What's New in our Lives

There has been so much going on in the McNeil house hold. I thought to share all the latest things in our life.

First Big item, we got a new car a Subaru Forrester "04" with turbo engine in it. It's John's everyday work vehicle. We needed something newer and something that had less miles on it to last. John's going to go through all lot of miles on it, as he travels more now, and we needed something really reliable too. So, Thanksgiving weekend, we traveled for an hour to go look at this vehicle, saw it on crag's list, and really liked it.




Next big Item,





We got John's office built in the garage and he's finally getting it organized. It's a little cold right now it there. No heat, just a propane heater to help take the chill out. Soon we will put heating/AC unit in it, but it's not to important since he's gone 80% of the time travel around town or out of town to clients.




Next Big Item,








I finally got the girls room changed from baby room to a bigger girls room. Butterflies, and flowers is their theme now.











Next Big Item,




John and I re-range our living room, and got rid of our entertainment center and bought two book shelves and we couple of months ago bought ourselves a flat screen T.V. We needed to make more space in our living room and this was what we decided to do. Our re-ranging living room is still in progress.



Next Big Item,



I got my hair cut a couple of weeks ago, the shortest I've ever done. I'm starting to get used to it and love it.




Next Big Item,







A week ago we went and bought me my own snowboard set-up for an AWESOME price. We have been renting every year for me at a ski shop and Finally I can own my own set-up. John has own his own set-up since before we got married. Now we just only have to rent for the girls. We plan on taking Ashley this year and teaching her to snowboard finally. She was to young last year for a snowboard and this year she wants to learn and I can get help from John more on teaching too.


Yes, we have been busy on changing things in our home lately and some of it will slow down since we are crossing things down on our to do list for house projects.

Tea Party

Group Photo's all who came




The best party you could have for a girls night is off course "Tea Party". We had a glorious, no WONDERFUL time that night Dec.6th. The girls and I planned a big lay out and theme for that night too. This was a show and tell evening, and you came dressed up in your best accessory's and we even ALL had stage names for that night too. So my sage name was Mrs. Sadie Lynn, and Ashley was Miss Lora, and Hannah was
Miss Cinderella. I got out my china dishes and went Goodwilling for dishes and tea dishes. I got out my nice table clothes, and decorated the table nice with candles, water fountain, and of course FOOD. I made all the desserts. I made homemade donuts, and my first time EVER to attempt a two layer Strawberry cake. It turned out good I put in the middle strawberry jam with butter as a sauce and covered the cake with whipping cream and strawberry's. I also made homemade fondue.I do have to say that it turned out great and I got many compliments on it. All the other food was from other people. We had so much food left that night. After eating we all took turns doing our show and tell time and enjoyed every minute.

In order of show and tell:

Mrs Lilly Pad-- (my grandmother LeBleu) read daily life recipe's
Miss Laura -- Ashley recited two poems in sign language
Miss Cinderella( Hannah) and Miss Mamzelli RellaPink(Mimi)-- Ballet dance
Mimi La Rue(Brenna)-- Showed off her crochet scarf she did
Miss De Laura (Rebecca)--- Showed off her dance video of her dance class
Madame L'Herondell (Christine)-- Showed of her coat made from several goats that she grew up with
Miss Peacock (Angie) --- Showed off her scrap book pages she did for this party and ready to slip photo's in it
Mrs. Scarlet (Kim)-- Showed of "How to cut hair"
Mrs. Sadie Lynn (Me) ---- Performed a poem in sign language
Mrs. Ruby Rella (Elizabeth)-- resigned to perform anything---

It was a glorious time and we all enjoyed our performances and nice warm tea and food with each other. This is our first but not last "Tea Party".

My lay out for Tea Party invitations web site, English Party Invitation #1

My invitation to all said this in my card:

This is a show and tell tea party, just like old time people would do. No television to entertain us, only our great minds and wonderful stories. So, come to perform a song, recite your favorite poems, show off your arts and craft works, show school projects off, do a skit, teach us how to crochet or knit something, share stories, cooking secrets, anything that you think would be great to show off. Use your imagination and have the kids do something too.
Please come in your finest pearls, fancy hats, scarf's, fancy earrings, your finest accessories, and with an accent, and have a stage name for the night. Dress casual fancy all ready to have fun and ready to have pictures taken.
Please bring finger foods, and any tea you want to share. Dessert dishes will be covered by the McNeil girls. Ask if you are unsure what to bring. Come and enjoy this great memory and wonderful friends.


The Poem I had to go with it:


EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY

People need people and friends need friends
And we all need love, for a full life depends
Not on vast riches or great acclaim
Not on success or worldly fame
But just in knowing that someone cares
And holds us close in their thoughts and prayers
For only the knowledge that we're understood
Makes everyday living, feel wonderfully good
And we rob ourselves of life's greatest need
When we "lock up our hearts" and fail to heed
The outstretched hand reaching to find
A kindred spirit whose heart and mind
Are lonely and longing to somehow share
Our joys and our sorrows and to make us aware
That life's completeness and richness depends
On the things we share with our loved ones and friends
- Helen Steiner Rice -


Here's a slide show of the rest of the pictures

Here's Ashley's two poems she recited:

The Little Turtle

I had a little turtle
Who lived in a box;
He swam in a puddle;
He climbed on a rock.

He snapped at a mosquito
He snapped at a flea;
He snapped at a minnow;
And he snapped at me.

He caught the mosquito;
He caught the flea;
He caught the minnow;
But he didn't catch me.

--Valchel Lindsay-


Mix a Pancake

Mix a pancake,
Stir a pancake,
Pop it in the pan;

Fry the pancake,
Toss the pancake--
Catch it if you can.

--Christina Rossetti--


Here's my poem I recited in sign language:

The Golden Chains of Friendship


Friendship is a Golden Chain,
The links are friends so dear,
And like a rare and precious jewel
It’s treasured more each year…
It’s clasped together firmly
With a love that’s deep and true,
And it’s rich with happy memories
And fond recollections, too….
Time can’t destroy its beauty
For, as long as memory lives,
Years can’t erase the pleasure
That the joy of friendship gives…
For friendship is a priceless gift
That can’t be bought or sold,
But to have an understanding friend
Is worth far more than gold…
And the Golden Chain of friendship
Is a strong and Blessed tie
Binding Kindred heart together
As the years go passing by.


Thank you all for coming to my wonderful tea party and thank you all you the readers to being my friend too. That night meant so much for me to bond and rekindle with close church friends. I was well satisfied on how it went well and everybody that came sure enjoyed themselves too. I want to be that Christian mommy who puts all her effort on pleasing and making smiles on people faces. SO smile because I love you all. Be happy and Always have a happy heart.