Vinnanigans

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Gotta love the nursery!

We Remember

OK, well, I remember.

Ten years ago today I had been home from my mission for just 4 days.  I had not been involved in or even aware of anything in the world in over a year and a half.  I had slept in that morning and was awakened by my mom who burst into my room and practically shouted at me, "Don't you know what's going on?!?!"  I watched the television in horror as they replayed video of the first tower being hit by the plane over and over again with commentary about the chaos.  I remember thinking this had to be some sort of accident.  Then the second tower was hit by a plane.  At that moment, I could not even imagine the impact it would have.  It feels as though patriotism has grown stronger. Communities came together.  People vowed then and there they would enlist to defend our country.  It seems to me, as much as America may have lost that day we have been determined to rise above and gain back more.

God bless America!  

America Rocks

The Year of the Mutants

Teddy Bear Sunflowers

I love gardening.  I don't claim to be good at it, but I sure try.  I deviated from some of my usual gardening tactics this year and it didn't all pay off.  I prefer to grow things from seed but made a few exceptions this season.  Turns out you need a tomato plant for a Topsy Turvy (you can't plant a seed in there), so that was one deviation.  Usually, I plant only Mammoth Sunflower seeds that grow as tall as the house, however, this year, I was given Teddy Bear Sunflower seeds from Jeanette and I also accidentally purchased a sunflower hybrid seed packet in addition to Mammoth Sunflower seeds.  I can't believe how much I love all three varieties!  Sunflowers and daisies are my absolute favorite flowers.  In fact, Sunflower is my Girl's Camp name!

Cute little corn stalks.  Better luck next year, huh?

I attempted to grow a crop of corn (from seed, of course).  The first challenge with this was pulling up the grass on the little hill I wanted to plant on.  My second challenge was keeping my gardeners from whacking/mowing them down (took several weeks).  I ended up with 7 dwarfed stalks, the tallest peaking at just two feet.  I'm sure we'll end up with some charming centerpieces from this crop. :)

Adorable Cucumber Plant

This was the first year I've attempted to grow actual food.  My tomato Topsy Turvey has so far produced about 7 tomatoes.  Honestly, they're far superior to anything I've ever tasted from a grocery store (including Fresh & Easy).  I love to eat them cut up with ranch dressing. :)  I have a cantaloupe sprouted that I've learned I shouldn't get my hopes up about.  My cucumber plant has reached about three inches high and hasn't grown in many weeks.

I have serious reservations regarding
the pea-shooting capabilities of
this defense system

In an effort to best protect my house from zombies, I planted a bunch of sunflowers behind the fence of the side yard.  Next, I planted a row of peas.  I ended up with three peas sprouting, each reaching a little less than a foot in length.  I'm not sure how effective they'll be vs. the zombies (or feeding my pea-hungry kids).

Tallest & 2-headed Mammoth
Sunflower (already working on seeds)

I had three Mammoth Sunflowers grow as tall as or taller than the house.  Another first this year:  the tallest sunflower grew TWO heads!  I also recently noticed that another Mammoth grew THREE heads!  Bizarro!

Overall, it's been a great gardening season.  I may not have been able to feed my family a meal with this season's harvest but, don't worry, I'll attempt it all again next year!  :)

Gio's kindergarten fiesta de cumpleanos (they painted the
pots on his birthday then planted sunflower
seeds in them the next week)

The Mind of My Gio....

His blossoming little mustard seed (Matt. 17:20; Alma 32)......

Today, after church:
Me: "Hey, Gio, you have to give a talk in Primary next week, what do you want to talk about?"
Gio:  "That Nephi never dies."
Me: "What do you mean by that?"
Gio: "Because he always survives!"

Not to be outdone by this one a few weeks ago (also after church):

Gio: "Someday, Mom, we're going to forgive you."
Me: "Forgive me for what???"
Gio: "Like, you always say we can't have dessert unless we eat our dinner; or you make me feed the dog every day...[dramatic pause].....you know."

4th of July: Slightly Skewed

"Cheese!"

