His name is Nate

No we did not get a dog. Nate is our elf on the shelf. If you don't know what The Elf on the Shelf is, I will give you a brief overview. The elf and story are purchased together are your favorite toy store (Learning Express). You sit down with the kids and read the story about your elf being sent by Santa to observe the kids behavior during the day. He flies away at night and reports back to Santa whether or not the child has been good or bad. In the morning the elf will be in a new location around the house. Kids have fun trying to find him. At the end of the first reading of your elf's responsibilities, you name your elf. Ours is named Nate.

We read the story to Reece last night and she was immediately into it. She had to hide the book from Nate and we left him on the coffee table for the first night. We talked about how he was going to fly out of the house and decided that the chimney was his best option. Reece opened the fireplace screens so he could fly out easily. She talked about him for a good while. She was so excited the she was having a hard time finding her words.

This morning she woke up and could not wait to find Nate. He was in the light above the kitchen table. She had to call Chad immediately and tell him all about it. My dad got an earful about Nate as well.

It is so much fun to see your kids so excited about something. So excited that they can't talk. This will be a great family tradition. We just need to remember to move him ever night.

Our forbidden four letter word

This week... less than productive. But one thing has been accomplished by default. Addison is paci free. I never thought I would see the day or survive the process. In my head, I have debated different "techniques". All seemed a little dramatic. We have been surviving on the final 2 pacies for longer than I can imagine. I made the decision to cut the tips a little (it turned into a lot) to make them less desirable. It worked well but Addison still carried them around like a smoker carries the fake nicotine "cig". It was her comfort so I let it go.

Well, Tuesday morning between the hours of 6:15 and 7:30 a.m., Addison lost the lone paci. I looked, but did not have time to really look. I had a meeting at Reece's school and had to leave that to take Addison to school on time. I warned her teachers that she did not have a paci. They said not to worry. It would be okay. Those ladies are just the best. They said she screamed for her paci forever during nap time. (the twins in her class each have one). After a long while, they took Addie to the director's office so that she would not disturb the class any more than she had. Within five minutes she was out cold, asleep on her mat. The process had been started.

The next 2 nights and days went off without a hitch. That is until last night. We left the house after dinner to run a quick errand. I know that statement is an oxymoron but we tried. As we are driving back, Addison is crabby and Reece finally speaks up and says, "I think Addie wants her PACI". Chad and I in unison say "Reece don't say that." So very quietly Reece ask Addison, "Do you want your PACI? Is that why you are so grouchy?" Addison "un-hun" Us - "Reece, DON'T SAY THAT!" R- "Well she does!"

So while many of our are worried that your child will say other 4-letter words, we are worried that PACI will be said around here. Reminds me that I need to have a conversation with that little girl.

A big sign

For a while now, I have had a sign on the back of my car window with my website address. People are always asking where I got it. How much was it? What is a burp cloth? Do you have a card? Do you get any business from it? My answers are general and if they want more information I point them to Uppercase Living.

A couple weeks ago, a mom at Reece's school approached me in the school parking lot. We talked about the sign. I gave her a card and told her about Uppercase Living. All was well. (I am thinking at this point I just need to be a rep). We had a nice conversation. The end. This week, I noticed that someone in the carpool lane had a new sign for photography and I thought nothing of it other than the fact that I thought it was cute.

Fast forward to this morning - I am making my 10th trip to Walmart for the week and across the parking lot a woman is yelling at me "I see you all over town!!!". I laugh it off because she is not the first. She is coming towards me and I realize that she is the mom from school. She is the one with the new signage on the back of her car that I noticed. She continues to talk and I learn that her SIL is "pleasant" and that the SIL is expecting so she will be contacting me in the future for a gift.

And then I start thinking...How many other people see me drive all over the town. How many other people are just waiting to accost me in the parking lot and would not be so nice. Do they just want to scream, "You have cut me off three times in the last four days!" I'm a little worried. It's like I have a huge flag on my car saying "I'M RIGHT HERE!!!"

So enjoy you ability to drive around town with complete anonymity. I am rethinking the car sign.

No longer a baby

My little baby girl Addison turned 2 this weekend.  While I am a little sad that I no longer have a baby, I am ready to move into the next phase of her life.  I would like to said that I know what comes next, but the truth is I don't.  Addison has been unpredictable from the very beginning.  The doctor had picked which day she was going to be born.  It was scheduled.  Time off from work was established. We had a plan.  But as we would soon learn, Addison makes her own plans.   Just when you think you know what makes her tick, she changes all over again.   

Here are some pictures of Addison over the last 24 months.  You will see just how much she has changed.  She left the hospital at 5lbs, 12 oz.  She quickly became the baby with all of the rolls.  But she has thinned out and fits perfectly in her 24 month clothes.

We must be going a great (good) job

I must say that Chad and I are good parents.  We don't let the girls eat total crap all the time.  They are in bed most nights by 8 pm.  They have manners (not that they always use them).  They are kind to each other (most of the time).  

I say this because Addison is wanting to spend more quality one on one time with each of us because we are so wonderful.   She calls each of our names at all times of the day.  She prefers the hours of 3 am - 7 am for this quality time.  She likes to watch us as we sleep in what should no longer be call our bed.  At this point, it is the family bed.  She likes to be awake and rock in the chair upstairs for at least 4 hours a day.  She even brought me the empty Wii box at 6:00 am on Sunday so that we could play a game together.  

While I appreciate the love and affection,  GO TO SLEEP ADDISON!!!!  Your new sleep "pattern" is terrible!  It is like having a newborn in the house.  You never know how long she will be down.  Once you get into a nice deep sleep, she screams our names instead of crying (which she does too). When she is asleep, I am finding myself saying, "Should I sleep while she sleeps?".  Or do I do the typical mom thing and do as much as I can while she is asleep because who knows when I will have a chance to do it.  Is she too old for the Ferber Method?  We are trying it and it is not working!!! 

So as you see, we are good parents.  Our children listen to us so well and are on a great schedule.   I am hoping that this phase passes real soon.  

I've been BUSSSYYY

So where have I been?  Sewing, sewing, and more sewing.  I have a show tomorrow at St. Garbirel's Church so Chad and the girls have seen very little of me.  Just wanted to show you all what I have been working on.  It will be a while before everything is on the website.  

From New Products

From New Products

From New Products

From New Products

From New Products

From New Products

From New Products

From New Products

From New Products

From New Products

From New Products

From Fair

From Fair

From Fair

From Fair

From Fair

From Fair

From Fair

Halloween Pics

I know I have been a little MIA but it has not been because of lack of things to share with you.  I am participating in a holiday bazaar this weekend and I have my own little factory upstairs.  I hope to update you with all of that later.  For now, here are a few photos from Halloween.  The girls were matching pink Princesses.  I know it is hard to believe.  We were ready to go until the girls saw our neighbor's son dressed up as a clown.  Laura did a great job on the make-up.  Reece and Addison were a little shy the rest of the evening because they did not recognize him.  Addison acted like she did this every day and went right up to the doors for her candy.  Reece did great too.    

There are also just a few pictures from The Laurie Burkner Band show that we took the girls to on Sunday.  It was a great show.  They did an excellent job including the crowd.  Addison danced most of the time.  Reece was not feeling great but did enjoy it.  

Will post more later!