Family Fun

I was just closing down the many web pages I'd opened today and not closed and realized that I only seem to go to Family Fun on special days (like holidays); and that I should go there more often and set out to make every day a day of Family Fun.


Today I worked on a little row of Pumpkins (of my own spontaneous design). The faces are designed and ready to be appliqued on. It was fun and relaxing for me. I designed one pumpkin for each member of my family, then had my hubby and boys set down with their fabric pumpkin in front of them and a sheet of paper the same size for them to design the face for their pumpkin. It's much more random that I would do on my own, but it creates a fun snapshot in time. Just like a project I once did with a Jack-O-Lantern and instead of the "normal" face, I appliqued the face from the Jack-O-Lantern we carved on Frank's first Halloween. Now, I remember his first Jack-O-Lantern face forevermore. :D

I stopped the pumpkins faces in order to make a tote bag from the pattern I stumbled on My Many Colored Crayons (I was looking for a crayon roll tutorial - I found one I want to try at Skip to My Lou). I made this bag for Frank in well under an hour. He wanted to be the Transformer, Bumblebee for Halloween, but I've been quite sick for the past few weeks and couldn't make the costume happen for him. Today we were at Wal-Mart for the fusible for the pumpkin's faces, and we found the Transformer fabric which I got a yard of. I saved a piece for half a pillowcase (24"x22"), then cut the rest up and threw the bag together. It was a happy comprimise for both Frank and I; he had a trick-or-treat bag that he'll get to use again and again (we try to use fabric shopping bags) with the character he wanted, and I was able to make him something he enjoys. He also likes this bag because it "Transforms" from a little roll into a big bag he can carry stuff in. :D

Okay, I've totally been rambling without much thought. I'm listening to some Abraham via Esther Hicks on my iPod Shuffle, while typing, only half-thinking about either task. I'm tired. I think I'll rest.

Suzy :D

PS: We decorated pumpkin brownies today... I know the boys enjoyed all the sweets! :D

Vacation Wind Down

My road trip with boys is winding down, and as is so often the case, I'm looking forward to resting once we get home. I've definitly learned some things about coming "back home", where we have so many people and places we love to be with and see... namely to make a list of things to do and then to cut it in half! Also, to next time tell people "we'll be here at this place on this day, if you want to see us, please come to us!" We've traveled nearly 1,000 miles to get to Arizona, and once we got here, we kept driving, a lot! Not fun!

We have had fun... here's a great picture of the boys with their life-long (literally) friends at the zoo. They were all together again for the first time in four months (a VERY LONG time when you are two and (just turned) five!)

Suzy :D

Time for Reflection and Celebration

Frank celebrated his fifth birthday today. I could dwell on how fast time goes, but instead I'd rather say that we really enjoyed Frank today. Saturday we had some family over and a little party and we did the same thing today. We're going to do it again for the next two weeks while driving home and visiting friends and family. Tonight I sat watching him, wondering, as so many parents do, what kind of man he will become, and feeling sure that I'll be delighted with him.

I also decided that when there is a birthday in a family, all children under like five should also get presents along with the birthday celebrant. Poor Jack just couldn't understand why Frank kept receiving gifts and even though I had presents for Jack, they weren't the same or as fancy. Tom and I felt so bad for the big, gloppy tears Jack was crying by 5:00 pm... he wound up being rocked to sleep by his Daddy because he was so sad and tired. Why is it that often when one person is very happy another is very sad?

Today my grandparents came to visit. They were with me when Frank was born. They had three children, eight grandchildren, and now have twenty-five great-grandchildren. Frank was the tenth great-grandchild and is the only baby they've ever seen born (of course my GM saw her three, but GD didn't... just Frank.) I like to think this gives them a special bond. They actually waited for him to be born for about a month... they drove from WY to AZ, parked in our driveway and waited... playing Pinochle often... this was a very long time for them to be anywhere. They are usually only gone from home a week to ten days. I am still so grateful that they were there for us! Here's a picture of the boys with "Greybeard" (my Grandad, their Gread-GD). While they were here today, we surprised GD with a little gift (he turns 78 in exactly one week). Also, we got a card for Frank from GD's sister, Adeline. She turned 80 today... Frank was her BDay present on her 75th! :D

