Baby

The day (evening) finally came to meet niece and cousin Anibelle de Carmen. She was wide awake and full of smiles although it was late in the evening. Of course, she was still on Texas time.

My sisters Doris and Rachel (Chel) came to our house while we were spending time with Thomas' mother. My mother and sister Verina went to the Dulles airport to pick them up. Doris' two other girls came also- Maximiana (Maxie) and Gwendolyn (Gwen). They'll show up in another post, Lord willing.

Anibelle quickly became a well-loved acquaintance. We hope we didn't spoil her completely by the time she went home.

We had planned and re-planned lodging a number of times so in Christopher's mind Maxie and Gwen were not going to be at our house. He came to me Wednesday morning and said he thought it would be boring with just Anibelle here but, "She's a party".

To understand that, you would have had to see her reaction to him the evening before. I was holding her and he was sitting behind me. I leaned her his way to say hello and it surprised her. She jerked back and he mimicked her move. That just amused her greatly and she giggled out loud. Then she laughed and laughed as he talked and laughed.

We miss her presence in our home but we know she's spreading smiles wherever she goes.

Today I am thankful for...
...Ibuprofen to calm my hormonal headache.
...a cookstove.
...a milk cow.

Enjoy the Little Things

This is the message in this post.....

How could I resist this planner? It is so mine!

Enjoy the big things too! Here's what you get when you're shopping for a big crowd. Sharp Shopper clerks wondered where my helpers were this day. It was a day when I needed space to think and do on my own thing even though I really did need help.

Here is part of the crowd...

A couple more.... 

 And another room full. 

The parents in the crowd- one sided. Our spouses are not in the photo. We are all first cousins, sisters/brother and/or double first cousins. I invited Troyer family to come to our place for the weekend to visit my brother Paul and his family, who were up from their Honduras home taking an extended trip through the USA. One highlight of the trip for them was the Troyer reunion that was planned in Farmville, VA and then was cancelled. So a few of the cousins from Maine and VA came. We had a party!

L-R Brenda, Rhonda, Joyce, Paul, Marie, Verina, Darlene, Rosaline

The "little" girls.... sisters, cousins, second cousins, etc.     

                 

My goofy sons and their goofy cousin.

Oh, not so goofy after all.

Here's the way to travel! Three boys and one bike.

 Brother Paul, his wife Helena and daughter Julisa look on.

Most of the children (lower 20's down to 2 yr old) who were together for the weekend. Minus the wee ones.

My brother Paul, his daughter Anne and our sons made the flowerbed look nicer than it ever has.

A random snapshot of my brother and his wife. 

We went to Gap Mills to clean out my parents' house. We had a yard sale for a couple days to get rid of excess stuff.

I made a couple t-shirt dresses for my nieces in TX.

Ever see cheese puff creations? The boys bite off one end, lick it and stick another to it.

My one Lapp niece. We got a very short visit (one evening) with her and her Mama after the trip to TX.

This is what happens when someone gets a hold of my phone.

The joy of fresh garden things. Zucchini, onions, peppers, chicken (not from the garden).

The first corn on the cob- from the farmers' market.

I just love making vegetable mixes for the oven. The colors are so beautiful and with some meat and spices the flavor is amazing.

What little things are bringing you joy?

Or big things?

You CAN choose joy!