Oh Christmas Tree

We went hunting today. 

It was a first for me.

Something I've always wanted to do, actually. 

Turns out, planning is everything. 

{as usual}

Ian's Map

And of course, teamwork and determination are critical to your success. 

We are coming to get YOU!!!!!!!!!!

.

.

.

Once we identified our desired target, we went in for the kill... 

                           

      

Headed back to camp.

Our hunt was a success. 

.....................

We got the BIG one. 

The neighbors will be jealous. 

 And, Audrey learned a new word today:

TrEEEEEEEEE

Bonus!

Merry Christmas!!!!

love, kerry

Mission: Camp Sutherland

While I was in Reno last week, I helped Jason to organize and decorate a NEW bedroom/playroom for the boys... It was a lot of {fast} work, but honestly so much fun!!!!

As you know, it's all girl around here, and I had a blast coming up with non-pink/garden/princess themes and ideas for a very fun, personal, all-{sutherland}-boy room...

The concept- Camp Sutherland- couldn't have been more perfect. 

The boys (adults included) are in love with the great outdoors. Be it camping, hunting, hiking, exploring, rock collecting, fishing, swimming, fossil hunting...you name it- nature is number one. 

It took approximately three full days of planning/work/cleaning/painting/organizing/shopping/decorating/admiring, but it was totally finished before I left on Friday afternoon. 

Whew!

Allow me to give you a quick tour...

First, check out this handmade (thank you Grandpa Steve) camp sign...So personal, so cute, and the anchor of the boys' room theme. 

LOVE.

My other FAVORITE personal element- all the family photos, sporadically hung around the room, depicting the clan enjoying the outdoors and adventure. 

Judy, how many prints did we buy???

At least 50, I'd say. 

Here's a great group of guys...

{minus three very special boys who couldn't fit in this particular shot}

Even though I wasn't there to see their reaction, I hear the boys LOVED their new outdoor room. It's my guess that in addition to the Camp Sutherland sign and the family photos in the room, the boys loved their new:

Twig lights strung from the ceiling, 

outdoor-green painted walls, 

camping/fishing themed bedding,

organized toy boxes and dresser,

and clan tartan bow on the door outside. 

Love those boys.

Loved this project. 

love, kerry

Thank You!!!

I feel bad that it's taken soooo long for me to post this update, but family and friends- 

THANK YOU SO MUCH 

for sending me your memories for Grandpa's 79th birthday gift! 

I delivered our notes on my first night back in Reno, last Thursday. I can tell you that he was 

surprised,

touched,

teary-eyed,

cracking up,

enjoying...

They were a hit, and thank you again for contributing. 

love, kerry

Thank You!!!!

A BIG thank you to everyone who sent memories for Grandpa's joint birthday gift. 

All 79 notes are numbered, packaged and ready to be delivered! 

I'll be giving them to Grandpa tomorrow after I get off of work, probably around 6pm. 

I'll let you know how it goes, but it's going to be a hit!

Talk soon.

love, kerry 

I Need Your Help!!!

Sometimes my best ideas come when it's too late...And, although this is still a bit of short notice {sorry, but...}, there's still time! Woo hoo!

As you likely know, my Grandpa Al will be turning 79 on September 1st.

It's been a hell of a year for him...You already know...

To make him feel even more special on his birthday, I ask you to please send me your favorite memory (or more) with him, about him, whatever stands out to you. In fact, send more than one memory (each on individual pieces of paper please)...I will be stuffing each note/memory in its own envelope (79 envelopes to be exact), and preparing as one, complete gift from all of us for Grandpa.

79 amazing memories,

79 thoughtful notes,

79 incredible years.

It doesn't need to be anything fancy. Whatever works best for you- it's as easy as a handwritten note, signed with your name!

I really appreciate your time and effort for this project. I know it will be very special to Grandpa. Please forward this along to anyone you know who might also want to contribute! I have a lot of envelopes to fill!

Your notes should be mailed to me by Monday, August 29th.

Need my mailing address or email? Please call me...This is the World Wide Web, after all.

AND, PLEASE KEEP THIS GIFT A SECRET FROM GRANDPA!

Thank you so much!

PS- No, Grandpa doesn't read my blog... Too much "technology" involved. I have to print entries for him and snail mail them along so he can keep up. ;)

Need some inspiration? I have LOTS and LOTS of memories... But, here are a few that immediately come to mind. I hope some of these inspire your notes...

