Day 151

This is what I spent most of my Saturday doing. Giving our guest bath a bit of a face lift.

I had been wanting to get rid of the dragonfly themed stuff for some time now. I mean I put it in there when I moved in 10 years ago! I finally settled on wanting to do a gray/yellow theme to both the bath and the guest bedroom. I have yet to find the perfect set for the bedroom, but found this Spring Garden shower curtain and towels for the bathroom at Kohl's a couple weeks back.

I've been picking up the pieces, parts and accessories since, and finally felt I had enough to put it all together. So I spent the day tearing down the old, scrubbing the bathroom from top to bottom, and then putting up the cheery new stuff. I think it looks awesome. Rob seemed to like it so much, he was a bit disappointed it was for the guest bathroom and not ours!

Day 150

Last Friday I got a wild hair and decided to jump on the Weight Watchers band wagon again. I guess it's not really a wild hair, because I've been thinking I need to do something for some time now.  WW worked SO well for me a couple years ago, I thought I should give it a try again. Just seems so discouraging to be right back where I started, but the encouraging part is that I did it once, so now I know I can do it again! So I did my level best, and it paid off. I lost 6.2 pounds this first week! That's a good motivator to keep up the good work!

Day 149

Tonight was Mexican dinner night.  But it wasn't tacos, or fajitas, or even carne asada - it was more like a taco salad / nacho combo kind of thing - made with some of those fresh ingredients I picked up at the markets on Saturday.

I made up taco meat, pico de gallo and guacamole, and shredded some cheese. Then I got out the fresh spinach I got at the farmer's market, and homemade tortilla chips I picked up at the Fiesta market. It was a layer of chips, a layer of spinach and then meat and cheese. All of that topped with pico, gauc and sour cream.  A pretty yummy concoction Rob came up with some time back.

Day 148

It's one of my latest obsessions. I can't seem to stop playing Farm Heroes Saga. First it was Candy Crush, and now this. Here I am tonight on Level 61.

As I was lying in bed tonight, playing yet another round of 5 lives, I was thinking how I am starting to get a bit addicted.  I'm sure it will pass though...and I will be on to the next craze soon. I seem to have the attention span of a gnat!

Day 147

I ended up working yesterday, Memorial Day, so that I could take today off instead.  Why? Because Rob and I needed to drive to Ellensburg and pick up our new car this morning. And there she is...she's officially ours. Home in our driveway and everything.

I ended up working with the dealership, University Auto Center, back and forth on Friday. First I worked with the salesman on the price, then I worked with the financing gal on a down payment, monthly payment amount and getting a loan. By closing time Friday we had all the details worked out, only problem was the dealership was going to close for the three-day weekend. I was bummed, but we ended up putting $500 down to hold our car, and arranged to be there at 11:00 a.m. today to sign papers and pick her up.

We ended up arriving a little early, so we took her out for a test drive. By the time we got back, they were ready for us - and I mean ready. We were out of the dealership by 11:30!  I would highly advise buying a car on the internet and/or phone. It really is the only way to go. No wheeling and dealing, no haggling - the bottom line is already worked out. And it was a pleasure working with the folks at UAC - they really did make things easy!

Day 146

Candles = Instant Romance.  Believe it or not, Rob and I can be a bit of a romantic couple...sometimes anyway. Tonight, in an effort to be a bit romantic, I lit a couple candles in our bedroom window sill, so that when he got home from work after a long day, there would be a nice soft glow in our room. He has done the same for me on occasion - and I think it's a nice gesture, and I wanted to return the favor.

Day 145

Here's a sneak peek of what I did today. I put out all of my Fourth of July stuff in preparation for Memorial Day. Two years ago I did this too...had my patriotic stuff out from Memorial Day to July 4th. It's kind of like my summer decor I guess - and what's better than decorating with the old USA??

I wanted to post something I hadn't already in 4th of July's past - so here's a cute little tin Uncle Sam hat. It's actually a lantern of sorts. The top of the hat opens so you can put a candle down inside and then there are punched out stars and slits for the glow to shine through. It's a fun little piece leftover from when my whole house was decorated in Americana.

Happy Memorial Day!

Day 144

This morning Mom and I made a trip to the Farmer's Market. It opened at the beginning of the month, but this was my first trip. There's not a whole lot of produce out just yet, but there were a few things I picked up, like asparagus...yum!

We also made a stop in at the Fiesta grocery store - I've always wanted to check it out, but have never stopped.  We picked up a few more things there - like giant jalapenos, and cilantro! Can't wait to get to eatin' my fresh food finds...one of the best parts of summer!

