Happy Birthday Glenna

What do you have to look forward to when you're 15?

Sophomore Year
Driver's Permit
New School (One day per week. We're still home schooling!)
NOT BOYS. ;-)
One step closer to no more braces
The unconditional love of your Mom and Dad

I love you, Sweetheart! Have a fabulous day!

(Clearing Throat. . . )

"Sounds great! Sorry I'll have to miss it!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, but no."

"Gee I wish I could, but I can't!"

"No. Sorry."


Just practicing.

Dear Jessie

I heard the final sonic boom this morning.

Wish you were here!

Dear Jessie

For a clue to the craziness, click here.

=)

Don't worry, there will be plenty to do when you return!

Yesterday, we started decorating the church for the wedding. Getting so excited!

Kelly got her hair cut and it's FABULOUS.

Cloé has told us that it's "never too early or too late" for chocolate. I wish you could hear her pronounce "chocolate." It's like "Choc - o - layte." =) I want to say it that way all the time now! The girl has it bad on the Moose Tracks.

Ty's truck is parked here. Makes me smile to see it when I come home each day.

I'm trying to find time and a good excuse to go see Julia! If she's speaking anywhere, I want to know about it. I'll text your Mom.

I'll hug your mom, too. I'm sure she wouldn't mind!

The dental office was crazy yesterday. You'll have to hear the details when you get home since I don't want broadcast it on the internet! I'm so proud of our Team and the way they handled everything!

Oh, and someone we both love whose initials are AG bought a house! Aaaahhhh!!! So happy!

That's all for now!

PS Glenna took Cloé to the W's and they watched Anne of Green Gables. And ate ice cream. With peanutbutter. Life is good!

Dear Jessie

You're right, I need to blog! Many times I am having to share my computer with our French student, Cloe, though. In fact, I came in early to work so I could write this to you before clocking in!

We are all preparing for Sarita and Nathan's wedding. Wish you were here!

Kelly got her bottom braces on yesterday. Wish you were here!

Glenna still loves her room. Wish you could see it!

Himself was in Cleveland all week, and we're about to do something crazy and radical. Wish you were here, as I know you'd approve!

My Disney pass was expired and I couldn't get into the Park. That was embarrassing. I had used them all. Glad you weren't here for that one.

I don't know what news Ty has told you, so if he has any as surprises, I won't say anything to ruin anything that may be ruined!

Much love and hugs,
Mrs

PS I hope your food is holding out!

My Favorite So Far!

Glenna week continues! =)

Before leaving for camp, Glenna was taking a creative writing class with Mrs. R. Since she'll be schooling differently next year, I was so thankful that Glenna had one more chance for instruction with Mrs. R! I love her assignments!

While this is undeniably my favorite poem, the following is, hands-down, my favorite paraphrased story. I'm sure you'll recognize this familiar tale, though it has a very unfamiliar setting!


Rightly Different
by Glenna W.

It was 1848, and the West was as harsh as it was giving. Although she proved herself as a brutal mistress, my pa squeezed out of her a wealthy living of cattle and had more success than any sheep herder could ever get even if he lived in a coat factory. But who cares about any wool-pokers; this here's about my little brother, Mick. The fool was never where he shoulda been and was lazy from his red head to his sixth toe. When I thought he couldn't get any dumber, he got it in his hollow head that he'd just up and skip all the work and ask Pa for all the money he was gonna get when Pa bit the dust, which turned out to be a lot of loot for one guy. Oddly enough, Pa gave it to him. Off Mick went with his crooked grin and fat pockets, leaving behind a distressed Pa and one angry brother.

As a year passed by, I became the best dang cow herder around. Not that it mattered or nuthin', I was too fed-up with that good-for-nuthin' brother that I'd snarl at the ranch hands 'til I had about as many friends as a grizzly. Pa never noticed. He was too busy hiking up a hill to check for that no-good cheat. On one particular day, the Swede man on the ranch gave me a letter with Mick's chicken scratch all over it. It said:

Jedd,

Wall, here I is in Californy lookin' for some gold. I'm puttin' Pa's money into some tools for siftin' and mebbe I'll use 'em one day. But the water's real cold and I hear the wimmin' like it better when ya got all yer toes on the end of yer foot. But heck! I got an extry one of those to spare! The other day a sheep man told me that if I don't get no gold I could mebbee work for him. He done said that if I can't handle the sheep he got ducks I can poke 'round. Little does he know I was the best hand on Pa's place! But I'll never need his help, that's for shore! The gals down at the saloon be callin' me, and who am I to refuse? I'd hate to be ya, Jedd!

~ Mick

With disgust, I tossed the letter like a dead rattler to the corner of the room and spat in its honor. I tipped back in my chair moodily and took my sweet time in brooding. My sulk was cut short with cries coming from outside. If it wasn't the hands shoutin', "He's back! He's home!" I bolted to the window to see none other than my brother swingin' home with my proud Pa's arm around his shoulder!

