Easter fun!

Ok, first let me point out that I am actually posting about a holiday when it actually happened! Instead of waiting weeks or months to do it! We had quite a busy weekend, two easter egg hunts yesterday, and lots of church. This week was General Conference for us Mormons and it's a great week to really feel motivated again to be living the way we should be living! Hard not to feel inspired when you are listening to the Prophet and the Apostles talk all weekend.

Anywho. I snapped some pictures of the kids at our first hunt, but my setting button got switched so they are all grainy, which is super irritating, because otherwise I know they would have been so perfect! I was so glad we were invited to share in this family's hunt (thank you Grimmetts!), since we have no real family around. I am learning that we have many friends that I can consider family, and that makes holidays much sweeter.

Natalie with both front teeth! The top left one fell out later that night after MUCH wiggling and twisting and one last tug from Mama!

I hate you grain!

Poor kid got about 2 hops into the sack race and toppled over. That's ok! Maybe next time!

Best. Kids. Ever. (at least best kids I have ever had! ha!)

Brady chompin' on his black sprinkle covered easter cookie. This kid was in sugar HEAVEN!

Pretty and Sassy!

Here is a pic of their loot. I really wanted to get them more meaningful, useful stuff this year instead of a bunch of junk. So they got books (thrifted of course), something to color/draw with, goldfish, cookies, and one package of candy bugs each. Oh, and a slinky for B and some chapstick for Nat.

Later that night we went to another friends house for a hunt, and of course I forgot my camera. It was nice to go now that the kids are old enough to really play on their own. Brady had so much fun running around with some big boys, and I hardly saw him except when he needed something! Natalie sat with me outside and wiggled and jiggled her tooth to the point that it was barely hanging on! Sweet pea couldn't even talk right because that tooth was a dangling.

After we got Brady in bed she let me check it out and this was the result! Of course I couldn't get a non cheesy pic from her, but those aren't any fun anyways. Enjoy! And I hope you all had a Happy Easter too!

Oh, and this is my 700th post! WOOT! I am actually gonna do a giveaway, very soon, of course it will be stuff from my shop, so keep your eyes peeled!

what I have been working on

A friend of mine had a baby recently and she is the kind of person that is just deserving of so much! I bought some cute fabric for her and planned on making her a swaddler and an activity mat, but then I couldn't stop sewing and threw together as many things as I could with the leftover fabric. The result was a pretty spectacular layette! At least in my opinion!

Some chenille backed, personalized burpy rags. I am definitely gonna add some burpy rags to the shop. They are so practical!

A bow tie bib, of course!

A summer swaddler (and she sent me a picture of baby in it, and it's so cute, and they work!). I just got a bunch of new fabric, and will be adding more to the shop next week. I am so excited about these blankets!

And of course, my go to baby shower gift, and activity mat. I really love this jungle animal fabric, and the brown hides so many stains. I just made 2 more mats for my Monday update and I am really excited about them, really bold and bright colors as opposed to pastels. Very different!

These last things are for Natalie's school fundraiser. They host an auction every year which brings in most of the extra money needed to make up for a small budget. I had some extra minky and whipped together a super soft cuddle blanket and some matching ruffle burpy rags. I had a hard time parting with these, but I hope they bring in a lot at the auction! I really have to make some of these girly burpy rags for the shop (and all of my friends with baby girls!) they are just too cute! (sorry the pictures are sideways!)

P.S. Sorry for all the shameless linkage, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!

Also linking up to everything etsy! And V&Co's linky party :)

fabric sale!

One of my favorite Etsy shops is having a spring cleaning sale! Everything in her shop is 20% off, which is amazing for some of these designer fabrics! She is also having a giveaway for a $50 gift certificate to her store. Wowzas! If you are in the market for some pretty, colorful fabrics, now is the time to test the waters!

a few new things

Here are a few of my most recent additions to the shop. I just finished a huge layette for a friend, and am thinking of adding pics to the shop to offer custom orders. The only problem is that it's different when you spend hours on something out of love for the person rather than hours on something because someone is buying it. How do you put a price on your time? That is my constant struggle with pricing!

short sleeve onesie with tie, $9

short sleeve bright blue onesie with lime bow tie, $9

purple and magenta ruffle bib, $7

and I know I already showed it, but I did manage to get this in the shop. :)

custom initial diaper and wipes case, $15

baby steps

Today Brady and I took a walk to the Post Office rather than drive. I am so proud of us! He rode his little trike and was definitely feeling tired near the end, but he did it! It's been hard to really push myself to get outside, I am very used to being inside. All the time. But it's nice to feel some sunshine on my pasty skin, though I could live without the sweating, haha!

Of course as soon as we got home Brady begged to watch...you guessed it, a Phineas and Ferb. How can I resist him when he curls up on the couch like this? So sweet.

what we are watching and watching and watching....

