The Value Of Cheerfulness

{ Mischief Maker }

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:53:26 GMT

At 21 months Annabelle, is turning out to be a lot of things, most of which are entirely endearing. At this point, one thing our days are most certainly, would be um...anything, and I mean anything but dull.

For instance, when you find a half a roll of wadded up toilet paper stuffed in the bottom of her potty chair which remains vacant, except for those few occasions when she sticks "hoppy" her favorite stuffed bunny, on it. That being said, the "potty train" is the new big thing around here right now. And her little potty chair sits ceremoniously. like a royal throne in the smack-dab middle of our living room floor. She is more than happy to run around naked, as she wants to be like her big cousin Jesse who's just started riding the "potty train." So we sing this silly song. And watch her like a hawk, to make sure we don't end up with a puddle or worse on the floor. Occasionaly we bribe her with chocolate. Is that awful of us? Because it works. Just the other night, after her third try, she was promptly rewarded. That's some serious motivation if you ask me.
She learned to say pistachio yesterday. Well, sort of. It's something reminiscent to a cross between pea soup and statue. And if she'd been able to crack the shells open by herself, I fear the entire bag would have been *poof* gone in one sitting.
We were in the car yesterday when out of the clear blue, totally uncoaxed she counted to six. Well, she might have skipped four or something but I was floored. I really have no idea where she learned to count like that. Certainly not from me. I am still trying to get her to say A...B....C...D instead of A...B...C...X.
So with a stack of Christmas Cards, just waiting to be addressed. My address book went missing. Not good. And I had the most sinking feeling about it in the pit of my stomach, as I have pulled out earrings, toothbrushes and books from the bathroom garbage can. What a relief it was then yesterday, thinking the worst had happened when I found it stashed in the bottom basket of her changing table, under a pile of diapers.
maybe the #1 piece of advice I have for people about to be responsible for a 21 month old, would be: Never take your eye off of them. Not even for five seconds. They are fast. Really fast. 21 months will be out the door and down the drive way, lickety split, in under 7 seconds. Or another example would be David and I, laughing about something at the dinner table, absorbed in the humor of the moment, while she sits across the table from us happily chugging away at the bottle of soy sauce. Our reaction to the s.s. incident : wide eyed horror. Hers, " mmmm...salt...num, num! "
and of course there are those times all I want to do is sit down and cry, but no matter how rough the day has been.. I can't help but feel supreme joy. Especially with my hubs coming home to find his home a disaster area, his wife down-trodden and frazzled, in spite of which he says things like: "Why do you think I married you?" Then answering his own question with a " so I could cuddle with you every night."

Her eyes twinkle with mischief. And wonder. And magic. And laughter. And affection. And curiosity. And fun. And all I want is for mine to always twinkle back at her in unconditional love

FYI

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:06:04 GMT

I have been so lax on updating my blog over here. Truth is I have a blog over at blogger and post almost exclusively over there now.

If you wish, please come and visit me there, http://the-value-of-cheerfulness.blogspot.com/ but I promise to try harder to remember and continue posting here.

Making the most of these December Days...

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:35:38 GMT

We had a weekend not unlike a winter fairytale.
Friday night David and I kicked it off in styel with a date that included lots of smooching and hand holding , as we enjoyed the undivided attention we were able to give each other. We even squeezed in a little Christmas shopping and then on our way home, stopped to pick out a Christmas Tree to surprise the sweet girly-kins with. The entire evening left me refreshed, and romanced. And I must have had stars in my eyes that evening because I could feel them. The minute I opened the door, Annabelle Lucy slipped down from Aunt Lynne's lap, face beaming and seriously raced, squealing across the room, and into my arms. Let me tell you, my heart skipped a beat. Who wouldn't love to come home to that? To her. And David gets to do it 5 days a week. No wonder it's his favorite time of the day. :)

Saturday morning we woke up to find snow falling outside our window, it felt like a gift, sent especially to us in honor of it very first day of December. So David and Annabelle played in the fluffy falling flakes and stacked fire wood , while I watched out the window and grinned at them, busy at the kitchen table, with my " Project Christmas Money, " going great guns. The snow stopped eventually but the fun didn't as we brought in the Christmas tree, poured big mugs of egg nog and strung and hung to our, well maybe more like my, hearts content. Annabelle was full of delight over the whole process. "Yites" and "balls" and "snowmens" and most importantly of course,"tandy-tanes." My tree is missing three of it's Candy Canes this year so far, thanks to Anniebelles and her sweet tooth of a Daddy. Oh well, I suppose maybe I can overlook it, just this once.