Limping out to where the action was, (them dumb cattle never can put their hooves where they should), I heard Pa ordering up a feast in honor of the rat. That did it. "Pa!" I exploded, "What are you thinking? Don't you know I have practically been running this place by myself because of the holes this kid left? Why on earth are you givin' him a party, let alone letting him step a foot on this ranch?"

Pa chuckled and roped me under his arm saying, "Jedd, you should know by now that all I got here is yours. As for your brother, he's been gone, but now he's back, and whatever he done is did and I'll forgive it. Because by Jove I love 'im! And I love you, too, so quit workin' so hard!"

With another hearty laugh, Pa walked off to see to the party. Looking at Mick critically, I grinned as a duck feather floated down from his coat. "Sheep get the best of ya?" I joked. He scowled at me. Then things seemed right again, but somehow I knew it was all going to be different.

The Other Room

These are the photos of Ty's former room. It was the first room Himself painted when we moved into this house, seven years ago. The paint still looked great, but we had to clear out Ty's leftover "stuff" and get it ready for our guest! Glenna was able to help with this before she left for camp.

I really need to invest in a camera! This is a futon in the corner. We covered it with a slate grey sheet from Ikea.


When I picked Cloé up from the airport, I was explaining to her the surprise we had waiting for Glenna. She saw these photographs and asked if Glenna liked horses. When I told her that this was actually HER room, she was so delighted!








White duvet and sheets with slate grey pillowcases.





In hindsight, I would not have chosen such a patterned curtain for the closet area. It really limited our choices on bedding.


I left this photo in there. It's the little boy who used to occupy this room. ;-) So cute!




I'm glad Cloé was here for Glenna's surprise! She was understandably exhausted and we all went to bed early.

Except for Glenna. I could hear her exploring her new room all night. =)

For Glenna (and a ton of photos!)

While Glenna was at Youth Camp with her church youth group, I decided we'd do an Extreme Makeover on her room. It was time! Her bed was one we had from California and it was horrible. The boards had broken on the box spring and it sagged in the middle. It also smelled badly and I'm sure it wasn't good for her back!

Kelly and Glenna were having some sister time, browsing on the computer, so Kelly was able to spy out what her sister would like for a new bedroom. Glenna left on Monday and we got to work! Himself was supposed to be out of town from Tuesday to Thursday and I agonized over that since it meant he'd have to paint and then we'd decorate, all in one day. Thankfully, he came home Wednesday night! He did one coat of yellow on Wednesday night, then he would head upstairs to paint a coat in between his calls and work. The painting was completely finished by Thursday!

We were also trying to prepare Ty's former room for our visiting student, Cloé. I could not have done everything I did without the tremendous help of my Kelly! She braved Ikea with me, still recovering from having her wisdom teeth removed. I was so thankful to have her to help me focus, make decisions, and do the labor. Paul H also came and helped move things up and down these stairs, which is a story itself!


We had already taken out the top mattress and a lot of stuff from the floor before I realized I needed some "before" photos!



The room is 7' by 9' and there really wasn't room for this dresser. We put it in Ty's old closet for guests. I decided to get bins for her clothing that would fit under her bed.




We gutted the room completely and then the painting began.
This is actually something he enjoys on occasion. He says it's therapeutic.


First coat. It would take three to cover.


Re-arranging her tiny closet.


We had to take apart her school desk in order to get it up the stairs.


Kelly and I sat in the room once the painting was finished and agonized for quite a while on where we would place everything. It looks like she's about to film an action shot in front of a green screen!


The next morning, the assembly work begins!



First Branch.


"Yikes!"


They peel and stick easily. It will be interesting to see the durability!





We originally wanted to place these next to the bird picture, below, but we decided they were a more delightful surprise hiding on the side of the desk where she could only see them when she was in bed.


I just loved this squatty little lamp at Ikea!


Finished tree! We deliberately left some frames empty for Glenna to fill with her photography.























This is the quilt that started the entire thing. She fell in love with it in a Pottery Barn for Teens catalog quite a while ago. I think she had her fingers crossed when it went on sale!


Navy blue Jersey sheet, Target. Yellow Polka-Dot duvet from Ikea. Accent pillows from Target.


She really needed a central place for books and study. No school books yet, because she's FINISHED for the summer!


The next series of photos were taken as I stood in the corner of her room, waiting for her to come in. I apologize for the blurriness, but all I had was my iPod!

Talking to Kelly. . . .


. . . .beginning to register. . . .



. . . she sees The Quilt!















My Desk!



"I can't believe it!"






What's this???


She sees the tree. . .








It's so pretty!





One Happy Girl