Need Your Ideas!!

So, I'm stumped! I'm at a point where I really want to be making inventory for a website to sell the stuff I make. I still cannot figure out what I want to make to sell. I can make handbags and tote bags and bibs, etc. I also am pretty good at following a pattern. :) That's kind of where I get stuck, I don't want to be cutting out patterns for tons of items; although I may definitely do the bibs b/c they're easy and don't take much to cut and sew. Plus I've already made a few. :) I also thought about starting a site and selling some of the bags I may not use later that I've already made but I've customized those to me and most of them have flaws that I don't care about b/c it's mine but don't really want someone else thinking I do crappy work. :) Also, I'm hoping that I will be able to keep up with inventory and such with a little one literally running around! Plus I will be getting a job soon (when I find one lol) and will need to keep up despite that. Obviously it will be something I will have to juggle but I guess that's why I want something easy but crafty and very creative! The website I've been looking at; Etsy.com, has a lot of selection and frankly I'm intimidated b/c I feel like it's a lot of competition! It can be frustrating too b/c I look through the stuff that I could possibly do and see lots of cute stuff I could do but am looking at a site that already sells it! Some things I know right away how I could make it different and attempt selling it and others, I'm thinking, I would not change a thing! PLUS I was thinking about doing a site with my best friend Terri which could help keep up with inventory but I know she's in the same boat too with managing her time, etc. :) I just don't know what I want to do! I did recently finish a bag that I really like and is multi purpose; I am using it as a diaper tote bag; but could also be used for school or work or whatever. Putting it together, I don't think I'd have patience to do that 30 times! It is fun b/c it has "patches" or fabric squares all over it so it's very much personalized. Maybe if I do it assembly line it would work; I have to think on it. I also do not have pictures of that bag yet b/c I haven't taken them yet. I may include the picture of the pattern, though! Anyway so I'll definitely take any and all ideas you have! Anyone can post comments below so please do!! If you get this in your email you can either email me back or go
to the website and post a comment!

I did the taller tote without the bows;

I also made the smaller one in front of it for my stuff!

My friend Katie made the other two and hers turned out cute;

just sewing the cris-cross stuff seems teadeous! :)

High School Reunion!

Well, I really just wanted to update on how it went since I've been mentioning it so much lately. I really didn't get any pictures. I honestly don't know what I would have taken pictures of. :) I think the best way to describe it is pretty much how I told my friend Mindy, wasn't too exciting and I didn't see a lot of people I don't see regularly or semi-regularly but mostly b/c I didn't got to the right things! I went to the football game the Friday night and it was okay; we lost (of course) we weren't the home team, and not a lot of other alumni went. Apparently most of the people went to the thing at Fox & Hound following the game, I decided to come home to Jason and Madi. :) Saturday they had a picnic and school tour. I went to the picnic, okay technically I met up with a few friends at the picnic that were already there and said there weren't a lot of people that we talked to in high school there and none of us paid to eat, so we all went to Chili's and had lunch together and came back for the tour. We did some of the other alumni at the tour but didn't really talk to anyone so it was interesting. It was a good time though, b/c I enjoyed the company and the tour was pretty neat to see how the school has changed in 10 years! We also ran into one of our teachers that happened to be there! :) That evening they had an event at the Bricktown Brewery and I did not go, it was formal, and I'm only formal for friends and families weddings! :) It looked like from pictures a good group went to that as well. :)
I also wanted to add b/c with the reunion behind me and having my realization on realtionships, I really feel like it's made such a difference on my outlook on life! I have been thinking a lot more about the important things. I almost feel like I've changed overnight! I can't explain it, just I mainly feel more confident and feel like I'm really working at getting more out of my relationships. I think a lot of it is that before hand I was really timid and sometimes felt like I spent time with people for some benefit of my own (even though that wouldn't be the case) and now, I'm spending time with people because I enjoy their company or if they need the company, etc! Basically, I'm not thinking about it so much, just doing and enjoying! I don't know, it's like because I am less timid than I used to be things are growing a lot more naturally and I feel a lot less awkward in the situations I used to make so awkward. There never really were many awkward situations I made them into that within me. I feel more free. It's great! I'm still the same when it comes to new people but those people that have been there for a while things are better! I'm so happy! Now to just find that stinkin' bag of money I've been searching for.............. :)
Have a great weekend! You all are still the greatest people in my life! We are on this path for a reason so step back take a look and see what it might be or step up and follow it through to see where it leads!!