I am predicting that the best thing about Christmas this year going to be continuing to watch our little girl discover and delight in life.

{ Melt My Heart }

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 07:19:50 GMT

In three sentences.

1. " Good job, Mommy! Good job, Daddy! " Most enthusiastically repeated after we tell her so.

2. When I sneeze or cough or clear my throat, without fail: "Bless you Mommy, bless you!"

3. " Pick-a-boo, Mommy!" (meaning of course, peek-a-boo)

Posted by chelle at 10:55 AM 0 comments

{ Talking up a Storm! }

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:14:25 GMT

The following are some little vingettes taken from the day to day life of a happy 20 month old. Mine, to be exact. As well as a list I have been keeping of the cute things she says and how she says them. This is my favorite age so far.

Sometimes she calls me " Mommy-Chelle"
ocean ( osh-oon )
jacket
home
yes, yeah & yep
puzzle
pumpkin
ready
thirsty
eat!"
"come !"
She'll say, " No, mommy, no! "
And after we've dealt with her on it , in a pitiful little voice, " sorry, Mommy, sorry "
high five- " high tive"
"see _____" she's always wanting us look at something
" dancing, dancing "
band-aid, owie, bonk-o ( for bonk)
play - "pay!"
a flower is a - " flowery "
"running, running"
kick
" lets read this "
heart
apron
crocs
bottom - " bummey "
purse
love you- luuuvv-oooo
" daddy's truck "
balloon "boon"
knock-knock
jammies
beautiful is"boo-ti-full"
pants
dress
she knows the names of all her body parts
music is " moo-sic"

She calls herself " baby." I love that, oh I love that!

When she sees a baby smaller than herself she squeals with delight and proudly explains to me: " baby! tiny."

Because she can't make the s sound in Nelson (beloved boy cousin of hers) , insert a sound like you are blowing your nose here between the Nel and on ( her daddy gets the biggest kick out of this) Also, she knows the names of all her grandparents, auntie's, uncles and cousins. And that is quite the acommplishment since there are over 30!

Her favorite snack: " pretzie's " (pretzels)
Her favorite book: ' I love you Through and Through '
Her favorite word as of today: " Hoooray! "
Her favorite article of clothing: Red Crocs, I can hardly get her to wear anything else but she'll sleep in her crocs
Her favorite toy: her purse and dollies
Her favorite thing to do: play outside, and dance

I tell her something ONE TIME and she'll remember it days later. For
example, pulling up a chair next to the sink and having her "help" me do the dishes, which she's crazy about. Well one day last week I put her little apron on her and everyday since then have forgot about it's very existance. Today when I asked her if she wanted to help me wash the dishes, she ran over to where the aprons are hanging and pulled on hers until I realized she wasn't going to "help" me wash dishes without it.

She has taken it upon herself to make sure the cat behaves. Poor George. He's the official bottom of the family pecking order. And he's always being told "down tat!" ( she can't say her C's ), " no tat! "or "out tat!"

While we were on holiday at the "osh-oon" she also learned how to say the two big C. Which of course come out sounding like "tandy" and "tookie."

The other night in the car, as we were coming home from a weekend with our best friends in Colville WA, and listening to my new favorite CD, we hear this sweet little voice floating from her carseat in the back, and with her own little angle voice she started to try and sing, for the first time. " Halleluiah...halleluiah, halleluiah..."( or her baby version of it) and as soon as the song would end she we'd here this quiet little" again?" One if the top ten most frequently used words in her growing vocabulary. So we listened, Again and Again. And she sang along. For almost and hour.

While my parents were here we showed them the DVD of the slide show from David's Dad's memorial service. Of course David and I can't watch it without getting teared up. When Annabelle noticed her Daddy's tears, she reached up for him and with the most concerned little look said, " Sorry Daddy, Sorry."

Wednesday night at dinner she suprised us by saying: " broccoli." What suprised us even more than that is that she just loves eating it.

On the way home from our date at Coldstone where I enjoyed on of these decedant treats absolutely Free for my birthday , David was goofing off in the car, just being a total ham. She looks at him with this major twinkle in her eye and says: " Daddy...funny!"

