Dog pile on dad.

A much needed getaway weekend to NYC with cool chicas. Jaime was a pro driving through Manhattan.

There's always a Scrabble game going here.

Bringing in Forsythia; a yearly tradition. #thankheavenforneighbors

Reworking the frames and photo walls. These Target ones are my favorite and they're 20% off this week.

To float on your river

“I believe in going with the flow. I don't believe in fighting against the flow. You ride on your river and you go with the tides and the flow. But it has to be your river, not someone else's. Everyone has their own river, and you don't need to swim, float, sail on theirs, but you need to be in your own river and you need to go with it." ~C.Joybell C.

As I read this quote I was instantly reminded of those lazy days of summer in my youth where my family or friends and I would grab big inner tubes and head to the Washougal River. It seemed that everyone had inner tubes in their garages, just waiting to be used for summer. I don't even know if they make them anymore.

The river water was icy cold. It took our breath away as we'd jump in. Each of us would hop up on our own tube, with our legs and arms dangling over the rounded sides and let the current take us down the river. Occasionally we would outstretch our arms and hands when another person was floating by. For a minute we'd clasp hands but as one of us was going faster than the other, we'd let go and meet up down stream.

The current was nice; neither too swift nor slow. When the current would die down at one spot we could hop off the inner tube and easily make it to shore. We'd always watch out for each other, though, to make sure no one tired or was left behind so we could start the trek all over again.

So as I read the quote, I could identify with it but I had to add to it. We are each on our own journey and must go with the tides and flow that is life because fighting against the current is tiring and counterproductive, of course. That doesn't mean that you can't or shouldn't fight against something that is harmful or unjust. That would just be wrong. But for the things that are thrown at us, that we really can't control, we do have to do our best, go with it and hope that the waters calm at some point. I believe - no, I know that in those times there are people who will float out to us and outstretch their hand, clasp ours in theirs for a moment and give us strength to continue and make sure we're not left behind. Even when you feel like you are going with it, there will be someone that can relate or at least try to relate and will see what you need even when you can't. It's pretty amazing.

So let them float out to you.




A bridge over the Washougal River
via

Friday Finds and a week of Randoms

Good intentions to get a bunch of stuff done went down the drain when...

I received a call just as I was about to bite into my chicken Roburrito and was asked to speak in church this Sunday. So all week I have only been thinking, researching and writing about the subject I have been asked to tackle. I have to start this process right away because it seems that all of the thoughts in my head don't formulate and flow the way I'd like until it's crunch time. So today is crunch time. I've been practicing my talk while I am standing at the sink doing the dishes or folding clothes and then something new will come to me so I have to add, omit and re-work the whole topic. It'll come together somehow.

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Speaking of Roburritos, we have found a new favorite. They have about 20 sauces to choose from to put on your burrito. Oh yum.

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Reese took 3rd place in his division at the Pinewood Derby. He was so happy about that. We were very happy for him.

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The flu bug barely touched us, knock on wood. Charley and Reese were out for one day only. Trae had a fever for 4 days but that was it. Blair and Belén have escaped it so far. Time will tell.

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I went to a fun baby shower for a girl at church. I am lucky to have so many great women to be friends with and look up to. I've been lucky in every place that I have lived because there have always been these amazing women to know in each place.

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After the shower, a friend took me to a yarn shop and I saw the most beautiful yarn. I had no idea there were so many different weights and styles. So now I think I have to learn to knit. Afterwards we went to my favorite antique mall and I found myself an old, round wooden frame. I put it up but it looks a little drab so I see some Rub N Buff is in its future. The carving needs some highlights.

As we were cooking dinner the other night, one of the stove top burners caught on fire. I looked to see if there was something burning underneath that had fallen below but soon realized, nope, those were just flames shooting out. I was going to try to turn off the burner when sparks started flying. It seriously shot up sparks like one of those cones you light off on the 4th of July, so I had to run back. Everytime I thought it was done, I went to the stove and the sparks would fly again. Jon laughed at me flailing about. I think I lost a few lashes. The burner let out a big "pop!" and then it died. What a way to go though - in all sparks and glory! We were planning on getting a new stove anyway so the timing is good.

