Counting Down

Counting down the days until my new blog design is ready and I can share it with you all that is!! Jennisa, the fabulous, amazing, talented and oh so patient designer is working away on it and it is really coming together!! She sent me the header a couple of nights ago, we made some fairly minor changes and she has totally perfected my visions!! And after bombarding her with numerous e-mails yesterday, we also instant messaged for an hour last night, all the while she was working on the rest of the design! It is so bright, happy and fun! It won't be much longer now that I will be able to share it with you all!!

I wish I could tell you all to go get on her waiting list N*O*W, but her talents are in extremely high demand and she has had to close the list for a short time while she gets caught up! There are over 90 people waiting on her services! Crazy! I will tell you to check her out though...you'll be inspired!!

Storms

So we all know I LOVE a good ole fashioned thunderstorm! When our Google homepage popped up a minute ago I about jumped for glee seeing that there were storms forecasted for Thursday AND Friday...Then I looked closer. Yeah, that is back in Kansas! The high Friday is 61. Let's just say I can't wait for the summer monsoons to roll in and darken our days here in the desert!!

Now I am off to get us all ready...we have a busy day today! And if it is cool, cloudy or raining where you are, just know I am jealous and would love to trade spots with you for the day!

Slip 'n Slide!

So after seeing all the fun my friend Lindsey had with their slip 'n slide a few weeks ago, we decided that we needed one too! I attempted to pick one out at Wal-Mart last time I went, but then decided that this is really a "dad" thing. I mean, really now, chances are I will not be partaking in the slipping and sliding (at least until it is 120 out and I am totally miserable!) so I don't really care what it looks like!!

So after dropping off Grandma at the airport Saturday, Chris and the kids hit up Toys R Us and headed home with this lovely jewel! We got it out yesterday and the kids (all three of them...I am including Chris here!!) had a blast! I must say that Huntler by far had the most fun! He wore his little self out! He was frozen solid and exhausted, but he refused to stop! 

He didn't quite get the whole "run and dive on your tummy" concept, but we found a way around that...Chris would hold him and then launch him down the slide! He laughed and smiled and talked up a storm...loving every second!

Miss Gentry is much like her mommy in this area...she doesn't mind getting a little wet, but only on her terms. By NO stretch of the imagination did she want to be flung down the slide. Nor did she want anyone coming at her or invading her space. She wanted to splash around where the water had pooled a bit and then stick her hands in the water spouts every now and again! 

Huntler has already been asking to get it out again...looks like we found a fun new summer toy! And since it isn't warm enough to get in the pool yet, the Slip 'n Slide will work out just right!

(Remember to click on the pictures to see them bigger! The ones of the kids drinking are really cool big...our camera did an amazing job of catching the water!!)

Here is our sassy girl doing her own thing! You can tell that I am experimenting in Photoshop and learning new techniques!! I have always loved vintage...

Look out! Here come the boys! LOVE this shot!!

Not so sure what to think of this...we don't drink water out the tap down here...it has a tendency to make people sick and we don't want to go there...However, running back and forth forever in 99 degree heat does make a boy thirsty!!

What a pose! Tongue out and all! Love it!

A little more vintage for you!

He was absolutely frozen solid yet we gave him a popsicle!! These Minute Maid frozen lemonades are THE BEST! {MMMMMM!!!}

Morning at the Zoo...Part II

Here are just a few more shots from our trip to the zoo Friday...I actually have many, many more that I could share, but I have lots of other pics to edit too! And really...these are some of my absolute faves, so they are the ones you get to see!!

Love those rainbow shades!! Miss Gappy Tooth! Huntler's teeth have always been perfect...we are hoping sissy's come in straight when she gets her permanent teeth!

Huntler was covering his ears because the "Scarlet Goldcaws" were WAY too loud! Go Diego Go is a popular show around this house and the "Scarlet McCaw" is one of the most talked about animals on the show. Huntler has created his own little version...Anyway, he was absolutely fascinated to see them in real life, but we all know how obnoxiously loud and annoying birds can be...the little man couldn't have agreed more!!!

This is one of my favorites of him...we had just left the porcupine exhibit...he was wearing down and ready to see the giraffes and head home! Can you tell the difference in the colors of the black and whites in these two images? I used two different actions by two different artists and the top one has more brown tones in it. I bet you never realized that a black and white could have brown tones, eh?!! I didn't get it so much until I had two right beside each other! Very interesting!

