Sunday, November 20, 2011

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

It's a tradition around here that I post this Thanksgiving video.
It makes me happy.  I feel like I claim it as my own even though I had 
nothing to do with the making of it.

So if you have followed my blog for a long time, 
enjoy it again!

If you're new around here,
enjoy it for the first time.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!







Wednesday, November 16, 2011

My El

Do you think she likes this bow??





Me Neither!

(sorry about the blurry cell phone pictures!  I need a new phone.)

Saturday, November 12, 2011

An Awesome Friday Spent With Heros!

 
Have you ever had the great pleasure of making plans, organizing, rehearsing, and hard work, then seeing it all come to fruition?  Every now and then it happens to me.  This past week
I was the right-hand-man (so to speak) to Diane (the facilitator of our school) as we planned the 
Veteran's Day assembly. 
Let me just tell you that it was one of the best assemblies that our school has ever had.
And by "best" I mean that it was meaningful, well-thought out, 
and memorable.
Not because of anything we did but because the reason we were having it in the first place...
to honor our veterans.

We had invited any families with veterans to come to school to be honored 
on November 11, 2011.
We had 17 in all!!
It was a beautiful sight.
The sweetest thing of all was when the children stood with their "veteran" and introduced him/her.
It had been my job to work with the students and then to prompt
them during the assembly.  What remarkable children they were.  So sweet and so proud
of their guest. I was getting choked up just in the practice.

Their little introductions went something like this:

My name is _____________.
I'd like to introduce you to my grandpa (dad, uncle, neighbor) _____________.
He/She served our country in the _______________.
And was a member of the ________________.

We had valiant men who served in Vietnam, Operation Iraqi Freedom (all years), The Korean War,
The Cuban Missile Crisis, and a woman who spent a year on (in??) a submarine
during the Iraqi conflict.  We had a representative from every branch of the Armed Forces.


But, perhaps the most amazing of all was a 93 year old veteran who served in WWII.
He was among the first to liberate the concentration camp at Dachu, Germany. I got to handle his authentic swastika flag he torn down from a German post office and touch his Purple Heart and Bronze Star. I could've listened to his stories all day -- one of the last of an amazing generation.

I felt a shiver down my spine as I touched that flag and then his purple heart. He told about his buddy dying on his lap--still knew his name--a soldier from New York. Then how the Russians just all of a sudden released him from the POW camp, helping the liberated prisoners at Dachu, amazing!

He spoke for about 10 minutes and showed us several artifacts.  
One of which was his actual helmet he wore. 
Lucky Leah, from my class, was chosen to come up and put it on.

 When he was finished speaking, he received a standing ovation.  There truly was not an adult dry eye in the place.  I also believe that the children also felt "something" in their hearts as they listened and watched all of the clapping going on around them.  It was just a very special and proud moment.

I'm so glad I was able to be a part of the entire program.  
Yes, this lowly Canadian is proud to be living in this great country.
Thanks for letting me stay.



 This little sweetie was born when her daddy was serving in Iraq, 2006-2007.
She actually told me that...including the years!
Smarty Pants!

We had two lovely musical numbers.


Even the babies were dressed in camo!  :)

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Water Problems

 Water...
How can something so good for me
be so hard to drink every single day?

I can't figure out how to do both...


Is it so wrong that I don't really WANT to figure it out?

(By the way, Diet Coke is on sale RIGHT NOW at Macey's grocery store AND 
Fresh Market for 
4 packs/$11!!!  Go buy three for you and bring one to me!  :))  )




Tuesday, November 1, 2011

First Halloween For My Little Pumpkin Eloise!

  Who knew that Halloween could be so magical (in it's own way) just
like Christmas??

This year I channelled my High School sewing teacher, Ms. Kopitzki, to make my little grand daughter a Halloween costume.  Ms. Kopitzki taught me how to 
alter patterns, sew darts, put in a lining, stay stitch, slip stitch, put in a zipper,
and many more sewing skills.
I definitely called on those skills
(30 years ago...THIRTY YEARS!  WHAT???)
as I sewed Ellee's Snow White costume.

It turned out looking mighty adorable and fit her like a glove.
If Halloween had been even one day later, it wouldn't have fit her.
Take a look at the most fun I've had since she was born...




 Erika dressed as the wicked witch to match 
sweet little El.
(Notice the piping on the front in the top photo compared to the one below?? 
It got a little wet with Eloise's "teething drool" and came loose!  I KNEW
I should have tacked it down with a needle and thread!)



If you look really closely, you can see that Eloise's daddy was 
dressed as Uncle Sam which had nothing to do with Snow White.
I wish I had thought of making Tyler a dwarf costume but...I didn't.


Peeking over Grami's shoulder!
Look at those cheeks!

This girl KNOWS how to wear a hat!!



AND, how to carve a pumpkin!






We definitely had a wonderful Halloween
around my house.


Just don't ask me about the nasty 
looking mummy wrapped wieners! 






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