Day 143

My friend Trina started selling Origami Owl jewelry at the beginning of the month. I had heard of the stuff, but was pretty unfamiliar. We met for lunch last week and she was wearing some of the stuff - a necklace, a couple bracelets and earrings. Let me tell you, in person I just fell in love with the stuff...so much so I couldn't even decide where to start, so I started with a gift. And it came today!!

It's a gift for my niece Rachel who is graduating in a couple weeks. It's a charm bracelet with a locket, and inside it has her initial 'R' and a grad cap. Then I also added a tag that says Class of 2014 on the front, and on the back it says, 'Wherever you go, go with all your heart'. I think it is so cute, I hope she loves it too. And the best part is the packaging...it comes inside a cloth fortune cookie, then inside a cute little take-out box. Ingenious!

Day 142

Well, I think we found her...and ain't she a beauty?? I think we've settled on a new car - a Jeep Patriot, and I think this very pretty Deep Cherry Red one I found in Ellensburg just might be her!

Rob and I went and test drove a used Toyota 4-Runner on Tuesday when I was off with my bad eye. The more we started to discuss it, for the money we are wanting to put into a vehicle, we both would really have a new car, than a six or eight year old car. So I started to look at what we could get in our price range, and Rob thought about a Jeep Liberty like Billie's, but they don't make them anymore. But we stumbled across these Patriots and we both like them. We took a look at a couple on a local car lot, but they were very basic models...so I hit the internet. And today, I found a couple possibilities, including this little gem - so I took a screen shot on my phone to text to Rob, and he's good with it too. I'm really feeling good and am hoping this might be the one...stay tuned!

Day 141

Pictured here is my inheritance from my little Granny who passed away almost two months ago now. Fruit cups...and a cashier's check. Kind of silly, but I'm sure every time I eat a fruit cup, I will think of her now.

Tonight Rob and I met Mark and Angie at Hacienda del Sol. They wanted to take us out to dinner and give us the check for my share (actually one half of my dad's share  - split with my brother, to be more specific) of Granny's estate, now that everything has settled. Part of the humor is that when we had the reading of Granny's will right after she passed, all of the grandkids received a photo of Granny, a package of fruit cups, and a check. The story is, when Mark cleaned out Granny's little apartment, there were so many fruit cups that they made them part of our 'inheritance'. So tonight, Mark and Angie brought along yet another pack of fruit cups, courtesy of Granny.

Day 140

It's my handsome hubby...all smiles tonight. I took his picture before bed because I had been crushing on him today in his new blue shirt I bought for him the other day.  It just makes his eyes so very blue...like the ocean.

It makes me smile, and I wasn't smiling too much today - home again with my very bad eye, nearly swollen shut when I woke up this morning. So in this case, he literally was a sight for sore eye(s) today!

Day 139

Isn't that nice? On Friday I felt the sting in my eye of a sty coming on. I tried to nurse it along over the weekend at Fred and Christy's - hot packs, little make up, etc., but I could tell I was losing the battle. I felt like a cyclopes or some creature most of the weekend. In fact when I woke up yesterday morning, I thought we were going to have to race home so I could go to the clinic to get antibiotics...again. But after I showered the swelling seemed to go down a bit, I felt some relief and was hopeful I had turned a corner.

However, this morning I woke up to this - even puffier, redder, angrier than before.  So it was off to the clinic after all. And yep, it's a doozer of an infection, and yep I needed antibiotics. Hopefully I'll be on the mend soon!

Day 138

Today, we traveled home from Fred and Christy's. Just outside of Prosser the skies grew quite dark and ominous. But there it was, just above town over the Horse Heaven Hills, a beautiful bright rainbow. At one point there was even a double rainbow, but hard to capture with the lens. Even this is great picture considering we are traveling at 70 MPH, and its from inside the car, through the dirty window!

Day 137

There were just too many to pick one. That girl, I swear she can steal your heart, and tickle your funny bone! As you can see, today was Kennedy's Baptism Day. Or as she said - today she was gettin' Catholic!

Rob and I got up and hit the road this morning and headed to Fred and Christy's. We got there in time to have a snack, and do a little catching up. Then it was time to change our clothes (as she was getting ready in her fancy dress, Kennedy proclaimed that she, in fact, looked ADORABLE!) and get over to the church for 5:30 Mass. Kennedy and another boy were the only two receiving the Rite of Baptism. They were both so cute all dressed in white, standing in front of everyone. Kennedy was a bit of ham and a clam...standing like a tea pot, giving one, then two thumbs up, and nearly starting a fire with her candle and the Father's vestment - and for the most part not uttering a word. Even the Father commented that she was a tough nut to crack. Rob and I couldn't have been a prouder Godmudder or Godfadder!

