American Girl

Last Sunday was the American Girl Fashion show. I took Freckles and her Bff and we had a fantastic time. We got dressed up, had tea, watched the show and learned some history in the process. A super fun afternoon.

Love that girl. I treasure these days when she still wants to go places with me. The pre-teen attitude has begun to set in and things are not as easy as they once were. I pray that we will understand each other in the coming years, or at least accept each other. I love that little freckle faced girl. I see so much of myself in her. Sometimes she thinks I read her mind. I tell her, " you are only saying that because you are thinking _____". She is amazed, but really I am only telling her what I thought at her age. I get her. I don't always like it though. It is tough to watch your little shadow start to have her own little light. thank you God for this precious girl....This young woman who you designed perfectly. Thank you for her intelligence, her smile, her sense of humor, her talents, her heart. Help me equip her well for the road you already have planned for her.

And then there is this one... a story for another time. God bless her too....

making lists is one of my favorite things.

I like:
enjoying an afternoon at the county fair
picnicing at the park
the smell of pumpkin pie coming from the kitchen
a warm bath with bubbles
pressing sugar babies to the roof of my mouth until they disintegrate
popping bubble wrap
having breakfast food for dinner
making a playlist on my ipod for a soundtrack for the day
getting a fresh coat of color on my toes... usually red.
having an iphone
holding a warm little mitten hand on a snowy day
honey on toast ( with butter)
working puzzles at the table with people I love
snuggling under my down comforter
seeing Christmas decorations in the stores and looking forward to my favorite holiday
watching black and white movies
painting
making lists of things i like.

Snow days

Every fall we make Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins * hi steph* and this year was no exception. Freckles was the baker this time and did them all by her self. She doubled the recipe ( we called it math -fraction time) and they turned out super yummy. We were able to share them with friends.

We have all been a little under the weather this week. The snow and overcast skies made us a little lethargic. we couched most of the day yesterday and today. It is giving me a good chance to catch up on some feel good movies while i organize cd's and update the blog ( finally). I have written a few songs ( like jo in Say anything) and been having fun reading library books with Cookie and knitting with Freckles. need kym to come over and watch Monk with me. I am still not caught up.

Freckles meets the civil war.

jefferson Davis memorial.

Battle of Corydon Site.. Corydon Indiana

The big trip home.

It was a gorgeous 70 degree day when we stopped in St Louis at the arch. We had hoped to hook up with our friends there and visit the top, but decided we better keep moving to make good time. We did have a Taco Bell picnic under the arch and walked around some.

It was a fantastic afternoon and we loved the views. Freckles and I are reading TOM SAWYER and we enjoyed seeing the Mississippi river and riverboats like in the book.

We also visited the St Louis Catherdral.

We stopped in Abilene, Kansas to get gas and visit the Dwight D Eisenhower memorial. We walked around the grounds, visited the gift center and bought "I like Ike" buttons. It was great to break up the trip a little bit.

By the time we got home it was starting to snow! D was super excited to see us- I think he was lonesome... Thanks again to Mark for the DVD players! made the trip much easier.

Good to be with Family...

We spent a few Saturdays at the soccer field watching the cousins play....

We celebrated a few birthdays...

made some cheesy smiles...

Had some good visits with the Conrads...

Spent time with good friends at church....

Dressed up for Halloween with the cousins... ( fairy, wolfman, unicorn, Madeline, Aphrodite)

and just enjoyed being together...

We miss you guys already. We are too many states away.

Jewell eye Oh nine

well my dear devoted readers ( hi mom and dad) here is the month of july in review. we played volleyball with a group of dear friends from our mother daughter book club. Freckles is getting pretty good. shes a lefty and has a pretty mean serve.. Cari and I mostly just visited and retrieved balls.

Cookie and I went to the Teddy bear picnic at church. She made teddy ears to wear.

D and I took the kids to the cherry Creek Art fest over July 4th weekend. It was super fun. good food and lots of expensive art that we can't afford. cookie looks like daddy

and freckles looks like her mommy. I love this pic.

then--Stephanie came. It is a shame she didn't make it to the art fest, because she would have loved it. Here we are at the Manitou penny arcade. one our favorite places. she one a fake "grill" playing skiiball and I am her groupie.. i like this pic more than she does

Garden of the gods-- steph and maya climbed all the way to the top.. beautiful shot of our colorado sky...

guitar on our deck...

Wilson ranch pool with friends.. and lots of lazy afternoons at the park. We had a great visit with my sister Lesly and her family..


the hoagland/ roberts group at Red rocks.

and the cousins in Idaho Springs..

good sister time...

All in all a busy but wonderful July 08... Here is a shout out to LB in KY- love ya girl. start a blog.