The Logo...

Here it is...my absolutely amazing, cheery, bright, fun, sassy, fabulous new logo for Hissyfits!! Can you tell I am in love with it?!!

The wonderful Genevieve was so patient and kind in working with me and has truly captured everything I wanted and more!! The thing is, while I gave her my thoughts and wants, she created this on her own!! She listened to what I had to say and went with it! It is truly me and I cannot wait to take this new little business of mine and RUN!!



So...now I am trying to figure out how to watermark my images with this funky new logo of mine! I guess I am an idiot and I didn't realize that brush files are only monochromatic. Well, of course I want to be able to do this in color if the mood so strikes, so I have to figure all that out. I think I need a "band" over my images with the file on top of it but I have NO clue how to do that. Help? Please? Anyone? {The more detail the better for this girl!!}

The ideas are swirling in my mind tonight!! I want to get my website going and blog situation figured out as soon as possible!! It was mentioned {in a very nice way} that my style of post processing is much softer than the vibrant colors you will find in my logo and on my website! I realized that long ago, but that is just me! I have all these ideas of how I am going to type something up about how "Vibrant color mixes with the retro tone of my images..." Obviously it will be much more thought out and well written than that, but it is nearly 10:30 and I'm tuckered out! I really see myself moving towards just having one blog...but it will be much the same. I have thought and thought and thought and thought and thought about this and for me, I think the best fit is one blog...a mixture of my personal life {which includes my kids, shopping, Etsy, reality TV and whatever else tickles my fancy!} and professional images.

WHEW! So even though I am tired I have a feeling my mind won't shut off once I get in bed tonight!!

ANY help on my watermark issue would be fantastic!!

And These are A Few of My Favorite Things...

So my sweet friend Laura whipped up a post awhile back that included some of her favorite things! Although we have been friends for years {since high school!}, it was fun to read up on these interesting little tidbits that don't tend to come up all that often!! Well, her infatuation with Tim Riggins of Friday Night Lights I was quite aware of...but not the rest of her post!! {Love ya Laura!!}

So, speaking of Tim Riggins, I'll start off with some of my favorite TV shows! I LOVE me some Friday Night Lights as well! We watched this show every single week last season and I was so bummed when they canceled it...so you can imagine that I am thrilled it is back on again!! We tune in every Friday night and are glued to the screen until it's over! LOVE IT!! {But NBC has made it nearly impossible to get pictures off of their website so I can't post one!!}

I also have an addiction to General Hospital. I got into this back when I wasn't working but before Huntler was born. So like May of 2004 or so. Oh my...have I seriously been watching that long?!! I am not so crazy as to insist on watching it on every trip we take or anything like that, but I was happy to see that ABC is now showing the episodes online!! I DVR it every day so I watch it each night, but just in case something "huge" was going on it would be nice to watch it on vacation if I ahem, "needed to!"



Funny little story about GH. From time to time the kids watch it. Either I watch it before they are in bed or they are off playing and they come back in or whatever and they see it. Now here is the really bad part...they like it. Pretty sure that the language is NOT appropriate for a two and four year old. Or the violence. So, Huntler talks about going to the hop-sit-al {that is how he says it!!} all the time. For random reasons. The other night he was telling Gentry to be careful or she was going to have to go to the hop-sit-al. She replies with, "General Hospital?" I have heard her say it before, several times, but this was the first time Chris has heard her and it cracked him up!!

The Bachelor. Sure sometimes it is downright annoying and ridiculous, but I love it. I have watched every single season but the first one and I am sure I'll continue to do so!! I mean, one of these times really does have to be "THE most dramatic rose ceremony ever," right?!!

This coming Monday is the "biggie" of the season! Jason chooses between Molly and Melissa! I personally like Melissa a bit better! She is so down to earth and seems so sweet! Plus, she is the ONLY one I liked on the first episode and I even told Chris, "My pick for the season is Melissa!" I have gotten it right a few times so let's see if I can do it again!!



I am also pretty hooked on Law and Order SVU, Jon and Kate Plus 8 and Desperate Housewives...but I won't babble on about TV shows anymore!

So this has to be one of my most prized posessions! My camera. I guard it like it is a helpless child! It is always WAY up high on a shelf and out of the reach of curious hands!! If there were ever a fire, my camera would be rescued just as soon as the kids were safe! The computer would be next {although we are now using a system where our stuff is backed up and stored elsewhere so it is safe!!} and then probably all of Gentry's clothes! There is a newer {more expensive} version of the 5D out, but I am so happy with mine!! Although our other camera was wonderful, I was just ready to move on to something with more options and capabilities!



This color of nail polish! I used to paint my nails ALL the time. That was two kids ago. Now it is a rare, rare occasion when they are painted! I am just now finally growing them back out again! After Gentry was born I cut my nails short and have kept them that way this whole time. I don't even know why? But now for some reason I appear to be growing them out again? Anyway, like you even care about any of that nonsense! I use this shade on my toes {a lot} because they are ALWAYS painted! This is such a fun, spring-y color and Gentry loves it as much as I do!



TomKat. For those of you not obsessed with celebs, that would be Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. I love Katie. I have for years...ever since Dawson's Creek. Anyway, now that they have sweet little Suri I am even more intrigued by them. I have no idea why...maybe because she genuinely seems nice. Like the girl next door...just with a superstar for a husband and a megaload of money!! I mean, other than that, she could be you or me!!

I saw this video today while I was checking up on them...it is kinda cute!



Sonic. Need I say more? Give me a Route 44 Cranberry Grape slush and I am good to go!!



And I saved the best for last...my sweets!! This was taken back in August when we were visiting California! I didn't do any editing to it and it was taken in full sun, so it isn't that great, but we have very few family shots and the ones we do have I use on everything so I wanted something different!



And now I am off to see if I can get some stuff done while Gentry is napping and Huntler is fighting hard to stay awake!!

Worker Bee...

So I have spent the entire day working like a crazy girl!! Cleaning and sorting. Mostly sorting although I did run the sweeper upstairs this morning! I kinda had to though...there was an "incident" yesterday involving a large bag of popcorn from the Target snack center and the playroom floor. I am not quite sure who the guilty party is on that one, but it got me motivated to clean up a bit!!

And then the sorting...there has been a massive amount of kids clothing stashed at the back of our closet for weeks...maybe months now. Anyway, it needed sorted and organized so that I could figure out what exactly I am doing with it. Several of you sweet blog readers have expressed interest in both of the kids' clothes. I am just trying to figure that all out. There is SO much. As in four of the HUGE totes full and two laundry baskets. Oodles and oodles of clothing. I am thinking it might be easier/smarter to try to sell what I can to the moms in our playgroup who are interested and then go from there? Unless I just put it in lots and give you a price? Those of you who were interested can shoot me an email on your thoughts!! But for now it is all folded nicely and organized by size and back in my closet again!

While I am on my spring cleaning kick, I am also getting rid of stuff. Some to Craig's List, some to Good Will, some to Ebay even maybe. Here is one of the items that needs a home!!





This is the bumper pad that matches Gentry's bedding set...crib and big girl. We obviously don't have a need for a bumper pad anymore so I am going to list it on Ebay but thought I would see if anyone who stops by here is interested! We aren't ready to part with the matching quilt yet. She uses that and will until we move since we are not planning on buying her big girl furniture until we are back in Kansas.

Anyway, Chris accidentally cut a little hole in it when he was cutting off the tag, but other than that it is in perfect condition. {We just covered it with a stuffed animal since it was in the corner!!} Pottery Barn bumper pads retails for $69 and we are asking $25 for it. Since it is kinda big I am guessing the shipping will be close to $10 or so? Let me know if you are interested!



