Static Electricity

The air gets really dry in our town and makes a lot of static electricity.  Check out what it did to Jennabee's hair the other day.

Patchwork Skirt for Jennabee

I'm so lucky to have a friend like Marie'. I consider us to be more than just friends though, because our husbands are cousins.

About a month ago I told her about an idea for a skirt that I wanted to make for Jennabee. I had a vision for it, I just didn't know how to make it happen. Marie' graciously volunteered her amazing sewing skills and had me and ALL SIX of my kids over to her house for FIVE HOURS yesterday as we sewed it up. That is what I call an amazing friend. Thank you so much Marie! I couldn't have done it without you!

The weather is already cold here (we've already had overnight lows in the teens), but we are about to embark on a 9 day vacation to San Antonio, TX, where the weather is still warm enough for shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops. I think this skirt could look just as cute with tights and the right pair of boots.

Things That Make You Go HMMMM....

Joe has been in China again and just got back last Thursday. He'll have to write about his fun adventures some time soon.

While he was gone we finished planting the garden. Last week I was so excited when I saw little seedlings come up in the "green bean spot" less than a week after I planted them. I thought it was a little odd that the seedlings were so sporadically placed and clumped so thickly together. I was sure I had planted them farther apart and only two beans per hole. Oh well, who was I to judge how they decided to come out of the ground? The plants know what they're doing....right?

This morning I went out to check on the garden and saw several strange weeds invading my little bean seedlings. I pulled one out and quickly regretted it. The "weed" had bean halves on either side of the stem. Oops--I had pulled out one of the "real" beans. Those other things that I thought were the beans were just imposters.

So, what it in the world could the "fake" beans be? They were definitely not weeds. I pulled one out and noticed the remnant of a cucumber seed near the bottom of the seedling. It did look an awful lot like my cucumber seedlings barely emerging from the ground about six feet away. Sure enough, almost all thirty+ of the seedlings I pulled out had little cucumber seeds attached to them. Mystery almost sovled. I quizzed all the kiddos and Hans gave me a big clue when he said that he saw Jennabee planting seeds in the garden a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't help but smile when Jennabee admitted as much. She is such a sweet little copy-cat of everything I ever do. It's flattering and humbling at the same time. I want her to pick up on the good stuff and leave the bad behind. It certainly makes me want to have my act together at all times--especially while she is watching me.

I have since found random cucumber seedlings in various parts of the garden which I sadly have to pull out in order to ensure that the other plants have enough room to grow. It's kind of like playing "Where's Waldo" because everything is so young and green and looks the same. But, everytime I pull out a cucumber seedling I will smile and will humbly be reminded that my little girl is always watching and trying to be like me.

Dress for Jennabee #2

Last year I made a dress for Jennabee--my first attempt at sewing clothing. I've sewn a few simple things since then, but decided I wanted to try a dress again. Marie' let me borrow her "Girly Style Wardrobe" Japanese pattern book, and when I saw view "t" I knew I had to make it for Jennabee. I used a vintage sheet I found at a second hand store for the skirt, and paired it with a pink solid I happened to have in my stash for the bodice. I sewed the sleeves on the wrong way but didn't have the will to take them out and fix them. They are supposed to look like a ruffle, but because I sewed them on backwards, they look more like a capsleeve. Oh well, I still think it's cute.

A big thanks to Marie' who helped me finish the bottom ruffle correctly after I made a mistake attaching it. She also gave me a lot of great tips and pointers for the next time I decide to sew a dress, which will probably be next year!

Piggyback Rides

I'm too busy to blog. I just got back from Georgia where I had a wonderful time visiting my sister Lauren this weekend while Joe took care of ALL the kids, even Ada (is he wonderful or what?). I have laundry to do, food to prepare for the Relief Society birthday dinner tonight, preparations for a baby shower which I will be hosting this Friday, the list goes on and on. But I just witnessed something that I really want to remember, so I decided to sit down quickly and write about it.

