A Pajama Mama

Recently, I was in Winn-Dixie near the produce section. In walked one of my most favorite of all people, my Daddy. He looked a bit bewildered because Winn-Dixie is absolutely not his element like the local hardware store would be. I stood quietly, watching him glance at the people milling about. Soon enough, his eyes found mine. He did a double-take as realization hit, and I watched his face transform into that all-familiar precious smile reserved just for me. It didn't matter that I had just seen him the day before. He was so happy to see his baby girl. I took a mental picture of his precious countenance.  On my way home, with groceries in tow, I thought about him, his special smile, how much he loves me...I am special to him. I'm his only daughter. His baby girl. I'm 41. But still his baby girl and he is always happy to see me. I know I haven't been a "sheer delight" to him. I'm quite sure I have disappointed and upset him many times growing up. But he...

We have a special treat this week!!!! Chinadoll and her sweet big sister who is Appledoodle's declared bestsisterfriend are spending the week with us. Lots and lots of giggling in the house....with scattered pink sparkly things, hula hoops, jump ropes, pollypockets, and all things princess! I think The Boy had just about had it by last night with all the girlies. I went to check on him before bed and he had rigged some sort of trap just inside his door. Oh, I wish I had a picture! Try to imagine about 30 colorful thumb tacks stuck into his carpet with a woven web of red thread. I guess his motion sensor alarm wasn't enough. Three Little Valentines Cute attack! The boy made us drop and give him 20 push ups! Snuggled up on a rainy day, watching Curious George Three Pinkie Pies having school together! Buhlessss him. CHEEEEEEZ! Wagon ride at Papa's! Just plain cute!! Sweet C's turn on the zip line swing! China Doll...zipping along! DQ with family fri...

Haiti. I can't imagine any one seeing the desperate need in Haiti today...the faces of the children, the women, the men....and not feeling a deep compassion and desire to help. A heart FOR the people of Haiti. My brother and his family spent a few years in Haiti as missionaries. He has been back several times and I fully expect him to return....sooner rather than later. His heart is for Haiti. Therefore, my heart is for the people of Haiti. My sisterfriend adopted a little girl from China last year. I feel like Chinadoll is part mine bc we were so involved in the process of bringing her home. My friend's heart is for adoption. Therefore, my heart is tender towards orphans and adoption. I was RIVETED, bordering on OBSESSED and a Googling maniac with the unfolding events surrounding the Haitian orphans of BRESMA and the McMutrie sisters. Forever families not just in the USA but in other countries had adoptions in progress with these 150 children. I can not imagine the rollercoas...

Mommy's little chef! Rayray played the background music at our neighborhood Christmas party. We enjoyed a great Christmas weekend at the beach with our SWEET friends! We took the girls to a sweet Christmas village at Sandestin. After our homeschool co-op party, we joined two more families to visit the Bethlehem Village presentation. Isn't it darling?? Best kit we've ever done! Enjoyed a fun night with our litttle cuz... Two grown cousins and my little Appledarlin. We adore these people. I loveloveLOVE having all the kids home and having a full table. I took advantage of all the hands and put them to work in the kitchen. They made oreo balls, pecan meltaways, and choc covered pretzels. Don't stand under the mistletoe with anyone else but me! Jojo and his freds. The girls declared Monday to be "Crazy Sock Day." Little old men. We laughed until we cried during a rousing few rounds of Catch Phrase. I think this one just finished his orangutan impression. More to c...

My pilgrims wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble! Buncha turkeys! Hope you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for.

I made soap today!!! Woohoo! 4 whole bars. FOUR. You see three bc one didn't work out. The idea really is a fun one. I followed AnneMarie's tutoria l but my experience didn't exactly go as smoothly as hers did. She's a professional, though! She made it look so simple. Do you see the FOUR layers? Yep, this took a LARGE amount of my time on this beautiful SATURDAY...between the layers and the detailing. But once I started, I was committed to see one batch through to the bittersweet, cranberry-scented end. I think they turned out really pretty and the cranberry-fig scent is delicioso, but these cute bars will not become part of our seasonal line-up. It's a time thing. We will be offering our peppermint oatmeal massage bars and our beautiful Sleigh Ride snowflakes, though. Here's you another picture so you can ooo and aaaaaah. And aaaaaah and oooooh. So...where will these three bars end up? Maybe wrapped up for Christmas for YOU!

What have we here?? 330 of my exquisite hand-dipped fall soap leaves. You will FALL IN LOVE with the pecan pie scent that smells good enough to eat...but please, don't try that. I added vitamin e to the glycerin soap to keep our hands nice and soft. Of course, some choose to never use these to wash hands...they simply put them on a pretty dish and let the scent waft through the air. These beauties will be gently bagged up, tied with a pretty bow and sent to a fall festival on the other side of the state.