Sorry it seems as though my posts have been a bit boring lately! I am trying to get rid of things and get organized!! With the reality of my photo biz being just on the horizon, I am feeling this overwhelming need to get everything in order!! All the "piles" dealt with, random items sold or hauled to Good Will...all of that!

Okay...that is my post for today!! Now I am off to get the kids more apples and start sifting through all my photography workshop print outs and getting those organized! I SO love days like this!! The kids have been by my side helping all day and we have really had a wonderful time!

Ta Ta For Now!!

Because I Can't Keep ANY Secrets...

And because I just can't mix something so bright and cheery with something so heartbreaking, I am posting twice this morning.

By now most of you know I am an open book. I have very few things that I refuse to share. That is just me and my personality...always has been and always will be I am sure!! I hate secrets and surprises and think I have to know everything!! So yesterday my logo proofs came. I was SO excited I nearly wet my pants!! This designer TOTALLY nailed it on what is "me!!" I wasn't going to share. I thought I was going to wait until I had decided and then show you the final product. But, I can't wait! I mean, just look at these little bits of happiness and you'll see why!!



Yesterday I was in such a tizzy and so excited I had no clue what I was going to do! This morning I still don't know for sure, but I have had some time to look at them more and of course to sleep on it so things are a bit more clear!! I will be taking bits and pieces and combining them to get the look I want!!

Here is the original logo I had designed. We changed a lot on this one to make it more my style, but it just wasn't working. SOMETHING was missing although I just couldn't put my finger on it!



And now I am off to get ready for the day!! It looks like it is going to be beautiful out and we are going to enjoy it before it starts getting hot!

Frailty

As I sit here bright and early this morning with my favorite girl on my lap, my heart is once again broken. We received an email from some of our dear, sweet friends this morning. An email they certainly didn't want to send and we didn't want to receive. They are about 19 weeks along with their first baby. A baby they love so deeply yet will never get to know. Due to a chromosomal fluke, their baby won't make it, short of a miracle. I ask you each to say a prayer for their miracle and keep them in your thoughts.

The frailty of life has never been so clear as it has to me this past month. I was 23 when I got pregnant with Huntler and was blissfully unaware of how just how many things can go wrong. Things were easy for us. No problems getting pregnant. Other than the normal aches and pains, the pregnancy was easy. Normal delivery. What every parent hopes for and dreams of. We are blessed, so truly blessed. In the chaos of day to day life with cups getting spilled, food getting flung, bedskirts getting cut and powder bottles getting opened and a fine film covering an entire room {all of these have happened}, it is easy to get caught up. To forget to count our blessings. To forget to cherish each phase of childhood and what it brings to our lives.

My heart and mind are so heavy this morning as I think of our friends and how they are picking up the pieces and trying to move forward. I know they read this and I want them to know that they are so very close to our hearts and we are praying for their miracle. We love you both...

A Boy

This one...he is something else for sure! Each day I think he gets funnier! Sassier, but funnier! Tonight he was in prime form and I smile sitting here thinking about his latest antics! Chris was late getting home tonight and when he finally did get here, the kids glued themselves to him! They instantly got louder and more out of control and quite simply, the amount of chaos more than doubled!! And then Huntler began...

He first piped in with a "Trust me." What? Where did he get that from?!! And later he was sitting next to Chris and he said, "I'm a little jealous." He SO did not use that in the right context, but it was cute for sure!! But the funniest was when I took him to bed and was getting him all tucked in for the night. I was reminding him that school was tomorrow and we had a short discussion. And then he starts:

Huntler: Knock Knock

Me: Who's there?

Huntler: Peach

Me: Peach who?

Huntler: Peach Owl Horn

Ummm...okay. He thought it was hilarious though! And then he goes on...NONE of his jokes made one iota of sense, but he was cracking himself up. And me too. This was one of the first times he has ever told jokes before and it was really cute!!

He is a chatterbox these days. Not always so much out and about, but at home for sure! Sometimes I want to scream because he talks.so.much. {Between him and Gentry who is two going on twenty, there is rarely a quiet moment!!} But then I kick myself because what will I do when he is in school 8 hours a day and I don't have my first born here chattering away all day long? We won't go there tonight though...I can feel the tears welling up already just thinking about it!

While so many things are going so well in my life right now, I can't help but feel reflective. I spend so much time thinking of how far we've come. How blessed we are. How much things have changed in such a short time. How we have grown with our kids and how we hope to shape them but how they have in fact shaped us in their short little lives... It is late, I am tired and my emotions are in overdrive right now. I was sifting through iPhoto today and SO many memories flooded my mind. It was a good day, a great day in fact, but definitely one that has me thinking!!

I am off to bed because tomorrow is a school day and those are always crazy! Not to mention I plan to load up my sweet babes and just go play. No camera. No schedule. Just a fun time with 100% of their mama!!

But first I have to say...I got the proofs for my new logo today and this designer nailed it!! She sent me three and I have no idea which one to choose!! She took what I said and truly listened and created something that is 150% me!! I can't wait to share!! Once I decide that is!!

And then the fabulous Sheye Rosemeyer {whose photography and style I absolutely ADORE...so much so that I have taken both of her Eye Candy workshops!!} launched her actions!! I am beyond estatic!! They are very vintage/retro and oh so right up my alley!! I think I bought them like 10 minutes after she posted and I have already played around with the first half of them! There are many more to go, but this girl has gotta get some rest!!

{The above pic of Huntler was edited using her "Honeychild" action!!}

The Results...And More!

So the much awaited winners of the fun hair bow giveaway are in!! Rather than writing down thirty seven names {there were a couple of people who forgot to include their email address in their original comment}, I used a random generator to save myself some time! It was so darn easy and actually kinda fun! I sat there waiting for the numbers to pop up and then counted down the list of comments like I actually stood a chance of winning!!

So here they are...remember the first place winner gets her choice of the bows and then the second place winner chooses from the two remaining items!

The first number to pop up was #10.
It was Michelle at mikala4463@aol.com. Michelle, email me and let me know your choice and your address!! I am making a trip to the post office tomorrow so these will go out then!!

The second number was #2.
Kelly...I will let you know when Michelle decides so you can choose from the remaining two!

The third number was #20.
Jessica...after three boys Jessica is finally having a girl!! I am sure she will be all dolled up all the time!!

So that was fun!! I need to do something like that again before too long!! If you didn't win and you "have" to have something, just shoot me an email at bethany.m.graham@gmail.com. I just made a cute bow last night for a custom order and would love to do more!!

And what is a post without a picture? This one was snapped late last night! The kids were slightly out of control in the bathtub and were in fact "sliding" down the back! I know my mom is cringing as she reads this as she hates it when they even stand up in the tub, but it was hilarious! And no one got hurt!! An entire extra load of laundry was created because there was as much water outside of the bathtub as in it, but this little snapshot is worth it!! I cropped it to keep the Little People zebra in as well as Gentry's puppy in because he is NEVER far from reach!! You can also see a fabric covered button and a little bottle full of rubberbands. Talk about random!! Anyway, this past week they have apparently gotten bored with the regular bath toys because Little People keep finding their way to the bathroom!!



And because I have had so much fun answering all your burning questions...here are the rest of them!

How old am I?

I am 28...I'll be 29 in April.

What is my favorite movie?