You have to click on this one to see it bigger! Yes....Huntler is feeding the giraffes!! It was similar to a cattle call up there on the podium to feed these beloved giraffes and it is a miracle that I managed to get any photos worth saving considering the large amount of people crammed into a not so large space, but I did! YEAH! Proof that he was that close to a giraffe!

Although the kids were tired, exhausted more like it, after spending the morning at the zoo, they both lit up when they saw the carousel. So, Grandma and Daddy each took a kiddo and went for a ride while I stayed back and took pictures. I didn't mind much...I get motion sickness and prefer to be on solid ground!! I am amazed I didn't get dizzy just taking pictures!! They had to pick the scariest animal up there to put this little princess on!! Huntler rode a giraffe, of course!! 

This is a little off topic, but several weeks ago Huntler requested a crocodile cake for his birthday (which is not until September but I like to plan waaaayy ahead!)...we are so going to take this jungle theme and run with it! I can't wait!!

Sneak Peek

Here is a little sneak peek of what we did this afternoon! Okay...well, not ALL of us...Chris and Huntler! Gentry played in the water a bit and I observed and snapped pics! I took 413!!!  OOPS! Not all of those turned out, but needless to say I have lots to sort through!!

Anyway, I need to be getting my next round of zoo pics up, but I HAD to share this one right away! Huntler was so, so happy and had an absolute ball on the slip n slide! Despite the fact that it was 99 degrees, his chin was still quivering and he was shaking like a leaf! I think it is safe to say we have acclimated to life in the desert!! It is going to take some days of serious heat before the cool water doesn't make us tremble!!

Six on Saturday

Ok...I am going to try to keep this rather "short" considering I was posting like a mad woman yesterday (so if you haven't checked lately...there are FOUR new posts from yesterday)! I write like I talk...which is a lot...so that may be a bit challenging for me but I am going to give it a whirl anyway!

1. I am left handed.
2. My hair is naturally VERY, VERY wavy...down right curly in many places! I do love curls and hoped that my sweet Gentry would have some, but mine is hard to work with so I straighten it Every.Single.Day!!
3. I am the oldest of three children.
4. I flew for the first time in my life during my senior year of college...to New Orleans for a Sociology conference where I had to present a paper I had written. Although it was a "fun" trip, my relationship with Chris was still really new and it was miserable being so far away from him!! 
5. We have no pets...although I am considering getting the kids a fish. I know, "Whoo hoo...a fish" right, but I do NOT like cats and although I do like dogs, I don't want one shedding all over or ruining our stuff. HOWEVER, I could probably be swayed on that as the kids get older! Gentry already loves animals...but our timid Huntler does not so much! In his defense, he has grown in leaps and bounds in that area over the past year and we can now at least go people's houses that have dogs as long as they are put away!! Yeah Huntler!!
6. I am a TOTAL phone talker! I can talk on the phone for hours during the day...and often do! I am very productive during that time too...cleaning, doing laundry, taking care of the kids, unloading the dishwasher...you name it, I can do it! My LONG (as in lengthwise too) distance phone calls with my dearest friend Lisa have helped me through some of the loneliest times in my life out here in Arizona! Thank goodness for unlimited long distance!! And thank goodness Lisa is a big phone talker too!!

Morning at the Zoo...Part I

I am breaking this up into segments for my benefit and yours (uploading a ton of photos takes FOREVER and overwhelms me at times!!)! Although I am sure many of you could care less about seeing an obscene amount of photos of my darling kiddos...Mema and Papa back in Kansas who weren't able to make it to the zoo with us this time around do enjoy them! So...you have to bear with me! I guess maybe it is a good thing I haven't been posting pictures like crazy over the last couple of weeks since I have TONS...and I mean T*O*N*S...to share now! 

Anyway...if you haven't been on in a while this is my fourth post TODAY so scroll on down...yes, I am going a little blog crazy! Grandma is still here and she and the kids are outside playing, Chris is toodling around in the garage and I am here...editing pictures and playing around in Photoshop! I probably won't be adding the next post until tomorrow or Sunday though...just so you know!!

