a life that she loves...

Breakfast at Stephanie's... (see what I did there)

I added cereal to my impressive pantry jar collection. I must have almost 100 by now. Those beautiful, clear, vintagie, oversized mason jars in my pantry hold baking ingredients, rice, pasta, candy, cookies, snacks almost anything that comes in a cardboard box. It reminds me of Nellie Olson's family store, all those jars on old wooden shelves. They keep the food fresh longer and restocking from the bulk bin area of the grocery store is easier on the old budget. And obviously the best part is how pretty they look!

maybe its for the best...

Well, I made my blog into a book last year and was going to switch to another format or hang up my pen altogether, I hadn't decided. I forgot to cancel my subscription to typepad and just saw the charge on my credit card today so I will be faithfully blogging here for at least another year.

We went to the Brentwood Farmers Market on saturday and saw all of these beauties...

and a little of these too.

yes, my shopping bag had two cannoli, 1 almond crescent, 2 bear claws, a piece of coconut cake and 2 bundles of baby asparagus, what's your point?

Jumping in an elevator going up doesn't work....

Jumping in an elevator going up doesn't work....

divine appointments...

Don't you just love when our God puts that person directly in your path at the exact instant that He meant for, that He might choose to speak through, to tell you something that you needed to hear at the exact time in your life that you needed to hear it? I don't mean fluff, I mean point blank... Are YOU doing the things that YOU need to be doing? Ahhhh, maybe that's what the problem is!... don't you just love when He speaks to you even when your not even listening?

iPad which iLove

I'm posting this from my new iPad... Which I LOVE!!! You can do anything on this bad boy! I have downloaded cool apps which allow me to use software similar to Microsoft word, excell and PowerPoint. I have shark attack games, words with friends, speed card games I have my blog and all the cool blogs I read, I have books and magazines and music, I've watched missed tv shows and funny YouTube videos. I have read my mail and printed wirelessly. I have not gone 1 day without this little guy by my side... I think I'm in love

these are a few of my favorite things...

I think I would have to say that Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love the decorations, the lights, the sounds, the chilly nights and the warm fires. I love spending time with my family and friends, sharing good meals, playing games, listening to old traditional songs of worship and upbeat catchy tunes that linger in your mind throughout the day. I love going to church and remembering what this season is all about. I love the smells of great food being prepared, and watching the kids grow more excited with each passing day of December. I love to see them care more about others that themselves. I love to send and receive Christmas cards,

and I love to read them. It's like a little gift in the mailbox every day. It's fun to see how the kids grow up and change and to catch up on what everyone has been doing the past year. It's the most wonderful time of the year.

 I found some supercute holiday treasures at Shutterfly. The gift of pics are timeless in remembering the emotional moments, that resemblance in his smile and the twinkle in her eye. Documenting the story of your life that can be shared with generations to come.

I keep all the picture Christmas cards we receive and put them in an album that I display during the holidays. I know its an extra expense and also time consuming during an very busy and costly time of the year but this is an effort that I believe is worth every penny and every minute that it takes. Start preparing early and stay organized to get all those special projects in this year... one of them being your Christmas cards!

 

zoom zoom...

Today we honored Derric DesMarteau with Derric's day at Thunderhill. A day at the race track with fast cars, great friends and a silent and live auction to raise money to fight prostate cancer. Check it out...

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

goodbye summer, hello to new beginnings...

We started our whole 6 weeks of summer vacation with Cole getting stung by a bee right on the tip of his nose on the night of Piper's High School graduation. While she was party hopping and celebrating her freedom (from constant entertainment for the last 18 years) we were stuck in the hospital with Coles poor little face swollen up like a balloon ready to pop! Apparently he is now allergic to bee stings and requires epi pens on hand (at least it happened after school was over right... the bright side that Cole was not necessarily embracing) i have been forbidden to insert a picture here... We jammed a lot of entertainment into those 6 or 7 weeks... Made 5 dozen cupcakes and 2 pudding desserts for "little Kaitlyn Paige"'s (big Kaitlyn Paige's PI mini me) birthday party, Had Scott's softball games on Thursday and Friday nights (because one softball league, simply wasn't enough), Had Hunter here from Texas for a couple of weeks, Played at Boomers & The Alameda County Fair, went camping at Brannen Island KOA, Saw Eclipse (Team Jacob), Camped near Santa Cruz, spent the day at the Boardwalk celebrating Coles 14th birthday, Hung out with Kami at Stanford for several weeks on and off, Cole started High School Youth at church on Thursday nights & Kaitlyn started Kairos on Tuesday nights with Golden Hills (Which she LOVES) Cole started High School on July 26th and Kaitlyn started LMC mid August. Kaitlyn is not thrilled about going to a JC (especialy when a lot of her friends headed out this week for their dorms) We have had several long, sometimes loud talks about life, the economy, banking, check book registers, overdraft fees, budgeting, interest rates, the stock market, the housing market, wasting money, car insurance and how to go about getting reimbursed when one locks ones keys in the trunk because one does not take ones purse out of the car when one leaves the car but does ot want to leave it at home, the cost of getting ones car towed and or getting a ticket when one forgets to set the emergency break or put the car in gear when one parks so ones car doesn't roll into the middle of the street when ones whole family is out of town for the day...I could so teach a class to high school seniors that would help prepare them for the world... Anywhoooooo, we're back into the swing of things, our family is growing and changing and learning... a new adventure everyday! What will tomorrow bring? Maybe a rope to tie Kaitlyn's car to the tree...