Relationships

I guess in part of growing up; I've been thinking a lot about the people in my life; currently or previously. I just think it is so interesting how people come in your life and the types of relationships you can have! People you never expect to be friends with and the people you think were long gone suddenly become very close to you. I have really begun to realize that you make those relationships grow or not. You decide if those people will be close or further away. I used to always whine that certain people wouldn't ever call me or get upset that they went out and didn't even call me or ask me; then I realize, when was the last time I called them or asked them to do anything?! I guess for whatever reason I always thought friendships and family relationships were easy and marriage was the only one you had to work at. Obviously I have learned, if you want to keep anyone in your life it does take a little work! I think I always took it so hard because I am the type of person that once you are in my life you automatically have a special place in my heart and are my friend for life. Thus in turn because I treasure every realtionship I have I am very picky and it takes me some time to warm up to people. Which also frustrates me because I don't chat up people as well as people like Jason or my dad! Having my 10 year reunion coming up has been interesting in my relationships because a lot of people I never thought I would talk to again have become pretty good friends, yet at the same time; a lot of people that I never really talked to in high school and never really have since then, I'm kind of thinking why do I need to converse with you now? :) I started to take sociology in college and since I didn't finish college, didn't finish that; but something I will most likely look into finishing! I am going to finish college, but never really decided in what, so now I think it may be more in the sociology field! I always think it's interesting to see how people interact and I am a big people watcher, so it would be a good field. Anyway, basically I think because as you get older friends can become more scarce especially when I am pretty much a stay at home mom; I don't have co-workers and I don't really have a way to meet new people, yet; so I treasure everyone and have really pondered each realtionship becasue I do cherish everyone in my life. I especially love when you have family members you are close to! I have a sister that when I was still in high school followed me everywhere and I totally had no problem with it! We were best buds and although we've grown up we try to stay as close as possible; with kids and full time jobs, you can get pretty busy! Maybe that's also my thing because was we grow we have different interests with people we used to have everything in common with and that scares me (I also don't like change very much) so I'm trying to find common ground with everyone! I also think maybe that's why I have gotten so attached to my sewing because not only am I doing something that my grandma and great-grandma loved but it has brought me closer to other people I didn't expect! My cousin whom I used to play with a lot when we were little and her sister we had lost touch as we grew up and because we're into sewing it has brought us closer. We went to the zoo this past weekend and it was a pretty good time, nice to get to talk in person again! I also started to feel like I was losing touch with what I consider one of my best friends but sewing has brought us back together! I think the past 3 or 4 weekends we have been garage sale shopping and it's been a blast; yes we are going tomorrow too! :) People change but the people in your life don't have to. I think that is where I'm trying to find comfort. BUT, I love having new ones too! Meeting Laci has been so much of a blessing and Charolotte is a joy! Makes me realize that when you have a job and think man, I wish I hadn't worked at that stupid place, it was all for a reason, because I wouldn't have ever met those two ladies! I also hated how we had to move back into an apartment but we have some really great neighbors that I am really glad we have met! Even though they are moving soon, I hope they will become great friends of ours (including Madison w/ the baby above us)! I also think of those who have passed away friends and family and what a better person I am for knowing them. Yes their time may have been cut short; but I do truly believe everything happens for a reason. I also believe that even though those people are gone, they still live on through us!! I am still growing and loving every chance I get to spend with those people in my life! You are all a blessing and I wouldn't trade any of you! (well maybe some.....j/k!) Maybe this will give me more motivation to find a new job and make some new wonderful friends! :) Anyway, I just had to share and I don't have any new pictures, I will add more soon. Take care!
~Ashley

I just wanted to update a little. I've been kind of busy with the sewing stuff, I had a few projects to get done by a set time, so once I got those done I managed to get a pattern I am borrowing from a friend and made 2 bags. Which was also fun because last weekend we went garage sale shopping and found nothing, but stopped by my grandma's and got a lot of fabric from her, then decided to go by Terri's moms and got a good stack of it there too. So it was fun to make a bag out of the new fabric I got! I did get a lot of baby type fabric so it should be fun making stuff out of that!

Purse I made for Cara

Katelynn's birthday cats!

doll I made for Betsy's birthday!

all the fabric I got!

cute little pin cushion I made!

first of the two bags I made

second bag I made; my fav so far :)

I also organized my little sewing corner!

