The Tooth Fairy is Back!

It's been a long time since the Tooth Fairy has visited our family. Actually, about 20 years. But now that Sunny is six years old, the Tooth Fairy is about to make a comeback. She has two loose teeth and the adult tooth is growing up behind one of them. Should be soon!

As soon as I got the news, I dropped the stocking I'm stitching for Storm, and started a Tooth Fairy pillow for Sunny. I used the same pattern I stitched for my kids, but changed up the colors to be more personal for Sunny. It turned out pretty good, I think.

The pocket is made of the same fabric I used to back the pillow. My DIL Janel had given me the little "made with love" charms for Christmas one year. I attached one and then stitched "by grammy" next to it. 

I guess I know what I'll be working on for the next few years as there are four grandkids behind her that will be entering the age of the tooth fairy visits!

There Will Be Snow in February in Phoenix

I know, the title of this post is a bold statement, but I can 100% guarantee that there will be Snow in Phoenix in February, at least at my house!

As you can see from the photo above, Storm is going to be a big brother! The new baby is coming in February and her/his name on my blog will be Snow.

In case you're new to my blog, let me explain. I don't want to use the kids' real names on my blog for security/safety concerns. Since I'm totally obsessed with weather, I decided to give them all weather related names. So far (in order of birth) we have Sunny, Skye, Thunder, Storm, and now Snow. Poor Thunder! I see he is the only one without an "S" name!

We are very excited to welcome our fifth grandchild! I know the time will fly by because this time of year I'm busy planning the holidays. We'll hold the baby shower the second weekend in January, then the VNSA Book Sale is held the weekend of 2/14, and then it will be time for the baby to arrive.

I can't wait to find out who is coming so I can start stitching on his/her Christmas stockings...

Congratulations Adam, Jessica, Storm!

SSMT #16

What a great verse, a vivid reminder of how to live our lives. I especially appreciate the words "being watchful and thankful". Being watchful. Watching for circumstances in which we should thank God? Even when the circumstances are not what we envisioned or hoped for? Yep, I believe we are to be thankful in everything. Even in the stuff we don't like. God is at work in every aspect of our lives. What's not to be thankful for?

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2 NIV

Happy Birthday to Me!

I will admit it without shame. I love my birthday! I have always loved it. I'm not much for getting unexpected gifts, but I love to receive gifts on my birthday, Mother's Day, and Christmas. I am also not coy about sharing my age. I am 59 years old as of today. And proud of every year. I think aging is a huge accomplishment. Especially when you think of all of the experiences, challenges, and opportunities that make up a year of our lives.

This year to celebrate, I chose a party at Peter Piper Pizza. It was held yesterday at lunch. I chose this option for two reasons; 1) the grandkids would love it, and 2) I finally got to play some games and win some tickets myself!

Dan and I got there early to order the pizza. He bought 100 tokens and I started playing. My goal was to win as many tickets as I could and then distribute them among the three older grandkids. Woo-hoo! By the time they had arrived I had won 350 tickets. They were so excited.

Skye gave me a birthday card that she had signed herself with a picture of me drawn on the back. Thunder gave me a cave that Batman hides in (I slipped it back into his mom's purse when the party was over) and Sunny gave me a yellow #2 pencil (un-sharpened) a Hello Kitty ring, and a dime. Awww, what great gifts that hey all picked out themselves!

Jessica baked my favorite - Angel Food Cake. We had a marvelous time!

I still have several freebie and discount email "gifts" that have arrived this month. So far, the only one we've used is the free burger at Red Robin. I have the rest of them stacked up and ready to use this week.

All in all, 59 is fantastic!

Thanking Skye for her flattering drawing of me

Sunny, Skye, Storm, Thunder 

Helping me blow out the candles

Storm wants to play with Thunder, he knows those slots mean something!

Gramps and Sunny winning a race

Skye "letting" Daddy win

Thunder and Skye

Sunny and Storm

Me with three out of my four babies,

I miss you, JD!

First Day of First Grade

Sunny is ready for first grade.

She's so excited she can hardly stand still for the picture!

Have a great day, kiddo.

We love you!

Birthdays!

August is birthday month at my house. My birthday is August 10, and Dan's is August 31. The best part of birthday month is all of the freebies/discounts that show up in our inbox each morning. We've already received goodies from Charming Charlie, Red Robin, Payless Shoes, Cost Plus World Market, Famous Dave's, Culver's, Hallmark, Kirkland's, Streets of New York, and Office Depot.

We'll be celebrating all month long!

SSMT #15

August is here! School is starting, the air is turning cooler... well, not really here in Phoenix, but I'm sure it is somewhere! This is a great verse of encouragement.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NIV