Mini Saige Pics!!

I am sooooooo excited they have a mini Saige .. this is not my photo, just found it on the internet .. click the Mini Saige words to see more photo's of her ..

 

 

 

 

 

Mini Saige Photo's!!

 

 

 

May Day N More!!

Happy May Day .. it is May 1st of 2013 .. WOW!! What happened to our year already, such a big chunk taken out of it. It is hard to believe that it is actually May.

 

 

I have a few thing to share for May 1st. We were going to do a history with Helena, but nothing was that big of a deal and I have not done a post in forever and wanted to post so I get to share this one with you.

 

 

Today in 1841, the first wagon train leaves Independance, MO for the west. Can you believe that was 172 years ago. We have had settlers out and about for 172 years now. Our area has grown and prospered over the years into busy cities and towns. It is wild to think we started out in MO. Missouri if you are not sure which state MO is. The above photo is what that wagon train probably looked like leaving Missouri.

 

 

In 1883, "Buffalo Bill" Cody, started his wild west show. Depending on the report there were special views on the 1st, and the 10th, but the actual first public performance was the 19th. That all depends on where you look so we put it here. What I would not give to go back into time and actally see the show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This day in 1931 the Empire State building was supposed to be finished and dedicated, again the exact date is a little fishy depending on where you look, but most agree on May 1st, 1931 to be the dedication service. Mama got to see the Empire State building for real last year 2012 while in New York. They did not go up into it because it cost a lot of money to just go to the top and look out. It was crazy and Mama is really really afraid of hights too. LOL!!

 

 

Ok, May 1st, 1941 a new kind of oat cereal hits the store shelves. Cheerios, better known as Cheerioats, the cereal that you do not have to cook made from oats. What a novel idea, I would like to know if whomever invented this new kind of cereal was alive long enough to see what he/she started. If they could believe all the different kinds of cereal out there now.

 

 

 

I learned something totally new today, in 1952 the first "Mr. Potato" head came out and it was face pieces to stick in a real potato or other fruit or veggie. It was not our plastic friend that we think of now days, but a real potato or other fun food. Scary but so totally kewl.

 

 

That is all we have for today, a few fun things that happened on this day in different years. Hope you have enjoyed these fun little facts as much as I have enjoyed sharing them with you. Hope you have a fantabulous month of May.

 

 

USA .. Tell A Story Day and Contest!!

Hey Friends, how are all of you today?? We are doing great, a little warm weather and some sunshine has done a lot for us all. We were getting a little stir crazy and driving Mama mad. LOL!!

 

 

 

We are excited to start the next contest on the blog. We are going to be giving away a summer dress and flip flops.

This is the "United States Tell A Story Day", so we are going to have a contest for a story. Tell a story of how you found your talent, something that you do really well and are now into. Here is my sister Loryn's story:

 

Loryn Finds Her Talent 

Chapter One:

            Loryn who was supposed to be working on her paper, was sitting in class sadly staring out the window lost in thought. The paper they were writing was about their special talent, what they are good at and enjoy. Loryn laughed to herself, “Me, what am I good at?” she thought.

            Loryn was 10 years old, and in Mrs. McCracken’s fifth grade class. Her mind was trying to think of something that was ‘her’ talent, something special she did. She did not even have a unique look like most of the kids in her class. Loryn was the youngest of three siblings, 30 minutes younger than her older sister Lynsy, and 26 minutes younger than her older brother Logan. See Loryn was the last of a set of triplets, and not just triplets, but identical triplets.

            Loryn’s mind thought of Lynsy, she was quiet and always busy. Lynsy loved to build and invent things when she was not in school. She could take apart a clock that was not working and have it up and running in no time. Lynsy was a computer wiz as well, and it seemed like no matter what she tried to do, she was always good at it. Lynsy got top grades in all her subjects and played several sports during the year. On the playground, Lynsy was always one of the first chosen, if she was not the captain doing the choosing. She is good at everything Loryn thought sadly.

            Then Loryn thought of Logan, another computer wiz, and great at sports. He was the best basketball player in their fifth grade classes, and the older Jr. High kids that came to help with the younger class teams were always so impressed with Logan and wished he could play on their teams now. In addition, he was in all-stars for softball during the summer.

            Loryn sighed, there was nothing special she could think of that she was good at.  Nothing that she could say stood out or was special about her. She was about to start writing that the only thing she was good at was playing the piano, which she just started lessons, when the teacher spoke.

            “Ok everyone, lets put our paper and stories away, it is time for our assembly. You have the next two weeks of Christmas break to finish your stories on your talents. I expect them finished and ready to turn in on Friday of the first week we are back from break. That gives you ample time to finish it. File quietly in a single file line at the door please.”

