It's so much better. . .

Molly and Jack have to sleep in kennels at night. Molly is actually the only one that needs to be in a kennel, but Jack likes to get in his kennel. Because I'm the one that takes care of the dogs, the kennels are in my room.

Before Jessica, Mom, and I redid my room (I might post about that later), I had a window seat by the . . . window. You could lift up the top and store things in there, but I had to put things I didn't need regularly in there because I had some OLD computer sitting on top of it. When we redid my room, we got rid of the old computer and stored the window seat elsewhere. Then we put the kennels in the little window niche (they'd been on the other side of the room. Jessica said we should turn the window seat into a "kennel". We all thought it was a good idea, and Dad can create / build / do just about anything, but he isn't good at getting projects started. And, if he starts them, he might not finish them. . .

It's been almost a year since we finished my room, and something made me remember the window seat. I thought about how nice it would be if it were in place of the kennels. I decided to call Dad and ask him about it. He said we would do it soon, maybe even start on it later that day! Mom was doubtful, and told me not to get my hopes up. . . I however, was not doubtful, and brought it up again, later that day. Amazingly, Dad said we could plan on how we were going to do it, right then, that very moment!

Christopher and Dad carried the window seat outside into the garage and we figured out where the doorways would be and what they would look like. They cut the doorways, put a divider in the middle of the window seat, and cut a few small holes for ventilation. AWESOME!!

One problem though, we couldn't figure how to make the doors, at least not with whatever materials we had on hand or the limited time we had left to work that night. The doors can't be just solid wood, it would get too stuffy. Mom and I thought a blanket over the doorway for right now would be fine, because the dogs would stay inside out of habit. Sadly, no, Molly got out and had an accident in my room: not fun.

Now our temporary solution is to use "Christopher's" newly acquired doggie baby gate (borrowed from Jessica). It fits perfectly in front of the window seat / kennel palace - the dogs can't go anywhere.

He has never been able to tolerate the dogs wandering into his room, so he used empty Avon boxes for the longest time as a 'dog barrier'. Finally, Jessica offered up one of her many baby gates and it's much better. We threw out the boxes.

*** One night after Christopher had gone to bed, and I'd had a particularly large Avon delivery (well, not just one), I did this: - - but it's another story : ) ***

Now we'll either need another baby gate or we'll share the one we have: I use it at night and he can use it during the day.

If anyone has a suggestion for the doors, I'm open. We don't need anything to complicated, just something simple. Share your ideas!

YES!!

I did it, I finally did it. I learned how to ride a bike.

Christopher had been "nagging" me to learn how to ride a bike. My excuse was, " What bike can I use?". Well, it turns out, we still had Christopher's old bike in the attic, which just so happened to be the perfect size for me. We used our neighbor's flat driveway to get started on (our driveway is a steep hill).

First, Christopher had to show me how to get ON the bike. Luckily, I learned that pretty quickly. Then, I sat up there and pretended to do something while he pulled me forward (he did this a few times).

But then, came the worst part, he had this CRAZY idea that he would just get me moving and then he would LET GO. Well, he let go and I actually didn't fall, I was able to keep going until the end of the driveway. After a little more of that, I moved on to the end of my cove (it isn't a busy street).

It took me a while to get used to using the brake instead of practically jumping off the bike and it also took me a while to turn without falling. But, I'm very happy I now know how to ride a bike, it might come in handy someday. :)

Wedding Anniversary

Today is Jessica and Matt's

9th wedding anniversary!


That little tiny girl on the right is me.

Skirts

A while ago Mom had gotten this book called Sew What! Skirts. It tells you how to sew skirts without buying a pattern. Instead you make your own custom pattern. The book made it really easy.

So far I have made two skirts. They were simple and they didn't take long at all. The book tells you how to make different styles but I just made a plain skirt with an elastic waist. My skirts are really cute and I like them a lot.

EEP!

Today we had clowns, or so I thought.

We always get a clown calender so that we know when things are scheduled; the calendar said we had clowns today. (We are either performing or practicing).

When I got to the room where we always meet, nobody was there. A few minutes later one other girl, Samantha, came. We kept wondering why we were the only two there, until another clown member walked by and saw us. She said we had had a meeting yesterday but we didn't have one today. Neither Samantha or I knew about the clown event on Saturday, so we didn't get the message that today's practice was canceled.

I had forgotten my phone, and I borrowed Samantha's phone to call Mom, but her phone was still on vibrate mode for the church service, so of course she didn't hear it.

I went downstairs to the doors where we always leave, but Mom and Christopher had had to leave a little early (to pick up Jessica and Charlotte - no car) so I missed them.

I was looking around for anybody I knew. I saw the lady my Mom teaches Sunday School with, Amy, and I told her what had happened. She tried calling my Mom, but she still didn't answer (she'd forgotten to turn up the ringer). Amy offered to just drive me home. She's nice like that!

They have a sort-of small car and three kids, but were still able to fit me in. On the way to my house, their youngest daughter (Charlotte's age), Addison, talked almost the whole time. She is really good at talking. When I was telling them where to turn I said it was a little past Super Target. After I said that, Amy asked Addison what was on her shirt. Addison looked at it and said "Super Target". Addison was very funny.

There was an 'up' side to this 'ordeal'; when I walked through the garage door into the house, everybody just stared at me like I was some alien! The looks on their faces were priceless!