Anyway, what a perfect day!! :)

This is right as we stepped into the zoo...lucky for us Grandma had a pocket full of quarters and the kids were able to feed any and everything they wanted to! Gentry would act like she was throwing but her fist was clenched so tightly the food pellets never left her hand! And Huntler really seemed to catch on and have a fun time! And yes, the water was a murky green and matched his shirt perfectly...EEEEEWWWWW!

Grandma Debbie and Gentry girl seeing the sights in their shades!! (This happens to be another new pair of glasses from The Children's Place...the outfit is from there too! They have some of the brightest, most vibrant colors right now!!!)

Grandma and her first born grandchild... I can't remember what they were looking at, but there were three of them! See Huntler's left hand?

I LOVE this one of the kids! Gentry was absolutely EXHAUSTED all morning, but once we arrived at the zoo she perked up and acted as though she was three years old just like her brother! They are quite a pair, these two! I can't imagine life without them! Huntler is growing up so much these days...he is so patient and loving towards Gentry. I am so glad they have each other!

I love behind shots for some reason and this one just screamed "PHOTOSHOP ME!!" I wanted to show the bright colors in her outfit, but I also thought it would be fun vintage!! Love them both! And love those tippy-toes!!

 

Which path Daddy?! For anyone familiar with Dora...you know all about maps and paths! Here are my two boys checking out the map to see where we were and where we needed to be going next! Huntler is SOOOO much like his daddy in SOOOO many ways...including looks! Although he can be rowdy at times, Huntler is so quiet, calm and serious like Chris. He is intense beyond measure and although he may not say much, he is taking it all in and doesn't miss a beat! 

I found a new set of actions from The Pioneer Woman and downloaded them this afternoon. I have a long ways to go in the vast world of photography and Photoshop...but I learn something new each time I open 'er up! I am loving the old time feel of this one of Huntler. And notice that hat? I bought it yesterday and he LOVES it! It is his "jungle hat" and we could NOT head to the zoo without it! Jungle hat??? I mean, obviously it looks like a jungle hat, but where does he come up with all of this?! He continues to amaze us with his antics!

On a funny note...I was standing in the bathroom with his this afternoon waiting on him to finish up and he was sizing me up. He so innocently says, "Mom, your tummy full?" And I thought I was having a skinny day...AHHH, from the mouths of babes! Love you little man!! To the moon and back!

Uh-Oh!

Although we had a WONDERFUL time at the zoo this morning, of course the trip did not go without some mishaps! Forgive the blurriness of these first two photos, but I had to share them so you could get the full effect of the last two shots!

So, here they are...holding hands on the slide. Huntler even waited so patiently on Gentry to get back to the top so they could hold hands while going down the slide together. This seems to be a pretty common occurrence when there is a double slide...holding hands that is. (You'll have to click on the second one and last one to see them close up...)

So, here they go...

Whew...they are zooming! Notice Gentry is on her back, yet tilted to the side, and has her foot kicked up in the air! And what an expression!! Daddy is RIGHT there should anything go wrong...

But, oops...Huntler doesn't let go of dear sissy's hand and she crumbles into the mulch...it was a forceful fall and one met with MANY tears and a scuffed up face. Poor baby...although it was actually funny...and she wasn't hurt that bad!

I am hoping if you enlarge this one you can see the mulch in her teeth and the fragments of wood slivers or dried grass or something on the corner of her mouth...

Flashback Friday!!!

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, I finally gave up on the other two pics I had for this post and am just going with what I've got here! Blogger is moving slower than a snail's pace this afternoon and I am moving at warp speed! Needless to say, the two don't mesh too well!!

Anyway, since we ventured to the zoo this morning, I thought it only appropriate to share pictures from one of our trips to the zoo last year! Some pictures from today will be coming soon...

Here is our oh-so timid and intense Huntler! He is not so much into animals but after much prodding finally fed the goat! That was 16 months ago but I still remember it! We didn't even attempt the petting zoo today! This mama is SO NOT INTO grubby, dirty animals and I prefer not to be licked, sniffed, bumped into, trampled, mauled for food...you get the picture! 

Can you even believe this is our sassy Gentry girl?!! Talk about how much difference a year makes!! She would have been six months in this picture...all I can say is, "Wow...where did my BABY go????" Same blue eyes though! Some things never change!!

For My Dad...

