A face full of Braces!

Madison is such a beautiful girl. She is a delight to have around. She is always trying to entertain in one way or another. It seems from the time she actually started getting her baby teeth there has been a issue one way or another. Now her adult teeth are coming in and well there still is stuff going on inside that mouth of hers. Yes, she got braces in August and she will have them when she is a teenager too. Her teeth missed the" how to be normal lesson!" She was very excited to get them on though and it has been pleasant except for the first night they were put on.I hope I am not scaring you too badly with this close up shot. Can you see how crazy it looks in there. I think in this photo she has had her braces on for 2 weeks and we can already see a big difference in her upper right hand tooth. Dr. Larson is doing a good job. Way to go!

SEW & SWAP!

Tomorrow is the big day. It is our RS Ward Quiet Book Exchange. We are gathering for a Potluck luncheon and exchanging our pages that we have sewn so diligently for the last three months. There are 17 sisters in our swap! We had a lot of sewing going on! But its worth it. I have seen a good amount of the pages that are being made and they are amazing! Our ward has so much talent and ambition.
I made the barn page in Canada and my mom helped me with it.
I made this page and realized that I made it too small and re-did it. I changed a few things on it too. The cookie jar is a pocket now as well as a magnet board. The cookies have magnets in them and numbers on one side and corresponding chips on the other side.
This is the reverse side of the cookie jar. The cupcake has snaps to detach with stitchery underneath it.
And this is my cover page. Kathy so graciously stitched the title and bumble bee on with her machine. It looks so good. I am very please with it. On the back of this page is pocket for extra things to hold. The great thing about the end is that it is all done and isn't in my closet waiting to be finished.

Flower fun!

Madison got a hold of the camera and took some really cute photos of Thys and Kendell. Our flower garden is small but I think she captured something!Kendell is just growing up so fast. She loves to be with Madison. She calls her Maaaaa. Sydney is NeeNee and she can say Thys very well.
Try not to focus too much on the weeds! It is too hot to weed my garden right now. Or maybe I am just too lazy to do it.

Preserve it!

Canning, canning and more canning! It is that time of year. We had a little garden this year that gave us some yummy tomatoes, peppers and herbs. Lots of zucchini and carrots and chard. We were blessed to receive some donations from some other gardens (you know who you are) and able to make Salsa, Tomato Sauce and Peaches.

It makes me so happy to see it on the shelf ready to eat!

Madison, Sydney and Thys are in school and loving it! I miss them but its nice to have a little more time to finish some projects that I have had going on over the summer holiday.


Keeping with our tradition, we walked to school on the first day with all the children. Found Madison's and Sydney's classes and met their teachers.

We're back! Yes, we made it. Gary came to Victoria and brought us home. We had a great time on our holidays. But I'm not sure that I want it to end. Yes, I confess that I love to be around my family and in my homeland. I could go to the Great White North anytime. Its nice to be back in our own bed though and close to our friends again. We missed everyone so much... but this weather is so hot! I don't know how you all handle it! We left BC with the most comfortable of weather. Infact, Gary did not think to bring a sweater and there was a cool breeze in the air. It was cool enough for him to be cold and to go and buy himself a sweater in Victoria. He kept saying "This was a great buy. Only fifteen dollars!" the rest of the trip. He was really surprised that he would need a sweater. Other than the night Gary arrived I didn't wear a sweater the whole trip. I just think he was use to So. Cal heat. We were outside enjoying the area everyday and not hit in the face with the heat. This is one reason why we go north every year and why I stay up there so long. It is just so comfortable. While in Victoria we went somewhere everyday to enjoy and celebrate just being there. It may have only been to a park it was still fun. "Everyday holds the possiblity of a miracle."--Elizabeth David It just depends on how you look at it. It was such a miracle for me to visit and be with my family. I am very blessed to have a husband that understand this intense need that I have to go home to my roots every year. I really want my children to find a connection and build memories of the places that I hold dear to my heart. Well, we hope you all have had a good holiday too, eh. That's how you say it in Canada. And if you ever want to come to the Island I would love to take you to my favorite spots.