Friday, December 29, 2006

Grandma's

We went to my step-mom's for a day. It was good to see her...the girls really love her and love being at her place. As usual, I let Margaret take some pictures. Here's my favorite.






I also got a good one of Amelia with her dad.



A not so great one of Margaret. Note that she is still sucking that thumb. I have no clue how to stop her from doing it!



Margaret also took four pictures of her own face. She's done that before and I've posted, so no need to post again. Or not? They are actually pretty funny. (And you get a good look at her top teeth that are so bad because of her thumb sucking. See... we REALLY need to stop her from doing that !)



Monday, December 25, 2006

Merry Christmas

Being an Angel.




Making Cookies for Santa


Putting the Star on the Tree. (It might be the last year Charlie can do this!)




A happy little girl!

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Angel Preparation

It's been a LONG time since I've cut out a pattern. I wasn't too certain when I started, but now that I am successfully done, I can say it wasn't so bad...except that all my scissors have been used on paper and are DULL. I remember the old days when I had a special scissors I used only for fabric. I remember giving Charlie a lecture about how they were my fabric scissors and he was to NEVER use them on paper. Man, that was ages ago. Right now I'd just be happy if the girls didn't run with scissors. (Just kiddding, but you know what I mean, eh?)



Sewing on the trim. By the way... my sewing machine ROCKS!!! It is from the 50s. My mom probably sewed me an angel costume on this one. I have a newer machine that is portable that I use for sewing on scrapbook pages. I still use this one to sew on fabric.



More sewing on the trim.


I'll post pictures of the complete costumes (and yes, they are complete) when I can get the girls into them complete with the wings and halos.

Oh.. and strep update..no one else seemed to get it today. We all felt chipper (including Margaret). Let's pray that holds on at least one more day!

Friday, December 22, 2006

Have yourself a Streppy Little Christmas

Just got back from the doctor. Confirmed that Margaret has Strep Throat. (She had a 101 fever this am and had to miss school...which was a field trip to the Children's Museum. Not happy about that).

Now I'm worried that my other daughter will get it just in time to be sick for her performance as "the first Angel". Or that Charlie will get it just in time for being the only bass in the choir for Christmas eve services. Or that I'll get it just in time to finish wrapping presents and making food and finishing Christmas Cards and ...


Bummer.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

They ARE different.

As mum to two girls, I sometimes forget what little boys are like. Margaret invited four to her birthday party. I submit for evidence, exhibits A and B.




Exhibit A: What happens when you point a camera at girls.



Exhibit B: What happens when you point a camera at boys.


I have confirmed this evidence with parents of boys and those who have boys AND girls.

Angel Practice





OK. So the photos are bad. But Amelia is really excited to get to be the "head angel". She comes out when the first angel announces Jesus' birth to the Shepherds. When we get to "suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host", that's where Margaret comes out.

I'm sewing angel costumes this week. I know I don't really have to, but they are SOOO excited about being angels that I WANT to. I found a super easy pattern, so it should go quick except for sewing on the gold trim. Like I needed something else to do this week. (Just kidding. I know, I know. MY CHOICE. Thank goodness for the flylady, or it would be a wild week!)

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

I did this...


while helping my daughter with her homework. She did FOUR vocabulary sentences and a story summary. Whew!

Friday, December 15, 2006

Crafty Weeks coming up!

Margaret got a lot of craft type kits for her birthday. Check this out...



We already did the mirror. I squeezed the glue into the "pockets" and Margaret put the beads on. I am glad I have dealt with bead and glitter and knew the trick of having a plate or paper underneath to catch the stuff that didn't stick and save it.

Here's the final product.




I wonder what's next?

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Happy Birthday Margaret!

My baby turned 6 years old today. She is fun and precious and darn cute.



Tuesday, December 12, 2006

CHRISTmas is coming...

The girls were watching some Christmas Special with the typical greedy kid who "learns something about Christmas". In this case, the other character said "Christmas isn't about the presents. It's about the gifts we give with our hearts." Or some other such drivel. I got mad and said loudly, "No it's not. It's about Jesus." Amelia replied, "Well, yes mom, for Christians it is." From the mouths of babes... Those of us who are frustrated by the fact Christmas has been "stolen" from Jesus and given to a society that doesn't understand it need to face the facts. It's gone. It has been for a long time. **sigh**

Anyway, not sure if this item below is really, really cute or not. I'm really not sure how to react to it. I'll go with cute since my daughter wrote it. But maybe it's just sad. I really don't know.

I found this letter to Santa on my computer printer last night. Amelia did this without my help (or knowledge :-)). She can open word. Choose her font type, size, and color, and print. Sometimes she forgets the "h".



So...Season's Greetings. Happy Holidays. Peace on Earth. etc. Do you think Santa will be able to find a Bible?

