As someone once said...

" As long as I live, there will never be a dull moment."

I am finding that to be more than true in my life. Here are some bits and pieces of the random things that are filling up my heart and mind these days.

This is our new theme song for Annabelle. It's called Little Sack of Sugar. And we can't get through a line without giggling as we find it so funny and appropriate. Ever since she was teeny tiny she's been told " ohhhh sug/suggy/sugar/sugar/lips/plum....you are just so yummy! " Her favorite songs to sing right now are " Zip-a-dee-doh-dah " and the ABC song.

( this precious little sun dress came in the mail this week for Annabelle, beautifully handmade with love by my amazingly talented and very dear childhood friend, Anna E. )

A Recent Cute/Funny Conversation with Dear Husband ( D.H.)-

D.H. : Hey babe.

Babe : Yeah?

D.H. : " If I am out with Annabelle and some woman says to me, about her..."she's SO cute!!!!" and then in the next breath says, " she looks just like you." Is that flirting?

Babe : * said with a big wink and grin, * " hmmm, that's a good question... "

So the other day we borrowed The Curious George Movie from the library. Not to be confused with what she calls " reggy-lar" Curious George . The PBS version that she had seen before and she was all excited to watch it and I was all excited to let her while I mowed our great big lawn. So I set up our portable DVD player on the back porch where I could see her from every angle while I cut the grass. Later on that day she told me, " Mommy, I like "reggy-lar Curious George, that new one is scary. I don't want to watch never ever, ever, EVER, ever, ever again. Seriously, 5 evers. And I felt so bad that I had been just blissfully mowing the lawn as she sat there, poor little thing, letting that big, bad, scary Curious George frighten her so. But I was so proud of her for telling me. I pulled her into my arms and told her that of course she didn't have to watch it, never, ever, ever again.
" But I can watch the reggy-lar one Mommy. It's not a scary, it's nice "

If I let her, Annabelle would exist on these 5 foods :

1. Avocados

2. Strawberries

3. Green Grapes

4. String Cheese

5. Otter Pops

Yesterday I had a wonderful visit from this sweet friend and her darling assorted bouquet of children. She also happens to be new to the blogging world, so ladies if you get a chance, go over and give her a warm welcome. She has asked me to help her re-design her girls room, which is such a compliment. So we are making quilts and name banners, three of each and painting the walls pressed glass green and the furniture white and I am so excited to be in on this amazing project.

As a close friend recently told me " Your always scheming for something..." And of course when I told David she said that he said, " she knows you well. " And that's is the truth. I am constantly cooking up some idea of how we could someday make a very big dream come true: a family business. I say "our" with the hope that I am making progress in convincing David that this would be a profitable and enjoyable way to make a living. This website is the quickest way I can think to describe our exact idea. Which I thought it was original until I ran across this. Guess we'll have to settle for being a copy cat. But I am so curious to know what you ladies think?

And finally, it's something I have been wanting so badly for the past few months, and had been asking David for. Something I have kept one eye out for on Craigs List and at yard sales. And then yesterday evening out of the blue, our next next door neighbors popped in and asked if we want the swing set for Annabelle, the one that there little girl had outgrown. And so with the help of the men that live on our little street, they picked it up and walked it down two houses and replanted it our back yard. Annabelle was beside herself with glee. She was border-line jubulant infact and I was pretty happy too. David thinks it's an eye-sore and that it's just another thing to clutter up the yard , but he's an old softie and wouldn't thought of turning this offer down. It was so much fun to watch her try out every which way to go down the side, to swing on her tummy with her arms outstretched and little legs tucked up and shout at the top of her lungs, " I can fly. " She must have told us " this is fun !" a hundred times in a row.

Three guesses as to what we are doing today?

A bouquet for Rachel.

