Baby shower invitations...

My good friend Julie (aka Shanulie...if you watch Glee you might get that:) asked if I would make baby shower invitations for her friend Lani's shower. Of course I said yes, and here they are...

I really tried to come up with something that didn't use my favorite onesie stamp...but as you can see the onsie won out again. It's just such a great stamp to use on patterned paper and it's not the typical rattle or baby bottle that you usually see on invitations. Julie liked the finished product, and hopefully Lani will too.

I liked how all of the colors came together. Apparently these are the colors that Lani will be using when decorating her little boy's room. I like breaking away from the baby blue that everyone associates with having a boy.

Well, that's all for now...

Great kids...

Although I do have a post I'm wanting to do about the holidays...I had to share this story that made me smile yesterday morning.

As I was in the shower getting myself ready for the day Logan, Frank, Claire, and Mary Kate emerged from their rooms. They all stopped by our bathroom to say good morning then headed downstairs.

After I was all ready I headed downstairs to the kitchen to make sure Logan was eating and to begin making his lunch. When I walked into the kitchen all 4 of the kids were seated around the table eating their breakfast...but the biggest surprise was that Mary Kate was locked and loaded into her chair, with her bib on, eating breakfast...all things which she (at 22 months) cannot do on her own.

I asked Logan, Frank, and Claire how Mary Kate got in her chair and Claire explained...Logan lifted Mary Kate into the seat, she (Claire) got the tray and the bib so that Logan could put them on Mary Kate, and Frank got her a Pop Tart. Logan then said, "Well, I heard her belly growling so we fed her." Nothing could have been sweeter...

New Year Resolutions...

With 2011 quickly approaching I've thought a lot about what I'd like to accomplish in the new year. I want to put my goals out there because too many resolutions are made like they are birthday wishes..."I can't tell anyone or they won't come try"...but the reality of it is, if I don't tell anyone I can't be held accountable if I don't follow through. Like my friend John said to me one time, "Shane, I'm tired of you telling me what you might do...just do it!" So, with that said...here they are:

1.) I'm going to run the Flying Pig again this year. I ran it once (before kids) in 2002...and I really miss that feeling of training for something big...the checking off the miles on your training schedule, and then the actual race! Since Jeff is on a quest to run a marathon in every state I think it's contagious...not the every state part, but the running:)

2.) I'm going to get my website up and running in hopes that my passion for making cards might make a little money. This idea started brewing this summer, but with the upcoming arrival of a new baby, my mind (and time) was elsewhere. I have friends and family that have the know how to help me make this happen...I have to "Just do it!"

3.) I'm going to get (at least) one of my creations published in a magazine! Well...I'm going to get a little bit more serious about it and hopefully something will get noticed. In the past I would submit something here or there...but I think one of the the keys to getting published is to put more out there...let your name and work be seen more often.

So, there they are...short and sweet! As the year progresses I'll be sure to post updates on how things are going...but also, I want to be asked how they are going...that's the whole point of putting it out there. Wish me luck!

Monogram note cards as gifts...

If you are like me as the years progress your list is growing longer and longer with the need for those little random gifts for classroom teachers, dance teachers, Sunday school teachers, bus drivers, the mailman, the sitters, neighbors, etc.

When my list first started to grow (Logan's first year of preschool) I wanted to get something for these wonderful people that was thoughtful, as well as useful, yet didn't cost a fortune because I already had a long list of gifts I needed to buy for immediate family and friends. Well...that's when I started making monogrammed note cards for these special people in our lives. It was something that was useful (who doesn't need a random note card at some point...and you feel like the large yellow post-it isn't fancy enough...haha:) and the fact that I was personalizing it with their initial and making the myself...well, I thought that covered thoughtful.

Last year I branched out and offered to make these note cards for friends and family members in need. So, with that all said...that is what I'm doing again this year. If you need a quick personalized gift, with a quick turn around time, I can help you out. Here is what I have to offer..

6 ~ (4"x5.5" ) silver and white folded note cards with white envelopes, silver embossed initial and embellishments, packaged in a clear box, tied with a red ribbon and festive tag ~ $8.00

(gold and cream can be substituted for silver and white)

6 ~ (5"x7") lavender, brown, and white flat note cards with lavender envelopes, brown stamped initial, brown satin and sheer ribbon, packaged in a clear bag, tied with a red ribbon and festive tag ~ $10.00

(sage green and light blue can be substituted for lavender)

I know I'm a little late in putting this offer out there, but with each set only taking 20-30 mins. to complete, I am confident that I can get things done. So, please let me know if you are interested in any note cards for those special people that made your list this year:)

PS - Also, please know that if there is something custom you would like done...I aim to please:)

More thank you notes...

