The Unexpected Surprise

The most amazing thing happened to me on my vacation to Wyoming.  My family and I were there to visit Uncle George and Aunt Margaret, Yellowstone National Park,  the Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, Fossil Butte, and much, much, more! 

One thing I didn't expect was for Uncle George to make me a surprise.  He was working on a birthday ring for Aunt Margaret and asked me if I ever had a ring.  I told him I had one from Grandma Sue, but that I love rings. Before I knew it, he was making a ring just for me.

I have never seen a ring being made from beginning to middle to end.  Now I know because I helped Uncle George and watched him as he set and polished the ring from his own basement.  First, Uncle George and I bent the silver band with pliers around a circle on the base of the pliers.  Second, we took the holder for the gem and soldered it onto the band.  Third, we put the gem into the holder with two layers of special paper under it to hold it higher than the case.  Next, Uncle George had to polish it on a special machine.  He polished the whole ring!  Finally, it was time to wear it upstairs and show everyone.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it finished. It was such a  beautiful turquoise ring that was so meant for me!  Spending time with Uncle George was one of the best times of my life and I will never forget it.

P.S.  Here I am with a new ring!

P.P.S.  Here is a picture of the ring and bracelet that Uncle George made for Aunt Margaret!

Look at that gorgeous turquoise blue and brown!

Doesn't it fit perfectly?  Uncle George made it a little big so that I can grow into it.

Uncle George's latest cabochon!

Here I am with Uncle George and my new ring!

This is the ring and bracelet Uncle George made Aunt Margaret while we were there.

Thank you, Uncle George, for everything you did!


Love,
Evelyn

Splashing into Summer with the Ashland Barracudas!

This summer has been awesome so far.  It's the first time I've ever been on a swim team.  I remember last summer I wondered how big the swim team was and what it was all about.  Now I know because I am on it.

Being on the swim team is fun, but it's tough work.  Before school was out, we practiced every afternoon for an hour.  Now, we practice every morning.  Can you believe that we have to swim about 20 laps a day?  We even had a swim-a-thon where I swam 32 laps in 45 minutes.  I wonder how many I would have done if I had been on time...I was late because I was getting a well check-up.  You would think I'd be tired and not want to go to practice, but I do.  It's fun...it's awesome!  It's great exercise and I love learning how to do new things.



Swim team is a great place for new things to happen.  Just the other day, my friends Ben and T.J. taught me how to do a flip turn for freestyle and backstroke.  Even though I only have to do 25 meters, I still need it for when I'm older.  I've also made new friends.  One day at practice, I met a new friend named Addy.  The coach calls her "Baddy Addy."  Addy and I are the same age and we a lot in common.  Our moms even have a lot in common.  Believe it or not, Addy has a sister who is the same age as my brother.  Recently, we went to Addy's house to make paper-mache chickens for the Ashland 4th of July parade.  She and I had the best time ever.  I'm still making friends.  At practice the other day, we had a play practice where we got to meet the older kids.  After practice, I met Rachel who is in the older group.  We had a chance to play together.  I can't wait to see her again!

I am crazy about swim team and hope that we win our next meet.  I know right now that I want to be on the Ashland Barracudas next year, too!

If you want to see me, you better check the pool!
Evelyn

The Early Birthday Surprise

While we were celebrating my dad's 40th birthday, my friend's dad (Pete) brought something very special.  You won't believe what he had.  I'll give you some hints.  It's miniature.  It has 4 rooms.  It's big for what it is.  Do you have any guesses?  If not, I'll tell you.


Mr. Pete brought me my first, very own dollhouse that my Grandma Sue made just for me for my birthday.  It is awesome!  I love the way the colors are in the rooms.  One room is as pink as a clean pig.  Another room is yellow like the sun.  There is also one that is as purple as a lilac.   The last room is green and reminds me of leaves popping out on a spring day.

So far, I have a few things in the house that I already had at home.  I used a wooden game holder for a table.  I have a miniature bird nest for a bed.  There's a puny, fluffy purple pillow from a High School Musical Set that I use for a dog bed.  I'm using an elephant bobble-head and a turtle bobble-head as two other pets.  Maybe it's not a house, maybe it's a zoo.  But it's not, it's a dollhouse.  And it's my dollhouse.

There are a few things that I can make for the house.  I'm going to make a pool out of a newspaper and it's very easy.  I can design a carpet using regular paper and add decorations.  I can also make miniscule artwork for the walls.   I bet I can use toothpicks for the frame.  I wonder what I should use to hang them.


I'd love to add some more furniture and people, but I'm not sure what to choose.  Do you have any ideas or suggestions?


Thank you, Grandma Sue, for such a special dollhouse!