Family Photos/Christmas Card Non-Contenders

We are spending the weekend with C's parents. Sort of. I'm spending the weekend with C's parents and he's sleeping here when he is not hunting deer. And my parents are headed over in a bit for dinner. So really, we're one big happy family. Minus the percievably dead deer.

Which means now is the perfect moment to post SOME pictures that Kami @ OrangePeel Photography took of my cute little family.

These are the ones that C wants on our Christmas cards. These are the ones that will not be on our Christmas cards:

Boris strikes again. During a photo session, nonetheless.
Which, of course, cracks C up to no end.

Pinks & Oranges: Quilt No. 2

Yes, I'm elbows deep in my second quilt. The first was completed over a year ago and presented to a very deserving pint sized blond who is extremely dear to C and I. As are her parents and brother. Anyway, quilt no. 2 utilizes some of the same fabrics and the same colorway, but is a completely different beast. As in, I should have used interfacing (whatever that is) and I finally watched all sixteen tutorials on binding a quilt (and while I still don't "get" it, I have a better idea what I'm aiming for). And this one is for the darling baby C, born in June, expected in September, and able to meet one of her mommy's oldest friend this January (with quilt in hand - jopefully). So I have to get moving.

I am here.



Which means that I have the strips sewn and just need to arrange them (so that none of the same patterns touch - thanks OCD) and sew them up. I found some great aqua backing to compliment the pinks and blushes. I'll put up a picture when it is complete.

Now, C has pulled the motor out of the yellow Jeep, sold it, and put in a 350 in. It is almost drivable and C is looking forward to busting snowdrifts this winter. I used to be worried about the draftiness of Jeeps in the winter, but I'm not so worried about this one: the floorboards were warm enough this summer to almost melt flip-flops. We'll be toasty, I'm sure. If I get a moment, I'll take a picture of C's new silver motor (thanks, R!).

- Posted from my mobile phone

The Loving Part

The loving part of this blog includes where our hearts and minds have been for the last two weeks. With AJ and his parents.

Our good friends LL and boss J found out two weeks ago that little AJ needed to be coaxed into the world early due to a few complications. So on October 25, 2010 around 6pm, AJ was born. C and I were delighted to be among the first to meet him, along with his doting grandparents and older sister and brother. His weight and length were awesome, especially considering his early arrival. LL and J did great.




A quick photo of grandpa holding AJ.

Soon after I left the hospital, there were concerns about AJ's breathing and he was whisked off to the nursery and then the NICU, where they could help him a little more. His parents returned home Wednesday as AJ made fantastic progress in the NICU, until he was discharged Tuesday evening. Everyone is doing fantastically and they are quite content and settling in at home now.

We were able to visit AJ, his mom, dad, and grandma last night and it is wonderful to see how well everyone adapts to new life. We can't wait to see more of all of them!

- Posted from my mobile phone

Runnin' Around

Oh, we've been busy. Notice that you have yet to see any pictures from our Jeep trip to CO in September. C's been working a ton since surveying does the bulk of the business in the summer. I've been working a lot too: I've taught two back-to-back mass communications courses over the last nine weeks in addition to my 9-6 job. Many things are also occurring in the subtitles of our lives.

But sometimes you take a break. We both came down with a killer cold this past week. Feeling better and bought C some new boots yesterday. And today, today we toured in the old Dodge WC. No pictures of any of that. Just some of the dogs enjoying C's friend J's awesome property. I know, we have a lot of J friends. This one builds old Dodges, like C does.



















So, three dogs in a field, smiling Boris, playing in the water, Bailey checking on Bella, Boris springing on Bella, and the three mid wrestling. They have a ball out at J's house.

In other news, we had family pictures taken by KamiV over at Orange Peel Photography tonight. Weather and light cooperated, dogs were typically funny, and I'm looking forward to some photos that feature the old Dodge that C built. I'm so proud of what he can do and I think some of his pride comes through in the photos. At any rate, I know our moms will be thrilled with family photos. Can I mention the love we have for K? She is fantastic. Friend and photographer.

