Grateful Sunday #2

While I was pondering the things I have to be grateful for and which of these I should post about today, I found out that just over a week ago Tasha Tudor passed away. If you don't know who she is, she was an amazing childrens book author and illustrator.

I was first introduced to her (even though I had read books of hers unknowingly before this) through my friend Emily. She told me about this book called The Doll's Christmas and how in her family growing up they would read it every Christmas and then have a tea party with their dolls. I knew this was something I wanted to do with Abi.

Then I was reading a book about Victorian traditions and the book kept mentioning Tasha Tudor and how she lived today but still celebrated an old fashioned way of life. I checked out a book about her and was shocked at her lifestyle. She really did live the way people did so long ago in the midst of todays world.
Most people that know me know that I am all about traditions. I have traditions for everything and I love having parties and adventures to celebrate everything. I owe this to my mother. She taught me that life is worth celebrating, even and maybe especially, the little things.
Today I am grateful for the life of Tasha Tudor, for someone who created beautiful stories and pictures for the rest of us to enjoy and share with our children. I am grateful that she created a world where Corgi's gather around the Christmas tree to sing carols and doll's have lives of their own. There are so many things today bombarding our children and so many of us have lost the values and love of family traditions that bring families together that our ancestors held dear. I want everyone to remember this woman that was able to keep these things alive.
If you've never heard of her- go rent a book from the library. Thanks Tasha Tudor for your contribution to this world. This Christmas Abi and I will be having a tea party with our dolls and we will be thinking of you.

Where in the world are the Little Einsteins?

As I have mentioned before, Abi loves the Little Einsteins and her little Einsteins toys. My favorite thing about this is how every day I find them in a different place. So far this week:
Tuesday they were waiting in line to use the bathroom:

Wednesday they were sleeping in the "fridge":

Today they are sleeping in the "oven": (and yes, she has decided the toy fridge is the oven and vice versa.)

I wonder where I'll find them tomorrow.

Thursdays Thirteen

My (Cheryl's) 13 favorite movies of all time: (in mostly random order)

1.Anne of Green Gables/ Avonlea- always has been, always will be. I will forever love Gilbert Blythe. I will always be proud that my middle name is Anne. I can't wait to share this movie with Abi. Although I was not crazy about the third one.

2. The Philadelphia Story: First of all- the amazing cast. You don't get much better than Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Katherine Hepburn in one film! Doug even liked this one. I say that because he has a prejudice of all things black and white. If you haven't see this- SEE IT!!

3. The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Love all three equally.

4. Every Girl Should Be Married- another classic Cary Grant film. This film just makes me laugh, it's as simple as that. Anything with Cary Grant in it is worth this girls time.

5. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers- one of my favorites as a child and I still love it. I still harbor a crush for Benjamin. I still sing the Spring song every day in the shower. I love the clothes.

6.National Treasure- I love history. I have been to all these historic sites. I love the action. I love everything about this movie. I liked the second one too but not as much as this one.

7. Pride and Prejudice- don't we all love Mr. Darcy. This is my favorite adaptation but I do love the new one as well.

8. The Notebook-in my opinion one of the most romantic movies ever. I also love the clothes worn by the main girl. I wish we still dressed like that! (If we weren't still in Victorian clothes, that is) The only drawback to this movie is that it is not Abi appropriate.

9. Little Women- I watch this movie every December and usually in between! I love the cast... Doug forgot Christian Bale was in it until recently. I love the clothes of course and even patterned my wedding dress partly after one of Amy's dresses.

10. Jurassic Park- this may surprise most but I have an extreme interest in dinosaurs. I just recently watched this and forgot how much I liked it until then. I also love the books. I hated the 2nd one and liked the 3rd one but neither came close to this one.

11. The Journey of Natty Gann- my very favorite as a kid. I love wolves. I wanted to go on an adventure like her.

12. Iron Will- I cry every time. Seriously, I do. I love Gus the dog. If I ever own a dog it would have to look just like him.

13. The Happiest Millionaire- why is he so happy? Because he sings and dances and owns alligators for pets. That would make anyone happy. Great, fun, family film.


Honorable mentions since it was hard to whittle this down to 13: Batman Begins, The Great Escape, The Ideal Husband, Johnny Tremain, Just Like Heaven, 13 going on 30, The Little Princess, Return to Me, Swiss Family Robinson, Meet the Robinsons, Harry Potter movies, The Bacholer and the Bobby soxer, The Bishop's Wife, The one and only genuine original family band,Secondhand Lions,the American Girl movies, and Enchanted.

