Hooty Halloween!

Halloween in our neighborhood is something we look forward to every year.  We live in a big loop, so we get tons of guests on top of the people who live here.  Plus, all of our neighbors are outside and we cook and visit together--great times.  

This year, Hunter's dad, stepmom, and grandparents were able to come join in on the fun which made it even more enjoyable.

And since this was Bella's first Halloween to enjoy (6 days old last year...snuggled up on my chest under a blanket; she didn't really get into the spirit...), we all had even more fun.

Just reminiscing about my little bug last year on Halloween...

She did fabulous.  Stayed in the wagon without a fight; left her costume on the entire night without a fight (even the hat!); figured out that sweets are really tasty; got to check out all of the crazies and their costumes; and she was the star of our corner, hands down.  

I just love my little hoot owl!

Why have y'all been holding out on me?  These sucker things are goo-ood.

I think her eaten sucker tally for the night was 4.  She got her mama's sweet tooth :)

Paw Paw toted her everywhere she needed to go in her wagon, and she loved it.

NOM NOM NOM!

Daddio manning the grill.  We always fix hamburgers for dinner and eat outside as the festivities start.  We are the adult trick or treat stop as well--we cook sausage and hand it out to the parents every year.  It's a big hit!

She loved digging in that bucket--and she already knows how to pick out the good stuff.  

Snugglin' up with Grandmaw and Paw Paw Newby

Happy Halloween!

(my door sign has already been traded out for my Turkey!  

Thanksgiving and Christmas, here we come!)

love, angie

Sell-A-Stamp Spooktacular!

Stampin' Up! is offering an incredible deal that's available TOMORROW ONLY!

For one day, October 29, almost every stamp and stamp they offer will be 15% off!  Take advantage of this one day deal and get that stamp you've had your eye on :)  This offer includes their current promotion of single stamps as well!

Here are the details: 

• Starting at 12:00 AM (MT) and ending at 11:50 PM (MT), almost every stamp we sell will be 15 percent off.
• So for my Central Time zone stampers, the deal is good from 1:00 AM until 12:50 AM our time.

This means all stamps in the current catalogs including

• Background stamps
• Personalized name stamps
• Cookie press stamps
• Single-image stamps

This DOES NOT include

• Hostess sets
• Bundled stamp sets
• Digital stamp brush sets

It's a really great deal!  Contact me to place an order or visit my website.  Remember, it's ONE DAY ONLY!

http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/default.aspx

Get crafty, my friends!

love, angie

Single Stamps--even more!

A few weeks ago Stampin' Up! announced that until January 2, 2013, you have the opportunity to purchase single stamps from the Word Play, Perfectly Penned, and Seasonal Sayings Stamp Sets. Based on the interest  so far, they have added ten more individual images-including three images that you have never seen before!

Details:

• These stamps are available on any order type-customer, demonstrator, workshop, or online. 
• You can find the stamp item numbers on the flyers.
• These won't be sent to you in our typical cases or packaging; they'll be packaged in cello bags. If you'd like a case for your stamp, you can buy our Clear-Mount Stamp Cases that come in packs of four (item 119105).
• This offer is available for clear-mount stamps only.
• The stamps won't come with a Clear-Mount Block, and you'll need to buy a block separately if you don't already have one. The recommended block sizes can be found on the flyers. 
• There's no limit on how many pieces you can buy.
• Remember that this is a pilot program, so take advantage of it while you can!

Flyers (click on the link to open or see the pictures below):

• Single Stamps: Assortment 1 *New!
• Single Stamps: Assortment 2 *New!
• Single Stamps: Word Play
• Single Stamps: Perfectly Penned
• Single Stamps: Seasonal Sayings

 Get crafty!

Order these stamps and any Stampin' Up! product any time here.

love, angie

Dear Arabella,

My sweet, precious gift--you are ONE year old today!  It's hard to believe that much time has already gone by since you entered our world with a bang.

You were 8 lbs and 11.5 ounces of pure perfection.  You still sleep sprawled out, which is the first position you took as soon as they laid you down after you were born.  You like your space.

It seems like only yesterday you were snuggled up, asleep on our shoulders and keeping mama up all through the night (thank the Lord above that I was finally able to watch Friends during those midnight encounters or else we might not have as good of a relationship...those first couple of months we rough, unimaginable, exhausting, and now cherished.)

Now you're trying to toddle about and strongly asserting your independence.

Things you are loving right now:

--MUSIC!  This isn't anything new, but the way you can wiggle and jiggle as you dance is priceless.  Any form of music catches your attention quickly.

--When daddy comes home from work.

--Baby dolls--you love to love on them.

--Opening and closing doors.

--Playing with the remotes! (even though you're not supposed to...)

--Sleeping.  Praise the Lord Jesus...  You definitely got mama's love of sleep.  Once we figured out your formula issues, you have slept so well--12 hours a night with big, long naps during the day.

--Digging through purses and bags, taking everything out.  Especially if you can get your hands on a container of wipes.  You can have one of those emptied in no time.