She goes around the house, on the tippiest of toes chanting this line,
over and over: " happy, happy, happy, happy! "

Yesterday she learned the motions to the song, " If your happy and you know it..." and by far her favorite part is shouting "hoooooray!"

She does not allow the wearing of jackets without the "hat" (hood).

When she sits down to "read" a book you hear: " ABC...ABC's..."

And so she continues to steal our hearts. All bit more every single day.

Oh the delight and wonder of discovery! I wouldn't trade these days for anything.

{ cozy little day }

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:15:12 GMT

{ card from my Esty Shop }

We've been having oatmeal for breakfast the past few mornings. It seems like a fitting way to start off the day with something warm in our tummies. The weather has gone from bright and warm to blustery and grey. I've been making a fire first thing in the morning and we've been bundeling up to go outside, wearing scarves and closed-toes shoes and I've started putting tights and turtlenecks on Annabelle. It's a good thing I love fall as much as I do, otherwise I could not bring myelf to trade in my beloved flip flops for a pair of warm socks and some comfy boots. Anyhow speaking of flip flops, now I am about to go on a rabbit trail. My sweet Mommy in law told me the other day that when she was a girl "flip flops" were called zorries. Is that cute or what?

They introduced a new song at church today, and even the words of the first line couldn't stop our tears. Funny how grief hits you when and where you least expect it to.

When I go don't cry for me

In my fathers arms I'll be

The wounds this world left on my soul
Will all be healed and I'll be whole

Sun and moon will be replaced

With the light of Jesus' face

And I will not be ashamed

For my savior knows my name

It don't matter where you bury me

I'll be home and I'll be free

It don't matter where I lay

All my tears be washed away

Gold and silver blind the eye

Temporary riches lie

Come and eat from heaven's store

Come and drink and thirst no more

So weep not for me my friend

When my time below does end

For my life belongs to him

Who will raise the dead again

It don't matter where you bury me

I'll be home and I'll be free

It don't matter where I lay

All my tears be washed away

Also at church, Annabelle was *winking* at the people in the row behind us. Really truly winking. I have no idea where she learned to wink. I certainly have never tried teaching her how to do it but it was hysterical.

Later on that afternoon David spontainiously sat down at the piano with me and we plunked out the notes to 'Heart and Soul' together. It made me feel like a girl again. We sat there and giggled and expeirmented and then of course we would mess up, which would made us giggle some more!"

And we all snuggled up and watched Chip and Dale cartoons.

And we had the yummiest sushi for dinner { gotta love Costco }. And it cracked us up because Annabelle loved it. Especially since we know several adults who won't even try it.

And that is what I mean when I say, we had "a cozy little day."

Precious in the Sight....

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:44:11 GMT

As of 9/11/07, he is with Jesus.

Thank you each for your words of love and prayers for us.

It's been a very sweet time.

Not without it's tears of course.

God is so good!

{ A Time to Love. }

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:37:30 GMT

Have you ever had something to say, something so deep and so close to your heart that it felt almost too personal to talk about,

as if reducing those thoughts and feelings into words would cheapen it somehow.

This post is my attempt to put words to something that I feel goes painfully far beyond actual description. Perhaps you know what I mean.

" For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal;a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew;a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace." Ecc 3:1-8

There is no easy way to say this but am going to go ahead and try. After twelve plus years of battling ALS, my father-in-law, who I love so dearly has now reached the final stages of the disease. In the last three weeks we have made four trips to Id. to be with our family. And spent precious time with "Papa Bob" and all the rest of our wonderful family. In the past few weeks we have seen what David loves to refer to as, " the biggest miracle of his life. " As God has healed hearts and hurts. As forgiveness has been asked and given. There has been a time to build up, after years of painful distance between David's Dad and his older children, after a time of "tearing down," caused by the blindness that affects someone, infected with bitterness. David has 10 siblings so, you can imagine the magnitude of that. In the past few weeks his Dad has been saying the things that he and his brothers and sisters have for years, longed to hear. Endless words of love, affirmation, and praise. It brings tears to my eyes to remember the simple, heartfelt words he whispered into my ear last weekend, "three treasures." Making sure I knew how precious David, Annabelle and i are to him. The transformation has been so beautiful to witness. God has been so glorified. And we are all living in the light of answered prayers. It gives us such real hope, even in the midst of the deep sadness we know losing him will bring. Our loss. His gain. We will miss him so terribly, but are comforted knowing that he is soon to be safe in Jesus arms.

