Happy October & November Birthdays

I'm not sure anyone will read this, but I just wanted to make sure all of you fall babies got a big fat birthday wish from all us other-season-babies! Hope your day is, was, and always will be a fun day and that you felt loved by your family and friends---because you are!!! Best wishes & much love!

M is for the many times she ....

Here's to all our Mothers: those nurturing women who have been steadfast, joyful and loving but honest guides in our lives (and who may not even be our mother! and who probably don't know what their presence has meant to us). Thank you and thank God for you.

Summer Plans!!

Hello beautiful family!

I just wanted to check in! W&M is going well!! Finals are coming up and I'm making my summer plans!

My last final is the first week in May (SO SOON!) I was wondering if any of the Waltrip clan had summer plans, or dates that you all are going to be at the lake house!

I am going to NY in the first part of the summer then volunteering in Naples, FL from June 20th - August 13th, and classes start August 25th!

I would love to come to roanoke at some point this summer!

FIll me in on the potential plans!

So much love!

Danielle

My Birthday in Rio Rancho

Ben and I have had a wonderful time at Emily and George's. We landed in Albuquerque after an uneventful plane trip (which thankfully wasn't on Southwest!). Saturday night we celebrated my birthday at Maria's Restaurant in Santa Fe, which is famous for its 100 different margaritas! Today (my real birthday), we took Camie in for her 9 month checkup (22 lbs and 29 inches) and Emily fixed a wonderful chicken dish. And, it goes without saying, I have been absolutely beside myself with joy at being with sweet Camie...here are a couple pictures. REALLY, I wish you could be here!

DONE! The Sofa Project is Complete

At last! The sofa is renewed and Carolyn and I can enjoy the fruit of our labor...except that now Caro wants to make throw pillows and curtains (and who am I to object?). This has been a great learning experience and lots of fun bonding with family and friends - like an old-fashioned quilting bee.

We also had a little help from Gussie - she was good company!

Ben and I leave tomorrow for Rio Rancho and 10 days with George, Emily and Camie! Emily has already said she will allow me to get up with the little darling in the mornings, all by myself, so we can have some special "BeBe time!" We return on April 11th to the Charlotte airport.

Carolyn also leaves in the morning for home in Arkansas. It has been so wonderful to have her here. She has been the reason for lots of extended family gatherings involving food and crafts! I will miss her...back to the real world.

Happy Birthday, again, to all the spring babies!

Sofa Project Part 2

The sofa project has been moving along at a rapid pace after removing the literally thousands of staples holding the original upholstery in place. We swore that we would not duplicate the immense number of staples, but to date have used 1250 in the current sofa project!! While the sofa project has been great fun (?), it took a back seat to the Roanoke Valley Quilt Show at the Roanoke Civic Center on Friday March 25th. I had no idea the intricacies of quilt making and no real appreciation of the art they truly are! I am so glad Carolyn was along to explain the details. Enjoy!

The SOFA Project

The great sofa project has begun. This picture is the "before". My personal re-upholsterer is seen on the left! Really, Carolyn is so generous to do this with me. It took approximately 22 hours to remove all the staples, with the assistance of Vicki and our good friend Alice! We have since taken off the fabric (carefully) and used the pieces as patterns to cut the new material. I have learned I am allergic to the batting - at least, it really made the eczema on my hands flare up - so I am sticking to stapling. The new electric stapler is challenging, too. Live and learn. More updates to follow.

It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas!

We took the opportunity of a family meal during Carolyn's visit to draw names for Christmas. There may be more information forthcoming, but here is the list:

Jean gives to Em

Debbie gives to Keith

Ben gives to Pacie

Emily give to Jennie

George gives to Kevin

Katie gives to Adam

Vicki gives to Mike

Danny gives to Jean

Livi gives to George

Adam gives to Debbie

Lynn gives to Ben

Brian gives to Danielle

Kelly gives to Katie

Keith gives to Vicki

Danielle gives to Brian

Pacie gives to Kelly

Mike gives to Danny

Kevin gives to Livi

Jennie gives to Lynn

Where is Everybody?

Ok...so no one is reading the blog, yet! I'm still in that giddy phase of new accomplishment, so it's ok, for now, but I really want your pictures, videos, and news - cough it up already!

Cousin Carolyn arrived on Sunday evening in time for dinner. We retired fairly early (for Caro!) and embarked on a fabric-shopping trip bright and early Monday morning. We had such a good time and I actually purchased sofa fabric (not anything like what I had envisioned), but I fell in love with it (Ben is still being coy about the relationship!). We had to go to Lowe's for rope for the piping and to get staples and we had ginormous potato cakes for lunch at Pete's Deli. Wish you could have been there.

Today, we will start taking the old sofa apart. I can't wait...it has needed repair for so long and we are finally fixing it.

Tonight is the family supper - really don't know who we will see, but hopefully a big turnout so we can plan other activities during Carolyn's visit. I know that a trip to Staunton to see the Woodrow Wilson Museum & Gardens is one thing she would like to do. Also, there is a big quilt show at the civic center this weekend, so I know we will make that part of the agenda as well.

I will post pictures before, during & after the sofa makeover. It should be interesting!

Ya'll come back, ya hear!?

Welcome Back!

I hope you like the updated version of the Waltrip Clan. The thought for the day will change daily and the news on the WSJournal will update frequently throughout the day. The slide show is different (not all the pix are "new"), and be sure to check out the videos in the footer. Provided you guys supply me with new pictures and videos, I will add them. I need Kevin & Jennie, Mike & Pacie and photos from Jean following her trip to Europe!- so send me something!
I will try to keep up with family events, but really do hope YOU will "pull up a rocker, sit a spell and talk with us."
Carolyn will be visiting in Roanoke beginning tomorrow evening. She has graciously agreed to help (do it all herself) me reupholster my living room sofa! She is so talented and hopes others will have some projects for her! We will have a family dinner at my house on Tuesday night beginning 5 PM - hope you can come.
Ben and I will be leaving for New Mexico on April 1st - 10 days! Cannot wait to see Camie who is now crawling (check out the video below) and has two bottom teeth! We will celebrate my 62nd birthday while we are there.
Other birthdays: Jean on March 31, Jennie on April 3rd, Davis on April 4th, and Vicki on April 8th. Please let me know if I missed anyone (and forgive an old woman!). So, Happy Birthday,one and all:

Starting Anew

Hi! I have been derelict in both posting and encouraging others to post on the family weblog - and we have had and continue to have lots of things happening in our family. So...I am proposing a new blog layout and maybe you all will take a moment from your busy schedules to update your family's big events since last summer! I think most of us do facebook, but I still think the blog is such an intimate way to share our news. Let me know if you are ok with me re-vamping the look (all our information will remain). I know there are baby pictures, school achievements and travel news out there and long distance and time keep us from actually seeing one another - so, maybe we want to give the "Waltrip Clan" another try...?