libby's day

We have a few traditions with our Libby on her birthday...1- cupcakes and b- cupcake face smash. She looks forward to it each year. The past coupla-few birthdays friends have performed the smash. This year she wanted white cupcakes with Duke blue icing.

For Libby's big day we took her and the other Wardlings to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. They filled up on treats, popcorn and soda...all they could eat and drink. (Gotta love the free refills @ this theater.)

Libby got a package from Maylee and Jared. She wasn't too happy that I made her wait to open the package today, instead of yesterday when it arrived. Thank you Maylee for the lovely yarn and the jewelry. The yarn will keep her busy for a long time!! Happy Birthday Libby!!

libby's beginning

In a few hours, Libby will be 11. Eleven years ago, right now @ 10pm, Clyde and I were on our way to our apartment complex's pool. In Asheville, once a year the city turns off the water, city wide and flushes the pipes...which means for 3 days...no water. I had been contracting since the afternoon showing of Barney, Erin was a huge fan, @ 4pm. I had a Homemaking even to go to, so Mom, Erin, and I went, whilst I was in labor. Anyway, since there wasn't any water, Clyde and I walked down to the pool, timing contractions, and Clyde took a mini bath in the pool. Mom and I left the Homemaking mtg. a bit early and the RS Pres stopped us in the little hallway. Mom told her that I had been contracting and that we needed to go home. I'll spare you all the details, but @ a little after 4am and non-working nubane shots and epidural later...not to mention the epidural going in the wrong vertebrae twice, Libby was born. We were thrilled to have another girl! (We didn't know gender.) The RS Pres. called our house the next morning, to check in on me and she jokingly asked if there was a baby, to which Mom told her indeed there was. (I should include that Libby was 2 weeks early & I had already been to the hospital once that week in a dehydrated labor. They wouldn't induce because I wasn't technically 38 weeks and it was unethical to induce prior 38 weeks. I was totally bummed.) The RS Pres was shocked that I had gone to Homemaking. Since I had had false labor for about a week, I didn't think anything of it. Libby was such a happy baby. Erin was thrilled to meet her. She turned purple screaming, "Baby, baby! Baby, Baby!!!" could not wait to hold her. We figured that since the girls were so close, 17 months and 20 days close, that it was more of a reunion that a first meeting. We love having Libby as a part of our family. Libby, Happy 11th birthday sweetheart! more pictures tomorrow...

once

Clyde had introduced us to Glen Hansard a few months ago. We had read reviews on the film, Once, and Clyde was very impressed with the Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova. The film was a huge hit @ Sundance. Last week we Netflixed the film and watched it. They made Once for as cheaply as they could, which was like $100,000. There was some foul language to the film, but the music was amazing. Here is the song, Falling Slowly, which won an oscar. Another cool song is this one: "When your Minds Made up" and then there is this one "If you want me" and this one "Lies." Good music.

hermione's cables and eyelet hat

I have been looking online now for some ideas for Christmas presents. I came across this awesome Hermione hat from a blog that I follow and the pattern was posted from this website. Being the big Harry Potter fan, I wanted to give it a try. The hat is Hermione's from the upcoming film Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince. If you haven't read the book then... chop chop...the movie comes out in 9 days.
So this is how my Hermione cable eyelet hat turned out. I like it! I think my girls do too! I have gotten 2 requests for one for themselves. The pattern was easy to follow and it is great.

The eyelets are in there and perfect I might add, I just think that the hat wasn't stretched out enough, on Penny's little head to show them off.

Hey- Auntie Jul...see the bee flirty skirt on Miss Penny??

4th fireworks

Clyde is such the good Daddy! He had picked up lots of fireworks on his many trips to the beach this past year. We happily set them on fire and watched them explode! We had so much fun!
Then around 9:15ish we loaded the van and headed downtown to watch the big fireworks. We literally parked on the side of the road to watch.

We all had fun...except Uno. She was such the scaredy cat! She hid in the bushes...

and behind the Wardlings. It was so funny to watch her reaction.

She whimpered for the rest of the night...until we let her in to sleep in her crate.

day @ the zoo

Last week we took the Wardlings to the zoo. We ran into the Jessup family on their way out. The weather was absolutely perfect! We had loads of fun naming plants (which there is wild mint growing all over and the Wardlings spotted it...Clyde first). We had fun feeding the geese and after feeding them, Penny thought it would be hilarious to chase them. It was funny to watch her run around and then one goose was hissing at her...she didn't care and kept chasing them. I think she wanted to pick one up.
We took a break @ the playground, to which Libby decided she'd take the opportunity to knit. While we had out friends over last week, I showed the girls, who wanted to learn, to knit. Libby picked it up quickly this time.

We really love watching the polar bear and the sea lions @ the zoo. I could stay there all day. I like the North American continent @ the zoo, but Africa is my favorite.

facebook news

As I was totally wasting time this afternoon, I scrolled down the posting list on facebook. I noted that a high school class mate had posted a R.I.P. to a mutual classmate. (I should clarify that there were 2 but I could only remember one of them. How sad is that?) After sending a few messages back and forth and looking up some obituaries, I discovered that the one friend, that I remembered, had died by her own hand. I was so sad for her. What on earth could have led to that drastic behavior? I realized how blessed I really was. We all have our ups and downs, but I have to admit that I am very happy with my life. I love my husband. We have 5 beautifully healthy, hillarious, wonderful children. Our, mine and Clyde's, biggest arguements are over clutter. Something completely silly. What a blessed life we lead.