Excuse No. 451

Ummm, traffic was stopped because this cow was walking around in the middle of the road...

the rest is still unwritten...

mastering the "fake laugh"

 
Piper, Hillary & Meghan

 
Jessica & Piper

Hi Piper... we see you!

this part always gets to me...

hi Piper.

There it is!

 
look mom, I really did it!!!

yeah, never coming back here again...
 
Piper & Haley

her and the rents.

Piper & Cole "The Graduates"

 
 
 
  

 

belle of the ball...

Senior ball was last night...

 

have fun... sniff sniff (allergies)

   
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

everything piper...

so tell me...

*courtesy of lettergirl

 

senior banquet...

Here are some pics of the pretties...

piper

haley

justina

sam

 
 
   

oh potterybarn... how i love you...

have you SEEN the new catalog... my personal favorites...

 





is it too early to have a Christmas list?

good things... for a monday

i love these eggs...

the grapevines are doing just fine...

another month and it may be swimable...

was thinking about taking this to work... decided it looks too cute right here...

and old solution to an old problem... what to do with all those receipts...

the kids went back to school today after a relaxing two weeks off, they are going to ease into it with a four day week this week and next. I almost have one out of highschool and one in highschool... uggg.
 
 

it's a sunshiney day...

The weather outside is gorgeous! Scott's spent the afternoon beautifying the back yard- it's really shaping up- the trees are finally maturing and everything is budding.

 

Went to home depot to get some more groundcover .

Had to go check out my antique store today and bought a couple little treasures ;)

Scott started playing softball again last night- they lost (so the ride home was a little pity party) but other than that I know he's excited to be playing again. Scott and Cole did a little man project in the garage and took apart and painted [pimped out] Cole's bike- looks great and they had a fun time doing it. Kaitlyn went with her friend to check out Fresno State last night and returned today... looks like it's a no go for FS. Got the Easter stuff out-

I'm really running out of horizontal space in my house- I need to declutter, a little spring cleaning, organizing and purging is in order. We found Kaitlyn a "back up dress" for the Senior Ball- with the promise of "yes, we'll keep looking", but a back up plan is good to have! And that's this week in a nutshell...

gone fishing...

Last weekend Scott and I went to Washington State for the first time and found that they really do throw fish at the Pike Place Market. The place was in full bloom with beautiful Tulips and Daffodils.

...saw Rachel the pig

We had to check out the VERY FIRST ORIGINAL STARBUCKS...

...had a great lunch...

with some great lunchtime entertainment...

well he was trying anyway...maybe if he had a bigger guitar?

it was a really great trip!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

so very valentiney...

 

 

where do i begin...

I have so much to tell you, I don't know where to start so I'll start with dinner...

... it's good to be back!

it's the most wonderful time of the year...

  

holiday baking...

It's that time again and words can't do it justice! Take a look...

yummy Christmas goodness!

brace yourself...

Isn't he cute???? The little money pit!

70's, 80's and... jason castro???

see... Rio loves it!

another Anthropologie treasure...

how cute are these...

trick-or-treat...

We went to a pumpkin carving party at the Gomes' on Saturday...

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  
 
 

iLove my iPhone...

 
 

desperate times call for desperate measures...

In the interest of saving money, we have been grooming our dog ourselves. Not sure this is a "Classic Cocker Cut" ...

But it does remind us of this...

  
  

  

THIS is "Old Violin"...

 
 
 

Haley won 2nd place in the banana decorating contest...

 
 

Carnival Paradise 2009...

blue piggies...

just LOVE these...

my birthday treat from Home Goods.

piper & dad...

vintage treasure...

got this little beauty at Anthropology in SF. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.

bike riding at Half Moon Bay...

We went with Dad and Carolyn to Half Moon Bay to go bike riding for the day- such a great time :) ...

   

happy birthday Scotty Baby...

Scott's birthday was yesterday and we had a fun day celebrating full of garage sales, drives down mainstreet and a trip to Stoneridge mall ending the evening with a fun  surprise party for another friend of ours... good times...

  

picture this...

