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Flowers are blooming, and the dog didn't even trample them to death! yay!

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If you happened to catch my little note in there from earlier this week you'll notice that I turned 30. THIRTY! Husband, sweet man that he is, decided to throw me a birthday party. He knows not to try to surprise me, since I can read him like an open book and ruin all the surprises, so he just asked for in put. I thought it would be so much fun to celebrate being 30 by having a 30's themed party. It was such great fun!

Wonderful friends came to spend time with us, dressed up and in the spirit of the evening and truly blessed me on this day. I love them all dearly and am so grateful to have each and every one of them in my life!

Here's to you Dah'lings.

self portrait 17/52

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They are getting so big! And they love their new roosting pole!

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A different kind of challenge.

I subscribe to lots of different kind of blogs; photography blogs, frugal blogs, crafting blogs, family blogs, funny blogs. And one of these blogs introduced me to this book: 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha Home the Mary Way. It also involves a challenge to read through the book, do the daily challenges (both biblical and physically cleaning) together throughout the month of May. Anyone that knows me, knows that I need as much help as I can in the clean house department so I'm going to give this a shot. And for a little bit of inspiration my new green friend. It attaches to my extension painting pole so I can get the cobwebs down from my vaulted ceilings! (yes I've used it, I brought it home on Sunday and couldn't wait to test him out!)



You can get more information on this challenge, or purchase the e-book at: 31daystoclean.com

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We've had a lot of...let's call it fun. yeah. fun, getting ready for a party on the 29th. This last week I put up some poles on the deck and wire to hang some fun lights! While the lights went up for the party I think they'll be fun for the summer activities...if we ever get summer of course.

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Bitty was quiet today.










Too quiet.
















She found a tube of glitter glue.

















And has apparently watched me do my hair and thought it was gel. oye.

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It's Easter!

We started the day with a wonderful service at church. I love being reminded of what it is Christ did for us on the cross, and even more what He did when He rose again!

After church we had lunch and waited for a break in the rain. We were able to sneak out to hide a few eggs and get the kiddos out while the sun came from behind the clouds for a full twenty minutes.

All in all it was a beautiful day. Thank you Lord.




oh, and, I turned 30 today.

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It's baseball season! D is in his first official season of Little League and loving it. I have to admit, I'm kind of loving it too. I'm so proud of him, his determination, his excitement, it's so fun to watch him.



I know it has technically been 'spring' since the end of March, but I think we have finally, officially, started spring here in the Pacific NW. Baseball, sunshine, hot dogs, what more do you need! What a great day.

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The Roadkill Rescue Table.

I saved a table yesterday. She was sitting all alone on the side of the road with a sappy little "Free" sign on it. She just begged me to bring her home and give her a good makeover. Here we are starting in on the clean-up.

The wood has some marring and gouges but is beautiful and has so much character I'm excited to finisher her up!

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I finally finished the art project for the big wall in the living room! 20x20 art canvases with the sillouhettes painted on them and our last initial. I really am loving how it turned out!

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Dog.

Oh dear. Here's the story. I bought five little boxes of spring bulbs yesterday. Unfortunately I did not have time to get them planted in the afternoon so they waited for me, patiently, in the front yard. As I left for my errands this morning I noticed my sweet little boxes were kissed with dew and anxious to get in the ground. Upon my return home I brought the girls in, made lunch and put Bitty down for nap and headed outside to dig in the dirt. Shocked! My bulbs were gone! Who would STEAL boxes of bulbs. I was so annoyed and flustered I just wandered about the front yard stewing about how dumb it was for people to come into my yard and take my bulbs under my dogs nose...wait. My DOG! Who would risk stealing some bulbs with my dog (while she may be sweet if you know her name, she has a ferocious bark and keeps strangers back from the front door!) guarding the yard from all the foul and dastardly UPS and FedEx men. Now I felt betrayed by my dog and stolen from. I just sat on the front step and sulked about my lovely bulbs, and the ten dollars I'd spent on those little boxes.

From the corner of my eye I noticed my beautiful new mulch I'd laid down had been nosed up by the above mentioned dog. But wait, what was that tucked in with the mulch and dirt? Could it be? No? It is! Crazy Dog buried one of my boxes of bulbs. I scanned the yard and spotted another nosed up spot of grass and bark. It was like an early easter 'egg' hunt just for me from my crazy dog. In the end I found four of the five boxes. The last one she really tucked away!

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And that pretty much sums up the whole day. yeesh.

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pretty gloves.

Finding the finishing touches for the 1930's Old Hollywood Birthday Bash coming up! Aren't these gloves awesome!



self portrait 16/52

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wow. sorry guys. this picture really is kind of gross...and lovely at the same time. I mean, they are wonderful for the garden! I love finding these 'little' guys and helping them get to my garden plot. Today I found nearly 100. Oh what happy little plants I will have!

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too. many. socks.

self portrait 15/52

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And following up from yesterdays post is the fridge. This one is dedicated to my friend Misty. You know you love it.









Before:













:after

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This may not look like much to you, but those of you that have been to my house will know what an accomplishment this is.



this photo will also serve as a 'before' for when I get around to painting my bedroom this summer!

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Not a terribly interesting day today. But I was enthralled by the texture in the clouds!

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Bitty was helping me garden today.

Not much more to say about that. It's sort of self-explanatory.

