Archive for the ‘friends’ Category

Mod Podge Sunday

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

While the Miller Men went to enjoy the Chilly Hilly, Darcy and I decided to get crafty and drown ourselves in Mod Podge. Both of us were in uncharted waters in terms of the steps needed to take to create the final product.

We were covering the letters of HBaby’s name and it wasn’t until we got to the final letter that we discovered the most efficient way to add the modge podge without impending disaster or bumpy, choppy edges.

By the time Barry and Brian made it home – after both completing the 33 mile Chilly Hilly(!) – we were ready to show them the completed project. I’m certain that Martha Stewart isn’t going to be calling anytime soon (Sorry, Darcy) but it was fun to do and I’m really excited about how the letters turned out.

I’ve Joined Up

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

I’ve joined the Quilt Club at my school, but don’t go thinking that I’m a quilter or anything fancy like that.

I wish.

Instead I’ve joined some other wonderful ladies and bullied my way into this club that has existed for years convincing them to make me HBaby a quilt. I’ve already got the fabric, remember?

This is Pam and Karen. Pam is kind of like a Mob Boss – head of the Quilt Club – most people ask her what she thinks and she decides if something needs to get done.

I’ve been trying to  convince her to give orders with a Tony Soprano-like accent, but she isn’t really into the idea. I’ll keep working on it.

Anyhow here are some of the characters in the Quilt Club besides Mob Boss Pam:

Karen is a steady member of the Quilt Club – except I don’t think she’d be able to pull off the role of Mob Boss. She laughs too much, which I love about her.

She teaches the Kinders and you have to be able to laugh when you teach kindergarten! Always laughing….that is Karen.

This is Cheryl and she doesn’t like getting her picture taken, but I poked my fat camera towards her and caught her in the act. She teaches big kids – 5th and 6th grade – and tends to stop by Quilt Club to see what needs to get done. Apparently Cheryl once made outdoor gear, but has since hung up her sewing needle, now she irons, pins and does stuff that doesn’t involve sewing.

This is Kylene and she teaches Music and knows every single kid in the school by name. Kylene’s classroom is always warm and on days when I’m freezing I want to go hunker down in her room and listen to her teach. Kylene is very industrious: sewing, knitting, quilting, and even making cheese.

I’m not kidding about the cheese part. The woman can make cheese!

This is Kylene and Ruthie. Ruthie calls me Sunshine every time I walk into the office. She is one of our Office Managers and would give you the shirt off her back if you asked for it. She also loves the Yankees more than the Mariners – shocking, I know.

This is Annette and there is a rumor floating around that she is more of a perfectionist when it comes to quilting than anyone else in Quilt Club. I have yet to see that side of Annette.

Annette teaches Kindergarten as well and she also subs in my room sometimes. When Annette is in my room, I know that business will be taken care of an there is no need to worry.

This is part of the quilt waiting to be put together. Pink and Brown. Delightful color combination, right?

This is another part of the quilt waiting for the order from Mob Boss Pam to continue on. Who says you can’t have a cowboy quilt for a girl?

Certainly not me, you know how I feel about cowboys.

Oh, and this is me when I was a wee one with one of my first quilts.

Just think this masterpiece, made by all these wonderful women, will be loved by sweet little HBaby in just a few short months!

Hi Chica!

Friday, December 4th, 2009

hannah and kara

When I see most people for the first time after telling them that I’m pregnant they embrace me with a hug and congratulate Barry and me.  A few people have rubbed my belly and, as I’ve mentioned before, many of my students are at the exact height where tapping on it seems to be a great way to get my attention.

On the eve of Thanksgiving Kara and Ryan stopped by my parents house after they finished their meal and were heading home for the evening. I hadn’t seen Kara in a couple months and she was smiling huge as she bolted towards me. Before I knew it, she gave me a quick hug and was down on her knees cupping my belly yelling in a ultra high-pitched voice, “Hi, Chica!!! Hi Chica!!!”

It was classic. Barry and I can’t quite get the right tone and are wishing that we had an audio clip to play because we’re pretty sure that little Chica loved the recognition from Kara.

Mixed For You By Lara

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

larry

I got to spend the day with Lara yesterday and it was wonderful. I greeted her on my front step and we belly bumped and then instantly started cracking up. We went to a used baby gear sale, a local consignment shop for babies and a fancy-schmancy local boutique for babies. We looked at tons of gear, but neither of us made any life changing purchases. I turned down the cutest pair of cowboy boots, mostly because they were gender specific and I have yet to find out what I’m having.  Sniffle, sniffle.

When we went to Australia Lara gave us a mixed CD and we listened to it countless times. When we loaded it on our iPod we just named the songs “Lara,” since they didn’t register on the computer. To this day, I love many of the songs but have no clue as to who the artist is or what the real name of song is.

Yesterday, after our belly bump, Lara pulled out of her purse another mixed CD for us to blast at HBHQ. Last night Barry and I  burned through it and many of the songs we sang along to, but some are new to our ears. Again, I am excited to listen to this mix made specifically for us and maybe, just maybe, I’ll ask Lara for the details of who we’re listening to this time. I’m just glad that Lara thought of us again because we love our old mix dearly.

Noteworthy

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

larry and hannah

Lara unearthed an old note from our Junior year in high school and called to read it aloud to me. I could hardly keep myself in one piece hearing her read it. It was too funny. Chances are the HB readers will not think it is funny, but it is too good for me not to document it in this virtual scrapbook. Lara transcribed it and sent it to me.  This was most likely written in November of 1996.

