They're Moving...

I just typed this big long post and lost the hole Dang things...so now I am cranky.
This picture was taken just minutes after we stepped out of our van after a weekend in Seattle. Emery informed me that she wanted to live with Grandma and Grandpa "Beach", so they packed up the wagon full of Stuff...Including a dead branch, a sponge bob umbrella and one of Mike's 2x2s. Maybe the 2x2 was because Ty was really missing his daddy, but didn't know how to express that. Mike left last Thursday to San Fran. with our church youth group. They went to Battle Cry. So I decided last minute to head over to my parents house. The kids got some good playing time with Grandma on the beach. Piper, clung to Grandpa all weekend and I got some good Girl time with my girlfriends on Sunday. I met Annie, Jaime, Leah and Molly for lunch. Thanks girls it was fun. Them Molly and I headed off to Paper Source for some "paper shopping". The other ladies opted out of that adventure...not quite as into the love of paper as Mols and I are.

Mike returned on Tuesday so we are back to settling into the normal routine of life. Emery is on Spring Break right, so the real routine starts up again next week. DD is keeping me busy still, but I have delivered 4 weddings. That is the best part of the job...the finished product out the door and off my desk. And the final check of course. Mike and I are now in the process of trying to figure out the best way to organize the financial part of the business. How to track it best, tithe out of it, save some of it...yada yada. So Quicken and I will be spending some serious quality time together entering in 3 months of invoices and receipts. Fun!! Are you proud of me Kristie ;).

Well, I am probably boring you to death now...but just catching up. I'll leave you on a happy note. Piper is ALMOST crawling!!! I think it will be just a few more days! Yeah Pips!

Exciting News At the Daisy Bucket!

After a long time in Planning the girls at theDaisy Bucket have just released their new line of products. You can see them Here.


I Know I have been missing in action for a week. I'll give an update on our world later today when things slow down a bit. Crazy Busy!!! But Happy!

6am

It's just a part of our daily routine. Starts around 6 am with Ty the first one up, and snuggled on my side. Usually, when not taking a picture, I am squished in between Piper and Ty. Then it's Emery or Piper next. Cartoons start at about 7 in the hopes that Mom and Dad can get a few more minutes of shut-eye before we're out of bed around 7:30. I love these moments in the morning, although they are filled with some crankiness; "HOLD STILL...ROLL OVER AND GO BACK TO SLEEP...IT'S NOT MORNING YET!" "But the suns awake mommy."...sweet times. But 7am would be so much better.

Beauty at One

Just sharing another layout from the Daisy Bucket Kit this month.

Just An Update...

I haven't posted in a few days so I thought I would do a general update of things.

~ Piper has gained 9 oz. Huge for her!! We're pretty excited about that. She still hates her physical therapy but they are noticing some progress. More strength in her legs and she's transitioning to her knees better. Still not quite crawling yet...but standing better when we position her.
~ I have finished 3 out of my four weddings that were due this week. The bride for the fourth just got me their final proof so she's not expecting her's till next week! Yeah.
I also had a order for birth announcements due this week and samples for a new wedding. So I hired a friend to do the assembly work for the announcements. She had them back to me the next day. What a huge help that was, I'm hoping to use her more in the near future. Thanks Whit!
~ I got a request for custom samples for a bride in Virginia. Wow, when I asked her where she found my site she said she just did a google search and mine was one that came up. That makes me very happy!! Yeah Google! This should be a fun one. She is marrying a man from Bangladesh, so she wants a suttle Henna design on the invite. Fun, but I'll be hiring Mike for that part of the design.
~ I had Mike who is also my purchasing manager buy me a laser printer. I've been needing one for a while and I finally took the plunge. It should be here next week, I am so hoping it makes my envelope printing go smoother.
~I register Ty for Pre-school next month. I was thinking he would just be in the four year old class for two years since we wont start him in kindergarten til he is six. But I found out he has to be in the 3 year old class because their policy is they have to be Four by September 1st. He'll be Four September 3rd and before the start of school. But that's their policy. Although this will mean he will be in the class with all the kids he will eventually start kindergarten with, I am worried they will only be expecting 3 year old behavior and development out of him. And since he will be four I don't want that. I have been told that many of the boys that are in the 3 year old class are actually 4. We'll see, I think I will still talk it over with the director so I feel better about it.
~ Just to give you an update on the auctions we went to this weekend. The art auction raised over 15,000 for the Education Foundation and the Pie auction raised 5,400 for the youth in our church.