The happiest, best place any of us could ever be.

-Precious Moments-

Annabelle and David with Papa

{ A Happy Little Day }

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:46:19 GMT

My Mom knows me so well. This vintage red and while polka dot apron that she gave me "just because" last week is the perfect example of that. I told her it may perhaps be my new very most favorite thing. Ever.

But then, my sister, who loves to GIVE,
bless her heart, suprised me with these, as a early, early birthday gift.
Black Mary Jane Crocs.
I told her yesterday, that I love them so much,
I could barely bring myself take them off when I got in bed last night,

And look at this stack of books, chalk full of inspriation and eye-candy...
that I can enjoy for FREE from the library.

So I am floating around here in the sunshine, hand in hand with my little bit of a girl, picking yellow Graham Thomas roses, and black berries in my vintage apron and oh so cute crocs. Getting ready to bake pies. This day feels like something straight out of Martha Stewart Living.
Only Better than that because it is my real life.

Little Unforgettables

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:40:20 GMT

Warning: I have a feeling this about to be one heck of a long post, and even though i am not going out of my way to try and make up for lost time, I do apologize in advance.

First of all : What I haven't blogged about in recent days:

-David graduating from Volunteer Fire Academy

-Our 4th Anniversary

-David's Birthday

-My Grandpa Bill leaving us for heaven

-Several trips to ID to be with family

and those were just a few of the *big* events

So skipping over all that simply because it's too overwhelming to try and go back and recount it all. We have had a beautiful and at times difficult last month and a half. Annabelle is now 16 Months and it just hit me the other day that she has become more toddler than baby. I suppose if I wasn't loving this age so much, I would probably be a little bittersweet to see her sweet baby-ness come to an end, but so far I am not, because the older she gets the more fun we have. I'd like to make it my goal, including the terrible twos, teenage years and all, to keep it that way. Just trying to focus on living each and every day to the fullest. And enjoying and making the most of each stage of life since you only get to be whatever age you are, once right?

She changes so quickly and is picking up on so much. I've just got to jot some of my favorite little things about her right now down that I know I'll forget if I don't.

She's been walking around almost exculsively in bare feet, and on tippy-toes. Which brings me added delight because of the little nick-name we gave her before she was born, Twinkletoes. And it's a good thing that it fits her so perfectly now too, since I still call her that.

She has turned into a little bookworm. "Booh", she calls them And she'll either sit and read happily to herself, preferring her book to be upside down of course. Or will sit in our laps and listen to story after story, as long as it doesn't take to long to get from one page to the next. And I am so pleased because up until recently she hasn't had the time or patience for books. Now she can't seem get enough of them.

Mama seems to be her new favorite word... Over and over she says it. And she says it like she is asking a question. "Mama?" And yes, it melts my heart every single time.

She has taken to what I started to refer to as "MUUAH-ing" things. I'll hear her sweet voice coming from her car seat or stroller, as she leans forward and puckers up her rosy little lips,

" mama, muah!" Or on coming across the picture of the baby in a book. She'll lean over to kiss it and out comes this great big "muuah!" Then there's the stuffed animal she carries around, stopping frequently to "muuah" it. She even wanted to "muuah" a little earthworm that we came across, while digging around in the flowers the other day.

You may not have heard this before but noses, like the buttons on your telephone, are for beeping. She says " meep " and considers it a fine social grace to go around the room, until everyone's nose has been properly "meeped."

Her mommy likes pull her around the yard in her little red radio flyer wagon, watering a little here weeding a little there, or picking flowers and her Daddy likes to give her rides in the wheel-barrow or up high on his shoulders...she loves it, holds on tight and shouts, "wheee!"

Using her chubby little finger point out even the tiniest little bug ( to which she makes this funny little " gggaah" sound in the back of her throat ), or the smallest speck of an airplane in the sky. Unlike her Mommy, this girl, does not miss a thing, ever. We can be in the middle of something and she'll notice if a dog barks, 4 houses down.

It thrills her like nothing else to be chased. I know the game is on when she looks at me over her shoulder at with a rather wild little gleam in her eye and then takes off like the dickens. So I chase her around the yard. I chase her around the house. Always rewarded by a highly contagious string of squeals and giggles.

It cracks me up how all of a sudden when we are out she'll pipe up with a "bye-bye" and then waves, deciding it's time to head for home.