Aside from that Madison and I had a couple of playdates all in a week and were pretty busy, but it's been fun! We went to the Omniplex on the first day of school which was fun since I hadn't been there in ages! Then the next week we got to play with Madison's boyfriends, Seth, Maddox and Grayson! That was pretty fun too b/c it's been a while since Madison has gotten to play with just the kids without the girls there. Although she certainly loves playing with the girls!! Then later in that week we were going to go to the zoo with Mindy and Story but it was going to be too warm so we just went and played at their house and then went to McDonald's. I think Madison enjoyed playing with Story's new toys especially since we played outside mostly and they had a pretty good section for the littler ones to play at McDonald's so that was nice. We also got to go to Betsy's first birthday this past weekend! That was amazing because when Betsy was born she was one of three but because they were so early her sisters didn't make it. So to honor her sisters they had a balloon release at the party and I hadn't actually ever been part of one of those, so I thought it was amazing! I even got Madison to give the balloon some kisses before we sent it up! I know the babies had no idea what was going on, but as they grow and hear the stories they will appreciate it. :)

Story and Madison at the water table at the Omniplex!

Madison carrying Betsy's present!

Madison giving the balloon a second kiss

the balloon release

Betsy figuring out her cake!

It has been crazy, I don't know what it is, but I guess with all the stuff going on around me, my emotions have been kind of crazy! With my reunion around the corner and all the kids getting older and Betsy's birthday party, I've just been kinda wonky! I think maybe I've just let things get to me more than they should lately. I don't know.
Anyway, that's all I really have to update! Take care, until next time!

Madison figuring out using a spoon! Yummy Cool Whip!!

watching Katelynn and Tim blowing out the candles!

playing on Kyleigh and Katelynn's swing set

(can you tell she's concentrating?)

So It Ends.......

