crafts

I'm not crafty. I look at stuff, I see stuff, not potential, not artistic or useful things.

A friend is a decorator and she can see possibilities everywhere. Everywhere she goes things are better, brighter, more special and fun. (Part of that is just her, too.)

Okay, which brings me to the point.

http://www.ripleysnewsroom.com/lint/

Weirdly, strangely impressive.

Oh, and this guy has showed up for the weekend. We got back from picking up James from band and I heard this booming voice, "Gram-maw! Look behind you!"


"It's you! I'm so glad you're here!"

"Yeah, for five days!"

Oh my gosh.

love, Val

grace

This girl has it.


She's bold and graceful and openly loves without reservation. She's honest, yeah even to the point of bluntness now and then, plus she's also fairly hilarious.

I'm so glad to know her.

She came up with the idea it was time to get baptized, so Sunday was the day. (Usually it's infants, but not always. Little Jay was three.)

She stood smiling in the sunshine in her pretty Christmas dress with her mom and John and Dannell beside her and the moment was incredibly sweet. The pastor scooped water over her head, said the words, and it felt just right.



Later there was a quite delicious dinner, and a fancy cake, and a lot of racket, all in all a totally great day.


Happy Baptism, You. We love you so.
love, Val and Jay and all the kids

a very fine occasion

This girl was Confirmed today. It's a Lutheran thing, happens after a couple years of classes, then there's this special ceremony marking graduation.

We went to their church, which is different from our own, and yet the same. We go to an old church in the city, an old stone and stained glass building, gothic cathedral kind of place. Theirs is a contemporary block building with lovely padded chairs and a jumbo tron and a rock band. My sister says it isn't as rowdy every Sunday.

The kids loved it. Julia was dancing in the aisle at one point, red satin skirt spinning, blonde hair flying. The pastor is an old Norwegian though, and the sermon was thoroughly Lutheran. Love each other. Take care of each other. It was a really fun time.

Our niece read a long bible passage, and didn't miss even a single word.

she and maria from a gorgeous green lake summer some years ago

Once upon a time she was a scrappy young squirrel, round cheeks and big brown eyes. When she disagreed with my sister she'd tell her, "My OTHER mother lets me do it." I've heard of imaginary friends, but an imaginary mother? Oh yeah.

here she is beside me holding julia the day she was born


Now she's a dignified teenage person, a young woman, learning to drive, all Confirmed now and all that.

We went back to their house for a feast with the whole family. The kids were crazy excited. A trip to my sister's thrills them as much as a trip to Disney.

Congratulations, Sweetheart. We love you so. love, Aunt Val

i don't know why

a pic from yesterday when she was unbored

Okay, so Julia's bored. She's told me this numerous times this afternoon.

I deflected her with a few comments like this:

"You got all those new things at Christmas. Why don't you play with those?" And the old classic, "You could sort out your sock drawer."

She just rolled around on my lap, wild hair all over the place.

Finally I told her I had to go to the grocery later and she could come with.

"What foooor?"

"Vegetables to make a vegetable pizza."

This is what she said. See, the kid is smart, "That sounds boring too. I don't know why, but it dooooes."

Because it is! That's why! Oh my goodness.

And this lovely girl is my namesake. She turns five today! Happy Birthday Honey, and lots of love, and hugs for your mama too, love, Val

moving on

see all the needles on the floor? way past time.

Today we took the tree down. I always hate to see it go--the Christmas lights are so enjoyable. It's dark here early, the evenings are long, and the tree was gorgeous.

But the little electric candles in the windows can stay a few more weeks anyway.

We had b.g. here today and he helped take down the tree. He mostly watched the kids take the ornaments off and sort them into each kid's box, and watched his uncles take the lights off and drag the tree out.

Helping clean up was what he really dove into. He looooves to swiffer.

see these barefoot kids in shorts and no sleeves? it is seven degrees out today. go figure.


It's been a quiet week, lots of work, everyone getting back to normal. Little Jay will still be here a few more weeks and I'm so glad. I've missed him a lot. He's funny, and he's helpful besides.

Onward to January. Can you tell the days are getting longer? Me either. In a few more weeks, probably. love always, Val

a picture so pretty

Okay, this is t.c. and he arrived here in a burst of happy hollering. I love his hat, asked him to pose for a picture, and snapped this:


That's him and his grandpa. It was a snap, that quick. But the light was so pretty, I drew him in and cropped the edges.



After this, he let me kiss him, then ran off to play with Uncle Tim.

The best news is I get to keep him for LIFE. He's a relative forever and ever.

Oh, lucky little old me.

Thanks for being mine, t.c. love, Grandma

oh, happy new year!

A few pictures from the weekend:




The countdown:


The stroke of midnight--any excuse to go nuts:




Today we had our New Year's Day party with our old friends Dan and Denise.


Oh, and this! That Knex kit finally worked. I had to buy another little kit for spare parts because we lost some connector pieces. It took multiple people and a lot of tweaking, but the thing worked! It's like a massive toothpick sculpture.



And with that, happy, happy 2011. love always, Val