Sledding

A few weeks ago we went sledding with some friends up on the way to Dry Buck. We don't have snow-gear, so we borrowed snow pants, boots and gloves from our friends. Belle looked adorable in her snow pants.

Everyone heading up the hill to sled on down... (Belle is the second one in line)

Our sled was crappy on the hill. Here is Belle and Amber heading down the first time.

After discovering the sled was not a mover on the hill, Belle tried just going on the road. She loved this. She started learning to lean from side to side and eventually she would let go of one hand and give herself a push. She had a lot of fun sledding.



Good times, but I prefer the summer.

Jean Quilt

For Christmas this year I made Belle a jean quilt. I had big pictures in my head of what I wanted this baby to look like, and I must say, it is right on the money!

Annie and I had chatted about it and then I would chat with Mom about it and some to Holli about it, and then just made it happen. I wanted to do jean squares, but add the pizzazz that would compliment Belle's sassy style. I also wanted it to be something that can be used for many years, not just these next few while she's "little".

I bought yellow beads and ribbon and rick-rack and some yellow/gold colored tulle that had sparkles on it.

Then to patch holes we put silk behind the hole or yellow felt.

I bought a bumble bee iron on thing and buttons.

Pretty much anything yellow we could find and get on that quilt, we used. For the back, I used bright yellow fleece.

Belle was with me in the fabric store to pick out the extra "bling". She told me which bee she liked. She helped me pick out the beads and the ribbon. Then when I was at my mom's laying the squares out and figuring out where all the fancy-ness would go on what square, Belle was there, giving me her opinion. She kept asking who the quilt was for and I would just tell her it was a secret. Mom even said "I sure do like yellow things!" which made Belle think I was making it for her. It was funny. When she opened it Christmas Eve she said "Mommmmaaaaaa..... you tricked me!" It was great. She is taking very good care of the quilt and loves it. These pictures just don't it justice as I cannot put every precious little square on here. It was a fun quilt to make and I think she will enjoy it for a long time.

Thank you, Mom for helping me tie that monster!

B.I.N.G.O.!

Last Wed, Tren and I went to play Bingo at the senior center in Emmett. I drive by the place all the time and always see the advertisement " $499.50 jackpot , Wed/Thurs/Fri 6:30pm " and have been itching to try it out. I usually have Belle the only nights they play, so since she was at her dad's for Christmas still, we decided there wasn't a better time to go. We got there and all the doors on the front of the buidling were locked. We stood and looked in the window at all the seniors and they all just looked back. Finally, someone pointed to a door in the back, so we went around and went in. I have to admit, I was incredibly flustered. We got there at 6:25 and we knew we were holding everyone up. I was nervous and excited at the same time. One man explained how there are 10 games in each little booklet you buy and then there is the "butterfly" round where you can win more money than the regular 10 games. I bought 2 packs of the regular game (I think they were $2 or $2.50 each pack) and then 1 of the Butterfly ($1.00). Tren got 4 of the regular games and then 2 of the Butterfly. Then the man sent us over to buy our stamps/marker to mark our bingo squares. These say "Dabbin Fever" on them! I about died! Tren was the Teal and I used the Fuscia.

