Christmas 2009

It's little, but so lovely...we love our cute REAL Christmas tree!

Me and my girls...all 5 of them. I am a very lucky Mom!

My whole family, beautiful women, handsome husbands, and one cute baby!

Kitty got the bomb-diggity of gifts.

She is very happy with Kendall's Christmas gift to her.

It's been declared a no touch zone. Since she is a touch-me-not kitty in a house of girls who want to hold her and pet her, this is truly a santuary for her.

The stocking I made for Eric out of his old Banana Republic boxers shorts.

My First Born is 25!

Surprise!

Eric planned a surprise birthday party at Aunt Jan and Uncle Lincoln's.

Homemade birthday cake made by the "in laws/loves"...the best!

Best present ever! The boots she wanted, and didn't think she would ever get.
Mailman's Wreath

Cool story: a customer of mine learned how to make these from an elderly neighbor.

People in the north made these wreaths and hung them on their doors so their postman and newspaper boy could cut a piece off and enjoy it during the holidays.

I thought is would make a great reward wreath for Lindsay Ann's class.

More presents!

I can't believe it's been 25 years since I had my first baby!

Baby she has been a GREAT ONE!!

I am very blessed to have her in my life, and many other people also receive those blessings!

She has been a great daughter, sister, wife and role model!

The leaves are flying and so is the time!

This fall has just flown right past me. I heard a quote the other day that really stuck out to me..."Life is a verb". Sometimes I feel like I am existing day to day and not really living. This time of year brings the birthdays of three of my children, this really illuminates out how fast time is going. I have been on my new path for four years now, I am still struggling in many ways, but a lot of things have gotten better. I have serious regrets for the amount of time I have to be away from Kendall and Lacey. I wish I had another parent to help, but I don't. I have got to do something to feel like I am really part of their lives and not just a blur they see coming and going. Pray for me!

Happy Birthday Britta!

Britta is no longer a teenager...yikes! Happy 20th birthday Britta! I love you BaBa! Be careful life passes by very quickly enjoy your twenties. You are an awesome person and I am so proud to call you my daughter!

Sweet 16!

Kendall is 16! I can hardly believe it myself. Kendall has always been sweet! She doesn't have her drivers licence yet, she not ready and that is okay with Mom. My little sunshine girl is growing up and turning out to be a wonderful young woman. I love you Kendall!

McIntosh Homecoming 2009

Beautiful! Britta did Kendall and Lacey's hair and make-up...didn't she do a great job! Kendall was able to wear her first pair of high heels that Eric gave her, they were a wonderful addition to the outfit. I can't believe how grown up they look...yikes!

Pipi Longstockings

Kendall Longstockings that is. Kendall wanted me to knit her a pair of knee high socks. Well here they are. It took a long time (pun intended) to knit these, but they turned out really cool. Now all Kendall needs is some cool weather to wear them.

Aidan's Handmade.

Aidan in the outfit I made him for his baptism.

A Painter's House is Never Painted!

Do you know the saying "a painter's house is never painted"? Well the gist of this is that the thing you do for money or others you hardly ever do for your self. Well I am guilty of this. I knit socks and I have given every pair I have ever knitted away. Well one of my summer break goals was to knit myself a pair of socks.....here they are in my favorite colors pink and red!

My Last One!

Kendall and Lacey Kate

10th grade and 9th Grade

It's hard to believe that my last child started high school today!! Long gone are the days of wearing a cute outfit I made for their first day of school. Nothing reminds you better how time flies then the major events in your childrens lives. Lacey had a good day, but is very tired and has already gone to bed. For Kendall it was just another day. She is very excited about her pottery class she will be taking this year.

They think there almost grown, but the picture tells the truth, they are still my little silly girls!

Todd and Aidan's Baptism

Today was a special day in the Biggs, Mavis and Hallberg families. Todd and Aidan were baptized!! I am very fortunate to be Aidan's Godmother, but as you can see he has a huge family that will be there to help Todd and Leslie with tons of love and support.

Leslie's Family

Todd(Aidan's Dad), Great-Grandmother Mavis, Great-Grandfather Mavis, Great Grand Aunt Stella( she is 101, isn't that incredible!), Bill (Aidan's Grandfather "Pops"), Pastor Kollmeyer, Leslie (Aidan's Mom) and Bonnie (Aidan's Grandma).

My Amazing and Wonderful Blessing!

Lacey Kate, Kendall, Britta, Lindsay Ann and Leslie

My Girls!!

Baby Clothes

As most of you know I love making baby clothes. Aidan is being baptized this coming Sunday, August 9th and Leslie and Todd allowed me the honor of making his outfit for this event. I haven't sewn much of recent so I got a great amount of pleasure from doing this. The bubble is made out of white pique with light blue whip stitch piping. I used Martha Pullen's Drew and Erin for the pattern. Spending time doing something you love is some of the best therapy I know.

Happy Anniversay!

Lindsay Ann and Eric celebrate 1 year of marriage today!

