That is me holding a newborn puppy from my grandma's neighbors' dogs' litter. We petted them for a long time and they still had their eyes closed. Kate made a really big deal out of it. There were like nineteen puppies and I wish I could buy one or have one. They were soooooo cute!!!! You might want to be there right now in California but you can't so ha ha! I had that experience and no one else except for the other people that were there. Anyway, I will put more pictures on. Here.

That other picture of the german shepards I find just adorable and here, I have Daisy too!

All dogs are so cute except for ones that are not. Those are bull dogs, and other really big dogs ect. Thank you for reading and looking at my photos. Love ya! Bye!

The Sweet Smell of Christmas

I was inspired for that story by a blog I posted a little while ago. "Frosty the Snowman and Delicious Christmas Smells (plus presents!)" :)So read it!!! :P

The Sweet Smell of Christmas

I am posting Anna's latest work-in-progress, without her permission, while she sleeps, knowing she may well choose to delete it tomorrow, but it is very much in the spirit of what is going on in our house at present, and where our thoughts are centered at the moment. The last two sentences are, alas, straight out non-fiction!

"Cakes are baking and presents are being wrapped. Cookies are being iced and candy-canes are being sucked on. Children all over are dressing and rushing through the days until Christmas. Chocolate doors of advent calendars are being opened and the sweet taste is being tasted. Mothers are shaping the dark brown dough of gingerbread men onto cookie dough trays. They are placed in the hot oven and people are waiting. Downstairs mothers are rushing to get wrapping paper for the clothes they shopped for at stores all over the town. Kids are reading books of different Christmas stories and making nice presents for parents or friends. They collect nice shells or pictures, old pictures and make them into collages on frames of pictures that they took. They make cards of all kinds with flaps and pop-ups and tape paper around the gifts they made. Kids go shopping with their friends for little bars of soap or brushes to add on to presents. They take their dirty clothes down to the washer as an early present for their mom. Parents blast Christmas Carols and clean the house for the relatives who are coming. They place more cookies in the oven and pick up toy after toy off the ground. They throw them in the kids’ rooms and ask them to clean them up."

Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I now have a 12-year-old daughter. Several women I have told of Kate's birthday today have said what a very special year 12 was for them. Not yet a teenager, but looking toward a new phase of life, middle school, a whole new set of challenges and abilities. Even though we are sad that Chris is gone in British Columbia for this day, so many people have reached out to let Kate know she is important in her world, with flowers, cupcakes, earrings, presents, phone calls and poems.

I remember the moment of Kate's arrival in the world so very clearly. Suddenly, there was a new presence in the room, fully aware, highly observant, endlessly fascinating. Not much has changed since then.

Happy Birthday Kate! The next years are going to be so interesting and exciting!

Frosty the Snowman and Delicious Christmas Smells (plus presents!)

We have been having snow and frost for a couple days now and the smells just keep getting better and the secrets just keep getting bigger. Various other things have been happening around here like violin recitals and bookworms digging in. In fact, Anna has almost read fifteen hours. (that's me!) :) Thank you all for reading our blog and for doing the quizzes when we needed more votes. More details are to be given and more secrets revealed!!! Keep on reading and marking that advent calender! Keep it up. We can do it.

Question of the Week

Hey all! I am going to announce the winners and the right answer of the question of the week!!! The correct answer is: Iris, Joy, and June!!! The person right is Anonymous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I think it's Mommy)

Why aren't people reading this thing?

What aren't people reading this thing. I am getting ready for Christmas and have no time but when I have a moment I look at blogs and comment. Then, I check ours. Sure there are quick comments from family and friends but this cannot go on like this. So, I'm taking charge. I am going to post like crazy and comment on other people's blogs so much they will freak!! Ha ha. So there! I am a teacher/student/house keeper/Anna Peckham Raphael/present giver and now I will add one more thing. Blog goer crazier! Katie's blog has some interesting thoughts on it about me and other things like Alan and clarinet. This is a family blog though. Get it???

It's coming close to Christmas and I'm going crazy with cards and presents and other stuff too.

I'm going to ask if I can bake something. Bye!