Edward II

And Edward Elric is born

Sewing for Halloween!

I like to sew. I have been sewing for so long I just don't even think about it anymore. But I only sew costumes, and household items. I hate sewing clothes. Clothes are hard because you have to be a tailor. That takes too much time. Costumes are easy because you are only going to be wearing them once, and you haven't got a pattern you have to match.

Jace's costume was different this year. He is going to school for Halloween as Edward Elrich from the Japanese Anime Comic "Full Metal Alchemist". The costume was fun to make because it is all just black clothes with the exception of a bolero jacket and a hooded cloak. Jace helped me make it and we both think it turned out kind of cool. The funny thing is... Sewing is fun, but spending time with Jace working on it was my favorite part. I like to see the pride in his face to know that he helped sew most of it and he painted the emblem on the back.

I know he will wear this one more than once but that is just because he is proud of it. He accomplished something making this costume. He learned to sew too.

We are finally done!!

The suspense is over... It is done.. Finished... Completed...

Electronics, Smasheronics!!!! Dinner Parties.

Ok, I have tried for 4 days to get a picture of our kitchen out on this blog. I took a picture with our great digital camera, then I took a picture with our semi-great digital camera. But I can't seem to get either to attach to the computer now... It is my main computer that has my picture folder... I just burn it too disk after a time but leave the pictures there as well. I can see the camera attach, even explore it using windows explorer but no pictures show up. I do see the pictures when I view the card in the camera.... I haven't tried troubleshooting it yet.... Don't want to !!! It is just supposed to work.... It should be like Magic.... Don't want to think about it, don't want to work at it....

But needless to say, no pictures.... yet!!!!

We had a friend of Jay's over to dinner last night... It was nice dinner, very relaxing but Jay and I got on the conversation of what kind of dinner parties do we throw. A lot of you have been to our house so you know how we are. We invite people over and they are immediately family. We don't usually change who we are by someone being in our home. I don't usually do up myself into a petticoat and pearls. We don't have soft music, soft lights, or formal dinnerware... We don't wear cutt off's, eat off of paper plates, or play hard rock either.. We are kind of in between....

Dinner at our house usually goes like this.. We have linen napkins, and lite candles. We are still cooking when you get there but soft music is playing. We hang out in the kitchen, but eat around the table. After dinner, guests don't do dishes but the boys and I do. We watch a ballgame or a movie after dinner.... Just a quiet dinner at home, with everyone part of the family. May not fall into the Better Homes and Gardens dinner party but I like it.

Friday's are the bomb!!!!!

I love Friday's. If Friday night could last for three days it would be the best. This friday is especially wonderful because the kitchen is done. We are finished.... And we love it. I will post a picture as soon as I can get Jay to take one.

The boys are a little disappointed in Friday this week because their Fall Break is now over. They have been out of school all week but it doesn't mean they are looking forward to heading back to the classroom. I don't mind them heading back to class but I can't believe that October is almost over. Where has all the time gone? It is cool here, and beautiful but I really wish I had more time. I am not ready.....

Tile, Tile and More Tile.....

Sorry I haven't added anything for so long.... We have been playing happy construction family for the last week. As I mentioned before we are remodeling the kitchen. The thing about remodeling is it reminds me of the old sketch from the Three Stooges. You know the one. The one where they are trying to put wall paper up on the walls of an apartment.... Anyway... here is how it goes. We bought new counters so we needed a new sink. The current faucet wouldn't work with the sink so we had to get a new faucet. The current disposal wouldn't work with the new sink either so we had to get a new disposal.... Then we added undercabinet lighting and tile to the backsplash. Jaron accidentally distressed the wrong side of the island so now we have to tile the island too. After three trips to the home improvement store for additional tile it is finally done today. However, we also got new appliances.... And the fridge doesn't fit. We had to pay someone to come in and shave the cabinet over the fridge.... Then of course, now all the plugs have to be changed because the stainless outlet covers look funny with white plugs inside. It is just an ongoing process..... And to think, the bathrooms are next!!!!!!

Jay was teasing me today that I should be pleased that he is anal retentive and handy.... So here I am telling the world. I am very blessed to be married to a man that can do all this work around the house himself, and more importantly, does it! I am also very blessed that he is so meticulous that it is done right... It spoils me some because when he does it, it is done right. No picture will fall from our wall, no curtains are unlevel with the floor. When a contractor is hired, they just don't compare. It kind of makes the clothes in the closet sorted by style, color and on matching hangers worth it!

