In My Own Little World

I would not consider myself anti-social by any means, but I certainly do not have an eventful social life. I don't attend every party or have my kids enrolled in every activity possible. I attend the church I attend because I love it. Not because it's the most popular church with the newest and hippest praise band (although my church's praise band can knock the socks off any praise band around!) *Ü* I don't drive the coolest car - Fiona, I love you, and if you give me any troubles, I'll never blog about you again! I don't wear the cutest clothes - if I've ever apologized to you for wearing fleece pants and flipflops or an old maternity t-shirt, you know what I am talking about.

We live in a small town where it snows cotton during harvest time and catching a glimpse of the new shetland pony that lives down the road on the way to school is the highlight of the day. We have a grocery store and a Dollar General - and everyone there knows us by name. At the grocery store, I exchange recipes with the produce man, and the manager gives the girls a quarter every time we see him. And my church. Oh my church. In less than one minute I can be surrounded by people filled with more love than I have ever known.
I love the little world where I live. Nobody judges me because I leave my Christmas decorations up until Valentine's Day. We get little sticky notes on our door from people begging Jason to sell them his old Land Cruiser (see...it's NOT a piece of junk!). And by golly, when I wear my fleece pants, flipflops, and old maternity shirt to the store, I am dressed up!
So if you don't see me around or wonder where I could be...I'm tucked in my little bitty town...doing laundry, washing dishes, and on the lookout for new baby calves in the fields.
I am in my own little world...and I like it here!

On Being Thankful

Today was a sad day. We said good-bye to Grandmother Ruth (Jason's grandmother).

We went to her house...it may have been our last time ever to walk through those blue doors. We smelled the familiar smells, saw her familiar things, played her familiar piano.

It was as if she was there, but she really wasn't. As if time had stood still. The great-grandchildren all went over to the familiar bucket of toys in the living room. They played with the familiar toys that had been in that bucket for years. They bounced from seat to familiar seat, just as they always had. There was a note still taped to the door of the back bedroom that said "Keep Out...Busy." It was a note my girls had taped to that door probably two years ago.
It is these familiar things that made Grandmother Ruth who she was. She didn't go around changing things all the time. She left things how they were and cherished them...from her bedroom furniture to the little Christmas tag with Macy's picture on it from her very first Christmas still hanging on her refrigerator. Right next to the Little League ball picture of one of the grandsons...who played Little League ball 15 years ago.
The eulogy given at her funeral today was beautiful. Priceless. Something that will stick in my memory for a long time to come (I hope forever). I could go through the whole thing, but I will leave you with the words that stung me the most.

"If you woke up tomorrow and all you had was what you thanked God for today, what would you have?"

Ummmm...ouch. When these words were spoken, you could literally hear a groan from the crowd at the funeral. A groan that said..."oh my, I've never thought about it that way." I groaned too. I repeated those words over and over in my head, not wanting to forget them. I could go on and on about that question...but I won't. It speaks loudly enough on it's own.

(my niece, Audrey...Ashley and Brent's oldest little girl)

It was comforting to be in Grandmother Ruth's house, yet left an emptiness still.

(my niece, Tatum...Brad and Erin's little girl)

We will miss her greatly.

(my niece, Caroline...Ashley and Brent's youngest little girl)

It has been a tough month. Praying the months ahead will be less sad. And full of more thankfulness.

Another Good-bye

Today has been a sad day. We lost Jason's grandmother early this morning. Although we have been expecting it, it is never easy. Our grandmothers passed away exactly 3 weeks apart.

Grandmother Ruth always tried to teach me a little about cooking. I remember telling her one day that I couldn't make a grilled cheese to save my life. I burned them every time. She told me I was turning up the heat too high and cooking them too fast...and that I needed to try cooking them over medium heat. Guess what? I can make the most perfect grilled cheese these days *Ü* I think of her every time I make one and always will. I have so many memories of her although she was Jason's grandmother...like summers at the ballpark...she hardly ever missed a game. She loved her sports, especially her Auburn tigers (the Forresters will appreciate that). Since I married Jason, I thought she and I had lots in common...because Jason is JUST LIKE his grandfather was. I often asked her how in the world she did it. She always told me just to learn to ignore him *Ü* I love you, Jason. She loved Macy and Lucy to pieces...she called them "her girls." One of the last times Jason visited her, he held one of the many pictures she had of them in her house, and said "whose girls are these?" Before she could answer him, Jason said, "these are my girls" to which she quickly corrected him by saying, "those are MY girls."

