7 Quick Takes Friday

I have a new favorite blog--Conversion Diary run by Jennifer Fulwiler. It was the first blog I was told to start reading when Evan and I started looking into the Catholic church. Jennifer's story (which is actually going to be a book! in print! soon!!!!) is that of a born and raised atheist who begins to question if maybe there is a higher being. She and her husband begin reading and researching and questioning and end up finding their way to Catholicism. I am actually still reading her archives (shush, I have issues with starting a blog like that from the middle, I have to start from the beginning), so am only in July 2009 (I said shush!). I really love her wit and honesty. I find her story is very parallel to mine in many ways (minus the being raised atheist part, of course) in her journey finding God and joining the Catholic church. Plus, she loves to read, so she's always recommending books. I have a soft spot for book readers, you know.

But, one of the things I like the best is her 7 Quick Takes Friday. Every Friday, she posts 7 quick little blurps about her week, life, random thoughts, and it's super fun to read and I thought I would join in on the fun! So, here is my 7 Quick Takes Friday debut!!

1)

This new smile of Julia's, the one with the missing tooth, is my favorite:

 I love kids with jack o' lantern smiles. I remember being about 6 and feeling self conscience that I had lost a front tooth right before picture day. Instead of smiling big for my picture, I grinned. I refuse to let my kids hide their missing teeth smiles. They only loose teeth for so long.

2)

This child:

is going to be 2 years old tomorrow.

I don't want to talk about it.

3)

These pictures were taken last month:

(Excuse their faces, my children are nothing if not weirdos.) December and January is our fall here in Texas and when our tree really drops all of its leaves. So, we raked them (by we, I mean Evan) into a big pile and the girls jumped in them with their neighborhood friends. Vivian really liked throwing them on everyone. The crazy thing is, that tree dropped all its leaves last month, but will start budding new ones in March. Texas weather is so crazy.

4)

I took a crocheting class this month!!! One of my goals this year was to learn how to read crocheting patterns. I have been crocheting since I was seven, but never bothered to ask my grandma how to actually read patterns. She can make all these awesome afghans, baby doll clothes, purses, etc., and I finally decided that, if I'm going to be an awesome grandma who crochets things like that for my grandkids, I need to actually learn new things. Anyway, the class was on a Saturday, which meant Evan was home, so I skidaddled out of the house for a couple hours and learned a new pattern!! If you are a seasoned pattern reader, my new pattern will seem very elementary, but I'm excited. I'm using it to make a family afghan, which I'll take pictures of soon and show you all.

5)

I have decided that I really need to work on my pie crust making skills. Which means I'll probably need to make like a pie a month. Which means that either I will need to step it up at the Y to counteract all the pie eating or I will need to share my pies with my neighbors. Which means my neighbors will either love me for sharing delicious pie or hate me for sharing delicious pie because they will have to step it up at the gym to counteract all the pie eating. 

6)

This kid:

first off, is getting too tall and too old (sob!), but is also really improving in her dance classes at the dance school she and Julia attend. Her teachers had recommended a higher jazz class for this year that has her with junior high and high school girls (she looks so tiny in that class!) and have now emailed me to ask if she can attend a camp for dancers who they'd like to see advance higher in classes. Elisabeth was very proud of herself, and rightly so, she's worked really hard this year to keep up with the older girls and has been successful. Yesterday, Evan and I were watching her run to the house from the backyard to get something and Evan said, "She's even starting to run like a dancer." But, the camp is a sleep away camp. It's maybe 4-5 days long, but Elisabeth has never been to a sleep away camp. Because she's Elisabeth, she's all excited and not a bit nervous, but I'm all "My baby is so biiiiiiig! Waaaaaaah!".

7)

I love our trampoline. The younger two are outside right now jumping on it to their hearts content. They jump on it all day every day. The neighbor kids come over and jump on it and it somewhat contains them, which is nice. Elisabeth and her friends either jump on it or lounge on it talking about 11 year old things. I have vowed our family shall always be a trampoline family. Plus, it is super funny to watch Vivian and her little friend Mak (who is about 22 months) jump on it together. They are so small and they just smile and giggle the whole time.

  There are tons of other blogs participating in the 7 Quick Takes Friday if you all are wanting to check out more!