We went and found seats at one of the only available tables where two other ladies were sitting. We sat down and got settled in. The head-men did some figuring to see what the Butterfly winnings would be and then how much each game after that would be. The Butterfly was the first game played and I think the winning was $138. We did not win the Butterfly. (sniffle sniffle) On to our booklet of 10 Bingo games!! Each of these games had a winning pot of $27.75. Each game had different "bingo's". Since Tren was playing 4 cards at once, he was not able to talk back to me when I would talk to him. He had to stay focused. There really wasnt much talking at all, actually. Just a few "yesssss!" and "ughhhh" could be heard. When someone would call out "BINGO!" everyone else would sigh. It was so funny. We were on the "B N O" and that meant you had to get all your B's N's and O's to have the Bingo. Guess who won this one!? Tren did... and another player, so he had to split the pot with them. Then on to the Jackpot round where you can win $499.50! This was the black out round. They only call out 59 numbers in this round. When they get to the 57th number, they announce "57" and then if you still had 5 squares to get, you knew you weren't close to the jackpot. Well. They call out "57" and I have only 2 squares to fill! O.M.Gosh!! Im freaking out. They call the 58th number and it is one of mine. Holy crap!!! I'm REALLY freaking out now, and I keep elbowing Tren and he starts getting excited, too. They call the 59th number and it isn't one of mine. DANG! Then the bingo caller says "are there any good Bingo's?" and no one says anything. So they announce that they will continue on and the first blackout will be the regular winning amount of $27.75. I was so bummed, but also 1 bingo ball away from a black out. They call the 60th number and it wasn't mine. Then they call the 61st number and I got a blackout! I called out "BINGO!" and held up my hand and card and everyone sighed. HA! I won $27.75 and was 2 bingo balls away from $499.50. I'm officially hooked. This was so fun and easy and cheap. I can't wait to go again. Anyone else want to join me?!!

Merry Christams!

Christmas has come and gone. As usual we did our family gift exchange on Christmas Eve. I think everyone was pleased with what they got. Belle got a bb gun from Tren. She was loving it!!









This year for Christmas, Belle asked Santa for a Barbie Jeep (power wheel) Polly Pocket stove and sink, Twin Babies, and a Barbie House. Most every time she was asked what she wanted she would say "a barbie jeep". Santa checked craigslist but even then, with Santa's budget, that jeep wasn't rolling down our chimney. Belle and I talked about her list and I asked her how she would feel if she didnt get everything she asked for and she said she would be sad, but probably okay with whatever he brought. So, Santa came and brought a Polly Pocket Jumbo Jet.





She was so excited about it. She came in to my room, and Im not sure how long she'd been awake, but she knew more about this plane than I did. The middle part coming out is actually a runway and you can put a Polly into the boots that are there and then turn this knob and the Polly walks the runway and turns and goes back through the doors. It is quite the jet. After presents and a bowl of oatmeal, she got dressed and headed to her dad's to see if Santa made a stop there too.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Oh the Recital!!

Well, last night was the ballet recital and it was great! Belle looked so pretty. Melissa (Belle's dad's girlfriend) did her hair and make-up. She knew Melissa had glittery make-up and she sure looked sparkley and glittery. Her hair was very nicely pulled up and her cheeks were rosey. Belle looked absolutely adorable!



She did such a great job on her two dances. The only thing she could have done differently was not look at her teacher over to the side, but face the audience more. Other than that she did very well and seemed to be one of the better ones in her class. There was TONS of little dancers. Belle asked when she gets to dance on stage again. I think this is going to be a very good thing.

I got Belle some yellow roses and left them in her room for her to find when she got home. She was so excited. Her dad also got her some pink roses. And Grandma Bernice got her a pink one too.




Here is a link to her 2nd dance on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0aIxNwJ8JQ

Enjoy!!!

Ballet Recital

It's official!! Belle's ballet recital is:

Monday, December 21st

7:00pm at the Emmett Junior High

$3 per person / 5 years and under free (I will need to double check that, but I'm 99% sure)

A note came home from class last week giving all the juicy details! And, her costume came home!! I canNOT wait for this recital! It is going to be something else to see Belle dancing a practiced routine.

I hope you can all make it! Please let me know if you are planning and I will attempt to "save" seats for as many as I can.

Just a little taste ... here is the costume.

The Truth

After talking with Belle and Becky last night, there was a mis-communication. Belle had asked Becky if she would "pick them up today" and Becky said yes. Now, in Becky's mind, she was thinking at the bus stop so they wouldn't have to walk all the way home. In Belle's mind she thought at school. This is why she was not wanting to get on the bus to go home because she thought Becky was getting them.

Hector (applesauce victim) was showing Belle alien toys that were scary looking to Belle and she didn't want to have bad dreams. So, in her defense, she through applesauce at him.