            Loryn slipped her notebook into her desk and got up standing by her friend Faith. Faith smiled at Loryn and spoke quietly, “I cannot believe that it is finally Christmas break.”

            Loryn smiled, “I know.” She whispered back, “Finally” as the class walked down the hall into the gymnasium Loryn’s mind was on her cousin Bella’s party in two days. She could not wait to find out what they were going to do. Bella had decided to keep it as a secret, and had not even told Loryn what they were going to be doing. Loryn’s mind wandered on all the things that she could think of that Bella might have them do for a party. Bella was super great at ballet; she had started at age three and was now in competitions winning trophies and ribbons all the time. Her bedroom was pink and ballet everything.

            At the end of the assembly, Loryn followed her class back to their room to get ready to go home. Loryn slowly took the things she needed out of her desk and slipped them into her backpack. Then she went and put her boots on and was reaching for her lunch pail when Lynsy came up behind her.

“Come on slow poke, mom’s waiting outside.” With that, Lynsy grabbed her coat and lunch box and ran out the door. Loryn grabbed her stuff and followed her sister out the doors. Logan and Lynsy were both in the van talking non-stop over each other telling their mom about school and what they wanted to do during  Christmas break. Loryn quietly listened as she did most of the time with her siblings.

When they got home, Logan and Lynsy ran up to their rooms and put their snowsuits on, and banged out the back door into the snow to play. Within minutes, they had built a fort on each side of the yard and were launching snowballs at each other, laughing and yelling. Loryn walked into the kitchen and poured herself some hot apple cider that her mom had on the stove and picked up the book she was in the middle of reading. Sitting on the window seat where she could watch her siblings playing, she began reading.

In what felt like only moments, Loryn had finished her chapter and looked outside, there were several neighbor kids in the yard with Logan and Lynsy helping with the snowball fight. Loryn smiled as she watched them outside. Then her mind wandered to the story she needed to write, still unsure of what her talent was.

Loryn walked into the kitchen, “Mom, we have to write a paper at school”, Loryn sighed in the middle of her sentence.

“What kind of paper honey?” her Mom asked, “you usually love writing stories.”

“We have to write about our talent, what we are best at.” Loryn sighed again as she climbed on the stool at the counter and took the apple cider her mom had refilled for her. “I am not really good at anything.”

Loryn’s mom turned around and looked at her, “You write beautiful stories.”

“But that is not a ‘noble’ talent, I am not good at sports, or school, or dance, nothing I have ever tried has become a real ‘talent’. Loryn looked up at her mom very seriously. “Lynsy and Logan are good at everything they do.”

“What about your piano,” questioned her mom?

“I just started it; I sound like a two year old still.” Loryn took a drink of her cider, “If someone wanted to hear me play my talent, it would be horrible. I am not good at anything.”

As her mom started to answer Loryn, the door opened and a swirl of snow, and kids came in through the back door. “Mom, can we have some cider.” It was Lynsy, Logan and a couple of their friends. They all took off their snow clothes and sat at the table while her mom filled the mugs. They were loud and laughing and Loryn knew that her talk was over for now.

 

Chapter Two: 

Two days later, they were bundled in the van headed for her cousin Bella’s party. She held her gift for Bella that she had bought with her allowance and wrapped herself. She knew Bella would love it because it was a ballerina necklace; Bella loved everything to do with ballet. Loryn wondered what they were going to do for the party. Bella had seemed so excited when she was telling them about the party. There were some boys invited to the party, so Loryn was sure that they were not doing anything that resembled ballet this year. Yet Bella gave no hint as to what it was going to be.

Instead of just dropping the kids off at Bella’s, Loryn’s mom parked the van and came inside. It was loud and busy in the house when they got inside. Loryn could not believe how many kids had come to Bella’s party. It seemed like her entire ballet school was there, then some friends from school and her two sisters. Loryn shook her head and went to the bedrooms to find Bella’s sister Brya, who Loryn was closest to. Brya, like Loryn did not like the crowds and noise, they were both quiet soft-spoken girls, and enjoyed playing with their dolls quietly in Brya’s room.

A few minutes later, Brya’s mom stuck her head in the room. “Are you girls about ready to go?” They looked up and nodded their heads. Getting up and putting their coats on they followed everyone else out to get into the four mini vans that sat out front. Now Loryn realized why their mom had not just dropped them off, she was staying so that she could help drive them to where ever they were going. Loryn and Brya got in the far back seat in Loryn’s van and waited for everyone else to get loaded up in the vans. It seemed to take forever to get everyone settled and be on the way.