Here is a sampling her latest very funny and growing vocabulary. I'm not sure why and it's awfully cute, but she says a lot of things twice.

peas-peas for please

dog-dog

pat-pat

num-nums

broom-broom (car)

moo-moo (cow)

neigh-neigh (horse)

duck-duck

Jesus

Bible

kitty (beow)

cheese

thank you (tane-choo)

bubbles

bath

flower

hot-dog

pretty

eye

nose

ear

jammies

yeah

uh-oh

okay (o-tay)

oww ( for owwie)

and bleh which must come from when I say " no, no that's icky "BLEH!"

She has been into eating all sorts of summer fruit and so far has had and likes fresh, which I am so happy for cause we all know how picky they can be:

Watermelon

Strawberries

Cherries

Blueberries

and Raspberries

{ which she tasted for the first time and was literally scarffing down as many as she could fit in her mouth, as fast as she possibly could just last night at dinner }

And I can hardly wait for our blackberries to ripen up... I can just see her out there on tippy-toes, stuffing in berries, then grinning all pleased and purpley-mouthed.

So Annabelle Mommy just wants you to know you make everyday of our life brighter, extra sweet, super funny, precious and such a joy!

I don't know how it is possible to love you any more than I do at this exact moment but somehow every day as you grow a little bit bigger you also becomes a little bit dearer to your daddy and I.

Ah, so this is where you've been hiding?

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:33:53 GMT

Precisely.

Happy to Introduce...

Mon, 21 May 2007 21:11:28 GMT

A pretty new blog for your pleasure.

Notes From A Cottage Garden comes to you from the camera and keyboard of

my very own Mother-Dear who has just recently joined the ranks of Blog-land to share the delights of her oh so lovely garden...Everytime I go for a visit I get a color rush...and I promise you will be enchanted and inspired by her beauty and expertise.

You can tell her I sent you and that I said, she is way too wonderful to keep all to myself.

from Scratch...

Thu, 10 May 2007 16:12:02 GMT

Lately I have gotten into the habit of using my bisques mix when whipping up a batch of waffles, usually to save on time, either because have slept waaaaay and I have to hurry and get breakfast on the table before it's lunchtime, or we are about to be late to church. Last Sat. morning convinced me that the extra 5 minutes it takes to make waffles from scratch is more than worth it. Instead of the usual gulping down of the dry/ bland bisquickies with a glass of milk and half a bottle of syrup...the waffles were moist and tasted good even without butter and syrup. Fresh strawberries and whip cream didn't seem to hurth though. David and I just couldn't stop " mmmm-ing " over them. . In fact I was impressed enough that I haven't forgotten (and it's Thursday) how much I want share this recipe with you:

Waffles From Scratch-
(from The Taste of Home Cookbook)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted

1) In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Combine egg yolks, milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

2) In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form; gently fold into batter

3) Bake in a preheated waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions until golden brown. Top with confectioners' sugar and fruit or serve with syrup.

Yield: 4 waffles(about 6 inches)

Introduction to Inspiration Friday...

Fri, 04 May 2007 18:31:59 GMT

It's a weekly posting that I have come to find many, including myself enjoy. But I have yet to find it here on Spaces.

The basic gist is of it is to create posts with the sole purpose to inspire.

I have been so inspired by the inspirations of friends that I have decided to join in the fun.

I will be posting my Friday Inspirations here.

You are more than welcome ( pretty please) to do so as well! Many of the Inspiration Friday Posts that I have come across have a home/interior decor feel to them but that if that is not your thing, feel free to branch out into any number of themes you find Inspirational.

For some tuly lovely Inspiration Friday eye candy, check these lovely spots out:

Life in the Low Country, The Cottage Nest, My Cozy Home, , Across The Pond, Aunt Tea's Cup

and be inspired.

Come what May...

Wed, 02 May 2007 04:32:58 GMT

It was suppose to rain today. But phooey. As if we would let a few gray clouds get in the way of our flower hunting on this golden little day. I have celebrated May Day, almost religiously ever since I was a small girl. And today was no exception. The gathering, the anticipation, playing the part of the clever little fairy, secretly deposting our "pocket full of posies', onto the door-knobs of dear ones.

So this then dear friend, is for you:

Happy May Day!

14 Months Today

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 04:35:40 GMT

...and she's officially walking.

