July 4th 2015

While all the kids were out camping or soending time at their other parents, Dusty and I took a trip out to San Francisco!

Don't we look excited to be on our way? (First time I have ever seen Dusty use his phone "selfie style") 

We jumped on a tour bus to see the city sights. It was interesting how San Fran. Is only 7 miles by 7 miles. Everything seemed to be set up in districts, banking district, Japan town, China Town, the Tenderloin, (we were advised not to go there after dark....) Snobb (eghemm... Nob) hill. And countless others. 

They sell very large ladies shoes at this store, for all the cross dressers reading my blog. 

Of course we went on the Golden Gate Bridge. Very windy, and foggy! 

We walked up and down Fishermans Warf countless times, looking for food, visiting the Aquarium

Jelly fish, i wish i had those in my tank! 

This otter was very willing to strike a pose!

Of course we found the perfect place to view the fireworks, and Ghirardelli square at the same time! 

Sunday we set off on an adventure to visit the Golden Gate Park. Hopped on the good ole tour bus again and took the drive over.

The Japanese tea Gardens. 

the Botanical Gardens had a variety of different plants from around the world. (Oddly set up in specific districts just like the city!)

Georgeous garden views with amazing flowers. It was so peaceful there. The actual park was built on what used to be sand dunes. It was very insightful to hear how they cultivated the earth to grow such beautiful plants all in one place. 

No, i did not pick the flower.... It was laying on the ground and Dusty picked it up for me so that I could try it on for size. 

Hmmm.... A post from last summer

Last summer we took a trip to the beach. A few pics, mostly for my viewing pleasure. Gracie and summer building a sand castle.

Shawn summer and gracie catching some salt water fun.

Granted this is Summer with the boogie board, but i did venture out into the water to catch a few waves. It was worth all the salt water in my nose, and the sand in my suit. Loved it. 

A little bit of football fun. Shawn is getting so old!

Not so sure

What's going on? I'm not sure. I think i don't like owning a business. I know that i don't like my clients. They are unappreciative. They are demanding. I don't like the overhead. I don't mind the work. I like creating things. But over the past 5 years, it's all become very mundane. What to do? I dont know yet. I was excited for a few months about starting a furniture boutique. But its kind of lost its sparkle. I don't have the funds to retire, so thats out of the question. I mean, I've invested 18 years of my life into this... All for what? I knew I didn't like it when I started, but I am good at it. I also believe that I could be good at anything i invest myself in. But what is it that i really like? I'm just not sure. So I will try something different. I will venture out, but leaving my comfort zone is hard. How to do it? Where to start? 

School pics?

First day of the 2014-2015 school year. I realize its a tad bit late. Shawn was starting 10th grade, at Red Mountain. Summer went into 7th, and Gracie into 8 th. Both girls got to enjoy being at the same school together.

Recap 2013

I'll try to not be to lengthy... But there's a lot I missed.... 

Summers first day of 6th grade. Growing up so fast! Last year of elementary school!! 

Shawn and two of his friends getting set to go to high school! Yep, Shawn's the one on the right! 

Shawn's 14th birthday. He has such a great personality!! That guy keeps me cracking up day after day!

Camping up in safford on mount graham with chesley Paul and Gracie. We purchased a new to us pop up trailer. The truck pulled it up those hills like it was nothing! 

Dusty kicking it hammock style. Nice nap in the cool weather with the trickle of a stream running by! Perfect.

Since school started I sucked dawn into working down at the shop! My two dedicated employees! I also got Emilee involved. She's the best bill collector I have. I'm going to have to work on getting a pic of all my girls together! 

More to come!

Vacation

Today was long.ineed a vacation. please send donations.please send checks directly to my mothers address in her name. Thank you for being so generous!!!

Snow!!