Saturday, December 09, 2006

The Island of Misfit Toys

...and mittens.

I tore the mitten back and re-knit it from the cuff. Then I tore out the tip and re-did it. Then I had to re-do the thumb once.

Now it's too wide (Same length...at least I got that matched) and the decreases on the tip are rotated a bit from the thumb. I wore them today and it felt weird. They were very warm, however. Can't beat a nice wool mitten for keeping the hands warm.

I think I will send it to the Island of Misfit Mittens. (Yes. We watched Rudolph last night.)

Seriously...the first one was perfect the first time. What happened?

Anyone ever re-knit a mitten three times?

Friday, December 08, 2006

Jenni Bowlin...new paper!

I have loved Jenni Bowlin's paper and product designs in the past. (She used to be a designer for Lil' Davis) Now she is off on her own, and is offering her own paper and some cool embellishments in addition to using other people's products in her kits.

Here's her new paper, in case you haven't seen it. I do love red with cream.
I'm looking forward to getting mine soon. Kits usually arrive the 12th of the month, or so.

I've posted a few pages I've made from previous kits. And here's some other things I've made from her kits. They have been really fun!

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Tagged?

Nicole tagged me. I always answer these things...never pass them on :-)

A - Available or single: No
B - Best Friend: My Husband, Charlie
C - Cake or Pie: Pie
D - Drink of choice: Diet Coke
E - Essential item you use everyday: That bottle of Diet Coke I have every morning.
F - Favorite color: Red. Or Purple. Depending on the day. Today it's red
G - Gummy Bears or worms: Gummy Bears
H - Hometown: Beloit, WI
I - Indulgence: Back Massages, Hitting the snooze button twice.
J - January or February: Neither. Winter can't go fast enough for me.
K - Kids & Names: Amelia and Margaret
L - Life is Incomplete Without? My husband and kids, sunshine, prayer
M - Marriage Date: August 17, 1985
N - Number of Siblings: One brother
O - Oranges or Apples: Apples
P - Phobias or Fears: Heights.
Q - Fave Quote: Here's two I really like. Don't know if I have a favorite

When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I only think
about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution
is not beautiful, I know it is wrong. -R. Buckminster Fuller, engineer,
designer, and architect (1895-1983)

and

You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it
turns out that God hates all the same people you do. -Anne Lamott, writer
(1954- )


R - Reason to Smile: Sunshine. My kids. A job well done.
S - Season: Spring. I love the new life and hope and the feeling of wriggling out of all those heavy sweaters and coats and letting your feet get out of boots.
T - Tag 3 or 4 people: If any of my readers want to carry this on, they may, but I won't tag anyone.
U - Unknown Fact about Me: Umm. Depends on how well you know me.
V- Vegetable You Don't Like: Still trying to think of one vegetable I do like. I eat them, but if it turned out they weren't good for you, I would never touch one again in my life. (Except maybe squash. Do squash count as a vegetable?)
W - Worst Habit: Hair Twirling.
X - Xrays: Just my mouth. I even have a copy...planning a book of me page about my mouth for it.
Y - Your Fave Food: Not fair. It's just befor lunch and I'm hungry. I'd have to say
deep dish pizza from a non-chain restaurant (like Pippin's in Atlanta from my college days), A chicken Enchilada from Pepito's wiht refried beans, My homemade chocolate chip cookies..served warm with a glass of cold milk.

Z - Zodiac Sign: Capricorn or Aquarius. It depends on the list you look at (I'm on the "cusp" with a January 20th birthday. If I cared I guess I could have someone figure it out based on the actual astrological conditions when I was born, but I think it's a bunch of hooey so I'd never pay for something like that. By reading horoscopes for amusement, I seem to me more of a grounded Capricorn than a flighty Aquarius...but I do both well.


Thanks to Nicole for sending me this little diversion and some content for my blog today.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Daisys

Margaret's Daisy troop had a little investiture ceremony tonight. You can't get much cuter than 5 and 6 years olds being proud and excited all at once.


This is a shot from the friendship circle at the end of the meeting.


And here's my little Daisy saying the Girl Scout Promise. Actually, they sang it to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

Miscellaneous updates from my weekend...

I finished the other mitten except for the thumb. It looks smaller than the first mitten. A lot smaller. Noticeably. Not just me being picky. I am tearing it back to the cuff (needs a longer cuff for sure) and redoing. Only about 3 hours of work lost, and most of that was sitting talking to folks, so it wasn't really lost time. Note to self...relax when knitting. No need to pull those stitches so tight.

I was high bidder on a Super Spirograph this weekend! For only $52 (I had my bid set to go up to $67, so I'm happy with $52.) I won't get too excited until I have both Spirograph sets in my hot little hands. Persistance paid off!

