Ten on Tuesday...

Unless I'm in front of my PC, this never gets done....more photos from the past week.  More than ten, but it's Tuesday...

Dancing in the ran after gymnastics Thursday night...

Added bonus of Mike's from a friend...left on our front porch in a paper bag as a thank you for a crocheting project.

Charlotte's 2nd time on ice...with her friend Bella who plays hockey.

Rachel and I at Chuck E. Cheese.  Celebrating 40-years of Rachel.

My latest projects..."elfs" and "ninjas"....

Put a cork in it!

Eye Spy Halloween quilt that I stared 12+ years ago, gave to Rosemary who not only finished, but gave to Charlotte.

One and only Minion pencil holder...never making one of these again...pain in the bum!

Charlotte's first time on ice....Bella & Ella holding her up!

Back side of the quilt..

Super cool french braid after she got her hair cut.

Grandma & Grandpa Green stopped by on Labor Day to wish Charlotte a great first day of school.

Portland - we LOVE this town!

'Twas the weekend before 2nd grade...

And all through the house, the kiddo was squirming and waiting to pounce!

Okay, seriously, can't rhyme to save my life...ready for school to start tomorrow!

Hair trim on Saturday and fancy braiding was done by the stylist!

Mom and Dad stopped over this afternoon to wish her a great first day!

She seriously SLEPT IN all three days this weekend!

Gorgeous sky tonight!

Made a gnome family for a Relay friend who wanted them for friend's of hers.

Went down to OMSI Monday to pick-up two treats for the kiddo!  She'd been saving her allowance for months.

Apparently I do my best crocheting work after drinking ONE Mike's!

What's on your...

Got this idea from Ali's blog...who got it from her sister.  I tweaked it a bit.

Here’s what’s on my…

VANITY |  I don't have one.  I do have a semi-cluttered dresser with DVDs and a couple of Charlie's books.

PERENNIAL TO DO LIST  |  Purge closets, return bottles/cans, clean office, clean desk, clean Charlotte's room.

REFRIGERATOR SHELVES |   Spinach, salsa, meals for the week, yogurt, hummus, eggs.

ITINERARY |   Going to see Cinderella twice in May (Hart Theater & NWCT), lots of Relays coming up and hopefully a trip to Anacortes to see my Aunt/Uncle!  Pretty low-key summer!

FANTASY ITINERARY | Trip to Italy and back to NYC!

PLAY LIST |  Pretty much anything from Radio Disney.

NIGHTSTAND |  5 Languages of Love.

WORKOUT PLAN |  Back to CrossFit 2x a week and WALKING once the weather finally cooperates.

CELLPHONE |  Words with Friends, Instagram, FB and texts from Victor.

TOP 5 LIST |  More time with Victor/Charlotte, listening to Charlotte READING, crocheting and relaxing more.

BUCKET LIST |  Traveling, jumping out of an airplane, hot air balloon ride, laugh more and just BE THERE!

MIND | Cherishing this time with Charlotte.  Finding my inner happiness.  Just enjoying life MORE!

BLOGROLL |  Too many to list.  Checking my blog's blog roll 2+ times a day for updated goodness!

WALLS ON THE FAVORITE ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE |  Modeled orange-ish/gold in our living room.  I need to ask Eldin what colors she painted it.

LIQUOR SHELF |  We don't have one, but we do have LOTS of wine and of course I have LOTS of Mike's Black Cherry in the frig.

LAST CREDIT CARD STATEMENT |  Gas from Freddies and donation to the American Cancer Society for a friend's birthday.

SCREENSAVER |  Photos of Charlotte.

TV EVERY NIGHT |  Big Bang Theory or catching up on DVR'd programs (Mike & Molly, Castle & Grim).

What's on your list?  (I really want to break into the Freddies commercial when I here that question)...

Five facts...

I was reading a friends blog today and I liked that she listed 5 totally random facts folks might not know about her and her sister (that she was flying back east to see).  Thought it would be fun for Victor and I to do...

Kathy facts:

1. I seriously dislike the taste/texture of watermelon.  I will NOT eat it!
2. Victor & I met on eHarmony, although most people reading the blog probably know that....
3. I'm the oldest of two kids.  My brother is 21-months younger than me, but we were only 1 year apart in school...he probably should have been held back, his birthday is Nov. 1st.
4. My first W2 job as working at McDonald's and did that all through high school.
5. I'm actually terrified to speak in front of people...I did everything I could and succeeded
   at not taking speech in high school or collage.  In retro-spec, probably not the best plan!

