My New Toy

Ok so it's not really a toy, but you get what I mean :)
Thanks Mom for the greenhouse and Lisa for the bulbs!

Cookies Galore!

This week we all gathered at Gram's to bake cookies - some for each of us to bring home with us. It was a great time that really made it feel more like the holidays! I think every year we make more than the last :)

Tonight Josh and I will be attending his work's Christmas party - he has only worked there a week but they have done a good job of making us feel welcome!

Xmas Runner

Made for Gram P. Just need to add the buttons on the snowmen, ties and it is done!
No instructions - just the small pic shown on the right to go by :)

De-wisdomed

I have been home now for about 2.5 hours since having my wisdom teeth extracted. The procedure was very quick - seriously maybe 2-3 minutes for him to pull all 4 teeth. The novocaine on the other hand, sucks. Now I have only had novocaine once before and that was when I had to have stitches (in a very fatty area where I really didn't feel the shot anyway - some people will laugh when they remember that hilarious episode!). I have only had one cavity before and it was small - so they just gave me gas. I gotta tell you - I have a high pain tolerance and this was pretty bad - I didn't complain of course but they definitely noticed the tears running down my cheeks. The surgery wasn't bad - since it was so quick and I couldn't feel anything, the only bad part was the smell, and the sounds.
After the teeth were taken out we went straight to the pharmacy to get my meds (Vicodin, antibiotics, and Ibuprofen). Of course I was not able to take those meds until about an hour ago - when I was finally able to move my mouth enough to swallow a bit.
I gotta say - so far, so good - the novocaine has finally worn off where I can feel my face, the pain is not too bad (I think the Vicodin has kicked in a bit), and I am not terrible loopy from the meds.
I joked about whether a sewing machine qualifies as operating heavy machinery though - I have a feeling I will get bored very soon and will want to work on a few projects :) Dr said that on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst, that my wisdom teeth were about a 1 or 2 because they have been all the way through for years, and came out without needing stitches - YAY! Now as for the food restrictions - expect a crabby Carly very soon! Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who even offered to buy a bell I can ring for him to come help me out if needed and an adorable pup who I think knows there is something wrong because he keeps getting really close to my face to check it out, then lays down right next to me :)

Another Project

Last weekend I decided Boscoe's bed needed a facelift, since he had torn the sides and the zipper right off when he was a pup. So I went to JoAnn (with coupons in hand of course), found some great fabric, and finished the cover in no time. The only problem I had was deciding which fabric I liked best, so I ended up using them both :) Pictures above show the new cover, and the standoff Boscoe and I had in the kitchen this morning when I tried to get him to pose with his bed for a picture... He was having nothing of that! The other pic is of the last project finished and hung on the wall - I love it so much I just keep taking pictures! Next up - an Xmas table runner for Gram P.

Productive Weekend

Josh and I had such a great weekend... As always, the weekend started off with work, but that leaves us Sunday and Monday to do what we please. After work on Saturday, we made our monthly stop at Brigid's for dinner - gotta love the Irish food! Sunday was pretty relaxed - I did some dishes and laundry, then I cleaned out our hallway closet and made it into a craft closet. Josh jokes that he married a 60 year-old woman because in a mere few months I have managed to finish numerous projects, can usually be found sitting in front of the sewing machine, and now have an entire closet full of supplies!
Okay - back to the weekend - Sunday was absolutely perfect! I got up and brought Boscoe for a walk and to the vet to get his nails trimmed - he hates it so much he planted his butt on the pavement in the parking lot and had to be dragged inside! Of course after it was done he pranced out like he was perty again :) Once we got home, Josh informed me that he had to much time indoors and since it was such a nice day we should find something to do. After brainstorming (and shooting down most of the travel-related ideas) we decided to go downtown and check out some of the local shops and have lunch at a new cafe we had not been to yet. We started out at Chocolates Plus, then stopped at Ben Franklin, then ate at Minnesota Nice, then to the bookstore, then to the liquor store for some wine, then back home. Once home, I was beaten severly in 3 games of cribbage (and no Josh, I will not admit you are better than me (yet)) - but the wine helped me get over my losses :)
Later on - we ended up at the carpet remnant store and found a perfect piece to fill in the hallway where Boscoe had been a bad puppy and torn it up. In the theme of home improvements, we also decided to stop at Home Depot and pick up some shelves for over the washer/dryer. I have to admit - we (mostly Josh) are pretty handy - installing everything without any major mishaps!
I was also able to finish another sewing project I have been working on - pictures above.
So that was most of our great weekend - hopefully yours was just as good!

