The Pink Story

I asked my Mom to recount the pretty pink fabric story. From my Mom.

Last week my nearly 10 year old granddaughter, Esther, and I were able to spend some 'girl' time with each other.
One of the things I wanted to do was to have her choose a piece of fabric for a dress I wanted to make her, so we headed for JoAnn's to see what we could find. I love to walk into that store. It is super stimulating for me; all the colors and textures grab my attention and my creativity gets stirred up. Well, I noticed, it was having the same effect on Essy, too.
We were leisurely strolling through the aisles and came upon the bridal section, and she moved to a pale pink sheer covered with tiny raindrop like sparkles. She carefully held it out and wrapped herself in it, while it was still on the bolt. I asked her if she had that piece, what would she do with it? With a dreamy expression on her face and without thinking she said, 'I would just look at it, Gramma.' She has that piece now, along with the piece we got for her dress, and I imagine she has it draped on her bed, so she can 'just look at it'!

Now me =D The funny thing was someone asked her if I had anything like that....that I just looked at. She said "No. Mamma would say if you don't use it get rid of it!" True! We won't be getting rid of that fabric though. Oh, and it IS draped around the headboard slats =D

She's 10

Yup. Esther turned 10 today. Golly. Double digits. I can't believe it!

For her meals today, she chose; breakfast-pancakes, lunch-chicken noodle soup (????), and dinner-shrimp louis salad and ice cream. Since we picked berries, again today, I asked her if I could make something other than soup. She graciously said that I could. She chose tuna melt sandwiches.

Sue-I'm so proud of you. You are the girl I'd always dreamed about having. I'm SO glad God gave you to us. Thank you for being generous with your love and time. Thanks too, for not complaining that you have all brothers for siblings.....at least you don't complain much =D

You're my Sweety. I love you.

This is Sis, today, with her sparkly, pink fabric Gram's bought her yesterday. There's a story about that. I'll post about this week-end.

Click for last years post.

Laughing

It's good to laugh. There are real health benefits.....but it's also just fun!

A couple weeks ago Joey was doing something in the kitchen and spilled a container of crackers. I was in the kitchen completing my own task and saw that he started to walk off. I said "You need to take care of that mess. Go get the vacuum." As he was vacuuming his mess he was mumbling to himself. I noticed and just continued on with my task. When he turned the appliance off, still kind of mumbling to himself, I say "Joe, you did a good job! Thanks." He stops and looks at me. "Did you say my butt did a good job?" he asks. Totally confused, I say "What?". Then he explains "I was just telling you that my butt felt weird and then you said 'Good job'. Were you telling my butt good job for feeling weird?" HA! Yes. We are a family that get so engrossed in our jobs that we really don't pay much attention to the other people in the room. Sad! Isn't there a rule of propriety that one is to look at the speaker as they are speaking???? That'd solve alot of problems.

Then again this a.m. Joey said something so silly! He'd gotten a tattoo from a speaker at school and has been itching to get it on. I like the kids to bathe and dry for a day before we apply them and he remember TODAY was that day. After he's applied it he came to me and read what it said. "'Take a bite out of crime'. *smiling* At first when I read it I thought it said 'take a bite out of cream' and I was thinking what does cream have to do with polices???" Smart boy!

I love to laugh. I've laughed alot the past several years......kids do that to you ;)

Thankful

As I sit and post tonight I can hear the rain pattering and the kids laughing as they swing in the back yard.
The school year has ended without any terrible incident to any of us. We are alive, we are happy and we are God's. What more could a person ask for? I am so proud of the kids and really the title of this post doesn't feel white adequate.
I'm humbled. *By the kids. THEY ROCK! *By Ben. He's more than I could ever ask for. He ROCKS! * By the teachers. I'm not quite sure when they take a moment for themselves. Yes, it's evident they work All.The.Time. THEY ROCK! *By God. He gave us the kids, the school and knew exactly which teacher to give each the kids. Thanks God.....YOU ROCK!

This past school year we've:

-spent 140 days at school. That translates to 1,050 hours......HOURS!
-smiled countless times
-spent 4,200 minutes (yup, that's 70 hours) in the car getting to school (give or take the time for rush hour)
-I've made 700 sandwiches.....just for lunches....just for school (or work =D )
-cried many times
-completed state testing (Essy only)
-Essy's and Twins first year of FULL days
-completed two rounds of school wide testing (yes, this testing was above and aside from the State requirements)
-moved
-had great, kid induced, discussions
-completed 4 (two for both Es and Sam) intricate school projects
-survived two, three day two night field trips
-lost around six teeth, accumulativly speaking (not me! you silly's.....the children!)

With all the above that's happened.....there were tears when school ended. The kids 'cause they were gonna miss their teachers (yes, that was teachers) and I because I saw the future for a brief moment. All the kids had a 'meeting' with their new teachers the last day of school and as I watch the Twins I had to leave. Tears were coming and I couldn't stop them.

There was magic Wednesday. I took a 4th, 3rd and two 1st graders to school in the morning and returned home with a 5th, 4th and two 2nd graders. What treacherous magic it was! I know I've said it before......time is just flittering away. Do you know how to make it pause? I'm not even looking for a complete stop.....just a pause.

These moments are but few. If we can't pause time, then we must pause ourselves before we speed by the best moments. And who's to say which ones those moments are? *sniff-sniff* Excuse me, I've gotta pause and hug the kids......



Strawberry picking yesterday


Our efforts rewarded

The strangest look

I walked with the boys, today, in the Jr. Rose Festival Parade. I walked mostly with the first grade (they personified the solar system and make costumes to accompany) and was decorated with a red, star, glitter garland. It took an hour for us to even start the parade and then we had to walk the 1.5 miles to the end (Ben and I estimated my walk at 3.5 mi. 'Cause I dropped the kids off then parked the car at the end of the route). Oh yeah. In ninety degree heat I might add.

Let's just say, when we were done.....we were DONE! I had 5 children in my charge on the 10 block walk to the truck and we were sooooo tired and there was sooooo much traffic; I was nervous. I kept looking back and making sure they were all there. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. *sigh* They're all there!

I unlocked the vehicle, got the kids and gear inside, unrolled the windows and started to drive back to school. Twice, on our route home, I was a bit ruffled and asked fellow motorists for direction. They graciously and politely gave it to me.....but with a critical eye. I wondered why they would be reacting to me that way. Haven't others asked them for reassurance while driving? Anyway, we got back to school, dropped the two off and started our journey home. As we pull into our drive I spotted our neighbors. I wave, smile and say 'hi'. He too looks at me strangely. I'm so tired I don't' even care at this point and trudge up the stairs.

In our entry there is a mirror next to the front door. As I pass over the thresh hold, I catch a glimpse of myself in it. Oh dear. I'd forgotten the glittery star spangled thingy on my head! No wonder others reacted the way they did! Oh well.

This burn was acquired on my 50 min., 4.5 mi. walk on Monday.

It was just aggravated today. Yes, yes. I wore sun screen.