I will be better in 2013....I promise!

Well much has happened since I last threw-up the pre-Sandy picture....

....I (with the help of my wonderful co-workers) hosted 250 people at the National Conference for Rebuilding Together in Orlando
....Scott started a clothing line call Sadistic Skott which will make its debut at a tattoo expo in a few weeks
....Scott had his second 'Open' show at Corcoran, which was very well received
....I traveled to New Orleans to do some prep work for our Super Bowl build called Kickoff To Rebuild
....I accepted some additional projects at work as I celebrated by 6 month anniversary
....we walked a five foot Christmas tree the three blocks home, set it up, argued over how to achieve a perfectly straight tree (I won) and sipped cider as we decorated the home for the holidays
....Scott also completed his 5th semester at Corcoran
.....and he finished his first issue of the web comic The Pugilist
....we thought about buying a house in DC, talked with a realtor and realized that that remains a dream (these prices are astronomical!)
....we celebrate Christmas with a feast for two and by opening presents with the whole family on goggle hangout

....we have been busy as life keeps ticking away.

I have set a reminder for a weekly update on Sunday. With the iPad I really have no excuse!

Spokane Recap: It's A Doozey

Grab a cup of coffee and we will start at the beginning...

We left Dulles very early in the morning on Wednesday, May 23 set for San Fran and then onto Spokane.



Soon after a freshening up we were off to check out this Manito Park my parents keep talking about.



The park is huge and contains a green house.







All together at last.



The next morning Christine, Paul, Scott and I were on our own...so we went to Starbucks and then for a drive.



Then we went to a very large thrift store. Christine and Paul ended up getting those shoulder pads.



We closed the evening with pizza at the local pub. Sorry no photos of the smorgous-borge that we consumed.

Friday morning we participated in the Nebraska Memorial Day weekend tradition of boating. However, this is not the tradition in Washington as the temperature is about 20 degrees colder. Needless to say, we had Coeur D'Alene lake to ourselves.



It was a tad bit breezy. Check out this video.

We finished the evening with Thai food by the Spokane River.

Saturday we went biking down The Route of the Hiawatha trail. This is a 15 mile down hill ride on the boarder of Idaho and Montana. The landscape was beautiful!











Regis, Edison and Eistein had to stay home but were happy to spend some time outside when we returned.





I think he looks like he is laughing in this one.


Saturday night was girls and boys night; the boys went to a pub and the girls went to a fancy restaurant. Again, sorry no pictures.

Sunday morning we went to the Corbin Gardens. It was apparently 'lost' in the middle of Spokane for 20+ years. Who looses are garden?!





Aren't they cute...



Next on the list was a trip up Mt. Spokane. Apparently I am a flatlander as I did not fare well on the windy narrow roads up the mountain. The view was pretty though.





Then this happened...we took in the sights and sounds while a cover band played at the Arbor Crest Winery. We may have consumed 6 bottles of wine.



We managed to get our own gazebo.





And...we danced on the stage...



Monday was spent in downtown Spokane exploring Hotel Davenport.





We also met our Great Aunt Donna. We should have gotten a photo, but again did not.

And then we said good bye to Christine and Paul.



Tuesday we packed and moseyed through the Japanesse Gardens.



Back to D.C. we went...



Thank you mom and dad for such an amazing trip; we can't wait for Australia!!!!!

In Family Fun

Valentine Garland

A few weeks ago, my sister Christine and I Skype-Crafted. (Like that? I just made it up.) We spent a Sunday afternoon chatting and crafting for Valentines Day. Christine made this; I rolled with her paper heart idea to make something slightly different.

Paper Heart Garland

Step 1: Cut 1 inch strips of red, pink and white construction paper.


Step 2: Cut them to the lengths indicated. 


Step 3: The first staple, layer the paper so the white paper is between the red and pink. Make sure the longest paper is closest the the white.  


Step 4: Line them up and staple. There should be 5 layers for this staple. 


Step 5: Bend the red and pick strips down to meet the base of the white strip. Notice the long strip is now on the outside. 


Step 6: Gather both sides and staple at the bottom.  There should be 5 layers for this staple.



Now run a needle and thread through the top of the white strip and hang where desired. 

In Craft-Bonding (Made that up too!)

Toffee Triangles

Holidays are about memories and family, with my mom in Spokane, my sister in Kansas City and I in Washington DC our lives are pretty spread out. So my mom came up with a plan, bake cookies together! She found a recipe for almost ready dough (kinda like a box of cake mix) with several different application of the dough: peanut butter blossoms, thumbprint, butter bars and these toffee triangles.

Over the weekends we get together via Skype and bake together. We chat about work, lives and plans just as we would in a kitchen physically together. It's a great memory and a new tradition.

In Creating From What You Are Given

The Hatterman Side

Being in Nebraska was the perfect opportunity to have a farewell party of sorts for my cousin and his family. They are moving to Australia later this month; she signed a contract for four years so we wont be all together again for a while.


This is what 20 people look like at a long table in a sit-down restaurant.


These are my cousin's children. Charley, the one of the left, and I have a special relationship. I was her first baby-sitter and we bonded, mostly because she was a cuddle-er so I just held her until her parents returned. I will miss her, maybe we should become pen pals! Is that dorky to have a eight-year old pen pal who is your cousin?!


My Grandpa passed away 12 years ago; Grandma is 94. They had four children: Gary, Bill, Marilyn and Dick (my dad). This photo are the families of two children, Bill and my dad's.

Good bye Matt, Bonnie, Charley, Quinn and Grey! We will miss you, but make room for us when we visit.

In Family

Visiting Grandpa

In September my Grandpa Keith was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. "Guillain-Barré syndrome is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances, the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until the muscles cannot be used at all and the patient is almost totally paralyzed." From this syndrome, he was left paralyzed from the waist down, he also temporarily lost use of his hands.

After months of therapy and positive thinking I am proud to say that he is back up on his feet, walking with little assistance and returned to his home the day before Thanksgiving. Good job Grandpa, we are all very proud of you!

Also, I must say, Grandma Harlene deserves a big gold star. She remained fairly calm and rational throughout the whole three months. She never left my Grandpa's side, sleeping in the chair or spare bed in his hospital rooms. 

You two have worked very hard, your determination is a blessing in our family.

While Grandpa was at Madonna Rehab in Lincoln, we all took an early holiday to visit him. Mom, dad (plus their two dogs), Scott and I (plus Regis) met at Christine and Paul's in Kansas City. After a stop for coffee and bagels we hit the road to Lincoln.

The van was a little full, 6 adults plus 4 dogs. 

Once there everyone found their place; Einstein on Grandpa's feet and Scott in the corner with a book. 

Next was Edison's turn.

It was a good afternoon, filled with crazy Grandma stories and Grandpa groans.

In Proud Granddaughter Moments