Talk about Persever-
ance and Practice! My little almost 7 year old Grand-
daughter, H, has all the
Positive qualities it takes
and then SOME!!! She was
so excited last night when
she told me her swimming
relay team had won the sectionals and was going to STATE!!
Now, you have to know this is her FIRST year on a swim team--in fact it was just last summer that she was swimming freely without a "belt"! H always has high expectations of life experiences and Always sets her standards High--often so High we adults that Love her so much feel she may not accomplish them in the often short time frames she sets for herself. This was one of those times!
Here she is --first year on a swim team (only since last fall), only 6 years old, swimming with 8 year olds, not knowing much about meets and official turns and strokes--but falling in love with the "butterfly" stroke and deciding early on that she WAS GOING TO STATE! Not an easy accomplishment in your first year! But here we are, back to the beginning--you have to know the make-up of H. Pure determination!!! She has never done ANYTHING halfway---she works harder and with more concentration than Anybody I have ever known--she is focused on the Goal--and NOBODY is going to convince her that she cannot do it!!! And as she goes for the goal, she always has a huge smile on her face! She is such a happy, carefree, adorable person! That's my H in a nutshell--and what does she end up proving to ALL of us??----well, she's going to State---with the 8 year olds--and that says it all!! Way to go H.--we Love You and we KNOW you can DO IT!!!!
And by the way, her older sister P, is also on her way to State. She is a beautiful swimmer and will go far. Good Luck to Both my Awesome Girls.

The Making of a Princess!
When my almost 3 year old granddaughter called to ask me to make a "Princess" dress for her 3rd "Princess" Birthday party--what could I do??? So here is the most beautiful princess at her first "fitting"--and as you can see, she is definitely feeling the part! Of course, she now calls for updates on the progess of the finishing touches--all the "Bling", hems, etc. I promise her it will be done--because who can dissapoint a Princess--not this Grandma!!

I have taken many pics of Ella "sqirrel watching" from her favorite perch on the couch--but on this day I had a really good laugh when I also noticed she had her two favorite "buddies" up in the window to watch, too. That's "Coonie" on the left--he's her "bed pal" and really only a threadbare piece of a once red and white racoon animal and on the right is her new "Cooner" that we are trying to get her to replace "Coonie" with! So far NO Luck! She wants them both and there's no convincing her to get rid of Coonie! Oh well, we all have those absolutely valuable "things" we'll Never part with. Meanwhile, you 3 fat squirrels beware! There's a whole group watching you play! --and that Cooner is giving you the-----"tail".

Surely can't take the "winter" background off my blog yet. I have re-written the "Rain, rain, go away" song into "Snow, snow, go away". Actually my words come out a bit different, but we won't go there! I said I feel like a bob sled driver going down our country road these days--you know the "I am in a narrow tunnel" feeling. There is no place else to put the snow, except UP! This has been a working weekend--so not much to catch you up on. Taught a 4-H Photography class last weekend that went very well. Now gearing up to a photography 101 class and a interactive card class the end of Feb at my favorite SB store. Lots of prep work and everyone knows how I just hate to do Scrapbooking things---NOT!
Did SB Jan 20th out this past week while it was fresh in my mind and heart. I think it's so important for all of us to at least journal our thoughts around that day. We all must absolutely do our part, no matter how small to help out--by conserving, carrying green bags, volunteering--anything to be a part of the bigger picture. and it seems this new energy just might do it. People are actually believing in themselves again. Isn't it a Nice feeling???? Have a Happy week, everyone--Snow or not--I really believe that Spring is in our near future.

One of my most treasured pictures from Our Christmas--4 of my Precious Grandchildren reading their New Books from Grandma and Grandpa--It speaks volumes considering they all got lots of toys, too!!!

Wow! What a day yesterday was!! Glued to the TV, I think I watched every Minute of the Inaugeration ceremonies and recorded most of them! I heard several people "in the crowd" say things like "you can't feel this energy through the TV"----well, YES you could--or at least I could! I cheered and applauded right along with everyone else. I was really jealous, I must admit, cold and all, of all the people who were right there! I finally called my little brother who has lived and worked in DC for many years (and lives only 8 blocks from the festivities) to say how I wish I could be there celebrating with them. They were indeed having an after party with quite a few friends and neighbors invited! They had made the (probably wise) choice not to actually attend, but to watch on TV where the view was better. J. said they had "tested the waters" the day before and from where they would have stood, the new president would have looked smaller than an ant! TV was a better choice! He did say that the Energy level in DC was nothing short of ELECTRICITY for the past week. No one in the world, it seems, was more ready for a change, than the people of DC!---EXCEPT---ALL of US!!!!!! President OBAMA--we Love You! and we know somehow you will do GREAT things!

Yes, I am tired of winter and really ready to celebrate our Christmas on the 10th so "Christmas" can come down and be over too! I am looking forward to all the kids being here. The Grandkids are always so cute playing together and Jenna will be back, too. They always seem to have so much fun, just like I remember having with my cousins when I was little.
We had a huge "ice storm" over the weekend. Of course it hit the hardest just when I should be driving home from work so, OF COURSE, I had to spend the night at work, then get up and work again. We do keep extra clothes in our lockers for just such occasions, have nice (hospital) rooms to stay in complete with whirlpools and showers, and a complete "kitchen" just down the hall for late night munchies. The beds are fun as we can put them up and down and there are 70+ channels on the TV----BUT it still isn't home and the (hospital) beds (the mattresses) are narrow and AWFUL!
So needless to say, when I got home last night--it was mighty good to see my own bed!! Not to mention my husband and Ella!
And, speaking of my wonderful husband--he had ALL the wash done (many, many loads), folded and most put away---and---he had gone to the local pizza place and got us supper. What a Guy!!!
So for now, my week will be full of cleaning and preparing for "Christmas" on Saturday. I can't wait. Merry Christmas one last time to everyone!!!