I just noticed this is post #152 for me. I forgot to do a little self serving congratulatory pat on the back for hitting 150, so I'll do it for #152. Yay me! I believe my first post was back in February, so it looks like I'm averaging a post about every other day. That works for me, considering how busy I am!
Here's a random photo. It was taken on the California coast at Asilomar 17 or 18 years ago. It was one of those perfect days where we walked down the coast, jumping from rock to rock, watching the waves and the scenery, picking up shells and rocks. The snowy silt this morning made me wish I was on a warm beach. (I really do hate winter, not sure why I live here)

Thanks for reading and commenting!

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Spirograph Update

I "won" the auction on a regular Spirograph for $38. I was happy with that!

However, I lost my first bid on a Super Spirograph. It went for $57. I'll keep at it for awhile...hopefully I can get one of these, too.


I will let Minda and Susan play with it sometime. If any of my other readers want a chance to play, let me know.

I'm sure there's gonna' be a page in there somewhere...I wonder if any of my pigment pens will fit in the wheels?

Nancy

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

One Done...One to go

Just finished this. Time to start #2. Starting is the hardest part, so I think I'll be waiting 'til tomorrow to start that.

Spirograph Fever

OK...I have Spirograph Fever. Vintage, REAL Spirograph fever. And despite a friend's recent problem with E-bay, I find myself inexorably drawn to it to find a Spirograph. One is selling for $80 right now. $100 for a deluxe Spirograph. Turns out that they are quite the collector's item (Drats! I wanted one for the fun of it, not for the collection value)

I had both of these and the Spirofoil when I was a kid. I LOVED them. I was looking for one for my daughter for Christmas, but what Hasbro sells now is a pale imitation of what we had in the 60s.

Here's what I want...and I will bid until I get one for under $50 (if that's possible!)



And if you know you have one that you'd like to sell to make some money...or you ever see one at a garage sale, PICK IT UP!!! I'm in the market for one.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Mater

The girls bought "Cars" for their dad for his recent birthday. We have watched it many times since then. The girls talk about it and the characters. Deep love for Lightning McQueen and Sally. General disdain for Chick Hicks. And our favorite character...Mater the rusty old tow truck.

You MUST see this movie if you have not. It is great for all ages.

Anyway, Margaret drew this picture of Mater tonight on our white board easel. I think it's sweet.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

A crafty weekend

I made my BasicGrey Stars this weekend. I finally decided on a liquid adhesive by 3M. I think it was in the tool kit from CKU. Here they are...all six of them.

Now in this shot you may notice the oddity of my stars... Some of them have nine points!

The kit came with nine pieces per page. You were supposed to use eight of them. I (as usual) skimmed through the directions briefly and forged ahead. And built my first star with nine points. When I was putting the ninth point in, I said to myself..."self, you could almost leave this last point out." Joke's on me, right?
I liked the nine-pointed stars so much, I made half with eight points, and half with nine. I didn't follow the assembly directions in the end, either. I made each point and then put together. The directions had you make one point, join the next piece and then make it into a point. I liked my way better.

So there.


I also started teaching the girls to knit this weekend (their request). It got me in the mood to knit, and I ended up with this!

Of course I'll finish it and its partner. I love knitting mittens...they go so fast. I remember the one sweater I knitted. It took FOREVER. Mittens are better. The girls don't like them, though...too itchy. Oh well. I'll just make 'em for me!

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Warm Thanksgiving

Yesterday, our temperatures were in the 50s, and we took the girls to the Hyland Park recreation area, locally known as "Chutes and Ladders". Wow! It was glorious. I walked around the trails while Charlie sat and read a book and "watched" the girls. You gotta love it when they run off into the playset and wave...and you have to hunt them out an hour later.

I knew Margaret needed her bangs trimmed...this picture surely confirmed that (and will embarrass me into trimming her bangs)

Hyland Park is a huge winter recreation area for folks. They have a lighted sledding slope, lighted ski trails, and paved walking trails where they clear the snow. The park is all set up, ready for snow. I saw at least half a dozen folks out on the paved trails with their roller skis and poles...wishing for snow, I'm sure.
I thought these pics of the park ready for snow (especially the one with Margaret and her popsicle) were good.



I took this one, because I thought it might come in useful for a scrapbook page some day.

The dry, winter foliage was beautiful in its own way. The blue, blue sky and bight sun help with that.


Friday, November 24, 2006

Gobble Gobble

We had a nice day at home yesterday. We ate the traditional foods...turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes. Pumpkin Pie.
Here are some pictures...with my little helper at the stove.


What was NOT traditional was that we were at home. Usually we travel to Wisconsin. It was weird to be cooking. But I didn't overdo it and we did just fine.