Seattle

 Over Memorial Day, I flew out to Seattle to visit my goddaughter.  I had airline miles and I knew just how to use them.  I've visited this little nugget in four states now.  Dad is a sgt major in the army. Mom is my lifelong partner in crime.
This post is more personal than informative, but...it's my blog, and ultimately where my memories live.
This little gal, Micah, is the world's friendliest tour guide.  She stood behind her Mom's car in her pjs late Friday when Regan was heading out to the airport, she was not getting left behind to do something silly like sleep.   She was there in pjs to greet me, and then she proceeded to tell EVERY sales clerk, base guard (they live on post), and tourist she passed that I was her Mom's best friend, and her Aunt Christy.  Then she'd usually ask said person for a high five, or...on special occasions "high five/knuckles."
After a very extensive home tour when we arrived at her house (I was introduced to every room, and pipe cleaner, toy, and pet present in her house).  She introduced me to her dad and let him know I was her Mom's best friend.  I'm sure, after more than ten years of knowing me, he was grateful for the clarification.

 Saturday morning we went shopping for some room decor (more on this later) and a few last items for her fairy garden, and then we went to some gardens near by.

She wore her dress, polka dot tights, rain boots, and boa.  She collected all the flowers she could hold along the path.  It was a gorgeous walk they take often through the Lakewold Gardens full of mossy stones, ferns, and flowers.  

 She offered me half of her findings.  I asked her to pause so I could take a picture of her flower in her cute little hand.  She wanted to take a silly picture, I told her OK, I'll take two, or serious, one funny.  For the remainder of the weekend whenever we stopped for a photo she'd say, "Take five pictures of this, Aunt Christy."

 After our garden tour, we went home and got to work on the fairy garden.  She painted up the fence and bird house (now fairy house) I brought-I posted about that separately.

 The fairies move at night, and she was super excited to see their new positions the next morning.

 This is her work in progress room.  Once upon a time, I was there for her baby shower (pre-birth) and her Mom, another friend, Liz, and I decorated her nursery.  Now, Regan and I have begun decorating her room.  Here is a small corner.  I'm going to work on some banners etc and send it up, but there is definitely going to be a dress up corner.  Though....by dress up I mean, her daily outfit.  She added a tutu to her pjs on Saturday and came to say good morning Sunday, still wearing that tutu the next morning.

 One thing Regan and I have in common-a love of dogs.  I have shed many tears over the loss of one of her gals a few years back.  I still teared up looking at old photos, but in her place is Diesel, a humongous, goofy, German Shepard.  I'm in love.  And faithful little Odie-Regan, Odie, and I have quite a few memories together.

 On Sunday, Micah, Regan and I headed to Mount Rainier National Park.  It was about an hour and 45 minutes from where she lives up very winding, beautiful roads.  Note to self-bring Dramamine next time).  The wild flowers weren't out yet, and the snow still sat in upper elevations, but we did get some beautiful peaks at the volcano.

 We made all the stops we could on the roads and park offices that were open.  We spent some time at Christine Falls.

 We ended up at Paradise where we discovered there was snow.  Micah was excited about that.  She couldn't wait to play.  She was super disappointed there was no lave (she kept telling me about the fact that we were going to a volcano to see lava), but....she seemed OK with the alternative (snow).  She threw snowballs, mad snow angels, and ate some questionable snow piles before anyone could stop her.
I kept telling her I was excited she got to go on a girl's trip with Regan and I.  We got a package of Twizzlers (which Micah calls Snappys....who knows why, but it's cute, and Regan and I have shared many a package of Twizzlers on a drive).  I see many more girl's trips in our future.
Last up, I forced the family to pose for a picture.  And then I left a huge piece of my heart in Seattle until next time.  Too little time, but too much time had already passed, I'll take anything I can get. Now....to plan the next trip!