Got an email from my Dad this afternoon, that read :

"There she goes!!! Life will never be the same, but that's ok."

love pops

Her Favorite Things Right Now:

Playing peek-a-boo. Which consists of her yelling out "boooh" when she hides her face only to very quickly peek back at us with a huge grin, often accompanied by squeals. She is so very proud of herself for being so tricky!

And we of course laugh and laugh because we can't help it.

The other big thing that she's into right now is playing the bellybutton game. You really should try it sometime. The object is to lift your shirt ( or even your "team-mates" shirt if you'd rather) or look down your( or your "team-mates") shirt.

Once you've finally spotted the sought after b.b. (we have shortened it to "bee-boo") you burst out into a giggle of glee

and then proceed to tickle yourself or your "team-mate" with gusto.
You repeat this pattern over and over until you get distracted by something like, the cat for instance.

Words She is saying:

Hi there!
mom-mom-mom-mom-mom-mom
happy! (this is my favorite word that she says)
num-num
baaa
moo

boo ( boooh)
tweet
thank you ( we tell her, " say please' so she says " tane-choo")
walk-walk
side (outside)
pretty (this is my other favorite word that she says...

usually either in response to someone's earrings or a flower we've stopped to smell)

one ( if you ask her " how old is baby")

that (dat) she say to everthing as she points with her chubby little baby finger

snack (sna)

and drink (dink)

And she nods her head all the time. When we anyone says anything, She looks you in the eye nods. I mean, she is just always agreeable. Perhaps it's has something to do with the fact that she has yet to learn to shake her head or say the word no,which of course we are in no hurry for her to add to her growing vocabulary list.

So aside from the occasional poop in the bath-tub, refusal to nap or eat her peas, emptying of the contents of every bottom drawer in our house, and the kind of fit that is accompanied by throwing oneself down on the floor, much wailing and kicking of the feet...being her mommy is pure bliss.

On this, Good Friday...

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 22:03:40 GMT

Blue skies with white clouds on summer days.

A myriad of stars on clear moonlit nights.

Tulips and roses and violets and dandelions and daisies.

Bluebirds and laughter and sunshine and Easter.

See how He loves us!"

Alice Chapin

A List...

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 00:34:45 GMT

It's been awhile since I sat down to write. I have forgotten to jot down so many little things that I will want to rememebr someday...but I don't have a lot of time to organize my thoughts, so please bare with a random list. I am hoping it will jog my memory as I go:

Spring is in full swing as you can see from the newest photo album...and we have been enjoying every possible drop of sunshine.
Annabelle is crazy about going outside. "Out-out" she calls it. Often when someone opens the door, and she cannot go out, she'll cry as if her heart as been broken. I have to watch her very carefully when we are out of doors because she is very fond of sucking on rocks and eating dirt. I'm serious. It's awful. You'd think after she'd tasted them once, she'd realize they aren't at all delicious, but she hasn't yet. Oh and she is also very tempted by George's bowl of cat food. And I am afraid that if she tries it, especially after the rocks and dirt, she may actually like it. So you see, I really can't take my eyes off of her for a second, because we really can't have our one year old going around eating cat-food.
We were able to see Pete, Minta and the kids while they were here a couple weekends ago. . It was a short but sweet time with them. The baby is amazing and darling and just growing like a little weed. David and I were able to take Neslon and Faith and Anniebelle on a hilarious outing to the park. On our way there, four blocks from Grannie Annie's Faith picked bouquets of bright yellow-stemmed things, thought of by most anyone but little girls as weeds. And Nelson kept calling them "c"andylions which I thought was irresistably cute, and still remember it several weeks later. That afternoon at the park stands out in my short-term memory as a particularly bright spot, as we love our times wih them!
On these warm days when the sky is a shade for-get-me not blue. We have brought the outdoors in and the indoors out by and turning our porch into a extra room. I have blocked off the stairs with a baby-gate and set up a studio of sorts for myself, complete with vintage tablecloth over a small patio table, a chair, and plenty of toys for babykins. . and it makes the most wonderful playroom ever, as we happily come and go at our leisure
Annabelle has been taking steps for several weeks now...somedays she is very brave and will take off across the room on her own, other's we have to coax and bribe her...still I know it's only a short time until she prefers running circles around me, to crawling around like a little lightning bug.
David has joined the Volunteer Fire Department in the small town where we live in. The initial training lasts 10 weeks and is very intensive. He is going several nights a weeks and all day Saturday, on top of a full time job and studying 2-4 hours daily. So as you can imagine, we are literally marking off the weeks until he is official. And he looks so good in full-garb. It suits him. Like he was born to be a firefighter or something. Maybe he was...we have to wait and see about that.
While we miss him so much when he is gone, I have tried to fill up my evenings with projects and have been working away on a little cyber shop of my own, in a "place" called Etsy that you can find here. It has been so much fun to have a creative outlet, along with the appeal and possibility of earning a little extra money.
I must have spring fever or something because today I mowed the lawn, weeded the front-yard flower border and finished up pruning all my roses. A. Kathy gave me a pruning lesson and I tried to follow her instructions, but I am a little nervous, being a first-time pruner and all, I just hope I haven't killed them all. Also today, I made the delightful discovery today that the sweet peas I planted in the middle of Feb. have all come up quite nicely. It is truly lovely to have flowers blooming in the yard once again...
So the busy happy days fill up and fly by and any chance to be together as a family, even just snuggling on the living room floor for 10 min. is very much of a treat. Makes me really appriciate the things I have taken for granted as being "normal everyday life" like sitting down for a evening meal, without anyone having to rush off, taking a evening stroll around the neighborhood, sleeping in on Sat mornings, and then getting to spend the whole entire day together. But after tommorow I will have checked off another week, with only 7 left to go! I am just so glad that I have a precious little bestest friend and side-kick here at all times. She is such good, cute company for her mommy.
As someone once said "Real life is the the best fairytale of all.

