I went up the hill this morning to spend time with my sister.

After I put my plant out. Only ten minutes and a droopy, pathetic, dying thing stood straight up.

I had a great time with my sister.

I pretty much love her. And I miss her a lot, I wish I could see her more often.

We went for a good long walk, and loved everything but the grasshoppers, including the pretty dragon flys.

And cats. I love cats. Following the leader...

And here are Sock's newest kittens! One will be mine in...4-7 weeks?

Don't you love the look: "What in the world are you doing taking a picture of this..."

I tried to hold one...

They are still a little two small...almost two weeks old...

And they just get a little psycho...this picture cracks me up every time.

I also read a lot of my brother's letters. And I took a picture of a picture.

He looks so grown up! I miss him.

Shelby and I had a blast...and my mom, once she got home. Hanging pictures was a lot of fun, drawing too. My sister is going to be an artist someday. You should see some of her stuff. She's really good.

We trimmed the roses.

We played with cats.

Decided we loved Anaheim peppers.

Played with more cats...

More flowers...

And last, but not least...more cats. They just make me so happy.

I beat Robbie home by ten minutes, and as soon as he got home we rushed to Costco...and got me a vacuum. We got a Dyson! I'm excited. And now I can recycle my broken one and return my Nana's ancient Orveck which she was so kind as to let me borrow when I called at 7:00 am moving day almost crying because mine kicked the bucket at midnight that morning.

Yep. It was good to visit home, and then good to go home. 
I love my husband.
I love my sister.
I love my family.
I love my home.

Our Backyard

Here are my favorite things about the back yard.

My plants! 
The spider thingy from my in-laws, 
because someone decided to steal my beautiful ivy 
that I kept outside to get better sun. 

I've lost about half of the creeping spider from the heat 
and not knowing how much to water. 
I so do not have a green thumb.
But I think I've got it down now. 

We also got a sago! Thanks to my boss. 
We're going to keep it in a pot, a very pretty large pot, 
that we do not have yet...

 We're trying to grow grass. 
In the backyard, and in the front yard. 
It's so cute.
And a lot harder than it looks!

I have a mat now! 
So that I can wipe my feet and not track dirt into the house...
it's an ingenious invention.

I love my wind chimes from our honeymoon in Mexico...

Here's something else I've been working on.

Sewing. My first project!
I sewed a curtain for the garage, 
and I have no idea how I screwed it up. 
But both ended up too short, 
and then one shorter than the other. 
It took me a couple days to finish it, 
and it still ended up wrong. 
I was so sad.

Lesson learned: measure once, twice, three times, 

pin, measure again, cut, measure again, cut again if necessary, 

then sew. 

Ta da!

Housewarming Party

We had a great housewarming party. 

The food was great, a lot of my family helped, 
and almost all of our family was there. 
What more can you ask for? 

Robbie said I need to learn to make my Grandmother's beans, 
and my mother's pasta salad and ice cream. 

It was that good.

We also got a lot of great gifts, 
which I wasn't expecting but am very grateful for.

I have no idea what this is called, 
but it's the best pie from Marie Calanders I've ever had.

Flowers and bottles. My two weaknesses.

These are the centers I made. 
I only had 5 glass jars, all of varying sizes.
There's Alex. Good old Alex.
And basil from my new neighbor!
I'm hoping to make pesto, but I'm a little intimidated.

The house feels all warm now.