10 good things today . . .

1. A new pair of jeans that I really like - 2. It's Friday . . . Hello weekend! - 3. Getting off work early (even if it is for a Dr's. appointment) - 4. Coffee (and this blue cup that matches my sweatshirt perfectly - Blue Jay Blue!) - 5. The sun is shining - 6. Richard making me oatmeal this morning - he even threw in almonds and craisins - 7. My neck warmer - heated in the microwave - making my neck and headache feel better - 8. Eating Chinese food tonight - 9. Folding paper cranes . . . I am counting them tonight to see how close I am to 1000 - 10. My job . . . I work with great people!

a little more pink

Call me silly . . . but I get excited over simple things like this pink bubble wrap. I have never seen it in any color before. Bubble wrap in itself is fun - PINK . . . even better! A few pink cranes because I needed some origami therapy yesterday.

I can't believe it is Thursday already. I have been back to work only two days and my house is a mess, my pile at work seems to just get bigger, and as much as I hate to admit it - I am tired. But I am in a good place today. I will whip the house into shape as soon as I can, work always gets done one way or another, and as far as being tired - I suppose I need to go to bed early. . . probably won't happen. : )

last night of vacation

It was back to work this morning. (EARLY THIS MORNING - UGH!) I decide that since I was probably going to be tired anyway that I would just stay up like I have been doing and enjoy the last few hours of my vacation. This is a picture of what Abbie was sewing the other night. I decided since I was staying up late that I would make one for Kasey. She is always cold. Simply sew together - then sew into sections and fill each section with rice - and sew closed. She loved it.
Two minutes in the microwave and you have a wonderful warmer. I actually took mine to bed with me last night just to help me get warm . . . when I finally went to bed at 2:00 . . .

. . . after helping Luke finish this 1000 piece puzzle. I had to smile when he brought this puzzle out. It was one of my dad's. If you look close you can see two very white pieces. Evidently it was missing a couple of pieces - so he cut replacement pieces out with his jigsaw. I can just see him doing that. I actually am hoping that there is another puzzle started when I get home this afternoon.

Abbie sews

I taught Abbie how to use my sewing machine last night. She had never used one - she did a great job. I'm not even sure to call what she made . . . a neck warmer I guess . . . a simple rectangle sewn into sections that you put rice in - that you can then heat up in the microwave. They are wonderful to put on your neck or anywhere else you would like to apply heat - or just stick in your bed when it it cold. Again it was late when she finished and I didn't think to take a picture (what kind of blogger am I?). Fun night!

2012 - day one

No resolutions . . . if I were to make any it would be things that I should be doing or not doing anyway. I got out of the habit of exercising when I had my surgery - but I am back at that again - I've been walking and playing tennis and it feels so good. I have had two wonderful weeks off from work and that all ends on Tuesday. That is a good thing . . . I have been staying up way to late, drinking way to much coffee, and eating things that I know I shouldn't. Once I am back at work I will leave all my bad vacation habits behind.

I find myself getting a little down these days, but I tend to do that this time of year. In the past - this is the time of year I would go to a tanning bed, but never again. So I am left to deal with my winter mood in different (and much healthier ways). The exercise really helps, keeping busy, and no matter what my mood - PRAYER!

2011 was a crazy year for me - and it feels good to be able to wind it all up and put the year officially behind me. Happy New Year!

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and the first chapter is New Year's Day." ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

quiet new year's eve

A quick bike ride to the store with Luke
Luke and Abbie

Finished bird puzzle

Cream puffs - I took this picture but forgot to take a picture of them finished - probably because it was after midnight and I was just anxious to eat one.

cooking something new.

I have never made egg rolls before . . . so thought I would give it a try.

(When did my hands get so old?) Along with some won ton soup.

They both turned out pretty good.

I thought this bok choy was so pretty.