( picked especially for you )

Rachel is one of my dearest friends, she's also David's oldest sister. She's a truly amazing lady. The sweetest mama to two very darling little girls. Kate, who is Annabelle's age and ever so full of love for life, and sweet little Maggie, just a few weeks old. Rachel is a devoted wife. She is a most dear and caring sister, daughter and friend. She is truly one of the most beautiful, and selfless people I know in the world. I look up to her and love her dearly. Rachel is also a lover of flowers. This post was made especially with her in mind. The goal, to cheer up her day, if even just a little. And ladies if you think of it, please pray for her.

She could really use some sleep.

( I have lupines and Iceland poppies and poppies and foxglove and purple irises all blooming right now. )

( and my English roses are just starting to open )

( I love this combination of sweet william and lady's mantle )

( full view of the flower boarder )

{ All the Colors of Summer }

1. Untitled, 2. yeah, I went back ... again, 3. 5, 4. dancing in the wheat., 5. this dog does not miss a thing!, 6. Untitled, 7. watermelon smile, 8. Bric-a-Brac, 9. one year, 10. grass, 11. swing to the skies, 12. Untitled, 13. bubba, 14. my sidekick, 15. poppy, 16. Trust

Created with fd's" Flickr Toys.

Terrifically Two

ter·rif·ic
1. extraordinarily great or intense: terrific speed.
2. extremely good; wonderful: a terrific vacation.
3. causing terror; terrifying.

She is funny. She is endearing. She is fearless, she is at times incredibly stubborn.

Some of our favorite things she is saying right now:

Uff-dah!

Muddle Puddle ( Mud Puddle )

" This is fun Mom! "

" I want you, Mommy/Dad. "

" I need Mommy/Daddy. "

" Please, snuggle me. "

" Please pick you a flower."

"Hey, Chelle, look at this."

She escapes from her crib in absolute silence and hides where I cannot find her.

She gives worlds best kisses. Grabs you with both hands with a smack right on the lips that lasts for a good 10 seconds. Her uncles are all saying that they hope their future wives kiss like her someday. I don't know, that's a lot to live up to.

She adores her Daddy. The feeling is extremely mutual. When she fell down and scraped both knees after church on Sunday and they were both bleeding and she was crying, even after we kissed them repeatedly " but I need a band aid " she wailed as we put her in car. You should have seen her Daddy. He kept telling her " Your fine. Your tough. See, they're all better now," as he pulled into the nearest drug store for you know what's.

Her favorite thing to do right now, is carry around water balloons. Even though she cries every time they break.

We are having conversations about everything. She is expressing herself so well. It's amazing. She's like a miniature adult. All day long she has been playing with her " babies... " She pretends everything now. She'll say to me. " My babies are going night-night. Close your eyes babies. Have nice dreams babies. " I ask her how her babies are doing. " They have tummy aches. I need to make a bottle of warm milk for them." A little late she tells me. " I kissed them. Now my babies are all better, Mommy!"

If we ask her "are you a big girl?" she says, " no, my a baby."

If we ask her " are you a baby? " she says, " no my a big durl (girl)."

The sparkle in her eye seems to grow a little bit brighter every day.

Annabelle Lucy that I love, Mommy thinks that a grumpy day with you is better than two thousand non-grumpy days without you.

Fathers Day...

was celebrated with a trip to a little nearby lake, where Annabelle caught her very first fish and the buttons almost popped off the shirt of her most pleased Daddy. By the sound of it, it was the one and only fish caught in the lake that day and unlike her Daddy's prediction, she did not fall in the lake. Imagine that.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled life.

After feeding and housing 4 guys the week before the wedding.

After all the last minute details like slide-shows and ordering flowers, planting the grass centerpiece boxes, and a hundred other little things.

After leaving for almost a week to help with putting it all together.

After getting to meet our newest, most exquiste and precious little niece Maggie.

After seeing our best friends get married and living out the third happiest day of my life.