Wordless Wednesday: Last fall in Nauvoo

Monday! Monday!

Today we didn't need to clean the house so I decided I really wanted to get out on this sunny day and do something fun. We heard about this park from our friend Jamie so we headed down to Illinois to check it out. At first Abi started out with familiar toys but then decided to go down the insane steep and long slide! I ran down to catch her at the bottom thinking she'd be freaking out but she loved it and went on a bunch of more times. She also enjoyed playing in the sand but got some in her mouth. She thought that was gross. It was so much fun. When we left she chanted "Jelly- Belly- Jelly- Belly!" remembering I had promised her we would go there this week. It was a very full but fun day.

Grateful Sunday #1

As I have been learning more about blogs I have been able to see some of the fun things that "seasoned" bloggers do. One of them is doing certain kinds of blogs on different days of the week. Grateful Sunday is one of them that I decided I want to do. So, here we go... my first "Grateful Sunday" entry. It may be long...

I am homesick. Yes, it's true. Miss Independance admits I need my family around! Ha. Like this is a surprise. I think I've mentioned it a few times recently. So, while I have many, many things to be grateful for today, I am going to focus on my amazing family.

My parents:

DAD: You are silly. You are fun. I love that you love being around your kids and grandkids. I love that when I call on a Monday and ask "What's up?" you will almost always say "Just hiding from your mom." because it's cleaning day. I am so grateful that you were one of the brave that fought in Vietnam. I am so grateful that you served our country for so many years in the Navy and gave me the opportunity to travel and live all over the country. You always took care of us.

MOM: What can I say? You are my best friend. You and I are too much alike. Who would have thought that would happen? I love that you have your "normal voice' and "on the phone voice". I love that you have become addicted to scrapbooking too. I love that I know what movies you'll like and am almost always right. I love that you are a Harry Potter fan too. I love that you are reading Twilight. I love that our names were written in the sand and that both times I've been to Prince Edward Island you have been with me. I miss scrapbooking, having Taco Bell, Diet Pepsi, and watching Avonlea with you. I miss going to movies together. I miss being able to spend holidays in the most festive without being cheesy house in the world. I am so grateful that you taught me the joy of family traditions. I wish you were here to experience them with us and Abi.

STEPHANIE: You are one of the most, if not the most, generous person I have ever met. I look in Abi's closet (and mine) and see all the outfits I didn't have to buy, and remember how I came home from the hospital with my new baby to a clean apartment because you were there cleaning it. You gave Abi her first at home bath. You brought a Christmas tree to my hospital room! You took care of me as a kid. I have always looked up to you and wanted to be like you. Almost every day I get these crazy ideas for fun parties and girly get togethers in my head and I wish I lived near you so that I could really do them- I know you would join in! I love that you have showed me how to be a mom to girls by raising the most amazing and beautiful girls I know (besides my own of course!) I still remember thinking you were the most beautiful girl in the world when we were growing up. You are so talented and giving. I miss hanging out with my other best friend!!

BRENT: I love the way you say something funny and then try not to laugh at yourself and do this cool smirking face. I love that you always had time for me. I could come hang out any time and you always made me feel welcome. I love that you are one of the only guys I know who is always with his family. I love how you are an entrapenour (wow I demolished that word... oh well) I am so proud of the fact that you also served in the Navy and how people used to say you looked just like Tom Cruise. I miss hanging out at your house watching tv and playing board games. You are an exceptional artist. You are a great brother.

GREG: I think of you and I remember following you around as a kid and that you actually let me. So many pictures are of us together... me snuggled up to you while you read to me from the Children's bible or played GI Joes. I remember playing Atari with you and then Nintendo in your big raft that mom wouldn't let you use so we blew it up in the basement and would sit in it. And how all my friends wanted to be set up with you when you were on your mission and you wrote to me all of the time. i love the pictures you take of nature and the ones you have taken of Abi. I'm proud of you that you went on a mission.

The Spouses:
DAN: I am so glad that Steph married you. You are a great husband to her and a great father to your daughters. I love that you work so hard and want to always be there for your family. I love that you can be a hunter but still appreciate my wildlife warrior self. I love that you have always treated me like a little sister instead of an in law. I will never forget how you wouldn't let me leave your house that one time until you bought me new tires because you cared about me.

KAREN: I love that you love my brother so much. I have had so much fun with you throughout the years staying up late, eating your good food, watching movies and tv, talking about everything in the world, going to Lagoon, and talking about books. You are so strong and have come through so much. I will never forget how you made me the most beautiful wedding dress that I could never have done for myself or bought anywhere.