Victor facts:

1. Worked for Cirque for 5 years.
2. He had his first job, a paper route, at the age of 8.  Been working every since.
3. He loves being creative.
4. No job he's ever had has been satisfying. While he's had jobs he loved, like Cirque, they have never completely made him happy.
5. He loves putting together our family tree.  He wants Charlotte to understand what where her family is from and how amazing they are.

Charlotte facts (Victor & Kathy came up with):

1. She's named after her maternal great-grandmothers..Charlotte Dietrich (Paula's mom) and Frances Smith (Linda's mom).
2. When we found out she was a girl, we KNEW Charlotte was the first name and we call her "pud" whenever we email or text each other.
3. She cannot go by a mirror or window without smiling at herself.
4. Victor sees so much of Kathy in her. Her ability to make friends and put a smile on their faces. She hugs her friends everytime she sees them.
5. She is a very creative little girl. We hope she keeps it all of her life.
   

Ten on Tuesday...

1.  Crazy/busy start of this school year! 

2.  Dad turned sixty-eight on Sept. 16th...

3.  Kiddos having fun in the sun!

4.  15-minute table runner!

5.  Picture day!

6.  Dean, Chris & Victor after the charity golf tournament.

7.  Charlie at the zoo.

8.  Gabe standing in the middle of one of  "the best" welcome back from sabbatical decorating jobs!

9. I'm selling Thirty-One bags now...Love the large utility bag!

10.   More turtles in the making...

Singing in the rain...

Ten on Tuesday...

1. Time to get back on the ToT (Ten on Tuesday) wagon...
2.  Love this tree in the photo above...every night when I leave work I see it (when it's light out)...I was "stuck" at the stop sign for a bit tonight and remembered to take a photo..
3. Can't believe it's almost the middle of January.
4. Dad and mom shared mom's story at their church a week ago...it was very emotional, but so good to have them share what the past 7 months have been like and the importance of FORGIVENESS and leaving it all up to God -- He is the one in charge you know!
5. Charlotte started her guitar lessons Saturday.  Her instructor Rusty did such an amazing job explaining things to her...I think Victor & I are more excited about it right now than she is!
6. Work has been crazy/busy, but good! Love it when I get to order t-shirts for 800+ people and get to have my Corp. Card limit pushed out to over $50k a month!  Crazy!!!
7. I'm still in a sewing funk and need to snap out of it!
8. Rosemary, Rose and I are plotting our next DGI (Darn Good Idea) for FUNdraising.
9. Victor has been kicking it in the crock pot meal department...our home smells SO good when things are brewing....that and how lucky are we to take yummy lunches to work everyday!
10. Started a year long CZ class....more on that soon...

What happens when the 5-year old takes the camera...

Self portrait in mirror...

She really wanted to take a photo of the postcard from Disneyland..

Mom and I were talking, realized what she was doing when she said "Cheese"...

And apparently she liked Grandma being out of bed...

Ten on Tuesday...

1. Haven't done a list in a bit...thought it was time.
2. So looking forward to having next week off work and lots of time with family!
3. Can't believe TWO radio stations are already playing 24-hours of Christmas tunes.  I LOVE Christmas, but can we please enjoy regular tunes until AFTER Thanksgiving??
4. American Cancer Society Summit is this Friday/Saturday.  Can't wait to see so many Relay friends from all over Oregon & SW Washington...Dream It!  Hope It!  Cure It!  We certainly are working on it!
5. Super busy next few weeks at work...between Thanksgiving Warmdown meals, Craft Fairs, Holiday Buffets and more, I'm worn out just thinking about all of it...but it's all GOOD STUFF!
6. Breaking Dawn Part 1 premieres Thursday/Friday...can't wait to see it!!!
7. Charlotte passed the $1,000 mark in her FUNdraising for ACS yesterday...she's our 2nd Grand Club Member this year...with many, MANY more to come!
8. I have so many creative ideas for FUNdraising popping around in my head, sometimes it wakes me up at night....
9. Typing out my 30-days of Thankfulness on FB this month...when I'm all done, I'll post them on the blog.
10. Mom continues to get stronger and stronger each day...we are so blessed!  Since we will have so many of us around the week of Thanksgiving, she'll be HOME Monday - Sunday..YAHOO!!!

Wordless Wednesday...

All about Kathy...

Back in March, my friend Amber, did a blog post all about HER! :) I loved the idea back then, didn't manage to do one myself, then on Monday she did an add on! I knew it was my time...

Some things you may or may not know about Kathy:

• I'm the oldest of two children (one younger brother Tim)
  


• My parents have been married for 45 years!!!
  


• I never in a million years thought I'd be married and a MOMMY...best thing EVER!!!
  


• My first job was picking strawberries for one of our local neighbor's farms...I ate more than I picked...
  


