Thought you'd enjoy this one, Dad.

So, I'm proctoring the SATs this morning and while all the high schoolers are stressing out I've been looking at the student projects that are posted on the wall. The current project seems to be one of those "all about me" assignments. You know, the assignment where students have to write about their goals, favorite activities and other things that make them unique. Well, they also have to include their favorite quote. Here's one that I thought you'd like, Dad...."Early to bed, early to rise...fish all day, make up lies." Ah, spoken like a true Alaskan =)

I love three day weekends!

I just love having extra time to play and relax! This weekend there was lots of sleeping in, napping and snuggling in bed with the family. On Saturday I went over to Erin's house and did some crafting. Here's the little project I made. Crocheting is waaaay more fun with a friend and some wine =)

I also did a little crafting on my own this weekend. Here's my latest craze-button rings! They're so fun to make AND wear! Molly and I are gearing up for the craft fair in March.

I went and saw The Lovely Bones with some girls from work last night. The book was wonderful but the movie was a bit hoakie. It's not a BAD movie, just not worth spending 10 bucks at the theater.

Today will be spent relaxing and getting some stuff done around the house. I love love love this extra day!!!

You'd be late for work too...

...if you woke up and your cat and dog were cuddled with you.
...if you had a pile of blankets on your bed.

...if you had the most comfortable pillows.

...if it was cold and dark outside but toasty warm under the covers.

...if it was raining but you were dreaming of sunshine.

...if your husband was the best snuggler ever.

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Today baby Chance turns 4! How quickly time flies! I think it's time to find a more appropriate nick name. "BABY Chance" just doesn't work anymore.

~ We love being goofy with our little nephew!
~ We love it when you say "hey buddy" when you're talking to us!
~ We love that you like to play with magnets and cups!
~ We love watching you run around naked and roll on the floor with Rosco.
~ We love it when you call us and don't say anything.
~ We love taking you to the park!
~ We love watching you throw rocks in the pond.

We hope you have a great birthday and can't wait to see you at Mommy & Daddy's wedding!

Happy Birthday Little Man!

time flies when you're having fun

It's hard to believe that our two week vacation is over already. Tomorrow we head back to work and face the little monsters. As much as I'd love to have more time off I'm grateful that I have a job that I love, co-workers who are my best friends and lots of time to play. It's really a pretty sweet gig I've got.

Over break I was able to spend time crafting and exploring my creative side. I made jewelry like crazy...until I was out of supplies.

I made my favorite Christmas present for our friends Mike & Erin. I love making these reindeer beer bottles. They're so much fun and so easy! A few of our friends were recipients of my newest project-bath scrubs! I made a pepermint-coffee scrub as well as a vanilla scrub. These are super easy to make as well!

My favorite project was making these handwarmers. I've been searching for new mittens/handwarmers forever! I've found a few cute ones on etsy but haven't been able to justify spending money on them when they look so easy to make. I had a little bit of yarn laying around so I decided to give it a try. I must say that I'm pretty happy with the results. The yellow ones are mine and the green one's I'll send to my brother's girlfriend for a late Christmas present.

We had some great weather over break...clear, cold and sunny so I took advantage of it with lots of walks with good friends and drives with the hubby.

We enjoyed plenty of holiday parties with friends.

Reconnected with old friends and family members over coffee.

Found some good thrift-store deals.

Did a lot of reading.

RELAXED!

It was a wonderful break. Now it's time to finish the laundry, pre-set the coffee pot and load the dishwasher. Back to reality-good thing my reality isn't too bad =)

A little of this, A little of that....our winter break

It's been a lovely two weeks off from work. We all relaxed and had a great time celebrating the holidays together. While we're never REALLY ready to go back to work I think we'll go back feeling refreshed and able to make it until Spring Break. Here's a rundown of our winter break!

**Took these monkeys to the airport for their sunny SoCal Christmas trip!

**Visited the thrift stores almost every day! I found a ton of great deals and even managed to find a few fun Christmas presents!

**It was craft central at our house! Adam was busy making potatohead lamps

(this is the police officer potatohead lamp that he made for the DARE officer that comes into his classroom)

and candles while I was busy crocheting and jewelry making! My friend Angie has been my ultimate customer this Christmas..I think she ended up ordering over 10 handstamped necklaces and even had me working on Christmas Eve!

** Watched LoTS of movies....Despicable Me, Inception, Kick Ass and Little Fockers...

**Opened lots of presents! Santa spoiled all of us this year!

**Took Rosco out for a couple after-dinner walks...

**Tromped around in the snow before it rained and turned to ice...

**Enjoyed the variety of wine my hubby brought home for me. ;-)

**Finished our spare bedroom and bought a bed! I'd love to take credit for working on this but truthfully, it was all Adam. He repatched walls, painted and finished the trim and now this bedroom looks WAAAAYYYY better than before. Now the father-in-law has his own room!

** Celebrated our 5 year anniversary with a snowy winter walk, a movie date and dinner at the Island Pub.

**FINALLY mailed this little monkey's Christmas and Birthday present! I can't believe he's going to be FIVE soon!

**This one pretty much sums up my last few days of break....sitting in my jammies, drinking coffee and reading the day away. This is my NEW favorite coffee mug ;-) Adam has a black one that says "I love my Uncle".


It's back to work for us tomorrow....I've been so busy relaxing that I forgot to do my Marvelous Monday post last week. No worries....I'm sure the first Monday back will be SUPER Marvelous and I'll have lots to post ;-)

Happy New Year, friends!

Happy 2010!!

Welcome 2010!!!

This year we held our SECOND (!!!) annual New Year's Eve party at our house. The evening was full of good food, good drinks, good friends and not-so-good singing =)
We were so glad that Kelly and Anna could join us from Fairbanks!

It was great to have the WHOLE Carriker Clan here to help us celebrate!


My favorite quote of the evening... "Tristan, this is the best party EVER!!!" -Noah

We loved that Logi was able to help us celebrate! Last year he had to celebrate from Erin's tummy!

This guy never did put his party hat on....hmmmmm.

~Here are a few of the exciting things we did in 2009~

~ FINALLY took our honeymoon to Australia!!

~Traveled to Seldovia and married our M & D friends!

~Got to see baby Chance (who's not really a baby anymore!)

~Finally finished the wood floors in our condo!

~Had Nebraskan visitors!

~Made a didgeridoo!

~Saw the Sydney Opera House!

~These are a few of the things we're looking forward to in 2010!!

~TRAVELING!

~Watching my little brother get married!

~Hiking in Colorado??

~Spending time with our friends & family!