Ladder 49. I SOOOOO love that movie. It is one of the few that I could watch over and over and over again. If you have never seen it, you need to. And you will cry...but you'll laugh too! Here is a video clip... {Scroll down and turn off the music on my player at the bottom.}




And the biggie...are we going to have more kids?!

Ohh how I wish I knew the answer to this one! Ask me one day and I say yes, ask me the next and I say no!! I told Chris that if I didn't get pregnant in 2008 we were done. I don't want a huge gap in their ages and Gentry will already be three this July. Well, I lied! But, if we are going to have another, I am pretty set on the fact that we need to get pregnant this year. As in May, June or July so it will be a spring baby and I won't be huge in the summer months down here in this inferno. Plus, I need them somewhat spaced out for my over the top birthday parties!! It is just so hard to decide! Our kids are at such good, easy ages and adding another to the mix would be chaos for sure!! But I KNOW when we are older we will have wished we had a bigger family. So, who knows? I do know we have some DARLING names all picked out and ready to go! And no, I am not sharing! But I will share some other cute ones I have come across recently: Tinley, Keeper and Tapper. I thought those were all so cool!!

Just Curious...

If anyone would be interested in a custom blog design created by moi?! I FINALLY found some digital kit designers who don't charge a commercial license fee! YAY! Anyway, as you know, I love switching my blog up every little bit and thought it would be fun to do it for others!!

It would cost $65 {which includes me purchasing the kit of your choice and then the time to create and install it}. That includes the whole nine yards...custom header, different backgrounds, signature tab, sidebar tabs, etc... Pretty much just like mine since that is what I know! Or I should say my super smart husband knows since he does all the html part!! If you have different wants or needs we could probably figure it out!! {I should also mention that we only know Blogger...I have NO clue how the rest of the sites work!!}

Let me know your thoughts! Either comment on here or shoot me an email at bethany.m.graham@gmail.com!!

I should also put a little disclaimer that this is for PERSONAL blogs only...nothing professional!

I'll be back to announce the giveaway winners tomorrow! But now I am off to make this weekend THE MOST productive I possibly can!

White Balance Gone VERY Wrong!

Our playdate was canceled this morning and because we had to do something, I loaded the kids up and we headed out of our normal stomping grounds for a little bit of location scouting!!

Well, this was after we stopped in at the salon I go to and then popped over to Sonic for some bribery...slushes and tater tots! My models were starving and we can't have hungry kids for a photo shoot!

So everything went PERFECT! I found three great new places to shoot at, got some darling images of the kids, and in the midst of it we had fun! It is nice to get out of the house and go somewhere different sometimes.

All was well until I started uploading my pictures to the computer. Wouldn't ya know that earlier in the week I changed the white balance setting and forgot to change it back? My pictures, every last one of them, is blue. Blue, blue, blue. See?



Thank goodness it was just on my own kids and wasn't a client!! Not that I actually have clients yet, but you know what I mean!! That was a lesson learned the hard way for sure and something I will DEFINITELY remember to check from now on! I rarely even change it but was playing around a few days ago and then forgot to reset it!

I was planning to share more, but I don't have the time to edit them all since they are requiring some extra work and still don't look that great!! But, I have babbled on so much this week that I wanted to post at least a couple in my awesome new locations!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this wall! It is just a foot or two high, but it is so cute and so vintage-y feeling!!

So, do you see Huntler's shirt? It has to be like my favorite shirt of his, ever. It is so big boyish and so darn cute!! {We bought it at Pumpkin Patch for anyone who is wondering!} He seems to like it too! I put it on him last week {when I planned to take him out for photos but got rained out} and he asked if he could wear it to school the next day! Sorry buddy, it is too good to get ruined by red paint!!



And here is another! This place is the one closest to our house {still like 20 minutes away though!} and SO boy! There are all sorts of {huge} dead trees on their sides to climb up and on. I can SO see some shots of a daddy holding his little guy's hand as he helps him balance down the length of the tree! You can bet I will be washing this outfit of Huntler's and loading up our daddy and sweet boy again {and Gentry too} for another trip down there!!

This particular shot is actually in a little cut out of a tree...as in the trunk. SO COOL! While I was somewhat worried about snakes and scorpions at this locale, the real threat was the prisoners!! There is a prison not too far from where we were! And no, I wasn't really worried about an escapee! Chris just mentioned that it was awfully close to the prison when I told him where I was going!



And Gentrini-Beanie. I had to ask the restaurant if I could stick my kids behind the rails to shoot! It was early and there wasn't a soul around so they let me!! They LOVED peeking out of this green gate!!



So there is what we did today! Now I need to get some emails returned and stuff done!! I need this to be a REALLY REALLY productive weekend!!

Making Friends Mondays...The Thursday Version!

Hellloooo!! Chris just took off with the kids to hit up the FedEx location that hasn't gone out yet tonight so I am enjoying a little quiet time for the moment! It is quite a LONG ways away so they won't be back anytime soon...and here I sit pecking away at the keyboard!

First of all...WOWIE CAZOWIE!! {Gentry says that all the time and I just love it!!} Look at all those comments on my giveaway! I LOVE having giveaways because of just that {okay, so this is only my second one, but anyway...}! So many who don't normally comment will for a giveaway and I {loooovvvee} me some comments!!

So for just a tad bit of shopping randomness today! Gentry and I hit up Target while Huntler was at school and guess what I found?! ALL of the Valentine's Day stuff was 75% off!! HOLY COW! We loaded up on another set of placemats for each of the kids, several melamine plates, paper plates and napkins...lots of fun goodies!! I somehow saved $36 and only shelled out $12 on all that fun owl stuff!!

I was up until after 3:00 AM and I am worn out this evening. I have NO idea what my "problem" was last night because normally I can hardly keep my eyes open until 10:00 PM!! I do know that I am paying for it today though!!

Alright, so my friend Julie posted something on her blog today and I am copying it! Don't you just LOVE the blog world? I have made some AMAZING friends out there! Friends I never would have crossed paths with if it weren't for the world wide web and I am so grateful for that! Friends that despite the fact I have never met them for lunch or watched their kids, I totally feel like I could meet them one day and things would be so normal!! Like we had known each other forever!! I have plans of doing just that! Meeting some of these great girls I mean! I met Tonya already and HOPE to meet up with Kamee in March {since I don't drive on the highways I need Chris to be able to take me to her!!} and Julie one of these times with I am out in her neck of the woods before we move back to Kansas! And Lacey? Well, once we are back in Kansas for good or on one of our road trips, I have plans to meet her too!! Has anyone else met a blog friend in "real life?" Just wondering! I find the whole thing fascinating!!

Back to the Making Friends Mondays thing. Remember last week when I asked what you wanted to know about me? Well, this goes right along with that so I am sticking it in for your reading enjoyment!!

1. jog or walk: Walking without a doubt
2. coffee or tea: Iced tea...I have NEVER drank coffee in my life!
3. pepsi or coca cola: Root Beer instead please!
4. flats or heels: Flats...oh my flats!! I didn't even wear heels to my wedding! Or lipstick either!
5. fries or onion rings: Fries most of the time, but I do like Sonic onion rings!
6. cats or dogs: Dogs
7. skim or whole: I don't drink milk, but we buy 2% for the kids!
8. small purses or large: That would be large for sure!!
9. van or suv: I am a minivan mom...I'll admit it!
10. winter or summer: WINTER!!! Have you lived in AZ in the summer?! UGH!!
11. 1 piece bathing suit or 2: Hate this question...hate bathing suits too!! Two piece, but a tankini. No tummy shows!!
12. sit down restaurant or fast food: Sit down restaurant food in the comforts of home!!
13. McDonalds or Burger King: Don't hate me but I actually LIKE McDonald's!!
14. White Gold or Yellow: White Gold
15. Fish or Chicken: Chicken
16. Edward or Jacob: Who?? My husband's name is Chris!!
17. Pizza or Burger: Love them both!
18. apple or orange: Granny Smith apples
19. Spend or save: Ohhh...a toughie!! Or maybe not! Spend!
20. 1 story or 2 story house: 2 story

I'll answer a couple of the questions I got last week too!!