Although I could totally use this (and might have to if I can't get Blogger to cooperate and upload the pics I am planning on using!) for my Flashback Friday...I am not. This is far more important...far more meaningful than a few sweet images posted for the world to see. This post is in love and appreciation. A time to reflect on  a distant childhood and  fond memories. Of yesteryear and how despite the fact that time marches on and and we grow and change, love stays the same. This is for my dad...to remind him of how much he is loved and appreciated. I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for him (and my mom!). 

I know I don't say it nearly often enough...thank you. I had an amazing childhood and I only look back with fond memories. Dad, I know you don't really read this unless Mom makes you, but I just want to say I am sorry you have had such a rough week and I love you! I thought maybe these cute little faces...and that ornery pony of course...would make you smile! Throughout everything, you know that we are always here...the big clown, the baby clown and the pony!! I love you!

{This picture is from 1986...I was six, my sister the pony (Natalie) was almost 5 and my brother (Garrett) almost 1! Crazy to think that that chubby little guy is an amazing athlete and will be graduating from college in just two weeks! Wow...WHERE does the time go???}

Snapshots

Hey all! I know I haven't added any new pics of the kids lately...to be totally honest, I haven't had the chance to take many! It is late and I am tired (remember I have been up since 5:30 this morning and it is now 9:45 at night!)...but I wanted to add a couple of new ones that I finally got off of the camera and on the computer!

Here is Huntler. This is last Saturday before a birthday party.

Love this one! He is a TAD blurry, but I love it anyway!

From this afternoon...all set to go shopping!

Cute little non-matching gappy toothed girl! 

Polka Dots

I am a sucker for almost anything polka dot...these next three items are the newest of sassy Miss Gentry's collection! I have been doing great...FABULOUS in fact, as far as not buying my darling munchkins any new clothes. They don't need them...they REALLY don't, but my oh my, why is it SO HARD not to? I mean, really, I don't have trouble refraining from buying myself things. Could be the fact that no matter what size I am I always want to be a size smaller and things just don't fit like I want them to?! Yeah, come to think of it, that is probably it! Anyway, shopping for the kids is so much more fun and easy!

I am obsessed with Gymboree...I am. I won't lie! There are lines I TOTALLY fall in love with (can you say Cupcake Cutie from around Christmas?!) and then there are lines I am not so much into. I think I can safely and honestly say that I have bought only a couple of outfits this entire year for Gentry from there. And one for Huntler. (The boy clothes just aren't as cute!) And I have also learned my lesson that if I can bear to wait just a few weeks, they will come out with something new and the "old" goes on sale!!

Well, my friends, this time it just WASN'T gonna happen! I saw online Monday that they had a new line, Lady Daisy, and I immediately fell in love with MANY of the items. So, a big part of our trek to the mall yesterday was to check out this new line in person as soon as it hit the shelves! It did not disappoint! It took a great, great deal of self control and restraint, but the following three items are the only ones I walked away with (well, plus a couple of things for Huntler!!). I am a sucker for hats on both of my kids...always have been. I went with the intentions of getting this floppy little yellow and white polka dotted sunhat but instantly fell in love with this fabulous straw hat! And considering my young fashionista of a daughter is a lover of all things accessory, she put it on, checked herself out in the mirror, smiled ear to ear and returned to her little chair in front of the TV they have in there and continued to watch cartoons all the while donning this darling hat. Believe me, I TOTALLY see a photo shoot in that little number coming up soon!

The glasses? Enough said. She loves them. I love them. We ALL love them!

Ahhhh...the shirt. This is wear I may find myself in a bit of trouble as the next couple of years approach. It came to my attention that my sweet baby now borders on wearing some of the things from the big girl side. So we have big girl and baby girl options! Anyway, I say only some because they start at size three and she is no where near wearing that size in most things, but we all know that girls clothes are made so much differently (as in smaller and tighter!!) than boys and there are a few things she can pull off! This shirt is one of them! The hat is big girls too, but my kids have always had huge noggins so this comes as no surprise! (at Gentry's 18 month check up her head was in the 90th percentile!!)

On that note, I hope you smile at all of this fun and happy yellow and I am off to fix my hair and finish getting ready! Grandma kept the kids up late last night and everyone is still sound asleep! I, on the other hand, have been up since 5:30 a.m. I can just tell today is going to be a great day! 