Well I have had a lot going on lately been busy with the girls during the summer tried to fit some of the fun stuff in before school, which we did manage; went to the zoo and as like a last fun thing of the summer, took the girls to Celebration Station with their mom. It was fun and would have been more if it hadn't rained. :) That's ok, we'll go again. Anyway, pretty much right after my last blog we lost our dear friend Anna to cancer and about a month later my dear friend Terri lost her father in law to cancer! It just makes you realize how real this disease is! It also makes you treasure life and those people you have in it! It just makes it so hard for those people left behind! August was also the anniversary of Lynlee's passing, so I've definitely been thinking about life a lot!
Well, I also have my 10 year high school reunion coming up and I've really been looking back at my life and where I've been and where I am now; the choices I've made and should have made. I've really been thinking a lot lately with the funerals and the reunion coming up, you can't help but think about things! I've had my moments in the past where I've questioned, am I where I should be in everything, who I married my career choices, etc., and just to show you how amazing God can be He steps in and assures me that I have made the right choices; maybe they were bad choices at the time or not a choice someone else would have made or even choices I regret immediately or later; they are still the right choices because they got me here with the best husband and most precious daughter! I wouldn't trade them for the world! Of course I might have changed some things a little but only if it got me where I am today. :) I don't know if that makes any kind of sense, but it does to me. :)
I know Jason has probably been doing a lot of thinking as well with Anna being the wife of one of his good friends and maybe I'll talk him into blogging about it; we'll see. He has been pretty busy at work as usual, which is good. He has been doing good keeping up with his friends keeping in touch checking in on Jon and being the great person he is.
Madison has been growing (too much)! She's walking better almost running sometimes. She definitely knows when to run; like when Mommy has a diaper in her hand or is coming to get her to take her back inside, etc. She has also learned how to use her lungs, that's what cousins are for to teach the good and bad! :) It also cracks me up because she has learned how to let you know if she doesn't want you to pick her up or mess with her and despite the fact that it is a bit of a scream Kyleigh and Katelynn still try picking her up even if she screams in their ear. I guess they adore her so much they cannot resist! I totally understand that, but I do get tired of hearing her scream! I really just wish she could unlearn the screaming! :) I do love that she is learning more words and I'm sure part of it is because of her cousins so that goes with the cousins teaching good and bad! She can say 'Clo-Clo' for Chloe our little dog, she says "mon" for Come on, the other day I'm pretty sure she said Ashley! She says 'bite' and I think some form of outside. She definitely understands a lot as well. She knows if we ask her if she wants to eat she goes up to her high chair and on occasion I can get her to do the sign for it as well. She says 'hi' and 'bye' and today she was saying bye-bye and waving! She has definitely learned 'mine'! She pronounces it very well. The funny thing behind that is she learned it from Seasame Street. :) They had an episode where everyone got "minitis" and Oscar the Grouch had to share so to older kids the concept is to share. Madi just picked up the 'mine' part and of course after the episode Kyleigh and Katelynn were walking around doing the 'mine' thing as well so I think that just encouraged Madi. It's not a big deal yet b/c I don't think she fully understands the concept and does share (sometimes) at play dates, so I'm not worried yet; I'm just trying to encourage the sharing concept as much as I can. :) She's been a busy bee for sure! She also got a new wagon from Aunt Granny which she loves and sometimes loves it so much it stresses out Mommy and Daddy! :) But she loves it and that is what is important! We could walk around the complex all day pulling her in that thing and she would be so content! It's when she plays with it inside that makes it so hard b/c she wants to go outside or gets frustrated about something and we can't always help her which just makes it worse. I try to distract her and that only works so many times. :) She is getting big and I don't want her to! I keep telling her to stop growing but it doesn't work. :) On that note; this past week Kyleigh and Katelynn started school on Katelynn's birthday none-the-less! She is 6 now and I just can't believe it! They are all growing up so fast! In the next few months all my neices will be a year older; Kyleigh will be 8 and Bella will be 4! It goes by way too fast! Before we know it they'll all be driving! Ugh! Where is the mechanism that stops time for just a little bit! Even better how do we get to never-never land?! (Not Michael Jackson's ranch, lol)! It's one thing to realize how old they are getting by their birthdays but when they use words like 'literally' and understand what they are saying you really can't believe it!
It has been interesting also because being in the apartment we are in we really like where it is because it's right by the courtyard where Madi can walk around and the dogs have some freedom (sort of) and it's close to one of the pools. Plus we love some of our neighbors. Well, being that we are friendly with our neighbors the one above us has a little girl a few months younger than Madison that if we are out about the same time they get to play. Well, first of all when we moved in the lady giving us our keys (and as she was handing them to us) told us that for some reason this building was not built with the washer/dryer connections. Which irritated me b/c if we'd known that ahead of time we would have looked into a different apartment. We talked about it after the first month or so, which at that time I didn't feel like repacking everything so I passed at that. Well, around that time I was in the bathroom or Madison's room and could have sword I heard a dryer above us. I thought surely not; it couldn't be. It is such a distinctive sound, and I kept meaning to ask and never got to it. Well the other night I was out talking to the neighbor that lives across the way from my upstairs neighbor in a 2 bed 2 bath (we have a 2bd 1bth). Well, somehow we got to talking about the apartments and I asked her if our upstairs neighbor had a w/d (because they're friends) and she said she did. I told her what we were told, etc and she was shocked. We concluded I need to call the office, and I plan on it; I don't know what solution I'm looking for from it, but we shall see. Well it was pretty neat too b/c this neighbor in the 2bd 2bth offered to show me her apt b/c I was curious how it was laid out by looking at the outside. It gave me a good idea and if for some reason we stayed here it might be a possibility to move to that (would have been really handy this summer w/ the girls)! Although I am hoping we'll move to a house when our year is up. :) Anyway, long story sorry, just wanted to share that b/c I was pretty shocked to find it out!
Well, aside from all that I have been busy with my sewing and stuff! I've been putting together some stuff for our friends that are about to have a baby; finished a nursing cape for our friends that had their baby a month ago and a bunch of other things! I will include pictures of course! :) I have been busy and happy that I made time because I really do enjoy it! I'm hoping that now that the girls are in school I may have a little more time getting stuff put together so I can sell it! I always get such good responses from the pictures I post, so I know it would probably go well! I also used to do bead bracelets in the past and gave it up because the beads were so little and frankly I didn't have time; I haven't really picked it back up; but after Anna passed I did wear the arm band she had given me for Ovarian cancer awareness and after wearing it awhile I decided I don't like wearing those because it makes it hard when you sweat. :) So I decided to go to WalMart and see what I could find. Well lucky for me they have beads already on the strand that you can just add your clasp or whatever you want add to it. Well I just bought some of those in the appropriate color to wear instead and it worked out nicely; plus then I don't have tiny beads to keep away from Madison! Well when Terri's father-in-law passed I went and got one in the appropriate color and decided that I would get one for Laci and Tony's little girls too and couldn't find dark purple for the March of Dimes color found a really nice bracelet with purple and pink beads which worked out so purple for one girl and pink for the other and had enough of the strand left over to make one for Laci!
Alright, I think this blog is long enough for now. :) I will add a few pics so enjoy! Thanks for reading. :) Take care!

playing in the rain in the kazebo

peek-a-boo!

splashing in the puddles!

girls on wheels!