Pooh Shower Book

 My scrapbooking has definitely gone the way of the buffalo over the last few years, but a few months back my pal Amber and I sequestered ourselves to a local scrapbooking store and I was able to knock out this little book commemorating the shower I threw for my pal Regan, owner of my goddaughter, Micah.  A year and a half later I can 'remember when' with some pictures to remind me.  I blogged all the details over the shower here.  I decided to buy a little cardboard book from Michael's dollar section to put this one together.  I  tied one of the little honey stirrers onto the ring (I actually used two of the books-so $2+paper and doodad not bad, and really easy to put together, just cover the cardboard in photos and scrapbook paper.
Below is the guest sign in.  I bought an old Pooh book at a thrift store and out some pictures to frame for her nursery after decorating the shower with the photos....I used some more pages to decorate my book...

 I added a little flip page here so I could keep all the 'stuff' from the honey bar contained to one spread and the book didn't get too thick....see....pull tab...

 ....two more pictures.

 Another little pull tab on this page...

 I just folded over a piece of paper, and glued one side down.

 One of my favorite photos from the weekend....

 Amber suggested punching a hole in the invite and adding it to the back after laminating it...love that idea!

Nashville, Tennessee....with a side of Clarksville.

I pause....for a little bit of personal.....January 19-21st I flew up to Nashville, TN to see my pal Regan and my goddaughter, Micah.  Regan's husband was recently given orders to move (closer to me, yay!).  While he is finishing up his third tour in Afghanistan since I've know him (6 years-Regan and I have been fridnds almost 25) we decided to explore a little bit of Nashville before it becomes a place they lived once upon a time.  I flew in Saturday morning to try to work around Micah's nap, and we drove straight to the downtown area.  It was co-old, but we still managed to walk up and down Broadway.  The famous bars were opened up just enough that we could hear the artist displaying their skills via guitars and microphones.  

We ate at the Hard Rock, in honor of her uncle, a man we both adored (her godfather) who loved the restaurant and we had many a conversation about our travels and stops by Hard Rock before he moved to heaven, waiting for the rest of our stories to join his someday.  Micah is 13+ months now, and when I saw her at 10 months, she wasn't so sure about me.  This time, after a few hours she was willing to play with me, and even reached up to be held.  Mama's still #1, but I consider it a pretty big honor she warmed up so quickly because she has stranger danger.....and she got quickly the kind of danger I can offer is all fun.  Case in point, we make that girl sit through many a photo shoot....but she'll have some pretty spectacular pictures some day so she can explain to her friends she was stinking adorable.  She was a little less cooperative at some points.....note Regan holding on to the shoes she refused to be a part of....

We wanted one in the wedding dress, but we could only get her to stay still for a nanosecond by handing her the bow....

We wanted to grab a few for Father's Day....what you can't see is her absolutely refusing to sit still and probably screaming as she ripped the hat off, but we got a few cute ones in his jacket etc...

She was willing to do the pink Christmas tree on her pink, glitter car.....Do they make this in my size?

All three little wiggle worms wouldn't sit still for this one....Odie's screaming dog face says it all...

We pretty much spent the weekend taking a few pics and  hanging out in our pjs.  Micah and I played, and I learned why everything, including the toilets are child proof in about 2 minutes when I found her toys floating in the toilet, and my personal objects exiting my purse, suit case, and any drawer that would open.  

I also spent the weekend petting Regan's first baby, Sophia.  She was diagnosed with bone cancer and the news was really grim before Christmas, but she is still doing well with a slight limp.  I hugged on her and groomed any loose hair out of her with hours of petting.  I love this dog.  

...and then, we figured out the trick to photographing this little fairy.  She will wear anything, bows etc, but she won't sit still, so I took a page out of a blog I have seen and put a bunch of foam hearts on the deck.  I held her back like a race horse, dropped her on the deck and started snapping while she went to mess up the heart design.  Letting her think she is destructive is the key....

I die.

Please look at this precious child.  Her laugh steals my heart.

Phun with Photoshop.

I'm so grateful for the little moments, getting to hear her 'hi' in person....and her version of E-I-E-I-O.  She can only do the EIEI portion, but she gets super excited when you sing it and sings along.  I die.  Multiple times a day.  Reaching up to be held.  I'm blogging from heaven.  She still has an octave in her scream, which she pulls out for all occasions good and bad that neighborhood dogs respond too.  She is totally fine playing with me now, as long as Mom is nearby, and the dogs are not fans of the pinching, though the Cheerio Trail she leaves makes up for it, but these are the memories I will cherish foreva'.....and I have the pictures to prove it.  Watch out world, she's about to be within weekend driving distance!  

