Just a Little Random Catch Up . . . .

What a wild ride the last three months have been!  So many highs and lows, too many to count and some I could live without recounting, so we won't.  Anyway, I will just post pictures and call it good.  This is Jon's favorite way to catch up on the family doings when he gets back home  (or has been zoning in front of another football game even though he "has no dog in this fight anyway")

Recently, Brianna told me that I am better at "thinking out of the box" than she is.  Well, so is Jon, thank goodness!  He is driving a little gas efficient truck that we bought from Stephen.  It had no dash light.  Now it does {= ]

Made me so proud to see how well I have trained him . .  as my ole farmer dad trained me?!?!?!  He used to fix things right. That was before me, kids and a real life.

Then we finally got something resembling winter weather, for a couple of days, anyway.  I loved it so much.  OK, it's only a little fog, but it felt so good that I left the door open for awhile to let it soak in a bit, which Gabriel did not appreciate one bit.  Makes the neighbor's white gravel look kind of like snow, huh?

It was about this time that I was embellishing the girls' birthday presents.  Gabriel was watching me and asked if he could have this little branch from the big bushy thingy that I had been using.  When I asked him what he needed it for, he explained very clearly that, "I need to hang in our tent when we go to Fathers' and Sons' campout.  It needs more detail".  I think we may need to have less HGTV on our homes, what do you think?  Then he explained that it would make it more camouflaged .  He is such a kick.  Poor kid has learned that boys aren't supposed to like some things, like pink, home design, cuddling soft warm fuzzy things.  School can be so cruel.

Then I got the embellishing done.  Brianna texted me that they really liked them with the lights added.  That got me thinking.  We hang up lights every where at Christmas time.  Do we remember why?  They are the modern day version of the candles used in days gone by.  Those were lit to symbolize the Savior's light.  I hope my little dolls will always remember to walk in His light.  That they will always to stay in the light and away from dark places, literally and figuratively.


We are trying to get together each month to celebrate all the birthdays of the month.  We never got to the singing Happy Birthday in November, or December, but the most important was to get together and make memories, right?  Please say yes, I even got candles out this time and it still didn't happen!

 So . . . who won the dork contest?  Mixing girl and boy cousins sure brings out the . . . best (?) in them!

Still with me?  Hang on, just a couple more and I will go sew some more.  I get such a kick when I see the kids, my own and now theirs, playing under a table.  I loved doing that when I was a little girl.  If Mom let me hang blanket or sheet over it, all the better!

This is just a little camping table , but they all managed to get under it at one time.  Watch out VW bugs and phone booths!  If you don't know what I am talking about, you're just too young, not to worry!

And now my friends, I am about to share a big old secret with you.  Please don't tell any of my grand kids, OK?  Do I have your promise. Cross your heart, hope to die and stick a needle in your eye?  If they see it, it won't make it to maturity, just a fact of life.

I have two watermelon vines growing in a planter by my front door and guess what I found buried in the leaves . . .  a itty bitty little melon.  Is that the cutest or what?  I have little clear lights draped over the whole thing and the pumpkins from Apple Annie's looking so cute.  All it needs is a Cinderella to complete the vignette .  Hmmmm, maybe I should work on it.  Last night, I took out the big clear lights and sheets to protect everything and will have to leave them out for  another day or two.  Sure hope I get to pick it and enjoy it some day.

I'm going to go and sew some more now, Christmas pics will have to be posted a little later when my eyes need a rest.  Ever try to sew 3 and 4 mm crystals on something?  Very interesting and humbling.  Being clear on white doesn't help at all.  Sarah wants to help with this blessing dress and I may just have to turn that part of it over to her!