Kyleigh and Madison playing in Seth's pool!

Madison and Seth playing with his cars

Seth, Maddox and Madison playing in the hall

after meeting Maddox's new little brother

Grayson!

5 little monkeys! :)

girls at the zoo

riding the carousel

love the suckers!

(wish I had a picture of me and my

brother to show the resembleance!)

riding in her 'new' wagon!!

Daddy's first time taking Madi to the zoo!

my first storage cube; need to make more!

nursing cover I made for Kim

practice burp cloth

practice changing pad

stoller cover I pieced together

little kitty I made for Madi;

making some for Katelynn's birthday!

my little purse;

I'm making one for my sis just like it!

Life is Tricky!

I have some stuff on my mind and thought I would share. Also as I'm typing this I need to get Jason to post a few! :) Anyway, so I've actually had a lot going on lately, not just on my schedule, but emotionally and mentally as well. I think a lot of it is because I have had a lot going on with my schedule. I had Vacation Bible School last week and it definitely kept me busy but it was good for all involved! Since I'm watching the girls we set it up so that I would teach a class so that I could take them, work with a class and take Madison too and we could just go from there so I wouldn't be just dropping them off and coming back. Ultimately I was okay with that because it gave Madison a chance to be around more kids her age! It also worked out that I was teaching her class. Even though she was actually registered in the babies class since she was the only one walking in that class and I had the older 1s and 2s I was able to bring her in my class! It was a fun and busy week. I of course didn't plan much so I didn't have a lot of activities for them to do, they just played and once a day we took them for a wagon ride and that helped a lot. Well, being at church and around the familiar faces has really put me at a point where I've put going back to church to the forefront of my mind. I've been wanting to since Madison was born and of course constantly made excuses! I know that's what the devil wants and does to us. I think it rings so much in my mind becuase of how involved I was in the youth group; there were points where I felt like I wasn't involved enough even though I was doing as much as I could. It's just so easy to make the excuses and "attend 'Bedtime Baptist'"! :) Well, the other part of things on my mind is dealing with a friend of ours who has cancer and is losing her battle. I had a friend who fought her whole life with C.F. and beat the odds and lived well beyond what the doctors said she would and was able to get a lung transplant but died shortly after from something else. Regardless even though when you have a disease that you know may take your life, it still never actually prepares you! I took it pretty hard when she passed and although I'm not as close to this friend as I was that one, it is still hard and I hate it! I hate that people have to go through that. I know we do for a reason and it's their time, it's still very hard. One of the things about this one is that it affects Jason more than me because he was close to her husband where as our friend with C.F. we were close to her and her husband; they were in our youth group with us. With all that I'm just really at a point in my life where some of the hard questions come up and the way you think about things and answer those questions start to differ compared to when we're younger and have a more innocent way of thinking! It definitely makes me want to live more and remember that we aren't always guaranteed tomorrow! I think more than anything, before I had Madison I worried if I would even make it to have children now I worry what if something happens to me now or worse what if something happens to Madison! One thing too, I'm beginning to realize that people are truly put in your life for a reason no matter how long they are in it and no matter the circumstance they may no longer be a part of your life! I was sitting here thinking if for some reason we had a child born with C.F. we would have a good source to go to on how to handle it! Just like having a friend who lost his wife to a terminal disease is a good person to send to our friend now who has a wife fighting with a terminal disease. I'm hoping and praying they might be a good support for each other! I can only hope and pray that if anything does happen to me or my family that my friends stand by me like our friends have! It is interesting too because even before all this was even in my radius for me to be dealing with I had been thinking a lot about my friends and how dear they are to me and how much I have slacked on working on those friendships. I would get so upset if someone left me out of something or was doing something with other friends and not me; but sat at home thinking, why shouldn't they, they have been making the effort to build those relationships and I haven't so it is my own fault. Despite all that it makes me cherish them even more for still being there and being my friend even when I fail to be there for them. I am now working on making that conscience effort to do more and work more at that! It's also amazing how it comes full circle because the relationship thing with my friends and getting back into church comes back to also working more at having the relationship with Jesus I need to be having, He is always there waiting for me I just have to work and being there too. I truly believe everything happens for a reason! Okay that's all I have for now. I haven't uploaded my pictures from Bible School yet and am too tired to do it now, so I will do it soon! :) Have a great week!

