SISTER LOVE

I can't get enought of these two. I love them to pieces.

IF YOU BRUSH MY HAIR, I'LL BRUSH YOURS

The other evening as the girls got out of the bath tub they offered to brush each other's hair. I thought it was so precious.

(Picture courtesy of MJ. Flower in my hair courtesy of CC.)

This morning, I and the girls sat munching on a bowl of raisin bran. I asked them if they had any good dreams last night. MJ said, "I dreamed about my teddy bear." This sentence must have sparked something in Sierra's mind. She chimmed in, "I had a dream the other day that would scare you to death." The way she said it made me smile. She said, "I dreamed all my stuffed animals were alive. They were coming toward me, and not to hug me. They were walking with these eyes." She flashed me some dead zombie like eyes. "They were like robots, not nice."

I was substituting for one of the teachers in primary a few weeks ago. The primary president shared with the children that she has a tradition in her family. Every week they pick one attribute of Christ like; courage, kindness, charity, love, patience, to work on. In the morning on the way to school they talk about ways they can be more (patient). Then they try to work on the (patience) throughout the day. They report on their efforts around the kitchen table in the evening. I have been trying to do it with my girls. I think it is a fun tradition, especially while your children are little. Today's attribute.... hard work.

SLEDDING

Saturday, we went and picked up hay with Sister K and her husband Chuck. We had a blast. They purchased a new type of feed for the cows. It was corn, corn husks, and dry corn leaves. When we pulled away we knew we were in trouble. The corn was lightly packed, so when the truck picked up speed it started blowing all over the freeway. Sister K and I were following behind. She said stay close behind Chuck. I was a little leery of the idea. Then a corn husk smacked the wind shield. I started laughing. I said, "Are you sure?" She said, "Of course." We laughed all the way home as we traveled through a blizzard of corn fragments.

We then went to Sam's Club and Chuck and K treated us to hotdogs and sundaes. Madison ate almost her entire hotdog. The hotdog was as big as her head.

Sunday, we were invited over for a family dinner. We all brought a part of the meal. Brother Bob and his wife were there and Sister K and Chuck and some other family. It was so nice to be apart of a family. (I felt that way in Pittsburgh when Shandra invited us over for family dinner.) There was a big snow storm that picked up while we were dinning in the warmth of their home. As we watched the snow fall down, we commited to take the girls sledding the next day.

Monday, Chuck and K shoveled my sidewalks at 6:00am. Aren't they sweet? Then I got a text from them saying we are going to take you sledding. I put warm clothes on the girls and met up with them. They drove us up to their favorite place to sled. It was a riot. The girls had so much fun. They giggled and giggled.

I laughed at the back of Sierra's head when we finished sledding. Isn't it great? Sister K turned off the airbags so Sierra could ride in the front seat and warm herself. Before you could blink, she had her shoes and socks off and her bright pink toes propped up and resting on the heater vent of Sister K's car. It is a good thing we are family.

PLAYING WITH MJ

I decided MJ and I need to play on the floor more. This may have been how it all went down.
I may have perfected the "opera" voice a long time ago. Remember Tam and Kim?
I may have made up voices for all her little people. I may be really awesome at it.



Same time tomorrow MJ? No? Come sweet heart, didn't we have fun?

WYATT WEDNESDAY ROUND 2

Subtle.
Assertive. (Yawn and reach, classic move.)
Resorting to the floor. (Good job Wyatt. I can understand why she gets a little carried away, look at those brown eyes.)

CATS

Family, don't read this post. I can see the disappointment in your eyes as I type. I know we are suppose to be dog people. RRRRRRR!(That was a manly growl in case you couldn't decipher.) But, I think I maybe a cat person. Oh the shame, I know stop looking at me with those judging eyes. I can see you. I think I may be getting a cat for the girls. I won't buy one until we own our own home. However, this cat has warmed its way into Madison and my heart. Her name is Grey Cat. Whenever we step onto Sister Kay's farm she finds us and begs us to pet her. She is the sweetest thing. I think I like her. I know, I know, we are dog people, but...

PICTURES of a CUTE BOY

I got to take pictures of this cute little boy today. I wanted to steal him and bring him home for keeps but his mom wouldn't let me. Bummer.

HAPPY VALENTINE's DAY

MJ and I made cookies!

We gave two to complete strangers.
We gave two to neighbors.
We gave a dozen to friends.
We gave two to acquaintances.
We indulged and ate some ourselves.

It was a good day.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE

Sierra and I finished reading Little House on the Prairie. She loved every word of it. I loved every word of it. Admittedly, despite being raised on the evening television episodes my fingers had never opened the cover. I think the one thought that struck me the most as I read the pages was the absolute resilience and optimism of the American spirit. It is hard in our society to understand how people survived on so very little with no certainty of the future and despite it were grateful. I was so touched by this little family's story and believe it is a must read for any age.

