Blizzard? Really?

So I guess it's supposed to snow- around 12-18 inches is what they're saying right now. Cuh-razy. Schools were cancelled and the Governor declared a state of emergency before one single, solitary flake fell.

So I had to go to WalMart after work. Yes, I know it was dumb, but since I didn't do my shopping this weekend, I had no option.  Yes, it was crazy. And no, I have nary a picture to share. My phone was nearly dead. Bleh.

But I had the happiest, most polite checker ever. He loved his job. I know-he told me. He was actually a Customer Service Manager, but he looked about 19. Although I can see why they would promote him. I've never had such good service at a WalMart. EVER. Bobby at the 71st Street store. Tell him I sent ya. :)

He asked the couple in front of me, and then me, "What was the best part of your day?" I told him it was getting the news that we would be closed tomorrow. But what a great question and way to focus on the customer.

What was the best part of YOUR day?

Piddlin' Around

Just been piddlin' around with a couple of projects today.

Abby's hair is at an awkward length now, so pigtails are the best way to go. BUT most of the bows I have are singletons. Plus, some of them are overwhelming on her little pigtails. So I made a set of mini bows to see how they would look. I think they'll be cute.

I haven't glued them to the clips yet. I'll do that tomorrow.

I have also been making a little outfit for my great-neice Zanissa. How can I not spoil her? She's named after me, for Pete's sakes! Great Aunt Mary hand-tatted some little butterflies that I've been saving for a special project. I didn't want to squander them on just anything.

Here's what I have so far:

I'm going to have to reposition the butterfly and add a couple details. I love the headband though. I may have to do one for Abby. I'm also nearly finished with a little white tutu for Z. Hopefully they'll at least put her in it long enough to get a pic for me!

And I made cinnamon pie crust tonight. Josh has been begging for it for a while. I remember my Mom baking pies around the holidays. She always made her own pie crust- which is a talent I did not inherit. I can make a lot of things, but a pie crust? Nope.

But when she made pie crust, she always kept the edge pieces, buttered them, sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar and baked them until they were crispy. A great treat I always associate with chilly winter nights. I cheat and buy pre-fab pie crusts, but I hope the memories I make with my boys are just as sweet.

Where I Am From

I am from books, from Strawberry Shortcake and soft part blankies.

I am from the house on the corner, yard full of kids behind the chain link fence.

I am from the sunflower, the fields of waving golden wheat.

I am from card parties and hugging, from Arlene and Phil and the Forsheys.

I am from the Abell's stubborn lower jaw and dirt track racing.

From never say "hate" and He will not give you more than you can handle.

I am from "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and faith is strong, deep and personal.

I'm from Salina Dutch and a little bit of everything (so don't judge people by the color of their skin), popcorn balls and fancy cakes.

From Uncle Garry chasing Timmy up the tree in Tennessee, the reunions every August, and games-every sport with a little brother who never knew and may never know how much he was loved.

I am from photo albums on the bookshelf, memories in the attic and keepsakes stashed here and there. Treasures just beginning to be discovered, embraced and shared.

I took this idea from a blogger friend.

The poem originally came from George Ella Lyon.

Now here is the challenge for all of my blogger friends out there.

Here is the template, you fill it in with where you are from, and post it on your blog.

If you do this please come back by and leave me a comment with a link to your blog so I can enjoy yours as well.

to see the template and some examples of other people's poems go here .

Happy Birthday, Jackson!

Jackson is 6 years old today! He's so big and smart and such a cutie!

He has the biggest eyes, which makes him the only one who can get to me with his "puppy dog" eyes. Plus, he can wiggle his eyebrows. Just ask him the next time you see him. He's been known to get a free dessert with those eyebrows. lol

Jackson's Birthday Show

I'm working on uploading some really old pictures, so this blog is pretty short. And I owe one of my blogger/TMOMS friends a post about Where I'm From. Sounds like a good topic for tomorrow!

Embrace the Camera Thursday

Time to give props to the source of Embrace the Camera...now that I've tracked it back. I think it's a great idea. I hardly ever get pics of myself.




And now that I'm going through some old pictures that I found at Mom's house, I realize that no matter how bad I think I look in the pictures, someday those pictures will mean a lot to someone.

Just playing around with the laptop tonight:

Poor Josh broke a tooth and had to have a root canal today. It doesn't seem to be bothering him much. He's pretty tough though, but we've talked about that before, remember? Josh's Accident

Mike & Molly

I was just watching some episodes of Mike & Molly that I DVR'd. I love that show. I don't know if you all read the Marie Claire article about how the chick thought nobody wanted to see fat people make out, because it's disgusting...it's worth googling. I pray I was never that shallow and ignorant.

In the meantime, it made me an even bigger (pardon the pun) supporter of the show. I hope it runs at least 10 years. Plus it's hilarious. I love the ditzy sister. "Sometimes I think that dog's never gonna catch that chicken."

Do you watch it? What's your favorite line?

Here's a good scene, even though it's not the one I quoted above.
Mike & Molly - UFOs & Bigfoot

Happy Birthday Babies!

My babies are 1 today. It kind of makes me sad. These are probably (because if I say definitively, then we'll get a surprise) our last babies. And this is the end of babyhood. We survived the first year, maybe just barely, but we survived.

I think they are ready to be taken completely off the bottle, but I don't want to. They're definitely not babies if they don't take a bottle. Is it wrong of me to keep them on the bedtime bottle for a little longer???

Here is a little slideshow of pictures from this year. How time flies...

Twins' First Year

And in case you don't want to sit through all of those, here they are last year:

And today:

I love them so stinkin' much! How can you not?