I took some pics at work today for the new website... check out the pretties... and the handsomes.

the best of... the best

ok, I was talking to my dear cousin Deanna de (who shall be known as Deanna de now and forever more) and she has some "favorites" one of which I received for my birthday- now it's one of my favorites too! So, I started thinking, and this will only work if all of you one sided blog buddies join in the conversation (just email me... upper right corner) and tell me some of your favorites... you know like lip gloss, pen, gum, cupcake bakery, dog shampoo, soap scent, etsy store, font, online store, ... blog... anything (sorry- that was uncalled for.) and I will dutifully report back to you with my compilation of the best of 2009.

09.09.09

Happy Septemeber 9th... of 2009. Wish Kaitlyn good luck- she went for a job interview at Inshape yesterday and followed up with thank you notes today... She and Scott just came back from basketball conditioning and Cole had youth tonight, so I had a little time to catch up on all of my recorded shows that i need to finish before the new season of shows start up again (i can't wait!)  I am diggin the Private Practice and Late night with Jimmy Fallon. If your on facebook you know that we shaved Casey... ummm not so good. He has scraggely toes and choppy cheek hair. He doesn't seem too happy about it.... mom's in Rome- doing the tour thing... I think this is her first real vacation... Daryl started his new job today! Can't wait to hear how it went.... happy hump day.

pottery barn treasure...

love this...

Birthday Week...

Kaitlyn's Birthday was on Tuesday...

Haley and Hillary came over in the morning to decorate Kaitlyn's room & car- Sam and Justina came early also with cupcakes. then the Harris', Donja, Justina and eventually Sam came over for Panda and cake and a little Legally Blonde.

My birthday was yesterday and here are the very cool things I got...

Very cool birthday!

hey there...

well, I did it- I have officially lost 100 lbs.... thank you.

here are some pics I thought you might like to see...

i found this picture on my camera, so i naturally assumed she wanted me to post it here.

 

aren't they so precious when they are sleeping?

I'm now on facebook... so if you want to be friends... let me know :)

Rest in peace my friend...

    

Derric D. DesMarteau, D.D.S.

June 25, 1951 - August 20, 2009

A week in our life...

We started our bible study back up on Monday nights- We are still doing Esther by Beth Moore... Cole started Youth Group back on wednesday nights... Scott's softball starts back up next week on Thursday nights... I played Bunco on Friday night at Michelle's- I was a big looser (not the biggest looser because for that you get a prize!) Had a good, relaxing, though somewhat productive weekend. I ordered my Kindle today (that's what Scott is giving me for my birthday:) The new generation Kindle actually reads to you- how great is that.... Worked out Friday and Today (I've got re-established goals) I actually RAN on the treadmill- for more than seconds, it was actually minutes at a time. When the weather cools off a bit we are going to be going on bike rides- I got a new wider seat for my bike- The other one did not make bike riding enjoyable. We have the P90X on our computer now (thank you Todd) but I haven't worked up the strength courage to try that yet. Todd's Nazi Yoga stories have me a little scared.... happy Monday :)

picture this...

Doesn't Cole kind of look like Andy Samberg from SNL in this picture...

Mom's not buying it...

My annual first day of school picture...

Me and Scott before our killer dinner at Buca di beppo...

snakes and snails and puppy dog tails...

Kaitlyn kissed a frog hoping he would be a prince... but aren't all 17 yeard old boys just horney toads?

What happened to the summer?

Well Summer is over and the kids are back in school. A glimpse of the summer included a trip to the Alameda County Fair- which was good but just doesn't seem to have the "magic" that it once did when the kids were young and easily impressed... but the corn dogs and funnel cakes are still the bomb! Kaitlyn played summer league basketball with Scott coaching- playing their games at Los Positas in Livermore- after several trips to Livermore we treated ourselves to the Macaroni grill's warm spinach salad with toasted goat cheese- yummy, and Cole's new favorite place- The Red Tractor- they serve you drinks in old fashioned Ball jars- so cute- it inspired me to get a case of "drinking jars" for our kitchen. Basketball ended with camp up near Columbia- so we made it into a family camping trip to Marble Quarry with the Harris'... which was a technical nightmare the first night- The trailer broke (I'm not mentioning who's fault it was) but Scott and Daryl were able to fix it- after a trip to the hardware store and the rental of some tools. We had a sleepover in their trailer and stuck the boys out in the back of the truck- fun right? It was very safe- Max (the weiner dog)  was guarding them. we celebrated Cole's birthday while we were there- He is 13 now! Kaitlyn had her senior pictures taken and we got the proofs back... it is very weird to have a senior- it was just a few years ago that I was a senior... and Cole is in 8th grade. Kaitlyn is still looking for a job- we thought we were close with "The Little gym" but apparently God has a different plan for her... waiting patiently to see what that is.... went to Sacramento to celebrate our friend and Scott's co-worker's 40 year anniversary with the company- Crazy! We went to a great little Italian resturant, Buca di beppo. I LOVE that place... and it's really fun to say... go ahead say it... fun huh? The best part... we got home and all the chores were done :) (remember Thursday is chore day) so we may do date night on Thursday nights now. Well that was a glimpse of summer- I will try to be a better blogger  now...