Sew....here's another one!

:: While I was making my Gram's quilt I started this one at the same time. I finally completed the top stitching and put the binding on!
:: As per Anna's instructions, this quilt is for me and her to snuggle with :)
:: I got a little carried away with the top stitching on this one. I like how it turned out though, and it should hold up for a lot of use.
:: And a flannel backing....super cozy! This quilt was made with a Moda Layer Cake called Panache. This line is out of production now, so that is why this quilt is on the small side. It is just big enough to snuggle under while watching a movie or reading :)

Happy Mother's Day!

:: Don't I have the most charming child? Good grief!

This pic was taken at school during her Mother's Day Tea.

:: Look at the enthusiasm just written all over her face....they are supposed to be singing.

:: Then all of the sudden....she starts striking a pose!...

:: after pose.....

:: after pose!

Anna and the reptiles...

We recently heard about a reptile store...

My first thought was...eeew!....no thanks!

Anna's first thought was....when can we go?

:: Yes....that is a real tortoise. (I even touched it!) Anna was in absolute heaven!
:: I found this little guy roaming around the store...apparently he escaped his perch. (Sorry I ratted you out fella)
:: This is Bart. He was a large lizard that Anna really would have loved bringing home. And actually, for a crazy little moment I considered. Turns out he is actually the store owner's pet....whew! I haven't met many lizards in my life, but this guy even won over my heart.

A Quilt for my Gram

:: It all starts with a couple charm packs (Blush by Basic Grey for Moda)
:: And after some cutting and a little sewing.....a nice little lap quilt for my Gram for her 83rd birthday :) I hope she loves it. I loved making it for her!

A Couple Pictures from Easter

:: Easter 2011
:: Anna and her Mama :)
:: Last year she still needed an assist with the easter egg hunt.....WOW!....not this year! She was all over it. You tell the girl there might be money in the eggs and she was off and grabbing as many eggs as she could.

Kids Day at Riverfront Park

:: If you like information booths full of advertisers, parents with their overheated and exhausted children, oh, and lets not forget the family pooch....(really NOT sure why people think its a good idea to bring their furry friends to these type of events????)....then you will LOVE kids day at the park! Maybe I'm being a little harsh....I suppose if you are 4 like Anna, it was a great time. She said, "I really liked it, but there were too many people!"

:: One of this girls favorite things to do.....ride the carousel!....Her goal is to ride on all of the horses.... usually in one day!

:: MOM~ "Are you hot and tired Anna?".......

Anna~ "no, not really"

:: Me/Mom~ "Should this be our last ride, so we can go home and cool off?".....

Anna~ "MOM!!!!!!.....not yet!"

:: Me/Mom~ "Are you sure this can't be our last ride?"

Anna~ "MOM!....don't you listen to me?!...I said not yet!"

It was a good day....we rode the carousel 3 times....went to lunch....did some school shopping and had some good girl time :)

A Day at Mt. Spokane....

:: What's happening?!....we never manage to be in the same picture! ;)

:: Shhhh!.....don't tell her!....she didn't know I was taking the pic!....ha ha ha....Mom wins! (what?...my victories are so few I simply must gloat!)

:: I have this one so well trained!....I say "Danielle....smile!".....AND...she does :)

:: He's pretty well trained too!...I said, "Michael....give me a pose!"....AND...he did :)

:: I say, "Look everyone!....a big rock we can take our picture on".....I hear the collective groan as they obediently go over to the rock......snicker.....they love me!

A Day at Mt. Spokane..2nd set of pics

:: Here's the fam!

:: Mom and Anna...(here's me through my clenched teeth smile...."Anna!....Look at the camera!"....here's Anna..."NO!...giggle giggle!")

:: Vista House

:: Michael II, Dad, and Dani

:: Can't believe how quick she has grown up!....where's my tissue?

Sullivan Lake

:: You will notice a couple faces in the following pictures that haven't been on here in awhile. We finally snagged the kids from their summer vacation, friends, and work for a whole week!

