08.08.08

I love these triple number dates! Jameson was lucky enough to have been born on one (5/5/05). We've joked that if he plays sports we know what number he should be. Until then he will continue to do silly things like play 'moodict' (aka music) with his squishy alligator. He did this for a good 20 minutes. Such a funny kid!

To celebrate today we had pizza at the pool with our cousins, two of which are staying the night. They giggle so much when they are together - love that! Now we're home and are watching the opening ceremony for the Olympics. Someday I think I'd like to actually attend, just for the experience. Until then I'll enjoy these sweet faces snuggling together!

And you all know how much I love etsy (yes my store has been reactivated). Another fun new find was shared with me today...functional, yet adorable patterned camera straps (thanks for sharing Myra!). Cotton Candy is pretty cool. She uses lots of modern fabrics, including some vera bradley ones. Thinking forward to Christmas, I'm thinking that when I get to shopping I'm going to attempt to buy or make as many handmade things as possible. Have you found any fun links lately? Please do share!

I've been doing quite a bit of creating lately - I know big surprise. I've been doing some fully digital pages and some completely paper. The page to the left with pictures from Jamie & Keith's wedding, was actually in a spot light thread - a first for me. I love the mix of having both digital & paper things in my 'toolbox'. However I know that I will never be fully digital. I had been doing so many digi stuff and after doing quite a bit on the computer I could tell that my brain was not 'level' and playing with some paper last night was the total cure. Funny how that works for me but it does.

So I'd mentioned that we'd been spending quite a bit of time on at the lake. I thought I would share a few fun pictures. One day the 'moms' had our turn with the really big Mable (this things is huge). Picture this, 3 grown women on a tube being pulled by the boat that is being driven by 1 hubby along with the other 2 husbands and 8 kids. It was quite a scene. We wished we could have gotten a picture of the boat because not one person was moving about or talking - that would most likely not have been the case if the adult roles had been switched. So the 3 of us did get knocked off one time - and it was a big one. I personally flipped all the way, up and over the back of the tube. We had a good time. After our ride we switched out the tube so that James could try wake-boarding. He loves the water and it was great to see him relax a bit and enjoy himself. I was so proud of him, he got right up!

Earlier today Jameson & I were out for a bike ride (luckily it was on in the mid 80's here today so we could be outside without being in the pool). He is totally into taking bike rides. We met a few of the other boys in the neighborhood who were also out just riding around. One of them was walking along, without a bike or shoes. I asked him why and he said his bike broke. So we got the golf cart and fixed his bike for him. Then the boys stuck around the house to play with Jameson a bit. He so loves to hang with the big boys. And these 3 boys are always so sweet to entertain the little boy. They actually said they like playing with him because he messes back with them and talks to them. I am pleasantly surprised since they are two 12 year old and one is 9. I wouldn't think they would want anything to do with this 3 year old. They were actually trying to encourage Jameson to take his training wheels off because they think he is so good on his bike. And speaking of bike rides. I took a few pictures earlier this week of both of my boys riding together. Look at that adorable little bike!

To practice a little photography I found a friend that has a lantana in her yard that has been attracting butterflies by the hundreds. There were so many of them they were calling me to take a few photos. Here are a few of my favs.

Links

As previously promised here is the digital page I did from our visit to the strawberry patch (most items from Sugarplum). I was happy to find the prefect verse to include on this page about the harvest. Revelations 14:15

I've been meaning to post some links that are of interest to me. Today I read a post on the Compassion International site that really hit me. We live in such a privileged country that is sometimes easy to forget that not everyone lives just like us. Read this and tell me what you think. When I started my etsy site I knew that I wanted to donate 10% of my sales to a worthy cause...Compassion is where I'm donating. The idea that things are going to get worse is heartbreaking.

Another not quite as important link would be to let everyone know about social bookmarking. This a way to share links and save your favorites without being tired to one specific computer. Watch this video to find out the benefits.

And of course another regular site visited by me...google reader. I love tracking lots of blogs for inspiration, updates from friends and lots more.