What is my guilty pleasure?

Sweets...any of them!! I am currently HOOKED on Good and Plenty candies. No wonder my jeans were so tight this morning!! I also love love love cherry cheesecake!! Even the Jello No Bake version is delish!!

What do I like to do with my husband or kids?

Hmmm...so let me just say that we live HOURS from our family. Like 18 hours. And although we have a lot of friends out here that I would completely trust with the kids, we never leave them. Ever. So, we aren't big movie goers and we don't go to sit down restaurants very often. Whatever Chris and I do or wherever we go, the kids come along. It was that way before we moved too. I hate to leave them, although I have gotten MUCH better. I mean, spend days on end with no break and you get a lot relaxed, fast!!

So anyway, some of my favorite times are playing games. I LOVE to play Scrabble and Scattergories and other word games {back to my whole almost majored in English thing!}. And I enjoy playing games with the kids too. And they LOVE it!!

Why Huntler and not Hunter?

Contrary to what pretty much everyone we meet thinks when they hear Huntler, it is not a family name!! When we found out he was a boy I started combing through the pages of our baby name book. One day I was laying on the bed scanning the names and it totally jumped out at me! From that point on, it was in the running!! Although Hunter is a great name, it just isn't unique enough for me!! And in case you are curious, the other name at the top of the list was Ryerson. We liked them both but obviously Huntler more!!

What is a "typical" day like for us?

I LOVE this question! Although we don't really have a "typical!" We wake up whenever we happen to wake up. During the summer it is MUCH earlier than it is right now because it gets light before 6:00 during those months! Right now it is still staying dark until close to 7:00 AM. So it is usually after 7:00 before we get up!!

I get up and check my email first thing. And then blogs. And then it just all depends on who is up and what they are doing as to what happens next! Gentry is usually awake at this time and sits on my lap at the computer every morning. Once I am done I'll fix milk and breakfast and bring it up to my room where the kids will watch cartoons while I get ready.

While I am getting ready or once I am done, the kids take baths. They used to get them at night, but now that Huntler is in school, I like him to get all nice and clean in the mornings! And Gentry, well, her hair is so darn crazy that it looks MUCH cuter if she gets it washed in the mornings!!

And from that point on, EVERY day is different. Some days are school days, some are playdates, some we stay home, some we run errands!! I prefer to do all of that in the morning. If we have errands we get them done and out of the way!! If we stay home, then the kids usually play and piddle around while I do laundry, make beds, get organized, that sort of thing.

Gentry still takes afternoon naps so when she is down, that is "my time!" Huntler either watches TV or plays trains. But to be honest, the last few weeks he has actually been napping pretty regularly. It seems that he went on a major eating binge and was eating us out of house and home and is now stocking up on sleep! Can you say growing boy?! So if I am not napping with them, I am usually on the computer wasting time!!

Now that it is warming up some, we need to start heading outside after naps to play and run. We tried this week but we were still freezing!! So we pretty much just hang around and play games, do puzzles, play toys or whatever. Sometimes I play, sometimes I don't. It just kind of depends on how the kids are and if they are terrorizing each other!! From when Gentry wakes up {and Huntler too if he slept!} until the time Chris gets home is my LEAST favorite time of the day. It always has been. I am not really sure why, but those hours just drag by!! It was so nice though back in Kansas because all of our friends and neighbors were out waiting on their daddies too so we could hang out with them and pass the time!!

So Chris gets home. We find something to eat {I am NOT good at all about having meals planned or prepared!!} and then play with the kids, watch TV and just chill out. Once the kids are in bed {we try for an 8:30 bedtime but it varies, especially if Huntler has napped because he isn't tired!} I try to watch General Hospital on DVR, play on the computer and just piddle around!!

And that is a typical day in the life!!

More answers to your burning questions coming soon! And I got completely caught up on emails last night but today I owe several of you! Since I am running on empty you may not hear from me until tomorrow or the weekend!!

It's Time for a GIVEAWAY!!!

WAHOOO!! Are you as excited as I am?! I have been wanting to show a little blog love for forever now and I finally have things together enough in my life to do just that!! So here it is...a fabulously fun {at least I think so anyway!!} giveaway!!

And because I was so excited I didn't stop at just one...there are THREE prizes up for grabs!

So here is the deal. Leave a comment on THIS post...tell me what your favorite thing about my blog is {for example: my shopping finds, my incessant babbling, my photos, party planning chat...whatever}. If you are a newbie, just tell me how you found me!! On Sunday I will draw three names. {Actually, I will probably use some random generator site, but you get the idea!!} The first name chosen gets first choice in what she wants. The second name gets to choose from the remaining two items. And the last one gets whatever is left!!

Wanna see what you could win?! {Just remember that I am NOT so great at taking pictures of "stuff" and a couple of these aren't very sharp!!}

First up is this super cute bowband...complete with a sparkly mushroom charm!! Oh how I LOVE this!! So bright and cheery! Why couldn't I have learned to make these when Gentry was just a tiny little thing?! At least she humors me and loves hair accessories!!



Up next is this set of springy loopy flower bows with shimmery pom poms in the center! I made these after making a set for Gentry last week! These actually have an extra layer of loops so they are even a tad bit bigger! They are mounted on alligator clips.



And last but not least is a set of simple cupcake clips along with a cute cupcake bow!! The clips are single pronged alligator clips lined with black ribbon! The cupcakes were actually push pins that I took the pins off of and adhered {with E6000 adhesive} to clips!!



And this white bow is just that...a cute, shimmery little cupcake bow I made and stuck on an alligator clip!!



You don't have to have a blog to enter, just a valid email so that I can contact you if you win!! Remember the winners will be drawn on Sunday, February 22!!

*And just to add a little disclaimer here! All of these were made with love and are carefully assembled. I use the strongest adhesive out there, but that doesn't mean that a charm can't fall off! Just as with anything, watch your little one with these!!

Lens For Sale...

Hey friends!! I have hopes of getting my fun giveaway posted later today, but for now I am dealing with a terrible headache and can't find it in me to take pictures of the goodies!! So be sure to check back...it IS coming later today or tomorrow!!

However, I have something else I want to post!! I have this lens sitting on a shelf in my closet at this very moment. I just got it for Christmas in 2007. It has barely been used but I am ready to part with it!!



You are probably wondering why? There is NOTHING wrong with it, at all. I seriously used it for about five months and then I took it off and put on a different lens and I just don't want to go back to zoom lenses anymore!! Simple as that!!

As I pursue this love of photography of mine, I plan to stick with Canon products. I also plan to stick with prime lenses {the ones that don't zoom} simply because they tend to be sharper than any type of zoom!!

So there is that!! We paid $500 for it new just over a year ago and it has been used for less than six months. I am extremely careful with everything I own so other than some dust {that any lens is going to have}, it is absolutely perfect.

I am asking $300 for it...but may be open to another offer. You can shoot me an email at bethany.m.graham@gmail.com if you are interested!! I plan to stick it on Ebay if no one is interested, but thought I would give this a try first!

