How do I love thee?...Let me count the ways!

Is it wrong that I lust after lobster? That as I took an array of pictures I was grinning? That as I was about to cook -- yes, murder for my pleasure -- one of God's creatures, I felt deep joy? Well, it's all true!
As I took the 6th or 7th picture I suddenly became aware of the smile on my face and the sick joy I was feeling as the water boiled on the stove. Something MUST be wrong with me. I understand enjoying food, but taking pictures and feeling joy? SICK!!! Maybe the pleasure stems from finding such a deal, only $5.99 a lb, and this lobster was almost 10 pounds. Three of us ate it, and we had left overs too. *AND FUN WAS HAD BY ALL!!*

Locks of Love

Abby had a huge knot in the back of her long beautiful hair over the weekend from wearing a winter coat.  It was just a horrible matted knot that we struggled to get out.  We decided that we needed to schedule an appointment to get it cut a bit so it wouldn't be so hard to keep untangled, but on Monday morning we thought we just might stop by Snipits after school and get it done right away.  When we walked in Abby decided to donate her hair to Locks of Love, and this is the beautiful cut she ended up with.  A very surprising decision, but I am proud of her!

 

Well That's Just Ducky

Ben sleeps with SO MANY stuffed animals its a wonder he can fit in the bed with them.  They each have a name, and they each get turns in the bed with him.  Sometimes I'm told they want to sleep with me.  And their feeling are hurt if they are not positioned in MY bed just so.  His most recent acquisition is the Webkinz duck. 

Tucking him in can take a while with the prayers, positioning them all and covering them with the proper blankets.  Sometimes he and Abby will spend an entire afternoon positioning them and shooting still pics and videos of them too.  Amazing.

Hubba Bubba

Abby learned how to blow bubblegum bubbles this week and has gone through a 9 foot roll of bubble gum tape practicing.  We'll try to catch her biggest one on camera and post an update.

Abby Turns 8

Abby received the most coveted of all presents this birthday:  tickets to the Hannah Montana 3D movie.  Her cousin will be taking her on Sunday and they will be wearing Hannah Montana t-shirts too!  Happy birthday Abby, and thanks for 8 wonderful years.  I love you.

Her Legacy Lives On

My Grandmother has been gone now almost 2 years and we still have so many wonderful memories. She loved to crochet, and made so many beautiful things. This hat was not one of them.

Yet, she wore it often and proudly, perched on her head like one of those little covers that you'd put on a roll of toilet paper on the back of the tank to hide the spare roll, to cover it's indecency as it waited for it's turn on the spindle.

Every so often someone would mention to me that they ran into my grandmother, they really weren't sure it was her way over there across the mall until they noticed that toilet paper roll holder on her head, then they were sure it was Alice. Then they could confidently approach knowing they had the right person.

It's one of the 2 things I wanted when she passed. This and the funny looking ceramic roosters she kept on top of the refrigerator all my growing up years. I was at an estate sale 2 weeks ago and purchased a smaller matching pair that I will display in my kitchen when I re-do it later this spring. I will build a special shelf for all of them and give them their rightful place again.

Gram, we love you still, and miss you.

Spring Reminder

My brother took this picture in the Spring of '07 when the flowers first started blooming.  It's been so dreary and gray lately I wanted to post something to remind us what is to come just a few months from now.

Moon Shoes

Ben and Abby received these Moon Shoes as a Christmas gift.  Without a doubt they are fun.  All of their cousins will be getting them too, so I can only imagine what my yard will look like this summer with 5 or 6 kids jumping around on these things at once!  I'll post an update if we call 911.

Little Hands, Big Gifts

Ben made a gift for me at school this week.  It's a candle with 3 snowmen on it, each made with his fingerprint and the details drawn with permanent marker.  The accompanying poem reads:

Little snowman, one, two, three,

Made with my fingers-

For you from me.

When you light the candle,

It will burn so bright,

To remind you that I LOVE YOU,

Day and night!

This is most definitely one of the most precious gifts I will receive this year.

The Creche

Each year I set up a creche (French for Nativity Scene) for the kids.  This year we did it a little differently because they are getting older.  As I told the story of Jesus' birth I let them put the pieces in place.  We've reviewed the story 3 times now this month, so they were able to fill in a lot of the story themselves, and as the story progressed they put each piece in its place.  We used to withhold the baby Jesus until Christmas morning, then put him in the manger and say a prayer of thanks for His birth, but we'll let him stay there now and just pray together on Christmas morning.