Oh, my Dad was in town this weekend. He and Euneice came and visited us on Friday. They were in town for a baptism on her side of the family. It was nice to see family in our space. We actually like company.

Mondays!

Mondays are always a pleasure but especially brutal after a wonderful vacation weekend. I went to Utah this last weekend. Traveling alone is interesting because I miss Jay and the boys from the moment I walk into the airport. Going to Utah is exciting because I am going to visit friends and family. But I am still leaving my home and family behind. It is a quandary....

.... However, the trip to Utah was wonderful. The fall leaves are just starting to change, and it is colder than I thought. Of course, everyone there will tell you it is only cold to me. We went to a football game in the rain. And I mean it rained.... We wore coats, hoodies, poncho's, blankets, and still got soaked through. The boys were playing in mud, sliding 2 yards with each play. It could have been fun if they were winning and if it wasn't the last home game for the seniors. It can be a sad passage for someone who has loved the game, the school, the time of his life. We meet these times of our lives with anticipation of the future but also fond sadness at the farewell.

Saturday we made 158 quarts of tomato juice. Did I mention I hate tomatoes? I loved the activity, the time spent, but mostly the family and friends. If you have to do something big, there is nothing better than doing with those you love.

While I was gone Jay worked on the house... Did I mention we are remodeling the kitchen? The problem with a remodel is that as you get something replaced, something else doesn't fit. A case in point. We replaced the countertops and kitchen sink, but then the faucett doesn't fit (it is brand new). We replace the faucett and the disposal also has the wrong connections.... It just goes on from there. When you start to see the new beautiful kitchen, then the rest of the house looks shabby and needs updating... it is a vicious cycle of which Home Improvement Centers are making millions from....

Fall

Today is October 5th, I am sure we would all agree it is officially fall. However, here in Arizona you really cant tell. It is definiately cooling down. We can go outside in the morning and be cool. But their isn't any oak trees with flaming leaves, or maples all aglow. The air isn't brisk, and the wind doesn't blow the leaves around. I really miss the fall in Utah.

Don't get me wrong, Arizona does have fall, it just don't happen until early December and only lasts for about 2 weeks. The leaves are green, they go brown and fall all in the course of a few days.

But when I start missing it I remind myself.... I no longer own a snow shovel, gallashas, or gloves. I like my thanksgiving on the patio, by the pool. And I love the football games on Christmas day in the park with Green grass....

After Japan.....

Coming home from vacation always has such a dismal feeling. We have been home a week and still I don't feel caught up on everything. The boys are still working on getting their school work made up as well. We had such a great time in Japan, I think it has made it even harder.

.... I left off in Kyoto. Kyoto was our favorite part of Japan. It is the oldest city we stayed in and was spared bombing because of the significance of the buildings. The Golden Palace was beautiful. The Nijo Castle we visited twice because it was so amazing. There is really no describing the environment, you just have to go experience it to understand. Kyoto also made a great base to travel from. The train station was a mini-city in itself. We took the train to Osaka to get Jaron's passport. Osaka was the hottest city while we were there. I don't know if it was just the day we were there, the humidity or what but it was hot. Osaka was also pretty much leveled during World War II so a lot of the buildings are new. Visiting the Consulate was interested. It is a working government agency in another country. You have all the security to go through, then the bureacratic red tape. It was relatively easy to get a new passport though. Jaron was a cute kid. He felt bad about losing his passport but they thought he was so sweet and cute.

Our last visit was to Miyajima Island and Hiroshima. Miyajima Island I could have stayed on for two days straight. It was breathtaking. This island is considered sacred, to the point the babies can't be born on the island. It is a small community, caters to tourists but on the pacific inlet. Needless to say, we couldn't keep Jaron out of the water. Or me for that matter. We played with the crabs, watched the tide go out, and walked along the water. Breathtaking is the only way to describe it. Hiroshima is a solemn place. The memorials and museums for the bombing do a great job of describing both sides of the tragedy. Seeing the shell of the building is like going back in time. You can't help yourself but be silent. All prayers are for peace as you walk through any of Hiroshima.

After hiroshima all that was left was to fly home. The flight home is much shorter than flying out but customs in the US is also harder. All the security measure were a pain. I lost more coming back than going out. By the time we reached Utah I didn't have toothpaste, hairspray, lotion left. But I still had sunscreen. They all seemed to miss that. hee hee hee

The boys and I did love stopping in Utah. It was fun to watch Brooks play football Saturday night. I miss my friends so to visit with Anita, Rick, Sharron and the kids made this the best vacation I have ever had. I would do it again in a heartbeat.