The Loves of my Life!!!!

A furture in the Circus!

When we went to the circus they had the pre-show before the show started so we took the kids down there to see all the stuff. The ringmaster was doing a magic trick and needed a volunteer and Jackson got chosen to help him. He was so excited and did a really good job. He had to tear two sheets of paper in half, crumple it up in a ball, and give it back to him and he "turned" it into a hat. Jackson loved it. After that he was "all about the circus." Fun Time!

The Greatest Show on Earth!

Thursday night we went to the circus. We had a great time and the kids really enjoyed it. They both got very excited. Brylee's favorite part was the dancers and tight rope climbers and flippers. Jackson's favorite part was all the magic "tricks" they did. I was surprised at how well they liked it but they were very into it... makes me super excited about Disney!

New Look!!!

What fun! I love making new blog headers and getting new backgrounds to match... it is the creative side of my brian I guess. So if you would like to give your blog a new look here is how I do it... http://www.scrapblog.com/ is where I make my headers.... it is very easy to make and fun too. Let me know if you need help figuring it out or if you want me to make you one I will do that too. http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/ is where I get my backgrounds... it is very easy too... you just pick from tons of templetes and they give you step by step instructions on how to apply it to your blog. http://www.free-counters.co.uk/ is where i got my free blog counter that has been added as well. they also give you instructions how to apply it as well. There you have it... a new and improved blog.

Tagged

My friend Amelia tagged me so i have to post the fourth picture in the fourth folder of where my pictures are stored, explain it and then tag four people. So here it is..... This is a picture of my baby girl in April 2006; she was 18 months old. She is enjoying her some icecream from one of our hot spot at the lake Moo Walla. Ahhh sweet baby girl... makes me miss these day... kind of?? :)

History in the Making!

Today my friends marks a day in history we will all remember! Today is the day our country will be changed forever.

President Bush thank you for all you have done for our country we are truly blessed to have a leader like yourself for 8 years. As I think back about your presidency I think we will all remember 9/11... where we were and what we thought. I know I do! A young first year teacher at a small private school teaching and effecting the lives of 9 young and inncocent 7 and 8 year olds.

President Obama only time will tell. I give you the respect you deserve because you are the new leader of our country. I have faith in my God and know that you being elected was no surprise to Him. I commit to pray for you, your family, and most importantly your salvation.

In 95 years....

This is what my little guy will look like... maybe???? Today was the 100th day of school and he had to dress like he was 100 years old. So we added baby powder to his hair to make it lighter and dressed him in some "older man" clothes. We also found a sugar cane in the garage to act a his cane. So there you have it... my "100 year old son."

Parenting: The Eary Years

Tonight at church husband and I started a couples Bible Study using this book:

I am very excited about this study for several reasons. This is the first couples Bible Study that we have done together (other than Sunday School - but that is more like a scripted curiculum not really a specific topic relating to our everyday life.) And I (we) am (are) ALWAYS looking for new parenting techniques. Tonight was just an overview / introduction of the class.

We talked about building a strong relationship as a couple; setting aside time to spend together as a couple. One thing they (Les and Leslie - the authors) said that surprised me was "the most important time of the day as a couple is the first 60 seconds you see each other in the evening." That sets the stage for the whole evening. As I think back to our house when husband comes home my attitude is more like thank goodness someone else is home to help the kids, cook dinner, or keep the kids while I go some where etc... and my attitude should be more concerning, compassionate, and interested in his day. So I will commit to try harder.

During the study we are going to discuss 10 character traits for parenting:

1. affirming

2. authentic

3. patient

4. connected

5. celebratory

6. attentive

7. visionary

8. comforting

9. prayerful

10. insightful

So continue to check back each Wednesday evening as my blog topic for the next 10 weeks will be about parenting. Maybe you can learn a few things too from my study and hopefully I can refer back to these post when I forget and revert back to old ways.

We are also reading this book which goes along with the study. I will let you know how it goes!!!

My Obsession!!!

One of my obsessions in life is children clothes. I love everything to do with children's clothes. I guess I should clarify... not just any children's clothing but trunk show and boutique children clothing. I get so excited when new sessions start and the mail box is flooded with new catalogs and websites are updated. I will spend hours looking at children's clothes. I think a dream job would be to be a personal shopper for children clothing. So I share some of my favorite items from some of my favorite trunk show companies.

1. Kelly's Kids: I like this company not necessarily my "favorites" but this season they have some super cute stuff. I usually like to travel the southeast and "shop" their End of Season $9.99 Sales but this past season was not a success so therefore I think I will be ordering some items this season.