Brya shook her head when Loryn asked if she knew what they were going to do. “Nope, none of us got to know. Bella wanted to keep it a total surprise, but I think she told several of her best friends though.” Brya rolled her eyes and shook her head, “sisters”. Loryn smiled at that too.

The girls chatted loudly as they rode to the party, and Brya sighed all of a sudden. “What”? Loryn asked giving Brya a quizzical look. Brya pointed out the car window, “Ice-skating, Bella wants to go ice-skating, and she never used to even want to until Raynna moved to town. She was always afraid that she would fall and get hurt and could not do ballet.” Loryn smiled sympathetically to Brya.

“I have never been ice-skating either; Tirya said that it is not really hard if you can rollerblade. The first time she went rollerblading she fell flat on her back. She was used to her ice-skates and being able to rest back on the end. There was nothing on the back of the rollerblades so she fell flat.” Loryn laughed as she thought of that day. “We still laugh over that one every time we go rollerblading.”

The girls climbed out of the van and walked with all the other kids into the big rink area. There were bunches of huge forms floating around on the rink. A hockey team was just finishing their practice and making their way off the ice.

“Good grief,” laughed Brya, “I am glad you do not have to wear all that to skate. Can you imagine trying to play a game covered in that much equipment, I think it is worse than football?” The girls laughed as they watched everyone leaving the rink.

Next, this big loud machine started driving out on the ice. “Whoa, what is that?” Brya asked.

“That is the zambonis.” A voice behind them said. Brya and Loryn spun around at the sound of the voice. Tirya was standing behind them smiling. “It melts and refreezes the ice to get rid of the chips and holes the skates and sticks make. That way it is smooth when we go out to skate on the ice.”

Tirya gave Loryn a hug, and Loryn introduced her to Brya. Then they all laughed when Loryn told Tirya that she had told Brya about her first rollerblading episode.

“I am here today to help with first time skaters, part of our internship with the rink. I want to be an instructor when I graduate in two years.” Tirya smiled. They stopped talking as the zamboni drove by them making so much noise they could not hear each other over the sounds. Tirya motioned the girls to follow her; she took them over to the counter, got their skates and helped put them on correctly.

People were finally starting to glide out on the ice, with a few that were holding onto the side of the rink trying to stand up. There were four girls dressed in the light blue t-shirts with the crest from the rink skating around to help the kids who needed it. Tirya gave them tips on starting out and told them she was going to make a round to ask about helping some of the kids and she would be back if they needed her.

Brya and Loryn cautiously stepped out onto the ice, with a slide and small yelp Brya slid to her knees and then just sat down laughing. Loryn glided up beside her. “Are you ok?”

Brya was laughing so hard she could not speak, but nodded her head. After helping Brya up, Loryn started to skate up the side. This was very easy, she moved up and when she heard Brya’s laughter, she turned. Without meaning to, she was all of a sudden going backwards. When she realized what she was, doing her body stiffened and she fell back on her bottom.

That really set Brya off in a fit of hysterics, “You looked like a professional skater ... when you turned like that, then crash ... you were on the ice.” Brya laughed between words.

“It was easy at first, but that was weird turning like that, it is like rollerblades, and yet different.” Loryn stood up and as she started skating, Tirya came up beside her.

“That was a great turn,” Tirya said, “You are a natural Loryn.”

“You always told me that as well as I rollerbladed I should try ice-skating.” Loryn laughed.

Tirya took Loryn’s hands and turned her around to skate backwards while she was skating forwards, they did this a lot when they were rollerblading. She gave Loryn pointers and had a huge smile on her face. Loryn had always looked up to Tirya who babysat her and her siblings when their parents went out, so she was happy that Tirya was proud of her.

When they got around the ice and back to Brya, Tirya let go of Loryn and told her to keep going. She turned around backwards and got Brya skating front ways. They soon caught up to Loryn and the three of them skated around and around the rink, stopping for a while to rest and chat while Tirya helped a kid get new skates on.

Loryn was waiting for Brya to come back so they could go out on the ice when Tirya walked over and sat beside her. “You know Loryn; you really should take lessons if you are enjoying the skating, you are a natural skater.”

Loryn looked at Tirya in shock, “Me?”

Tirya laughed, “Yes, you, this is your first time ever on the ice and you are already turning and switching directions with no problems. You do much better than many of my students that have been skating for years. I think you should at least try some lessons and see if it is something that you would enjoy doing all the time. You are a natural and have a real gift on the ice.”

“Thanks Tirya,” Loryn smiled brightly, “I will do that.”

