birthday pictures

Time for the pictures I promised. Here's Mark and me at the Squadron Thanksgiving party in one of the C-17 hangars (and YES "Mark and ME" is the appropriate phrasing because we are the objects in the sentence thank you!) It was surprisingly warm in there! Still a little chilly, but a lot of yummy food to keep us warm. All the tables in back of us are empty because they were in line filling their plates. There were a lot of people there for the auction.
Drumroll.... my new camera!! ooooOOOOOoooooo... thank you, Mark! Thank you!
One of the roses....
The silly card that made me cry. I love 16 candles. Mauri, does the magnet look familiar??
My mom and dad's card is a HULA HOOPER! I loooove hula hooping. In fact, I still have one and practice often. I came in 2nd place in my office hula hooping contest last month to a pregnant woman. She didn't even have to try to keep it above her belly. laaaaame.
My Grandma Judd sent me JELLIES for my birthday. It was the greatest!! I have already dug into the raspberry pomegranate (I loooove all things Raspberry minus seeds). 
A mystery loaf from my Visiting Teachers. It was pound cake. Yummy, soft, pound cake. 
The 4 ... okay, 3.5 loaves of bread from Jodi C. The yummy bread was a great base for my heaps of jelly. 
More Birthday cards from this year I have loved. This "Yo Adrian" card is from Mo and Tory (my bro-and-sis-in-law). I love the Rocky movies and even have a "Philly" shirt with the victorious Rocky silhouette on it. Anyway, this card with the snazzy boxer has been on our fridge since August when they sent it to Mark. 
This is the card I sent to my Dad in October. I love it... or "lob yoy long time," as Michael Scott would say. Lob... fits well, right? Right?? Cute lobes, kid.

Till next year. Thanks for the great birthday and nice comments, everyone!

turning 23.. isn't so bad after all

Today was a fantastic birthday. I couldn't have imagined it any better. I will have to upload pictures this weekend sometime. 

I was woken up at 5:00 by a call from my fun Grandparents. I knew they'd feel bad they woke me up, so I called them at 7:00. 

My mom and dad called me at 6:30 and sang beautifully to me. It really did sound great!

Both Tessa, my little sister, and my good friend Mauri posted specifically for my birthday. I loved both posts and appreciated them more than I thought possible. Thank you, both. 

After a calm morning of reading, a warm shower, and cozy fires, I went to quilting class where I worked on some pj bottoms. 

Then I went to Qdoba for lunch. mmm!

Then I went to the BX and picked out a cute 3-ring notebook for all my primary piano music for the program this weekend - yikes! I still have a lot of practicing. ... oops. 

After the BX errand, I went to 'refill' on my Vitamin D stock at the tanning beds. I know I know, but you have to admit that Alaska really is the only place that tanning is GOOD for you. I noticed that my pale skin has started to look normal to me because I saw tan people recently and thought, "how strange they look." It was a shock to realize just what that meant. I'm pale. Bella-type pale. 

After talking to Mark's family, and being sung to, I talked to my Grandma Judd who sent me jelly for my birthday - it was perfect, and just what I needed for a nice breakfast this morning with my toast. 

Then I finally came home to my cute pup. He had fun outside and needed a bath when he came in. When I was cleaning up after the cute pup was all fuzzy and free, Mark walked in! He was supposed to be flying! He had pink roses and a chocolate cake in his hands. He received a kiss from me and I received trick-candles. My first ones, and I was so frustrated! 

Then he pulled out a box - a box that contained... MY NEW CAMERA!! I am so jazzed bout it. It will have to be another post entirely. He helped me decide which one will be perfect for me. I'm so anxious to start pushing buttons. 

After all the sweet tears were dried after reading his sweet card, he swept me and Buckwheat (and his pillow) off to my favorite Anchorage restaurant: Pad Thai for Kung Pao Chicken. So yummy. It's what I'll be eating for lunch tomorrow. 

I came home to Christmas Lights Galore, and a call on our home phone from Jodi C. saying she was on her way over. She brought FOUR loaves of my most favorite bread ever and a cinnamon wall-flower. I am so delighted. 

I have 1 friend (Kristen) and 1 cousin (Brittany) to call back tomorrow! I am so excited to talk to them. SO many people emailed, called, and texted. I am truly blessed to have so many good friends and family members. I love you all. Thank you for thinking of me on this 'normal day' that turned out to be extraordinary. 

Frop

I dubbed this friendly, look-like-he's-a-porridge-eating-bear Frop. He just looks so floopy. Beautiful, but floopy. I have never seen a more jovial looking grizzly bear. It almost looks like Disney got a hold of the taxidermist and said, "I have a vision, do this." He just looks like he's loping over to give you a hug or to share a picnic with Yogi and Boo-Boo!

