Thursday, November 18, 2010

Monday, November 15, 2010

Gloria, the tender-hearted drama princess...

I don't have a lot of time to write this blog, but I just had to write about this today.

For Gloria's 6th birthday, Max and I gave Gloria a beautiful, yet previously-owned American Girl doll, Elizabeth.  Gloria seemed to love her from the very day she got her and has taken very good care of her, always putting her to bed in her American Doll Collection chest.  I got a load of American Doll stuff for only $115, including Elizabeth, two years ago in Alabama when a fellow homeschool family was selling the lot.  I can't believe what a good deal God put in my lap.  The only reason I got it was that I was on the computer the moment she sent the e-mail to a homeschooling group and was the first to respond...thank you God!

Here's a run-down of what happened today:
Gloria got an American Girl doll catalog in the mail.  She found Elizabeth.  It mentioned that Elizabeth and her friend doll, Felicity, were not going to be made anymore.  Gloria mentioned that her Elizabeth had a broken eye (it didn't shut when she laid her down) and the previous owner was a little too aggressive about brushing her hair and pulled some of the hair out so that if you look under the top layer of hair, Elizabeth is missing a chunk in the back.  I still think I got a great deal on her.

This conversation reminded me that someone had told me that American Girl has an American Girl Doll Hospital, where you send off the doll with an "admission form" and mail it with the doll to the "hospital".  On the order form, I ordered "new head" but didn't tell Gloria that, I just said she would be having surgery on her eye and would get some new hair.  Apparently, the American Girl doll is sent naked with this "admission form" and a fee, then is returned washed and renewed with a hospital gown, an ID bracelet and a Certificate of Health.  When I read this to Gloria she was soaking it in and had a huge smile on her dimpled rosy cheeks.

I knew she was happy about the prospect of getting the doll fixed, but I was unprepared for the sadness that would come over her when she realized we were packing her in a box and wouldn't see her again for 2-3 weeks.  I told Gloria we didn't have to do it, but Gloria just said "no, I want her to get better."  She gave Elizabeth a kiss with tears in her eyes and we wrapped her in old, clean towels so that she wouldn't get cold.  After this Gloria kept saying that she was glad, but she was sad.

As the evening went on, Gloria babied the cardboard taped-up box with her doll in it.  It was so cute to see, knowing that she knew her doll must be "scared" and "lonely" in the dark box.  She had box with Elizabeth sit in the seat next to her at dinner.  She read Elizabeth books on the couch and sang to her.  Now she has Elizabeth in her sealed box sleeping in her bed with her.  So sweet.  I wonder how it will be tomorrow when we take her to the UPS place...

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Evie Practicing Walking

 Holding onto Daddy's finger

 Daddy very patiently walks with her

 She loves using this "walker" toy that she can push and some friends are lending us.
Walking with Gramma Shell and brother Benaiah in the squadron at the "trick or treat" and pumpkin carving.

Playing with the kitty after church

 Moo Moo hiding under my skirt.  Maybe she can't decide if she likes all the attention.


 The girls on the back patio.

This is a very endearing kitten.  We are not a "cat family" but I could definitely be an "outdoor cat family" which is what we have become.  Moo Moo is definitely more than a mice-catcher, she's fun to watch and have around.  She's very good with kids.  She originally came from Colorado as a kitten brought by Gramma Shell after she got the heartbreaking call from Gloria that our other black kitten who adopted us, died.  Gloria is the one that feeds the kitten.

JB looks out for the "interests" of Evelyn...






Evelyn stands for the kitty and gives her cheesy smile...

Evelyn is 14.5 months now.  She is the most cautious of our bunch of kids when it comes to skill development and being ready to use that skill on a regular basis.  Crawling was testing testing testing to see exactly how the mechanics worked and walking is proving to be the same way.  She definitely has the balance and the skill to walk at this point but she's being extra cautious.  I sometimes catch her "practicing" and testing out her walking legs when she thinks no one is watching.  When she sees someone watching (and claps for herself) or still finds that she is a little unbalanced, it is almost like she says "nope, not today, maybe tomorrow" and tears off crawling.

Moo Moo (named by our kids because she has spots like a cow, apparently), our outdoor kitty is extremely tolerant of Evelyn.  Evie will grab at her head and her body and pull Moo Moo toward herself and onto her lap.  The kitty just lets it happen and seems to even enjoy it.  Today Evelyn wanted to stand up and pet the kitty.  Actually she was trying to hold the kitty standing up, but JB was being a very good big brother and holding the weight of the kitty for her.  Evelyn was full of big cheesy grins as she had the kitty right where she wanted her.