I thought the soup was great. In addition to the pork won tons - I added shrimp. I will definitely make this again. The egg rolls could have been better. The family thought they were great - but I'm feeding all guys - they'll eat anything and everything. They turned out a little dry and needed a little more flavor. I also think they would have been better if I had a small fryer to fry them in. . . they would have cooked faster.

ready for a sleepover

Lily arrived at our house the other night ready for a sleepover. Purple fleece hat, polka dot robe, Tinkerbell pajamas, and Hello Kitty slippers . . . that's a fun combination for any little girl. We stayed up late and watched cartoons and camped out in the living room. My house was a disaster the next morning - I should have taken a picture of that. Nearly every blanket and pillow I own was in the living room - most of them she spread out and arranged for herself on the floor. It is funny to watch this 3 year old girl with Richard, Luke, and Jake. She can convince them to do about anything she wants.
Jennifer and I folded cranes a good part of the night. I am still working toward my 1001 cranes. I started this awhile back - and then life got in the way and I stuck them away. I am determined to reach 1001 soon. I think I am somewhere around 800. Richard gave me some beautiful origami paper for Christmas.

just a little more pink christmas

I took my Christmas tree down yesterday. I am one of those people who like to get it up early and get it down before New Year's Eve. I guess I just need to start the new year with everything in order and put away. But before it all gets packed away . . . a look at some new ornaments on my tree this year. I found this pink robot at Urban Outfitters.

This actually was a gift from Luke and Abbie last Christmas - but it was her first full year on the tree. PINK FISH LIPS!!!!!

This one is from last year also. I bought this ornament in Washington D.C. I don't think I took a picture of it - so it gets a place in the new ornament post too. Richard gave me this cupcake ornament in my stocking.

And my favorite find this year - from World Market.

PEACE!

glitter and polka dots . . .

This window display in the Tower District caught my eye the other night . . .
Lily trying on her new robe. I was done shopping for her when I noticed the robes. I saw a pink one and a purple one and didn't really think much - but when I saw these polka dots I had to get this one for her. She makes the polka dots even more fun!

Merry Christmas!

Lily and I at "Zoo Lights" the other night. The holidays are so wonderful through the eyes of a child. I guess this morning when Lily woke up and noticed that Santa had not eaten the cookies and milk that she had put out for him, she told Jennifer that they had to go back to bed because Santa hadn't come yet. That was around 6:00 - she then slept until 10.

heart tea

I fixed Abbie a cup of tea the other night . . . dropped in a tea bag and gave her the cup . . . and it did this. I love finding hearts is unexpected places. : )

A fish, a cat, and some snowmen.

After watching the animated movie Ponyo the other night with Lily - Luke had to make a origami goldfish. I stick to cranes and stars . . . he can figure out and fold about anything he decides to make. This goldfish was pretty easy. This cat (which has found a home on a kitchen shelf) - was more difficult.

We went to "Zoo Lights" last night. We made a family night out of it . . . Luke, Abbie, Jake, Kasey, Jennifer, Lily, Brent, and Ashley. The Christmas lights were great . . . although we weren't able to see many animals. But the few animals that we did see were enough for Lily. It is pretty easy to entertain a three year old at a zoo - even at night. Of course we had to pose in the snowman photo station. We picked up pizza on the way home, made some coffee and tea, and stayed up late. Great Night!

Say goodbye to yesterday!

Long day yesterday . . . not sure why. I guess I had planned for the day to go one way - and it went another. I did get a walk in and nearly all of my Christmas shopping done.

I think being out shopping just got to me - I didn't think it had. I tried going to one mall and didn't get any further than the parking lot - I wasn't impatient - just moved onto another mall. The lines didn't bother me, the people didn't bother me . . . I found the gifts that I wanted - all on sale . . . but something got to me. I think by the end of yesterday I was just taking the world way to serious. I do that sometimes - not sure why. I hate it when I get in that sort of mood - so I am putting yesterday behind me and pulling myself out of that mood one way or another.

Origami Therapy

I tend to get a little obsessed whenever I start playing around with origami. It started out learning how to make the little stars like the one on top of this tree. I can't tell you how many stars I have folded over the last week. I think it works like therapy for me. Here's a little tree topped with one of the stars. Then I decided my little tree at work needed some cranes.So now, not only am I obsessed with folding the stars . . . I'm back to making paper cranes. There is something about folding these simple things - that relaxes me.