Hats in Heaven

January 6 was the 9th anniversary of my grandma's death.  I didn't think about it that much on that day, but then today came, the first Sunday after the anniversary... the day I wear a hat in remembrance of her.

In the last 9 years, I think I have cried less than I did today.  Today, as I got dressed and pulled my box of her hats down out of my closet, I could not help but go over every Sunday I ever watched my grandma get ready for church.

My grandma would get up and make breakfast.  Usually she would make hash-browns (potatoes were a big staple). She would feed my grandpa, and me in the years that I lived with her.  I watched her do the dishes and walk up the stairs to get dressed.  Growing up and until I was 18 years old, I would sit by the door in her closet and watch her carefully pick her outfit and then her jewelry.  Then she would go to the bathroom and do her make up and curl her hair.  She would rat all her curls until her hair was nice and big, and then walk back into her closet, crawl onto the floor and behind her clothes to the boxes of 99 hats.  She would explain to me how she had them color coordinated and in the appropriate boxes for seasons.  I would watch her pick the right hat, crawl back out and in front of the mirror, and then cover up the hair she just ratted.  Then she would find the matching shoes and walk back down the stairs.  She would stand at the bottom of the stairs and wait for my grandpa to take her picture -- in the same spot he did every Sunday (later that picture would be added with the others to her photo album called "The Mad Hatter"). 

I went over all of these things in my mind this morning as I got ready, and chose my hat (her hat) for the day.  When I came out of my room, all of my kids wanted to know why I was wearing a hat.  So, I sat down and I told them about my grandma.  Morgan immediately wanted to wear a hat too, and soon so did Charlie, and then Hayden.  So, before walking out the door, we made sure that we all had a hat on today. 

I loved my grandma.  I love that she loved God with all of her heart, and that Sundays were one of her favorite days, and some of my best memories.  I thank God today for her time on this earth that I got to know her, and watch her.  I thank God that some day I will again be with my grandma in Heaven, and that she and I will get the chance to wear hats, because I believe there are hats in Heaven!

One week!

So, as of today I have been running a mile everyday for a WEEK.  Josh and I measured our waists and weighed ourselves when we started.  As of today, I am down 1 1/2 inches in my waist and have lost 2 pounds.  I'm not as concerned with the scale as I am the inches. I also started out jogging my mile in a little over 14 minutes, and I am now coming in 2 minutes sooner.  But I do still have to use my inhaler every time. So, my picture of the day is my measuring tape... to represent the inches lost!
Also, today I allowed myself SWEETS... all day.  I've been doing one small sweet thing a day.  Today I decided that I will eat whatever I want on the weekends... but still not eat after 7pm.  

Today Hayden had a friend from school over to play.  I picked them both up from school, and she stayed and had dinner with us (PIZZA NIGHT).  Then shortly after, her mom came and picked her up.  So very happy that today is Friday.  It was a long week, going back to school and all.                       
                
Here's a picture of Hayden, Emily and Charlie playing in Hayden's room.

Silver

Today I ran around like a crazy lady, no really, I did.  I had to work in Morgan's Kindergarten class this morning. Then go get Charlie from my mom's house, and back to the school to get Morgan.  Home for lunch, back to the school to get Hayden.  Home, gave the girls a bath (I knew we'd be home to late tonight).  Then I met Josh in the driveway, just to say goodbye.  He stayed home with Morgan to take her to Karate, while I drove the 20 minute drive to gymnastics.  Charlie's class was from 5 to 5:45... then we RAN over to subway to eat dinner, and RAN back to gymnastics for Hayden's new SILVER class at 6:15 to 7: 45.  After we jumped in the van and drove the 20 minutes back home to run in the house and get pajamas on and get the girls straight to bed.  Now, breathe.  Oh, and Cameron was home with Morgan, he had to pick her up from Karate, because Josh had worship practice. 

My picture of the day is of Hayden. Why?  Well, she advanced a couple of months ago to the Bronze class and then last week they told me that she was ready for the next level, SILVER.  There is only ONE class at this level for the entire week, and only 6 girls in the class.  They pushed her hard tonight, and she did really good.

New and New

Today I went to the new Big 5 Sports in Dinuba.  I went looking for running shoes... I don't have any kind of tennis shoe.  I don't do a lot of sport actives, ok, I don't do any, so that would be why I don't have the shoes for them.  Anyway, I went hoping to not spend a fortune, but get a good shoe. 
I saw right away the pair that I liked.  They were on sale for $39.99, original price was $74.99.  It was a little more than I wanted to spend, but I thought I'd try them on.  I asked for two sizes to try on, a 8 and 8 1/2.  The 8's were a little tight, but the 8 1/2's fit.  I looked at the boxes, and I noticed that the size 8 box had a little yellow sticker on it that had the price $29.99.  So, I asked why one pair of shoes was cheaper. The young man that I asked said that it was an accident, and he asked if those were the ones that I wanted.  I told him that I wanted the other size.  He said they have to give the price that is put on them, so he gave me the shoes that I wanted for $29.99.  I was a happy customer.

The other new thing today was my cell phone.  My new iphone I got before Christmas never charged right with the wall charger.  I had to bend it a certain way for it to charge.  So, we took it into the apple store and they gave me a new phone.  Happy, but all my stuff is gone. I have to work on putting all my apps back on, and changing things around.  I lost all my appointments on my calendar, and my alarms that were set.  I know what I'm doing tonight!  :) Ha.

Painting

This is the "before" shot of Hayden's room... this is what is hanging over her bed.

This is what Hayden and I did yesterday.  I stenciled a few stars and then Hayden helped me and we glued on some "bling".  :)

Oh, ants.

The thing about living in California is... lot of bugs.  The biggest pest of them all is... ANTS.  Most of the time it's hard to see where they're coming in, but fortunately we can see exactly where they're coming in this time.  Right through the back door.  It wasn't properly sealed on the bottom, and you can pretty much see right outside... and the ants come in from time to time.  Well, one night the girls and I made blond brownies, and I spilled some sugar on the floor and counter.  I thought I cleaned it all up, but I guess not.  And the smell of the sugar just call to our little ant friends.  So, in the morning when I went to make skinnies for the girls, this is what I found in the sugar container.  And there was a trail of them all down the wall and out the back door.  :)