I'm So 'Cited!!

In case you weren't sure, that is "I'm so excited!" and I am quoting from the mouth of a three and a half year old little boy who could hardly contain himself this morning in anticipation of waiting for Grandma Debbie to arrive!

We weren't sure if Grandma was going to be able to make it (there was a death in a family she is very close to) so we held off on telling the kids because we didn't want to break their little hearts should things not work out as planned for her trip. However, Huntler must have picked up on bits and pieces and brought it up yesterday. We told him we sure hoped that she was coming but we wouldn't know for sure until the last minute. 

So, this morning he hops out of bed, makes a pit stop to check on Gentry girl (we call her that often and he has totally caught on!!) and comes running to my room that he has to potty. Typical morning. By this time I am over in Gentry girl's room so I holler back to go ahead and potty and I'll be right over. Then it hits him...he remembers Grandma and manages to forget the fact that he is about to wet his pants to come back and say, "Grandma Debbie be home soon?" Meaning, will she be here soon? 

I still wasn't sure what was going on so we called Grandma and sure enough she was at the airport getting ready to board and come visit! She got to our house around 1:30 or so this afternoon and we have been BUSY today! Huntler was so 'cited he had to show her his room and his bed and his books and his toys and all of his stuff like she had never been here before! Then Gentry woke up and had a smile plastered to her face because she was so 'cited too! Grandma and the kids played for a bit and then we all loaded up and headed to the mall!

And while at the mall I actually got to try on clothes without stuffing crackers in mouths or pulling my hair out from mass chaos! We had a FUN shopping trip and the kids had a blast! While I was doing my own thing, they got to play in the play area and run around like little hooligans! WHEW! Grandma is reading stories as I type and then I think we are all headed to bed! We have a busy next few days coming up so if you don't hear much from me, it means I am taking advantage of Grandma's help and working on my class reunion stuff, Photoshop, crafts, getting my hair cut and a large number of other things that have been waiting on me! Not to mention that we hope to go to the zoo and do some fun things too! But don't give up on me...I'll be back with pics soon! I just got a new lens in the mail today and I am itching to test it out!

Who?

So, since I have virtually no pictures to share (although I have a few on the camera that still need uploaded to the computer!), and I still wanted to post something, I thought it would be fun to see who all is following this blog! I obviously know some of you and you don't have to comment (although please do if you are up for it!!), but I also know that there are several of you I do not know and I would love to see who you are and how you came to find me! And, if you have a blog I would love to check it out as well! So, that being said, please don't feel uncomfortable! There are several blogs I check every day for random people I don't even know! Something about their story has pulled me in and I am interested in their lives...It may be the amazing photography, the cute blog design or just the story they are telling. I love to think about how the computer and blogging are connecting people all over the world. It is pretty amazing!

So, on that note, Gentry was up until 9:30 last night and is sleeping in today so I am off to make the bed and get things going for the day!

Remember to leave me a comment! I would love to see who you are and how you came upon my blog!!

Where Did The Weekend Go?!

Ok, so it is late Sunday night and I am exhausted, but I wanted to post a little something for all of you who so kindly check in on us every day! YEAH!!

Anyway, I totally missed my Six on Saturday AGAIN, but forgive me, life is busy right now! I warned you all! We just have a ton of projects and things going on around here and I honestly didn't spend that much time on the computer this weekend! 

I am currently #5 on the list to get my blog redone though, so hopefully within the next couple of weeks I'll have a brand new look! So, I did spend some time last night working on that! I want to be ready when the designer e-mails me for the details! I am not sure what she will create, but I know it will be bright and fun and happy! 

The rest of the weekend? Oh...well, I spent HOURS today cleaning. A little dusting, but mostly sweeping and mopping. So NOT fun. Then this afternoon I went out and did my every-other-weekend duty of pulling weeds and watering all the plants with Miracle Grow. Not too exciting, hunh?!

Okay, it is almost 10:00 and I should get to bed. As rough as the last two weeks have been with my munchkins, it is definitely to my benefit if I can be up and ready to roll before they are up! It gets light here at 5:30 now and Gentry seems to start stirring pretty darn early, (not 5:30 yet...she did last summer though) so I need to be ready to go!

Happy Monday dear blog readers!!

Time...