Here are things you need to know:

1.  I was fairly worked up about my boyfriend at the time, Neal.

2. Beto Chavez was a character in our Spanish class curriculum.

3. An ‘alfred’ is a zit.

4. For no apparent reason Lara refers to me as a pendulum.

5. For no apparent reason I refer to myself as a pit.

6. Finding an old note is way better than finding an old text message.

Hannah-

We have a beepin’ test in Chemistry! Umm, ok, I don’t miss Ben or anything! Oh, my dream about D.C. was so weird. I can’t believe I had a beepin’ dream about him. You look cute today!

L

Lupe-

I feel like a dork ball in this outfit. Did Neal seem mad or anything when you said that to him? It is pretty awk-ball that you had a dream about Washington D.C.- get it? My tights are too long! Do you know anything in Chem-ball? I wish I sat by N.C. I have to give you a picture of me and Neal. I will.

Queen Haniole

Pendulum-

I get mad at you when you don’t talk about stuff in our notes!! I always give you a one-liner to start off some gossip and then you just say something like – “My tights are too long”, or “that’s awk.” By the way, Neal was PISSED when I told him that you always tell me about how he wants to say something. Joken. He just f**ken laughed.

Lupe Garcia

Lupe-(Ditz)

God! You freaked me out when you said that he was pissed off. Did he say anything? Yesterday I talked to Matt and it made me so sad for Ben. Luce, he was like our best friend last year. He was our Dear Abby! How was that for some stuff? You never gossip to me. So here is your chance to get the good stuff going.

The Pit

Make Me Madder-

Ok, like my last writing wasn’t just the total chance for YOU to get the good stuff rollin! Anyway, do you know when Ben comes back or anything? He probably doesn’t even remember us with all his new college sorority girlfriends. I’ll tell you about my dream in Chemistry because I can’t write it on paper.

Beto Chavez

Alfred Owner!-

What “good” stuff are you talking about? YOU get it rollin! I don’t know anything really about Ben. I do know I wanna call him or something. I want to play golf. Just kidding. I had to put something in there that would piss you off. What’s Devo’s  problem? Stop peeking back! You peek-a-boo face!

Lisa Allen

larry

Evergreen State Fair & Bahl’s Turkey Leg

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

rodeo

We were invited by Jeff and Sarah to meet up with them at the Evergreen State Fair and go to the rodeo. I’ve never been to a rodeo and I had so much anxiety watching the bull riders, I’ve decided that I’d rather watch anything less jarring. Bull riders are not cowboys. Bull riders are CRAZY!!!!

cowboyshorses

Bahl had been eyeing the Giant Turkey leg for a couple hours before our arrival and decided to test it out after the rodeo. It wasn’t tiny. I was trying to think of another place that would sell such an item and broadcast it in such a proud manner.

sign

I think fair food has its own genre that can only be digested every three years or so. Things like Giant Turkey Legs should not be a regular part of anybody’s diet. I’m just sayin’.

bahlfoodturk

Typically I peer pressure Barry into riding a few of the queasy rides, but after we all inhaled our food that didn’t sound so appealing.

ride

I did, however, ask him to win me the NAPA Auto Parts jacket in the ring toss booth. He declined. He feels that not every girl needs a NAPA Auto Parts jacket as a part of her wardrobe. I’m going to have to agree with him on that one.

sarah and bahlbasketbarry

They Really Love Me….I Mean Us

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

barry

I love my job because the people at my school show that they care about me in so many different ways. They listen to me and support me with all my random ideas. They help me out when I’m struggling and make me laugh so hard I almost cry.

barry1

Another way they show that they care about me is they put magazines for my husband in my box. So, I take the magazines home and Barry pours over them and Sydney gives her opinion when needed. It makes everybody very happy.

Devo in WA

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

bunnydenevalaradora

A group of us converged at Lara and Marc’s Farm to celebrate Deneva being in Washington. Deneva only comes to Washington about once or twice a year so it is definitely cause to celebrate when she arrives!

wren1tomsdeneva

Since our shared histories stretch back to elementary school we were able to reflect on some of our favorite moments through the years. By the end of the night we had hunkered down on couches and played some Cranium Wii.

chickensplumsgirls

Minus the wine, husbands and swearing we could have been warped back in time to twenty years ago laughing together huddled on the couch at one of our parent’s houses. I feel lucky to have friends that I have known so long, but also friends that function as memory keepers and allies.

LJ Letters

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009


bradley

Dear Littlejohn Crew,

It was so much fun to have you over today! Barry and I are now exhausted, but are both so happy that we have you all as friends. We both love the fancy new chairs and are very excited to work with you to finish the last part of them. We’d like to talk with you a bit more about staining them.

gigimarthajude

I really had a great time, but my favorite moment today was when Gigi and Jude got ahold of the hose and were drinking out of it.  I’m not sure that much water got in either of their mouths, but they sure did look cute. I also really liked watching Sydney get chased by Martha. Gigi, you sure thought it was funny how Sydney (Cindy) put her tail between her legs to run super fact, huh? I think Sydney is still recovering from all the conversation she had with Jude.

barrychairbradley1

Barry and I are so glad that you guys are our friends. We are excited to help you with your house – once that pole gets out of the way, dang-it! I’m a bit concerned that since we only have a ‘drill gun’ that our level of contribution might remain on either providing food or direct-instruction/borrowing your tools.

barrybradimg_3337sydmartha

Thanks again for coming and helping us enjoy a day at HBHQ. I’m hoping next tim you come over it won’t be so hot! Maybe we’ll have to make popsicles….yummy! I hope you all made it home safely and I’ll speak with you soon.

Best Regards,

Hannah

Kick, Kick, Kick!

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Luke & Carter

We met up with our friends at the river this afternoon. Luke & Carter were there and Carter decided that he wanted practice his swimming skills.

carter

I think he also wanted to practice his smiling skills.

carter

As far as I can tell, he’s pretty skilled at both.