Today was a wonderful day... my best friend Molly was in town from Portland, Maine and I was beyond excited to see her. We decided to meet up at my house and then head to a local park for a picnic/tea party. Her sister Amanda and niece Violet joined us, and I'm so glad they did. We spent a while visiting at my house while the girls played up in Amelia's room, then we headed up the hill to the park. Tea, cupcakes, cookies, fruit, guacamole & chips, hummus and orzo salad... it was a great little afternoon picnic.

Molly and I have known each other since we were three years old. We met in Sunday School and have been friends for all these years. In high school we were tennis partners and did a lot of youth group stuff together, which really solidified our friendship. When it was time to go away to school, Molly and I just had to be roommates! I can't think of any other friend that I could have lived with and had that much fun with. I love that we can only see one another once a year, but we pick up each time right where we left off... as if we hang out all the time! So many of my most favorite memories include Molly. I just can't wait until the day comes when she moves back!

It's High Five for Friday Time!!! I've been a little absent lately but that is all about to change. Below is my Friday post, linking up with Laren at From My Grey Desk

1. Even though I was not thrilled about working 8-7 three days this week, I was glad that I got to see some incredible sunsets on my drive home!

2. Fall is here!!! I love the cool brisk air, the changing leaves, apple cider, comfy sweaters, Ugg boots, pretty colors... and pretty much everything else about fall! This is the fall wreath I made a couple of years ago. I love being able to dig it out.

3. Thursday Amelia and I were headed out the door, about 10 minutes earlier than normal, when I slammed the door I realized that I didn't have my keys. Our house was locked, my car was locked... so Amelia and I made the most of our time out in the chilly morning weather while we waited for Mark. We took silly pictures and made up silly jokes. It was a fun memory.

4. I was so very excited this week!!! My most favorite show started up again!

I must say, this weekend turned in to a pretty wonderful one. Mark and I neither one had made plans, which was a nice change of pace, so we just did whatever we wanted!!! Friday night we went over to my Grandma's house. My cousins and Aunt were in town and it had been a while since I had seen them. It was a great visit, even if it was too short! Yesterday I slept in and was lounging around when my friend Heather sent me a text asking if I wanted to go apple picking. I of course jumped at the opportunity to 1. hang out with my dear friend and 2. get apples to can some homemade applesauce. It was a beautiful day out, not too hot and not too cool. We headed to a farm on the outskirts of Canby and it was a blast. We didn't get a ton, but it will be enough for me to have a load of applesauce to can! Yummy. The girls had a great time and Amelia just loves her friend Carly! I can't wait to plan a girls day with those ladies.

I spent last night in my craft room... I am addicted to crafting. I'm trying to get stuff back up on my etsy site. It has been closed for some time since I just didn't have the time to keep it up, but now I'm back and looking forward to getting items up there. An amazing craft room really helps get the creative juices flowin.

Today I decided that I wanted to go u-pick some tomatoes. Growing up I hated canned tomatoes but now I love everything I can do with them. I'm hoping to get a jump on canning next year and fill up our pantry with home canned goods. For the tomatoes we ended up at a farm on the outskirts of Oregon City. They had TONS of tomatoes and it was a blast going with Mark and Amelia. When I was younger we did a lot of u-picking and my mom always canned. I never really appreciated all of the work she put into it back in the day, but I'm so glad to have grown up with home canned foods. Mark had never been u-picking before and he has never done any canning so this is quite a fun adventure for us.

I know I'm slightly late on my high five for Friday post, but I have a good excuse. My Aunt Pam, Cousins Robert and Kristi, along with Kristi's two kids were in town for the night. I just had to go see them!!!! and we just got home. So, here is my H54F post...

 3. My little ballerina visiting me at work. Her daddy brings her by so that I can put her hair up in a bun (they require that their hair is in a bun if long enough). Cutest bun ever!

4. Fall weather is so close!!! I love when summer turns to fall. The colors of the season are beautiful and I love bundling up in sweaters and Uggs. This is Amelia's new coat!

5. COUSINS!!! Amelia with my cousin Kristi's adorable 4 year old K'lynn. These two girls got along great and played so well together. I wish we all lived closer so that regular hang out sessions could happen.

I have absolutely NOTHING planned for this weekend and I am SO happy about it. I think I am going to have a massive craft fest!

 So this picture above is of our spare bedroom. I must first say that it doesn't always look like this. I had intended to take before pictures of the room since I was going to be giving it a drastic transformation but I had started pulling things out of closets and stacking things in piles before I remembered to snap a photo. This room hasn't ever had organization. Mark had taken up one of the downstairs bedrooms and set it up as a treatment room so everything else had to be crammed into this room. Since he is now practicing at a clinic in Beaverton... I get BOTH bedrooms!

Here is the other side of the room. It was jam packed with junk. Again, this is picture that was taken mid way through my stacking and thrashing.

My dad's friend was selling her entertainment center that included two bookshelves. It was a great deal and I needed the storage space so of course I nabbed it.
This is what my new furniture looks like. I am missing a second bookshelf in this picture (like the one on the right).

Amelia and I worked our bums off Friday night, staying up until 1:30am. When we finally hit the sheets we were exhausted and had so much work left to do. Saturday we spent every spare moment in that room. Amelia is a really great helper, I never even have to ask. I'm quite certain she's a little OCD. The room would have been completed on Sunday but I took a nasty hard tumble down our stairs (7+stairs that I fell down) and was laid up for three days. I hit everything and am still so incredibly sore; swollen knees, horrible headache and a tweaked back and ribs. I am excited to say that tonight Amelia and I finished our arts, crafts and FUN room! Now for picture overload... I'm just so excited I have a whole room dedicated to being crafty!