The Memory Bee

6.27.11 Collecting

I haven't blogged much in the last couple weeks mainly because I feel like if I write about IT, it makes IT more real. You all know what IT is... the days are rapidly counting down before Brandon and Alicia leave for their deployment. I was ok last week but now I'm feeling it much more - they leave to go back to post on Saturday and then to Kuwait and on to Iraq the next week.

So I'm collecting memories! Lots of Starbucks visits, being in church together, family get-togethers, running around, hugs, and talks. Yesterday we had a few friends and family over for a "Welcome home... 'Happy deployment?' " picnic. The love and support of family and friends means so much to me and to them... more appreciated than ever!

(How do you like the "broken" flag on the cake? I know it's probably meant to look like it's waving, but I think it looks broken. Very lame decorating job, Tops! They've already offered me my money back for it being so poorly done and not what I'd asked for.)

Brandon chose all his favorite traditional picnic foods.

Loved the chance for family and friends to meet Alicia and get to know her a little bit.

I had Brandon draw a chart of the structure of the military divisions... battalion, brigade, unit, etc... so confusing to figure how where he fits in and what he'll be doing in Iraq. The next picture shows the spectator gallery for the horseshoe match. :)

Lots of photos with family and friends...

We're awfully proud of them... thank you for your encouragement and prayers for us all this week!

6.20.11 Celebrating!

This weekend we not only celebrated Father's Day but also that Brandon and Alicia came home for their leave before they deploy to Iraq in early July. LOVE having them here!

I don't think there's a better gift for Dave than to have his boys at his side. (I love it too!)

Of course, we had to celebrate Father's Day doing the guy thing... going to the "swamp" to shoot... I was the spectator and photographer. :)

How do you like my Fresca can? I love that both boy's hands are holding it up for me. (it's the little things, right?)

On our way home we stopped at my parent's place so I could wish my dad a Happy Father's Day. I'm so thankful for him!! I love you, Dad! :)

I think his love has helped my know God's love better... I know what it's like to be loved by my Father, so I'm extra thankful for that.

On Friday Dave and I drove to Pittsburgh in a rented 10' truck to go to Ikea and get some furniture. It's a 7 hour round trip but worth it for the great prices that Ikea has. I got two couches and three chairs... all white slipcovered. My mom came over and helped iron the white slipcover for the family room couch...

Now I'm thinking that a white couch in the family room is pretty impractical. It's already covered with a white sheet so it doesn't get dirty but that's kind of crazy... to get a white couch and then cover it up? Now I'm kind of wishing that I got a dark brown leather couch (and maybe the chair) that they had. It's the exact same style only in leather. At the time I didn't remember that the rug has brown in it. I normally don't care for leather couches but this one is kind of "clubby" or "cabiny" looking to me. If I got it instead of the white, then I wouldn't have to worry about dirty husband clothes or hands, etc.

I need opinions!! What do you think... keep the white (I am keeping the white in the living room), get the brown couch and the matching chair or just the couch and a different chair. Help!!

6.14.11 Family days

Last Friday I traveled with my parents to my "little" brother's graduation from nursing school in Mansfield, Ohio, and then back home for a family picnic continuing the celebration! My brother owned his own mortgage business but when the mortgage business dried up, he looked for a new career and knowing that nursing had great prospects, he went back to college, worked full time, took care of his family, renovated a new home... I'm so proud of him! Now we will be praying for a great job for him!

Then we all came back North for a family picnic and celebration. It's great to have family together... just wish some weren't missing!

Enjoying two of my great-nieces.. and old friends!

Only 4 more days until Brandon and Alicia are home!!!

6.9.11 Scorchin' in the City

Oh, my! It was hot in the city the last couple days! I felt sorry for all the men and women in their business suits when it's almost 100 degrees! I wore as little as possible and hunted for shade whenever I could.

One haven in the city is the High Line... a converted elevated train structure that has been converted to an elevated public park walkway. It is so cool! Here's where it starts...

I loved all the natural grasses and wild flowers. Such an oasis! I love how this billboard shows the orignal tracks... and it looks like these cars parked on the ramp are at the drive-in.

