March Madness Hilman style

I have still been working on a few rag quilts. I cut one out this morning. It is going to be for Har's and my bed.
They are so much fun to make. I wish I had the money to make one for everybody I know.

I chose the fabrics to represent our Finnish and Dutch heritage with a little country kerchief fabric too.

We started out our Spring break by helping out a friend on his Eagle Scout project. He is refurbishing a couple of unused restrooms at the school where Generations Church meets. It will be so nice to have usable facilities near the sanctuary. He is also doing a bit of touch up painting where he can.

Here is Cam scraping. Notice the makeshift scaffolding?

Rowan wanted to help too. The roll around trash cans were a great thing to keep him busy.

We ended Spring break by going out to The Old Spaghetti Factory.
Let the shenanigans begin.

Rowan is a good eater.

Of course he has to do it himself.

A boy well satisfied.

Rowan with 3 of his biggest supporters.

Cam enjoying the air vent.

I think someone reminded Courtney that school starts back up this week.

and last but not least. Us.

The beauty of Spring...

I picked up these beauties from the store. They aren't blooming in the neighborhood yet.

They come in so many vibrant colors. Quite the contrast to our rainy gray skies.

Daffodils are showing off all over town. These are at the local Community College.

They weren't all open the day I took these but I'm sure they will be open & glorious soon.



The cuties were here this past week.

Uncle Hayden and his adoring fans. Well one of them is adoring him anyway.

One of Rowan's favorite things to do when he is here is to stand on the couch and watch for the buses to go by. He likes trucks and cars too. Oh and birds. He always notices birds. He got his cousins in the act along with Uncle Cam. They were actually watching an Uncle Hayden out on the porch.

I think Peanut is loving being back in Portland. That top shelf of their climbing tower is about 5 ft off the ground. A nice safe distance away from the youngest visitors.


Alyssa has contributed to my quilting fetish. She purchased fabric and had me sewing.
She chose the design layout.

Rowan "helped".

So did Courts.


And in todays news....
KRYSTLE IS back!

Cam and I picked her up at the train station this morning. He actually was more thrilled than he looked. He is always nervously anticipating the flash of the camera.
SPRING BREAK has also started.

Hope everybody has a terrific one.

Happy Birthday Krystle....here's to a wonderful year ahead.

It has been quite a year since you turned 21.
Life is an adventure and you have definitely had your adventures.

You were officially old enough to have cheap food and pop at happy hour.
That is a great milestone. A lot easier on the pocketbook.

You spent time with us traveling up to Hood River for Father's Day.
Then you took off to Virginia and Michigan to visit with the Kangas side of the family.

You spent good times with family at the Hilman Family reunion.

Here is our traditional rest stop on our road trip to Eastern Oregon.

You and the rest of the girls look soooo pretty at Cherise's wedding.

Of course you spent a good deal of time mushing up those nieces....

and nephews.

We saw you off to your biggest adventure of all.

You came back to us looking pretty spiffy.

Christmas was memorable. Every one of you was home.

Then we had to say farewell again for a time.

This is a picture of your life ahead (notice that the NAVY is on your back thus "behind you"). It's time to forge new trails and trust God in all of it.
We will always be here for you no matter where you go.
We love you, Krystle.
Happy 22nd Birthday.

Not much to share

I have been working on some projects lately. Some addictive projects at that.
But due to their purpose I can not share photos of them yet. I have been having fun.

But I can share a picture of our unexpected lunch guests.
Kiel and Cherise zoomed through P-town on their way home from visiting Lyssa and Rowan.
Short and sweet (the visit not a discription of the people) but fun.

Farewell old friend!
Thanks for the memories.

The truck that we dated and honeymooned in left us this past week. We weren't going to get around to fixing it up even though that was a dream of ours.

A lovely young couple has taken it on as a project. .. a real "labor of love" in that when it is finished they want it to be sort of a focal point at their wedding.
The gal was one of the caretakers for Harlan's dad. I'm excited for them and for the truck to be getting the TLC that it has been lacking in the last few years.

I had to get one last pic of Har with "our" truck, even though it was never technically ours. We have wonderful memories and many pictures of our travels back in the day.

It's been a great month.

We've gotten to spend a little more time with the grands this month as they come over on Wednesdays to play while their momma takes care of an elderly gentleman.
They often show up with various treasures.
Wyatt had a new construction hat.

He is such a goof.

Genevieve brought a Dora the Explorer doll but was drawn to my new tin that had popcorn in it.

Danika just shows up & wanders through the house being cute.



We wrapped up February in style...



We went to Mississippi Pizza to hear "Mon Cheri" a group that our niece's husband, Brandon, is in.
Our friends Tom and Kim joined us there it was a wonderful evening.

Here are Karyn and Brandon Vasquez, our niece and her husband. He is a great drummer.

Someone took a pic of us together. Thanks for letting us know that you'd be playing here in town.
Looking forward to getting the new CD.

Home once again

As I mentioned in my last post, we were in Lacey Washington for a couple of nights. Just hanging out with Alyssa and Rowan doing a little shopping, having doctors appointments and eating good food.

We had to come home today though. Things to do, people to see...

So we had to say goodbye for now to one of our "best boys" and his mom and his dog.
See you in a few weeks Rowan.

I pointed the G's Forester toward Portland and we were on our way.
The boys were dropped off at home, Courtney was driving herself to school and back today so everyone was where they were supposed to be for the moment and I was able to join my "Best Husband" for cheap food and pop at one of our favorite date places.

The happy hour menu now has a dessert option. We decided to split it. Looks good doesn't it?

It was wonderful! Perhaps next time we will get one for each of us.

It's nice to be back "where everybody knows my name". Cheers!

What we've been up to...

February is coming to a close really quickly. I guess time does seem to go by faster the older you get. I haven't even gotten all of my Christmas decorations down and Easter is just around the corner. We have had some fun this month. Lyssa and I have been crazy for quilts. Or at least our version of them.

This is a picture of Alyssa "quilting" the squares of her quilt. I am so glad that I found out about this technique for cutting and quilting as you go. It is so much geared to my short attention span personality. You can pretty much do a quilt a day from yard goods -to cut squares -to quilting- to assembly. Just throw it in the washer and dryer and VOILA! you have a lovely made from scratch quilt or throw.

Here is the one we did for Courtney's birthday. Pieced on the left. Finished on the right.

Below is Alyssa's finished quilt with the corner turned so you can see the back.

Here is one more I'm working on.

It's fun stuff.



Speaking of fun stuff...

Our little leprechauns are all ready for St Paddy's day. Wyatt's shirt says "Lucky and Charming" He is that.

We are up in Lacey again. And what trip to Lacey would be complete without playing peek-a-boo with Rowan and a large plastic pan at Big Lots.

Or a stop at our most favorite restaurant in the area.

Though we have never had breakfast there, those burgers are really really yummy. Their milk shakes aren't bad either. It is definitely an all American support the troops kind of place. No lattes & tofu here (though they do have a gardenburger on the menu). We find it's just good food, a nice atmosphere and has friendly folk to take care of you.
YUM!