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Over 100 days! I'm so excited to say that I have in fact taken a picture each day so far this year. Not that they were all high quality or show stoppers, but they all helped accomplish the task at hand! For this weeks challenge we were asked to take four pictures 100 steps from our front door in celebration of crossing the 100 day mark! I took 100 steps from the main door I use and in the 'general' direction of north, south, east and west. I did have to take some liberties on those exact directions as there are houses and buildings in my way, but generally speaking.

And without further ado:

North: 100 steps north brought be to a extremely boring brown fence. and try as I might I could not get it to look at all interesting. So I turned around and there was my house. I thought, "well, it might be interesting to some one reading my blog to see my house." And trust me, it is better in black and white. We're in need of a paint job.




East: At this point there wasn't much to see but unincorporated suburban road. But the clouds were pretty awesome. And do you see that, there at the top of the frame? Blue sky!! I know I can hardly believe it myself with all this dreadful,unrelenting rain!

South: The Nasty Dogs. Just down the street from us is a little pack of chihuahuas and one Shih-tzu dog. While they are adorable and look cute, they are vicious little things! They will gnaw on my shoe, and most likely my finger if I'd let them!




West: Another dull spot. There was this big rock that has significance to my children as every day on the way home from school D, Chicken and their friends all climb on this rock, it's tradition.

HAPPY 100th!!!

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and this is why you don't defrost frozen chicken broth by submerging it into a sink full of hot water...

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Michele, with one L.

today I headed BACK up to Seattle. What a fun weekend! This time I left without kids, without Husband and just got to go out with a few friends of my own. We hit up a couple wineries out in Woodinville area, I hear there are many more up there and I will need to, perhaps, make a few more trips up to see. But today we got to two. First being Chateau St. Michelle (with two L's). This was a lovely estate winery with a huge processing plant and beautiful tasting room. They had delicious reisling and even inspired me to try a few reds. While heading over for a tour of the facilities our party spied this beautiful bird trying, quite unsuccessfully, to hide in the shrubbery.

Our second stop was to a very small winery that is basically run from a couple's home, albeit a gorgeous home with a kitchen I turned an undeniable shade of green over. Anyway NW Totem Cellars makes a Late Harvest Viognier that turned my envy into love. I will be back winemaker Mike, oh yes, you will see me again!

After our spectacular wine tastings we piled into the Party Van and headed out to Buca de Beppos. While I tend to run with the "lets-go-anywhere-but-to-a-chain-restaurant" crowd, I have to give it to Buca's. They sure know how to do the family style dinner. It is great food in giant Italian family size bowls and you can't help but eat until your eyeballs are bulging from your head. Lactose Intolerants beware! We enjoyed a rousing Buca rendition of happy birthday to my fun friend Michele and celebrated the 1st anniversary of her 29th birthday.

Somehow we were able to roll ourselves from the restaurant back into the van and our incredible driver, Bobby, managed to park that monster of a vehicle on a tiny side street in Fremont! Then, not only did he park, but when it was time for me go he maneuved himself out of being sandwiched in by two obnoxious tiny cars who decided to ignore the "No Parking beyond this point" sign, and drop me off at the light rail station so I could head home to my lovely family while the rest of the wild 'kids' could party til the sun came back up.

Sorry I couldn't stay until the end Michele, I hope you had more fun than you knew what to do with! Best wishes to you for this coming year my friend! Happy Birthday!!

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Get ready for a couple of days of poor quality photos. The memories however are great.

It seems that April 1981 was a popular month to be born! There are several friends that are celebrating the big 3-0 with me this month (mine is the 24th). Started the celebrations with my friend Rachel. Unfortunately we were only able to meet up with my friend once they got to Seattle. They took a lovely fun limo down and we met them at Wild Ginger where we dined on delicious tuna, duck and bao. Six couples jumped back in the limo and headed over to the home opener for the Mariners. A sad, SAD game played by our beloved M's, but a great great time of reminiscing, laughing and looking ahead to the future.

Happy Happy Birthday my dear friend! Grateful for you and our friendship!


self portrait 14/52

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I could have taken a picture of a hundred different things today. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera with me to Grandpa's house! I should know better than that! But, I didn't, next time. NEXT time I will.

Even without the camera though there are always wonderful memories to be made while visiting grandparents. This time, a special one for D. He got to go out to the field with my grandfather and my uncle to 'help' take down an old electric wire fence section. It was so fun to see him run tools back and forth.

Once we got home the sun actually broke through the clouds and we spent some time in the yard. I dug out another garden plot and transplanted some raspberries from their ailing spot, along with about 50 giant fat worms. I love those little guys!

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Saw this tape rolled up and sitting at the top of the stairs on the banister. I thought it was funny that I put it there, of all places, so I took it's picture.

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broke out the serger today. an incredibly simple task as I was just finishing the edges of the scarves for our Easter dance,but it still feels good to get a project done.

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my little stack of Heaven.

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yeah...this tiny little photo. About that. I took this picture with my phone to send to Husband so he knew there were warm breadsticks waiting for him in the oven. It ended up being the ONLY picture I took ALL day. yikes.

But they were delicious.

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This weeks assignment was I Spy: Green. When we were at the little aquarium at Redondo today I saw these urchin guys. What fun!

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...it's still raining...











self portrait 13/52