Happy Birthday to the Love of my Life

To my husband, I wish you the best of everything for your birthday.
You know all the things I would get you if I could....you will have to just be happy with a new skirt and shaved legs *wink wink*

And a couple of pics of me from our Honeymoon in Gatlinburg (March 1996)

Look at me loading the dishwasher on our honeymoon. Pretty sexy, huh?

You are better than any movie star to me :)
I love you, Sweetie!

You will have to forgive me for not posting any pics of my husband for his birthday. It is part of his present, ha ha. This post is all for you, Baby. I love you. Happy Birthday!!!!

Adventures in Shopping

Husband told me I needed to go to JCPenney yesterday and buy some clothes. He knows I am like most moms and am very reluctant to shop for myself. Ended up with some good deals and the discount was good. When I did the math, it was right at 75% off.

will leave you with some highlights of the shopping trip:

Talon screaming because I would not let him crawl out of the dressing room while I am half clothed and "trying" to try on clothes (just the thought of me possibly having to run out and chase him scared the living daylights out of me. I had to buckle him up in his stroller for a while. When I let him out, he alternately jumped with his sisters on the sitting bench (not made for jumping) and stood at the door sticking as much of his feet and legs out as possible) fun fun fun

Natasha and Eliana piling about 20 hangers full of clothes onto the stroller, because, you know, my life ought to be just like that show, What Not to Wear (thank God no one swooped in to whack off my hair)

happy and exhausted we pile onto the couch with our Happy Meals to call out consonants and vowels at 6:30 and to see what kind of dress Vanna will wear today

I really do need to find some good babysitters. That was really almost too much excitement.

Happy Inauguration Day

"And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln

We will be following the Inauguration events for school today, as well as go on a Field Trip at the local university. We will be visiting a travelling hands on science exhibit and a Lincoln museum exhibit.

Other than that, more laundry and dishes and potty training. Also I think one of our classes will be watching snow fall and eating snow. When the baby naps, I will be feverishly crocheting a baby blanket for a dear friend. I have less than 2 weeks to get it done. Busy, busy, busy.

have a great day :)

Zippers and doorknobs

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."- Abraham Lincoln

Ok, so now my 19 month old toddler boy figured out how to unzip zippers and open doorknobs. What's next?

You Just Don't Ever Know

"Many of life's failures are people who did
not realize how close they were to
success when they gave up."
- Thomas Edison

Favorite Painting

favorite painting by my favorite artist, ever

Optimism

There are always flowers for those who want to see them

Talon's Nativity

Make a Smilebox slideshow

My Grown Up Christmas List

No more lives torn apart

That wars would never start

And time would heal all hearts

Every man would have a friend

That right would always win

And love would never end

This is my grown-up

Christmas list



Honestly I don't know how I've gotten this far in my life and never heard this song. I heard it on the radio yesterday as I was driving somewhere and was totally blown away. My Grown Up Christmas List was written by David Foster, and has been sung by Natalie Cole, Amy Grant, Michael Buble, Barbra Streisand, Clay Aiken, and Kelly Clarkson, among others, I am sure.

I really like how this YouTube version adds in all the military pics, because it is easy to forget all of our soldiers still out there right now. Soldiers who will not be able to come home for Christmas next week, and some will never come home at all. I am thinking of you and your families, and praying this war would end soon. I want to thank you for all the sacrifices you and your families have made. I pray you have a Merry Christmas.

I Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style
©By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - It profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

(sent to me by a friend, found on this website called Girlfriends in God, look under Devotions, Archives 12/11/08)

Just Chillin'

We went outside yesterday to enjoy the first snow flurries around here this winter. As you can see, the only snowflakes you can really see are the ones on the slideshow :). One of the first things the girls did was try to catch snowflakes on their tongues. Then they set out to rake up the leaves so they would have a good place to build their snowman. Far be it from me to dash their hopes! I just took the opportunity to take lots of cute pics:)

The last pic was Talon and my sugar bowl. That was this morning, right after we had swept the floor, of course.
Quote of the day: "At least he had a plate to put the sugar on." Natasha, age 7
Note to my mother: See mom, we do use the sugar bowl you gave us :)

Happy Birthday, Brother!

Make a Smilebox greeting

from the kids

Make a Smilebox postcard

A Good One

So the girls are making Thanksgiving crafts for school. You know, turkeys, pilgrims, markers....

They came in to show me their artwork and I said, Where's Talon? They laughed and pointed at my lap. He was so quiet, I forgot he was there. I was working on something on the computer while he was nursing and I forgot he fell asleep. Jokes on me, ha ha.

edit: My girls are so sweet. I don't know why but they just brought me lunch. I got applesauce, chocolate covered raisins, and potato chips. I am so thankful for them.

