5th Grade Colonial Day

Things have calmed down a bit in some respects now that Christmas is over but have picked up in others.  The decorations are put away, we've celebrated Anne's Birthday and now I move into my crazy Calligraphy season.

My phone began ringing on January 3rd and I'm booking weddings clear into October!  So excited though!  This is going to be a great year!  Of course, winning the 2011 Best of Weddings Award from the Knot.com will help that significantly.  The winners list was posted on the web site today.  I'm thrilled!

Last Sunday I spent the day at the Bridal Show at World Golf Village.  The January show is the largest of the year.  I talked until I was hoarse and passed out a ton of business cards.  I always love those shows!




But, life at home continues the same.  School, work, etc.  Today was no exception.  Usually, I spend my volunteer hours at the kid's school in Anne's classroom, but today I got to help with Jarod's Colonial Day.  What fun we had.

Jarod's class just completed a big unit on Colonial America and they finished it out with a Colonial Day Celebration.  The kids received extra credit if they dressed the part and we parents manned the booths!   Jarod and I set out yesterday to find a white shirt.  Thank goodness for the Salvation Army!  $2.99 for a fancy shirt - can't beat that!  The vest was mine.  One of those saved from the '90's when vests were popular.  Actually, it's the only one I saved because my mother had made it.  Just couldn't part with it.  Jarod was proud to wear it knowing it was made by Grandma.

 I got to work at the Quill Pen Booth!  How fitting is that?  I had so much fun!  The kids got to try to write with real feather quills and ink. 

 The Cat's Craddle Booth - (String Games)  This is Jarod's "Witches Broom"  He was so proud!

 Dipping Candles

 Writing with the Feather Quill.  He's a lefty so he had to work from right to left so as to not get his hand in the wet ink.

 The kids all decided they like their modern pencils better!  It was fun to watch them all try.  I was this age when I learned Calligraphy at a Medieval Fair at my school.  You just never know.......

 Hot Apple Fritters!  Yummmm!

 Virginia Wheel Dancing!  This seemed to be the least favorite of all.  You know - they had to hold hands!  

Jarod and I danced together at the end.  No photos of that though.  It was such a fun morning!

Until next time.......

Happy Birthday Anne!

Although Anne's Birthday is this Tuesday, the family got together on Friday night to celebrate.  I thought I would share a few pics.....

 Anne chose Ariel as her birthday theme this year.  Much easier than the Castle Cake from last year.  Although, I will tell you that I put my foot down on anything that had to be 'built'!

Ariel is Anne's favorite Princess.  When I asked her why she said it was because "she sings the best!"  Ha!

 Love this pic - they actually look like they love each other.  Sometimes it's hard to tell around here.  :-)

 

 Mommy and Daddy with our 'Anne Girl'

 Chloe was trying to help with the presents!  Too cute!

 More nail polish!  There's been a theme this Christmas and Birthday!  She now has more than I do.  Well - I did promise her painted nails when she stopped sucking her finger.......

 Lovin' this Minnie Mouse!

 We gave her her very own Bible - she was so excited!

Singing "Happy Birthday!"

Tomorrow, she and I will bake cupcakes to take to school on Tuesday.  I can't believe she is 6! 

How time flies. 

January 11

Each year - for the past 6 years - we get through Christmas and I scramble to plan Anne's Birthday.  It's the same day every year - January 11.  But it sneaks up on my every time.  I know it's coming.  We talk about it through the entire month of December.  But for some reason, during that week in between Christmas and New Year's, I think I have an extra week.  This year is no exception.

January 11 brings mixed emotions in our family.  Anne was born on the same exact day - two years later - that Russell's big sister, Belinda, died from breast cancer.  She died a month after my mom.  That was a rough year.

Belinda was only 46 and so spunky.  I loved her.  She was a 'tell it like it is' kind of lady.  She was never afraid to voice her opinion so you always knew where she stood.  She didn't have any children of her own but she loved her nephews.  Anne was only a dream in our hearts at the time but she wanted a little niece very badly.  She gave me a few gifts before she died and told me they were "for Anne" - whenever she came along.  I wish she was here to know her.  In many ways Anne is a lot like her Aunt Beau (that's what the kids called her).  So many times Anne will get in one of her feisty moods and we all laugh and say, "That's so Belinda!"

During the end of my pregnancy with Anne, my doctor talked to me about inducing.  He said he was available on January 11.  Normally, I think any woman at the end of her pregnancy would jump at the the idea and not think twice about it.  He paused a moment when I asked him if I could get back to him on that.  I called Russell's mom and asked her if she thought it would be okay - if Anne having her birthday on that day would bother her.  Of course, she said no - that it would give us something happy to celebrate each year at that time.

It has been 8 years since Belinda passed.  And each year we celebrate Anne's birthday.  Life as we know it goes on.  Sometimes it may seem that Belinda may be forgotten - but that is not the case.  She is always in my heart and on our minds.   Always in the background of the celebration - a silent visitor to the party.  This year will be no exception. We will all gather this evening and celebrate the wonderful gift of Anne that the Lord has given us and in the back of our minds, someone will be missing.