Hope you are all having a great day!!

Opinions {Again} Please!!

So do you like how I am making this so interactive?! Getting everyone's two cents here? One would think I have no opinions of my own, but let me just say that I most certainly do! I am just really, really torn on this!! {Obviously!!}

I just want to make it as perfect as I can and getting some feedback is so vital to that!! However...I must say that I am still having a HUGE debate as far as the whole one blog/two blogs thing goes...despite the fact that counting Chris' vote and my vote, it is an overwhelming nine votes to two to keep two separate blogs!! While everything you all said was very valid and makes total and complete sense to me, for some reason I am hung up on combining them and I just can't shake that thought!!

I guess I feel like I want to know things about the person who is taking my pictures or making me a cute dress on Etsy or designing my Christmas cards. I think putting a face and a personality to that person and realizing that they are in fact real just adds so much. I don't know...I am sure I don't make sense, but oh well!! I truly appreciate your feedback and I'll keep ya posted!! For now I am just leaving things as they are because hello, I don't even have any clients yet!!

So that brings me to my next big decision. While crammed in our queen sized bed early this morning with absolutely NO room to even breathe with a kid on each side of me and Chris just on the other side of Gentry, I lay awake pondering this very subject!! One blog? Two blogs? Pros? Cons? Yadda, yadda, yadda!!

And then it hit me...what if I had a little tag line! Back when I first had my logo created in October the designer asked if I had one. Nope. Just Hissyfits Photography. I have thought of that off and on for some time, but it wasn't until the wee hours of the morning that this came to me! What if I had something like:

Capturing the Sweet Moments
Preserving the Sweetness
Sharing the Sweetness

{In case you didn't know...I am using "sweetness" because of the fact that there will be a lollipop incorporated in my logo and will be my little "trademark" for my business!}

I could go on and on...like "Savoring the Sweetness one Click at a Time." You probably don't know this about me, but I almost majored in English!! You do know that I am wordy beyond belief though so I am sure this comes as no surprise!

Anyway, I am not starting this business to become rich and famous. I am not starting it with the intention of earning a ton of money. For me, it is simply about doing something I absoultely LOVE and sharing it with others. Giving someone a gift that they couldn't give themselves. Capturing a memory and preserving childhood. I mean, if I could make enough to buy more lenses or some riduculously expensive cute clothes, that would be icing on the cake, but mostly it is about having something of "mine" that I truly love. Make sense? So, with saying that, I am not all about being "prim and proper" and extremely professional. That is SO NOT ME!! I am lighthearted, energetic, cheery and I want everything about each aspect of it to reflect just that.

So...back to my original point here. Does anyone have any thoughts for a fun tag line? I haven't had much time to think about it and just wanted to know your thoughts on what I have come up with so far or if anything came to you!!

Thanks again for all of your input!! It is really fun to see what others think!! It is easy for me to get caught up in my own thoughts and then I feel like I might be overlooking something!

And on that note, I am off!! Huntler is at school and Gentry girl is passed out on the floor beside me!! Apparently she doesn't sleep as well crammed in our bed either!!

Decisions, Decisions...A Little Help Please!

So it has been one of those days, ya know? The kind where you seem to go in circles in every single aspect of your life? Please tell me I am not the only one who is like this!

Although I spent hours last week cleaning, the weekend "happened" and I was once again forced to spend a good chunk of my morning getting things put away and the house straightened up...again. I have come to believe that the whole concept of "Having the Best of Both Worlds" with an immaculate house AND well behaved, content children is all just an illusion! So, while my kids currently giggle away while playing on my bed and a whole mess of crayons, princess panties and pajama pants litter the floor beside me, I am going to pretend it isn't there and type!!

It has also been one of those days where I have been doubting every single thing about myself and my capabilities. As I have spent just a little time working on my website and looking at tons of photographers sites for pricing ideas and all of that, I wonder if I am even good enough to do this? Will people actually pay me to take their pictures?! I broke down and started crying to Chris at lunch time...he of course says all the "right stuff" but he has to, doesn't he?! He then told me I needed to take a nap and left to go back to work! :)

So enough of my pity party...I have a question for you guys...whomever you are that check in on my sweet family!! I am in the process of figuring out my photography website and blog situation. Either I am totally overthinking it or it is easier said than done. It could be either or a little bit of both!!

I have a website already...it is far from being "done," but I have it. The question is, do I create a separate blog for Hissyfits...as in client images only? Or do I take the blog I have and have it reformatted into Typepad or Wordpress {I can't remember...but I won't be doing it so it is okay!!} and have one blog that incorporates my personal stuff and professional stuff and that is all linked to my Hissyfits website? {I would have it reformatted so that I don't lose my last year of blogging.} Or do I leave it how it is and put client images on my current blog? AHHH!! Anyway, I have gone back and forth for the last several days and each time I think I decide, something changes my mind!

Let me just share with you a little of what I have been thinking and maybe someone out there will have more to add?! I am surely overlooking something in this!!

If I keep my Little Graham Crackers blog and create a new business one, then there are two places to check in. Kind of a pain if you ask me. Several photographers do it this way, but I have a whole lotta blogs I check every couple of days or so {as you can see from the sidebar!!} and adding in extras isn't always the most convenient.

Also, if I keep Little Graham Crackers and have a separate Hissyfits blog, there will be like nothing on it until I get going with this and who knows how long that will take!! I would be so sad if I had this cute little blog and NOTHING on it!!

Now, if I combine them, the only drawback I am seeing is the fact that I have to do something with the tons of links on my sidebar!! That is how I see who has updated so I don't really want to get rid of it!! In my opinion it just isn't that professional looking to have all that on the side of business blog. And plus, I want my photography blog to have one large column so I can make the pictures even bigger!!!

Chris thinks that I won't like having just one blog through Hissyfits because then I won't be able to redo the design {because I am going to be paying someone to create a super fun, whimsical look for my Hissyfits blog} and we all know how much I like to redo the design every few months!

Ay, ay, ay...I have no idea what to do. I have my thoughts but I am curious as to what others think? As in YOU!!! So let me know!! In the meantime I will continue to fret about it and go back and forth until I am blue in the face!!

All Grown Up...

I am really having fun with this weekly photo challenge that Brittany over at 4 Little Men and Girly Twins is doing! Since I haven't kept up with my whole "Flashback Friday" thing for the last several months {I can't even remember the last time I did it to be truthful!}, I enjoy taking these little treks down memory lane each week!

And this week it is actually a decent photo! So here is the third image in my January 2007 folder!



This was taken in Gentry's room before we even got it painted!! Huntler was two years and three months and she wasn't even six months old yet!!

And here was the very next one...



And a couple more from that month that I really like!!





What I am trying to figure out though is what in the world happened to my babies?!! They are so grown up these days, both of them. Other than her binky, there is nothing baby left about Gentry and Huntler outgrew his baby face long ago. Hmmm...so sad!!

On a cheerier note, have you seen that Target has Smurfs?!! I about wet my pants I was so excited Friday when I was in there!! I wanted one of everything!! And just to clarify, that would be for me, not the kids. They don't have a clue who the Smurfs even are, but oh how I adored them when I was a kid!! I remember so vividly the little plastic characters we had and playing with them at my grandma and grandpa's farm. Gosh that was a long time ago!!





I did exert some self control...I walked away with a mere six characters instead of all of them. And the cute little mushroom houses were still sitting on the shelf when I checked out! They didn't have either of the above pieces in the store but they sure are cute, aren't they?! I guess in my "old age" I forgot that Smurfs lived in mushrooms? EEK!! Fits right in with my current mushroom obsession!! Do you think it would be a bit odd for me to ask for them for my birthday in April considering I am going to be 29?!!