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My toes and hands are constantly cold.

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Oh yeah, I did manage to get to one thing - details later but me likey so far.

Have a good weekend!

 

xo

Laura

A happy present

Happiness is not something you postpone for the future;

it is something you design for the present.

~Jim Rohn

I like this quote. It really is up to us to be happy. Sure, others can make it more difficult at times but ultimately it is something we are responsible for and have to decide to do. I have talked about this before and have compassion upon those who find it more challenging to be happy. I've witnessed that up close but I know there is help and there is no shame in getting help.

Sometimes in our quest to be healthy, we only look to diet and exercise to see that our physical bodies can meet the demands of the day. But a big part of being a healthy, well-rounded person is to make sure our mental health is in good shape. The demands on it can actually be more challenging and taxing, which in turn, affects physical health.

It all works together which is why we have to as well by helping others design their happy present. Off to go jot down ideas on what I can do!

A birth story - baby Andie

My friend Heather texted me at 12:15 am and said she was going into labor so I texted back and said I would be on my way to the hospital. A few months earlier she asked if I would document the experience of her daughter's birth. I was excited by this request; honored really. I got ready and headed out the door for an exciting night (or morning) of seeing the events of this day unfold through my lens. We would catch all the emotion leading up to the birth and then right after. We discussed what kind of pictures to take and had it all planned.

I arrived at the hospital just before 1 am and texted her from Triage at 1:03. I was assuming that they would be in the room, talking, waiting and going through the motions of getting to the stage when delivery was just minutes away. I had planned on at least 5 hours of this and was happy to be there.

As I sat in the waiting room for a little while, I took a few pictures of the surroundings that would help tell the story. A woman finally came to the desk and smiled as I walked up to her. I told her I was there for Heather and she asked me to wait a moment. She left, came back and said to go to room 60. I would have to go back through security to get a badge and door pass. They were really accomodating and although it had only been 4 years since I was there, I noticed they had changed a few things around. I didn't remember the strict security of the building but thought it was good.

Entering the hall, I noted how hushed it was and took a photograph. Another nurse met me and asked if I was there for Heather. She pointed down the hall, smiling, and asked if I was ok with births and everything. I just nodded knowing she, of course, wouldn't know that this wasn't my first rodeo.

The door was open but lights were dimmed and I tiptoed inside realizing right away that they were in the thick of things. How long ago did this start?? I asked myself. I overheard a nurse say "she's going fast" when I was walking into Triage but didn't know they were talking about Heather. Pulling out my phone I looked at the text. 50 minutes. I was amazed at the progression. She is a rock star, I thought.

Knowing that photographs weren't allowed right then, I waited and listened.

I stood just outside the door wondering if I should even be listening to such a moment but I needed to be close so the nurses could call me to come in.

And so I listened and tears slowly fell down my face as I heard in a tired and nearly defeated voice echo those 4 words that almost all of us have uttered during labor, "I can't do this."

Kyle, her husband, immediately said in a tender and calming voice, "Yes you can, Heather, yes you can. You're doing great." He stressed the word "great" and the nurses all chimed in and said the same thing. She had what sounded to be a big personal cheering section around her. I thought it was funny how at that moment we seem not to care who is at our feet. We just need the encouragement. I did anyway.

I heard Kyle say he could see the baby and that she had lots of dark hair, encouraging Heather to keep going. The nurses were excitedly telling her that it was going to be soon; they could see her and she was doing great, just to hang in there and give it her all. Instinctively, I brought my hands to my mouth in nervousness, waiting to hear that final moment of bearing down. Someone said, "Let's go Heather!" and then at 1:21 am, I heard cheers and was quickly called in.

