A Visit To The Family Up North

We just got back from a visit to Minnesota/Wisconsin to visit Bruce's family. We had a great time visiting his two sisters, his brother, and his 93 year old mother. The cooler weather was a great perk of the whole trip. We got some fun family pictures of all 4 of the children with their mother, ate LOTS of great food (all of you who know the Horken's will know what that means), and played lots of competitive games. If there is one thing this family knows it's how to have fun competing with each other.

On our way home from a lunch in the Fargo/Detroit Lakes countryside we stopped to see a 150 year old family church. Unfortunately, as we got back to the cars, a flat tire was spotted. It was a tough way to find out that the new car we were in did not have the right parts to the jack! We did find, though, that in small town America, tow trucks make service calls out to the country, and ended up having an afternoon we hadn't planned on. The weather was 70 degrees, it was breezy, cow were mooing and it gave us all "bonding" time.

Ah, sure, you betcha, we were on our way only 3 hours later, and back to another fine homecooked meal!

He's Three, YeeHaww!!

Peyton is officially 3 years old today! Hard to believe how fast time goes. Since he's so smitten with Toy Story, his birthday weekend revolved around everything "Woody and Buzz"! After seeing the movie on Friday night, he was ready the next day to put out the balloon so everyone would know which house was having the party.


Then a quick photo of the official party shirt....

Activities included a Toy Story bouncy house and a toy story slip and slide, here's the party boy showing his moves...

Party food included pizza, Capri Suns and fruit (to make all the adults feel better)...

followed by everyone's favorite thing, opening the toys!! Appropriately enough, all presents seemed to follow the Toy Story theme (wish I owned stock in Woody and Buzz!).

And then, the big moment the candle and the cake!!

Even though the average age of the attendees was 3, it was one of the best parties I've ever been to! However, I'm not sure who was more tired at the end of the day, the kids or the parents. Happy Birthday, Peyton!

Swimming Season is Here

Bruce and I took Peyton to his swimming lessons again this year. "Miss Kristi" is an ISR certified teacher, helping these little ones learn how to survive in the pool. The difference from last year to this was amazing. He does a great job of swimming, rolling over to his back for his breath and repeating the process.

He is very proud of his accomplishment!

He is getting so big, he thought "Papa's" old hiking hat would fit. Not quite, but he'se getting close.

My Son

Tyler lives in LA, has a career and a life, so we only see him a few times each year. I found this recent picture of him and had to share it. He is the one in the black shirt. He's a strong man with a kind heart. Love you, T!

I love my hutch

This is the hutch Bruce got me for Mother's Day. I may have mentioned in my last post, but I LOVE THIS HUTCH! Since Bruce is a wordworker, it's really hard for him to understand my passion for old pieces where the drawers don't exactly fit and the wood in the center of something has a bow in it. But, he does try to appreciate that those are the very reasons I'm drawn to the piece. That's why he lugged this 7 footer all the way up to the back bedroom. I've just started putting in my quilts. I have 5 more to go to my longarm girl soon, so it will look even better as I get more color in it. Don't you just love how the doors don't quite close evenly and the drawers look a little crooked? (OK, if you don't, join my husband in discussion). But, I love it, and him!!

Mother's Day 2010

We had a great Mother's Day this year. Bruce bought me a cool piece of furniture to store my quilts in. He and my cousin, John, drove to North Phoenix, hauled it back home and lugged the 7 foot tall, incredibly heavy piece up to the second story for me - how luck am I? (I have been informed they are never moving it again, and it will be sold with the house!). I'll post pics once it's all filled up. Can't wait.

Sara and Peyton spent Mother's Day evening with us and we had a yummy meal cooked by Bruce, and lots of fun presents. Peyton (with a little help from his "Papa") picked a little stuffed mouse for his mom that tells her how much he likes her! You have to be a mom to appreciate that a stuffed little mouse from a two year old makes you tear up. It was really sweet. He was so proud of himself. She even got a Woody and Buzz themed Mother's Day card!

And I was the proud recipient of a bracelet with charms proclaiming I am a Mother and Grandmother, I love it!!

Peyton loves his swing on the back porch and can spend hours in it.

His mommy loved her mouse and her "Woody and Buzz" card.

He helped me showoff my new "Grandma" and "Mother" charms...

and we all had a Happy Mother's Day!

Hope you all did, too!

Hard at work

I work with a really fun group of people. The other day we found these headscarves and couldn't help ourselves. From left to right are Lisa M-B, Lisa N, Lonna and me. We all look like wanna-be nuns or housekeepers on a break!