At bedtime, Frank got ready by himself - quickly! We think he was worn out from the day. I laid down next to him in his bed and told him about the day he was born and how we named him. He was delighted and I was so satisfied and pleased. As I was telling the story I mentioned he was all snuggled under a quilt I'd made him (on his first night with us) and I paused to go get the quilt. He's still snuggled under it and sleeping now. :D

Suzy :D

An Introduction to Me and My Family

I just wrote to a new lady that I've been emailing, she and I are trying to plan some time to get together, but she wanted to know a little bit about me. Here's what I wrote... I think it's an interesting Time-Capsule-Like shot of my life.

Next week Frank turns five (on Monday) and then Wednesday we leave for a two week trip home... to Phoenix, Arizona. We moved up here (to Rock Springs, Wyoming) at the beginning of the summer after trying to get a job in Lander/Riverton for about eight months. My husband and I are from Phoenix, Arizona, born and raised; we love the desert and our home, but decided that we wanted to get out of the "concrete jungle" that Phoenix had become (especially the crime and pollution). So, two years ago we started looking at the places where our family lived for a new place to settle and raise our boys... we knew we wanted to be near family, we just had to decide whom we wanted to live near and what area. Last summer we came to visit my GP's, Uncle, Aunt, and Cousins family (all in Lander). We kept extending our visit and just didn't want to go home. So, when we got home, we started trying to figure out what to do for a living. My husband was a Marine for 13 years and then went into the high-tech field of IC Chip production. He didn't really love it, but the pay was good. So, the fact that he's now retraining in a much more relaxed job is a great thing for us... even though we took a 45% pay cut to come to a comparable cost of living place (thanks to the Oil Boom!) I feel like I'm starting over again financially as well as location wise.

The hardest part of moving is that we left a LARGE circle of friends in Arizona, as well as my Father-In-Law and my Aunt, both of whom we are close too. One of my friend's birthdays in October 5th and her husband is helping to fincance my drive home so I can surprise her on her birthday (which she's figured out but I don't think she's planning to tell him that!)

I've always thought it would be neat to do what you do with homes... buy, fix, sell, but it's just never happened for me. Presently we're living in an apartment (which we are paying for with our retirement money) because our home sale in Arizona fell thorugh (on the day of closing back in June). We are eagerly awaiting a new buyer for our home (which is in Mesa, Arizona).

I worked for 10 years (basically as an admin assistant, then for a year as a professional photographer). Then, when I was pregnant with Frank (by soon-to-be-five year old) I quit and have been a SAHM since - although it seems I'm seldom "at home", we keep quite busy between social, educational, and family visits, I'm always out doing "something" with them.

That's funny about the "knocking back a beer" because while Tom (my hubby) wasn't alcoholic he did drink A LOT. His old friend Jack (Daniels) has ruined his stomach, so now he'll have an occassional beer or as a luxury a mild Jack and Coke from time to time. Just this year I decided to learn to drink wine... I needed to relax and red wine suppose to be very good for you. Mostly, I've found I enjoy Arbor Mist, which I understand is like kids' stuff, but since I've never drank, it's enough for me. ;D

When I was a new mom, I decided I needed something "just for me", not as a "mom" or a "wife", but a hobby of my own. I've sewn since I was five and made a few quilts, which I enjoyed, so, I decided to focus on that one hobby and have been quite passionate about it.

What else? We don't watch a lot of TV... actually we sold our TV before we left and presently don't own one. We do spend a lot of time on the computer (me working on pictures and surfing and my husband playing shooter or builder games and surfing). My husband likes to build movie prop replicas and he belongs to a professional costuming group ( The 501st Stormtrooper Legion) where he goes around dressed as Darth Vader doing charity work, raising toy donations which he then delivers to sick kids. I love this thing that he does and we are eager to start doing it again, although he's got to "recruit" a few stormtroopers to work with him for a better impact. He founded the group in Phoenix (Dune Sea Garrison) seven years ago with three other guys and when we left there were over forty members... that was hard to leave so many of those friends behind, but... oh well! Life moves on. Like I said, we are both eager to start costuming up here.