Goodbye Leah

Well, the one who inspired the title of my blog is gone. My Leah is gone. I affectionately called her Big Fat Kitty on here. Today, she did not seem big and fat to me. When I held her she felt light. She really did love yarn.
I hope there is a lot of yarn in kitty heaven

Blast from the Past

Awww, look at my sweeties! So little! Eliana was just a baby. I am guessing she was about Talon's age, about 1.5 yrs old. Look at those cute pajamas! The pink ones have long since been outgrown. Ana wore the pants for the blue pair last night (she couldn't find the top). I remember when my brother and his wife got these for the girls. How did they get that kitty to stay in that basket? I don't think that kitty would do that now! I think it is Duchess, the mama kitty, when she was more of a baby. It is Tasha's kitty. She comes around every couple of days for food. (She has never forgiven me for keeping her locked up in the laundry room after she had her kittens. She escaped and got pregnant 2 times when I had made appointments to get her spayed, but that's another story). Her kittens are grown. Snowball and Tiger Girl live here with us. Dolly and Loretta live at Grandma's house. 3 out of the 4 are white. Talon thinks all the white kitties are his. Snowball lets Talon feed him, pet him, practically lay on top of him.

Motherkitty, tell Dolly and Loretta that Talon will be there probably tomorrow afternoon.....

Veteran's Day

I just wanted to thank all the veterans for all they have done to make our country safe and free. I know you have sacrificed a lot for the well being of our country and I appreciate it. Thank you to those in the military right now, in active service for our country. I pray for your safety and that you will be able to see your families soon. Thank you to my father and my brother who are both veterans of the US Navy. I will be thinking of all of you today, and will be talking about the meaning of your sacrifices to my children.

Veteran's Day Quiz

Veteran's Day Printables for Children

Brief Veteran's Day History

Here is an article about a World War I veteran who is still alive, 90 years after the end of World War I.

And if you don't remember why the United States joined World War II, my mom Motherkitty wrote a poignant blog post about it. It is hard to believe that there are still people in the world who have such hatred for other people that they want them dead. I have never understood this, but I understand fighting to protect the innocent and for those who have no defense of their own. There are times when you have to stand up and say that human beings have to be treated humanely. We should not turn our eyes away from cruelty, and we should not support those who condone cruelty. Did you know that even Jesus said we should forgive those who hate us and that we should love our enemies and feed them if they are hungry?

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Matthew 5:44

all of Matthew 5, beatitutdes

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: ....overcome evil with good.

from Romans 12

The Fun Never Ends

Miracles Do Happen!

Hey, I am here to tell you that miracles do happen. This morning I got up and had a shower while Talon was still asleep.

That is a miracle. Usually one turn of the faucet wakes him up. I was feeling really daring and I even shut the bathroom door. And he stayed asleep. Oooohh. Aaaaaah. A shower with no screaming toddler hanging on the shower curtain. I even had time for conditioner. Again, ooooh. And, he was still asleep when I got out. He stayed asleep while I got dressed, too. Then I went to the store to get a few things.

When I got back, my husband said he didn't even cry while I was gone. Yay!!! I sure am glad he loves his daddy! We all got ready and headed out the door, and we ended up where we were going 10 minutes early. Wow.

Like I said, miracles do happen. I am living proof.

By the way, the cat says, "Do you mind? I'm taking a shower!"

Something Scary Happened at my House Yesterday

Not exactly sure what happened, but I thought I'd post pics so everyone would actually believe that this small miracle actually took place. Look at all those sparkles!

Lavendar Baby Afghan Finished

This is the one I made for Natasha's piano teacher. She just had her baby at the end of September so I am only a few weeks late :). I just finished it today and am very happy with how it came out. It took longer than I expected because I used a G crochet hook and I used baby yarn. I kind of just made the border up as I went along. It really doesn't lay as flat as I would like, and I could have taken it out and redone it, but I really just wanted to get it done and I kind of like how it turned out as it is.

Here is a close-up of the border.

Review by Talon the Blanket Model and New Blanket Tester:
"Hmmm, soft. Very girly, though. All in all, it makes me very sleepy. Two thumbs up."

What I have been up to....

See, I have been doing something....
I am making this little baby afghan for Natasha's piano teacher who just had a baby. I am almost finished with it. I only have a few more rows, and am trying to decide whether to add a lacy border or leave it as is.


