63 CANDLES WERE ON TOP OF THE CAKE,

we sang Happy Birthday like only the Young/Peterson Clan can, she made a wish and blew.My brother is putting together an animated gif of the candle blowing. It's awesome, so stay tuned.

EMMA RAE

gets to come home from the hospital tomorrow. She's doing awesome.Doesn't she just melt your heart?

MY FIRST SCREEN PRINT PROJECT THIS TERM

I was so excited about this project. I took my favorite photo I've taken of Larry to use as inspiration. I wanted to do something different and really cool for him. I kept it a surprise and wanted to wow him with something amazing.

I decided to do shades of grey and have it be a little abstract. Seven colors and two and a half weeks of work, I completed it. It's not as I had envisioned. I'm SO disappointed.

He looks like a smiling zombie!

THE MAN CLAN MET EMMA TODAY

They're smitten. Absolutely smitten.

EMMA HAS ARRIVED

Here is our 4 pound 15 ounce bundle of joy!

Mom and babe are doing great. We are all so happy Emma is here!

IT'S A WONDERFUL DAY TO CELEBRATE

my mom's birthday.Happy birthday Mama Nanny, we love you!

PAPER PIECING

My dad and I took a quilting class today at The Purple Frog - paper piecing. It's really fun, but man, is it time consuming. It took us seven hours to do one square but it only felt like one hour.My dad made this seam ripper for me. I love it! Best one I've ever had.
Tada, here's our seven hour Ohio star square.

FLOODING IS WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING

around our parts.

Bus photo from Statesman Journal

This school bus was on it's way to our middle school. Luckily, there were no injuries.

Our house is fine but we had flood waters 6 feet from our shop and that was super scary. Thankfully, the waters receded from that part of town and we didn't have to sandbag. But unfortunately, people we know are affected from this flood and it's heartbreaking to see reports on the news. Please keep everyone in your prayers!

I RAN A 10K

this morning in Turner, with one of my running mates, Johanna. After the first mile it snowed on us pretty hard. It was my first run in the snow and we finished with sun. It was beautiful!Reason #7665 I love Larry. He woke up super early, on a really cold morning to drive me out to the race, stayed there to cheer me on AND, he tied my shoe for me after I removed the timing chip.

Twue wuv, I tell ya, twue wuv.

A BABY SHOWER FOR EMMA RAE

I went to a cute baby shower for Sarah and Emma this afternoon. It made me even more excited for her arrival!3 1/2 weeks. But who's counting?

GHOST HUNTING

Larry and I are taking a ghost hunting class and it starts tonight! I'm so excited. Other students in the class will be my sister, aunt and uncle, which will make it even more fun. Our class is an introduction to paranormal research, which includes field trips! Have I said how excited I am?!

I wonder if our team of instructors are going to be like Dr. Venkman and Dr. Stantz?

If we have have any discoveries, I'll update you. So stay tuned...

THE NO JUNK FOOD CHALLENGE

A bunch of us over here in our neck of the woods are starting this challenge tomorrow. Want to do it with us? This is all you have to do for the next 21 days:So basically, nothing processed. Keep it real.

The only thing processed that will stay with me on the 21 days is my Diaya cheese, since I'm limited already.

The hardest for me, I think, will be the chips. What's your weakness?

We can do this!

WATER CANTEEN

Thirty-five years ago, my father-in-law, Larry Sr., (a.k.a. Grandpa Joan) purchased this canteen, in Utah, at an Army surplus store. He used it for camping, wood badge training and scouting.

Larry (a.k.a. daddy, husband and Mr. Awesome) remembers using it growing up for scouting.

Larry and Laird (a.k.a. our inspiring survivalist - Bear Grylls is his hero, besides his daddy, of course), are going to clean it up so Laird can use it.
I love that this is a third generation water canteen that will share memories of use.

PS - Overall, it is in excellent condition. They don't make things the way they used to.