Whirlwind

I feel like the only trips I make to the Tri-Cities lately are super quick, one night trips- the most recent one taking place this past week with all 3 kids in tow. I had booked a jewelry show (yay!) and Rick was at Outdoor School for the week, so the kids and I took a road trip!!

Things I loved about the road trip:

• Listening to the kids play games from the backseat. They played I Spy, searched for cloud shapes ("Look, it's a flying camel!"), looked for trains (Me: "There's the caboose." Tyson: "And the one in the front was the line leader!"), told nonsensical Knock, Knock jokes ("Knock knock. Who's there? Riley. Riley who? Riley Ann Thames!" followed by fits of giggles), watched movies (How to Train Your Dragon and Toy Story), asked "When are we going to get to the bridge?" about 50 times each (the one crossing into Washington), and said "Goodbye, Oregon!" and "Hello, Washington!" when finally crossing said bridge.

• Getting to hold another successful Premier Jewelry Show with a group of wonderful ladies AND booking 3 more shows in the months to come! Which means more Bruchi's chicken cheesesteaks for me... I get at least one every visit. (I have been know to get one for lunch when I pull into town and another one for lunch on my way out the next day...)
  

• Grandma and Grandpa watching all 3 kids for the very first time! They fed them dinner and put them to bed, giving me the opportunity to actually DO the Home Show! Thank you!!
  

• The kids being able to run themselves ragged outside playing! We are just closing the books on one of the 3rd wettest April in Portland's history, with record low temps as well. I decided after this trip that I would take Tri-Cities wind over Portland's rain almost any day, because at least the kids could still play outside without mud being an issue! They LOVED every second of it and hopefully got a good dose of Vitamin D in the process. :)

• Listening to the silence of wiped out, sleeping kids on the trip home. Riley and Cooper were out by the time we crossed back into Oregon, and Tyson watched a movie with a zoned out looked on his face. I also enjoyed the view of Mt. Hood surrounded by blue skies on the way home!
  

• We arrived home only 5 minutes after Rick, and we were all SO happy to see him after 5 nights away.

I'm looking forward to heading back (solo) in late May for another Home Show, and looks like all five of us will be able to make a trip in late June, early July actually visit for a few days!

Feeling Frumpy...

Occasionally, I like to live on the edge.

Like last week when I put my last pair of contacts in without having ordered a new box!
I know, I'm a crazy girl.
Just my luck, the very next day, I tore a contact while taking it out. Without a back-up pair. UGH.

Thank goodness for my cute glasses.

Except for the fact that I don't really care for the way I look in glasses.
They give me a headache from the pressure on my nose and behind the ears
When in rains in Portland (which is often) the glasses get covered in raindrops.
My eyes are really sensitive to the light, and I can't wear sunglasses.

It's been a long week. I usually only wear my glasses late in the evening and in the morning before putting in my contacts. Or when I'm sick and being lazy all day.

So, if you combine feeling really awful all weekend (even losing my voice for a couple of days) and being "forced" to wear my glasses all day, everyday, I've just not been myself.

I've been feeling frumpy.

Then a wonderful UPS man knocked on my door today, delivered my contacts, and saved me from my frumpiness!! (Is that a word?)
I am a new woman!
I have energy, confidence, a skip in my step!
I can see!

My glasses are going back to their rightful place... on my nightstand. :)

I obviously have too much time on my hands if I'm blogging about this.
Maybe I'll go channel some of this new found energy into something productive like vacuuming the house...

Happy Wednesday! :)

Happy Easter!!

Our Easter in a nutshell... Or would it be eggshell??

• Easter Bunny made an appearance ("He" ran out of time and was kind of lame this year, especially to Cooper)
• Chocolate chip pancakes (yum)
• The 8:30am service at church (AMAZING Bridge message!)
• In house egg hunt (silly OR rain...)
• Egg coloring (nothing was stained!)
• Tacos for lunch (yum, again)

Still to come...

• Rick leaving for Outdoor School for 5 days (yes, on Easter... yes, it sucks.)
• Quality time with the family for Easter dinner (more yummy food)
• Early bedtimes for ALL (mine will be Nyquil induced because I have yet another cold)

And of course, loads of photo ops...

Riley got Tangled, Princess card games, and some cute pj's

Tyson got a new backpack and a Batum bobblehead (thank you Wells Fargo!)
He was excited to see something Blazer's!

Cooper got Memory and sidewalk chalk

I love all of these pictures of the kids... I couldn't just pick one...

These are the times when we are very thankful for automatic timers on cameras!!
(Also, when I begin to realize that I need to start using powder... HEL-LO shiny!)

As much as I am going to miss Rick while he is gone getting drenched this week at Outdoor School, I am looking forward to a few days of rest for myself (just say "No!" to subbing), and finally giving the house the TLC it has been lacking since mid-February. I feel a little productivity coming on... :)

Girl's Night Out

I love having so many girlfriends who share my love of the Blazer's!!

Actually, these two ladies are probably bigger fans than I am! :)

Melissa, Rachael, and I waiting to get autographs before the game. :)

Rudy Fernandez #5, just after he signed Rachael's jersey!

She was pretty excited to get his autograph ON her jersey!!
I was hoping Nicolas Batum would be there as well to sign mine... maybe next time!

Our view of the court from the 200 level.

Having some fun... I'm standing in front of Batum (and wearing his jersey), and Rachael is wearing a Fernandez jersey and standing in front of him!

Playoffs start tonight, and I'm so excited!!!
And it looks like Rick and I will be attending Game 4 of the series against Dallas next Saturday afternoon. Woo hoo!!

Basketball Unicorns

Riley brought this home last week from preschool... Our conversation went like this:

Me: Riley, did you make this for the Blazer's?
Riley: Yeah, Teacher wrote the Blazer's, but I wrote some of it. We were learning about unicorns.
Me: Unicorns? (Me thinking that was a strange transition in the conversation for a few seconds... then...) Ooooh, do you mean uniforms?
Riley: Yeah, uniforms. Oh yeah, unicorns are those horses with the thing sticking out. :)

I love that the kids are getting into the Trailblazer's this season... It couldn't have anything to do with the fact that we "force" them to watch games on TV, could it? HA!

We will all be rooting for the Blazer's on Saturday as they start their playoffs run against Dallas.
Let's go Bla-zer's!!

New Jewelry Blog

I have a new blog for you to add to your blog roll or bookmarks:

www.brookethames.blogspot.com

I will be using the above blog for all things Bling!, rather than using our family blog for my jewelry business. :)

I hope you'll check in often for photos of some of my favorite jewelry combinations, monthly specials, GIVEAWAYS!!, and fashion tips.

I would LOVE to have you as a follower, so come and join me!