So, I've exhausted my supply of baby thank you notes therefore more had to be made. Sometimes when I have a design that I like...I can't stop production:) I start with the color of the card, then hunt down paper, and then next thing I know it's as if my scrap booking supplies have blown up and I now have 50 cards made. Anyway...I thought I'd share some of the cards I made. Definitely more girly...
Well, that's all for now...off to feed a hungry baby:)

Keeping the Tooth Fairy in business...

Two weeks before we were scheduled to have Emily, Logan had some teeth issues. Apparently a filling had cracked and an infection had set in. He was complaining somewhat that his tooth hurt but I didn't take him seriously until he came home from school one day with a swollen cheek (it looked like he had a piece of hard candy in his mouth). The two solutions were to pull the tooth (but then we would be dealing with spacing issues for the next 2-3 years until the permanent tooth came in) or have a kiddie root canal. We went with option #2. Logan has recovered fine...but as a Mom I'm wondering what I can do better to make sure this doesn't happen again. Needless to say...I've been on high alert about my kid's teeth.

While we were in the hospital (after having Emily) I asked Jeff if he noticed that a gap was starting to form on the bottom row of teeth in Frank's mouth. Not thinking this could be a loose tooth...I assumed the worst.

When we arrived home from the hospital we come to find out that Logan has lost his second tooth and that gap in Frank's mouth was a loose tooth hanging on by a thread. Needless to say...the Tooth Fairy paid out big at our house that week. Logan got $1 for his tooth and Frank got $5 for his first tooth (FYI - 20 quarters is not the same in the eyes of a 5 year old as a 5 dollar bill...rookie mistake:)

Regardless...each of the boys were eager to share the news with anyone who would listen...Frank especially. Frank had to call my parents immediately. The next morning he got himself dressed right away so that he could show the neighbor kids at Logan's bus stop his missing tooth. He is very proud!

So, here's my question...at what age do we stop paying for a child loosing a tooth? Seriously...I now have 5 kids (20 teeth currently in Logan, Frank, and Claire's mouths...MK is not far behind...and I can't stop the growth of teeth in Emily's mouth:)...that could end up being a lot of cash...hahaha! I guess when the jig is up about Santa we'll break the news about the Tooth Fairy:) Anyway I size this up...we may have to start a "Tooth Fairy" savings account:)

Well, that's all for now...

It's a GIRL!

Emily Christine

8 pounds and 6 ounces

21 inches long

Last Thursday we welcomed our 5th child into the world! Although our c-section time kept getting pushed back (apparently women were coming in left and right in labor) Emily arrived with ten fingers, ten toes, and a beautiful head of red hair! She is as healthy as you could wish for...we couldn't be more blessed!

We had several visitors come to the hospital but I have to say the funniest bunch of visitors were our kids. Jeff picked Logan, Frank, Claire, and Mary Kate up one evening (to relieve my parents who had been staying with the kids while we were in the hospital) to see their new sister. Of course as they enter the room I was nursing Emily...which then lead to a ton of questions...my favorite compliments of Frank (of course), "Why do you feed her out of that? (as he lifted up his shirt and points to his own nipple) Awww...curious little minds:)

They were all eager to hold her and complained when their turn was up. Even Mary Kate wanted in on the action. We did manage to get a pretty good group photo...

I have to share some of the gifts we received...edible bouquets! They were a huge hit with the kids!

We are now home and everyone is adjusting well to our newest addition. The kids are all still eager to hold Emily whenever possible...and I must say (knock on wood) she has been extremely kind on me and Jeff in terms of eating and sleeping. We are not the zombies we were anticipating when bringing a new born home. Here's praying that Emily continues in her content ways!

Of course...I must share the thank you cards I whipped up before having Emily. I always like to have "Thank you" cards on hand when having a baby. The one morning I woke up realizing that I didn't have any cards done yet...so here is what I came up with. I've done a similar design before, but I just altered it to be a little bit more baby appropriate. The other challenge was since we didn't know the gender of the baby, I tried to make them neutral to boy or girl. Since I'm almost out of these cards it will be nice to whip up a set of girly thank you cards:)

Well, that's all for now...