Dear Sukie

This all started because my brother wants a Christmas list...now I used to have all my shopping done by the start of Nov. That was before kids. Now, it is Internet shopping baby. I love Etsy and all the unique things you can get on there. Anyway, I was looking for a new wallet because mine is getting rather old and yucky and I came across Dear Sukie. These are the cutest wallets I have seen in a long time. Now, she has no idea who I am, but I want to tell you all to go check them out...$8 for a ID/Card holder and less than $3 shipping. She is definitely going on my list to my brother.

ToweLocs

My friend Cindy started her own business and she is up for a huge award:

ToweLocs is in the semi-finals for “Newpreneur of the Year” contest. When you get a chance please check out my bio: http://www.inc.com/newpreneur/semi.html#self

There’s a total of 30 semi-finalist nationwide. I am one of the 5 in the Seattle Region.

http://towelocs.americommerce.com/store/default.aspx

Photo Editing Class

Here is the latest from my photo editing class

Two page layout I made using paper from Digital Designs by Lisa of our trip to Mt. Rainier.

Mt. Rainier

We awoke to the sound of pouring rain on Saturday morning. Good thing we had thought to take this picture on the way down on Friday when it was sunny, it might be the only good one we get. After bacon and eggs we started off to the park. Little did we know that not a mile down the road was the entrance. We are staying in the most perfect place. This cabin was a really good find. There is a 1st floor master with a king bed and a two person jetted tub. Upstairs in a loft like area are two queens and 1 double bed. The stairs are a little steep, but manageable. Anyway, I digress...since it was raining we decided to just play it by ear and tried to find a little waterfall off the beaten path...we drove right by it, but found it on the way back.

After listening to Connor complain, and poor weather, we decided to head straight to Paradise. We did take a little view turn out and it was so cool, we were racing the clouds rolling in and obscuring the view across the canyon. When we reached the top, I think we were there when the only few seconds the mountain was visible today. We enjoyed the visitors center, the Inn, and hiking to Myrtle Falls.

Coming back down the mountain we stopped at another falls where the boys decided not to hike down, but I am hoping that Ryan got some awesome pictures once we stitch it all together. Then we tried to hike Comet Falls, but alas the parking area was full. (It is first on our list for tomorrow.) So we decided to drive and see what we could find. What we found was Carter Falls. A short little 1.1 mile hike...ha...2.5 miles later we reached the falls and then still had to come back and cross the "log bridge". I think some ice cream was earned for that! Thank goodness the "General Store" (and I use that term loosely) in Longmire had something to fit the bill.

Back safe and sound in our cabin we watched Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade while eating grilled pork chops, noddles, and salad. Now it its bedtime and both boys are fighting it. I am going to finish my glass of wine and hit the sack myself.

Changes

There have been some big things going on here lately.

Wyatt is sleeping in a Big Boy Bed!!!

Connor has lost two teeth and the tooth fairy has visited!!!

We are going to Mt. Rainier this weekend with my parents. Hopefully the weather cooperates.

Look for lots of scrapbook pages next week.

Crockpot

Vegetable Potato Beef Soup

1 1/2 cups sliced carrots

1 1/2 cups cubed potatoes

1 cup sliced celery

1/2 cup chopped onions

2 cups water

1 1/4 lbs ground beef, browned and drained

2 tsp salt

4-5 cups tomato juice

1 TBS brown sugar

Combine veggies and water in microwave-safe container. Cover and micro on High 18-20 minutes. DO NOT DRAIN. Place veggies in slow cooker.

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker

Cover and cook on Low 6-8 hours. or until veggies are done.