Due to my recent facebook posts I would first like to assure you all that I am not an old maid. Yes, I can jams, salsas, butters, etc. Yes, I knit, sew, and do crafts. Really I just like to learn new things, and try things out. I like to be able to tell people oh, you want to learn x, I can help you with that. I jump from craft/recipe/technique to the next. Two weeks ago it was canning, last week it was felt flower brooches, and this week it is knitting. To reassure you I would like to mention that most of the time I am doing these things, I am listening to Foo Fighters, Eminem, Iron &Wine, and other fairly trendy music (Ok, so most of what I listed to isn't considered trendy, but its what I like...). Btw, I cracked open a jar of applesauce I made, and it was really good, not as good as the apple butter, but it was homemade goodness.

In just over a week is my 28th birthday. This is the first year I have really wanted a party. I was people to come hang out and eat lots of food and listen to the music I like, play games, eat cake (thanks to Jen Tieman master baker) and relax. I would really like a big party with adults and a theme, but I just don't know that many people. So, I think I will wait for the big 3-0 for that one, think togas. My other friend Jen is a master party planner and was very disappointed that we weren't going to do that this year, but I am moving into my fall mood, which tends to be more of a hibernating, soup eating mood (Dh says no soup over 95 degrees, so just a few more weeks. Btw, I was meant to live somewhere cold and rainy.) So, if you want to know what I want for my birthday, makeup and books are always a safe bet. After my birthday party on friday night, we are farming the kids off with various people and then heading over to a resort at fort mcdowell. We were supposed to go on a hot air ballon ride and then go spend a few hours at the spa, but the balloon ride place is booked, and the masseuse is out of town. So, we are currently taking suggestions. Our options are to go to a different spa, maybe spend a few hours at crackerjax, or find something else to do.

Since Sydney is in preschool with Miss Barb and Dylan is in first grade I have been spending alot more time with Jordyn. I have come to the conclusion that she hates me, rather that the terrible twos have slowly quietly made her a host. She potty trained this week and we are no longer buying diapers, which is great. But if I don't take her out, then my house has become a minefield. We are going to toddler story time at the library tuesdays, playgroup at the clubhouse wednesdays, and clean the house together on thursdays.

we booked our next cruise, we are sailing on the carnival splendor, march 6th from LA. I think we will have a great time. While checking out our new cruise I got side tracked by youtube videos of cruises sinking etc. and I came across a ship getting smacked around by rogue waves. It looked very familiar and I was sure it was the cruise my mom and I had been on last May. Well I googled it, and it was the very same ship! Now when three rogue waves hit the ship it busted out windows in the dining room, and killed 2 people and injured more. How freaky is that!!

Zach needs a new car. HIs light went on this morning and he took it and got it scanned, the catalytic converter needs replaced, among other things. His air conditioning has been out for quite awhile, and he has 200,000 miles on it becuase it goes all over the valley. So it was dying soon anyways, so he is out shopping as we speak for a new car. He really wants to get a mini and I am not sure how I feel about that. If he works out a good deal it will be the same that we pay now, but it only has 4 seats. Now, I realize that since we are talking about getting pregnant within the next year, that even if he gets a regular car we wont be able to fit in it, but we already wont be able to fit now. I guess I can just wait and see how things go.

No new pics as I have been bust lately with my new calling, kids, and funerals, etc.

Well, as some things have gone missing from my blog, I have been spending some time getting a new template going, and here it is!

I have been spending the summer doing fun things with my kids, and now that things are settling down, I finally have time to update you all. Nothing has really changed except that Sydney will be in preschool this year, and Dylan is in 1st grade. Dylan likes her teacher, and I think things are going to be good for her this year, except she has been having trouble following directions for not only her teacher but for me as well. This has resulted in her cleaning her room and doing dishes alot, which is good for her to do anyways. She still has her best buddy Luc in her class although she has not been telling me as much what everyone is doing and saying, but more what they are learning. Her teacher has brought out the big guns and she is learning about rocks, compass pts. and various things about our country. Her PE coach has already called to tell us about how great she is doing, I think he is just buttering us up to get her on the basketball team.

I have gotten some great postcards this year through postcrossing. I have come to collecting postcards. They are like my way of traveling vicariously.

Guess where this is from! This is a homemade card from Rentz, GA.

This is a cityscape of Helsinki in Finland.

This one is from Thialand, and the stamps on the back are phenomenal, as soon as my camera starts working ill post them.

Women used to wear the national costume of Holland, but it is rare to see them today, the tulips however are still there.