In the back of the book there were a few pages on building the set for the "The Little House on the Prairie Musical." She wanted to build her own set. We went to Michael's and bought these little wood gingerbread people. They were 5 for 39 cents. Then we bought popsicle sticks to build the house, which were only a couple of dollars. She spent all evening building her little house.

She took her little scene away to her bedroom. I could hear her from the kitchen retelling the stories we had shared cuddled up on my bed together. My heart was full. I thought, before now Laura and Mary were characters in a book, but now they live in her little tiny hands.

DICTIONARY and a VINTAGE PATTERN

I have always had a slight fascination with words. I love big words. My latest favorite word is "hackneyed". I love to say it and use it. The dictionary is one of my favorite books.

Today it warmed my heart to watch my daughter thumbing through the dictionary. She has been carrying it around with her all week. She has been asking, "What is this word? What does it mean?" Then she tries to put the new word into a sentence. I smile like I am the proudest mom in the world.

Dearest Emily,

I found this pattern for you. It was made in 1976. Isn't it perfect? We will work on it for little baby Audrey when I come to visit next time. She will be so beautiful. I can't wait.

Love,

Your favorite Sister

SMOCKING A DRESS

I may be learning how to smock a dress and it has been a lot of fun. I still have quite a bit of smocking work to do but I thought I would post my progress.

FABRIC FOR EASTER DRESS

I and little Miss MJ went to the Walmart on Tuesday. I hate and love that place. I hate it for most of the reason's anyone hates Walmart; however, the biggest reason for my dislike is the hypnotising, time warping, times sucking, time wasting phenomena that seems to only occur there. I walk in there and I go into what I like to call the "Walmart Zone." I feel like my brain doesn't work there. I just meander in out of isle with no real purpose. Well, Tuesday I took a list and that helped the entire process become more efficient.

First on the list, fabric for the girl's Easter dress. See here. I was so excited to find this beautiful piece. It was big enough and the perfect color and the feel of the fabric was nice. Ten dollars and a few notions later the girls will have Easter dresses. Yeah!

Little Miss MJ was jabbering through our entire trip. She has really blossomed these last few weeks. I don't think she took an entire breathe the whole time we were out together.

(A few more budding MJ moments.)

On Sunday, as I was making my way though the church hallways, I passed by the sunbeam class, and MJ was talking to a little boy in her class. She said boldly, "I am Madison J.... M....!" Then she said, "I can twirl my dress." She proceeded to demonstrate her twirling skills. I laughed.

Today, MJ interjected as I and CC were discussing her dad's desire to not have his socks matched, "My daddy is handsome!"


She brought this picture to me yesterday and exclaimed, "It is a picture of all of us!" I said, "It is!" I love how she said, "All of us!" It warmed my heart.

PRUNING APPLE TREES

Sister K organized us all at church on Sunday. Sister El needed help pruning her apple trees. We were all to meet there at 1:00. I am pretty sure I was the most unhelpful person on the plant. It was a beautiful day and I couldn't help getting a little camera crazy. Sister Max, the one sitting, told us stories of when she owned her own orchard. Sister K said that she was there for her expert advice. She laughed at this and said, "I wanted apples the next year, so I never pruned my own trees." She did sit and entertain us with stories though. Sister K attacked the tree with Lily. Lily has a few apple trees on her property and wanted to learn. Sister K didn't like her picture taken, can you tell?


Sister Max told stories and played hide-and-seek with little Miss MJ. She talked of a relation who called her this week. She said she is older and now lives on her own. She asked Sister Max advice on how to protect herself and her valuables. Sister Max said, "Get a gun." The lady shyly asked, "Do you have a gun?" Sister Max said, "You bet I do!" The lady aghast said, "What are you afraid of?" Sister Max said, "Not a damn thing." Then she chuckled at her whit and said, "You know Lisa I typically don't swear but that moment warranted it." I love my friends.

MEETING MITT ROMNEY

Madison and I got to meet Governer Mitt Romney yesterday. I got a phone call from a Lily at 11:00. She said the Governer was speaking on Horizon Dr. at 12:00 and asked if I wanted to come. Of course I wanted to go. I had a billion things I was suppose to get done yesterday but none of it mattered. I have wanted to meet the governor for sometime. I have been sitting on the fence. I haven't felt inspired by any of the canidates. Then yesterday, when he walked into the courtyard, and started to speak to us he mentioned every issue I have been concerned about. He addressed the issue of the economy. I think he can turn this country around and make a difference in our current economic situation. I hope he wins.