ANGIE: You are so very enthusiastic! I remember when you picked me up back when you and Greg were still just writing to each other and did my hair all day in a bunch of different hairstyles. It was so much fun. I enjoyed getting to hang out with you when you lived with us for awhile. Thank you for always doing my hair and having it always look the way I wanted to. I miss that a lot!! I also always appreciated how you never hesitated in showing love to my mom and dad.

The Kids;
ALEX: I remember how excited I was when you were born- you made me an aunt. You have always been so creative and smart. I am sad that I am not there to watch as you are growing into a man but I am proud of the man you are becoming. I love that you play WOW with Doug. I love that you were my little monster boy.

TYLER: You are a funny kid. I love watching you perform Spongebob songs. I will always remember our "date" to the water park and how much fun I had with you. You have always been such a funny kid. Remember the story of when I asked Alex what he wanted for Christmas and he named off a million things and all you wanted was "French fries" and when I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up and he named off a bunch of things and you said "I want to work at Blockbuster." I will always cherish those memories.

MCKENNA: I have never known a 12 year old like you. I would trust you with babysitting Abi before most adults. You have constantly amazed me through the years with your motivation, your maturity, your compassion, and your affection. I really wish that Abi could spend more time with you to see your example. I love that you are into animals and want to work with dolphins like I always wanted to. I hope you can make these dreams come true.

AUSTIN: You were such a special baby to me. You lived with us during a lot of your first year and the first thing I had to do every day was see you. You were my "raptor baby". I always felt like you were such a special boy and I still think there is something that you are meant to do in this world.

MATTHEW: I loved watching you play as a really little kid. You could totally entertain yourself and be off in your own world. I love that you still love stuffed animals. (So do I!) I love how you are the little shadow of my brother. You are so fun and sweet. I love talking to you.

LOGAN: You are the craziest, funny kid. I will always remember how you were afraid of me for the first 2-3 years of your life and wouldn't come near me because I wore some funny socks with toes once. You have no fear. You will, for sure, make your own way in this world.

COURTNEY: You are such a funny little girl. I love your laugh. Sometimes I hope when I call no one will answer just so I can hear you start laughing on the message. I love how you play with Abi. I love how you have always cuddled with me. You are the cutest little bug of a girl... so fragile looking and then surprisingly so tough. I wish Abi had you to play with all of the time.

I was planning on doing Doug's family as well...but this may be too long. So, that will come another time.......

I was crying.. I was laughing so hard

Doug and I were just doing a search for a blog of one of his childhood friends and came across one that made me laugh harder than I have in awhile. I don't know these people but if you are in the mood for a good laugh go to
www.dananddanica.blogspot.com
and scroll down through all the pregnancy blogs....

Speaking of zoos......

Hey, tomorrow is the last day of the Australia zoo contest voting period. So, if you haven't yet please go on to the contest page (link is on here at the top right under fun links) and vote for "Crocodile Hunter in training Academy" today and tomorrow and PLEASE rate it a 5!!!!! Thanks everyone and please send positive vibes for us to win out into the universe. Haha.

Racine Zoo

First off, one of the things I have looked forward to with having a daughter was being able to do little braid loops like a St. Lucia girl... finally!! Today was the first day Abi sported this look:

As I backed out of the driveway, this is what I saw. It looks like she's saying "What?!"

Racine zoo is very small and not spectacular but it is nice and inexpensive and right next to the lake! I love this place.

So, yes, we went to the little zoo today. I wanted an adventure. We had so much fun. Here are some of the highlights:
Don't you think Rice Krispies should use this gibbon for a commercial:

Abi loved the wallaroos. I did too. She kept saying "You want to pet it?" Yes, she knows me well.

Abi loves anytime when she can run and run and run. They have really fun walking paths here.

This was really funny. There were four lion cubs. They are about a year old. In this picture you can see that one of them has spotted Abi. She walked away after this picture and the cub crept down really slowly, eyes on her the whole time. It crouched down doing the little bum shake that they do before pouncing and then Abi stopped at the next opening and it laid down (as seen in the 2nd pic) and just watched her. It's eyes never left her. Thank goodness for the barrier!!


I liked this cute little porcupine:

Abi made a friend in the playground. This was the first time she has done this with some random kid. It was really cute. They had a great time together.


My favorites: the baby meerkats -so so cute!

And the baby Tur- I was watching it for so long and taking a lot of pictures. The momma stood there watching me the whole time giving me the stink eye.