Fortunately, Lucy and I did not have anything to do today. We just had a quiet day at home. We were sad. Loss is hard to deal with no matter what. We had a bad moment when Lucy brought out a pink bird from her bedroom and asked where it had come from. No sooner did she get the question out of her mouth did she drop the bird, which busted into a bunch of pieces. That bird was my Nana's. I had found it in some of her things and thought it would be sweet in Lucy's room. I know that bird is just a thing...but it made me so upset. And it upset Lucy too. We had a little moment, then I explained to her that it was o.k. Nothing that we have can take the place of someone that we have lost...and the really important thing is that we cherish the memories we have of the one we lost. My girls are learning about loss at an early age, and I hate it for them. But they are also learning about the importance of having a relationship with Jesus, as all of their great grandparents have had.
I got a notion (here I go again...talking like my Nana!) to get out my sewing machine late this afternoon. I call her Bertha...don't know why...it just sort of came out when I was getting her out of the box...so Bertha she will be...cause you know I like to name things *Ü*
So I made a mess and wasted a bunch of thread...
And that was just trying to fill the bobbin. Oh me. I finally got it right, but I don't think it looks like it should...

Kind of messy, huh? Threading the top thread is no problem for me. My machine has a self-threader, however I prefer doing it manually (weird, I know). But it seems if the bobbin is not going to be my friend...boy is it hard to get right. My little instuction book even says "threading the bobbin is very difficult." Thanks a lot...as if I didn't notice.

I'll get it right one of these days. Hoping I'll find me somebody (come on over, Mandy M *Ü*) that can help me out with this. I've got lots of ideas running through my head, and I can't wait to waste more thread on them *Ü*

And before I go...

Pardon all the smudges on the window. Macy turned around and did this on her way out the door this morning. I made her freeze so I could get my camera. She is her Daddy's child. And that cracks me up *Ü*

Spool of Thread

I was sooooo good at keeping up with things Macy said when she was little...like had-a-notebook-good. Every little cute thing she said got recorded, and I would laugh when I went back and read through the list. One of my favorites was when she had gotten a plastic Spiderman toy in a happy meal (they didn't listen too well when I said I needed a girl toy)...our dog Abby chewed it up a little...as in chewed it's feet off...and Macy's response was "Spiderman can't skip anymore!" Why she said "skip" instead of "walk" or "run" don't know, but it ranks up there with my top favorite things she has ever said. And no...I never got rid of that Spiderman toy.

Sadly enough, I haven't done that good with Lucy. And she says some mighty hilarious things. I will usually go text J real quick to tell him something she said, but it doesn't get jotted down in a notebook. Bad Mama. I know. She has been on a roll this week. Macy has taught her a thing or two about Justin Beiber (oh bless us)...so Lucy is ALL into Justin "Beaver" now...walks around humming tunes that she has never actually heard before...but they are Justin "Beaver" songs, and she has "Beaver" fever *Ü*

And another one...she asked me the other day why we have ankles. Hmmmm...not sure about that one...to hold our feet and legs together? Well, then, why can't our feet just be stuck on our legs? Good question...*Ü*

And unless I blog about it, I may forget about the morning this week where she was up at 6:45, all dressed in her ballerina outfit (because she had worn it under her pajamas the night before...sneaky little thing) and asked me to get the gym mat out...she need to practice her skills *Ü*

I guess I can say some funny things too. Like when I told Jason I wanted a sewing machine. He laughed. I told him I was serious. And that's what I got for Christmas last year. However, I have learned that a sewing machine is no good without some thread *Ü* It took me awhile...I am blonde you know. Jason also thought it was funny when I told him I bought a spool of thread today. He laughed. I told him I was serious. I showed him the proof. Granted, it may take me another year and a couple of months to actually thread the machine...but I am on the right track, I think...sewing machine, check, thread, check, and as my Nana would say...I've got skads of fabric. And inspiration out the wazoo *Ü*

However, I have to admit, it is VERY nice to drop some fabric off at my Mom's and go back a few days later and pick up things like this...

Maybe I'll just wait to learn when I have grandchildren.

Oh wait...that's another funny thing...my girls say they are never, ever, ever leaving home...they are going to live with their Mama and Daddy forever...or "forevers" as Lucy says *Ü*

Love.that.

Tuesday

Macy had a report on "mammals" due today. This morning, I snapped this picture of her with her poster...her face matches the one on the board...one of the funniest pictures of her ever =)

As soon as the little Miss got out of bed, she put on her ballerina attire and danced around all.day.long.