Behold! The Phineas and Ferb (inator)!! Ok, seriously, if you like funny, clean, humor then you will LOVE this show. We can't get enough. It has everything, repeat gags, same basic plotline each episode (2 young boys making crazy inventions and filling their summer days with fun), the fact that the boys love their big sister (even though she pretty much lives to "bust" them and tries and fails each episode), witty one liners, crazy random cartoon stunts, seriously everything you could ever want in a cartoon! We watch at least one episode a day...
Here is a funny clip I found on youtube. Just know that Keith does a perfect Dr. Doofenshmirtz, and pretty much anything is funnier if you add {inator} to the end. Think....grilled cheese-inator, clean your mouth-inator, no more arguing-inator! Haha...maybe just to us!



I know this is a super random post, but I just had to document this, because it seriously takes up a part of every single one of our days. Not to mention the fact that I am pretty much constantly singing any number of the songs from the show in my head.

And this is long, but it's our favorite episode of late. Hilarious.

starting over {again}

I am just not sure I am cut out for this blogging thing on top of this sewing thing! Trying to start a "business" is hard work! My goal for my shop is to stock it full, full, full of stuff and then I can slow down as I add a few new pieces here and there, but this has kept me VERY busy, and off the computer for anything more than a five minute interval here and there (to check facebook, of course).


I miss my blog the way it used to be! All chock full of random pictures and stories, some pictures of my crafts and cooking. I was trying to figure out why I don't post much, (which isn't anything new, I am constantly trying to figure that out) and I decided it's because I am intimidated by all the other blogs out there. With their crystal clear, perfectly edited pictures, their wonderfully creative homes and crafts, their beautifully photographed kids, and then I realized that some of the blogs I read DON'T have all that stuff, and I still love them! I love the catching up, and knowing the small day-to-day details I wouldn't normally get to see.

So I am trying (again) to start blogging more. For the sake of documentation for me, and for others who can't see us every day, and just to keep the creative juices flowing! Maybe this will get me back in the groove of taking pictures of the kids again too, since they seem to have decided that getting your picture taken is basically equivalent to having your fingernails pulled out with pliers!

And just because I can't post without a picture, here is one of a diaper and wipe carrier I made for a friend. She challenged me, and I think I delivered! It's big enough for at least 3 diapers, which is always nice when you are on the go. I am gonna offer these up in the shop, with personalization of any letter the buyer wants.

about creative writing

My absolute FAVORITE thing that Natalie does at school is creative writing. They get a sheet of paper with area for a picture and a place for words underneath. They are encouraged to spell the words as good as they can, just by sounding it out. Her stories are priceless and they are the only thing I keep every single one. Here are a few of the best ones.

"Yesterday it wus my birthday. I got a hlooecitee reel sowege msheg. It was grat. I love it!" Yesterday it was my birthday. I got a hello kitty sewing machine. It was great. I love it! 3/10/10

"My teacher Ms. R came to my house. We playd Hnana Mtann. We had fun." My teacher Ms. R. came to my house. We played Hannah Montana. We had fun. 1/20/10

"I love skool. My fafrite thage is haveing fnte. My fafrit pothet is math. I have soe muth fun at skool!" I love school. My favorite thing is having friends. My favorite project is math. I have so much fun at school! 3/10/10

"Dear Ruru, I hope you have a safe mevee. I will woch you on the TV. Evreebudee like me. Duss evreebudee like you? Love, Natalie." Dear Aurora, I hope you have a safe movie. I will watch you on the TV. Everybody likes me, does everybody like you? Love, Natalie.

"Win my dad get home I giv him a hug. I love my dad and my mom! Thae are the bist peirit uv all!" When my Dad gets home I give him a hug. I love my Dad and Mom! They are the bes parents of all! 3/11/10

"I wint to the prke. I sae a applechree. I pik one off the chree. It was sweet. I mad a apple pie." I went to the park. I saw an appletree. I picked one off the tree. It was sweet. I made an apple pie. 2/10/10

about being grateful

If there is one thing you read today, make it this. Ryan is a Pastor that traveled with a group of people to Kenya, he is documenting his travels as they are connecting with some of the children that are sponsored through the Compassion program. It's heart wrenching. We are so so so SO blessed to live in America.

about starting an Etsy shop!

Lots and lots of things for me to catch up on, but the main thing that is happening right now (besides Brady turning FOUR last week) is that I actually opened up my Etsy shop! It's mostly blankets and things, perfect for baby showers or gifts. I am hoping to really find my niche, but for now I am putting pretty much anything in there!

Here are a few of the things I am selling :) Feel free to tell your friends! And check back often because now I am feeling the crafty fire and have lots more things in the making!

Flannel snuggle blanket with funky monkeys

A new play mat in polka dots

Barrette holders