sometimes we stay up too late

????
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

and too late is getting earlier and earlier.

i have been at my parents house for a week and it has been a nice break from my life.
over the weekend i got to hang out with my siblings and celebrate my niece's first birthday.
i have been recovering from a cold the last couple of days (thanks dad), but even that has been a nice change from my everyday life.
i have been reminded that life is too busy and that i simply must make time between soccer games, cub scout activities, and school projects to run away and visit family.

yellowstone national park

yellowstone 5
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

we made it to yellowstone.
i was not excited about the 2.5 hour drive there and then back, especially since we were driving into salt lake city the very next day; but i am very glad we made it out.
we started at the geysers and skipped old faithful in order to catch the grand geyser.
little did we know that we would have to wait until the very end of its window until it spewed hot water and steam above the trees.
next we stopped by some paint pots.
the edges of both the geysers and paint pots were lovely with all the little detail and made me wish for stones that mimiced that beauty.
after that we hiked down to see a waterfall with its amazing green water and it was at this point that i finally realized why i could appreciate the mountains: the canyons offer amazing perspective.
i hope to revisit the canyons when the boys are old enough to climb and hike further.
we were able to see an osprey's nest through binoculars.
we then ended the day filling our plates at the cafeteria and trying to listen to the radio on the way back to jackson hole, wy.

geyser, paint pot, stream

yellowstone 7
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i want some rocks that look just like this....

more on yellowstone later.

cowboy birthday

cowboy birthday
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

late afternoon (post naps) we had a cowboy themed birthday party;
each family had color coordinated bandanas, cowboy hats, and sheriff badges.
parker started out as a cowboy, but slowly adapted his acessories to fit a gangster.
he had me roll up his bandana, wrap it around his forehead, and pin the sheriff's badge to the front.
we played minute to win it and ate cowboy and horse cupcakes we decorated the day before.
we finished the party with the most horrendous rush dance and karaoke.

across the states and back again

mountain
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

last thursday we flew off to salt lake city, ut and then drove to jackson hole, wy to visit with ryan's family.
let me first say that i am not a fan of mountains and prefer the green that surrounds me in the southeast.
during this trip out west, i did learn to appreciate the mountains (mostly because of the canyons.)
parker could not have cared less where we were or what events had been planned; he simply wanted to play with his cousins.
(he even drew wesley and grahm pictures before we left the house.)
the first evening, we rode a tram up the side of a mountain, collected some rocks, and enjoyed dinner made by monte and jenny.
i'll fill you in on the rest of the trip throughout the week.

but you can check out the pics from the entire trip here

a weekend away

Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

this past weekend, we went down to my parents.
parker got to play at the mullet festival, go fishing, play more at the mullet festival, and wreak havoc at my parents' house.
it was a nice to see them and it was certainly nice to get away for a few days.
now that i am back home i really have to get serious about my etsymetal charms.
they need to be in the mail by monday and i still have quite a bit of work to do before i can ship.
also, i will be taking tons of pics of both new and old things to put up in the shop.
i still can't get really motivated but i would like to capitolize on the holiday season before its too late.

maybe refreshed

parker lounging
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

overall, our family trip was fabulous!
we enjoyed some time with nathan and sadie and then with monte and his whole family.
we managed to squeeze in some time in D.C., king's dominion, inner harbor, and THE greenbriar as well as its bunker.
today we prepared the house and yard for possible hurricane fallout, but it seems like we will be missing most of the bad weather.
and since we are so on top of it and all of the house chores are done, i may have some time to this week to really get cranking on some new designs and finishing up some old favs.

check my flickr for more pics from the trip

still on vacation...

face your manga
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

the rest of the week has been fun, but i just don't have adequate access to upload new pics to my flickr account.
sunday was a semi relaxed day hanging out with nathan and sadie and painting just a little.
monday and tuesday both included a drive and roller coaster rides at king's dominion. i do have to agree with many other people that the park is a great one to visit. it had enough rides for me to enjoy and more than enough for parker to enjoy. hopefully by the time our next trip rolls around parker will have grown a few inches so he can ride even more.
and, i personally have problems with heights (not so much as other people), but did manage to ride 'the drop.' (but only once since i couldn't stop shaking for at least half an hour.)
wednesday we stopped by port discovery which was fun. it had plenty for parker to do and is something that we would probably visit regularly if we lived in the area.
thursday and friday have been full of lego star wars and the greenbriar.

off to baltimore (actually columbia)

plane ride
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

we arrived safely at my brother nathan's house last night and parker was quite excited. well, delirious may be a better word since he did not have a nap and ate tons of sugar on the plane.
so far we watched some hilarious dark place on youtube, rode the metro (aka "bullet trains) to see a couple museums, and semi helped in the not quite finished basement.
the rest of the week will be a hodgepodge of fun activities with family and a few naps thrown in here and there.

secret garden chain

secret garden on
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i finished everything for the ms craftsman guild submission just a couple of hours before our plane left.
i am still fairly stressed, but there is nothing i can do now.
i submitted my ring with the sage amethyst and itty bitty coral flower, my violet earrings with the two layers, and a new handmade chain with pierced back and bezel set lace agate.
i am pleased with how each piece turned out and how well they showcase what i am able to do.

now, its time to run off for a vacation to see some uncles and cousin friends.

the final result

wildflowers
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

we made it home....
in preparation for any of these type of trips, i generally work myself up into a state of semi-panic - will i forget something? will people make me crazy? will i get sleep?
i am happy to say that this trip went much better than i had hoped and i will be looking forward to the next.
parker LOVED being with his "cousin friends" and ryan and i both enjoyed being with everyone too.
and, i ended up driving much less that i thought and was able to work on another scarf (hopefully i will get stocked up before fall shows start.)

vacation

150/366
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

we are off to branson, mo.
actually, we have been here almost a day and so far, so good.
we have plans to take it easy tomorrow and then head off to silver dollar city on monday.

i will be semi out of touch until sometime late wednesday night or thursday.