• My first paycheck with a W2 was working for McDonald's in Forest Grove...did that from 1984 - 1988...I think EVERYBODY should have to work in the food industry at some point in their life!
  


• We got our first cat Taffy, when I was in the 2nd grade...I loved that cat more than anything. She lived to be over 20 years old and died from cancer...
  


• My middle name is Marie. I was named after my two great-grandmas on my dad's side....thankfully they chose to morph the name Lina, into Kathleen and used my Great-Grandma Artimese Marie's middle name or WHO KNOWS what my name would have been??
  


• My first car was a maroon colored 1989 Subaru GL...loved that car, had it for 7 years...until it decided to be unreliable.
  


• I had open heart surgery a few days before my 2nd birthday...I've got one heck of a scar on my back left shoulder blade from where my back was cut completely open to repair the vein that didn't close off.



• I can't stand having dirty dishes in the sink, but Victor can't understand why because I leave dirty glasses upstairs on the bathroom counter all the time (I forget to take them downstairs)....



• Victor & I met through eHarmony.com



• I can't stand the smell or taste of beer, which really stinks when so many of my friends love beer....it's all because of one time drinking too much beer back in 1988....do the math, yes I was under age -- gasp!



• The only food I will not eat is watermellon...can't stand it....never have, never will....



• I used to play the piano in grade school...I wish I would have stuck with it...



• I love to travel!



• I've been to all but 2 states in the US - AL & LA (kinda funny same letters, just reversed)...



• I've traveled to 4 of the 7 continents...Africa, Antartica and South America are still on my bucket list.



• I will do ANYTHING to not use a porta potty...imagine my surprised when I was actually HAPPY to use porta potties during Portland To Coast this year??



• I have a bucket list..things I know I will get to do in my lifetime.



• I love fish...tropical fish...I have a collection of figurines that is out of control and mainly packed away because it took over our home...



• I've worked at Intel since July 15, 1988...I started covering for a sabbatical, never thought I'd last those remaining 6 weeks....I quit briefly in August 1990 to go to Europe (where my dad was working and to travel with him and mom)...then I was rehired in February 1991 and I'm still here...VERY thankful for my employment!



• I love to volunteer....Relay For Life, School Supply Drives, Food Drives, anything that can HELP out in the community!



• I really am not good at saying "NO", but I'm getting much better at it!
  


• I don't like to cook...thankful I married somebody who does like to cook!



• I'm not a neat freak, wish I was at times, but thankful I'm not, otherwise I'd be cleaning all the time...blagh :(



• I'm pretty much an open book and probably share too much with people, unless it's NOT to be shared...



• I have the best family in the world!



• I have the best friends in the world! Don't get to see many of them as often as I would like.



• I wouldn't change anything in my life....things happen for a reason...we just need to live, learn and go with the flow...

That's enough for now....learn anything new about me??

Ten on Tuesday...

Photo from Sunday morning...

1. Mom had a rough day yesterday, TODAY will be better!
2. I've been trying to stay as "UP" as I possibly can, last night I let things get to me.
3. I'm so grateful for the friends near and far that continue to check in on us and offer words of encouragement...it helps more than you can imagine.
4. I'm tired, really, REALLY tired.
5. Just when I think, what next, something happens, but things DO get better.
6. Charlotte loves Kindergarten!
7. I'm not being productive at all at home, so I've GOT to snap out of it.
8. This blog is normally ALL positive stuff, but today I just needed to vent.
9. I should still be sleeping, but I'm wide awake.
10. We are blessed and THAT is what I need to focus on today!
    

Ten on Tuesday...

1. So excited that my Aunt Jan and Uncle Dennis fly in tomorrow...can't wait to see and spend a week with them...It'll be SO GOOD for my mom to see them and vice versa!
2. The kiddo made it on the after school care bus (vs. the regular bus) yesterday without any issues (Victor and I both were a little concerned about her getting on the wrong bus)...
   
3. This new work schedule will hopefully work itself out, SOON...I like "sleeping in"...not sure about the staying past 4pm and Fridays, but it's all good!
   
4. Can't wait to see Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith in concert tomorrow night with a dear friend....we last saw Amy in Oct'08, she is still amazing!
5. My dad's Rotary Club has their 2nd annual charity golf tournament this Friday. Victor is super excited about playing this year!
6. Dad's birthday is also this Friday. My mom was so cute this weekend, she told him she was sorry, she hadn't gotten him anything yet.... :)
7. Lots of prayer requests for folks that have recently been injured, going through chemo and or/lost loved ones: Nicki L and Steve A. (both in bad motorcycle accidents)....Jen & Scott (both recently diagnosed with cancer and started chemo) ... Suzie O. and Faith F. who both recently left us and are no longer in any pain...God bless them and their families.
   