Okay, I think your all updated. Here's a layout of Ty I did for the March Daisy Bucket embellishment kit. A quick and easy one.

Up for Auction

So can you guess which one went for more?

We had two auctions to go to this weekend. The Annual Art Auction which raises money for the Education Foundation in our Town. And our church Pie Auction which raised money for the Youth to go to a Conference in San Francisco later on this month.
The first picture is a picture I took in Santa Fe. I was asked to donate it to the Art Auction. Having never had a photo of mine publicly displayed before, I was a bit nervous. But much relieved to see it went for $80 in the silent auction, and then another $55 for one unframed to a lady who wanted it badly, but was out bid.
The second picture is of a Whopper Pie Mike made for the church auction. It promptly sold for $150. Yup, you read right One Hundred and Fifty dollars Sold to the Highest Bidder!!! Mike's Mom!
So Mike beat me...not that it was a competition or anything ;). They were both for worthy causes. I shall now go dig into the Marionberry pie I bought!

Spring is Coming

Despite the brown grass, my bulbs are starting to come up...and spring training has started for the kids. They each got at least one hit off their pitcher and coach.

(oh, and it's Saturday, so Eme dressed herself...just in case you were wondering.)

The Next Generation...

...has no idea what a "tape" player is really for. Here's proof;

First Year Photo Shoot

I took Piper's One Year Photo Shoot yesterday. Here's the link. Enjoy!

Jack, George, Ben, Mike

George: Cute little monkey isn't he? By far the cutest kids movie we have seen in a long time. Totally age appropriate for my kiddos. Ty loved it...the first movie he hasn't plugged his ears the whole time. He wanted to take off in the Rocket at the end with George.
Jack: So I sheepishly admit it took George to get me acquainted with Jack Johnson. I know the Ya-Yas are cringing at me right now. But I must admit I am hooked, the sound track to this movie is awesome...the songs are so great for me...and the kids. And one even features my old boyfriend Ben Harper. (for those of you who don't know who Ben is...not really a boyfriend...I just followed him around the west coast for a few years ;)
Mike: This man knows how to treat his girl. As I was looking on line today to see if I wanted to download this album or go to the store and buy it, I just happened to mention I would like a CD player in the van (I know...Seriously am I the last person without a CD player in my car?). So later on that day he asked if I had plans today during nap time. He wanted to go to work and get some things done. After he returned I got in the car to go grab a coffee. I noticed the Curious George Soundtrack on the dash. I gasped...took a couple of minutes before I noticed the new CD player installed in my dash. What...off he snuck to the tri-cities without me even having a clue!!! What a man. Okay, Im off to jam to The Sharing Song. {I wish I had a video of little Piper jamming to Jack}

Piper's Prize...

...for the torture she endured at her first Physical Therapy session.

And when I say torture I mean; being surrounded by several doting ladies on a large mat with a bunch of very fun toys and a sucker in her mouth. But never the less, she hated it. Screamed. It could have been the fact that she felt like the first baby panda born at the Woodland Park Zoo in 25 years. She kept looking around like "why is everyone starting at me?" It could also have been that she did not like being forced into positions she wasn't used to. Like on her knees. She hated it. Took everything in me not to pick her up and wipe away the tears.
This little toy was what the physical therapist suggested for her. Great for when she's up on her knees then, as she starts learning to stand and walk it turns into a walker.
And look, she's on her knees. Mommy had to position her that way. She should have her legs a bit more together...but we're working on that. In the background of the picture you will see an exercise ball. We got that to work with her too. You will also see the bouncy seat on the ground...waiting to give back to our friends. Apparently what we thought would help Piper's leg use was actually keeping her legs spread...and she needs to keep them together. I think I also see the sucker stained t-shirt she was wearing her appointment. She was covered in sticky by the time we left.
So this is the physical therapist evaluation:
~She's Very weak in the bootie and hips
~All her joints are very flexible.
~She has very flat feet (which all my kids do) So we keep shoes off of her (which is normal for her anyway, I think she's worn shoes 5 times)
~We need to work on getting her to sit and rise up on her knees first, then we'll work on the standing.
~ Basically she thinks she wasn't highly motivated to move around since everyone just brought things to her...coupled with the fact she's a little weak bootie.
~She does think we will see quick progress with her. I hope so.

I'll keep you posted, I am hoping to get pictures of her at her next appointment.