Well... I know there's more about me to learn, but, that should give you something to chew on while still leaving something for us to talk about!

I just realized that I didn't write about Jack... he's my curly-haired-monster-boy... who loves trains and pretending to be things (presently Superman is his favoirte thing to be followed by Buzz Lightyear and a Dragon).

Like I said, an interesting snapshot of our lives. Perhaps you've just learned a little tidbit that you previously didn't know about me!

Suzy :D

Life in the Universe

My favorite science class ever was in college... called "The Search for Life in the Universe". The whole class was about the probability of intelligent life existing elsewhere in the Universe. (That's assuming we have intelligent life here on our planet!) Growing up, my family always looked to stellar objects as things of interest, so perhaps this class just continued that investigation. In any case, any time I see a news story about astronomy related topics, I stop to read it. (That and Egyptian / Pyramid / Mummy stuff... I always read that too.) Now, it's not like I get subscribtions to magazines, or constantly look for this stuff, but, if I happen to see it, I always stop to read it. Also, it's one of the interesting, "happy" topics that come across the newswires, besides that, I enjoy it.

Here's one I saw yesterday: NASA imagines Earth-like worlds: Computer models provide specs for 14 different planet types.

I think it's interesting to ponder the idea that we are not alone in the universe. It's such an enormous place with so many possibilities. I wonder if it will be in this life (as in life on this planet) or in another after-life that we will become aware of and interact with the other sentient-beings that must exist.

Suzy :D

PS: There are some AMAZING pictures in Space.com's Image Library. Take a look! :D

Travel Time

I was thinking this week about the differences in traveling here in Wyoming versus in the city. Just about anywhere I want to go (in town) I get to within 15 minutes... with perhaps three to six stop lights. Versus inthe city, to go 15 miles I would easily encounter two-dozen lights! Out of the city, on a long drive, I'm out of phone range for most of it.

So. I used to have projects to do on the passenger seat, things like sorting papers, or crocheting, for in traffic. I can't do that now because there IS NO TRAFFIC! Also, I use to talk on my headset to people on the phone a lot... now, I either get places so fast there's no time for a phone call or their's no phone service. Either way, I spend a lot less time waiting on other cars and a lot more time visiting with my boys (not to metion listening to CD's).

I just looked at some pictures from our last two road trips (over the past two weekends). I've been taking time to enjoy the scenery. Also, Frank was playing with the camera... we forget how boring the back seat can be!

Front seat or back, remember to enjoy the ride!

Suzy :D

PS: I'm part of an email group that regurally writes to eachother about what we are grateful for... here's my contribution for today:

I am grateful for an enjoyable weekend spent visiting with my cousin and his family. What a pleasure to meet new family members and find you all get along and enjoy one another!

I am grateful for the INCREDIBLE rainbows we saw on our drive home and for following the prompt to stop and take pictures of them, and how just minutes after getting back on the road we were able to stop and enjoy the remenants of our first Wyoming snowfall while waiting for an accident to clear... if not for taking pictures of the rainbow, we very well could have BEEN the accident... so nice that we enjoyed the scenery all along the way home!

Unpacking

September 7th we took possession of our apartment. I haven't lived in an apartment in a lot of years... it sure is different than living with others (in a house) or owning your own home!



We've been very busy fixing the place up (it was in quite a state when we got it) and moving in and unpacking. Tomorrow morning I'll be clearing the rest of the boxes out of the living areas (to storage / trash / donations). Then, I'll just have my room and the closets to go through / organize; at least the main living areas will be box free (and ready for some pictures on the walls). I wish I could find the portraits of my boys!



I wanted to show you a picture of Jack. Both boys have been having SO MUCH fun with their freshly discovered toys, but I'm constantly battling not being able to see their floor for the mess they create. They use to be quite good at putting away one thing before getting out the next... I've been thinking of putting a lock on their closet door to keep them out without my help, but I'm sure they'd start getting into other things. Anyway, tonight I said "why's your floor such a mess?!" and Jack said "'Cause I like it that way." He's been a little tart lately! I don't think he was being definant, just honest like only a two-and-a-half year old can be! Here's a picture of him in the said messy room.



Enjoy!

Suzy :D