Bye Britta

My second born Britta moved to Athens today to live with Lindsay Ann and Eric for a while. She is in the process of transfering to the University of Georgia. Until then she will be commuting two days a week to Georgia State. She decided to go ahead and make the move now so she can get a job and get established in Athens. We are really going to miss her!!! Britta is a very funny person and we have enjoyed a lot of laughs together. We both have an extensive love of music of every kind and love finding something the other does not know about. We'll miss her cakes and cupcakes too! You raise them to go out on their own but when it actually happens it makes you a little sad. Good Luck Britta, I hope you get everything you want out of life!

Grey Hairs, Heartache and a Happy Ending!

Friday night I took Lacey to the airport and put her on a flight to Orange County, California. I saw her get on the plane and taxi out. When her friend Alexis and her Mom Angela arrived at the airport to pick her up no one could find her! Delta told Angela that the flight had already landed. We could not contact Lacey on her cell phone, they paged her and searched the airport for her and could not find her. The police were contacted, they called me and asked that I describe what she was wearing, gathered flight information and made sure I had seen her get on the plane in Atlanta. I tried to call Marty( Lacey's Dad) but could not get through to him for help. I was scared beyond believe, of course as soon as I was aware of the situation I began to pray, I called Lindsay Ann, Eric and Britta so they could help me think and pray. After an hour of building panic and fighting off terrible thoughts the Orange County Sheriff called me back and told me that Delta had given us the wrong information and that Lacey's plane had been delayed and had not even landed. While I was talking to him Lacey text me that she had landed. She then called me and I got to hear her voice, what a relief. She had no idea what had been going on so I prepared her. When she got off the plane she was greeted by sheriff's deputies, airport personal, a greatly relieved Alexis and Angela. They talked to her for a few minutes and then escorted her, Alexis and Angela to their car. They say you can see celebrities in Orange County Airport sometimes, little did we know people would think Lacey was one by her entourage greeting. Thanks be to GOD everything turned out great!

My baby, Lacey Kate safe and sound!

Thank you God!

Grand Canyon

Britta and Jennifer ( her friend since 1st grade) went to Arizona to visit Jennifer's Aunt and Uncle. They took Jennifer and Britta so many wonderful places like Sedona, Grand Canyon, Tucson, Pheonix, Flagstaff, and Page. They were wonderful tour guides!

Aidan's First Pair of Shoes!

Kendall and I got to go shopping with Leslie for Aidan's first pair of shoes!

He was so adorable trying to walk with the shoes on.

July 4th

July 4th weekend we had some major changes going on at work so I was not able to participate in the festivities. Britta, Kendall and Lacey went to Athens and spent the weekend with Lindsay Ann and Eric. They got to go rafting and enjoyed a family cookout. Britta and Kendall stayed an extra day to help Lindsay Ann set up her new classroom.

Kendall, Britta and Lacey

Marty's Wedding

Not a lot for me to say here. It is however an event in the girls life and so therefore mine, so I feel like it must be documented. No, I was not invited to the wedding. Lindsay Ann was in another wedding planned long before this one or she would have been there too!

Lindsay Ann!!

We are so excited...Lindsay Ann got her first job as a teacher!! In this economy we were a little scared, but as always God provides! She will be teaching 5th grade at J.J. Harris Elementary in Clarke County(Athens, GA). It is a brand new school...so the brand new teacher will be getting all new and updated teaching supplies to start off her career...how exciting.

No Doubt...best first ever!

Kendall and Lindsay Ann

Kendall's cool Gwen hairdo courtsey of Britta
Britta, Jennifer, Niki, Seth and Kendall

Kendall went to her first concert on Friday! Britta and Lindsay Ann took her to see No Doubt and Paramore. Lawn seats at Lakewood are the best. The weather was great, the music awesome and getting to hang out with Britta's cool friends was a great bonus.

Memorial Day

In honor of those who served in the military to protect our freedom

we give our thanks!!

Some of my family members who served are buried here at

Fort Lincoln Cemetary in Bladensburg, Maryland.

"My Cup Runneth Over"

Kendall's namesake Aunt Marie's mother.

Aunt Marie.....I will miss her!!

Her contribution to my life is very significant, so hard to put into words!!

She alway finished our conversations with "my cup runneth over".

She loved me and I love her!

4.0

I couldn't have done it with out the support of my family!

Thank you for helping me achieve this!

Best Mother's Day EVER!

So my sneaky girls manage to get together Easter weekend and do this photo shoot. They told me they were going to help Eric's mom put out eggs for the church Easter Egg Hunt, I offered to go and help but they suggested I stay home and study in the quiet house. One of Britta's best friends Seth Johnson and Leslie took these pictures, aren't they amazing! This is only a few examples, as they gave me a picture album full and 8 x 11's to hang on my wall! I love these people and I love these pictures! Thank you to my wonderful family Leslie, Lindsay Ann, Eric, Britta, Kendall, Lacey and Seth.