Birthday Party Tales...

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:11:26 GMT

We did in fact end up having a party in honor of little Miss Annabelle Lucy's first birthday this past Saturday, after having cancled and rescheduled, TWICE. My parents were there all the way from ID. which was a treat, to say the least. Mom and I whipped out this pretty party banner last minute. We were both so thrilled with the way it turned out and I would love to make more to sell in my very own online shop at a place called Etsy.

It is still hanging over the table in my dining room and find myself still so enchanted by it that I may end up leaving it there forever.

As you can see, our little party was a complete with pink tulips, cupcakes, a soft yellow with polka-dots, " floo-fee" dress and a bunch, a bouquet of sorts ,if you will, of beautiful " guests" all laughing and eating jelly beans.

And I must make mention of all the lovely little presents, like the oh so cute, wee girly pink car shown below, a so sweet gift from Annabelle's lovely Great Auntie Kris.

It was a smashing success if I do say so myself.

(THANK YOU MOM!)

More spring sightings...

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:05:23 GMT

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.
Fisherman's Luck , Henry Van Dyke (1899)

Yesterday Annabelle learned the meaning of soft...while we were playing with a branch off our pussy willow tree.

We counted 31 robins in our backyard yesterday. And Annabelle is "tweet-tweeting" all over the house.

I found a small bunch of crocuses, faces peeking up timidly from the ground.

The miniature daffodils I planted in pots last Nov. and then relegated to the darkest, coldest corner of the garage are just now unfurling their sunny yellow splendor.

It may be premature, with snow in the forecast for tonight but we will not let that keep us from at least pretending that we are already quite under the enchanting the spell of spring.

Photo Album: August 30

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:08:43 GMT

August 30

Annabelle visit August 2007 055

Annabelle visit August 2007 058

The prettiest flower in Nana's Garden

Annabelle visit August 2007 061

in the with the zinnia's

Picture 608

Picture 609

playing with Poppy and Nana

playing dress up with Nana

reading with Nana

More Photos...

Photo Album: I love you most at Christmastime

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 21:13:07 GMT

I love you most at Christmastime

Picture 130

Picture 131-2

Picture 135

Picture 162-2

Picture 167-2

Picture 169

Picture 437

Picture 444

Picture 453

Picture 455

More Photos...

Photo Album: Fallish Days

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:07:12 GMT

Fallish Days

Picture 764

Picture 757

Picture 777

Picture 782

Picture 780

Picture 691

Picture 693

Picture 695

Picture 698

Picture 723

More Photos...

Photo Album: October 19

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 23:26:27 GMT

October 19

daddy and me (2)

daddy and me

kiss-kiss

our men

Picture 368

Picture 369

beautiful Auntie Roo

Colville View

Picture 393

Picture 394

More Photos...