We built a bench!

Bryan and I are the kind of couple who like doing projects and activities together. We've taken a couple cooking classes together; we print out recipes and make things like delicious sangria, cool popsicles, and fresh juice concoctions; we go bike-riding, take walks, and go on hikes; we watch movies and discuss them and participate in book groups. You get the idea. Recently, we had the chance to hone our woodworking skills (as you may imagine, my are already fairly fine tuned...hah!). We signed up to take a class at The ReBuilding Exchange (which is a really cool organization here in Chicago) and got ready to build a bench! Come on, people. It's more exciting than it sounds.

Here is our work bench. They actually let me use one of those drill thingies!

What's really scary is that they actually let me use one of these saws! But, as you can see, Bryan did most of the cutting. I took the pictures.

Come to think of it... Bryan did most of the work, while I took pictures and "supervised." Hmm...

But wait, here I am doing some measuring! Go, team, go.

 We chose a rustic top and a tri-color design for our beautiful, little bench. I'm so proud.

And, it's sturdy enough for us to sit on; that's a win in my book!

Not only that, but it sure came in handy when we had to wait a LONG time for our bus!

 

One important thing I learned during our team-building, bench-building project was that, to my dismay, we might not be the best candidates for the Amazing Race, after all. We work best when we work at our own pace and don't get caught up in the stress of rushing. We were one of the last couples to finish our bench, but we didn't care. We built a bench!

Wordless Weekend

All Grown Up

My adorable "baby" sister graduated from college over the weekend. How is that possible? Not only that, but she's headed off to graduate school in the fall. She's all grown up! When did that happen!? Weren't we just riding our bikes down the street, making up our own dance numbers to songs, and fighting over Barbies yesterday? Sigh.

Despite my nostalgia for the good-ole-days when my parents always simultaneously referred to us as "the girls," it was a lovely graduation weekend:

Here she is getting her diploma. Yay Ashley!!!

(P.S. Love the orange shoes!)

Here we are together after the ceremony.

(Please excuse my messy hair; the day included sitting in the rain

before the event was finally moved indoors).

Of course we celebrated with delicious food - 

Almond-crusted Scallops with Parmesan Risotto, Asparagus,

and a Blueberry Balsamic Sauce.

 And a refreshing Arnold Palmer.

(I may not watch or play golf, or really know who A.P. is,

but this drink is favorite of mine).

Of course, I couldn't leave Holland without a caramel apple -

you know, for nostalgia's sake,

even if it required running in the rain to get it.

Congratulations, Little Sis. May you be blessed as you move on to bigger and better things than Barbies! (Though, I'm still game for coming up with new dance numbers if you are.)