To a New Baby

Isn't she the cutest! Looking and her mouth, cheeks, wrists and thinking of all the mushy gushy feelings I have for this girl, I am reminded of this poem by Stickland W Gillialan titled "To a New Baby."

Little kicking, cuddling thing,
You don't cry-- you only sing!
Blinking eyes and stubby nose,
Mouth that mocks the budding rose,
Down for hair, peach-blows for hands--
Ah-h-h-h! Of all the "baby-grands"
Any one could wish to see,
You're the finest one for me!

Skin as soft as velvet is;
God (when you were only his)
Touched you on the cheek and chin--
Where he touched are dimples in.
Creases on you wrists, as though
Strings were fastened 'round them so
We could tie you tight and keep
You from leaving while we sleep.

Once I tried to look at you
From a stranger's point of view;
You were red and wrinkled; then
I just loved, and looked again;
What I saw was not the same;
In my eyes the blessed flame
Of a father's love consumed
Faults to strangers' eyes illumed.

Little squirming, cuddling thing!
Ere you shed each angel wing,
Did they tell you you were sent
With a cargo of content
To a home down here below
Where they hungered for you so?
Do you know, you flawless pearl,
How we love our baby girl?

Sick Days

They had all the bad stuff. I have never seen John and Clara sleep so much. Thank goodness Margaret was spared. Things are looking up and I am so glad.

Spuds

The best potatoes come from the Snake River Valley. This last Saturday they plowed the field leaving it ready for gleaning. Eileen knew the best places to go. I found a knobby wobby and a heart shaped potato (for Kelly.) Clara found a C shaped one. John and Clara had a great time filling their buckets. Margaret could have done better. We still had a great experience treasurer hunting and digging through the mud.

Olive Fingers

Retribution

My back backyard.
My front yard.

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Though the mills of God grind slowly
Yet they grind exceeding small;
Though with patience he stands waiting,
With exactness grinds he all.

 Margaret and I like to hide under blankets.
Her darling toe against the mirror.

Good Morning

It is fun for me to see how our mornings have changed here here and here. Now that Clara is in school I am not sure how often I will take photos before 8:00 am. I will be a busy miss lizzy.

It is drying out. :(

Ants in the Pants

 For a year now Kelly has been singing a song to John about ants in his pants. My birthday came and John gave me the Spongebob game "Ants in the Pants." Thanks Johnny!

1st Day of School

Clara is intelligent, articulate, capable, creative, exciting..... the list goes on and on. You will find her laughing and having a good time. She didn't know how ready (academically and socially) she was for school. Grown-ups kept asking her tons of questions about her feelings pertaining to school. She didn't quite know what to think so she was really weary about the first day. 
I over-estimated my time.
We forgot her backpack.
The car didn't start.
So, she was late!
I was mortified. My first time getting a child ready for school and I botched the whole thing.  I cried to my mom about losing my girl and ruining her school career. (I can be dramatic, but at least I know it!)
When I picked her up she was tight lipped and even had a good cry over not doing well at Ants in the Pants. But, by dinner time however, she exploded with info and excitement. When Kelly asked her how her day was she exclaimed "I loved it! I loved it! I loved it!" She communicated that when she was asked to tell something that she liked to see, or do, or eat, she replied that she like to "see parades." The other girls all said they like to "play with Barbies." She also said in her journal that "I was really nervous."

Amanda, FYI. She has a Braxton in her class!

Bubbles

 Taryn sent Clara a container of bubble solution. The bubbles last a long time. You can hold them in your hand, play with them and see how many you can catch. It was exactly my hearts desired as a child. I got the biggest kick out of them. Thanks Taryn and Tara! What were they called and were do you get them?

Butterfly Clips