Future Nail Tech?

Last night I let Belle paint my toes... She has been wanting to paint her own for a while now, so I let her give mine a whirl.

First we started with a nice foot scrub in some delicious hot water. She got the bath going for me and everything, just like I do for her.

Then it was on to the painting. I put a towel down on the floor so we wouldn't get any polish on the floor and boy am I happy I did that!! I chose the red color.

She wasn't sure how to touch my toes or how to get them in the right position for her to paint them. It was so funny. She would paint my skin and say "Oh shoot, Momma! I messed up... I went outside the lines". I told her it was fine and that it would come off in the shower.

When she was done with the polish, it looked like my toes were all bleeding!

Then she ran into the bathroom and got some Q-tips to clean up the spots that were "out of the lines". Some of my toes were stuck together with polish. She would talk as she worked "... now I need to get this wet again... and then wipe that off from there... oh that's a messy toe... " I loved it and had a hard time fighting back the laughter.

Her little fingers, daint-ily touching my toes, was hysterical!

Then she wanted to do some fancy designs on my toes with the "art polish". These brushes are long and skinny and make great lines and things. I let her choose the colors and design. First she put a white line across every toe. Then a sparkley blue line (as seen below).

Finished toes. I'm ready for the 4th of July!

She was so proud of her work and I was too. It was a nice break from doing my own polish and doing hers.

Interview with Belle

I finally got around to asking the questions and weighing and measuring Miss Bellami!!

She is 45" tall and a whopping 40 pounds!

What is your name? Belle

What do you want to be when you grow up? a Cowgirl

What was the hardest thing you had to do today? Make snowflakes at school

What is your favorite thing? flowers What kind? daisy

What makes you happy? When I'm in my bed.

What is your favorite thing to do for fun? Play with the dogs.

What is your favorite thing about school? When we get to have lunch.

What is your least favorite thing about school? When we go to the rug, because we can't talk there.

How many brothers and sisters do you want? 3 sisters and 1 brother

Who is your hero? Bradley -he is the boy Belle is going to marry and he is the son of the sitter she goes to on school days-

What is your favorite food? bananas

What is your favorite day of the week? Sunday... cuz it's the weekend.

Who is your best friend? Grace and Lindsey from school

What is your favorite song? Life is a Highway -Chris LeDoux- and Twilight music

What is your favorite color? Pink and Purple

Do you have a lucky number? 2 What is a lucky number? I don't know.

What do you like most about me (Momma)? The way you let me sleep with you and how you are warm. (I liked asking this one because she always has the nicest things to say about me...)

Since school started, Belle has done a lot of "playing school". She will teach her dolls and stuffed animals. I have found many pieces of paper with their names on them, which means they did something bad and got their name on the board. She has been very much in to "projects" and drawing and cutting and glueing. She drew me a picture of a monkey and it looks VERY much like one.

When I got through her backpack from school lots of the papers, I would say 85% of them, have "Belle Mom Tren" written across the top on the name line. Or she will write "I (heart) Mom" down the side or just somewhere on the paper. It is very sweet, but probably not going to go over too well next year in First Grade.

She is doing great in school and learning to read and count and all the great things you learn. I just can't believe it still.

To see last year's interview... go here.

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?!!