Trick or treat

While the family is out I'm here perched in a cozy chair by the door.

I'm sick and hoping I am not passing germs to the kids coming by. Actually its mostly rude adults this year, so they can have my sinus infection and migraine!

Happy Trick-or-treating!

Stylish pumpkin

Pumpkins Patch Trips!

Ty and Piper both had trips to the pumpkin patch last week. I am so blessed to be able to go with them every year. This was our last year going to the patch with Bethlehem Lutheran Preschool...and I was a bit sad.

Its a big cup of joe kind of day.

Poser

This little extrovert (at home) has decided after many tears and long conversations with mama that she will no longer be a tap dancer. At least for now. The prospect of shaking her hips and blowing kisses in front of people was too much for her to bare. Although she loved all the rest of her dance and moves...I just couldn't ask her to get over it. I mean, what kind of example would it teach her to say "well all the other girls are doing the moves that make you feel uncomfortable...so you have to." I think for now...she is just too shy for a class like this. She'll grow out of it. But maybe we don't want her to grow out of not wanting to shake her little hips around huh?

Playing like mama

Em and Pip have been setting up little photo shoots, posing with props and then taking pictures with our phones. Just like mama.

Its picture day!

Monday catchup!

Spending my Monday catching up on all the stuff I missed this weekend while I was shooting my minis. Cleaning house, laundry, work and some jewelry making with Pip!

Pumpkin Patch

Tys turn today.

Coug Game

I posted these on Facebook but since mom hasnt joined the Facebook crowd yet I better post them here too ;).

Career fair

My day started at 5:45 this morning. Up on my own with an urgency to get going and run some errands before the family awoke. Mike, who usually takes the kids to school, had to drop Pip off at grandmas and then the kids at school. I was off to set up for my booth at the career fair for juniors and seniors in the area. Hundreds of them. I stood until 3 pm answering questions about my business. After tons of encouraging teens to go to college I packed up, shuffled kids around, did homework and got them ready for KidZone. It was crazy and I am glad I don't do this everyday. It was fun and exciting to share what I do with these students...but strange when my phone rang at 1pm and it was grandma telling me Piper was doing well. I hadnt even had a chance to stop and check in, or wonder how she was doing. Ick...what a strange feeling.

Today made me really appreciate the gift God has given me to be able to earn a living doing something I am passionate about, yet still be in my cozy home for most of my days. Home when the kids go off to school and home when they return. I love my life and I love being a homebody!

Petal Pusher

So sad that our beloved Petal Pushers is closing, but Mike has been eyeing these prints for some time...so the discount they have going in these days rocks!
They have found a new home in our house.

Faces on the Wall

I finally put up my 2009 Family pictures and the kids portraits...plus all the family photos I took down to "show" the house. Feels Like Home Again!!

Wild Tree Party

Just a reminder Party at My House! Tuesdsay the 29th at 6:30 pm.

Here's the information below if you have not yet seen it. Bring a friend!

WILDTREE is a company dedicated to all-natural food products that contain NO MSG, NO additives, NO preservatives, is LOW in sodium and sugar and HIGH in flavor. Best of all, WILDTREE makes it easy to prepare wonderful tasting, healthy food quickly and easily with just a couple of ingredients.If you or someone you love has high cholesterol, high blood pressure, ADHD, diabetes, etc., or you just want your family to be putting the best food possible into their bodies, then WILDTREE IS FOR YOU. Please let me know that you'll come enjoy a sampling of WILDTREE products, along with some wine too, of course! Please bring a friend or two along.If you live out of town or are unable to make the "tasting", you may still take a look at the catalog on-line at http://www.nummyfood.mywildtree.com/ and let me know if there's something you'd like to order.

Pumpkins Are Here!!

Today after church the kids and I headed out to get some decorations to "harvestize" our house! We came home with bright flowers and tons of sparkly orange pumpkins! Then later Mike came home with a whole truck load of real pumpkins to adorn our front porch. I even made a simple little wreath for the door. The house is sparkly clean, adorned with bright orange pumpkins, and smelling of spices. Loving Life.

Coffee with the ladies

Pip brought her Highlights to "read" to Whitney.

Clutter Update

So my mission this year 2009 was to declutter my home. Ugh! I thought the task would take all year, but then we decided to put the house on the market this summer so that sped up the process in overdrive. The house felt so great all shiny and decluttered with nearly a 3rd of our stuff in storage! Who needs to move now ;). Well, life happens and slowly but surely I let the clutter take over again. So I am back on a mission. But this time to make it who I am: To be a woman who has a neat and tidy home! Gasp!!! I know, a very hard task for an artistic girl like me. But I have learned that "artistic" excuse is really just a crutch. Time to throw that crutch out the door! So I am taking baby steps with the help of Flylady.com. Wow...what an amazing resource this site is for Mom's like me! So I am nervous to even post this because it isnt "who I am as a woman" yet. But I'm praying it sticks. (you can pray too if you think of me!).

This blurb on on Clutter was in my inbox this morning...I loved it and thought I would share.
(ps...i am posting this only after my morning routine of cleaning is done, it takes me less than 5 minutes, my sink is shiny and my 15 minutes of declutter project has been checked off, yes I use a timer!)

Cholesterol clogs arteries.Clutter invades the pathways of our homes.
Cholesterol increases blood pressure.Clutter causes stress in your life.
Cholesterol reduces your life span.Clutter decreases your joy in living.
Cholesterol cost major money when you treat it.Clutter pushes money away from you.
Cholesterol causes heart disease.Clutter destroys closeness in families.
Cholesterol is a result of over indulging in fatty foods.Clutter is a result of over indulging in stuff.
Cholesterol causes arteries to harden. Clutter causes hearts to harden.
Do you see that we have to put our homes on a cholesterol free,clutter free diet.
How do we do this: By changing our eating habits We live in a society in which the one who dies with the most stuff wins! Do you want your stuff to be the death of you.
Start changing you eating habits, by only buying things that are needed.When you bring something new home, purge something old that it replaces.
Get rid of the items that you have more than one of. Give away the things you no longer use.
Clean out those clothes that you can't wear.Clean out those attics and basements.
Look at why you are holding on to things. Are you afraid that you are going to have to do without. Fear and hoarding are signs that you don't have faith in God.
Clutter was clogging up my pathways to the abundance. When I got rid of my clutter I opened my heart to all the joy that life has to offer.
What is stopping you from getting rid of clutter?

Bedtime Story

Flag Football

Today is Ty's first Flag Football practice. Should be interesting.