Fun With Friends!

A day at the jumpin zone with our favorite boys Parker and Jack. Laura Beth went straight for the big slide and went up and down the entire time.

Grateful!!!

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Each day feel so truly blessed and thank my God for all he bestows upon me.

Today I am thankful for:

1. The pitter patter of "biscuit feet." I call Laura Beth's feet "biscuit feet" because they are so round and cute. She crosses them when she sits and says "mom, mom..." They keep me on my toes and keep my budget at work trying to keep them in shoes that fit.

2. A curious little soul. Lately, it's "mom, what's that?" "Mom, who's that?" "Mom, want one.. you sure (for are you sure?)"

3. Sweet kisses. A loving husband who is offering up more random kisses (as he says his new years resolution is to make me feel more special) Laura Beth's kiss, hug, five, and then rub your hands together. Too funny! In that order too.

4. A good job. I struggle with leaving my baby girl to return to work full time but during a time when I see others being laid off and struggling or those who work lots of hours... I find gratitude for my job as a teacher. I truly love teaching and the hours are so perfect for Laura Beth and family. I was able to enjoy two weeks with her and family at Christmas.

5. Emails and orders for The Whimsical Woods. Although I am so busy and would like days with nothing to do I am grateful for those that keep me on my toes. I have 4 orders in Jan. already and we are only on day 5! I thought everyone would be burnt out from Christmas. Bring it on!! Love it!

6. A dedicated husband. The way he knows and understands without words. He knows when I need him and steps up to the plate when necessary.

7. Amazing friends and family! A day doesn't go by when I don't lean on my friends and family through a phone call, email, text message, blog, or facebook message. Theire are just some spaces that can only be filled by a good friend.. mom, sister, or brother.

8. Grandparents!! Laura Beth is so blessed to have a Nana, Papa, Meme, Poppy, and great-grandmother who would climb mountains for her. They are always there whenever we need them to help with her. Nana, Papa, and Meme would jump in the car and drive here tomorrow if we needed them too. Landon's grandmother even at 80 years old has also been so sweet and good to us.

9. My home. Although I often think about that "dream home" I get to live in my "home." The one God has provided us with. It has a warm bed, plenty of space and things but most of all lots of love!!

10. The Bachelor! Hee, hee... but I am grateful for cheesy, dirty t.v. this Winter. It makes me sit down and relax taking a moment just for me. :)

Happy 2009!!

We rang in the new year in Charleston with great friends!! It was a fun few days and I had a lot of laughs with the girls. The highlight was the annual Polar Bear Swim on Sullivan's Island. No explanation can give this event justice. You just have to see it. Tons of people wake up on New Years Day and head to the streets to celebrate. Yes, I mean wake up and head to the streets. No showers, many in random costumes or pajamas and I mean RANDOM! Vendors are waiting with an abundance of hot dogs, yummy barbecue (low country style!), and spirits overfloweth. No one is left at home.. young, old, and all in between. Dogs, babies, grandma and grandpa .. you name it. At 2 o'clock a group of bagpipes lead a man out to the beach where thousands of people are waiting to jump in the ocean. Did I mention it was about 40 degrees. They run in and quickly ran out this time. I stood in shock... it was a great laugh I must say.

Returning home and having my precious baby girl run up to me yelling "mommy" brought 2009 home! I look forward to another year of wonderful memories and growth.

Uploading Pics!

Why does blogger take so long to upload pictures!! Ahhhh... driving me crazy. It'll have to be facebook and/or email.

I am back!!