So...it has been quite some time since I have sat down at the computer and "written" in my signature style...the philosophical, deep, thought provoking style that before I had kids was the only way I knew how to write! However, nearly four years and a lot of chaos later, I find myself just jotting down the basics and moving on! But, to be honest I think I am doing pretty darn good to be getting that much done! 

However, I miss writing! I have always loved it. At one point in my life (many, many moons ago) I thought I was going to grow up to write children's books. I also thought I would grow up to be a marine biologist. Keep in mind I can't swim worth a darn and I am from Kansas...the most central state in the US and about as far away from an ocean as one can be! But, that is the fabulous thing about childhood...NO dream is too big. No hope is too outlandish and no obstacles stand in the way. At what point do we begin to realize the realities of life? Hmmm....

Anyway, we were driving home from running some errands this morning and I was just thinking as I often do while driving out here in the desert! My mind was wandering and I was thinking of how much I have changed since Chris and I met, since we had Huntler and Gentry, and most recently since we uprooted our little family and moved miles away from home to start this chapter of our life in Arizona. I don't mean the 17 different hairstyles I have had or the fact that my hips are a tad wider but my arms are far more muscular...I am talking about changing at the core of who I really am. Deep stuff, hunh?!

I was thinking of how time has such an amazing way of changing us, of teaching us.   An "I only wish I knew then what I know now" sort of thing. When we lived in Kansas I took SO many things for granted...family, friendships, neighbors, comfort... If we REALLY needed a grandma, it was only a 3 hour drive. If we needed a friend, it was only a 15 second walk down the street. 

Sometimes it takes something truly significant (as in a move across country!!) to snap you into reality and show you what is important. The "old" me didn't want anyone at our house when we brought Huntler home from the hospital. I just wanted it to be the three of us. And it was... Sitting  here now, I wonder what in the world I was thinking? I mean really, WHAT was I thinking?! No grandparents there to help out. No one to fix dinner or keep us company. So, by the time the birth of our sweet Gentry girl came around...I did too. Obviously we NEEDED help this time as we had a 22 month old little guy that needed to be taken care of while we were in the hospital, but it was more than that...more than just needing a babysitter. We had family and friends and it was such a special time in our lives. I remember crying and crying the day my parents had to leave. Isn't it funny how much can change in such a short amount of time?!

I used to stress out, I mean R*E*A*L*L*Y stress out when we would have company. Friends or family, that didn't matter. Just popping in for a visit or spending the night, that didn't matter. It was a major ordeal in my mind. As in, holy cow I have to clean and clean and clean some more and it still won't be perfect. My silverware isn't lined up in the drawer, the windows are dirty and the towels aren't folded to perfection in the closet. And then the thought of all the cleaning up that would come AFTER our overnight company left...that was about too much to handle! Yes, I suffered from some serious obsessive compulsiveness! And although I am still obsessive about certain things, I have grown in leaps and bounds in that category! Just come check our silverware drawer or the sheets in the linen closet! :)

Anyway...I guess where I am going with this is that time has a way of "healing" us all. I no longer spend hours cleaning before company comes over. Yeah, I clean the bathrooms and sweep up all the crumbs that collect underneath the cabinets, but I don't stress about it anymore. I don't lose sleep over the fact that someone might be offended by the fact that there are handprints ALL OVER our patio door, that there is dust on our entryway table or that there is mail piled up on the desk. Yeah, in a perfect world it would be ideal if it were all tidy and clean, but this is not a perfect world and I am not a perfect person. I am just a mom who loves my family with all my heart and is trying my best to find my way in this world.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been sifting through thousands of photos looking for those "Perfect Six" that will be edited and printed on canvas and hung in our bedroom. Although I am learning my way through Photoshop slowly but surely, I am by far no guru and enlisted the help of an amazing photographer, Tonya, to take my images and turn them into breathtaking works of art. So given my six photos and some examples of the style I was envisioning (vintage with a twist - go figure!), she created these amazing memories for us! 

Looking back, I can remember when each of these was taken. Some are obviously more recent than others, but I can still remember. Time...each image captured and forever frozen in time. 

Ok...you had a sneak peak up at the top, but if you have stayed with me through all of that babble, you deserve to check out the rest of these awesome pictures! I can't wait to get the finished results up on our wall! (These will be the 16x20 canvas' that hang on our striped wall in our bedroom!)