My eyes were a little misty and the intensity of listening made me forget all about camera settings. Everything was so quick it was hard to not get in the way so I hung back a bit and tried to snap pictures as best I could. It was a wonderful experience that I'll never forget.

Although we had this photo story planned out, it went according to another plan, a perfect one.

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*shared with permission

New Year's Day

We dined on a hundred mile special delivery takeout and played a new board game that tested our trivia knowledge, but mine was more like testing how well I could guess. :) We sang karaoke until our voices were hoarse and laughed at song choices for each other.

We ended it with a big finish by tag team singing to Bohemian Rhapsody complete with head banging and bringing it home by singing all together. We rang in the new year by counting down the ball drop on Times Square and blowing our horns at midnight.

It was loud and kids were dancing everywhere. A perfect night.

I hope yours was too. Lots of good things to come in 2012!

It's you not me

I watched this seemingly uncomfortable interview with Alexis Stewart on the Today show and had mixed feelings about one of the topics they discussed. Apparently she and her business partner Jennifer, "broke up" from doing their tv show as well as their radio show, Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer,

and have ended their friendship.

This was clearly an "It's you, it's not me" thing because in a nutshell, the friendship wasn't working for Alexis so she ended it. Jennifer said she would love to still have that relationship but she understands Alexis so it was ok, she was ok. I mean, if she had wanted Jennifer as a friend, she would have kept nourishing the friendship. Plain and simple. At one point Alexis mentioned that some people are "clingy." Which is why I never agree with the old, "It's not you, it's me" thing at any time.

At first I thought it was kind of a selfish thing to do but then thought better of it. Just as in a dating situation where the relationship isn't working for you, no one expects you to stay in the relationship any longer, especially if you're not happy, right? You end it and move on. It's kind of the same if you relate it to your career or any other activities.

So what makes a friendship any different? Is it different? Should you not worry about how you feel and think about what the friend needs? Or is that selfishness on the other's part by not recognizing that they may be causing the other to feel smothered?

I think it's an interesting subject. Thoughts?

House projects tomorrow - thoughts on people today

Although I've mentioned working at our local fair, I wanted to touch on another aspect before I move on to house projects. (Those are a coming! I have furniture outside right now to work on.)

Last week was a long work week which piled on top of another. But truly, my favorite aspect of every job I have had, is finding more out about people, their lives and stories and what got them to whatever point they are in their lives, except for the time I worked on a government health study through UCLA for the state of CA.

In that job I spoke with a large cross section of people from movie producers to welfare recipients to the elderly and average working citizens and college students. In particular I remember a young, disabled couple who, when I spoke with them, I had to yell because the 5 o'clock train sounded as if it were coming right through their living room and made it feel as if the house were going to fall from the shake. We had to wait for the train to go by to resume our conversation.

The movie producer's mansion could have housed many large families without ever running into each other whereas the disabled couple had barely enough room in the home to use their wheelchairs freely. I was depressed after talking with them that night. I was always getting in trouble with my boss because I was supposed to stay clinical and distant to keep the study unbiased but I just couldn't do that.

My nature is to listen and when prompted, offer advice and hope. I'm not a black & white, yes or no type so hearing their plight and having to remain silent was torture. Mostly because I could do nothing, not even say "I'm so sorry." It was especially hard when some sounded lonely and wanted to talk. Although I couldn't engage, I did so anyway, very subtly but because the conversations were recorded I still got the "talking to" later. It was worth it though and I still stand by my opinion that people who trust you to be non-judgmental will open up but the researchers say that people who trust you don't want to disappoint so they will give false answers. Who knows.

What I do know is that everyone has a story to tell and everyone has something important to offer. I have written about that many times but it is a topic that I like to explore over and over. Some may require more patience of me it is true, but their offerings are there.

This week was no different in a way. Some of those interesting and colorful people I met had it more difficult than others and were just enjoying a day out at a simple community fair. Some were happy-go-lucky and came back just to chat so we did and rested our tired feet on the foot massagers.

