A Prairie Home Companion

Amy, Sandra, little Charlotte and I headed down to Tucson today for a taping of A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.  Our seats worked out perfectly with easy access and escape for Amy with Charlotte, who did wonderfully.  Amy made her a Guy Noir shirt which she wore proudly.  I am a little upset that I didn't get a picture. 

It was the 1,239th show with an accordionist, Joel Guzman, a latino band called iMas and a great folk band called the Dave Rawlings Machine - i liked them best!  It was very tailored Tucson and Arizona which was exciting.  The best are always the staples - The Lives of Cowboys: Dusty and Lefty, Guy Noir and the News from Lake Wobegon.  It was an amazing day trip only made better by the friends I was able to share it with.

Miss her

"When does my Aunt Lindsey get here?"

My dad went to see Reese yesterday and this is one of the pictures he sent.  I like to imagine this is what she is saying.  Don't worry, baby, I will be there in just over two weeks!!!!

Library Book Sale

I have a sickness.  I will say that one of those stacks is all presents.  Does that make it better?

I found some amazing treasures like always!

Lani found this Gwen Frostic book and she was kind enough to let me have it.  It is truly beautiful!

The next one is in April... and I can't wait!

I'm going to see this guy on Saturday!!!!

A Straw

Apparently I have been wasting my money on cat toys.  Amy and I made an ice cream run the other night and ended up with unused straws.  Gracie was entertained for hours, biting the wrapper off, throwing it up in the air, chewing on it.

When she is not playing with the staw, she is cuddled up on my snuggie.  I borrowed a harness from Amy so maybe I will see about taking Gracie for a walk today.  I am sure this will be entertaining too!

Done and done!

I finished puzzle #2 and the need to do another isn't as bad as it was before.  With the book sale coming up I think I will put my puzzling on hold for books and crafts and school work.  It was fun while it lasted!

I have been hanging out with another little one a lot lately.  It is Amy's daughter Katherine.  She is 3 years old and is smart, cute and very fashionable!  We call her a free spirit :)  I love singing disney songs with her while we dance.  When she says Sleeping Beauty, it sounds like Sweeping Judy - I love it!

She is completely comfortable without many clothes on so I was impressed to get these shots.  The lighting wasn't very good and neither was my camera but the girl is on the move a lot of the time so I'll take what I can get!

The library book sale is this weekend!!!  I could not be more excited because I missed the last one.  I can't wait to share my findings.

I also just bought tickets to see A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor in Tucson!!!!  I'm such a nerd but I am so excited!

Payson, AZ

Lani and I headed to her family's cabin in Payson Friday afternoon after I finished up my school work.  It is a beautiful drive to a comforting stress-less place.  I am so glad we were able to go!

We picked up burritos then spent the night watching Flight of the Concords and working on a puzzle that her aunt started.  I have been craving a puzzle for months now and this was the perfect time and place for a puzzle.  We ended up working on it until the wee hours of the morning. 

And finished it the next day after some amazing thrifting. 

I spent $15 and came home with two dresses, a shirt, a sweater, a skirt, a pair of shoes, a turquoise swingline stapler, a great 50s craft book and the most amazing calendar I have ever seen! (it requires its own blog so watch for something this week) I love thrifting in Payson!

We drove back Saturday night and this was the beautiful sunset as I walked down to Amy's.  This picture doesn't come close to doing it justice!

Doing another puzzle was all I could think about last night. (I am my mother's child)  I went over to my storage unit to grab one.  Lani came over and we were able to get this far.  We'll see what I can get done today!

Happy First Birthday, Little Reese!

I cannot believe Reese is turning one year old! I was able to sing Happy Birthday to her and I could hear her giggling.  I wish I could have been there to celebrate with her.  I miss you, little Reese!

Subtle

I wore red tights to work today!  They were an impulse purchase at H&M on Friday and as I checked out all I kept thinking was when will I ever where those?   Then this morning I realized I work at an art museum, I can wear whatever I want.  So I did!  Heather the quirky events coordinator just looked at me and said "Subtle, Lindsey."  I can't wait to wear them again!

The Lodger has moved in!

As many of you know, I am currently living in the back of my friends Amy and Matt's second home, a bank owned house four down from their's.  They have done a ton of work and it is really amazing to see how things have changed.  Matt is keeping a website with the rennovations so if you are interested check it out here:  http://www.earllplace.com/1644.htm

I am currently living in the back living room and master bath.  It is working great for Gracie and I!  I don't know what I would have done if I would have had to find a place when I got back from Indiana.  In the end, Amy's family will be moving down here and I will be renting their house from them.  It is a prime location and you can't beat being four houses away from one of your best friends!  I know the pictures look overwhelming but we are quite comfy with everything in their place.  Thanks to Matt and Lani for helping me get my mattress and couch from the storage unit!

Lani and I had a great friday night of Green for dinner and a trip to the way north Scottsdale to shop at the newly opened H&M.  This was the sunset on the way.  I missed the sunsets!

I couldn't pass these two up at the thrift store on Saturday!

the trip out west

snow in Illinois

Route 66 totem poles in Oklahoma

Indian Trading Posts in Oklahoma - i recommend the buffalo burger and fried pickles!

a sunset in Texas while my mom looked for a cache

Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas

Little Gracie resting at our new home in Phoenix

Thankfully my mom was able to make the trip to Arizona with me.  It made three days of driving fly by.  We rang in 2010 in Amarillo, Texas with PB&J sandwiches and a bottle of champagne.  She was able to stay for a couple days to help me get settled in castle house.  I was very sad to see her go and the evenings have been very quiet here.  It is something I need to get used to after the past 5 months of family.  I am planning a trip back to IN in February to see Reese for a long weekend.  I really dont think I would have been able to leave if I didnt know that I would be back in just 6 weeks to see her and everyone again.  It has been sunny and warm in Phoenix which is definitely helping my mood.  It was very weird being back at the Museum again but having Amy and her family only four houses away really helps a lot!

10 things I miss about Reese:

1. her face when she first sees you in the morning
2. the chubby little backs of her hands
3. "shake, shake, shake"
4. her waving towards herself
5. the way she hugs things she loves
6. the fact that she loves her loveys
7. her "what you talkin bout, willis" face
8. the way she crawls over to you and stands holding your legs
9. her laugh and giggles
10. kissing her cheeks

our last moments... for now

Reese was a bit distracted by the package of kleenex that my dad had just given me for the road.  I hate this because I couldn't explain to her that I am not leaving forever and that I love her more than words.  It was hard and I have been distracted since I left so I don't think it has really hit me yet.  It was an amazing 5 months of watching Reese grow from a baby into a toddler.  I am very glad that I was able to be the one to spend that time with her.  She is smart, happy and beautiful, more so than we ever could have imagined.  My heart is now in fort wayne with her and I hope that she always knows that her Aunt Lindsey loves her and would do anything for her!

An artist is born

Finger Painting!!

Reese made me four beautiful paintings that I can;t wait to display at Phoenix Art Museum (in my cube).  It was messy and very fun.  I can't wait to have paintings and drawings by her all over my house!

Sledding!

Things were pretty busy before I left for Arizona so here are a few blogs from before I left:
Sledding!!

Marc gave Reese a sled for Christmas and we were able to try it out. Reese kept squealing. She really loved going for a little ride!