Casper, the friendly ghost

Just so you can know what I'm talking about in the Casper post. Isn't he adorable? Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks and that frilly blouse!! Doesn't it look like my boy?

Windows

So I finally finished the "window treatment" in the not-so-little girl's room. The ribbon isn't quite how I pictured it in my mind, but we'll see. It might change. I wanted to do a valance type thing that fit inside the window frame but it didn't look quite finished by itself. I'll see what kind of reaction I get when she gets home from school. The ribbon matched just so perfectly! Costco comes through again. The pipe running along the top of the room is not my job. It still needs to be completed with some crown moldings or something.

All these little projects I'm getting done with working a bit less this week and the one before.

Casper is a name my hubby used to get called as a child

I am quite enjoying my latest read. It is about a pastor of 25 years who has given up pastoring because he has some issues with the ways of the N. American church. He has hired an atheist to visit different churches with him and give his honest critique. Along the way, they become friends and have some open discussion about "evangelism", God, religion, Jesus, and being a "lost sheep". They critique all the big churches in the US. Maybe I am a little cynical myself and thus am enjoying it a little too much.... the most shocking thing is my non-reading husband is ahead of me in the book. I'll give you more later because I have just started.

Martha as my model

I finally finished the bunny slippers that I took the wool to Hawaii last spring to start. They didn't get started til November. They just didn't look the same without a model to wear them so Martha did a lovely job in her nightie and bloomers. Martha was a gift I made about 9 years ago for Erin's birthday. I have to decide now whose feet these fit since I have no little nieces, a not might have to get them. Either that or they'll get claimed for Martha :) I know someone who wouldn't be too sad.

You are Valued!

Today's quote of the day: Jacob to Ditto, who was locked out of the house on the deck begging to get in and watch us eat dinner, "You are valued Ditto". He still didn't get to come in, but I thought it was SO cute! I hope my kids feel valued, they must have heard it before to repeat it, so something is sinking in.

Lavish

Today I had the pleasure of serving women. Our church put on a "spa day" for underprivileged women in the community. It was a great idea whoever had it! We had close to 50 women come from different womens' shelters, the street church downtown picked up a bus load and from who knows where else. They had stations set up where they could have a pedicure, manicure, a hair cut and style (not my area), nail art, massage, a free clothing area, free child care, and then the meal area- where I was- making egg salad and hot appetizers. They all left with an amazing gift bag and a pink and white rose. What a joy to make someone's day a little more special. I hope that they felt Lavished upon!

Groundhog Day taken over by Ditto's party!

So today was a pretty exciting day around here for the kids! They had planned a 1 year old party for - yes- THE DOG! The invitations went out and the party was planned entirely by them (they've had some good modeling in this area). Our family is big on birthday celebrating! It's one of those times when you think, WOW I can't believe it's been a year already! Where does the time go? And... it's only been a year, it feels like forever since this thing came and turned our world upside down- or maybe just the house. I prefer to feel that way about my children, not the turning the house upside down part, but the amazement of how their lives have affected us and how it seems so short YET so long.

"The days are long, but the years are few"

So a few fun party events happened, like pass the parcel and some tricks and jumping, then cake (human and dog) and a good long trip to the sledding hill. I particularly like the milk bones hanging from the ceiling fan, quite a hilarious sight when it gets turned ON!!