After Mass ended we all headed back to Fred and Christy's and had a wonderful homemade lasagna dinner...and of course cupcakes!!

It was a wonderful, joyous, tearful, whirlwind of a day, and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it!

Day 136

Today Mom and I went out and about and did a little shopping. We were in need of a bite, so we went through DQ and got some food and then headed down to a parking spot in Howard Amon Park to eat it. It was such a beautiful day...a bit breezy, but nonetheless beautiful We sat in the car eating and watching people and creatures alike. There were several seagulls hanging out nearby - clearly waiting for a scrap or two from us. A couple of them eyeballed us like they might just try coming in the car window for a fry! Anyway, I snapped a few shots but liked this one best...it follows the rule of thirds, has a nice grassy green bottom, the blue of the water...even though it's just a gull!

Day 135

Yay! They did turn out! And even cuter than I imagined. Yesterday they were just scalloped circles punched out of cardstock, but today...well today they are cute little picks for Kennedy's cupcakes.

Billie is doing two batches of cupcakes, and therefore we needed two different picks. She printed out checkered K's in a gray circle to be mounted on the yellow cardstock, and checkered circles with 'Kennedy's Baptism May 17, 2014' in the center to be mounted on the gray circles. And all of them are mounted on tiny yellow straws cut in half.

How cute are these, seriously??

Day 134

K is for Kennedy! At least this K is for Kennedy anyway. It might actually be hard to tell what you are even looking at. It is a bunch of little scalloped circles punched out of cardstock in gray and yellow, formed into the letter K.

This weekend our Kennedy is going to be baptized. For the celebration, Auntie Billie will be making cupcakes, of course. And since Kennedy's favorite color is yellow, Billie went with a yellow and gray party theme with coordinating plates, napkins, cupcake liners, etc. Then we got this wild idea to make little 'picks' for the cupcakes, like you see all around these days.

I punched out all of these circles tonight, Billie will print out a sentiment for each one, and we will punch those out and attach them to the circles.  Hopefully they will be as cute as we think they will be!

Day 133

Isn't he cute? Look at those cheeks! Don't ya just want to give them a squeeze? Well, maybe you don't, but I do!

Today was one of those days...a day when neither my phone nor my camera captured anything. So on my way to bed, I just decided to snap a picture - albeit it not a great one; in bed and with bad lighting - of my oh, so cute hubby!

Now I'm off to have sweet dreams!

Day 132

It's only been 2 1/2 years, and they are finally growing on each other enough to share a blanket! This afternoon I just wanted to snap a photo of my girls...not quite snuggled together, but at least sharing the same space. I think Lucy would cuddle up to Baylee all of the time...if only Baylee would let her! This is about as cuddly as Baylee wants to get I'm afraid.

Day 131

Happy Mother's Day to my mom, and all moms of the world!

But today was not only Mother's Day...at Mass this morning Bishop Tyson came down and we celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Confirmation is basically defined as a mature Christian commitment - some say we are baptized in order to be confirmed. It is the third and final Sacrament of Initiation in the Catholic Church.  And today, our Emily celebrated her Confirmation. We are so proud of her, and excited for her as she begins this new chapter in her spiritual journey.

Congratulations Emily!

Day 130

This afternoon I decided to go for a walk again. After Rob left for work, and I got a few things done around the house, I showered and then put on my walking shoes. I decided to head to Walgreens to pick up some photos I uploaded for printing, and while I was that way decided I might as well walk on to Yokes to pick up my prescription. I checked on my phone, and it said the Yokes Pharmacy closed at 7:00, so off I went.

I swung into Walgreens to get my photos and grabbed a Zero Water 'cause it was a bit warmish, and then I made it on to Yokes in no time flat. I walked in the door, passed the Pharmacy which had actually closed at 6:00, and back out the door again. Shoot!  All the way to Yokes and no prescription. Oh well...as you can see...it was still a very lovely afternoon for a three mile walk!

Day 129

Can you identify these? Do you have any idea what these are?  Why, these are 7-Eleven nachos, smothered in chili and cheese of course.

The other night Rob and I were on the couch watching TV and somehow got on the subject of 7-Eleven nachos.  All of a sudden they sounded so good to both of us. I told him I liked mine with chili and cheese, while he is a cheese and jalapeno guy. I like mine when the chips have crunchy edges to grab hold of, but have at least a soggy side.  He said he likes his to sit, until they are almost entirely limp and soggy.

I truly have not had these things in years, but neither one of us could stop talking about them. So today, my husband gave me a real surprise...and quite a treat...he delivered 7-Eleven nachos to my office for me to enjoy for lunch.  What a sweet guy!