And speaking of Target {okay, yeah so that was five minutes ago, I know!!}, have you checked out their baby bedding lately?! They have done a little bit of rearranging at ours and it is all now on an end aisle, so I walked right by it. I never look at that stuff anymore since we don't have babies and aren't having one anytime in the near future! But goodness it is CUTE!!

So this next picture is the stuff I REALLY love, but since I won't be getting it anytime in the next life, I have moved on. I mean, really, the $90 it would cost for the sheet set alone is totally absurd. I could buy a new lens with the money it would cost to buy new bedding in! Had we not already spent a small fortune in Pottery Barn bedding that hasn't even been used yet, it would be a different story. But considering that just across the way over in Gentry's room there is a super cute full sized quilt and some fun decorative pillows and shams still in their original packaging, we are keeping what we have. {My financial planner of a husband brought me back down to reality on that subject!! Although...when we move back to Kansas, I want to change things up again!!}



And this is the bedding we have. She has the matching stuff for her crib...the bumper pad and comforter. We are no longer using the bumper pad {obviously!}, but now that we have converted the crib to a little toddler bed, she uses the comforter for every nap and every night!!



And this is the sheet I bought at Target. Sheesh, I managed to get WAY off topic and babble on forever here!! Anyway, the sheet is darling and goes perfect with her little quilt and the colors in her room! And most of all, she loves it! It makes her smile and giggle!! And it was only $10.99...not an arm an a leg! So, I guess there are benefits to leaving her in that little bed for a bit longer, we can still shop in the baby section!! The funny thing is, I haven't bought a sheet for her since she was just a couple of months old...this entire time she has had a solid pink sheet and a solid green sheet! Why didn't I think to look sooner!?



Alright, well, we are going to a birthday party here in just over an hour so I should go put some makeup on and try to look presentable! And even though the stinkin' Wii Fit told me I have gained FIVE pounds since my last workout {which was over a month ago!}, I am looking forward to some yummy cake! But seriously, FIVE pounds? How is that even possible? I must have been having a super skinny day the last time I weighed and not such a skinny day yesterday. Blah.

Enjoy your weekend!

{Happy Heart Day!}

So these are the Valentine's I made for the kids...so completely different than anything they have ever had!! SO fun though too!! I had them printed using a pearl finish and they are all shimmery!

For my train obsessed boy...



And the back...



Gentry's...I should have changed the "I Love You" on hers to pink. It doesn't show up that well on the printed copies. Lesson learned for the next set of cards I create!



And the back...



Since we had our Valentine's Day playdate yesterday I now have an idea of how many of these I have left so a few of you may receive a set of these cuties in the mail next week! Sorry they'll be late!!

And since I finally have the time to sit at the computer for a bit...how about I answer a few of those burning questions ya'll had for me!!

Alright...so what did I do BEFORE the sweet Huntler entered our lives?

When I graduated from college I moved to Kansas City where I worked with kids in foster care {Chris was already there...he graduated six months before I did}. My degree is in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. Anyway, I was what you call a "Family Support Worker" and that title covers all sorts of things! One of the major things I did was to supervise visits between parents and kiddos. These were kids who had been taken out of their homes for a large number of reasons and their parents were not allowed to be alone with them. I also checked up on kids at school, in their foster homes, sporting events, etc. And then there was the transporting of kiddos too! If a child would come into "the system" there were times I had to take them to their new home {this is EXTREMELY hard on the child as you can imagine which makes it EXTREMELY hard on anyone with a heart as well}, there were mental health appointments {obviously some of these guys had some issues and needed counseling as well as meds for ADD so they had to be seen regularly} and just random other situations as well. And then there was paperwork! Tons and tons and tons of documentation and paperwork!

So there is that...I only lasted eleven months. I went to work in May after I graduated and quit the following April. For several reasons...like SO many people warned me, I got burnt out. It is emotionally exhausting to see innocent little people {some weren't innocent...they were runaways and troublemakers, but most were!} go through so much. The days were long...often longer than 8 hours yet it was a salaried position. That salary was LOW! And you had to be on call. I hated that. I distinctly remember one night a kid ran away and was taken to downtown KC to be held and have a psychiatric evaluation. I had to load up in the freezing cold and drive all that way BY MYSELF into the ghetto in the middle of the night. Not safe or fun. At all.

We weren't even married yet, but I quit. I mean, we had obviously talked about it and my puny little salary wasn't needed, so I put in my two weeks and haven't had a job since. Well, I have done some work for Chris and his company but not since having kids...that was when I was pregnant with Huntler. I pitched in and helped during tax season.

So there is that...far more detail than you wanted I am sure!! It is kinda fun for me to go back down memory lane though!! There are a few of those kids whom I still think about from time to time...they were so troubled yet wanted so desperately to go home because despite the drama that surrounded them, their mom was still their mom and they still loved her.

What does my husband do?

Keeping along the same lines here, I'll give ya a little more insight!! Chris and a business partner have their own financial planning service. They have offices in Kansas as well as out here in Arizona.

How is Hissyfits Photography coming along?

It is coming...just SLOWLY!! Much, much slower than I anticipated. Part of that is my fault, part of it is from being gone for four weeks recently, part of it is just from having two young kids and not having the time/energy to put towards it that I have wanted to! Anyway, I FINALLY have our house all cleaned and whipped back into shape so I can focus on it this week! I now want to change my logo which is causing Chris to probably want to strangle me so things are still in progress!!

Will I have a new site for that?

I actually already have the domain and the VERY BASICS have been played with on that website, but it is far from done! FAR FROM DONE!! I contacted a lady this week who's work I love and got some information from her regarding my website and blog. I'll be sure to keep you all posted!!

Have I thought about starting a party planning business?!

Yes, yes, yes!! I have saved everything from the kids' parties {from extra plates to decorations to links to where I bought stuff!} in case I ever feel so inclined!! I LOVE the details about their parties! However, I am not sure how realistic it is to think that someone would pay for those kind of services? I know they do as there are businesses out there that do this very thing, but I am not sure if it is worth the time and effort? However, I am not parting with anything yet!!

What am I doing with the kids' clothes that they have outgrown?!

Well, sweet Trish actually said if she ever has another girl she wants some of Gentry's clothes so I tweaked it just a bit! Actually, we are getting rid of everything. I have sold heaps and piles and still have three totes and two laundry baskets FULL of their stuff. Are you kidding me?!! Some of it is organized, some of it not, but if you have a little one and want some clothes that are in great shape and super cute, let me know and we can chat!! I would much rather take pics and sell it to a blog reader than try to organize it all and mess with Ebay!! One of my goals for this week is to get it all folded and sorted and organized.

Do we have any pets?

Nope! I am not so much into animals. I never really have been. And the kids are beyond terrified so it works out well! Sometimes I think it would be fun to have a cute little puppy, but then the reality of it peeing on our stuff, having to take it on walks in the 115 degree heat and just all the work when I already clean up after three other people on a daily basis hits me and I am good without one!! I would rather have another baby!!

And on that note, I am out of here on this Valentine's morning! Hope you all have a great one!

So Much To Say...

So I started to post yesterday...I really and truly did, but the words were not coming easily {or at all for that matter!} so I deleted the entry and nixed the idea. Ever have days like that?