Tirya smiled, “Ok, I have to go; I have a class in a half hour. See you later Loryn.”

“Bye Tirya,” Loryn watched her leave. She sat and thought for moment and then headed back out on the ice to think. It was a lot of fun, and she did seem to have an easy time learning the simple things that Tirya had shown her. She should at least try it.

 Chapter Three:

 That evening when they got home from the party, Loryn went in to the living room to talk to her mom about lessons. “Mom, do you think I could take ice-skating lessons.” Loryn asked. “Tirya says that I am a natural, and I don’t do any other sports.”

“I think that is a very good idea,” her mom said, “we will ask your father, but I do not see any reason why you can’t.”

Loryn smiled, “Thanks Mom.”

“You’re welcome, now give me a kiss and get to bed, it is late.” Loryn kissed her mom and ran upstairs to her room.

The next afternoon Loryn and her mom went down to the skating rink to sign her up for private lessons. Loryn saw Tirya at the desk when they walked in.

“Guess what, I get to take lessons Tirya” Loryn said.

Tirya smiled, “Great, maybe you will get put on my list. I have two openings right now.”

Loryn smiled, and nodded her head. Then went over to where her mother was signing her up. She could not see whom she was getting as an instructor, but she hoped it was Tirya.

“We have a 6:30 slot open, or 5 am either one,” the manager said.

“Six thirty please,” laughed Loryn. “Good thing I am the one that is more of a morning person. When can I start?”

The woman at the desk laughed, “If you want, you can start tomorrow. It would only be for four days then Christmas break, or you can wait and start the week after Christmas break.” She said.

Loryn looked up at her mom, “Can I start tomorrow, please?”

Loryn’s mom laughed, “If you want to sweetie.”

“Yeah,” cheered Loryn. She turned around to find Tirya who was on the ice, “I start tomorrow”, she hollered, Tirya gave her a thumbs up.

Loryn was sleeping soundly the next morning when her alarm clock rudely started making loud noises. “Nooooo,” she said as she woke up. Then she remembered why her clock was on.

Loryn then bounced out of bed and ran for the closet. Today was her first ice-skating class. She knew she was going to turn, jump, and spin perfectly. She was going to be the star of the rink. Loryn dressed and ran downstairs to have oatmeal before she left. While she was eating her oatmeal, her mom came down the hall.

“Morning Sunshine,” Her mom said as she poured a cup a tea, “Thanks for heating the tea water.”

Loryn laughed, “I knew you were going to need it.”

Loryn was so excited, she had her new ice-skates and headed in the building with a skip in her step. She stopped by the desk, “Loryn reporting for lessons.”

The woman laughed, “Lets see, she checked the schedule. You are going to be with Gracie, she is the dark haired one over by the lockers.”

Loryn turned and looked at her, “Ok,” Loryn said, she was a little sad it was not Tirya, but to excited to feel bad. She headed over to the lockers and sat down to put on her skates.

“Wait a minute,” Tirya said.

“What?” Loryn questioned.

“You cannot wear those.” Tirya said, “Here put these on.”

Loryn gave Tirya a strange look, “New skates will give you horrible blisters during lessons.” Gracie said.

Loryn turned around as Tirya said, “Loryn this is Gracie your instructor.” Tirya leaned in towards Loryn, “She is the best there is, but do not tell her I told you that.” The three of them laughed. 

“What do I do with my new skates?” Loryn asked.

“At the end of each lesson you will put them on for a few minutes every day, using them a little longer each time, then when you have broke them in good you can wear them all the time. You will want performance skates and do the same thing with them. You can use these until then, but if they start hurting your feet in any spot let me know, because you will not be used to these, and we can put a band-aid there. Sore feet are not fun in practice.” Gracie said.

Loryn put the skates on and headed out on the ice with Gracie. At the end of the lesson, she was so excited. Gracie said she was a natural and was ready to start some jumps tomorrow already. This was going to be her talent, her special sport.

Chapter Four:

The next morning Loryn hit the ice with a smile, she was going to do some jumps today. She sped around the rink and practiced turning forward and back. She was doing so good skating, and was ready to start doing some jumps.

By the end of the lesson, Loryn was ready to stay in bed the next day. Her whole body hurt, every muscle and she was sure she had bruises all over too. She headed up to her room and flopped on the bed. “What the heck was I thinking,” she told her doll, “I cannot do sports, I am no good.” Loryn started to get up and laid her head on the pillow again. The next thing she knew, she sun was shining in her window, which meant it was around noon. She got up and headed downstairs to see what was going on.

When she came around the corner, her mom looked up. “Tirya wants you to call her sweetheart.”