Well.... I had to take a little hiatus from blogging, facebook, etc. The month of December proved to be quite a busy time! What have I been doing.. well I made about 10 dresses, a few jon jons, 20 t-shirts, monogrammed 20 duffle bags, about 30 towels, 10+ cosmetic bags... and the list goes on and on. All the while teaching 21 kids each day, hosting and attending Christmas parties, o.k.. you get the picture! However, on the 19th... the craziness ended and for the past 8 days I have enjoyed quality time with our families and little girl! We had a fantastic Christmas! We visited Mom last weekend and relaxed with Nana and Papa while celebrating Christmas with my family. Papa Randy prepared yummy food as usual while we opened gifts and watched the kids while being kids ourselves at times. On Sunday we went to church with Daddy and then spent the evening with the McClains.. Well not so much McClain any more as they all start their own families. Growing up we spent every Christmas Eve with them and since Jan passed away we have tried to continue the tradition by getting all of the kids together. Such a nice time! Always bringing me back to my childhood. You know those people in your life you may hardly see but when you get together it's like you were never apart! Well that is Janill, Brandi, Lindsay, and Brad for me.

Monday we headed home and had Christine and Trey over for a nice dinner. One of our new traditions. Then on Wednesday Landon's family arrived and stayed Christmas Eve. We had such a great time eating a nice dinner and seeing the happiness on Mema's face. It was her first Christmas without Granddaddy yet she commented on it being one the best one's she's ever had. That truly made me feel good and reminded me once again what a special little girl Laura Beth is! She is loved by so many amazing people. We are blessed!!! Landon's entire family was here to see Laura Beth wake up to her presents from Santa. Later that afternoon we headed to Wendy and Jason's for Christmas with Landon's extended family.

And for the past 2 days I have enjoyed numerous tea parties, coloring, playing with baby dolls, flashcards, etc. with Laura Beth. She says.. "mommy, sit down.. want to have a tea party.. want some coffee?" So much fun!!

So Merry Christmas to all!!! I hope your holiday was a special as mine!

Out Of The Mouth of Babes...

I feel like I never blog anymore. Just so little time now that I am working fulltime again. Not to mention.. I am filling lots of Thanksgiving/Christmas orders. We are doing some rearranging trying to move my sewing room downstairs to the basement and create Laura Beth a playroom. It's time to utilize that space! So busy... busy ... drowning in unorganization and fabric!

Tonight I decided to blog about all that Laura Beth is saying these days for those of you who don't get to see her often. Oh, what a joy she is! She is so full of personality and wonder these days. Motherhood just continues to get more and more rewarding. She's talking in sentences now. We actually carry on conversations. My current personal favorites are .. 1. She'll say "doctor not gonna hurt you" or "fur, fur not gonna hurt you" when she's not quite sure of someone. She is so social and has never met a stranger but recently freezes up for a moment when a young man is around.. especially my brother Christopher. 2. After I read her books at night and just before I am about to lay her down I will rock her for a minute. She always says "I go to yaya's house....no not today" because she adores Laura and Lloyd and when she asks to go I say no not today. 3. "Cismas lights Mommy!!!" every time we drive up to the house at night as our neighbors already have their lights up. 4. "cuz.. I tired" anytime I say "why Laura Beth."
5. She is always wanting to call someone on the phone and no matter who it is she will say "hi... ---" (their spouse). For ex. if she calls Nana she'll say "Hi Papa," and when we call Mimi, she says "hi Poppi." More recently she will tell Mimi.. "hold on Mimi, hush...hi Poppi."

So cute!! Maybe cuter to me as her Mom and maybe you have to hear her sweet voice to get the full effect. But, there's a glimpse into our world. Goodnight!

Happy Anniversary to Us!!

Landon and I celebrated our 5th anniversary this weekend. We met about 10 years ago and have been married for 5 now! I just have to say how truly blessed I am that God put such a wonderful man in my life. Landon is more than I could have ever hoped for. He's a great husband and father. He had reservations at Maggiano's (knowing Italian is my favorite food.. and ironically his least favorite so we hardly go out for Italian) downtown and his mother came to babysit. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner, wine and even dessert. Then when I woke up Sat. morning and he had set out my new digital camera complete with a case, memory card and all. And, his sweet letter made it a perfect anniversary. As I write he is sitting in our bed enjoying ice cream with our sweet Laura Beth. One of their favorite rituals. I love sitting in the living room listening to them talk and love on each other. It reminds me of my blessings! I don't know what I have done to deserve him but I know I will hang on tight and look forward to our lifetime together.