For my birthday this year we took the kids up to the wooden nickel cabins. It snowed on us all the way up. We got there and built the biggest snow man that we have ever built. It took dusty and me both to put the middle on.
The kids made snow angels. ( after I free fell back they felt more confident ) there was at least a foot and a half of snow.
Dusty got out the snow shovel and helped construct a sled jump and a smooth track for running down.
We grilled some burgers. Roasted marshmallows to make s'mores and warmed up by the fire playing some UNO.
Sunday morning I whipped up some French toast and sausage, then the kids were off again sledding. I missed the Sunday session because I don't want to drive home in wet shoes.
On the way home we stopped at a few antique stores looking for a glass vase for dustys 56 beetle project. No luck.
It was a great trip. No frost bite. All good clean fun!

This week....

I committed to making delicious home cooked meals.....
Sunday I made some cinnamon roll waffles with cream cheese icing for breakfast. And bacon.
Monday, we went out to dinner with friends.
Tuesday, I bit off a bit much, roasted Brussels sprouts with cheese tortellini and red pepper chicken sausage with pesto sauce. Emilee and shaine brought and made fried ice cream. Then, I made chorizo breakfast burritos. And still made it to ballet with dawn!
Wednesday, tortilla soup with cheddar jalapeño bread.
Thursday, homemade lasagna with garlic Parmesan pull apart bread. Paulie came over for dinner!
Friday, chili rubbed pork chops with mashed potatoes and some kind of vegetable that I haven't decided yet. In taking the weed off from cooking. I've had enough already.

Gracie is 12!

Small birthday "challenge" party.
First off, the baby food challenge. Who can recognize and eat the most baby food. Who won? I can't really say.
Next, the bubble gum challenge. Paper plates filled with whip cream with a piece of gum buried in the middle. Find the gum using no hands, and see who can blow the first bubble. Someone (dusty) had the bright idea to "forget" to put the gum in. The girls were digging around with their faces and nothing! Haha! Casey Mae won this challenge. Who knew how hard it would be to blow a bubble with gum cloaked in whip cream?
Next up, chubby bunny. The object is to place a giant marshmallow in your mouth and say chubby bunny, who ever fits the most in, and can successfully say chubby bunny wins. Casey won again. With 5 marshmallows. All though after the fact, Shawn put 13 in his.
After cake and presents the girls spent some time playing just dance 4. Plenty of sugar filled girls.

Katt

Having lunch with her favorite person.

Booth

It's been a busy year. Specially the last few months. Home improvements are still slowly being completed, and with every new project, there seems to be at least three more on the horizon. All I want for Christmas is a diner booth. I paid someone else to frame and upholster my booth. Saturday comes around after much begging and pleading to get it before Christmas. (It's been over a 6 month wait....) I get a picture, "this is the best I can do" the corners are puckered and I quickly reply, "just stop, and I will do it myself" dusty and I pick it up, have to dismantle part of it to get it through the front door. As I am sitting on the unfinished massive piece of furniture contemplating how to fix it the fastest and quickest way my long weeks of work overwhelm me and I start laughing with hysterics. Dusty doesn't know what to do. He offers to help take it apart and put it back together, but my poor brain is to burnt out to even start. Instead, he takes me to dinner and to get a massage. We start fresh on Sunday. It only takes us a few hours to complete. We had to re sew some seams, and heat the vinyl with a space heater to make it stretch. But, it's done. We can now all sit together for dinner. No one is left to eat alone on the couch. New project? We need to build a new table. This one is to small for the booth!

And so it begins...

My birthday went off without a hitch. Yep. Another year older. Dusty got me a brand new oven for my birthday. We were already planning on getting the floors redone. But, Sunday the 11th called for kitchen cabinet and counter removal. And, TADA! Flat burners!

Let the floor tear out commence!

New tile! Finely! It's starting to come together! How long ago was it that I tore out the closet and flooring in Shawns room?

Our outdated bathroom is looking for and update. New toilet is already in hand. Vanity is picked out. A few hundred dollars in hardware and it will be ready to roll. And new paint of course.

If any of you know of a place to get cheap fixtures and even the vanity, I am open to all options!