Such Characters

Today was a school spirit day. They have these once a month here. Today was dress as your favorite book character. Well, since I failed at having two, elegant princess dresses on hand, Lucy and Susan were out. The girls settled on more fun characters. Paige decided on the Mad Hatter (despite the fact the Lewis Carroll creeps me out). She loves the Mad Hatter's craziness and party personality. Claire picked a family favorite -- Pippi Longstocking. Everybody loves Pippilotta!

P & C Baptism

What a day! Paige and Claire were baptised today at our church. Brant had a huge speech prepared. So many things he was going to talk about. About how we were so blessed to have twins. About how we had prayed for their salvation from the very instance we saw their sweet, little faces. About how special they were and how they had matured so much since they day of the choice to follow Jesus. BUT as soon as the part came were he went to hold his little girls' hands and announce their salvation, he could barely get the basics out.
It's just such an emotional event. I don't know that they fully grasp all that their decision means, but they know that they will try their best to live for Jesus. We have even talked about how this means that life will be a bit harder most of the time. I know even in their third grade way, being a Christian sets them apart. They don't pick on other kids or laugh when it would be the easy thing to do. It makes me proud to watch the ways that even a 9-year-old Christian can set themselves apart from the world.
Wet-haired and proud, Claire and Paige face a new day. It is nice that they have each other. What a comfort that would be when I was nine! I'm excited to see what God has for my girls.

Home Tour 1 -- P & C

I thought I'd share some home pics with those who haven't seen it yet. Before really judging the kids' rooms, please know that the kids are allowed to choose their own room color. It is the one bribe of moving -- you can make your room any color you want. That said, this is Paige and Claire's room. They choose acid green with some crazy striping. I hated this room while I was painting on the green. It literally hurt my eyes. I would leave the room to answer the phone or check on laundry, and my eyes would have that temporary I out-in-the-sun-too-long sensation. After we got the stripes on and brought in their stuff, I really like this room. It's fun, I really think I would have loved it at 9.





Because they are sharing, the girls got the largest of the three kid's rooms. They had enough room left over to have a pull-out couch in their room. Now the couch is a bit well loved from another home (thanks U.R. and A.L). The girls thinks it's so sweet, and don't even mind my lame temporary "cover". They read books there every evening.
The closet, though, is enough to make me jealous. We haven't really done too much with it, but there are plans. It's a small room. There are hanging racks and shelves on both sides. They even play "office" in here sometimes, which is why there is a chair. Now, when we get to my room you will see why I am seethingly jealous of their closet. The only reason P & C are not in the master is because I wanted the room with the bathroom.

Free Fix

BEFORE: A pile of castoffs. The table was a gift to my parents when they got married. The mirror was a housewarming present in our first house. There are also some spoons in this pile that were in my grandma's trash. All of this worked together to solve a huge lack of closets in my house.








AFTER: It all pulls together to create a launch pad for coats, backpacks, and shoes. Also, that awesome, red basket was a trash salvage. This whole thing cost me $0. Zero. Zip. The paint was even a leftover from other projects. Three hours of my time and this. I'm so happy to have a place to hang coats, because up until now they've been thrown on the floor in the front. Little things like this are helping me this house our home.

Have a great week and stay warm. Brant had me in full giggles saying, "It's colder than a well-digger's butt out there." The kids laughed not because they got the expression, but because Dad had said "butt". That's rough language around here.

Bear Down

This is a work in progress. Really, let's call this a labor of love. Only someone who loved their spouse immensely, would paint those stripes. Oh, those stripes. What a pain, but they do look really cool. After the stripe painting fest, I've taken a bit of a break on getting the rest of the room pulled together. There are no pictures hung and still a mess everywhere.

Brant loves it and is scheming up a poker night. I fell there needs to be a curtain between the Bear den and the toy room. Nothing screams poker night like piles of Barbies, Polly Pockets, and Matchbox.

Snow Day

This quiet, lazy snow day brought to you by "Little Big Planet" via PS3. I keep thinking they will soon complain of sore thumbs or sore bottoms, but no, they are in it to win it today. I can't complain, since they rarely watch t.v. During their mind-melting play, I have been able to start some painting in the basement, so it's a win/win situation.

Sewing Lessons

We've tried small projects before: pillows, doll quilts, pillowcase. These went well. Now we're on to doll clothes. These are not going so well. It's requiring a massive, tongue-biting, amount of patience on my part to make it through two sets of American Girl pajamas. All the best thoughts were there, but the excitment is starting to fade fast. I've cut the work down to a mere 20 minute session a day with each girl. This seems to be working, but these tiny pajamas (that I could whip out in under an hour), are now on day five.

However, I do feel a swell of pride as I look at my girls working hard and biting the tip of their tongue. Only truly skilled laborers do this (right, grandad?!). It always gives me a chuckle when little, odd, heredities show up in my kids.