A Wordless Post: Fall Leaves in the Shenandoah Valley

This past week

Well today Alan has his final renal exam. He's been busy studying for his test all week and Ly has been super busy with the stocking drive, other quilting projects, tutoring and of course studying for the GRE. This hasn't left much time for them to hang out but they fully intend on spending some quality time together this weekend.

Ly and Alan's busyness has left the Pandas, Honk, Piou and the Cold to watch movies unattended in bed all week.

Their brains are going to turn to mush.

Truth

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life...don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." -- Steve Jobs

Rest in peace Steve Jobs, you truly were an inspiration to many.

Stockings for Kids!

As some of you may or may not know, Ly has been awfully busy these last few weeks/months working on her quilting business (surprise!) Please go support her at Purple Panda Quilts.

She is currently running a stocking drive, Stockings for Kids, to benefit the foster children she works with. So go check it out, sign up to make stocking and help spread the word so that together we can bring smiles to some kids this holiday season. And for those of you who don't know how to sew or think that it is too hard/takes up too much time - no excuses, there will be weekly tutorials to walk you through the simple process of making your own holiday stocking.

Grab a button and show your support!

<div align="center"><a href="http://purplepandaquilts.blogspot.com/p/stockings-for-kids.html" title="Stockings for Kids"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIcw3brmUn-HsYbdnb-UQFCacKF1oHgudris0Jf2f5seQaEV8UG65lrO5-d7WZNsVI5OboSQjk3qG-2bSckU9zKld_363D98XfyIcxx14baLwl5BHY8uFpURCG60Fmw8OTHl1Fu-gw3c/s1600/stocking-blog-button.jpg" alt="Stockings for Kids" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Make a stocking for a foster child and give them something they can call their own this holiday season.

Birthday Fun

Despite the fact Alan had 2 major exams the week of Ly's birthday (including a national shelf exam) he still managed to make Ly's birthday fun. The morning started off with such a nice surprise - breakfast, Starbucks, and of course gerber daisies (Ly's favorite). Such a nice small gesture really made Ly feel special, especially considering the fact that Alan didn't have much time to spend on her actual birthday (due to the service).

Later in the week, Ly + Alan went on a day trip to Shenandoah, apple picking, quilt store shopping, and even had a mini birthday party complete with homemade chocolate cake AND apple pie. Gotta love Alan's interest in baking. Ly also got showered with gifts. Yay for cookbooks, fabric (lots of fabric!), sewing supplies, books and of course fashion accessories...but the best gift of course were all the birthday phone calls, cards, messages and emails from friends and family. So here's to an awesome birthday week and a new year of adventures!

It's that time of year again...

Well today is Lily's 22nd birthday. Usually Ly writes a long list of the reasons why Lily is the best sister in the entire world, but she has decided to change it up with a poem from their childhood:

My name is Lily

I am silly

I am Lily not Billy!

But in all seriousness, Ly has been lucky enough to get to see Lily on two different occasions this year despite the 3,000 mile distance between them.

1. She got to see Lily when Lil flew out to Richmond for thanksgiving and they made tamales instead of turkey...a tradition in the making. Lily also successfully helped Ly parallel park her car, an event that to this day is legendary.

Proof we actually made tamales!

2. She got to see Lily when she graduated college and they introduced her dad to the wonders of veggie burgers and rode all the carnival rides they could at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk (an event 26 years in the making).

LK + LL after graduation

Twirling really really fast...so fun and worth the 27 year wait!

Unfortunately, the two sisters don't get to spend their birthdays together but hopefully Lil will celebrate enough for the both of them!

So here's to the next year of adventures both abroad and at home! =)