- Posted from my mobile phone

Almost Done

Almost done is the way some things in our house stay for awhile. But this project is at the functional stage, waiting on me for the final touches.




The masterful C working on the desktop.




C remembered that I might need a shelf for my printer - so smart, that man!




Essentially, installed. Can you tell that it is seven feet long? Three feet high? It is so awesome - just needs painting!




Dad sent some paint with Mom last weekend. Oil based semi-gloss for the curious. I threatened to go to H.ome Depot for paint and instead, I get to use some fabulous P.orter Paint. In this picture, it just looks cluttered again, but there is a method AND I have to clear it all off again to paint it anyway. Potential problem: this workspace is the perfect height for leaning over to work on a task, but not for your average office chair. C came home with TWO drafting chairs from work! I was dreading spending the money on specialty chairs!

As of right now, I have a dining room table again and I almost have the guest bed cleared off. I need to find time to paint the top, hang some pictures, and organize a little more, and I am done! C did such a great job!

- Posted from my mobile phone

Whatever Shall He Build for Me?

So, I have an incredibly talented builder in C. He proves his worth over and over again (not that he has to, after all, he's cute and I hear good looks last forever).

Anyway, I am crafty, which is way different than building, but we don't have the time for that dissection. C builds in his garage - which may or may not be more square feet of space than our house. He also has the back room to hang out in with the washer, dryer, and all of his clothes. I have the Orange room, also known as the library and the guest bedroom. It looks like this right now:







And I have more stuff strung out across the dining room table:




Oh dear, I probably look like a mess! And obviously I need a dedicated, multipurpose, organized area. The beautiful desk my parents bought for me isn't cutting it anymore. So I had a bright idea - move my desk to C's hang out room (he's got an actual PC with a monitor and tower, which is what my desk is built for) and build a huge workspace in the orange room. It is seven feet by two and a half by three feet. Huge. For sewing, stamping, quilting, grading papers, fooling around on the Internet, wrapping presents, etc. If necessary, someone could probably sleep on it. I wouldn't make anyone sleep on it, I'm just saying.

As usual, I remain unable to formulate or actually communicate what my ideas for the giant workspace are. It's a female-male thing, I think. C has his own ideas and a much better understanding of the limitations of material things, i. e. wood, metal, glass, so we go back and forth a bit. My ideas are within the realm of imagination, but not lathe and plaster reality. I also have no concept of the difference between master craftsmanship and thousands of dollars of specialty materials and tools and what C can do for me in our garage with stuff from Home Depot. Once we had all that sorted out and I threw up my hands for the eighth time and muttered whatever, C had free reign to do whatever he needed to in order to build an awesome, uh, functional workspace. After all of my grand ideas were tossed around, I decided that I'm okay with anything as long as it has a smooth, somewhat level work surface (top). So, I'm thinking that is what I'll get. Here's a sneak peek:







Silly readers, C is making it - you didn't really think he wouldn't get his welder out, did you?

- Posted from my mobile phone

Bumblebee

She is beautiful. I'm blown away by what C built her from. He is so talented! The man can troubleshoot almost anything. This Jeep began as a rusty tub and a front clip. Now, she's trailworthy, roadworthy, and definitely mudworthy - just how we like our Jeeps!















It would take me too long to list the customizations and fabrications that C has done to her. But do notice the F-K-B painted on the front of the hard top above the windshield. Fat Kid Bumpers lives on. Also, the "Anti-Jeff" device on the back - there's a whole story of damage wrapped up in that one. The tire carrier/gasoline can holder is all the ingenious bossJ and C, but all Jeeps are running with them these days.

Sorry, you'll have to wait a little longer for CO pictures and stories - I've got to get back to grading assignments!

- Posted from my mobile phone