Why....

does blogger have to stretch and make the picture above look all pixelated (is that even a word?) instead of keeping it the way it looked in my editing software 2 minutes ago? So frustrating... I need to figure out how to make it pretty, as it's the only picture of the four of us that we've taken in a long time! I know it's not the best photo, but what can you do when your kids (and husband) are sick of standing in front of the camera waiting for the timer to go off??

We finally got the lights and decorations on the tree tonight, after buying the tree over a week ago. I'll take some pictures tomorrow after I get all the boxes and pine needles cleaned up off the floor. We leave for Disney World on Friday and I'm thinking that I need to make the kids some festive things to wear to the parade...back to the sewing room!

Please Go Vote!!

For this amazing photograph by one of the photographers that I adore!!



You can vote HERE!! I love all the Matilda Jane clothes!! Be sure to hit submit twice!! You can only vote one time from each computer!! She deserves this so much! Jen is so talented!!

Light at the end of the tunnel

I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. 3 more shirts to complete and 3 more photo sessions (that have been rained out!!) and I will be done "working" for the season!

The sad thing is, all the money that I've made over the past month was just spent all in one place...the CAMERA STORE!! I noticed that almost all of the pictures that I was taking last week had this dark line on the bottom. I thought maybe it was from the speed light that I bought, so I headed up to Ritz Camera. Sadly, something happened and my shutters aren't working together. It was going to cost almost as much as a new camera to fix (and I've had it for 3 years), so I splurged and bought this baby!! It's on back order, so hopefully I will have it soon!! It is an upgrade from what I had, but I'm not sure how it's going to "feel" as they didn't have one for me to try out.



Before I bought it, I called Nate to see if he was getting his Christmas bonus...because if he was, I wanted to get this!! He said he didn't know...maybe he has other plans with the money :-)



I still may trade it in and get the D90, I have 30 days to decide :-)

Got Turkey?

Busy x 3

Although I pledged to slow down around the holidays, I have actually been more busy this past week than I have in a LONG time... My mom and I decided to stop sewing on eBay altogether, so I wanted to make a little extra money for Christmas and our trip to Disney for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas. I sent out an email to my friends with some samples of Thanksgiving and Christmas shirts that I was planning on selling. Boy, they sure were hungry for t-shirts! I think I got 30 shirt orders!! Instead of stopping there, I decided to try selling my photography services for Christmas photos. I have been booked solid with 1-3 sessions per day until December 5th. Between sewing, juggling my kids from place to place for the photo shoots, editing and trying to keep my house in order, I'm pooped!! (But we are going to have a FABULOUS time at Disney now and my Christmas cards have been ordered!)

FINALLY!!! I got a good picture of me with my babies!!



Here are some pictures from the photo shoots so far!!

Wonderful Christmas Gift

I have a dear friend that I like to barter with... I sew some clothing for her darling little girls, and she paints for me! This morning at church, she told me my Thanksgiving wreath was ready! This is our 4th wreath from her and I love this one so much!! I was ready to put up our Christmas one, but it will have to wait 2 more weeks!!



Be sure to check out her website HERE! She has so many cute Christmas gifts for friends, family and teachers!

FULL

I saw this on another blog a while back and thought it is so true... I think my husband needs to read it at least once a month when he thinks I have it so easy at home.

Stocking Stuffer Idea #1

I'm hoping to get my Christmas shopping done early this year so I can enjoy myself a little more than in years past. It seems like I'm always out shopping and wrapping at the very last minute!! The kids have already made their lists and I'm ready to tackle them!!

I found this adorable website from a blogging friend of mine, Mandy.



This is what I ordered for the kiddos, as I'm getting tired of wiping sticky finger prints off of my new counters every morning!



You can find all of these goodies by clicking HERE. Plus, if you put FRIEND10 in the coupon code, you'll save 10% off of your complete order! They have tons of different things and color combinations to choose from! Go check them out!!

Child Labor

Last Monday I was picking Jack up from school at noon and Nate called. He wanted to meet us for lunch (aka, Mommy hadn't gone to the grocery store over the weekend and there wasn't anything to eat at the house). When we were sitting there, I told Nate that we got Jack's tuition statement that day and how much it was.

Nate: Wow, Jack. I think it's time for you to get a job to start helping with your preschool tuition.
Jack: I already have a job, Daddy.
Nate: You do???
Jack: Yes, I was the door holder today. That's my job.
Nate: How much does being a door holder pay?
Jack: "Nofing"

Halloween Festivities

We have had so much fun these past few weeks with the weather getting nicer (except for Hurricane Ida looming around this week!!) I have lots to share, but thought that I would share some Halloween pictures.

First, is the party in Jack's class. Everyone dressed up in their costumes, had a special snack, and then went upstairs for some fun games. Parent volunteers were stationed in each room with Halloween themed games. I was in charge of the pumpkin water table :-)









That same afternoon, we headed over to a friend's house and decorated cookies!



On Friday, Mallory's class went on their first field trip!! They got to bring their costumes to school and put them on right before we headed out on the bus to the retirement home to trick or treat. Here is the class with their teacher right before we left!



Later that afternoon, the kindergarten classes put on their nursery rhyme hats that they created and paraded throughout the entire school. All of the other classes came out to cheer them on. It was so much fun!!



Saturday was fun filled for us!! Mallory had her final soccer game of the season, then we headed over to my dad's business to celebrate with the team. We all played putt-putt golf and had ice cream! We took a little rest and then got the kids dressed for a birthday/halloween party! I couldn't convince Mallory to be a Gator Cheerleader this year...













Everyone pooped out after the parade down our street!