One of our favorite places to enjoy the summer weather is Sullivan Lake. The water level is high this year, so we didn't have our usual set up on the beach, but we still managed to set up the beach tent :)

:: Danielle....she has spent most of her summer working and hanging out with friends...uh hum...and yes, spending time with her boyfriend ;)

(Its hard to believe she is 17 already and will turn 18 in October....eek!)

:: Michael....he has spent most of his summer hanging with friends.

(He will turn 16 in October....look out fellow drivers...he'll be hitting the road soon!)

:: Oh look!....its a rare photo with mom in it!....once in awhile I hand the camera to someone (other than myself who usually takes the family pics!), and I say, "Hey!...take a pic of me, so this family can look back some day and remember I was a part of it all".....tee hee!

:: And here's Anna....a full day of sunshine, water, and no nap....don't those eyes say it all?

And here's what I did with all those raspberries....

:: There was talk of raspberry cobbler and using the raspberries over ice cream....both sounded great, but I had another idea!....freezer jam!....yummy!

And, seriously who could resist these adorable little freezer jam containers!!!....I must admit...other than having a freezer packed with jam these containers were my true motive for making the jam....tee hee!

:: Of course I had to make a label to adorn these beloved containers ;)....I am so easily pleased.

A visit to Gma and Gpa's...

:: Summertime at the Log House...One of our favorite places to be. Throwing the frisbee for Abby, listening to the sprinkler....& trust me in the summer its usually always going...the yard is HUGE!....picking raspberries, laying on the hammock, going out to the garden shed to swipe homemade jam and jelly that Gma made, and waiting for dinner to be cooked....(snicker...I added that for my mom in law...she always feeds us)....those are just some of the things that make it feel like summer at the log house with Gma and Gpa.
:: Petunia wave that my mom in law (or as Anna says, "Gma") grew in her green house....yes, from seed....its just not fair! I have to admit though....she spoils me...she starts some for me too every year:)
:: The view off the deck....I know...makes you feel sorry for them huh?
:: Anna's "jackpot" of raspberries!
:: The happy pickers :) There were more pickers in our group, but for some reason I don't have pictures of them....Daddy (Michael), Michael II, and Danielle....even Gpa helped:)

The Cheney High School Class of 90!

:: Cheney High School Class of 1990 20 year Reunion

:: Myself (Angelique) with Monte, Trish, & Kelly

:: Angelique & Kieran 1990

:: And 20 years later (and he's still one of my favorite people!)

:: How does 20 years go by so quickly? It seems like our 10 year class reunion was just a couple of years ago. It must be true....the older one gets the quicker time goes by...or maybe the older one gets the less you remember so it just seems like time goes by quickly...tee hee!

The above pics are from the Saturday night event at Northern Qwest Casino....I have to say...the night moved along far too quickly for my liking. (again, with the being older and time flying by!) Its impossible to fit in all of the talking one wants to do when only seeing each other every 10 years, and fit in dancing like a fool all in one night! I mean come on....even this multi-tasker can only accomplish so much in one night :)

It was so nice to see everyone again. As it turns out, so many of us still live in the area, so I'm not quite sure why we haven't bumped in to each other more often than every 10 years?...probably those little things like families, homes and jobs that we are fortunate to have take up our time. I was reminded Saturday night that its also important to fit our friends into our busy lives. Such happiness comes from spending time with a long-time friend....and as was the case Saturday night...such happiness from spending an evening with a great group of my old friends :)

In honor of World Cup...Anna showing us her soccer skills.

Easter Egg Coloring time...

:: Happy Easter Everyone!

Nice day for a picnic...

(Hit the play button to watch video)

:: Hope its sunny where you're at. We had great weather for a picnic today :0)

Mini Chefs Class

:: Anna started a new elective at school today....."Mini Chefs Class". This is exciting on two levels....1.) She will have the chance to learn recipes with other children her age and have some fun making these cute things, and 2.) I get another hour and a half each week of "me" time.....tee hee....its a win win :)
:: Is this just darn adorable or what?! It was fun to see the look of pride and excitement on her face as she was telling me how she made her egg nest.