Thursday, April 24, 2008

Friday Show and Tell - and Twin Update



A few weeks ago I showed you the grandfather clock that DC created rom at when we were first married. Tonight I want to share two of his other creative projects.


It was the summer after his graduation from college (it would be another 8 years before we would meet). DC was going into the National Guard in the fall. He spent the summer at his folks' place in Beloit, Wisconsin during this interim period in his life. He bought this kit of the Cutty Sark, spending 3-4 hours a day for 4 months to complete it. It amazes me that he had the patience to create such a masterpiece. It has a place of honor in his den.




It was years later, after we were married and had children, that he decided to tackle another ship model, this time The Bounty of Mutiny on the Bounty fame. He spent many hours for several months in the evenings working in our basement creating this smaller wooden model.




Kate and Emma are growing and thriving. They have begun to coo and smile. I haven't been able to catch the fleeting smiles yet on camera, but I'll definitely keep trying! They're not much for posing for me yet! But notice how they are in the exact same position - it is uncanny. Nobody can tell me they're not identical - same sounds, same motions, same features. Adorable. It is such fun to take them out - we meet so many nice people who "Ooh and Aah." They are quite the attraction. And the phrase Kristen and I get all.the.time - "Wow, you sure have your hands full!" Yes, we do - full of little blessings. And most people are kind and perceptive enough to acknowledge the big sisters, too.


We weighed Emma this week and she's up to 7 lbs. 4 oz. We didn't get Kate weighed that day, but I suspect she's about 8 lbs. 4-5 oz. Emma eats and eats, desperately trying to catch up with her big, one-minute-older sister! You can see that she isn't quite filling out her outfit as well as Kate yet, but she's working on it!



Now I have a bit of housekeeping I need to do. I want to thank
Butler's Wife for the gift of one of her American Idol dish cloths (she makes them while she "watches" Idol.) I put my camera on to charge before I realized I had one more picture to take, so I went over and borrowed Becky's picture - mine is the lovely bright pink one. It is really too lovely to wash dirty dishes with!



I told Becky the story about when I was in 6th grade and the Hong Kong flu hit our school. Our teacher didn't want all the sick kids to get so far behind in math, so she decided to teach us to knit. A dishcloth was my first knittingproject ever. I have to say, though, that our pattern wasn't nearly as fancy! Thank you so much, Becky!


Midlife Mom tagged me for this meme:


1) Write your own six-word memoir about yourself.
2) Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you'd like.
3) Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible, so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.

I have seen this one around blogland, and I have seen some wonderful memoirs, very lovely, and meaningful. I have thought and thought, and I could not think of anything very cerebral. Here it is - the truth, and the best I can do!

She is tired - all the time!


Finally -- a few weeks ago, I shared my DIL's story about the horrendous situation in Kenya that her parents and other family members were living through. Today I asked he permission to copy a piece of her last post for an update for those of you who have been praying for them, and even contributed money for them to be able to buy very scarce food. She no sooner wrote the good news when something really sad happened to her brother's family.


"My parents are doing so much better. Actually the entire country is doing a lot better. Infrastructure is finally working again, people are back to their normal ways and the economy is slowly picking up again. For those who don't know, Kenya now has a prime minister. This is the solution that most Kenyans agreed to. We still have a president, but the runner-up president was given the title Prime minister. His duties are specific to his position but he also gets to share power with the president. So the two allies are now friends and are actually working together in a unified manner. PTL!! So, this new government has settled the squabbles and ethnic violence that had been stirred up after the elections on December 27. I was planning on going to Kenya this summer to visit my family, but the plan fell through. I will now be hopefully going to Kenya in December-God willing."

Please go over to Sema's spot and read today's post, if you have a minute. It will shock you and send you to your knees, if you are a praying person.

For more Friday Show and Tell stories, stop by Kelli's blog, There Is No Place Like Home.



25 comments:

Midlife Mom said...

I love your meme answer!! It's just keeping it real and I think we all understand where you are coming from!! Hope you and Kristen get some rest before long! xoxox

Nadine said...

Your answer is great! It's my favorite one yet.

Twins are getting big - don't worry she'll catch up to her sister.

Great ship. Your hubby is very talented.

JEWELGIRL said...

Tired all the time! LOL
Your husband is so talented and
has a lot of patience to build those ship models! The babies
are definitely growing since the
last photo. ((Many smiles & Hugs))
from Jewelgirl to the sweet babies.

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Poor Sema, and her family! Violence is getting worse and more widespread every day it seems.

Yep, those babies will be walking before you know it. I think I'd rather carry them than chase them though. My bad knees won't let me move too fast and I'm scared to death Emmy will pull something off on her head or do something else dangerous before I can get to her.

Happy Friday and weekend!

Love and hugs,

Diane

Hootin Anni said...