About two months ago I was hired to be a PR/marketing director for a Chiropractic office, which is who I worked for at the fair. I still have my own business which I am growing but this job, being 95% from home, was too good to pass up.
My mission is to get the Doctor speaking engagements, help build the practice within the community, get people to pay more attention to their spinal health and thereby increase revenue.

But through that I get to do the one thing I like more than anything, convert a stranger to a friend.

Generous

Every year Jon gets together with the guys from high school for a weekend. I think I've mentioned before that we went to a small town school in southwest WA state. Although it is not so small anymore, we still consider that area to be one of the best places to raise a family and feel lucky that we lived there.

One year the guys met up at Whistler, BC, Canada for some skiing and another time it was in Vegas for golf. But because of busy family lives, careers, distance and cost, it seemed easier for them to get together at one of the guy's cabins back home. And since everyone is still in the area, having it there means it is more likely all of them would come.

This year Jon's response to the request to see who was interested was "maybe." He didn't know if we could squeeze it in with so much going on and didn't want to take away (financially) from the activities for our family. When I asked him if he was going, he just kept saying, "We'll see."

I told him it was fine with me, not that I would ever object anyway, but it really isn't that expensive of a trip. The flight is the biggest expense but you can always find good travel deals to Portland. And because my brothers live there, he stays an extra day to hang out with them to golf, play basketball and eat at one of our favorite local places. Luckily, he'll bring me back some of my favorite things from the Northwest too, besides himself. :)

Some may wonder why guys have a get-together and with tongue-in-cheek, we joke about this "man-cation." But I think men with long-standing friendships need to reconnect with each other just like old girlfriends do. Of course theirs involve golf, building bon-fires, fishing, and harassing each other only the ways guys can do but I would never discount their need for any of that. And, when you receive an e-mail like this, how can one refuse? We were touched.

Jon,

We all passed the hat and are paying for your ticket. You can't argue...it is done. You're the only one that incurs any expense for our guys weekend and you have flown out three times now. It is our turn and that is that. I think Thursday night, through Sunday would be best. Flying in on Friday would work too. So, decide on the flight and give me your info so we can buy it. I know you're busy and it is not the money but we all want you there.

Darr

They still laugh over this photo.

Reese, 3rd from right, was a Kindergarten teacher who passed away suddenly in 1999. Jon was asked by his family to give the eulogy. We named our son after him.

Darr, who sent the email, is on the far right. Jon is 2nd from left.

A hoot of a gift

I'm trying to get back on track with posting. It's been really busy around these parts. Forgive me. I'm not always able to juggle it all, at least not very well. So let me get back on track by showing you the sweetest thing sitting in my office.

Have you ever received a gift from someone that simply surprised you, not only by the gift itself, but by the thought behind it? That happened to me recently.

My friend Solviej (pronounced Sole-vye, vye as in "bye") surprised me with a birthday gift: An owl pillow she knitted and sewed herself. Isn't he darling? She used cream and blue yarn as well as blue and brown felt. I am always amazed at handcrafted gifts and think of them as some of my greatest treasures.

I love my owl.
Unfortunately, so do my kids and I keep having to look in their rooms to see who has taken him. They hear me yell from down the hall, "Has anyone seen my owl??" and someone will point me in the right direction. One of these days I expect to get a ransom note for candy.

I'm so glad Solviej started a craft blog to showcase her handmade goods. I've been hoping she would do that since she is very talented. She can whip up hats and scarves like nobody's business. You can also find her here.

Besides the gift, the best thing about friends is they get you.

Have a great day! We're off to a well-baby visit...how about you?