Sewing, Avon, Bedtime and 4th of July!

Alright, so I thought I would do another little update. I've been trying my hand at a few things and have been doing okay; so I thought I might post a blog and see if I could get any help or comments back. :) First of all I haven't really busted out the sewing machine in a while; mainly due to having the time to and if I had a set place I could have it all set up all the time that would make a difference but since it's pretty much just my dining room table, I have to have time to do all the set up and everything. Well first of all I bought a pattern a while back that has a shirt, some pants and some skirts in it to make and I bought some fabric to make me some shirts. I was pretty excited and got through it pretty well; but I've hit a road block. I'm having trouble with the collar. Needless to say now that I'm looking more at the measurements on the package I think I need to make a size smaller. I started making a large, which is what most of my shirts are but putting it on it's pretty big; bigger than I would like. When I read the sizes for the medium they are closer to what I need; so I think I'm going to back and fix it; which means I'll have to pretty much start over. Which is fine, it's a new challenge for me and I'm learning. Well, the other day I found some more fabric I liked and wanted to make some pants out of and attempted it today. I haven't even gotten to cutting it out b/c I don't know how I should cut it. My problem is the same problem I constantly have in shopping with pants; I'm really short. The pattern and measurements for the pants included, well the pants are pretty long but the "capris" I'm attempting measure at 32 in. in lenght when finished; my leg from waist to ankle is barely that! So, I cannot even figure out how I should cut it; if I cut it shorter like I need it, it messes with the style a little bit, but if I cut it to the pattern I'll have extra material and I don't know how it will look if I tried hemming it like I would store bought pants. Also, since the style is like a capri style I don't know how they will look as pants. So, I'm trying to decide if I should attempt the capris in some capacity or make a shirt or skirt from the fabric. Although I will say I saw something online I really liked that someone else had made and looked at it for awhile and decided I could make that; so I got some fabric out and my machine and pieced it together and it turned out really well! I was proud of myself; it may not be to the quality of what I saw; but I think it's pretty good! I also have been thinking that I have been working so much on stuff for me I need to put it aside for awhile and tackle the projects for other people that I have promised. I feel bad but it's just easier for me to sit down and whip out something for me b/c I'm there and can say if I want that changed or not and get it all done in a certain amount of time. When I'm working on something for someone else, I have to have more time to mess with stuff and be creative. Not to mention one of the bags I am going to make for a friend is similar to another I made for myself only with different fabric. Well, that would be fine except the one I originally made for myself was completely free hand and thrown together literally in the middle of the night! So, I'll really have to sit down and take the time to figure out how to do hers the same. Maybe I can research a pattern similar to the one I made! We'll see how it goes. :) I really hope I can get somewhere with this stuff and I could pick it up to where I would be able to sell it. That would be one of my dreams to stay home and make stuff for people and sell it online or something! I haven't figured out my forte yet, but I will. Not to mention I would love to be able to make clothes to some extent to maybe save some money! Time will tell! I also need to build up a stock in fabrics and such to even attempt some of that!
So, on to my next little venture; I recently got into Avon; which is kind of like okay, here we go again especially with my family and friends because I attempted Premier Designs Jewelry and MaryKay and was somewhat successful with those. I don't know if it was timing or something else. Well, I really debated with Avon because I didn't want it to turn out like the other two. Well, first of all one of the differences is that Avon does not cost that much to get into it! Second of all there isn't a set quota I have to keep up with or even inventory! Third Avon tailors to everyone! They sell skin care, makeup, clothes, jewelry, fragrances, kids accessories and of course the ever so popular skin-so-soft! So, I thought I'd give it a whirl. :) It's been pretty good so far since Jason took it up to work, he says the books are picked up pretty much right after he sets them out! My first order I submitted was for a couple of ladies he works with! Plus he has one more lady that is putting together a big order with her and a friend! My downside of it all is that I'm not around a lot of adults on a daily basis so I don't really have anyone to sell it to; other than friends and family and maybe their coworkers! The lady that I did all my paperwork with named off a lot of places I could leave books, but I don't go to those places or don't have those places to take the books. :) Anyway, you may notice a pattern because another dream would be to stay home make stuff for people and sell Avon and not need a part time job or whatever. My initial thought since I'm watching the girls this summer was to do Avon and make some extra so I wouldn't have to do a part time job too and it's not panning out that way, but now I'm thinking maybe I can do the part time job and when summer is over be able to do the part time job and Avon and make enough. Although I think the reality is that I'll have to do a full time job again and do Avon on the side. Which either way is fine b/c I will do whatever I need to. I just would love to be able to be a stay home mom as long as possible. :) We'll see how things go.

