Play-doh Factory

Jeremy and I despise Play-doh. Actually, we have good reason to despise it. We have a really bad track record with the stuff. It has been ground into our carpets and our girls' clothes many times. Anyway, my mom had mercy on her grandchildren and bought a big set for them to play with at her house. These are just a few pics of Olivia and her cousin Matthew playing on Sunday.

Spotted at Leeds Elementary School

I am sailing out to Jupiter to see the big red storm.


I just love that. Is it just me or is this anonymous kid a poet in the making?

Plagiarized Blog Entry

I was going to re-write the story of this picture, but then I thought, "Hey, my sister sent me this photo, and she worded the story behind it so well, why not rip the whole thing off instead of just the pic?"

So, here you are . . .



"My little brother, William, has a "friend"(right now, this is all he refers to her as) that taught him how to knit. He didn't have any knitting needles so he found some scrap dowels in Dad's workshop and used Dad's grinder to make him to knitting needles. He then took his money and went to our local craft store and bought yarn. He knitted Harper Lee, Olivia, Avery, and me each a scarf for Christmas. I had no idea. He somehow managed to do all of this without me knowing and I was so surprised on Christmas when I opened the present from him that he even wrapped himself. He even made each of the scarves size appropriate with Avery's being no more then 2 feet long. I have attached a picture of all of us with our scarves. It's a little dark... sorry, but I think you can at least see some of them. He used this fury yarn material and so I think they kind of resemble caterpillars. Anyway, I love it. One of my most favorite Christmas presents to date."

I do have to add to Jana's story that William also got me my favorite Christmas present this year. He found an edition of Many Waters by Madeline L'Engle that I had been looking for, but had been unable to find. What made it such a cool gift was that it wasn't even on my list. He just heard me talking about it and took it upon himself to find. Really I think my favorite present last year, too, was from William - a book light that, again, I hadn't thought to ask for, and yet I have used innumerable times. The funny thing is, we always tease him about being spoiled because he is so much younger than the rest of us siblings, but he is the sweetest little brother imaginable. Thanks for being such an awesome guy, William. I am so proud of how you are growing up.


(yes, his shirt does read "I fart in your general direction." I said growing up, not grown up.

My Girls

I began to trust the world again, not to give me what I wanted, for I saw that it could not be trusted to do that, but to give unforeseen goods and pleasures that I had not thought to want.
----------- from Wendell Berry's Hannah Coulter

A Merry Little Christmas

We had a great Christmas and I was too busy having fun to take pictures!!

On Sunday, we had a wonderful service. Harper Lee did a short reading. Sorry for the poor video quality. Mom was a little nervous. :)




We had a glorious Christmas Eve. I don't think it is how I would want to spend every Christmas Eve, but for this year it was absolutely perfect. We took the girls to see Enchanted in the afternoon and then we went home and relaxed together. On Christmas, Jeremy and I woke up before the girls and they finally got up at about 7:30. The Wii turned out to be as fun (or even more so) than we thought it would be. (A big shout out to my brother William for helping Santa locate a high-demand toy.) After the present-opening, we went to Waffle House to eat breakfast. Later on in the day, we went to my mom's house for present exchanging there and Christmas dinner. We had an insane amount of food. I should have taken pictures of all the desserts my sister made this year!

Another Christmas season has come to an end, and all we have is the memories, and not nearly enough pictures of the fun. Here are a few that I have, starting with the Leeds Christmas Parade, and going through yesterday.

Here are the girls opening the Wii.

And, finally, a video that gives you an idea of what we did all day Christmas. :)

Happy Birthday to Me! (and Sam Daspit)

Well, about the only wish I didn't get for my birthday this year was for Sabriel to be born today -- actually there are still a few hours left if Virginia will hurry up!! ;)

I had a great day. I should have taken more pictures.

Actually, my birthday started Sunday. My mom had a birthday party for me and fixed my favorite cake, Hummingbird Cake. If you've never had it, think of pumped up banana nut bread with cream cheese icing. mmmmmmm, good! And, I got a great robe from my sister (how did she know my old one was looking so sad?) My family got me so beautiful holiday dishes. I tried to get a good picture of them, but to no avail. I'll have to get the table all set and try again. I love them!!!!

Today, I . . .




. . . got a new 'do! Don't worry, Kari Ann - I had to use my gift certificate to the spa. I am a Kari Ann customer for life :).


I got to shop with my Mom and then she took me, my sister, and Jeremy to lunch. It was delicious and I had a blast hanging out with them. I don't usually get to just sit and chat with them without the girls around (pesky grandchildren get all the attention!!!).

Jeremy and the girls gave me . . .



. . . desperately needed new shoes! Virginia - hope you don't mind me copying your footwear!

Jeremy's family gave me my favorite things, a great CD and a gift card to Lowe's!

We also got to go to Olivia's Christmas program, which of course was wonderful. The kids all did great. Of course, Olivia was the best!
Here is a short clip. The girl with a white bow in her hair almost directly in front of Olivia is Kaela, and the girl with the beautiful blonde hair in front of Kaela is Donna. Olivia, Kaela, and Donna are really good friends. They are the two we hear the most about at home.




And, the biggest surprise of the day would have to be Jeremy's . . .









. . . tattoo!!!! I am still in shock, actually. It was a very, very unexpected surprise. And, a very sweet thing for Jeremy to do. If you can't tell in the picture, the tattoo is on his wrist.

I am so thankful for him today and every day, for the wonderful and kind things he does for me and the girls.

I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.

(but don't expect to see any tattoos on me any time soon ;)

Random Soileau Girl Cuteness for Grandmothers and Anyone Else Who Cares to Wade Through It

Last Spring we hosted our church's Sunday night meetings in our home.
The kids stayed upstairs while the adults had a Bible study downstairs.
I guess that explains why Olivia told my friend Virginia the other day
that the baby gate was in place upstairs so that the babies would not
bother the humans during church.

When we got the Christmas tree in place in our living room, Olivia
looked at the twinkling lights and said that they were like the stars
the night that Jesus was born. They twinkled because they were so
happy. All together now -- "Awwwww."

Olivia was telling me recently that she had been hit and pushed down on
the playground. (She frequently exaggerates stories of her abuse at the
hands of others at school, so I was not extremely worried.) I asked her
who hit her, she said with a knowing shake of her head, "Jasmine. That
is one evil little girl."

We had two really heartfelt prayers last night. Olivia found an old
sticker from the first of the school year that said "Olivia Walker" on
it. This designated her as a child whose parents walk to pick them up.
We have since changed the girls to riding the bus home for convenience
(They are not too fond of the bus.) When she found the sticker she
prayed, "God, make me Olivia Walker again." Harper Lee prayed that
today would be Friday, so we talked about God not being like a slot
machine that you expect to dispense whatever you want. She sighed, "I
know, but this week feels like a month to me."

And, tonight, Harper Lee lost another tooth. This is the second tooth she actually lost, as in, gone never to be found. I asked her to read her note to the tooth fairy to me since the note will be gone tomorrow morning. :) Please forgive her idiot mother for turning the camera the wrong direction to video her. I couldn't find an easy way to rotate the video.