Introducing....

My Goddaughter, Micah Colleen.  This blog used to be about other stuff, crafts, and other....well, whatever....who cares.  Let's just talk about Micah, the cutest little sugar booger, lady bug, punkin' face, little squishy bundle of cuteness that....OK....point made.  I heart her so stinking much.  Her mama loves the bow, so....expect lots of pink pictures and bows in the future.  On a positive note for most, a super negative note for me, she lives a thousand plus miles away, so I won't be able to take as many pictures and post about this little gal as much as I would like....though her Mama sends me daily pictures.  Anyway, to say that you'll see lots of crafts (and already have) in honor of my favorite bow head would be an understatement, but I'll leave it at this. 

Mid January I flew up to Regan's parents house in Columbia, South Carolina for Micah's Christening. 

 This is my bff, Regan.  We've been friends since 4th grade and we've made a lot of memories along the way and transitioned from friends, to family many moons ago. 

 This is the rest of the family God let me choose for myself.  I claim her Mom and dad (on the right) as my own.  They are such a blessing, I can't put the relationship into words except to say that I lost a lot as a little girl, but God had a plan for the people He placed in my life to take care of me, love me, and help me grow.  Her aunt (right about Regan) is one of Regan's godmothers, and she was married to her uncle who entered heaven a few years ago.  I had so many fun memories with the whole family, and he is greatly missed, but his spirit was present at the celebration, and I can't wait to tell Micah stories. 

 This is one of Regan's childhood friends, Liz.  She is perhaps one of the sweetest people on planet earth.  She left her twin two year olds in NC for the weekend to attend the ceremony.  She has been present at all the celebrations in the past, and I look forward to seeing her again soon. 

We spent the weekend together eating, talking, holding a very happy and laid back Micah (she doesn't get that from her mama or me), and catching up....and eating. 

 Leaving after two days was perhaps one of the hardest things I ever had to do because I had to leave a piece of my heart behind.  I don't want Micha to grow up too fast, but I've got a lot of special plans for the years to come, and some pretty fun stories to share as little nugget grows. 

Milestone Marker-

A little more personal dust...
 Through the years one of the biggest milestone markers in my life has been moments with my friend Regan.  I started our story here.  We are working on 25 years of friendship, and a lot of times when I'm measuring my life, I look back at the moments we've spent together. From school girl interests, crushes, and troubles (or getting IN trouble), to bigger days, bigger hurts, bigger triumphs. 
There's a point in a friendship where you know...this is forever...I just don't know what that point was.  Sure, we have seasonal friends, and we have other lifelong friends, but in the center of my universe is this friend.  It was years ago that I decided the most important thing for me to worry about is being a friend, and focusing less on what my friends can do for me.  We don't keep score, and it's why we work.  In doing so, Regan has never told me I'm lacking in anything, she accepts the love and time when I give it.   It's always there....and if she needs it she knows to call.   When I call her and tell her a situation that's bothering me, she can dig down as deep as I go and know all the layers and levels of this issue, it's not about today, but a lifetime.  She knew me when, which explains me now.
There was no doubt I'd be attending  her college graduation, it was a long time coming due to a stop in the military, and marriage, and all the things that come with being a wife and a stepmom, but this weekend, it came flying up all the same.  I flew to Clarksville, TN (where her husband is stationed) Wednesday night.  We shopped a little Thursday, and then got to the business of getting Regan ready for graduation.  Regan's parents (some of the family God let me choose for myself) came into town and we spent time catching up over dinners and household hanging out).  Friday was graduation day.  Austin Peay, and a Psychology Degree awaited. 

 This smile makes it worth it. 

Saturday introduced an opportunity for more celebration with a barbeque including local friends, and then I flew out much too quickly on Sunday morning.  The best news...unlike other times, I know when I'll be back...in fact, I know of at least three times I'll be visiting in the next year.  Regan's bringing a new little being into this world for me to love, and you better believe I've got a lot to teach the little one about love, and friends, and family.  I look forward to the next milestone as we close this chapter, but not this book of friendship.