My first post there is about a couple of prayer requests I have.

I will be updating the new blog very soon with an extremly long update, so stay tuned.

So last night I stayed up late to make something with my new spools of ribbon . Ansley suggested a head band as her last words before bed last night, so I pulled out my cream colored head band and this is what I made:

I wrapped the headband in a sheer purple ribbon while weaving a polka dot ribbon through the sheer ribbon in an over under pattern. When I reached the top side of the headband, I pulled out a little extra of the polka dot ribbon and tied a bow. Before pulling the ribbon taught, I tied a small knot with the purple sheer and put it around the center of the bow. I glued it into place with hot glue. I then pulled the polka dot ribbon taught and proceeded with the completion of the woven design on the headband. I hot glued the purple sheer to the end of the headband. I then wrapped the polka dot ribbon over the ends of the headband and hot glued it over the purple sheer ribbon. I did find that gluing the purple ribbon in place on the underside of the headband did help while tying the bow at the top.

Kylie loves boutique bows to pull her hair up, so this is what I made for her:

It was my first try at a boutique bow, but the picture doesn’t really do it justice. For this bow, I took about 16 inches of the floral ribbon and folded it in half. I made a mark with pencil on the underside of the ribbon. I then turned the underside of the ribbon facing me and took one end and looped it to form what appeared to be a ribbon like the breast cancer awareness ribbons. I then took the other end of the ribbon and turned it in the opposite direction using the same method to create the awareness ribbon look. Then I took the upper portion of the top of what now appears to be a figure 8, and placed it in the center, where the line was drawn originally. I then did the same thing to the other side. I flipped it over and voila, I had a boutique bow, just not finished yet. I then wrapped the center of the bow with thread and tied it off. I then made outer loops for the bow, glued the outer loops to a bow, made a center knot for the ribbon, wrapped the knot around the bow and outer loops, and then finally glued the bow to the barrette. For all of these directions I turned of course to You Tube. I typed in boutique hair bows and several videos popped up!

Here they are after their long/hard day at school. As you can see it was warm enough today to go comfortably with short sleeves and leggings on. Ansley was so excited to wear this outfit before spring.

On another note, here is a cute photo of Emma I caught today. She was trying to eat my sash from my dress. She grabbed it while I was standing next to her playpen talking to Jerry.

And for those of you who are hungry, here is a picture of Jerry’s delicious lunch he made for us on Sunday. He made Salmon with a feta/cream cheese and spinach toping. The kids (well except Christian who was having a rough day) loved it!

Before it went into the oven, the girls helped him prepare it.

Here was our delicious meal. He also prepared a pasta salad with fresh tomatoes.

1. Read a collection of short stories.
2. Read a play.
3. Read a nonfiction book.
4. Read 2 essays from the same collection.
5. Go to a book event.
6. Borrow (and read) a library book.
7. Read a book by a “new to you” author.
8. Make a donation.
9. Promote literacy.
10. Participate in a buddy read or Group discussion.
11. Read a book outside your comfort level or from a genre you don’t normally read.
12. Read a classic (defined as anything published before 1970).

After you complete each challenge, you blog about it.  I hope that you will join in this challenge with me and so many others.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? I began teaching 4th grade

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn’t make any last year since I wanted to lose weight, but was expectant at the time. I have 4 for this year: 1)Lose weight, 2)Take pictures everyday of each child, 3)Read the Bible daily, 4)Blog at least once a week.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? I did, and I also had some dear friends who did.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No one close to me, however, I did know some people who passed away.

5. What countries did you visit? I didn’t visit any other countries, but maybe will get to this year!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Sanity, lol. Organization.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Emma’s birthdate, Ansley’s first day of 1st grade and Kylie’s first day of pre-K.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? The continued achievements of my children and the birth of a beautiful baby girl!

9. What was your biggest failure? Failing others…

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes, a knee injury and a recent car accident that left my back injured.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Cloth diapers, sewing patterns, cloth, knitting needles. We have made so many changes around here for our environment, and need to make many more. I was thinking the other day at all that has changed since I had miss Emma. All that we have changed around here, just because we gave birth to another child. There is so much we want to change about our world, that was probably on the back burner in our minds before, but came to light since we had her. On top of all that, I have come to realize my own craftiness and ability to make things. I have made many useful things for Emma and for myself that I had never thought of before.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Ansley’s terrific season at Hot Shots, the kids wonderful grades, their terrific daily accomplishments, every time Emma does something new, every new thing Christian learns, and every new day Jerry leaves to run a successful business!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? That of others who truly don’t understand how harsh they are to others. In my life, I have known others who could be rude on occasion, but I don’t think I have ever met anyone who was rude on a daily basis to people. I have encountered this person and their actions towards others are truly depressing and sad.

14. Where did most of your money go? To the children and public school, lol. We also went on a nice vacation during fall intersession.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The birth of our 4th child, my new sewing machine, our cloth diapers, learning how to knit, I could go on and on.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Bad Day, by Daniel Powter

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) poorer or richer?