2. Castles and Crowns: This is probably my all time favorite "smocked company" I think they have some of the cutest smocked outfits for the most reasonable prices. I will say I am a little disappointed in them this season they do not have a lot of "new" stuff it seems they have a lot of "repeat" designs but I still have some favorites. I love the mail catalog but I don't like that they just put the catalog on the website because it is hard to see the pictures. So for my favs....

love that brown is now a summer color... outfit on the far left love the outfit on the girl to the far right... perfect for the beach... how cute is the dress top left and the bathing suits too love the new Kaylie tops so cute! pink and green for sure... cherry set top right so cute love these bathing suits... smocked one piece... brown & turq. so cute

3. Chez Ami: A trunk show that I actually just ordered something from for the first time last season and was very pleased. They have the fastest shipping of any company I have ever ordered from. I got my outfits about a week after I place my order. I am not sure if this is how it always is but it was super fast for me. They are a little pricey for "knit" items but I will say they hold up better than other companies. So for my favorites from here.... well they don't have their website for spring up yet so no pictures of my favorites. Maybe later! I will say I can't wait to check out their two piece bathing suits that look like one pieces... called swim dresses so cute!

4. Blessed Be the Name: How could I not pick out a few favorites from the company I work for... some for my favs from BBTN are... loving "our" new patterns... stella capri set, greer dress, skort so cute too... and the new fabrics and appliques too. A welcome change!

What are your favorite boutique / trunk show companies?? Please do comment and share... I can always use some more cute children clothes and maybe I have shared a few with you too.

BBTN Kids and Crew

Tonight we had a BBTN (Blessed Be the Name and the children's clothing company where I work part time) Dinner and Meeting. It is also nice to hang out with the girls outside of work and gives the hubbys a chance to hang out and the kiddies opportunity to play as well. Fun for sure but I think we will all agree that 8 kids makes for a W-I-L-D party. We attempted a kid shot and a crew and kids photo shot too... obviously not much luck but we take what we get and of course we think they are just precious any way! The funny thing to me about this photo is that out of all 8 kids (only 7 pictures... baby camryn got out of this one while taking her a little nap nap) only 2 of them have on BBTN clothes. You would think that we didn't own any BBTN clothes and between the 8 kids we could probably clothe a small army in BBTN clothes. I guess you could chalk this up too.... when you have looked at the fabric and clothes since JULY (really before) you welcome a change in your kids wardrobe for sure! BBTN Crew and Kids L-R: kimberly w/ carsyn 2 1/2, baby camryn 3mths

amelia w/ almost jackson 3, kate 4

ashley w/ mia 3, logan almost 6

shelly w/ brylee 4, jackson 5 1/2

8 kids 5 and under .... nuff said.... WOW!

BBTN Kids

carsyn, mia, jackson, kate, brylee, jackson, logan top: cameryn,

bottom: mia, kate, brylee, logan, jackson

jackson & carsyn bailed on the last shot

Bunko Babes!

Our Neighborhood started a Bunko group in the fall and we played last night. Sometimes we have "themes" and last nights theme was Pajama Night! It was so nice to walk a few house down in your pj's, hang out with a fun group of ladies of all ages, and even enjoy some snacks and adult beverages too. I have enjoyed getting to know our neighbors and love me some "girl time!"

And the Princess is....

Brylee got this game for Christmas and so tonight we had game night.Basically the object of the game is to move your "princess" around the board and get her all her jewelry and crown to win. Well guess who our princess was...... What a sweet Daddy for playing and letting me make a post from it. Maybe you just had to be there but I thought it was so funny. Because he did not even want to play much less win and Brylee, of course, wanted to win. Thanks for being the BEST daddy. Of course we had to keep playing so this little princess could win!!!!

Extreme Home Makeover

We have been busy with Extreme Home Makeover "Bedroom Edition"!

One of our Christmas presents was a new comforter set and pictures. So

with my mom's decorating expertise and husband to do all the "man work"

we have a NEW BEDROOM! Husband said he felt like he was sleeping in a

fancy hotel the first night. LOL! No fancy hotel but it sure is nice

to a have a new bedroom. A welcomed change in our household.

Happy New Year!!!

Well with the start of a New Year I have decided to start a blog. It is no surprise to friends and family that I am a "confessed blog stalker" therefore I have decided to start my own. I have a website for my kids to document all the happenings we do as a family so now I start a blog for me. Husband asked" What are you going to blog about?" and I respond "I don't know I guess about life and stuff?" So with no exact plan in mind or any idea as to what future posts will be about I start.

It should also be no surprise to anyone that my OCD self starts a blog at the beginning of a New Year. See with me everything has to make since and so starting a blog on just any random day doesn't exactly seem right... Right?

So here is to a new blog, a fresh start to a new year, and the unknown topics for future posts. Cheers and blessings to you and yours in 2009!!!