Just don't be looking at those claws when you picture a nice warm hug! I just had to put a picture up of this friendly looking creature. Frop one more time: 

magnets: how to

For last month's Super Saturday, I chose to do three sets of magnets; ideas of Jodi and Stephanie! In Hawaii, at Cinnamon Girl, each tile-magnet costs $3. For this set of 60, it cost me $10. Maybe you'd like these too; so just in case, here's your own personal how-to: 

1. Grab your Mod Podge:   *please ignore our 40 lbs of rice waiting for a bucket 

2. Set of 1x1 inch tiles, I think these were from Lowe's. 60 total: 
3. Clean off the back of the tiles as best as you can. Some paper won't be able to come off, and don't break those nails trying! Just leave what doesn't come off easily: 
4. I didn't make these, but if you're good with a computer, you could do your own zip file, or if you're bad with a computer, like me, then just save, enlarge, and print this off: 

5. Cut the strips with a rotary cutter and board. Then use scissors to cut across since they didn't line up in that way:

6. Lay them out and decide which 30+ you are going to not use. I know, it's a tough decision: 

7. Score the magnet-sheet. Press hard, but it's not necessary to get all the way through. With just a little pressure, you will be able to score the magnet and just bend and pull the magnets into the squares. Cut 3/4"x3/4":  

8. Be sure to buy the sticker-backed magnet sheet. Stick the magnets to the tile-backs: 
9. Mod podge once directly on the tile face, then stab the paper with the sticky brush and lay it on the tile. Apply more mod podge, doesn't have to be much: 

10. ta-da! They won't be perfect because of the rough backing. But aren't they fun??

I just love magnets. My next project with these will be to make a magnetic-framed-board. If I'm any good at making the framed magnetic board, maybe that will be your next how-to from this blog, to you. 

election day in Alaska

Here is my sticker. I voted about an hour ago, and the Alaska polls closed 7 minutes ago. I think I voted after most of the polls had been closed and the election called. But oh well, I voted! 

Anchorage temple

Before we 'smashed pumpkins' (see last post), on Saturday morning, Mark and I were able to go with the youth to do Temple Baptisms at the Anchorage Temple. Since 3 months after we were married, we moved away from Las Vegas to a land far away from our temples. Both places we lived, both Del Rio and Altus, were at least 3 hours from the temple. We have loved being so close to a temple again. 

I think I'm actually grateful for the distance that we had between us and temples before, because now we really have been able to make the most of it. Mark is so good at getting us to go to the temple at least once a month. I love him for his efforts, even when I wake up early and grumpy on those Saturdays. He understands, and is never frustrated. Probably because he knows I'll be smiling the rest of the day. 

I took this picture Saturday morning at 8:45 before the sun rose. The sun had been raising at 9:30 the last week or so. But since day-light savings time that happened last night, now it rises at 8:30. But now it sets at 5:30. It's so weird! But I do love it. We still have 2 months to lose daylight, but then again, only 2 months before we start gaining it back! 

hello, November!

I love November, and not only because it is my birthday-month. It is such a cozy, comfort-food-filled month... but not if you're outside like these pumpkins were for 2 straight weeks. Let me introduce to you, pumpkin ice: 

Like "every other boy" (as Mark reminds me), Mark loves to break things. In fact, when we were dating and talking on the phone, even before we met in person, he had mentioned that when he has kids, he wants to have an "Annual Break-Things Day." Sounds glorious, right? Sure. If you're not the person cleaning up. And I told him this from day one. So here he is launching his pumpkin from the third story deck:
The fall; notice the 'lid'? It's near the bottom of the photo: 
The aftermath of both broken pumpkins. Mark is hoping a Moose will do the clean up, but if not, he will be. ha!
Even Buckwheat was enjoying the show. This is his usual look-out spot from the balcony. It took me a while not to be nervous about this; his shoulders won't fit. And if you go up behind him, he still gets scared like a good little boy. It's a healthy fear, right?: 

Goodbye October, and hello, November!

happy halloween

I now present... our costumes. I was Elizabeth Swann, without the beautiful curly hair. Mark was Elvis! Complete with boots, leather wrist straps, leather pants, and all. Oh my. He had to take off the huge sunglasses for the picture. 

Tonight before I went to the Ward's carnival and trunk or treat, I had to spread the word to the non-members! I think it helped. There were a lot of non-members there. That's what we had hoped for!

We have so much candy left... I was prepared for both trunk-or-treat and neighborhood trick-or-treating. Looks like I will just have to indulge... Happy Halloween!

films

The Battle of Shaker Heights was on this morning while I was finishing a project for school. It had witty dialogue, and of course, Shia LaBeouf, whom I'ved loved watching since Even Stevens (anyone else use to watch that too?).