I have so many holiday/birthday memories...But, this is one from a joint birthday party we had at our house in Reno, for Grandma and me in 2006.

At my college graduation party in 2007...Also the day John asked for Grandpa's permission to propose marriage.

My wedding day...

Great Grandpa Al, 9.8.10.

love, kerry

Backpacking

I love to travel.

I love to explore new places, and learn new things. I enjoy an adventure. I like putting myself out there...even if it makes me look stupid. I enjoy meeting new people, and exploring other cultures.....

I'd like to say that traveling is a hobby of mine {and John too...yes, you do have hobbies}, but really?

Not many people can claim "travel" as a true hobby.

Sure, I did the typical graduate from college, blow your savings on a backpacking trip through Europe thing...But, world traveler?

I have been lucky enough to see more than a dozen European countries, and a lot of the United States too. And, perhaps I've been even more lucky to have spent significant chunks of time in two countries (France and Italy), and made life-long friends abroad. But, there's still so much I'd like to see, people to meet, and places I'd love to visit.

And, maybe {hopefully} one day I'll have:

1) More Money

2) More Time

to really live my travel dreams.

But for now, travel for me means 1 trip per month to Reno for work.

{Grateful, by the way}

LONG gone are the days of grubbing it, sharing a room with friends (or a dozen strangers in a hostel), skipping meals to save money for museums (or beer), ETC, ETC, ETC...

I'm a MOM now, and Audrey is a part of every move I make...

{Joy}

And, obviously-

I

WOULDN'T

HAVE

IT

ANY

OTHER

WAY!

In fact, last week I took my greatest BACKPACKING trip of all time.

Orange County (SNA)--> San Jose (no plane change, just stop)-->Reno (RNO)

Why was is it so GREAT???

Thank you for asking.

Well, because it was Audrey's FIRST EVER plane trip!!!!

See, I'm still backpacking!

I've just traded up to the Ergo Baby Carrier {thank you Grandpa Dan}!

And, let me tell you-

despite being a little worried....

Audrey was soooo good!

People (fellow moms, not naming names) made me very concerned that Audrey would probably:

scream the entire flight in fear,

scream the entire flight in pain (ears),

move non-stop/never sit still,

bug the person next to us,

kick the seat in front of us,

act super bored and annoyed,

ETC...

Not the case with MY baby!

But, I will say...

My biggest challenge to report...

.

.

.

.

.

Major arm cramping from:

{A Sleeping Angel}

Are you kidding me? She couldn't have been more perfect!

And, when she was awake, for example the first 10-15 minutes of each flight, she was pure joy.

Curious about all the new people during boarding,

friendly with the people sitting in our row,

excited by the captain speaking over the intercom,

surprised by the feeling of take-off,

Perplexed while looking out the window and traveling through the clouds...

She was....

{Sigh...Nuf said.}

My favorite backpacking trip to date.

love, kerry

GREAT Grandpas...

Audrey, you've got some GREAT great grandpas who LOVE you more than you'll ever know.

They think you're so funny, smart, beautiful, silly, AMAZING...

I'm so glad that you have them, and that they have you...

love, kerry

And We're Off...

The U-Haul is packed (or should I say STUFFED), the cars are loaded, gas tank is full, and our Huntington Beach condo is waiting for us...Wow! That came so fast...And, as exciting as it is to begin this new adventure, we are so sad to leave Reno. There's just so much to love.

Family, we love you.

Friends, we love you.

To our house, we'll miss you.

I'd just like to vow right here, right now NEVER to become "that" Reno person/couple who grew up in Reno, went to school in Reno, etc...Then, for whatever reason moves away to somewhere bigger, "better", whatever, and all of the sudden is a total Reno-hater. Things in {INSERT CITY HERE} are just more XYZ, and Reno just can't compete.

I love Reno.

I won't become that person. And, I know I can speak for John on this one too.

I'm sure Huntington Beach will have different things to offer our family and life...The beach is a good start. But, I'll always love everything about my hometown.

Wish us luck! And please- COME VISIT!!!!

Also, thank you so much to our parents who spent the day packing/loading with us. It was a lot of work, and we appreciated your help sooooo much!

love, kerry