A month or so ago Jennabee wanted Joseph to give her a piggyback ride, but as soon as she was on Joseph's back, he said that he couldn't go until she rubbed his hair. She quickly rubbed his hair and he took off, running around the house with her. Today Jennabee wanted another piggyback ride from Joseph. She got on his back, and without him saying anything, rubbed his hair. I thought it was so cute and sweet that she remembered his request from so long ago. After the piggyback ride, Joseph made another request that she give him a hug after every ride. I'll be curious to know if she'll remember that request after future piggyback rides.

Wordfull Wednesday: New Beginnings

There's nothing more joyful than holding your brand new baby after bringing them into this world. This particular picture shows me right after giving birth to Jennabee, my first girl after four boys, which was a new beginning for me. I pray I will remember the joy I felt the night of her birth after she becomes a teenager in ten years, when we will no doubt encounter a completely different kind of new beginning!

Sick Leave

I apologize for the long pause between posts, but we've been really sick around here. Sick with what, you might ask? Let's just say I was cleaning four throw up buckets out at the same time, in the middle of the night, all night long, while trying to avoid puking, myself. The four boys and I caught it from Jennabee who had the stomach bug the week prior. Two days of illness put me way behind schedule. It was a blessing, however, that this happened on the weekend when Joe was around to help out during the day. Another blessing is that when my kids get sick, they get incredibly sweet and tender. All through the night the boys said things like, "Mom, thanks so much for taking care of us" and after having to get up again right after laying down, "Mom, I feel so sorry for you." Those thoughtful comments gave me the energy to keep going. Now that everyone is better and I've caught up with the basics (laundry, cooking, dishes), I'm ready to blog.

Jennabee turned three at the end of the month. Another cute cake, but if I was the cursing type, I know I would have uttered unspeakble things while frosting this cake. I don't mind baking cakes, even from scratch, but coating cakes with frosting makes me mutter and growl at myself. I need some professional tips that make it easier. Any cake decorators out there willing to share their frosting secrets?

Jennabee = Wannabee Mommee

Today I was walking down the hallway and caught a whiff of something flowery from my bedroom. I walked inside and found Jennabee standing in one of my dresser drawers. She was holding the lid to a bottle of my perfume. The bottle was tipped over with the entire contents spilled all over a bunch of family history papers and records that were sitting on my dresser. It was also all over her. The smell was so strong it gave me an instant headache. I yelled at the poor girl who was just trying to be like her mama. I put her in the bath, but I think the stench will stick with her for at least a few days. Hopefully the air clears in my bedroom or Joe, the baby, and I will be sleeping somewhere else tonight.

Jennabee likes to get into her mommy's things

Vanity, China, and the Final Countdown

On Sunday after doing Jennabee's hair for church, I caught her standing in front of the bathroom mirror kissing herself and saying, "pretty". Who knew vanity could start so early? I'm sure all the flattery her older brothers shower her with has something to do with it. Everytime she puts on a dress and gets her hair done, they tell her how pretty she is. Now she wants to put on a dress every morning when she wakes up and she smiles at herself in the full length mirror while twirling the ruffles of her dress. It's a good thing this little girl is getting a sister because she definitely needs a little competition to bring her back down to Earth!

In other news, Joe is in China again for a week. He actually left early Tuesday morning. He'll be spending most of his time in Shanghai and the last couple of days in Taiwan. We hope he doesn't get sick this time!

And I am counting down the weeks now....only one month to go until my due date (Jan. 8)! Tomorrow I will start my weekly appointments until the baby comes. I'm sure it's going to breeze by so fast with the holidays. I'm very excited and have started "nesting", even though we are in a small apartment and most of our stuff is in storage. I managed to find the carseat, the baby clothes and blankets, the bassinet, and am starting to wash everything up. I also bought some newborn diapers and I think I'm good to go.