Current Events

1. Survived first tooth problem.
2. Scheduled to get wisdom teeth out soon.
3. Bought a new(old) 1984 VW convertible Rabbit in light grey.  Pretty much my dream car.
4. Did taxes.
5. Found out that a vacation to Oregon this summer is most definitely possible.
6. Getting ready to get a new amazing camera. (ahhh!)
7. I love my new(er) house.
8. Finishing up painting/decorating
9. Dad is FINALLY getting a new knee! (10 years in the making)
10. Seth survived a car accident that should have killed him...
11. This winter weather has been awesome!
12. Hunger Games comes out the day before my birthday!

4

If a someone was to come to my home they would most likely assume that my husband and I are huge gamers... Honestly, they would have every right to say that.  So far our "collection" consists of an original NES, a Super Nentendo, a Gamecube, a Nentendo 64 and (newly added this Christmas from my awesome parents) XBox 360 Kinect.  Not to mention about 10 different games per system. 
Here is when I say that the average amount of time spent gaming is about an hour per week.  Yeah, they really don't get much love.  The new XBox alone has gotten more playing time than the rest of the consoles combined in the past 6 months...
I know this subject really isn't going anywhere, really all I am doing is just letting my thoughts spill out of my ears while I stare at some of the game controllers sitting in front of me.  But honestly, maybe a "gaming" party is in order.

Now, since that is off my chest... Time to get down to the really special event that has been taking place today.

My dearest Autumn is... ugh, I can't say it... 4.  She is 4.  Where has the time gone?  I must say I feel the most old on my children's birthdays than I do on my own.  I may be only 23 years old, but my daughter turning 4 just makes me realize that she only has about 14 years left at home.
Autumn is such a doll.  Really, she is amazing.  She is kind, very quick-witted, extremely smart and gorgeous to boot. She really is lovely and she keeps me guessing every day. 

Here is a list of Autumn's favorite things right now:

favorite color: Rainbow ("I like every color")

favorite food: Hamburgers and French Fries

favorite activity: Hiking and camping

favorite movie: The little Mermaid

I am so excited to see what adventures we get to go on together this next year, my crazy Autumn and me.

 

  

open windows

The weather is amazing outside. A little breezy, 62 degrees, sunshine...
I am in love with today.

 Albus seems to be enjoying it too.  


Now, to get the dishes and my homework done so we can go exploring.

tonight

-Backyard camping-

There is nothing quite as comforting as being in your backyard, sitting by the fire, listening to the wind blowing, leaves rustling and your kids whispering to each other as they fall asleep in the tent.

Perfection.

Liam is 2!!!

Liam is two years old today.  He is kind-hearted, so loving and extremely giving.  He completes our family and we love him so very much.

Liam's Favorite Things

Stars and the Moon

Rocks

Popcorn and Movies

Animals

Water 

Campfires

Spookins (pumpkins) 

Beings outside

We will be celebrating in style. Cake and camping :) 

Happy Birthday Liam!

I must be crazy

Life is all about learning.  You learn new things everyday.  Some small, some huge and some in-between.

The newest lesson I am planning for my near future is what I would consider a -huge- lesson.

Restoration of a 1956 Philco Fridge.

Our new place has a very small fridge without a freezer... and well it is gross.  So I have been on the search for a new fridge.

I found one! Okay, okay... It isn't exactly new.  But it will be gorgeous when I am done with it.  You can see my vision can't you?  Well... I will give you a hint-

Home, sweet home

It seems my life revolves around changes... Which can make for some hectic times.

Charlie and I have been planning and saving for our move to Newport, OR for the past 6 months.  We had planned to move there next summer.

Yesterday, Charlie came home after having a meeting with one of the leading research professors at MSU.  With a painful stare, he asked me if we could stay in Missouri.  The research that he needs to get into for medical school needed to start right away and if he was to stop and change schools in the middle it could greatly effect his application to med school.

I am... sad (more like my heart aches).  We have dreamed about living in Oregon next to the ocean.  The idea was neatly stitched into the fabrics of ourselves so much that removing the thread feels like everything else is going to unravel.

Needless to say, we will not be venturing northwest (yet).

Everyone goes through hard financial times... This summer has proven to be a beast for us.  I have made plans to travel next summer to Africa for a month to work on a wildlife rehabilitation center.  My dates are scheduled, I just need to pay the rest of the money and book a flight.  I have set aside the money, but there is still a bit of question.  Should I go? We could use the money to get a second car... We could use the money for savings or to move into a place closer to school...

It is proving really hard *mentally* for me to put so much money into something just for me.  I am starting to lean more towards postponing the trip until next year.  


Staying in Missouri has also opened up opportunities that would have seemed reckless if we were to move.  The thoughts of adding a little munchkin to my crew comes to mind...

One thing is for sure changes are scary, but changing is always good.  I can and will make the best of these new ideas.


Completely off subject, but I have been aching for a new book to read. 

When the day is beautiful and the wind is slightly blowing my little crew goes on a hike.  With our trusty pugs in tow we headed to one of our favorite hiking places to play in the creek and collect some more rocks, sticks and feathers for our little home.  Today was one of those days.

I love my husband. 

I love my children.

I love my pugs. 

And I love the outdoors. 

What a blessed life I have!

I love this time of year... I can almost taste fall on its way.

Dreams do come true!

Love Harry Potter?

Dream of being a wizard growing up?

Well, I am delighted to announce that your (and my) time is here.

Now you can have your very own magic wand, that actually does magic!

Okay, okay... So it is only a remote...

A flippin' Awesome remote!!!

You can do all kinds of cool tricks, it can store -13- different functions!

Call me a geek if you want, but I Will have one on my coffee table as. soon. as. possible.

drooling

Today, I woke up and read a post on The Pioneer Woman's blog (as I do most mornings) about... pies.

Oh glorious pies! 

She recently did a workshop at her ranch with a handful of (very, very lucky) people about how to make the perfect crust.  Oh, Heaven help me... I need help on my crusts.

Not only did she have a friend teach them all about crusts, but in the end they all made
there. own. pies.

It was a pie bar!

There was..

cherries

apples

rhubarb

olives

tomatoes

cheese

peppers

pot-pie filling

strawberries

blueberries

rasberries

blackberries

snozberries

okay, maybe not snozberries... but seriously it was like pie-makin' heaven. I could litereally taste and smell the pies as I drooled over her pictures.

*lightbulb*

...then it hit me. 

How fun would it be to do a get-together with a bunch of ladies and have a pie-bar ourselves?

We could all work on our crust skills (it is almost Thanksgiving afterall) and then each get to make whatever kind of pie we want.  

And why should we do regular pies? We could make mini pies.  Mmmm, mini pies.  Wonderful little pies that you can eat in a couple bites. 

I am still brainstorming, but I have a feeling this could really make me seem awesome be a good idea to do with friends.  

ch-ch-changes

Many things are changing....

                        the heat wave is over!

                        fall will soon be here

                        Liam will turn two in October

                        I booked my trip to Africa for next summer

                        and we are moving across the country in a year

                         ...guess where?

quick update

Okay okay... I haven't written in forever... 

But I have been SO busy, seriously. 

I did however manage to sew and paint some new throw pillows for my living room.  

It definitely adds a lot more "Sara" to the room.  

You like?

oh and yes, that is a succulent plant. I am obsessed with those little guys.

Hurry!

Last chance to enter this AMAZING giveaway! Oh Happy Day

Today

     being lazy

 soaking up sun

 

                                                                           smelling fresh cut grass

 repairing bikes

feels like summer...

Happy Earth Day

The world is full of Magic

Life is too short to wait to have your adventure