It really does amaze me because growing up I would have never imagined that I would be the one to be the stay at home mom! I always said when as little girls you talk with your friends about what you will do when you grow up that even if I married a rich man I would still work part time or something so I wouldn't go crazy. I think in all honesty I do like the structure of having tasks to do and a time frame to do it in. But, I also like being able to be flexible and maybe even have the structured schedule even if it's me that sets it. :) I think that is why I am always drawn to those types of companies like Avon and MaryKay!

On a different subject just wanted to update on the sleeping situation with Madi; so I've been getting her to sleep laying down in my bed with me laying there keeping her still and helping her go to sleep and she's realized that's what we do, so that it became less of a struggle because she knew the routine. Well tonight after her bath we attempted the usual and maybe for whatever reason approached it wrong, I don't know she just got really upset and I'm not sure why, but Jason and I (and Madi I'm sure) were so tired and worn out from a busy humid day and didn't have the patience to make her go to sleep. I also got so frustrated that after a while of her crying I gave up and she won; I realized that we are pretty inconsistent with that. Sometimes she'll cry and throw her fit and I'll stand my ground and sometimes we give in too easily. So, even though I was totally wanting to avoid doing it; we let her cry it out. I figured it would cover 2 birds. One she would realize that just because she cries and is upset someone isn't going to come running (as long as she is okay and safe of course), and she would learn to fall asleep on her own! Well even though I had to really hold myself back from going in there, she eventually gave up and after nodding her head for a while laid down and fell asleep. Now we have to be consistent and get her used to that. I just haven't established a regular night time routine and will have to do that now. :) I was also kind of proud of myself because since we don't have a video baby monitor, I had to be creative and lucky for me there is enough space between the bottom of her door and the floor that I was able to use a mirror and see what she was doing without her seeing me. I probably looked like a dork, but I don't care. :)

Since I'm posting this on July 4th I will update on that as well. :) Last year for the 4th Madi wasn't big enough to thoroughly enjoy or even know what was going on. She was almost 2 months old. Not to mention it was pretty hot last year so when we took her to the parade it was pretty interesting! We managed to keep her in the shade as much as possible and took her (and her cousins) to the car and ran the a/c every once and a while. Then when we went to see fireworks I think we were too close that it was really loud and my mom ended up sitting in the car with her so it wouldn't be so loud. I do believe that through most of all the festivities she slept through most of it! :) Well, this year was a lot more interesting. We went to watch fireworks last night and she was excited to see all the kids around and be outside with them and loved sitting in the little folding chairs they had. Well, when the fireworks started she was pretty curious about them and was watching with awe and even pointed at them a few times. She didn't last through the whole firework show; I think because it had been so long before they even started. She was ready to be up and around and out of everyone's lap! So after a little bit Jason took her and walked around and that satisfied her for a while. She did pretty good. She didn't freak out at the booming from the fireworks, just wanted to figure out where it was coming from! Then this morning we went to the Bethany parade and even though it was a little humid she did pretty good, I brought plenty of snacks and drink for her and once the parade started she actually did not freak out at the loud siren of the firetruck at the begining of the parade! She watched most of it and toward the last quarter of it she got restless and luckily we were able to take her behind everyone and let her walk around for a little bit. I know she wanted to be running out in the street after the candy like her cousins! Which is also funny because her cousin Bella had been having a runny nose lately and at one point this morning when my sister was wiping her nose she was saying that her nose hurt and come to find out she had put a sticker up there! It was a pretty good laugh! I don't know why she put a sticker in her nose, but it's probably something we get to look forward to! Well, that pretty much sums up what I have for now; I'm including pictures mainly from the 4th's festivities and such. Until next time. ;)

Madison 4th of July 2008!

Madison sitting with Grammy watching the parade!

Madison sitting in Papa's Jimmy with Kyleigh

Sitting in Papa's truck


Watching fireworks with Grammy and Bella!

Watching fireworks with Daddy and Papa