“Ok,” sighed Loryn, Tirya was probably going to tell her that she should never set foot on the ice again. Loryn walked into the living room and picked up the phone. She dialed Tirya’s number and waited as it rang.

“Hello” said Tirya’s mother.

“Hi”, said Loryn, “Is Tirya there, it is Loryn.”

“Oh yes, just a minute.” She laughed, “Tirya, phone.”

“Hello” Tirya said as she answered the phone.

“Hey, it’s Loryn.” Loryn quietly said.

“How are you feeling this afternoon?” Tirya asked.

“Like I should never get on skates again.” Loryn said.

“I was afraid you would feel like that.” I had to call because Gracie and I talked after lessons.”

“And you want me to stay off the ice, right?” Loryn interrupted.

“Oh good grief no,” Tirya laughed, “You did fabulous today.”

“Tirya, I was down more than I was standing today. I could not even make an easy jump.” Loryn said, confused about Tirya & Gracie’s reaction to today.

“Hon, your form was wonderful, it will just take practice to start landing them right. Right now, what you need is confidence. By the end, you were landing with the perfect foot placement; you had just gotten so tense because of falling at first that you were not staying up after you landed.” Tirya explained. “I bet if you give yourself a break, by the end of the week you will be landing the first jump steps. Just relax, and let yourself have fun. You are not going to be perfect out there without more practice. It takes time and practice.”

“Thanks Tirya, I needed that.” Loryn sighed. “I just knew you were going to tell me to stop now before I killed myself.”

Tirya laughed, “No, you are not that lucky. You get to keep practicing.” They laughed together and then Tirya said, “See you tomorrow.” They hung up and Loryn went into the kitchen to get her some hot apple cider.

Loryn was feeling much better after talking to Tirya, “Tirya says I am doing really good,” Loryn snorted, “I was down on the ice more than I was on my feet today.”

“Yes,” her mom said, “I noticed that, but you looked graceful between crashes.” Smiling her mom ruffed up her hair as she walked by her.

By the end of her four days, she could do a small jump and land it every time, and turns and spins were coming along too. It was a lot of hard work, but she was really enjoying herself.

When she got back to school after Christmas break, she had written her paper on her newly found talent. The title was, Ice-Skating. Loryn wrote that it was a lot of bumps, bruises & hard work, but so much fun, with great rewards for your hard work, and this is her special talent, the sport that is her gift.

The End!!

Yours does not have to be so long if you can write it shorter, we have a hard time writing a short story, but thought this would be a fun way to celebrate "Tell A Story Day"!! Today is April 27th, so we will run the contest until May 4th. Please mail your stories to me at thecrazydolllady@gmail.com and we will have Nana and Aunt Mary read them and decide which is the winner .. this is so exciting ..

 

 

 

AG Store Seattle!!

 

We are going to the AG store in Seattle Washington on Saturday April 27th .. YEAH!! Tayla and I are going this time, Mara will go in the truck, but she opted to stay out of the store so Mama did not have to take so many in. She says she has been in there so many times ..

 

 

Tayla and I are excited and cannot wait to see Miss Anna who is supposed to be there so we can visit her. We are hoping to get photo's take with Miss Anna, but not sure she wants her face on our blog yet .. lol

 

Mara, Helena and I have been busily making more mini doll clothes, so we will see if they sell or what. We are hoping they sell so we can make more.

 

Not much else going on around here, it is the end of the school year so everyone is busy with school and getting ready for finals so it has been quite quiet around here for the last week or so.  

 

 

Violets N Daisies Brilliant Blog Bouquet Award

Hello my dearest friends, hope all is going great for you .. we are doing really good and having lots of fun in the spring sun the last few days .. Tayla is really excited to go and see the AG store in Seattle on Saturday. She has her new dress that she is going to wear.

 

 

 

 

We got awarded the Violets and Daisies Brilliant Blog Bouquet Award from Doll Express!!! I have to answer these questions:

 

1. If you could have a 'flower pen name' like we have here on our blog, Violets and Daisies, what would is be? Hmmmm .. I think: "The Tiger Lily Times"

 

 

2. What is your favorite ever Bible verse and why? Hmmm .. again that is a hard one, there are so many verses we like, but I love Joshua 1:9 .. it has been there for me to help many times.

 

3. What are the blogs that inspire you most? Inky, By Hook, By Hand, Tess N Maggies, and many more I cannot list them all ..

 

4. If you and your friends could visit any country in the world, where would you go?? Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Sicily,

 

Awarding Five Blogs:

 

The Spices

Dreams of Trees

Sophia N Emma Halifax Twins

Tess N Maggie

Sophie