It was a beautiful day again today...I can really get used to these kinds of days! The girls played outside from a little after 3 until nearly 6 o'clock.
Silly girl (with a big boo-boo on her eye)...

Macy created several obstacle courses in the yard, which they had lots of fun with.

Lucy is getting good at the monkey bars. At one point I had gone inside for a few minutes and had to run right back outside and rescue her from the 2nd rung.

Have I told you we signed her up for tee ball this summer? She really wants to play and is super excited about it. She informed me the other day that she wants to be the "pitter." I think she got "pitcher" and "hitter" confused =)

Changing the subject totally, I bought this mix at Dollar General today a dollar...oh.my.goodness...the biscuits were divine! We had them with spagetti tonight for supper.

The sunset was so beautiful this evening...

God is so good =)

How We Celebrated President's Day

Yay for a day out of school =) Macy's school was about the only school around that didn't make up a snow day today...I know we'll have to eventually make them up, but it wasn't today...and we were very happy about that! The bendaroos are still a big hit...

Lucy is a 4-eyes wannabe in some kind of bad way. Just like her Mama used to be...I used to pray for glasses. I got them alright. I am as blind as a bat...my contacts are negative 9 power or something like that. I keep telling her that her day is coming, unless somehow, miraculously, she got good eyes.

Macy walked around with this sign for the most part of the morning...

Makes me think that her Daddy would have done the same thing when he was little. Hee hee.

We spent a couple of hours outside...
Since Lucy became the "limbo queen" at the last skating birthday party she went to (have I told you about that?? So true...Lucy won "limbo" fair and square), she has become obsessed with skating and reminds me daily that she is having a skating birthday party this year. Yes ma'am!
All was good and fun until she fell. I had turned my head for half a second when I heard her scream. I looked up and she was laying on the concrete. My heart jumped up in my throat. I threw down what was in my hands and ran to her. No blood, thank goodness. Just a scratched up face...
After lots of hugging and kissing boo-boos, we blew bubbles...

And the girls picked flowers for me =)

And you know I can't let a holiday go by without a handprint craft. Oh yes...

Abraham Lincoln out of handprints. I adore.

Honest Abe's top hats were not polka dot, I am certain...but it sure would have made them cuter =) I cannot quit thinking about the Geico commercial with Abraham Lincoln and his wife asking him "does this dress makes me look fat?" Best commercial on t.v. right now! The look on his face is priceless!

I got a gift tonight from my sweet friend, Cindy. Thank you, Cindy...I love it. How absolutely precious and fitting...

Hope you had a happy Monday!

Sunday Snippets

Today was a beautiful day! The temps reached up in the high 70's...hard to believe it is February! But, in Mississippi, we may have snow a week or two for now...you never know!

This weekend was D-NOW weekend for our church's youth and several other local churches. It was so amazing to see ALL of those youth singing praises to Jesus...and to hear that so many had given their lives to Christ and made a promise to God that they were going to live for Him and take a stand. It gives me hope for my girls' futures. We had lunch today for my Dad's birthday, then went to my parents' house for dessert. Attempting to get a picture of all 4 of the Hollis grandchildren can be quite interesting =)
Tonight at church was "store night" for kids that go to AWANA. The kids earn "AWANA bucks" for attendance, verses said, etc. Lucy bought polly pockets with her bucks, and Macy bought "Bendaroos" which have been so much fun. The girls spent a long time last night making little bendaroo creations and sticking them on the refrigerator (please pardon the fingerprints on my refrigerator...had no idea there were so many until I saw this picture!!).I also love this butterfly that we made in Lucy's AWANA class tonight. Simple...coffee filters, watercolors, a pipecleaner, and a clothespin.. Since Macy is out of school tomorrow, we are up late tonight =) Macy found this little kit for making a horse face in one of her horse books... And now I cannot get the theme song for "Mr. Ed" out of my head.

"A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and noone can talk to a horse of course. That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed. Go right to the source and ask the horse, he'll give you the answer that you endorse. He's always on a steady course, talk to Mr. Ed. People yackity-yack all day and waste their time away, but Mr. Ed will never speak unless he has something to say! A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and noone can talk to a horse, of course. That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed!"

My girls think I am crazy! And now you will have it in your head...sorry!

Hope you all had a happy weekend!

Since I Last Blogged...

