Friday, August 28, 2015

January's Postings

One of this years resolutions, for me, is to post at least once a month to this blog.
( I just resolved that! I do love blogging but being consistent has been a challenge for me. 
Once a month is definitely a doable goal so call me out if I start slacking!)



Over Christmas I had lots of fun with some new cookie cutters that my sweet friend Ezzy, gave me as a present this year. I do love making the cookies!
Noah finally got a Wii Universe after years of asking.
 Emil got a sweet board bag and Bow Ties from Santa
 Kirstin got functional and stylish boots that will withstand the Idaho Ice, we hope!
 Emil Michael got a cool light for his room that looks like the death star and closes into a ball. 
We invited 3 other families to join us for Christmas lunch but I was too busy playing hostess to remember to take pictures. (Sigh- it is always this way with me!)

Kirstin stayed busy visiting people or doing this. 
College kids work hard during the semester so on break they can sleep hard!
 I know Kirstin is forever grateful she taught me how to do selfies!
 Emil Michael is glad too. 
 A rare moment of wakefulness at a friends wedding reception.
 Our sweet Catherine with Peter Trotman
 My bowtie boys
 Kirstin and I. 
After new years the kids went back to school and the house was quiet again. 
I've been focusing on my church calling, planning the meals for our family reunion in June, cleaning house, crafting and of course baking!

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Summer Roundup Part 2

So after all the excitement of the Yoder Family Reunion in June, Noah attended Scout Camp, Drivers Ed, Youth Conference and Band Camp. It was a busy time. 
I had started baking for one of the local farmers markets in addition to my baking for the cafe and it was just crazy! I was making good money but just had no time. I decided it was too much and stopped baking for the market in July and I'm much happier now. 

I still do the odd job on the side too. Mostly custom order cookies. Its been fun to grow and be creative. In June we also had a bridal shower for Kirstin's best friend Catherine who lived with us last summer. It was so fun! She's a super gal and we are so excited for her!

Catherine was sealed in the temple at the end of June and I got to be there as her escort. It was a sweet experience that I'll treasure always! She was a beautiful bride!


I decided to give Kirstin's Bathroom a makeover in June and it turned our fabulous! We went from yellow walls with green polka dots (not my doing! Totally Kirstin!) To a cool grey.

My favorite feature by far is the faucet.
(Swoon- I want one!)
July brought new adventures in the form of a car accident, Paddle boards, farewells and returns!  
Emil and I celebrated our 23 anniversary and his birthday by getting 2 paddle boards.
Celebrating Emil's birthday. I think the card says it all...
When the water is like this - Life is good and the paddling is so easy and fun. The longest paddle I've gone is 9 miles in 2 back to back sessions. It's actually much easier than I expected and it's nice to have two so I can go out with friends. 
The Kathryn/Catherine Selfie



"Sunrise"

That patch of land in the center is an island that I've gone to twice. It's 3 miles out from our boat landing. Isn't that the most beautiful thing? That's like, my playground- that I can walk to in 3 minutes!!! I am so blessed! The earth is so diverse and amazing!

So it's quite a different story paddling when the wind is up and there are waves. When I went out with Catherine we had to swim the boards back in because we couldn't make any headway paddling. The wind was just too strong. I have learned to check the weather report so that I know the conditions before I go out. 
I've had a couple of dear friends move this summer which has been a real bummer but thankfully I got to spend some quality time with them both before they left. 
My friend Lorrie moved to Rhode Island but was able to stay with us for 5 days before leaving. She is my favorite Artist, yogi, and zen friend. I love having conversations with her because she thinks so differently than I do and it's always eye opening to look at life like she does. 
Ezzy moved to Utah (the beehive state!) I had to make her these cookies!
 where they have a home and her daughter is going to college. We have known the Carters since Emil M. was a baby but it wasn't until they moved to Currituck 7 years ago that we became such good friends.  She has been there with me through so much and we have applied craft therapy when necessary! (which was quite often!) I am going to miss them both a great deal but plan on visiting when possible! What a blessing friends bring to our life.

The first business of the day was to go straight from the airport to the beach.  I got her out on the paddle board with me too. She's such a strong paddler it's just not right!

She took a week off to play and get her wisdom teeth pulled and then jumped right into working.
She's been helping me cut the boys hair and style them.  
They are growing up to be wonderful people
 but they haven't lost that youthful wild abandonment. 
(Sometimes I just don't even know how they come up with the things they do.)
Noah became a teenager this summer ( No joke it was totally the haircut!) and started 10th grade yesterday. Time flies!

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Summer Round-up Part One


(Obviously I don't let guilt over not blogging more often trouble me- however I have a ton of photos so I'm going to break it up some and do a couple of posts. )
Here are some of the highlights from the beginning of summer! 
Summer is meant for Sun and surf! 
Emil M. did indeed graduate. Emil and I flew out and Emil's Mom and sister, Maria, came as well. 
We took the tour of some of the sites at Temple Square. This was on the top of the Conference Center in the garden. 
Can I just tell you how gratifying it was to have your oldest child graduate from College? 
Heaven!
Sisterly Love!
She is the ONLY person Emil allows to love all over him!
Kirstin came down from Idaho for the weekend too! She wanted to give the gown a try on to see how it will feel in 3 years.
He has been home working at the Cotton Gin over the summer. It's been nice to have him home again. 
After graduation I ran the 10K I had been training for with my running partner Jaime. We did great and finished strong!
I got some new cookie cutters and had a fun time with them they came in handy when I made gift bags for all the families that came to the Yoder Reunion at Avon, NC in June.
My parents rented out 5 cottages and we had a week of fun in the sun!

It was wonderful seeing all my nieces and nephews with their young families and getting to spend some time with some of them!
Michael, Timmy & Sara Brown
Me and Dustin Plastow being piratey
My brothers set up a movie night and we watched some classic Godzilla movies. 
No reunion would be complete with out the Girls Chocolate Extravaganza! It did not disappoint
Sheila explaining the virtues of chocolate covered almonds. 
 We did do some touring with the family including a trip to the top of the Hatteras lighthouse which I had never actually been up!
 It was a great view. 
And a trip to the Ocracoke Lighthouse which I just love!

 My favorite part was Emil and I spending almost every day down at the beach soaking up rays, enjoying the waves and catching up with whoever chose to come down for the day. It was so relaxing and just what we needed.

Jake Yoder
Isabelle Yoder
Emil, Mattie, Mark

Carolina

David Yoder

Mom
James & Dad
Craig, Sumi, Eric, Donna, Kathryn, Emil, Emil M., Lisa,  Michelle
It was awesome to get to know one of my cousins and his family. 
Eric & Donna Steinhauer
We also got to see my Aunt Sumi and her husband Craig, whom I met last year at the Yoder reunion in PA that I went to with my parents. What a sweet couple they are! It was so fun hanging with them! I wonder if Craig has become a world class surfer yet? Emil taught him the week we were at Avon.

We have been so blessed to have such wonderful families! I loved spending the week with them and wish we all lived a bit closer. There just wasn't enough time to spend with them all but what a blessing it was all the same!