After the rain made a valiant although unsuccessful attempt to dampen the spirits of the bride and groom or their many gracious guests. And it turned out to be an entirely beautiful and fun and joy filled wedding.

After coming home and unpacking and having more family come and stay for the week after the wedding. Sweet, busy days spent with my dear friend and sister-in-law taking care of our 4 kiddos, 2 hubs and one brother-in-law.

After all that... ( that being the super-condensed version )

Life returns to normal. And how sweet it is to once again just be the three of us. To have time take a nap and snuggle Anniebelle's for as long as we want. To pick the weeds in my flower border and bouquets to go in every room of the house. To walk to the library with Annabelle and David. To have picnics out on the back lawn. To cuddle up on the couch next to David and just hold hands and chit chat with out anything else immediately needing to be done. To let the laundry pile up a little. (and to not even be guilty about it, since our washer is currently broken ) To be able to sit down and write a blog. Why, let me tell you, it's an absolute treat.

So what if it rains on your wedding day.

( I have had this little clipping hanging on my fridge for the last couple years and found it to be the perfect way to in a nut-shell, sum up our best friends wedding until of course I find the time to do up a proper post on this most momentous occasion of the summer)

The Wedding { Part 1 }

06.07.08

- Through the eyes of a Bridesmaid -

1:30 am - Finally crawl in bed. Tired and happy after the last few days of crazy business and a truly marvelous evening together for the rehearsal dinner.


6:30 am - Woke up early, before the alarm went off...bolted out of the cabin in my pjs to check the sky. Was met by gray drizzly rain.

7:00 am - Running around, doing last minute things, haul all the flowers outside and line them up. Fiddle with the bouquets one last time. Minta and I got to put them together. So much fun. Boss people around. Forget to eat breakfast. etc. etc. etc.

8:00 - Realization begins to set in that it's not going to clear up. Decision is made to set up the reception inside instead of out.

9:00 - Race down the muddy hill to our cabin to get dress, shoes, make-up curling iron. Need to be ready in 1 hour.

10:00 - Meet up at Brides cabin. Bride getting her hair done. And elaborate and intricate work of art, perfected by the ever so amazing and talented, Minta. Miscellaneous group of friends and cousins, people taking pictures and bridesmaids, and the mother of the bride all coming and going from the brides cabin. We giggle and chat. I am giddy. Bride does a really good job of keeping her head still while her hair is braided and twisted and piled and a dozen other complicated things. A sweet friend was thoughtful enough to remember to bring a big jar of Skittles. The brides favoritecandy , since she was a little girl. I curl my hair and do my makeup in between feeding the bride skittles. Yes, I am a eternal optimist. I suppose I had in mind that the curl would hold as long as the rain stopped. The mood is hurried, somewhat subdued, except for me giving out annoying pep talks about embracing the rain...not letting it ruin the day, yadda, yadda, yadda . The bride seems perfectly calm and collected and happy. The flower girl ( Annabelle ) comes in to say hello and of course, eat Skittles. Best man (my David) comes in to say we have 15 min. before we need to have the Bride down at the dock on the lake for pictures. Finds the bride in all her "splendour. Is struck by her elegance and beauty. Must have a picture. And says in mock reverence, " I like your socks. "



With Mom's help the Bride slips into her dress and looks positively radiant.

10:30- Getting the bride and her yards and yards of wedding dress into the car safely, so we can drive her down to the Lake. The mud was a serious threat.