My hubby would just LOVE to have his hands on the Cutty Sark!!!!

Oh Dawn...just look at those bundles of joy all in purple!!!! I just bet you beam with pride when you're near.

My Show n Tell is ready for visitors.

Anonymous said...

What wonderful ships - and what a patient, talented husband. My ancestors were sailors on the HMS Victory and HMS Bellerephon at Trafalgar.

The twins are SO cute and growing fast now.

I hope things get better for your DIL . . .

Susan said...

The ships are true works of art! I'll go read the link.
Susan

Constance said...

First off, we are so insulated living over here in America. Most of us have NO concept of the suffering that goes on in the rest of the world and how we are, in spite of what WE might think, wealthier than most of the world! Pain and suffering abound and sometimes it is so overwhelming!

Thanks for sharing your Hubby's projects. I used to put together model cars but nothing as taxing or time-consuming as that! Thanks for sharing!
Connie

Simply Heart And Home said...

Dawn,

Your husband must be incredibly patient to work on those ships. Amazing!

The twins are growing nicely! They remind me so much of my twin girls.

Blessings,

Gina

LBP said...

What cool ships! My mother in law made one very similar to the first one.

Blessings

Linda

Deb said...

Oh I'm so glad that the twins are growing so well and I'm sure that Emma will catch up soon, the way she's going. :)

I love your six-word memoir - I think mine would be pretty much the same. LOL

What gorgeous ships!!

Needled Mom said...

The ships are incredible, Dawn. I can only imagine the patience that it must take. What a lovely collection.

The girls must be such fun. I remember one of our sons always wanted to carry our daughter around. He used to call he a "chick magnet." lol

Great answer.

Nancy said...

Dawn~ TIRED, you must be, but you are still so optimistic and mentioned what a blessing it was! You are the true picture of a Christian, Mom/Grandmother, and I am uplifted every time I stop by.

The twins are growing and so cute. What a talented and patient hubby you have! I am pleased to hear the Kenya update. Have a great weekend!

A Hint of Home said...

The ships are so special cuz hubby made them and you have kept them all these years.

the babies are sooooooo cute!

Mike Golch said...

I have armire the ships and the patiece it took.

Kathy said...

Incredible ships, precious babies!...Kathy@ Mimi's Garden

Barb said...

Sema's post is heartbreaking, Dawn. It's hard to believe one little family has had to endure so much injustice.

The twins are doing so well. It's so nice to see them all filled out and growing so fast.

And that photo of the woman with the cup of coffee could be me. It really and truly could. :-)

Lisa said...

Hi Dawn,
I am impressed with the ships! Look at the detail!
I liked this post very much. It was nice to read about how big the twins are getting. Blessings :o)

The Apron Queen said...

Those babies are really growing! What patience your husband has to build those model ships.

Did you know roosters are good luck? Wonder why? Stop by for the answer.

For your daily dose of vintage goodness & a bit of silliness, stop by Confessions of an Apron Queen, the home of Vintage Thingies Thursdays.

on the ROCKS said...

Those ships are really intricate and I sure you are very proud of the fine work he did on them. I would show them off too. The twins are so beautiful I can almost smell that sweet baby smell

groovyoldlady said...

Beautiful babies!

I went to Sema's blog. Sometimes life is REALLY tough. I am praying for her fam!

Kelli said...

Your husband's ships are amazing, he did a great job! The twins are so sweet, they grow up fast!
~Kelli

Sharon Lynne said...

The twins look so cute!

I am amazed that DC could stick with that building project at such a young age. I'll have to show my dad these ships. He is always looking for a new project! (But he has to finish his giraffe first!)

I loved the 6 word memoir!

Karen H. said...

Good Morning Dawn,
I thought I had better drop by for a visit since I am out finally visiting this morning. I didn't get a chance to visit after I had posted last Wednesday. Life is just so busy around here these days with the girls and all. I did put up a new post this morning and even some pictures as well. DC did a wonderful job on those ships. Does he still do any of those? Emma and Kate are really growing like a weed huh? I so loved your Meme. That must be Kristen? I can't begin to imagine how tired she stays and having her hands full. I know she is so glad to have you around to help her out. Your pink dishcloth you made is beautiful. It's been along time since I've seen any of those around. I never learned to knit or crochet myself. I tried once, but never got the hang of it. My DH and his Uncle go thru Beloit every week when they go up to Minnesota/Wisconsin. I think I even heard my Dad tell my DH that he has some relatives that live in Beloit. I think it maybe some distant cousins or something like that. Take care my friend and have a great day. May God Bless You and Yours.

Love & Hugs,
Karen H.

Mimi said...

your husband is very talented...and what beautiful things he has made to be passed on down to his children and grandchildren...
speaking of grandchildren...I was only gone ten days...and the twins have grown by leaps and bounds while I was away from blogland...