MOMMY'S COSTUMES

The last couple of days have been full of me going through old stuff and cleaning out what we don't need. Also I am trying to finish up a project of converting all of our VHS and 8mm home movies to DVD, a project that has taken me freaking years! It is an overwhelming task and no one will appreciate it as much as I will since I am the only one who knows how tedious the process has been. But still...I press forward for the good of posterity. I was almost done but there are a few VHS tapes left and I wanted to make sure that I wasn't missing anymore tapes, so I started digging through my old stuff. 

While doing this digging Stella spotted my old dance costumes, so of course we had to get them all out. She was keen to try them all on, which I was also keen on doing. As she tried on each one and looked so stinking cute, I said: "I knew there was a reason I saved these all these years!" 

Special Note: there are way more costumes not pictured, these were my favorites. Also, Stella wouldn't let me take a picture of when she put one of my leotards on upside down, she was too embarrassed, but it made me laugh.

A COWGIRL CTR

Well it is yet another year of course and that means Stella is no longer a Sunbeam, but is now a full fledged CTR. She is getting too old and I hate it. My only comfort is that she is still as short as all the new Sunbeams so she still looks little. :)

Stella wore her boots to church (she wears them almost everyday). My mom got them for her for Christmas because she had always wanted cowgirl boots since in her mind she is a little cowgirl. They look so cute on her of course.

This Sunday, she got her first CTR ring, and she said she was going to wear it forever. Also, during sharing time the kids were asked to color a picture of something that made them happy. I asked Stella what made her happy before she started and she told me it was coloring, so I thought the whole point of the exercise was lost on her. However, when she was done she showed me her picture and said: "Mom, this is you with your happy cheeks, and the sun that makes you happy." My heart might have melted a little.

SHOVEL STAR

Stella has always loved the after effects of snow. She has also always loved to help us shovel the snow in the driveway. Though of course the shovels were always too big, so I finally bought her a shovel just her size. She asked for one in purple, but I told her that she would just have to take what came. She has now used it a couple of times. She usually only gets a few good pick-ups in before starting to play around, but I still like having her out with me and I love how cute she looks with her shovel.

Yesterday we got more snow at our house than we have ever gotten at one time before. (Just to get a sense of how much new snow there is in these pictures, the grass was showing before the storm.) It was a lot of work to get rid of it all, but Stella was a huge help. After our hard work I helped Stella's tiny toes warm up in the bathroom sink filled with warm water. She loved that part too.

IT IS 2013 ALREADY

Happy New Year! The idea of life starting new at the hour of midnight is kind of a weird one to me. What difference is a minute really supposed to make? But I guess I can't help thinking of the coming year as its own book on the shelf of my life with highs and lows, the joy of my life always being my little Stella and the family that she has made Brent and I. I've had some growing pains this year, but I know I have come out stronger for it. I am more grateful for the things I have than the things I want. I want a car that works, but I am grateful to generous in-laws that let me drive theirs in the meantime. I want a new couch, but I am grateful I don't have to feel bad about spilling on the one I have. I want a new front door, but I love my house and the ugly frosted window that I can use to peek out and spot any solicitors. I want my extended family to be happy, but I know they have much to be thankful for in their lives. I want a new camera, but I'm pretty lucky to have the one I have and know it has been good to me. Above all I want more children, but I have the best darn kid that has ever lived already. How can I not be thankful for my blessed life?

Here's to a new year and the surprises that we'll find each day.

Here are some pictures of us ringing in 2013 at 9 PM last night. This was Stella's first time with sparklers, and she was hesitant at first, but that didn't last long. She loved them, and we went through several boxes before her tiny frozen fingers could hold no more.