTHING. If I lost this, I don’t know what I’d do! I take it everywhere at school.

January 14: Kate and I after our Beta Dinner

January 10, 2012

10 on 10

In order to beef up my blogging, which seems to have become sparse and rather boring, I’m bringing you this: another copycat idea that I’m going to try for Twenty Twelve. I’ve seen this on other blogs, including my good pal Lyndsay's blog. The idea is basic – post 10 thoughts/ideas/comments on the 10th of the month. I kinda like that idea. :) If you like it too, join in!

1. I knew this was coming…in fact, I anticipated it all during November and December. As soon as we returned from Christmas break, my life at school would become harried and incredibly busy. It happens every year and so now I’m used to it. I like being busy at school – I feel a sense of accomplishment looking back at the end of the day at all that I completed during the day. It’s the end of the semester next week, so that means schedule changing season among a gadzillion other things. Good thing there is a 3-day weekend coming up to look forward to!

2. I got happy mail today! I ordered a table runner pattern from Camille to replace the one I lost last summer in our craft room catastrophe. Read about it here. Not only did Camille send the pattern, she included two fat quarters too!

Might they be from her new fabric line, Vintage Modern?! Camille – you are THE BEST!

3. Speaking of Vintage Modern…I love everything Camille does and I know Vintage Modern won’t disappoint (houndstooth? be still my heart!). When I saw the 2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop.com was using Vintage Modern, I knew I had to sign up. I’m not sure what to expect, but I think it will be a great challenge. I’m excited to get started. The first block comes in June!

4. I really need to blog about our vacation, but it’s a daunting task and frankly, intimidating! One day at a time…just do it! Part of the intimidating factor is the mass number of pictures we took. Janica told me about picnik.com so hopefully I can turn some of those babies into collages and speed up the process of uploading pictures.

5. After working since October to pick a date, my friends Jessica, Amy, Fran, and Bobbie planned to get together last Saturday for a day of craft shopping, pedicures, and lunch. Guess who woke up with the flu? Awesome. I was so looking forward to that day and incredibly disappointed that I didn’t get to join them. I hope we can plan another day soon!

6. The first Beta of 2012 is tonight. We are getting closer to our big fundraiser for the year, the Crafters Getaway! It’s the first weekend in February. I am really looking forward to spending a weekend with friends from many parts of my life and working on craft projects. Want to join us? (Mijken?!) I cut fabric for 4 quilts in the last week. I’m ready to go!

7. Melissa and I got Just Dance 3 for Christmas and haven’t got to play it yet. Maybe we’ll get to this weekend? Melissa got a new car last week to replace the one that was totaled when she was in a car accident in November. It’s a beauty – a black Nissan Rogue. I think it’s a 2008. It has all the fancy-schmancy features…including a sunroof that makes me drool.

8. There is so much AWESOME TV on right now…Grey’s and Desperate Housewives is back, Revenge, Dance Moms, Jersey Couture, Bethenny Ever After…the list goes on. I do love to DVR trashy reality shows to watch while I sew!

9. I have a big commissioned quilting project I’m working. It’s not the most exciting project I’ve ever worked on – but I know that the finished projects will bring a lot of joy to the recipients and so I keep trucking along. My goal is to be done by the Craft Retreat so I can work on my own projects that ENTIRE weekend!

10. Just as quickly as it showed up, the basketball controversy at CHS seems to have died down. I do not want to contribute to the internet frenzy that was created but I will say that I am proud of my little community for sticking together and supporting one of our own. I am so glad to live where I do. A place where, when tough times arise, we become even more united. It’s interesting to watch “newbies” experience this for the first time. Yes, a place like this still does exist. :)

So – what did you think of the 10 on 10? I’d love for you to join me (and Lyndsay).

January 8, 2012

.366 days – week 1.

I stink at participating in activities that require me to do something every day or every week for a long period of time. I have a handful of past “great ideas” that I’ve started that are left unfinished after a few entries. I’m hoping I can reverse that trend with this – 366 pictures in 2012 using your iPhone. I saw a some flickr and facebook posts about it – and while I’m not officially following along, I’m going to try to do this on my own. Since I know this isn’t a strong point for me, I’m going to do my best and try for at least 5 out of 7 days a week (since that’s what I accomplished this week!).

January 1: Rocking chairs at the San Diego Airport

January 2: If I would’ve remembered to take a picture, it would’ve been of my mountain of laundry!

January 3: Kamryn on her new tractor!

January 4: Back to work – the view of my desk from my chair

January 5: A completed quilt top!

January 6: A screen shot of an online article about Connell Boys Basketball. A YouTube video was released earlier in the week and by Friday – it was national news.