I was able to snap a picture of Diane von Furstenberg and she hurried by on the way to her store, I think.

That night be took the Staten Island Ferry (which is free!) to Staten Island and back. It was a perfect night with a gorgeous sunset. We'd never done this before... I recommend!

The building in lower Manhattan with the crane on it is the new Freedom Tower being built on the World Trade Center site... about 70 floors done so far. The World Trade Center memorial in Staten Island is stunning. It looks like two envelopes framing the view across the river. The names of those killed are memorialized with their individual profiles. It is very moving.

I finalized the plans with Marcia at Tinsel Trading Company for our trip and class in November... information soon!

I got an unexpected picture with Meredith Vierra on her last day at the Today show. We just happened to be walking by and she was saying goodbye to the last few people, so I got a hug and photo, too. I miss her on the show already!

It was such a fun trip... never long enough! Can't wait to return! Email me if you want info about the Christmas shopping trip and Tinsel Trading Class in November.

6.7.11 Sunshine and the City!

There is almost nothing better than a great city in the sunshine!! My husband and I are here in New York City for a few days and it's fabulous! I needed to do some legwork for my annual Christmas shopping trip in November, so Dave decided to tag along at the last minute. You can see Manhattan in the background as we landed. It's a sight that never fails to fill me with anticipation!

After breakfast at one of favorite places, Viands, we wandered all over Central Park... so beautiful!

We made our way to the Time Warner Center for a Jamba Juice pick me up and then down Broadway to Times Square. In all my travels I've never seen anything like it... you never know what you're going to see! I saw the Naked Cowboy for the first time (actually in his tidy whities... not naked) and a human bowling pin and throngs of people there for a food festival. Wild and crazy!

We had dinner at Joe Allen's... I was sitting one empty stool away from Bob Tuschman who is one of the judges on the Next Food Network Star... I had just seen him the night before on the show. I didn't talk to him... his body language was definitely a "do not interupt" posture.

Today's another gorgeous day and we're off to SoHo and Greenwich Village and more...

6.3.11 A little share...

Every now and then students bring a project to show me that they made in one of my classes and then have added pictures to at home. I love this!! Of course, I always hope that the things we make will be used to preserve and record our memories and stories... then to see them personalized, is the best feeling! I haven't always remembered to take pictures but I do have pictures of a couple that I thought I'd share.

One was the Tiny Tales album I taught last year and was finished by my daughter-in-law, Alicia... and it was her first scrapbooking class ever!! I just love how she made it her own with pictures from her childhood! Isn't it darling?!!

Another student (I think it was in El Paso... if you're reading here... leave me a comment and I'll add your name! I'm sorry I forgot!) recently brought the album she made in my class at Creative Escape a couple years ago and filled with all her photos and memorabilia. It is totally the vision I had for the album! A place to save every little thing that reminds you of a special occasion!

If you bring a project to class to show me, please remind me to take photos!!

6.1.11 June already!

Do you feel like this year is flying by like I do? I can't believe it's June already! This is actually the first month in a LONG time that I am not teaching anywhere!! I was going to be teaching later in June at By Design Scrapbook Boutique in Houston but when I found out that Brandon and Alicia would be home then before they deploy, I just had to cancel this time. I can't be away the only weekend that they're home!! Tracy was so understanding and hopefully I'll be back there next year, but for now I've rescheduled my classes in Houston for the weekend of July 15th at Novel Approach... a store that's new to me but comes highly recommended! I'll have sign up info soon!

It feels really good to be home for awhile! We've gotten a ton of work done outside and I've got so much done inside... I feel like I've got a handle on the homefront again! I've finished designing the class I'll be teaching in South Africa in September. Is it ok to say that I love it?!! My class is being sponsored by Pink Paislee and I'm using the Sweetness collection... it is just so me! I'll share a peek at it soon.

Today we got a new garage door! It is momentous occasion! Our old door was a relic and as my mom says "shabby" rather than "shabby chic." :) Tomorrow some lovely gentlemen are coming to work on our septic system... not such a pretty thing! Such are the joys of an older home!

Here's the door... yes, it's white and plain but it opens and closes!! Simple joys!

Don't worry... there won't be pictures of tomorrow's project!