The first part of my day yesterday was absolutely crazy...as in drop Huntler off at school, run a couple of errands, go back to Huntler's school to take pics and help with his Valentine's Day party and then meet a friend at the McDonald's Play Place for lunch. We didn't get home until 2:00 PM! Just in time to put Gentry down for a nap and then snuggle with Huntler for a bit...which resulted in nice long naps for both of us too!! Ahhh how I love a good nap every now and again!

That pretty much sums up our day...or at least most of it. Chris had to work late so after the kids and I ate dinner we hung out downstairs for awhile. And that is when I got the call. The call that caused my heart to sink to my stomach and for my ability to focus to completely vanish. It was Lisa and they were on their way to the nearest children's hospital with sweet Avery to undergo a CT scan and try to get some answers as to why she had such a horrible day yesterday {hysterical screaming, vomiting, fainting}. This was after they had already spent hours at their local hospital while she had blood drawn and a variety of others things done. Anyway, after I heard the words "air lift" and "she is stabilized so we are going to drive her instead" I pretty much wasn't even sure what was going on because the emotion overcame me. I just knew that is wasn't good and my heart was breaking for them. Why is life so unfair? Why are all these babies so sick and suffering so much?

Anyway, after one LONG night in the ER they are home with no more answers than they went in with. The doctors were able to rule many things out, but unable to determine what exactly is going on. I can only imagine the frustration they must be feeling.

I talk about Lisa all the time, but I don't go into the details of Avery's diagnosis much. She suffers from TS and constantly battles seizures...not to mention the numerous tumors on her brain and in her little body. On her carepage {besides having a blog, Lisa also has a carepage set up where she updates people a little more on the medical aspect of what is going on with Avery} she mentioned today that it can't be easy being her friend. That you never know when you are going to get a frantic call that really doesn't make much sense. Well Lisa, I want to say to you that that's what friends are for...standing by your side during the good and the bad. I wouldn't consider myself a true friend if I turned my back because things weren't always "easy." True friends are there for listening to latest reports from the doctors. As well as listening to what pieces of the new Gymobree line you bought or the ideas you have in mind for Kaylen's next birthday party! For crying when there is nothing else we can do. For caring as if it were our own child. For laughing in the good times. For relishing in the milestones. For discussing Katie Holmes' latest hair style and what in the world The Bachelor is thinking! The good, the bad, the ugly...that is what friends are for. I am beyond blessed to not only have you in my life, but your sweet family as well. We love you guys dearly and can't wait for the day we are back in Kansas and can call this long distance relationship quits!!

So that is my post for today...I simply want to tell my dear friend how much she is loved despite the chaos that sometimes consumes her days! And I also want to ask each of you to keep sweet Avery in your thoughts and prayers...she could really use them right now.

And that is it for today...this post has been on my mind all morning and something I really wanted to share! I PROMISE to be back this weekend with the "first installment" of answers to some of your questions! As well as an update on my loopy bow giveaway! {I made a set but just wasn't loving them so I decided to keep them and start all over!!} Anyway, my inbox is overflowing so I am going to return a few emails and then I HAVE to get back to work on this house! Why does it take SO long to clean?!!

Just Saying...

Just saying that I am on one of my "kicks" again and in order to actually be productive, I am kicking myself off of the computer! So far this morning {it is 9:30 AM here} I have two loads of laundry going, the playroom dusted and vacuumed and three colors of paint touched up...I am on a roll! You certainly can't tell I have done anything though and that is why I am banning myself from surfing the web in my down time for the next two or three days...I HAVE to get this house whipped into shape so I can focus on my photography biz as well as my sewing projects!

So, since I seemed to have found my groove again with updating {after like 7 weeks of chaos things are finally calm in my life!!}, I still want keep up with that, but other than that and returning some emails, I have to take a time out!!

So, that is my story!! {I plan to start answering some of those fun questions you left tomorrow in case you are wondering!} And since I hate posting without a pic of some sort, here is one to make you smile. Every family has one...a nose picker that is! Who's yours?! At least she is a cute nose picker!!



By the way mom, see that little table? The one you got Chris for Christmas? He LOVES that thing! It has a permanent home on his side of the bed!

Coming Together For Cora...

A couple of weeks ago when I first blogged about Cora, I had no idea how her story would unfold. I had hope and faith that she would overcome the challenges she had been dealt, beat the cancer and live a long life full of love and beauty. But it appears that God has other plans for Cora...

I am simply overwhelmed by the amount of love I see pouring out of people all over the country in honor of this sweet girl and her family. Strangers, complete strangers, who are sharing her story, opening their hearts and giving of themselves. It reminds me that despite the unfair circumstances and the harsh world we live in, there is good out there. A lot of good. Like so many, I never met Cora. I didn't fall in love with that beautiful little chubby cheeked girl until word of her cancer spread. I know for one, I will never be the same. Ever.

My heart continues to break for her family. Tears flow again as I type this. I haven't been able to get them off my mind since she first entered the hospital, but the last few days the McClenahan's have been weighing on my mind and heart so heavily. My mind will continue to drift to Kansas today as they celebrate the all too short life of their baby girl. I hope they are able to find comfort in each other and their faith as they face what is sure to be one of the hardest days they have ever had to endure. Oh how my heart breaks for them...

I am amazed at all of the posts I have seen on this little beauty. The way the blog world has come together in support of this family simply leaves me speechless. The people out there posting notes of love and remembrance, of hope and encouragement. Heaven sure got one loved little Cora Paige on Sunday.

My friend Julie is putting her amazing talent to use in such a great way. She is making headbands and pins in honor of Cora and selling them in her Etsy shop. All proceeds go directly to the construction of the Cora Playground in Cora's hometown.







The first picture is of the original fabric Julie chose in honor of Cora. So many people are showing their love and support that she sold out of them!! I missed out on getting the original, but I did manage to get a butterfly headband for Gentry. Each and every time she wears that headband I will be reminded of Cora, her journey, her family. I will be reminded to cherish each and every moment I am given with those I love the most for you see, each day is a gift, not a guarantee.

I just wanted to share this for those of you who would like to do something in memory of Cora. Go buy a headband or pin or donate to the playground fund.

Smiles!

So I mentioned yesterday I was working on some fun loopy bows for my girl!! I was a wee bit discouraged last night because they just seemed kinda funky and imperfect, but today I attached all the layers and added shimmery pom poms to the centers and I am LOVING these things!! As in LOVING LOVING them!! They may be the easiest bows I have EVER made!! And since I'll be glued to the TV tonight watching The Bachelor anyway, I am pretty sure I'll be working on another set!!



And since every other idea I have had for a giveaway has fallen through {I wanted to do a bow board but couldn't figure out how to mail it!! And then I thought I would do a free blog makeover but I am having MAJOR issues getting permission to use kits so that is nixed!}, I think I'll just create a set of these to giveaway to one of my sweet readers!!

More on that once I get them made!! So stay tuned!!

And in case you are wanting a yummy, easy supper idea, try this!! Lisa made it and they LOVED it so I made it and we LOVE it as well! You just can't beat tasty AND easy!! Especially on a cool, rainy evening!!

Okay, Chris should be home any minute with our salad so we can attempt to be healthy yet again! Our goals for the new year went out the window when we trekked back to Kansas for two weeks!!

And don't forget to leave a comment on the post below this one! There are already a few and they made me smile!! This is going to be FUN!

Randomness...Ask Me Anything!!

Well, I missed 4 Little Men and Girly Twins Random Picture Challenge #4 but here I am for #5!!

Here it is...the 5th picture from the end of my March 2008 folder!