This year was another success: tons of fun, plenty of fireworks (although not overhead next door), Barbara's cream-cheese-covered-pickles-wrapped-in-lunch-meat (to die for!), and traditions kept all surrounded by people that I love.

There are 3 traditions that I hold dear when it comes to Independence Day: 1) making an American flag cake; 2) making a 4th of July dress; & 3) attending Wendy's family's annual 4th of July party.  Number 3 went on uninterrupted without wavering but as for numbers 1 & 2, well, here's where things got a little skewed this year.

I started making American flag cakes for the party way back when I still fit in clothes I had hung onto since the 6th grade (I was in college at the time) & I happened to see an American flag cake idea featured on the cover of one of those ladies magazines you see at the check-out of the grocery store.  This year, I opted to use similar ingredients but not follow the traditional pattern.  The result was still red, white & blue, very patriotic & extremely delicious.

My second deviation came with my dress.  I first got the idea to make Independence Day dresses when I saw some fabric that was probably intended to be for table cloths on sale somewhere.  The year was 2003 and the fabric had stars & stripes and everything I was looking for in what would become the 1st of many patriotic dresses I have made.  I have faced much opposition in my choices for dress-making fabric.  What I most often hear is: "That looks a little more like pajama fabric to me." 

Someone brought ice cream for
all the kids - genius!

I wasn't sure if I would be able to pull off a 4th of July dress this year.  While I am currently out of school, I am in the middle of applying to nursing schools which has turned out to be MUCH more complicated than just filling out a piece of paper about my hobbies & interests.  Also, both boys are on summer vacations from their schools and, I tell you, Vinnie is one active two-year-old!  That boy's energy, strength and interests (climbing, destroying, jumping off of/over anything, etc.) matches any 3 kid's combined!  

Anyhow, I had given up hope until I found the perfect fabric just a week and a half ago that just screamed "Susie's Annual 4th of July Dress!!!" at me.  It is perfect.  It has red, white and blue and just a splash of yellow.  It is missing stars and stripes but is replaced with......... all-American bowling pins & balls!  I love it!  I gave up using patterns for my 4th of July dresses a few years ago.  This year, however, I did use a pattern for the neck line and sleeve guides (actually a blouse pattern from my collection).  The rest I came up with myself. 

Ta-Da!

There are those who are not admirers.  I know, shocking as it may be, not everyone shares my taste in holiday apparel or possesses what I call "the family eccentricity gene" (have you seen my mom's "Jasper Pearl" lime green car???).  What is funny about this is that I received the most back handed comments from my mom, of all people.  When I first started cutting out the dress, my mom suggested that, "Some day you should get some really nice fabric to make a dress out of."  HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!  While assembling the dress, she further encouraged me with, "I just can't wait to see what you're going to create next."  LOL!!!  The, hands down, BEST insight she gave this weekend was toward the end, when I put the finishing touches on the dress:  "You know, if you lined up all your 4th of July dresses and sent a picture in to What Not To Wear you'd get on that show for sure!"  HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!  Love you too, Mom!!!

Brothers

I have never met two brothers who are so much alike and yet such complete opposites at the same time.  

At last I have uploaded pictures from Christmas to present:

Giovanni, my newly 6 year old

I don't know about the rest of the world, but the big deal about today in our house is Gio's sixth birthday!  Six years ago today Gio joined our family and forever changed me (and my figure).  This sweet little pumpkin-head is the most loving and devoted kid I know.  He never forgets an old friend & his heart is always open to making new friends.  He is a born cuddler & still asks me everyday if I want to cuddle.  With my school schedule, I was unable to pull together a backyard party so this year is kind of a marathon celebration: last night he was allowed to pick 4 friends to take to Chuck E Cheese; today we'll be painting flower pots & eating cupcakes in his classroom; and tonight his cousins Alex & Samantha from up north are coming down with Horsey Grandma & Horsey Grandpa who will be with us until Sunday afternoon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIOVANNI!!  I LOVE YOU!!!!