Embroidering

Uber, the kids and I went on a vacation to Charlotte, Charleston & Savannah a few months back. I wanted to take something with me because it was going to be a ton of time in the car. I decided to just take linen and embroidery supplies and figure it out on the way-no pressure since it was supposed to be a vacation.

I ended up giving Uber the choice of a few verses. He chose Psalms 150:6 and I used this pinterest pin to draw out my pattern -I had to freehand it since I didn't have a printer- I think I got it pretty close. It was nice to be able to mindlessly stitch away and not have to come up with anything!

There is just something about embroidering that is so fun. 

The bird was off of this pin. Flowers from here.

The Butterfly is from here. 

I do wish the bird had turned out closer to the original but when I actually looked into the bird later I think I found that it was done over painted fabric... or something like that... Oh well... 

Finally blogging this make me want to get our supplies and start another project. 

Hope you enjoyed

An Invite!



I received the funnest of invites the other day, to be a guest blogger on my sister's and niece's beautiful blog, but seriously they are so talented along with their spouses that the thought of what to post was a LITTLE intimidating.  I didn't know whether to show a  sweater for a bitty who will be coming along very soon, its very soft and my own design, easy, simple, hope she likes it. 



Maybe the stamps that are so fun to carve, could make these all day long, just have to figure out what they are good for...



Or to show my favorite thing from Christmas, it may still be up.



Could show some of the scribbles that have been going on....

Or what about my two favorite girls, Soffe has a sprain because she think she has great dane legs, but not really, and Slips just hides from the world.



Perhaps the most beautiful spot in Tahoe, Falling Leaf Lake, we escape here for a afternoon whenever we can, which is not enough.



Most of all wanted to show this, he has to be one of my most favorite possessions, made by my brother in law a really long time ago.  I love him.  He is cast in bronze and is tiny and lovely.  See how hard it is to come up with anything that matches that?  But it sure is fun to try....



Christmas Crafting

Christmas crafting was minimal this year. I finally made everyone makeup travel cases, it's a improved version of this. I am still thinking about doing a tutorial but am just not sure I will come up with the time... crafting for the new baby keeps sounding like more fun! 

Micah received some really awesome handmade gifts this year. I really wanted to round them up for show and tell but I just can't seem to get them all together...he's having too much fun playing with them... maybe soon?!

Tennessee

This was our first family vacation - Uber and I have spent every other vacation visiting family- not that that is a bad thing our family happens to live in some awesome places. This trip is the farthest I've ever visited into the 'middle' of the states, I've been all over the coasts but the furthest inland before this was Atlanta.... which isn't saying much! 

It was very pretty - and we saw a LOT of it! We logged a little over 1800 miles this trip and Micah was awesome about it. 

The first full day we were there was raining so we got to know the area we were staying in. Which just happened to be where the largest tree house is... I think it was somewhere over 6000 sq ft... and creepy as all get out. 

 This is the less creepy side of the monstrosity. It's being built by a priest and the place could totally have a horror movie filmed in it

 Group shot at the top - to the left you can just make out the end of Jesus mowed into the lawn with a huge cross

 In addition to a church/cathedral-ish area there were a good 20 of these carved people hanging out. It definitely made you a little worried in a few place whether you would make it out again. 

 I am not sure I would say I recommend it but if it is raining and you have nothing better to do it's definitely special!

 We spent a day hiking (2.5-3 miles) in Fall Creek Falls. Very pretty.

 It claimed to have the highest fall east of the Rocky Mountains. I am sure in the spring these falls are a bit more treacherous but we had a blast climbing all over them  

Here we are at the 'biggest' fall

 Millikan's Overlook- reminded me of a mini Yosemite 

 Great Smokey Mountains (hills) National Park this was a nice relaxing day.  We spent most of the day driving Cades Cove Loop- the scenery was gorgeous. And just did a small 2 mile hike which I wont bother you with pictures of. 

 We did the loop because I was told we would see bears- and we did! We saw the bottom right one first he was a cub! I totally wanted to pet him! (haha) we drove right under him- which is why its a terrible pic but he was only 10-15 feet above us. Then the top right was next I would say he was a teenager and a good 35-45 ft up a tree. We were exiting the loop when the guy on the left decided to walk by. He was big! 

 The last hike we did was 5.5 miles (it totally did us in) we went all the way up almost into Kentucky to Big South Fork National Park they have twin stone arches- here is Micah and me under the larger of the two

 Micah waiving to the horses. It's the first time he took notice of a larger animal... this is the distance at which he decided he wanted to be friends with them.

 This is how Micah hiked. 

 This is me at mile 4 of the never ending hike... it was serious... we were climbing up and over boulders, we could barely move the next day!

Ok well this wraps up our vacation- not sure everyone would see this as a vacation- but we had a blast. I am almost done catching up- sorry these posts have been more to catch our family up then anything else!

Atlanta

We went on a 'little' road trip a few weeks ago and our first stop was Atlanta to see some of Ubers family 

 Micah met his cousin G-Rex for the first time - he's 3 months younger 

 Apparently I seriously need to work on my picture taking skills because out of a hundred or so pictures I think I took one that wasn't blurry.... 

 We had so much fun visiting. Hopefully the boys will get to see a lot of each other. 

Next up is Tennessee. 

I know I promised b-day pics but we are currently missing the memory card that has them on it .... soooo.... hopefully we will find it soon.... send good thoughts our way on that!

Napa

So for the last little bit of our mini trip we drove through Napa on our way back to Sacramento. It was a lot to pack in but I am glad we did it and really want to go back to this area again... I wish I realized how close all of this was to me when I lived there... hmmm...  

 First we stopped at the Oakville Grocery for brunch- this place is a must it's right on the St Helena Highway, the food is fast and ridiculously delicious. They have picnic tables in the back next to a vineyard or you can have picnic baskets packed and take them with you.... to where ever... Plus they have a coffee bar which was very very necessary to keep our energy up!!

 I really wanted to tour a winery while we were there- but not a kitschy tourist trap kind- so on a recommendation from my aunt we went to Domaine Carneros which was seriously beautiful. And I would totally recommend. It's owned by the Taittinger's (a French wine family famous for their champagne) and is a certified organic winery specializing in sparkling wine and Pinot Noir.

 It was really neat to learn about the process of making sparkling wine. Next trip I will need recommendations for a traditional winery. The only bummer is I didn't get to bring home a wine barrel... yes I was really planning on it...

 Here's the monkey looking all cute. We found a grassy area for him to run around in before the tour.

 This picture KILLS me what is up with that face?

Micah thoroughly enjoyed the vacation. He's been a bit bummed about not having someone play with him constantly since we've been home.