Yes, my kids are running around in swimsuits with water balloons in March...that is how warm it is here people!! Crazy!!

So, in keeping with all things random today, does anyone out there have any random things they are just dying to know about me?!! Give me some ideas for some posts!! Although very few of you leave comments, I know you are popping in!! I have a tracker and it emails me each and every Monday with the previous weeks stats!! Ah ha...bet ya didn't know that, did ya?!!

I have had one random question that I'll go ahead and answer to get your creative juices flowing!!

Where did Gentry's name come from?

Well, let me just tell ya where Gentry's name came from! My parents were at one of my brother's college wrestling matches and my mom overheard it there. Talk about random!! Since we like to chat about unique baby names, she of course shared it and I loved it so much I made her promise not to tell anyone else! See, I have this "thing" about having super unique names! Anyway, at the time she heard it Huntler was still a little guy and I wasn't even pregnant. When I found out we were having a girl, I started to really focus on girl names! {I say "I found out" because Chris didn't know until she was born what we were having!!} We had it down to Pfeifer and Gentry. Chris thought if we were to have a Pfeifer she would be ornery...little did he know! Our Gentry is SUPER ornery!! So, that is the story on that! Her middle name is Noel. I have always loved "Noelle" but when we chose to go with it we changed the spelling in order to kinda name her after Chris' grandparents' Christmas tree farm which was called Noel.

So...let me have it people!! What MUST you know?!!

Now I am off to fix some milk and find a snack for my growing boy! He is eating us out of house and home these days!! He has got to be in the midst of a major growth spurt!!!

Memories...

Today has been one of those days...the kind where the tears fall freely and are never really far from the surface. The kind where you question. The kind that is filled with sadness and hurt. The kind that leaves you hugging your kids a little tighter and reflecting on years gone by.

It has just been a day. I never did get out of my jammies. Never attempted to put my contacts in or an ounce of makeup on. Although I did brush my teeth, my hair is a wreck and I would be traumatized if someone showed up at our door today!

As I sit here tonight it is nearly 11:00. Huntler is still wide awake and getting in bed to snuggle with Chris as I type {he rarely takes naps but happened to have a late one today}. While we were in Kansas for those two weeks, we each slept with one of the kids. Huntler is having a REALLY hard time adjusting back to sleeping in his own bed and has wound up with us every single night since we got home! As frustrating as it is at 4:00 AM to have absolutely NO space to move a muscle, I know that this phase will pass all too quickly and my little man will no longer need the comforts of mom and dad in the wee hours of the morning. And then I will be sad...

I will miss the morning times of snuggles and laughter. The tickles and the giggling that fill the room as the four of us cuddle in the safety of our queen sized bed...tucked away from the harshness and reality of the real world.

Being the day of reflection that it has been, we just took a little trip down memory lane...Huntler and I that is. Looking back at pictures of him as a baby and a little guy. He still is a little guy, my little guy, but he is so grown up. When did that happen? And how did I miss it? Where are the chubby cheeks and the rolls on his thighs? What happened to the diapers and onesies?

They have been replaced by a skinny, train obsessed, school attending big boy who although loves us all dearly {he tells us so NUMEROUS times a day and has a colossal meltdown if he thinks that one of us is going to get left behind}, is gaining independence each and every day.

Tears once again are falling freely as I flash back on the last four and a half years of my life. The memories, the smiles, the trials, the challenges, the happiness, the love. I am far from a perfect mom, I will openly admit it. Sometimes my priorities get a little out of whack. Sometimes I lose my temper and react more abruptly than is necessary. Sometimes I feed my kids Cheetos and pop for lunch. Despite my many flaws, I love my kids more than life itself and can't fathom a second of my life without either one of them.

They each bring something so different to my days. Huntler is our grounded one. The serious, thoughtful, overtly lovey one. He is quiet, content. Gentry is our sassy one. The funny, challenging, free spirited little girl who has a mind of her own and opinions galore.

I mentioned the other day that I was working on a post about Huntler. I post SO much of Gentry that I don't want anyone to think I never take pics of my little guy! He just happens to be at school a lot of the time I get the camera out. And when he's home, he is usually not so much into having his picture taken and flashes that cheesy, fake smile we all know so well!

Here are a few that caught my eye tonight as we were looking back on years gone by...

Here we are at Thomas the Train in July of 2005!! Maybe we started this train obsession way back when?



And again in June of 2006...I LOVE this shot!! Look how little, cute and chubby he was. Why does time go by SO fast?



And this was August of 2006...he was just shy of turning two. We were at the county fair in my hometown. Gentry was just a couple of weeks old and our move was just around the corner. It was hot. I was tired. I remember breaking down and crying my eyes out while talking to friends my parents. It was such a crazy time in our lives...



And here are a few from last week. I had hopes of getting some cute shots with Huntler and his trains for his Valentines, but the grass was wet and he wasn't wanting to lay quite like I wanted him to so I didn't push it. But I got these images I absolutely love!!







And on that note I am signing off for the night! I did manage to get the dress done I was making {but somehow bent ANOTHER needle!!} and have since started on some fun loopy bows!! I think I'll go work on those some more!! Anyway, I'll post pics when I get my model out and have the chance to photograph her in her happy new dress!! We could all use the smiles!

Beautiful Cora

The instant I was made aware of sweet Cora and her story, I fell in love. I have been following along and checking in on her each and every day since her journey began. Sweet Cora went to heaven this morning. So young, so tiny, so beautiful. My heart absolutely aches for her parents, her family and their friends.

Say a prayer and keep them in your thoughts these next few days. This is something no parent should ever have to experience...

I {Heart} These Two...

Today was one BUSY day! We had "plans" to stay home most of the day and each work on various projects, but here it is after 9:30 PM and none of my projects have even been looked at! What started out as taking the car to get serviced and then going to a birthday party turned into errands all over the place! Oh well...we had a fun time and got to spend the day together so I can't complain! And, the kitchen is clean and the laundry is underway so tomorrow SHOULD be more productive! It is supposed to be cloudy and dreary which is "my" kind of weather so it promises to be a good one! I may even stay in comfy clothes all day and drink hot chocolate and listen to my favorite songs on my playlist while working away! We'll see...

Thank you to those of you who offered your kind advice on my sewing machine catastrophe yesterday!! It was all me. Not that I am one bit surprised by that, but after I posted yesterday I did a little more investigating and found the problem. My needle was bent and kept getting hung up. Apparently you are NOT supposed to pull the fabric taut as you feed it through but simply guide it!! Lesson learned! I still have not replaced the needle because I couldn't get it out, but that is first on the list for tomorrow! I can't wait to finish up those dresses!!

The first errand on the list this morning was for the boys to get hair cuts. I had Chris drop Gentry and me off about a block away in this green grassy area so I could "play" with my camera while they were at the barber.

Here is a sneak peek at our girl...oh how I {LOVE} this image of her! It is right up there in my faves!!



And because Gentry was finished with our shoot long before I was, we headed over to check on the boys. And this is what I found! For some reason Huntler was having a really rough time today and this guy was hurting him! He kept grimacing and mumbling and just was totally uncomfortable the entire time!

We had to laugh. I mean, it was funny despite the fact that Huntler was obviously NOT enjoying himself!! He NEVER complains when getting his hair cut so something was definitely off today!!

For some reason whenever I think of barber shops I automatically think of black and white and grainy!! I edited this one completely differently than I normally do but it just seems to fit so well!



I have a whole post coming up on this guy but I want to wait and do it when I am not worn out!!

Hope everyone out there in blog land is having a wonderful weekend!!