A)Happier, somewhat

B)Fatter, working on that though

C)About the same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercise, devotional, prayer, worshiping the LORD!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying, crying, being upset about things that others have done

20. How did you spend Christmas? With my wonderful family!

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? With another baby that I was in love with from the moment I found out about her!

22. What was your favorite TV program? Heroes

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate last year. Not hate, I don’t hate anyone, but there are people who irritate me on an almost daily basis.

24. What was the best book you read? The Lucky One, by Nicholas Sparks, since it was one of the only ones I finished in 2008.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? That my fondness of music is ever so present in my children, my baby boy asked for a piano for Christmas, and that even though I don’t sing very well (per my husband) I will sing whenever and wherever I want since it makes me happy!

26. What did you want and get? My 4th baby!, and a new sewing machine

27. What did you want and not get? I really don’t know. I guess there were little things, but nothing that significant.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Twilight.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I don’t think I really did anything. I turned 29. My goodness, the big 30 is this year!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Winning the lottery, lol. Being able to stay home with my babies, being able to finish certain things around here, and some other little things.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Slacks and button ups, more jewelry, more skirts, 2009 will be full of fitting back into those cute dresses!!!

32. What kept you sane? Family, friends, and music

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? None

34. What political issue stirred you the most? The election and many more.

35. Who did you miss? My friends who have moved away, or who I have moved away from.

36. Who was the best new person you met? Some new friends from work, online, and at church.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. There are some you can trust, but watch out because just when you think you can trust them, it turns out you can’t.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.(This is long, I couldn’t sum it up in just one)

Made to Love, by Toby Mac

The dream’s alive with my eyes opened wide

Back in the ring you’ve got me swinging for the grand prize

I feel the haters spittin vapors on my dreams

But I still believe

I’m reachin out, reachin up, reachin over

I feel a breeze cover me called Jehovah

And Daddy I’m on my way

Cause I was made to love…

I was made to love You

I was made to find You

I was made just for You

Made to adore You

I was made to love

And be loved by You

You were here before me

You were waiting on me

And You said you’d keep me

Never would You leave me

I was made to love (I was made to love)

And be loved by You (Be loved by You)

Capri, by Colbi Caillat

She’s got a baby inside

And holds her belly tight

All through the night

Just so she knows

She’s sleeping so

Safely to keep

Her growing

And oh when she’ll open her eyes

There’ll be no surprise

That she’ll grow to be

So beautifully

Just like her mother

That’s carrying

Oh Capri

She’s beauty

Baby inside she’s loving

Oh Capri

She’s beauty

There is and angel growin’ peacefully

Oh Capri

Sweet baby

Bad Day, by, Daniel Powter

Where is the moment when you need it the most

You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Tell me your blue sky’s fade to grey

Tell me your passion’s gone away

And I don’t need no carryin’ on

You’re standin’ in line just to hit a new low

You’re fakin’ a smile with the coffee to go

Tell me your life’s been way off line

You’re fallin’ to pieces every time

And I don’t need no carryin’ on

‘Cause you had a bad day, you’re taking one down

You sing a sad song just to turn it around

You say you don’t know, you tell me don’t lie

You work on a smile and you go for a ride

You had a bad day, the camera don’t lie

You’re comin’ back down and you really don’t mind

You had a bad day… you had a bad day

More to Life, by, Staci Orrico

I’ve got it all, but I feel so deprived

I go up, I come down and I’m emptier inside

Tell me what is this thing that I feel like I’m missing

And why can’t I let it go

There’s gotta be more to life…

Than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me

Cause the more that I’m…

Tripping out thinking there must be more to life

Well it’s life, but I’m sure… there’s gotta be more

Than wanting more

I’ve got the time and I’m wasting it slowly

Here in this moment I’m half way out the door

Onto the next thing, I’m searching for something that’s missing

I have also purchased an apron pattern and fabric, and a skirt pattern and fabric. I will update with pictures when those are being worked on.

You can click on the pictures below to view each one separately.

All four children are doing well and my year so far with 4th graders has been pretty good. We are currently studying multiplication with 2 and 3 digit factors, doing a unit on the book Chocolate Fever, and subject-verb agreement and irregular verbs.

Ansley is doing well in school, and we are so proud to announce she made straight A’s on her 1st nine weeks report card. Ansley has enjoyed her season cheering at Hot Shots. She has had 2 exhibitions already and will be cheering at a Berry College basketball game during half-time in a couple weeks. Kylie is greatly enjoying Pre-K, and has been writing her name for the past few weeks! Christian and Emma are enjoying their time at Mrs. Sherri’s, their babysitter. Emma recently got in trouble when her and another baby, a month older than her, got into the other children’s wipes and diapers and threw them around the room ! Emma has been crawling for a long while now, and is now pulling up on everything!

I hope you enjoy…