A Real Love Story

Happy 90th birthday to my beautiful Grandma Fernith!

She's hardworking, loving, kind, & generous. Even into her eighties, she could outwork most of us grandkids.  My uncle finally hid the chainsaw to keep her from trimming the trees (this was just a couple years ago).   As a child, I loved spending the night in her home.  There was always chocolate in the drawers and fun 50's teen novels to read (from her days as a school teacher).  I loved her beautiful blue jars in the window sills and warm plums from her backyard trees.  My cousins that lived near her really worked hard, but I think I got off easy (sorry!!).  

Best of all, is when she would tell us about meeting grandpa.  She was a local Arizona girl.  He was a handsome Italian boy from Boston.  Below is one of my favorite pictures of him (he's in the middle).  I LOVE the white shoes and sunglasses.  

They met at a USO dance in Arizona while he was in Arizona for desert training.  She was wearing a beautiful black dress with fringe that swayed when she danced.  He was in his army uniform.   She caught his eye; he walked around her once, and they feel in love.  That night he told her that she was the girl he was going to marry.  

Soon after, grandpa was sent back to the east coast for more training.  He got a furlough for eight days and they arranged to meet.  Grandma traveled on a train by herself from Arizona to Chicago where she met her handsome Italian.   They called the mission home and asked to be married.  A young missionary by the name of Marion D. Hanks was a witness.  

Soon after, grandpa's unit was sent overseas where he served as a medic.  Grandma stayed home, anxiously waiting for letters and listening to the radio for news.  It was a surprise when she received a call that Grandpa had been baptized at a stopover in Hawaii.  He had waited to tell her that he had been studying the church until he had a testimony.  

I love them both dearly and am so grateful for the influence they have been in my life.  Grandpa passed away before I was born, but I feel like I have always known him.   They truly had a great and real love for one another.  This love continues to bless our family.   Thanks grandma & grandpa!

Just a few reminders

I love being a mom

It's everything all at once:  Crazy, fun, tiring, good

Kids always remind you of things that are more important than calendars and schedules:

Sometimes you need to play until you are so exhausted you can't move

Laughing really is the best medicine

Pajama days are the perfect

 remedy for a serious case of "fakeitis"

Love really is what it's all about (especially when it's your cute little cousins)

Reflections

This is  a beautiful video of pictures than an artist took representing the life of Christ.  The pictures were displayed last year at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake.  I have watched this short video many times and want to order the original.   The music is also beautiful.  I thought you also might appreciate this on a Sunday.  

Teacher Pencil Gift

One of my school jobs this year is Teacher Appreciation (at two different schools).  I love this job because no one complains and everyone is just happy with what we do.  So much better than fundraising ( I still have scars from that job).  

Anyway, I got an idea from this really cute shirt of French Fry's (from Delias.com):

For $70, we were able to make 60 teacher & staff gifts for French Fry's school.  I feel better about spending the money when it goes towards supplies that the school could really use.  Each teacher/staff member got a box of Ticonderoga #2 pencils with a card that said "Our pencils are #2, but our teachers & staff are #1."  It would have looked cuter tied up in a cello bag with a ribbon, but I was trying to save money (and also make one less trip to the store).  

Anyway, our teachers loved the gift.  I know many of you are also involved in PTA, so please feel free to use the idea!  I will post more ideas as we get closer to Teacher Appreciation Week. 

Tooth Fairy Pillows

(I'd thought that I should share a few craft projects since

 I have gotten so many ideas from others' blogs. )  

        Princess' Kindergarten teacher asked me if I could sew some tooth fairy pillows for her.  I've done it a couple times since two of my older children had the same teacher in Kindergarten.  I'd forgotten that now there are 33 in the class instead of 2o.  I also didn't realize that another mother had changed the design since I'd last sewn them.  

Here is what they used to look like: 

Cute, but very easy.  My older kids still have theirs tucked away somewhere.  

Here is the new design:

O.K.  I agree - it is much cuter.  But there is a lot more cutting and sewing!  The teacher said I could pick which design to do.  Instead I let Princess pick.  And so, three months later (I know - very slow!), here is what 37 tooth fairy pillows look like. (I decided to make a few extra to make up for the fact that it took me so long).  

And just for fun, here is a simple tooth fairy pillow that I made for the girls years ago.  It makes me happy that they still use it (usually as a doll pillow).

Happy Birthday, Princess!

Happy Birthday to my sweet little girl.  

I can't believe my baby is already six years old.  

Princess has made me realize that they grow up way too quickly.   

Princess is made of :

kisses  running feet hugs  dress-ups  singing

dancing friends    laughter 

Opps!

Look closely and you can see a footprint in our newly plastered space where the wall was earlier removed.  I only have one question:  "How?"  

When the culprit confessed, she confidently whispered in my ear, "Mom, it's O.K.  My sock was on."

How can you get angry at that?