Friday Finds

{Practicing my manual photography skills! And a thumbs up, good job from Dustin!}

I've been spending maybe just a little too much time on the Internet lately.  Pinterest seems to be my new addiction (along with constantly looking at other blogs!).  Maybe I should join in on Emily's Unplugging 2012?!

I l-o-v-e keychains! And to make my own? SO neat!

I want to make one of these for my trip to Oregon this summer!

I've been loving lace a lot more lately. Hmm...

I'm always digging through my purse for change.  Maybe this would help me?

WOW!  Such a great gift idea!

I've seen large versions of these at restaurants.  Now I can make my own!

A great way to display all the cupcakes I have in mind to make.

Dustin has been interested in painting lately. This looks fun!

Ahahaha! SO cute!

Yes, I AM thinking about Christmas already.

I have a thing for wraps.

Housewarming gift idea for the in-laws for this August?

Thank You, Grandma Becky!

Dustin has a grandma.  Her name is grandma Becky.  She lives on the east coast.  We don't get to see her.  Like, ever.  So every once in a while she sends Dustin care packages!  Daddy usually gets all of the packages, so it's exciting for Dustin whenever one comes in his name.  The most recent package arrived on our doorstep Monday afternoon/evening.  It was filled with three fun goodies, all of which Dustin wanted to take outside and break-in immediately!

 {Excited to have gotten a package of his own!}

 {First glance at what's in the box, under all the green paper!}

 {Water guns}                         {Cars Lightning McQueen Roller Skates}               {Baseball glove and ball}

{A note to Dustin!}

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: Picking Strawberries

My sister and I were "recruited" to pick strawberries for my mom this year.  So we put on our dirt-friendly clothes, grabbed the camera, and headed out to the fields!  Dustin had a blast (although he mostly just played in the dirt, as do little boys of three years old)!  I am planning on taking him out again later this week/weekend to get some for ourselves.

 {Heading out to our row/s!}

 {"Cheese!" He's really been into the thumbs up thing lately... "Cool dude!"}

 {Aunt Ashley picking strawberries.}

 {Having more fun digging in the dirt than actually picking berries!}

{We picked a few more after this photo was taken... kept finding better ones as we got towards the end of our rows!}

HOOAH!

My little brother is growing up!

Yesterday morning, at 3:43am (specifically, according to my mom), my little brother was picked up by his Army recruiter and taken to the airport to fly out for his BCT (Basic Combat Training).  He will be stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina for the next (at least) 10 weeks.  His return date is said to be September 18, 2012.

It's a BIG change for him!  He's never been away from home for more than a couple weeks, and even then he's always had family with him.  With this adventure, he is on his own.  I'm worried about him, of course, but I'm sure he'll be fine. :)

I am currently brainstorming ways to save enough money so that I may fly to the east coast for his graduation.  Maybe this will be the kick in the butt patootie I need to start putting stuff up on Esty?!

The night before he left, Sunday, the whole fam-dam-ily (and a couple in-laws! Love!) went out to dinner at one of our favorite establishments - Red Robin!  Maybe not so "unique," but yummy nonetheless! It was one of the two things requested by my brother for before he was "shipped out."

{My apologies for the non-edited photos... I just didn't feel like trying to edit them before posting.}

 {The whole family!}

 {The children....}

 {Big Sister, Little Brother}

 {My little family with my brother}

{BYE BRYCE! GOOD LUCK! WE LOVE YOU!}

Good luck Bryce!  Be good while you're there!  We'll see you in a couple months! 

WE LOVE YOU!