What cool links do you often use?

Jewelry

Have you ever heard of a virtual party? I'm hosting one through a great etsy shop. Earlier this year I found Julie's jewelry on etsy. She created a necklace in the exact colors that I requested. For anyone that might be in need of some fun jewelry for the summer go check it out. And if you place an order before Friday and mention my name in the message to seller, I'll get credit on my party. And if this isn't a good time for you, remember puffluna the next time you do need some fun jewelry!

In other news, we're on a sugar high today from eating too many strawberries! We picked fresh strawberries yesterday with Nana Susan. It was so much fun. Jameson is at a great age to enjoy this activity. I warned the lady at Hardy Berry that she would be seeing lots of us this summer! I'm hoping to get a digital scrapbook page done sometime soon with the fun pictures from our day. Now we're off to the local courthouse to check some people for Acxiom then to the post office to mail off mother's day packages & flat Stanley pictures for cousin Morgen. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Etsy update & more...

I feel like I've been away from this little blog for way too long. I never realized how much I like to write. (Maybe it isn't so much write as it is to talk to you all - I am talking in my head as I'm typing these words to you my online friends - you do that too right? I'm not just a crazy lady here, right?!) And for anyone that hasn't posted on the new blog yet because you had to have a google account...I found the place to remove this option. So now you can all comment! yeah!

Etsy update...I've been making lots of fun stuff lately. To the left you'll see a fun scraps bag I made for a fellow Ashland University graduate. I love mixing up the fabrics. This week I pulled out all of the fabric I have and attempted to organize them. Logged everything into excel and now I'm feeling a bit more organized. Does anyone know of a really good way to store fabric? I was thinking possibly a large clear rubbermaid type tote but wasn't sure if there was something more appropriate (and cuter). In other etsy news, I created this growth cart for a past LALR attendee. She home schools her kids and plans to use this in the classroom. She also told me that she put each of her kids name on a magnet and using a second magnet from the back. That way they don't actually have to write on the board to indicate their current height. Great idea Ms. Hulet.

In other news, we had a great Easter celebration (picture here is of James, Jameson, Jeb and Jonas eating breakfast while Abby & I got the little ones checked in. Jameson recently let me know that Jeb is his best friend. So cute!). The service at FCC was awesome. Greg did a great job of coming at the message from a different angle (listen here). I'm sure there were lots of decisions made that day. I'm getting real excited about the new addition at church. I can't wait to see all the new faces that will be coming through the doors in the coming years. We're back to our Wednesday morning bible study, however today we missed it. The little man got sick as we were driving out of the development. Oh how I love cleaning all of that up. I was thinking about it actually as I was driving back down our nice curvy road. Why would God give me a child that gets sick so much since I gage so easily and almost get sick every time I smell it? The real blessing is that for some reason when it is Jameson, I don't feel sick at all. Just go to my mommy duty and clean it up and then move onto the next task. I can find blessings in the most uncommon areas - yeah for creativity, right?! Or maybe just my way of staying sane?


Jameson got a fun bubble machine in his Easter basket. It is the absolute best bubble machine. Here is a fun pictures of the two of us playing. Seriously, it is the best bubble machine. Tonight Aunt Sandy, Nat & Jules came over for dinner. They were all playing with it. Funny story about the girls. After they'd been here for at least 30 minutes. Jameson pointed at them and said "where tee other one?" Meaning where is Ria, I just realized she wasn't here. So funny that he is so used to seeing all 3 of them together it was very strange to him that she wasn't here.

One last fun story to share with everyone. This evening while I was getting things ready for dinner. I heard a very odd sound outside, somewhat like metal scrapping against a chalkboard. Not a normal, nice sound. I ran to the front door to find this site. James and Jameson on the golf cart half laughing/half crying (Jameson was the only crier). Apparently someone hit the gas petal while someone else turned the wheel too far one way. They ran over all 4 of the metal things in the middle of the driveway, broke a fog light and overall wrecked the golf cart - it is still drive able though & the hubby was smiling!. A fun ending to our Wednesday!