Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day, Kalan!

Valentines Day is almost here and when you live so far away, every thing has to get done early and then get in the mail.

I made a night gown for Kalan using the same pattern that Melissa’s Meme made for her. Melissa absolutely loved that gown when she was little. I think she wore it until it was up to her knees.
Kalan loves her babies, so I made a matching one for her baby doll.

I love to buy books for Kalan and since I buy so many of them, I buy most of them from Scholastic Books. When my nieces were younger, they lived far away, so I would always send them books on all the holidays wrapped up in fun paper with stickers. I guess it was my way of keeping in touch.

So here are the books I found for Kalan for Valentines Day. Last year, I bought Kalan the book
‘Pinkalicious’. Here is a synopsis of the book.
“Pink, pink, pink. More than anything, Pinkalicious loves pink, especially pink cupcakes. Her parents warn her not to eat too many of them, but when Pinkalicious does . . . she turns pink! What to do? This sparkling picture book, filled with such favorites as pink bubble gum, pink peonies, pink cotton candy, and pink fairy princess dresses, celebrates all things pink while showing that being yourself is best of all.”

It is such a fun book, but after reading it, Kalan only wanted pink things. So this year, I’ve decided to shake things up a bit and get her ‘Purplicious’.
“Pinkalicious, the insouciant little girl who loves pink (especially Pink Passion Fruit Paradise ice cream) is back and in trouble. The girls in her class tease her that pink is passé and babyish, and that black is the new in color. Although her family tries to cheer her up, Pinkalicious almost abandons her favorite color until a new girl in her art class helps her see that pink is powerful and perfect-particularly when mixed with blue to make purple. The lively cartoon illustrations spill across the pages mirroring the protagonist's feelings as she changes from a confident, imaginative child to a sad one who believes she is alone in the world and then back to her old spirited self, fortified by a new friend and a newly discovered color.”

I also found the cutest book ‘My Little Girl’ by Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas.
“Dad and his little girl, along with their very large bloodhound, set off on an ordinary day and turn it into a wonderful adventure. From dancing by a duck pond to swinging on a tire swing, lots of laughs and love are shared in time spent together. The day ends with a sweet "Goodnight, I love you" from Dad. And a whisper, "I love you more" from his little girl. This book is a delightful reminder that spending time together really matters. Simple moments, laughter and knowing you are loved builds lasting relationships.”
I guess every one has already heard of the book except for me, but if you are like me and haven’t heard yet, it’s too sweet. It’s a great book for dads to read to their daughters.

Oh, and I also had to buy ‘Tinkerbell’ the movie for Kalan. You see, Melissa rented it for her not too long ago and she loved it. But she was very concerned about me when she realized that Thinkerbell was a fairy. I think the conversation went something like this.

“Mommy?”
“Yes, Kalan.”
“Does Meme know that Tinkerbell is a fairy and not a dog?”
“Yes. I think she knows that.”
“Then why did she name her dog Tinkerbell?”

Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell was born on June 21, 2008. Yes, that was the same day as Melissa and Jeff's wedding. She came home when she was 8 weeks old and weighed 1.5 pounds. She was just a little bigger than a coffee cup. In the picture she is jumping so her front feet are not on the floor.

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Tinkerbell & Lucky

Tink, as we began to call her grew fast and soon began eating puppy food after she got her sharp puppy teeth. This did not make our 20lb cat, Lucky, happy. But they have become friends. Or maybe I should say brother and sister.

In other words, they play.

Or, he lets her play until he is through.

Then it's a hit with the left...

And then a hard right and she's down for the count.

Lucky and Tink have so much fun playing together. They both have fun. Lucky will entice her with his tail. And then the wrestling begins. Sometimes it can go on for 5 minutes or more. Lucky has hurt her a few times, but he has learned how to stop the playing

without hurting her.

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Graduation day for Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell's graduation from beginner obedience school was such an achievement for us. Yes, me too. Number one, we made all the classes. And even though there was one time when I didn't think she would be able to learn the instructions. Especially when the other parents started calling her 'Tinklebell' because of her bladder control issue when she got excited (some people can be so cruel).


Tink and I hung in there and showed them. She graduated head of her class winning all the awards and to answer the most important question, she no longer has a bladder control problem.

What does Lucky think of all this? Well, I think the picture tells it all. After all, they do not have obedience training for cats.

Tink came home very excited to tell him all about her achievements.

Lucky and Tink both have a favorite movie.

You guessed it.

'Garfield'

Papa and I had so much fun making Kalan's Barbie house bookshelf. Lots of late nights sawing, sanding and painting but every bit with love.

Now I remember playing Barbie's in my dresser. I still think it makes the best Barbie house. It was an old one with doors and shelves inside. My friends had the fancy cardboard ones but mine was the best to me.

I tried to convince my daughter as she was growing up that store bought was not necessarily the best way to go. But I will admit that the old cardboard Barbie house did give way to a much fancier version that made the cabinet that I gave her look pretty sad.

But now we are in a new generation and it is an era of 'home made is best made'. Well, if there is one thing my Daddy taught me, it was to use my hands. Luckily, he taught me more than one thing and that includes how to use most woodworking tools. So when Melissa asked us to make Kalan's Barbie house bookshelf. All I said was, "How high, how wide and what color?"