Spring "Bloomers"

Aubrey I should have had these in the mail before this but I ran out of elastic for the waste bands and haven't had a chance to get to the fabric store. It's not close enough to home! Anyway, the top picture shows an example of the white eyelet bloomers and the cream colored ones. I especially love the trim on the cream. I won it on an e-bay auction last year and finally figured out what to do with it. I had enough to make a few pair in a couple of different sizes.

These are the pantaloons I made for Rachel and Emmy. I'll get everything in the mail in the next day or two. Their's are in the cream color to go with their Easter dresses. The trim is not the same as in the picture above---not quite as delicate but still very feminine. The picture doesn't do justice to the fabric. As always, I'll hold my breath and hope they fit!

Our Adventure With the Velveteen Rabbit

OOPS, that first picture obviously belongs with another post so I'll explain it first! The kids came for a sleep over Friday night and Grandpa helped them make "houses" to sleep in. Those boxes have been stored in the garage since Christmas just waiting for the kids to turn them into something magical!

The other pictures are taken at Kaity's reward day from Grandma for working so hard on her FCAT preparations. The test is next month and she is gearing up for it. I read her the story (borrowed from the library) so we would both have a little background before attending the play. It was well done and we had a wonderful time. She had a blast taking pictures with her own camera that Santa brought her for Christmas. The Shakespear Theater has special shows for kids and the characters always come out afterward for autograph signing and photo ops. What Fun! Thanks for earning the reward Kaity!

Words to Live By: "I CHOOSE"

No picture this time, just some very inspirational words shared by my friend Donna.
Last Sunday I wasn't feeling very well, but decided that I really should go to choir practice which is scheduled 1 hour before church starts. I got there late at 9:10, the same time the choir director arrived. We practiced two hymns for 10 minutes then at 9:20 he called on a choir member to offer a closing prayer. Many of us were stunned but no one really said anything---our faces however, spoke volumes. What were we supposed to do for 40 minutes until church started? My attitude was obviously dripping with frustration and criticizm when I commented to my friend Donna that I wasn't going to make the effort to come early to choir any more. She had arrived 5 minutes after I did! That's when she gently taught me this lesson. She said, "I'll tell you the way I prefer to look at it Diane. I decided a long time ago that I get to choose to be happy in spite of circumstances around me. For instance, at first I was disappointed that I only got to sing with the choir for 5 minutes but then I realized I could be happy that the early release had just afforded me the opportunity to visit with my friend Diane, whom I rarely get to talk to. " She shared this insight with me in a loving, teaching way, not a judgemental one. I used her words many times this past week. I reminded myself almost every day on my way to the high school that I had the opportunity to choose how I would respond to any unpleasant circumstances that might arise. It Made a Huge Difference in my week! Thanks Donna. You are my inspiration!

I Can't Believe It's Been 9 Years Since the Turn of the Century!

Where has the time gone? It seems like only a couple of years ago we were worrying and wondering about what would happen with computers all over the world when the calendar clicked over to 2000! When I look at how our family has grown, and is growing (Aubrey is expecting #4 in June!) it seems like the year 2000 was a lifetime ago! Here's hoping we all have a healthy and even prosperous New Year! (Definition of prosperous: enough to meet our needs) Aubrey this picture is for you. I told you about this funky fabric....enlarge the picture so you can get a better idea and then let me know if you want one for Emmie or if this one for Rachel is too over the top. You will need to put a long sleeved top of another funky color underneith it. It really does look better in real life but you get the idea.

Merry Christmas Eve

We had more fun caroling tonight than we've ever had. I think the costumes helped! Our friends Terry and Joe Trombley and Trena and Matt Nalley spent the evening with us and were good sports about dressing up and caroling around our neighborhood! Ariann, Travis, Kaity, Brayden and Bryce have to go along with it or suffer the rath of Mom/grandma! We're exhausted. To look at the house tonight you would never know we spent two days trying to get it ready for company. Oh well, tomorrow is another day and we will just let the mess wait until we have more energy. Merry Christmas everyone! I hope your Christmas Eve was as enjoyable as ours was. Love you all!

OKAY, Everyone knows I am technologically disadvantaged!

Sorry about this mess. In order for it to make any sense, you will have to scroll down. Everything is backwards. Start reading where the title says, "An Old FAshioned Christmas....What Fun! and then work your way back to this point. If you just give up I don't blame you!

Last batch.....I promise.

For the final skit, everyone gathered back in the cultural hall where Joseph Smith's family gathered around the fire to hear Joseph read the "Christmas story" from Luke. With Emma's help, the children acted out the nativity. I am so disappointed that I didn't get a picture of them after they had put on their "Mary, Joseph, Shepherd and angel costumes." Their mother said she would get me a copy of her's.

Wonderful petafores were set up beautifully in two different rooms and hot cocoa was available. There was also a room for professional pictures with a backdrop, "A stary, stary night." I'm anxious to see that picture. It feels great to have this project behind and I'm so thankful for all the many willing and talented hands that helped pull it off! I just wish all of my family and friends who seem a country away, could have enjoyed it with us! Merry Christmas everyone.