8. Super excited to attend little Abigail and her mama Heather's baby shower this weekend...Abigail was born at 24 weeks 3 days (back in late January--she weighed 1 lb6oz) ...she's an amazing little girl that I can't wait to see again! Her twin sister Hannah passed away a few days after they were born...continuing to keep Heather/Tom and family in our prayers!
   
9. I need to start sewing again...I owe more Letty's Bags to some friends and curtains to another dear friend! My heart just hasn't been able to focus on anything this summer....
10. Life is GOOD...when I think about everything that has happened with our family and friends this summer, we are BLESSED...God doesn't give you more than you can handle, you just need to put ALL your faith in Him and He will carry you through!
    
    
11. BONUS one...Yes, it's REALLY 12:01 AM on Tuesday morning...I made the mistake of taking a rest at 8pm last night and now I'm WIDE awake...which I'll be paying for dearly later today....
    

Saturday goodness...

Loving these low-key weekends!!

The pud and I went to the Farmer's Market and picked up some fresh-cut flowers for mom's room. She spotted a new hairband with flower and she wore it most of the day! We also picked up a dozen mini-donuts to take to mom/dad to share...yummy goodness!

My friend Leann had picked up the cut rock turtle at the Battleground Relay and mailed it to mom...isn't it CUTE??

Last up...I had gone to my friend Betty's "Rain or Shine" crafter's fair today. It was all local Etsy.com vendors and I picked up a few things, including the "Happy Green Day" bag that is now our official library bag...so the pud and I had fun filling it up late this afternoon...

We are now working on CLEANING her disaster of a room..,time to purge and donate more...

Wordless Wednesday...

One tired kiddo...

We had a VERY busy/productive day yesterday...normally I would post all this stuff for myself (just to keep the fun stuff captured) and for MY MOM, who would always check our blog every morning...11 weeks have gone by since her crash and she hasn't been on her laptop or any laptop since the morning of June 3rd. I'm keeping this up so when she is ready and able, she can see what all did happen this summer (and while she was sleeping)...

• Kathy, April & Mike (April's boyfriend) picked up and delivered all the Intel Oregon Campuses school supplies to our garage...I'll be organizing this weekend, then making 3 difference sets of deliveries in the weeks to come.
• Charlotte and Kathy visited Grandma for 3 hours Friday (11am-2pm)
• Victor played 9 holes of golf with Uncle Bob
  
• Charlotte and Kathy took a bit of a break -- aka, watched part of Harry Potter
• Charlotte, Victor and Kathy went to Charlotte's swimming lessons
• Charlotte, Victor and Kathy went to Susie & Shawn's for dinner and LAUGHS...Charlotte was on FIRE (FUNNY) tonight...I can't remember her seriously ever being so amuzing.
• We drove home and got to watch the tail end of the fireworks at the Oregon Airshow (Hillsboro Airport)
• Charlotte CRASHED to sleep on her "messy room" floor last night...
  

Ten on Tuesday...

1. Mom's 10th surgery was today...things went well.
2. Can't believe Charlotte starts kindergarten 4 weeks from today...how did THAT happen???
   
3. Loving these 75-80 degree summer days.
4. Really looking forward to my Aunt Meta and Uncle Bob (from Kansas City) coming for a visit next week....it's been 5 years since we've seen them...TOO LONG!
5. We've finally signed Charlotte up for swimming lessons starting Monday...can't wait!
6. Sending our dear friends Big Philly, Jen Caine, Michael C. and Sue Giovanni lots of prayers and love...they are all going through treatments for their cancer...
7. Loving that Charlotte LOVES the Glee CDs I have in my car...her favorites...Firework, P.Y.T. and Thriller mash-up!
8. The kiddo can do a better hand stand than I can...AWESOME.
9. Read my first book in ages..."90 Minutes in Heaven"...gave it to mom to read...it really spoke to my heart and what mom is going through.
10. Love my family more than ever!!! Despite all the scary stuff, LIFE IS GOOD!
    

She's a sneaky one...

I have NO idea how long this balloon has been hiding in our hallway linen closest...makes me realize though, I really need to clean that closet out!

I'm leaving this purple balloon wedged in there for a while....wonder when the Wee Bee hide it?

Happy mermaid...

Unlike the scary ones we saw yesterday in Pirates 4...Cracks me up how Sunday morning baths are the easiest ones to give her...

Life is...

SUPERDELUXE!!!

This video is for Mike, Mani and Andy G...one of my FAVORITE sayings and now Charlotte's too!