In this film, Shia's character Kelly is a seventeen year old, historical war-buff, and his perception of the people around him gives him his own agenda. When he's accused of having his own agenda he responds, 

"Of course I have my own agenda, what other reason is there to do anything?"

one purse and a puppy

I was able to have Thursday off this week, again, and instead of continuing the quilt (yes, this quilt), we had a one-day project. They were called Cute Jessi's instead of the trademarked name that Jodi C pulled the pattern from - oops. Last week I even helped her cut out all the patterns, and yet I still felt like a novice while sewing... until I looked at it last night upon completion. I love it: 

When I asked Tessa what colors she wanted she said purple and green so they compliment one another. I was really only supposed to have two colors, but I could not find a quilted fabric that I liked in either color. So I went bold and decided to match by not matching. The purple fabric is chaos with the brown, but the green adds just enough punch, that I think it works nicely. Oh Tessa, Merry Christmas. 

I made the pocket to be able to fit a cell phone in one pocket and then other, larger things, like makeup or a bottle of lotion, or a notepad (like I carry in my purse) for the other pocket. Tessa you better take good care of this heirloom!
Then the zippered pocket on the very front. ta da! Another ta da moment after I made Buckwheat look like a little scrappy puppy. I love his long Toto hair, but it was just becoming too hard to wash and clean because of the wet snow. Now he'll just have to be quicker outside:

pretty dang scrappy, but truth be told, he feels like velvet!

Halloween with the Reeders

Featuring....

Full dinner, including roast, potatoes, my first green bean casserole ever (turned out as a success!), pie, pumpkin cookies, and ...

Caramel Apples:

Musical Chairs:
Donut-String Contest:
El Guapo the Pinata: 
*while swinging at Guapo, we were listening to Nacho Libre music, and inside Guapo were all sorts of free candies and coupons. Including: Free Parking at the Reeder's (offer valid only once) and the movie Nacho Libre! aye, aye, aye! *notice the whoopie cushion costume? 

Limbo! 

and Pin/Stick the Wart/Gum on the Witch:
*while trying to avoid all the other pieces of gum. Go Megan!

new shag rug

... is really our front lawn. When we pulled up to our house tonight after driving around our neighborhoods a bit, I realized just how much our lawn looked like a white-retro shag carpet. Nature is just so chic.

first snow

Sunday night when Mark and I were driving to base, Anchorage's first snow of winter was falling. It was so beautiful! A little early, but still beautiful. That night, it was icy, slippery, and snowy, so I drove for the first time on icy roads. I chose to because Mark was in the car with me, and wouldn't be the next morning on my way to work. I did alright and learned some tips and cautions from my ice-skilled husband. 

Monday morning I saw 5 cars/trucks off the road and on their sides. I was warned that everyone forgets how to drive in the snow during the summer. Stupid. But I promise to not be 'one of those people.' Since Sunday and Monday, all the snow has melted. We are back to fall. But I am excited for winter!

a little off target

I only made it a DAY! My intentions were to make it an entire month, but I had today off work, and I found myself at Target after lunch. I started like this (not expecting to get anything much): 
And ended up with this: 
A sweater-thing for me, a shirt for Mark, long-sleeves for me, earrings, a purse, a cauldron, an adorable door mat (perfect for big winter boots), and a few other things that just looked like they needed a good home. Thanks a lot, Target. 

Even Mark decided to join in on the fun with me. We've missed you!

Chelsea, are you more partial to Alaska, now?

mushrooms

I wanted to post this before it gets too wintery up here. Did I get your attention with this cute little guy above? In Alaska we have the strangest mushrooms that grow everywhere. Some grow in circles, others grow in little town-formations, and some just grow wherever they want to. Our friends, the Cochrans snapped the little troll pictures a while back, and I loved them!  
This, above picture, was a huge mushroom somewhere behind our house. I took about 4 different angled shots of it, but this one was my favorite. I feel about the size of the little troll doll when I look at it. 
Another one courtesy of J & J C. I think they said that the troll was picked up by a family member of theirs in Europe. I could be wrong, but I'm thinking Norway. 
The above picture I took back in early August, right at the end of our yard; you can even see the clipped grass on the bottom left from the lawn mower. Notice the bright sunshine and clovers? mm.. it was so nice and warm then.
The parting shot. The mushrooms look just as real as the troll does. Thinking about mushrooms really makes me feel like a little kid again, and all the cartoons that used to be on; I'm sure you all remember the ones I'm talking about!

setting up for fall

Nearly all the leaves are on the forest floor outside, and inside, I'm setting out all my fall furnishings. It is such a cozy time of year! I love the scent in the air when the leaves are wet and on the ground, priming for the snow to come. This morning there was frost on everything outside; the sun didn't melt it until after noon. 

Back to the inside of our house. I have candles that smell like pumpkin, ginger, and cinnamon when burning, porcelain jack-o-lanterns that you place tea candles in so they glow. There are little gourds with leafy, spiraled vines. I have a fake pumpkin, and a few real. This time of year just makes me want to get toasty with a blanket and a mug full of soup. 

*the camera was on a landscape setting when I snapped this shot, so that is why it has the weird curve in it; in case you wondered. Please ignore the tags still on the stems. ha!