--Books.  You are starting to point out and recognize things on the pages.  You like interactive books the best, but you'll "read" anything...I love it.

--People!  From your church buddies to the strangers who oodle over you in the grocery store--you ham it up big time for them.  You're so friendly and will go to, play with, and smile at just about anybody.  I hope this is a trait you keep--you get it from your daddy.

--Your blanket and your bed.  You will finally snuggle up again and we are loving it.  There for a few months you couldn't stand to be held when you were tired (and you still don't fall asleep when you're held).  You want your binkie, your blanket, and your bed--and then you put yourself to sleep without a hitch.  We are so proud of you for that.  But those rare little moments that you'll lay on us for a little while are priceless and we crave them.

--Tech (and any other dog really).  Actually every dog you see is Tech, no matter size/breed/color/or even alive or in a book.  When you go outside with me to let him out, you jump and flap and just get so excited.  You also like to talk to him through the window.  Daddy loves that you love Tech so much.

--Being chased.  If you think someone is after you, you take off giggling and gasping...it's hilarious!

Things I want to remember:

--That cheesy little grin when it seems like your mouth cannot stretch any further in a smile.

--Your laugh.  It is my favorite sound in the world and it takes my mind off of anything wrong in my world.

--How you entertain yourself.  I love watching you explore your surroundings and figure out how things work.  You keep yourself occupied with your curiosity.

--Our sweet moments in the rocking chair when you wake up in the middle of the night.  Usually all it takes is snuggling up on my lap and getting a kiss and a song, and you drift back off into dreamland.

--Every. Little. Thing

You have made our lives so much better, more complete.  Our lives haven't "stopped" because of you, but instead have become so much fuller.  You're just such a cool kid.  We love watching you grow and change and learn.  It's so much fun to see the pieces of ourselves come back to life in you (most of the time...until our temper or stubbornness or independence pops up all too often...).  You have a shimmery personality and you light up any room that you're in.  You have taught me so much about myself.  I will fight for you, protect you, teach you, and love you as long as I live.  Daddy and I wrote our promises to you when you were born, and we plan to keep them.  You will always be our baby; our first born; our beautiful, blessed gift.  

From here...

newborn

three months

six months

nine months

to a year...

Happy birthday, sweet girl!  I love you more than you will ever know.

xoxo

love, mama

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful:

--For a beautiful, energetic, hilarious, and just plain cool daughter; and for getting a whole year with her so far, today!

--That we have the resources to throw her a fun first birthday party, and all of the friends and family coming in for it.

--The servant hearts of our youth group.  "Teaching" them on Wednesday nights has been so uplifting and eye-opening to me; they've really done most of the teaching.  They love to help others and their hearts are on fire for it.

--For sweet tea, which is my form of coffee.

--To be awake and alive!

a year ago...

It a year ago today, almost to the minute, that I waddled my big ole 39 week pregnant self up to my Dr's office feeling a little lethargic, swollen, and exhausted.  Little did I know that I would walk in there to be admitted and become a 3D mama within 24 hours...

Here's a recap of those 24 hours for us.

I'm already experiencing the old adage that time goes quicker the older you get.  But when I sit down and think that it has already been a year since that whirlwind of craziness that brought us our precious Arabella, I just struggle to believe it.

So much has changed.  She is growing up unbelievably quickly.  And she really is the coolest thing ever.

a sweet friend

So I must have a thing for finding best friends in Science teachers.  My first year and a half of teaching, I bonded instantly with my dear friend Shellye, the Science teacher on my team.  She resigned from education the year before I did to pursue more ministry and now mamahood, but we still remain close friends.

Her replacement became my new best school buddy and all around dear friend.  Brooke moved into the classroom next door to mine (complete with a separate closet entry so we could keep each other in the know and be sly about it...:)  Anywho, with us, it also took very little time to connect.  We only got to work together for one school year before I resigned, but we also crafted together and stayed in touch.  I just love her so.

Well about a week and a half ago, Brooke and her husband got the incredible opportunity to make the move to Colorado.  I knew that this was going to happen soon, but I figured if she found a teaching job mid-year, I would at least have until Christmas.  Instead, she found a wonderful school with exactly the job she wanted who needed her immediately.  So off she goes...

She is such a special person.  I'm not just saying this because I like her, she is truly one of the best teachers I have ever been able to witness in action--she teaches the content in a fun way that helps the kids remember and engage; she gets to know the kids and treats them with love and respect; her classroom management is excellent, as well as her organization and preparedness; she always strives for greatness.  She also gets crafty with me, which is a trait I always love.  She has listened to, advised, and supported me through some tricky and difficult times, and celebrated with me through some fun times.  She has a solid head on her shoulders and both feet on the ground, and around her, I can just be me.  

I love her and will miss her dearly, but Colorado is lucky to get her!  Afterall, I'm not losing a friend; just gaining a vacation spot :)

 You rock my socks, Fergie!  

 love, angie