I found out some "Wicked" news today...

Ever since I've lived here, I've been trying to get my bros & sister to come for a visit. I know how spendy it can get, so I tried to lure them with the "We can make a trip to Forks!" (Not sure why they would ever need to be lured...I mean, I think I should be a good enough reason, don't you think?  :) )

Well, then at some point, I realized that Wicked is coming to Spokane this May ...Perfect opportunity to get my brother here since he's a Wicked fanatic. We've been talking about it for quite some time now, but once again I know it's expensive (esp a ticket to go see Wicked), so I didn't want to get my hopes up. I was convinced our plans would never really materialize.

Until Today!! ...my sister told me that she and her boyfriend are planning to make the trip with Corey. They've been pricing flights and know the dates. They would fly into Seattle, we would show them around the Emerald City, then go to Forks and possibly venture to Olympic National Park. Drive back to Spokane, enjoy life and see Wicked. Not really sure if that's feasible to do in 5 days, but we'll see. Pretty Wicked news, huh?  :)

Grandma's Apron

My mom recently sent me a package of some Christmas gifts that I just couldn't fit in my suitcase on the way home. She also included one of my Grandma's aprons for me to have. This must have been before my time, because all the memories I have of my Grandma include her wearing a smock with pockets in the front that she wore everyday and looked nothing like this apron. So when I opened my package and saw this cheery little thing, I had to put it on display...I dug out the "rake" end that I have (that I've never hung here, because I just didn't have the room nor anything great to hang from it) and hung it in our laundry room, right off of our kitchen. It just makes me smile. And the fact that my Grandma hand-stitched the little flower design makes it even more special, because I never knew she was so....crafty.

the apron on the left is the one I got for Christmas
from my secret santa at work :)

The only way to finish is to Start.

And the running begins. Unfortunately I say begins, because it definitely came to a halt after my 1/2 marathon in May last year. I'm not sure why, because I've come to the conclusion that I really do like to run. Don't get me wrong, there are some days I have horrible runs and I hate it. But, for the most part once I take that first stride I'm addicted. The thing is, I think I'm the type of person that if I don't have something to work toward (besides losing a few pounds), or have some kind of competition, I get bored. And that is why all my hard work, all the endurance I built up last year came to an end once I crossed that finish line. There was nothing more to work toward and sadly I didn't run once after that...until today. It feels so great, I just want to go back out and run again. The plan is to do another 1/2 marathon this year in the spring...I might just have to sign up for one in the fall to keep me going :)

Happy Birthday Ryan!

It's been so nice to see you develop into the mature young man you've become...taking on new responsibilities such as your new dog, Willow, and your beautiful new house.

Your big sister is proud of you! 
HaPpY BiRtHdAY!!

I thought I would share with you the album I made Ryan for Christmas. It's always tricky trying to come up with a handmade gift for my brother(s), but once I thought to create a dog album (my brother's #1 love), I'm surprise the idea didn't come sooner...

I found the perfect album to use~ one covered in soft brown suede. I then went to the dollar store, bought a collar and glued it around the album. To open, all you have to do it unsnap the collar. As a final touch I added a personalized dog tag. 

These little dog bone paper clips were too cute to pass up.

I love using ripped out dictionary pages when I can, this page worked out perfectly: a whole column of doggy words and the last one ending in dog-tired.

Home for the Holidays

I was so blessed Joe & I got to spend Christmas with my family this year. I hadn't seen them (except for my mom when she came out to visit) since March! So I was LONG overdue for a visit. And since Joe & I have been together, this was the first year he would experience magical Christmas morning at my Moms. ~So much to be excited about!
 

Sunrise as we were taking off from Spokane airport.

We arrived in Cleveland at 4:30pm Christmas Eve and came home to an appetizer extravaganza, family, and pile after pile of presents. We all opened one gift (which is always a pair of pajamas for Christmas morning), played games, and laughed the night away...

Fun with handcrafted mustaches I made.

This picture cracks me up...

I don't think I realized I was standing off by myself. 

 

hmmm Q, I can't determine which is the real thing!

So good to be home.
I spent a lot of quality time with my Brothers & Sister this trip.

Christmas Morning.

My Sister and her boyfriend, Carl.

Between all the home cookin' and bottomless cookie trays,

I definitely gained a few pounds!

 Christmas Evening we all went to my cousin Theresa's house for a small family gathering. That's her, holding her niece, Ivy.

It's been a whole year since I've seen this little cutie.

My how they grow so fast!

My cousin Bill & I

Funny thing...my brother, Corey just got a job at Target. Hence the red hoodie. Well, while we were there, Joe got a gift certificate to a sports store that he was eager to spend...he ended up getting a red hoodie.  Just.Like.Corey  :)   so the joke was that Joe wanted to be just like him.

I got a chance to check out my younger brother's new house he just bought. He's a tough cookie to get to smile.

silly Corey, he can make you laugh all day

 During our visit we had dinner at Quentin & Melissa's.

Melissa double fisting it?

chocolate wine on the left and red on the right.

Two Peas in a Pod

Brotherly Love

mom & me

Told you it was hard to get this boy to smile.  ~Ryan sporting his new flannel he bought while we were in town. hmmm I wonder where he got that idea :)

Showing him how he can roll up his sleeves.  

(haha, he's clueless in this department!)

Minus not meeting up with a few friends, my trip was Perfect... Family Time, Home Cooking, Handcrafted Gifts, Stockings, Pajamas, Beautifully Wrapped Presents, Game Nites, Sleeping In, Lots of Laughs, Cookies, Greys Anatomy Marathon, TWILIGHT marathon, and a few puzzles...

I LoVe you guys and miss you so much already. Thank you for another year of memories, I will always Cherish. xoxo