I'm a new AUNTIE!!!

Anna Cecilia was born this morning around 9:30, weighing 7 lbs 12 oz, measuring 20.5 inches long. She has dark hair like both her mommy and daddy - with what I think looks like Jamie's chin, and Emily's eyes :) Congrats to my sister and her husband - I LOVE YOU BOTH!!!

Summer is almost gone!!!

I started thinking today - as the wind started blowing and the temperature started dropping - that summer is coming to a close... Yet it is still a beautiful day out and I have the day off so it is hard to feel sad. Also, Everything in life is good - not much to complain about. Even the colder temperatures don't get me down as I curl up in the couch with a blanket, a wonderful husband, and an adorable pup to keep me warm (and he huddles close to make sure of that.) I know once the snow comes I will feel different, but for now I am content.

Now on to what has been going on in my life since my last post... Emily's baby showers were held Aug 11-12th along with the Walsh family trip to the Veteran's Rest Camp. Both showers and the weekend with the Walshes were all very fun and a perfect vacation. The first shower was held at Aprille's Tea Room in Stillwater hosted by our aunts Colleen and Barb. The shop was delicately decorated and the treats were delicious. The second shower was hosted by our aunt on the other side of the family, Karen. Again, fabulous food and mimosas made for a great day with more friends and family - we all cannot wait for that precious baby to arrive!!!

Josh ran/swam/biked in another triathlon on Aug 18th in Detroit Lakes. The weather was not great - cold, rainy, and windy - although Josh was able to surpass his time at the last triathlon despite Mother Nature. I could not have been more proud :)

Of course, as is the theme of most of the posts this summer, I continue to work on my sewing and other craft projects, most of which tend toward the baby theme. Fleece hats and scarves (and soon mittens), flannel boppies and quilts, and watercolor wall hangings are just a few of the projects I have been working on, the latest being a flannel Christmas quilt for Baby Schnick.

Finally - I have been fortunate to be able to finish out the summer spending time with friends and coworkers. We have gotten together for a Tastefully Simple party, a bridal shower/bachelorette party, and soon a wedding. It is so much fun to find people that you click with and time flies because you are having such a good time :)

So there you have it - I am sure I will think of other great things from this summer so stay tuned and for now enjoy the pictures - as I tend to take pictures of everything!

Tri - Guy

Just got back from the Bemidji Triathlon - where Josh finished 47 out of 153 participants. He did great and now will be competing again Aug 18th in Detroit Lakes at the Castaway Club Triathlon. Wish him luck and read more about his training at his blog. I am one proud wife - I cannot imagine being so dedicated to something that wears the crap outta you :) GOOD JOB HUN!
P.S. Mike (Josh's inspiration for his new hobby) had been training over in Iraq while serving our country - you can check out his blog.

Family Time

We all made the trip to Brainerd last weekend for Great Aunt Ev's 90th bday party - hosted by Grandma Peterson... There was great food, lots of family, and great weather - couldn't have asked for more!
The day after, Mikey, Jim, Jenna, and I went fishing for a little over an hour and caught 58 sunnies!

Jammin' Country

Just got back from the Moondance Jammin' Country Fest in Walker... It was a blast! Stacy and I camped the whole weekend and found a great spot in the woods (some good spots to try out next year, too). We were both impressed at how well the weekend went - the owners had constant watch over the grounds - including cleanup crew, cops, port-o-john emptiers, and water & ice trucks. People were fairly respectful, no huge fights (at least that I saw), music was mostly turned down for sleeping. Only things that bugged me were constant swearing, lots of young young kids around, and a few rude people who expected everyone to be wearing bikinis at their campsites.
The bands were all awesome - sounded just like they do on the radio, which is always good. Terri Clark, Lonestar, Randy Travis, Jessica Andrews, Dierks Bentley, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, SHeDAISY, and Big & Rich (w/Cowboy Troy) to name a few.
Mike and Andy were there - with Andy of course celebrating his 21st b-day a few days earlier. Mike took care of the cooking and Andy took care of the booze :)
Great times and great memories - looking forward to see the lineup next year!