For the Love of ETSY

**Be sure to scroll down...it is late Thursday night and I went ahead and posted my Flashback Friday pics as well! Enjoy!

Sorry to all of you blog stalkers (don't worry - I have my fair share of blogs I stalk too!!) out there for falling off the blogging bandwagon the last couple of weeks! I am still not quite done with my painting and house projects yet (the painting is done...the decorating and hanging of stuff is not!) and this past week has been a rough one. Gentry has had a cold and some severe separation anxiety or teething or plain just not feeling well going on and my days have been long and my nights have been short! So, forgive my lack of posts!! I am hoping the worst of that is behind us because I think we were both in tears at some point just about every day this week! 

I HATE to complain because we have been blessed with two incredibly good, happy, amazing kids...but man, I am SPOILED! When one of them has a rough week I about lose it!! We were finally able to get out and about today for a playdate with some friends so that was a nice break for all of us! However, Gentry fell asleep for 20 minutes in the car on the ride home and was wide awake for the rest of the day. That being said, my three and a half year old non-napper passed out and stayed asleep for an hour and a half after I hauled him from the car all the way up to his bed! Just when you think you truly know your kids they go and switch everything up on you!!

So, I never really blogged much about my birthday...it was last Saturday. I turned the big 2-8! I had high hopes of writing some deep, thoughtful post here (I am actually a pretty deep writer most of the time...but seem to have gotten away from that on my blog?!)...but with the chaos of life, I still haven't gotten to that yet! However, I DID manage to find time to do a little shopping on Etsy!! For those of you who know me and my LOVE of all things shopping, that comes as no surprise!! And as of today I have received all of my "birthday" packages and am ready to share a few of my purchases!!

This is scrapbooking paper...LOTS of it in FABULOUS colors! I LOVE IT!! I have some fun little ideas floating around in my mind for this paper...so stay tuned because you will see it again! It came from one of the shops I mentioned in my post last weekend...Jane Says!

These darling little blossoms are also from the same shop! I am not exactly sure what I have planned for them, but I do know one thing...they are simply a*d*o*r*a*b*l*e! 

I am loving these sweet barrettes! Sassy Miss Gentry is actually WANTING me to put pretties in her hair these days, so FUN for me! The fabulous Crystal at Little Bit Funky designed these gems!

And last but certainly not least is a big pile of fabric scraps! Yes, one man's trash truly is another man's treasure!! And l'atelier's fabric scraps were just up my alley this week! I have numerous ideas in mind for this pile of fabric as well! Now, if I could somehow just figure out how to add a few more hours into a day and days into a week to complete everything I have on my to-do list, I would be set!! Can you tell from everything I have been buying lately that I am on a color spree?!! I have always loved vibrant color, but I may just be bordering on obsessed at this point!!!

Flashback Friday!!!

Here she is...our sweet little Gentry girl at just three weeks old! We set up a mini "studio" in our bedroom to take this series of photos! It was definitely NOT professional, but we managed to pull it off!! We had a plastic tote (the big ones!) upside down at the foot of our bed. We then draped this fuzzy pink blanket over our footboard so that it hung down to the ground and acted as a backdrop. Then we piled Gentry on top of some white towels and started snapping away!

I have to be honest here and admit that Chris did the majority of the picture taking that day. I tried but was not having much luck!

She has (had?) the EXACT same markings as Huntler...the stork bite birthmarks. They both have them on their heads in the same places, on their foreheads in the same places and on their eyelids. It is amazing that two completely different babies can have the exact same birthmarks! Anyway, I was traumatized by these "angel kisses" when Huntler was born. We took him to a pediatric dermatologist and everything. Looking back, it was silly of us, but you know how it is with your first baby!

Needless to say, the marks have faded. To be honest, I don't know if you can see them at all or not? I totally overlook them and pay absolutely no attention to them, so I couldn't even tell you if they are always visible or not! I do know that they pop out and turn red when they cry or are upset though!

Tiny little newborn diapers...

This last one is the image we used on her birth announcements. Chris did all of the Photoshop work! He did a darn good job, don't ya think?!! Another little secret for all of those new readers...I knew we were having a girl but Chris didn't, so I did all of the work on the birth announcements while he was at work so he wouldn't know if they were pink or blue!! :)