Don't tell my husband, but I have actually been working on his green and blue afghan. I think I had come to a standstill because I had gotten bored making the squares. As you can see, I have decided to crochet in a different direction now that I have all the squares I have made joined together. Who knows what this will end up looking like. The good news is that I am liking it more and more now. I may even add in some of the leftover yarn from Talon's baby blanket, at my husband's suggestion recently. Hopefully the blues will be a close enough match...


We have also been visiting family a lot lately. Two of Jason's grandmothers recently had birthdays. Nana is 93 and Granmomma is 84. We went to visit Granmomma yesterday in the nursing home. She has the red rose cake.
Unfortunately the alzheimer's is getting to her, and her memory is going. Yesterday she kept saying how tired she was. It is sad to see.

Here is a group pic of all of us who came to her birthday party.
This is Talon sitting with Nana, playing with crayons
Group Pic at Nana's: Grand-Dad, Talon, Eliana, Jason, Nana, and Natasha (I was taking the pic)
A few from when we went to Uncle Joe and Aunt Phyllis' house: This is the kids with Aunt Pearl who was visiting from Michigan
snuggling with Aunt Phyllis
all piled up on Uncle Joe, helping him watch the UK Wildcat football game. Uncle Joe is Papaw's brother. Papaw, we still miss you and think about you all the time. We were thinking about you in September when it was your birthday. One day you were here with us, and then the next you were gone. My life is totally changed.

It is funny, but we have been to my mom and dad's several times but seem to have no pictures to show for it. We took tons of pics with my mom's camera, but I can't seem to get her to post any. This is your big hint, friends of Motherkitty.....send her a message. Tell her we want to see the pics. Or else her daughter might hijack her blog and post something silly.....

It has really been important to me to make time for family this year. Trying to make the most of the time, you know. A time and a season for everything, I know. It all seems to be going so fast. The other happy thoughts I have had lately are getting to see my brother when he comes in for Christmas and planning Thanksgiving at my house this year. I have a lot to be thankful for.

Oh, Look, Baby Can Use a Spoon

or...What Happens When You Check Your E-Mail Too Long





Talon was soooo happy that Natasha had left her almost empty pudding cup out, and a spoon, too! Luckily for the world, I took it really well, and didn't even get mad. I just went and got the camera, so I could share the funny moment with all of you, ha ha. Needless to say, baby got a bath immediately following his photo shoot.

Big Fat Kitty is Soooo Happy

Thanks Dad for updating the pics on the Crafts Page you made for me. It looks great!!!

In the last week or so, I have completed a couple of projects for friends. One was a pastel crocheted baby blanket for a friend's little girl. It is at the top of page 5. I also made a quick little quilt for my friend's new baby boy. My girls are modelling it also on page 5. If you look closely at the blue side you will see a road I quilted on and a primitive car (though it is upside down in the pic)

Page 4 shows pics of Talon's crocheted baby afghan, a zigzag in blues that I made up, and also his airplane quilt. At the bottom of page 4 is a quick little baby afghan I made for a friend in blues and yellows.

On page 3, the first 3 pics are of a pretty pink, green, and white mile a minute afghan I made for another friend. She has 5 boys and this was for her first baby girl, so I picked something really girly :). As you can see, Talon really helped me get this one done. On page 3 there is also a pink and lavendar afghan I made and gave away, but for some reason I can't seem to remember who....hmmm

I have also made some small things, but have no pics of them. I have been experimenting with the peaches n cream brand of cotton yarn (that is what is the easiest for me to get at the local Wally World). I made kitchen washcloth mitts for the girls, which can also double as dust mitts. Made one bath mitt for Eliana with a special hidden pocket for the soap. I have yarn to make one for Tasha, and one for Talon too.

I Got the Dark Things out of my Closet....

No, it wasn't about you-know-what or anything. I was just doing laundry. I washed a load of dark clothes for my husband and I and I couldn't help making a silly joke. Am I the only one who does that? Think something and then write a blog post about it while I am going through my day? I have told you guys all kinds of cool things, in my head, ha ha.

anyway, carry on. I will love you even if you don't laugh at my silly joke.

It's not even 10:30

and Talon the Adventurer has climbed onto the keyboard stool (no hands),

got into my husband's drawer in the bathroom and got out 2 razors,
apparently one for each hand,

and learned how to climb the ladder to the top bunk on The Bed Nobody Uses
(you'll remember we already took the slide off the day he learned to walk)

prayers would be appreciated
on a good note, we did have chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast

edited: 10:34 am
He just figured out how to open a marker. That didn't take very long,
apparently only 10 days