My goodness...it has been 9 days since I last blogged! For me, that's crazy! I guess you could say we have been what you call "busy." And you know me, I don't do "busy" good =) Here goes a little catchup on what we have been up to...

This just about made me cry...

I am excited for Lucy to start kindergarten in the fall...excited for her...for me, notsomuch. But she reminds me everyday that she HAS to go to school, and she is SO ready to start. When I ask her what will I do when she is in school, she says "you'll bake cookies, of course!"

We went out to eat last Friday night (the 11th) for my brother's birthday (and yes, I remembered to call him!). We went to Umi in Starkville...it is a Japanese restaurant...we ate at a table where they cook in front you (I believe they call that hibachi style...and oh.my.goodness! It was fabulous!

We had the cutest cook, but before I could snap a picture of him, Jason ordered me to put away my camera since I was being so annoying with it =)

We had a yummy birthday cake (which included my Daddy...his birthday was on the 17th)...

Last Saturday, Macy was very full of her little inventive self. She decided to make a seat that strapped on so she could take it everywhere she went...and when she got tired, she could just sit down.
That silly girl. If she was more of a mess, it would be scary.
We had a Sunday School Valentine's party that night. I got zero pictures, except for the Valentine's trees that I helped decorate with...

I have to say...we played our Sunday School teacher's version of "The Newlywed Game." It was hilarious and so much fun. And let me tell you...Jason and I know each other so well it is a little scary. We rocked it out and won!

One of my dear friends, Jennifer P. brought Macy and Lucy the cutest book last Sunday..."The Little White Owl." Such a cute children's book...and perfectly fitting since she and I both have a wee obsession with owls =)So this past Monday was Valentine's Day, of course. I am not a huge fan of Valentine's...I mean, it is o.k. and all, but was just never one of my favorite "holidays." We do always give the girls a little happy...this year we added to their "Lalaloopsy" doll collection...

And, I made funfetti cookies with the Valentine's funfetti cake mix I found at Wal-Mart...which we ate at bedtime...yummy =)

Smooches from Macy and Lucy...

My sweet friend, Darrie, whom I think could be another one of my identical cousins...seriously (Jason even said how much alike we were!)...stopped by the other night with a little happy for me. She started off by saying "now I didn't cook anything, I just mongrammed you some towels." Oh my! Look how cute!!

She can monogram and applique like nobody's business! I got tickled when Lucy said, "Mommy, how does Mrs. Darrie know your favorite colors are pink and turquoise?" Ha! I think everyone knows that about me...I may have mentioned that once of twice on here, wouldn't you say??!!

And speaking of Lucy, she asked me the other day who her "ant sisters" were. I was totally confused...until I realized she was meaning "ancestors." Too funny! Don't you love this ensemble (she raided Macy's and my drawers!)...

Perhaps the most exciting thing that has happened since I last blogged was the birth of one of my dearest friend's babies...

Miss Peyton Avery Jones was born yesterday! Remember when I showed you all those pieces of fabric and ribbon and told you that Jenifer and I had made something very special for Peyton's birthday? Well, this is it...

I loved how it turned out...I could see her door from a mile away =)

This sweet girl became a big sister...

I had talked to Lucy about how Peyton was a very tiny baby (and tiny is right...she only weighed 6.5 lbs!) and that we would get to hold her later once they got home from the hospital. Well, don't you know, the first thing she did was ask to hold her! Jenifer insisted she did...and I couldn't argue with a woman who had just had a c-section and was numbed up on pain medication. So Lucy got to hold little "sweet p"...
And so did I =)
I snapped this picture of Lucy in the car on the way home (and no, J, we were NOT moving...he always asks). She is listening to nothing...literally...these are the ear pieces to Macy's i-pod, however Lucy thinks it is super fun to wear them in her ears (connected to nothing) and act like she can't hear me. Geez...
And here is Macy when we picked her up from school yesterday afternoon...
Yay for a long weekend! Although we have had a bajillion snow days and every other school in town is having to use President's Day as a make-up day, Macy's school is out of school on Monday. Hooray!

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! It has been beautiful in our neck of the woods! We got our garage cleaned out (or excuse me...Jason got our garage cleaned out!), and you'll be glad to know that I FINALLY got the last of my Christmas decorations down. Whoo-hoo! I can quit apologizing for my Christmas tree and my outside decorations still being up every time someone comes over now =) I have to tell you, one of my sweet cookie customers offered to take it down for me last night...and she was so serious! Olivia, you'll be glad to know, that has now been taken care of!!