Day 128

It's nothing too exciting. Just our mail for today. That was it...two things. One was a 'Thinking of You' card from my niece Rachel. It was for no reason other than she had been thinking of me. A very nice thing to get in the mail...when everything else is junk or bills...what a surprise.

The only other thing we received was yet another bill for Rob's hospital stay back in January!  Hopefully we're winding down and we've seen about the last of these things.

Day 127

Here it is! Our first grilling of the season. I feel like we are little behind...everyone else seems to have been grilling for a few weeks now. But tonight, I had some steaks and decided to get that ol' grill out for the season.

I not only threw the steaks on...which turned out deliciously...I also threw the romaine on. We tried grilling the romaine last year and really like how it turns out, and it's a great alternative to regular Caesar salad. I also just boiled up some baby reds and made mashed garlic potatoes out of them. Yum! What a great way to kick off the BBQ season!

Day 126

Last summer Rob and I discovered that we really liked Widmer beer. I think we've tried them all over the last year. Some I have liked, some I have not.  I think the ones I haven't like as well have actually been Rob's favorites. Go figure.

My favorite was their Summer Brew Citra Blonde. But recently we discovered their Spring Ale called Columbia Common. It's quite refreshing on these warm days...and we both seem to like it...and so we enjoyed a couple of them tonight!

Day 125

Today's Capture Your 365 prompt was Small Details.  It is these small details that we find great joy!

Every so often Rob just melts my little pea-pickin' heart.  Like tonight...I texted a line I had just heard from the new movie coming out, The Fault in Our Stars that I thought was sweet.  It went something like...I fell in love with you the way you fall asleep; slowly and then all at once. I felt like that captured me...apprehensive and tentative at first...then ALL in!

So then you can see the rest...Rob asked where I heard it, I asked if it made him feel romantic, and then his reply was that it did and it took him back to when he fell in love with me.  A small detail, that meant something big...because there are times when I still can't believe that someone fell in love with me.

He often assures me that he did, and that he still does, and that he always will...now that's no small detail!

Day 124

Because I attended Mass last night for Andrew's Communion, I took a Sunday off.  Robt went to church by himself while I grabbed a few extra zzzz's.  And when he got back I decided to take a walk. I headed down to my favorite walking place, the bike path along the river. It was such a nice day for a walk too.

I grabbed my phone and tried that InstaWeather app again...and I just love how this shot of the river, bridge and clouds turned out. And I also love that this way there's not doubting the stats, or having to remember later...clearly I'm in Pasco on May 4 at 12:22 PM, and it's 69° outside!

Day 123

Tonight was Andrew's First Holy Communion, and I was honored to be invited and to attend his special day. Of course Rob was invited too, but unfortunately he was working.

Katie and Ryan had everyone over to the house before...kind of a casual meet and greet, then we all headed over to the church. All the kids looked so adorable in their pretty dresses, and nicely pressed suits. Katie and another mom had been asked to light a candle...she was a bit nervous but it went off without a hitch, no tripping or stumbling. It was a really nice First Communion Mass, and I'm so glad I went. After it was over, we all headed back to the house for a bite to eat, a few drinks, gifts for Andrew and plenty of catching up.

Day 122

This here is my nemesis...the laundry. And it's not even the dirty laundry, it's the clean, folded laundry. It's not my favorite thing in the world - but I don't really mind doing laundry, and I don't really mind folding it...but for some reason I have a real aversion to putting the darn stuff away!  This is typically what happens. I fold it. I stack it. I put it on the ironing board. And for the next couple days, it gets moved on and off so I can iron. Until finally I concede and just put the darn stuff in the drawers where it belongs.  How dumb is that??

Day 121

Yes my friends, that is a Rum Barrel. My first one of the season, out on the patio no less! Yum!!

Tonight Grant and Traci took us ladies in the office out to Cedars for drinks and appetizers (yes, that is a table loaded down with all kinds of appetizers!) for Administrative Professionals Day. Things have just been a little hectic these past couple weeks, and with Traci's surgery and such, they asked if we could celebrate it tonight. They even offered to drive, so all of us ladies could partake and not have to worry about driving ourselves home.

So April, Billie, Shauna and I cut out of work a little early and all loaded up with Grant and Traci in their suburban, and headed to Cedars. We had an excellent time, eating, drinking and of course talking a little shop, even though we tired not to. Sadly, we realized with Grant's intent to leave early next year, this will most likely be our last Administrative Professionals Day with him. So, it was good to go out with a bang!!  After we were done, we all got dropped off at our houses...true curb service!

Thanks Grant and Traci...this truly was an Administrative Professionals Day to remember!!