Squishing in next to her. Cousin Lily jumps in the the passenger side, armed with the all important umbrella. As Daniel ( the one holding the umbrella over her head ) drove us down to the dock he remembered when he first met the Groom, 7 plus years ago, that he would sing this one line from a song , " it's like rain...on your wedding day." Just that one line, over and over. How ironic. As we are riding down the wine glasses in the back of the Jeep that were full of sand and tea lights, to set on the dock, for visual effect, start to shatter. Crack.....crack....crack...The bride looks at me with wide eyes. I look at her. I bust up. Laughter ensues. I remind her of an old motto, " If you don't laugh, you'll cry. "


10:45 - Once we get there we realize we have got to get Anna hidden in the woods, before the David's arrive. " Daniel, you are going to have to carry her. " He is more than a gentleman and happy to oblige, Anna starts to giggle. Lily holds the umbrella over her, I hold her dress out of the mud. We get her all situated. She groans. It's really coming down. I tell her... " Anna, in all your life, you have never let the rain stop you from doing anything. You swim in the rain, you play in the rain. Why not get married in it." She starts to laugh. The photographer announces that the Groom is almost ready, just getting some last minute advice from his best man. I start to cry, imaging what David must be telling him, realizing that this is all for real and finally, after years of hopes and prayers for them, actually happening. The Bride begs, " Chelle don't cry"... I blubber, " it's only because I am so happy for you. " She reaches out to hug me. I scream and jump away..." no, you'll get mascara all over your dress!" We dissolve into laughter. Then he's ready to come get his bride. I hurry away with Daniel. Lily is the last one to leave with the umbrella and briefly sees David's face as he first glimpses his gorgeous bride, all tucked away in the woods for him.




To quote Lily " He is normally a pretty serious looking guy. But his grin when he saw her, couldn't have been bigger. I have never seen him like that before. "



Daniel and I get in the car, we sit there for a while, silent, staring out the window at the rain, then we look at each other, he says " they've waited a long time for this." We both tear up. He takes us back up. I madly rush to get my outfit on and find my daughter, so thankful that her Auntie Deb and Minta had gotten her all ready.




11:00 - Deb and I head back down to the Lake with the Jesse and Annabelle for pictures of the wedding party, driven by dear friend who was amazing help with the kids that weekend. We get down there to find a soaking wet wedding party. Amazingly, the rain did not in the least dampen the beauty of the Bride. I on, the other hand, looked and felt very much like a drowned rat. Come to find out, the brides bustle came out and she couldn't move until someone ran up to get her a safety pin and we could put it back up, so her skirt wouldn't drag in the mud. So the Birde, poor thing stood there for over an half hour waiting for the safety pin and was chilled to the bone. She was afraid the camera would pick up all her goose bumps. Meanwhile we waited with the kids in the car and they both started to cry. When we got out of the car to take pictures, they started to cry, even harder. Annabelle covered her face with her hands and refused to look at the photographer. So I was pleasantly surprised to see that he got one even as good as this.



12:00 - We are done with pictures , we head back up to the cabin, poor Jesse had a very sad little meltdown on the way up. It was so pitiful and clear at that point that the little ones had had enough. We try and put Annabelle and the twins down for a nap. Only Jesse falls asleep.

( Bride with Mom and kids still at home: from l. to r. John, Daniel, Anna, Hildi (Mom), Mark, Greta and Tommy )

While the entire family is off getting pictures, a good friend of Anna's brother Daniel and who at that point had just met most of the rest of the family, decided to save the day by moving the tents from the reception area down to the ceremony site. So 12 guys pick up the two entirely put together tents and moved them. Now the guests will be somewhat out of the rain. And then there was cousin Deb, who was the coordinator. I really have no idea how many hundreds of things she made happen and disasters that were averted, because of her. She was amazing. We would often say to each other, worst case scenario...well worst case scenario is what we ended up with, weather-wise and I still cannot imagine a better day. There was so much joy and help and people were so gracious.



12:30 Shouting hello to people, getting lots of hugs as the guests arrived. Grabbing last minute things...Umbrellas, bouquets, running to make sure David has the rings, etc. It was crazy how much came together in those last few minutes. Poor Annabelle was not a happy camper, at that point and I guess she would fall apart every time I would run out the door. Poor baby. They took a picture, to prove it.




1:15 - We got the word, " ready to start."

Will try and not leave you hanging to long before I get to Part 2.