After we had talked about the things she had done at school, I told her she wasn't going to be punished because there was a misunderstanding and because she already was punished at school for the sauce. Then I looked at the little braid I put in her hair every day and it had been cut! Strangely enough, there is a girl in her class name Grace and she let Grace cut her braid. Now Belle has a small, little section of her hair that is about 2 inches shorter than the rest. She will be raking and bagging the leaves all by herself tomorrow or Sunday. I don't like punishing by working, but she doesn't like working and we were going to bag the leaves together this weekend, but since she was naughty, she'll do it alone. I told her if she ever lets anyone cut her hair again when I'm not there, I will be shaving her head. She didnt like this and sobbed for a long time. In Belle's dramatic little ways, said everyone will call her names like "baldy" and then she would come home crying everyday from school. I said "that will probably happen, so I wouldn't let anyone cut your hair." A bit harsh, yes, but I think she needs some fear put in her.

What a night.

Grounded at 5 years old?

At 3:30 today I received a phone call from Butteview. They wanted to know if Belle was supposed to ride the bus home, because she had told Mrs Montgomery that Becky (the sitter) was picking her up at the school today. They werent sure if they should keep her off the bus, because they didnt have a note from me saying to do this. So they called. I hadnt heard anything from Becky so I told them to put her on the bus. After this phone call I decided I needed to put a stop to the bus problems. I wondered if I should be extreme and ground her. But what exactly will I ground her from? Polly Pockets? Barbies? What kind of chores can a 5 year old do that she will HATE!? I just dont know. Then around 4:00 I get the following email:

Emmy: Belle asked me to email you, because she got in trouble in the lunchroom today. Another student had some toys in his pocket during lunch and he kept showing them to her. She told him she didn't want to see them. Anyway to make a long story short, Belle threw applesauce at him. The cook brought them to me. I took his toys away until school was over. Belle had to clean up the mess for the cook and write her an "I'm sorry" note at recess. Belle and I talked at recess and I believe the problem is solved and she will not do it again. She felt really bad. When she went to the rest of recess she was smiling.

So, any suggestions? Im not really sure what to do or how to handle this situation. She's only 5... I was scared to death to do anything naughty at school. The worst thing I can remember doing was being naughty at church and my dad made a paddle that day and I got a spanking I'll never forget. But. Spanking these days is abuse.

What to do.... What to do....

Hen in the house!

Tren and I were able to get Henry on Thanksgiving day. Strangely enough, we got Rooster Thanksgiving day, 2 years ago. I bought an Extra Wide baby gate to try and cage him in the kitchen during the day while I'm at work. That wont pay off till he's a smidge bigger...

He was so quiet and scared...

It took him a while to get used to Rooster. She wanted to play all the time. Any time he'd move a muscle, Rooster was in her play stance crowched down to the ground. Hen didnt really get it at first. Now they get along and play and Hen even barks and growls at Rooster.

He is doing good with the potty training. He will go 90% of the time when you take him out to go. He gets a little treat for going and he loves them! Once he's big enough to go in and out the doggy door, I think we'll have the potty training under control.

Tonight, Rooster Hen and Belle all were playing. Henry keeps up pretty good.

He looks like the one who's judging the tug of war!

And what do you think my most favorite thing about little Hen is?

That little tail that wiggles and wiggles. Its one thing Rooster doesnt have and Im SOOOOO happy Hen does.

Big Rock

Last night I was driving home from work. I had just barely turned off Highway 44 on to Highway 16. I had reached about 65 mph and a huge farm/semi truck comes barreling down the road. Right as he passed me I hear a really loud "thunk!" and I reacted and ducked my head. I then looked up and my driver's side front window looked like this:






A rock flew up from the truck and smashed into my window. The point of impact on my window was about where my head was. If the rock had gone through, I probably would have been hit in the head/face and more than likely wrecked my car. With it being right after work and so many other people on the road, I probably would have caused an accident. I pulled over and shoved the glass out so it wouldn't keep blowing out and end up all over in my car and me.

What a joy. But I'm so happy the window was all that was damaged. I must admit, big trucks make me a little anxious now.