Friday fire

With friends we

-watched our food get cooked up all samurai like with sharp knives and fire -

-Dined on a little sushi too -

-did the wave around the table -

-talked about lots of stuff-

-laughed about lots of stuff-

-Ate a twinkie for the first time after a friend remembered I had never had one

and surprised me with it-

had a good time

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Coming up this week:

The entry wall reveal

A new owl

Thrifting around town

Quotes

Fall parade

One thing I enjoy about living in a small area are the those town traditions that may seem a little podunk compared to big cities. They are always easily enjoyable and make you feel as if you had just stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Take, for example, last weekend's Homecoming parade for our local college. It's just a few blocks away from our house and lasts 15 minutes tops. Our kind of parade. The kids get excited for this because it means collecting all of the candy that the parade people toss. They even walk by and hand out candy bars and not just to the kids. I had a few things lining my pockets as well.

It's just plain fun to get out and do something, don't you think? Meeting up with some friends at the creek and then walking a block to the parade route was the perfect way to spend the morning. The slight wind gave way to sunshine and it turned out to be a nice, warm autumn day.
And all the candy was gone an hour later.

We'll do this again at Christmas, just with more fanfare, and I can't wait.

Local high school marching band

College football and baseball playoff discussion

Handing out the candy

One of the college floats

Friends

Good thing they drive slowly around here.

Taste test

Trading some loot

The end.

Red Bull Friday

Lifelong friends.

Jon and some of his high school buds, May 2010

Every year about 7 of them get together for a weekend of reminiscing, and hassling each other, only the ways guys do. This time it was at one of the guy's cabin back home in WA state and involved fishing, golfing, and a big fire.

Ahh, Friday.

Just hearing the word always brings a sense of relief and cause for celebration. Every week on Facebook, one of my friends somewhere, posts the old "TGIF" status and everyone likes it. I don't know why Friday is considered unlucky in some countries. For me, it's been a perfectly happy day. It is such a welcome sight after a long week and ushers in the weekend's possibilities.

Each weekend I make a mental to-do list of projects I want to get done, knowing full well I won't realize most of them. Maybe that's why in Australia, there is a new trend called "Red Bull Friday" where people drink large amounts of Red Bull. I guess they want to speed through their last work day and be fueled for successful weekend activities.

I'll take it a little slower but as long as I get something done and the weekend is enjoyed, I will view it as a success.

And I'm not even on Red Bull.

Happy Friday mates!

*hoping to get the boys' room done this weekend. The primer and base coat of paint is up - now for stripes.

Friends, Flower Show and IKEA

Silver Burrow's Tail I purchased at the flower show.

I love its color against the aged color of the urn.

Amber and Carrie

This past weekend I went to the Philadelphia flower show with a couple of friends. A chance to get out of the house and into the big city with friends? I'm there!

We made our way onto the turnpike and in no time we were in the bustling city. It's always exciting to me when I see a nice skyline.

The flower show was filled with interesting floral displays and the aroma of sweet smelling blooms. There were plenty of items to buy as well so we each made stops to different booths to get flowers, seeds or plants. I rather enjoy the Silver Burrows Tail which will eventually grow and hang over the side of the planter. It will look so great when it gets to that point.

It's small enough to sit atop the counter in the urn for now.

After the show we were IKEA bound and continued shopping there. Who doesn't love a trip there as well?? Over the loudspeaker they tempted us with dinner for a dollar. So we checked it out and got Swedish (of course) meatballs and mashed potatoes - for a buck, really. It was so inexpensive that we treated ourselves to chocolate cake. Besides, we had walked a few miles already.

Over dinner we decided that for the show's price of admission there really should have been more to do and see. But it wasn't too high and we thought it was good to try once.

But it will always be worth any admission price to have a day to hang out with these gals again for good fun and conversation!

I would pay triple the price for that...

Up next - Baltimore harbor anyone??

Picture This!

Click on each to enlarge.
Recently I did a photo shoot for Belen and
4 of her best friends.


We took about a hundred shots and they seemed to enjoy
documenting their friendship through pictures.

I enjoyed seeing them be themselves, laugh and be

genuinely happy for the other.

After all, that is what friendship is all about.

And when you find a good one

it can make you jump for joy.