Anyone want to come over for a play day?

Once a year I place a large Stampin' Up order during Sell-a-bration time so that I can get as many of the sell-a-bration sets as I can. This year was no different and I will be getting in addition to my large order, 5 of the 6 sets. So...I was wondering if anyone wants to come over for a mommy "play day". No need to bring money, just bring yourselves and maybe a pair of scissors and a tape runner. You can make cards, scrapbook pages or just check out the stuff and relax.

No big deal just thought maybe you would like a night out to just be creative! I am thinking a Monday night in February(any Monday other than the 12th when I am having a Lia Sophia party) 6pm-8:30pm. Let me know what you think!

You can check out some sample cards done with the new sets at http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/556737736sMIhvW


Oh and another thing...I don't care who comes! Bring your friends, neighbors, mail man...etc. Whoever might like to come.

So...just to fill you in on our crazy life!

Some of you already know but I thought I would fill in the rest! Because of Sean's injury his insurance company has asked him to do light duty work. His company doesn't offer light duty work so Sean was referred to a agency which finds volunteer work paid through the origional company.

To make a long story short...there is nothing around here(Sean has a driving restriction), so Sean is working at Woodstock Bible Church for 3-6 months.

We are not sure if there is a discounted pay rate(as we have been receiving only 60% of his income now), but we are thrilled with the opportunity. It will be great to have him in Woodstock for the time being and working for the church. This is certainly an answer to prayer.

Thank you to all who have been praying. We trust that you will continue to do so as the next few hectic months pass!

Help us with our GREAT CAR HUNT!!!!

Ok...I have been looking for over a month now for a good deal on a van and a car. So...I thought I would throw this out there and see if anyone could help us. We want to know where you bought your cars? Did you have a good experience? Do you know a car salesman? Do you know anyone who is selling a vehicle? We will be paying cash for both of these cars so they have to be reasonable and reliable. I have no problem haggling with a salesman(although my dad is much better at "haggling"). I am not even opposed to going a certain distace to find what we are looking for. So...if you have an idea, please help! Thanks!

Please tell me that it's just in my head!!!

I can't help but feel like large families are looked down upon. I am frustrated to some extent with the questions "How many kids do you have????!!!!!!!" and "That baby's a girl too!!!!!! WOW what are you going to do?" I felt particularily offended yesterday during a birthday party that we went to. Our family took up an entire table, and there were alot of people whom I knew from high school, and just growing up in general but haven't seen in awhile. I felt like we were the side show freaks. Our kids were behaving very well and were very polite and well mannered but people just couldn't help but stare. We left the party after an hour b/c I couldn't stand it. Here I am....already emotional b/c well...Kendell is doing that to me, and so upset. Needless to say...it wasn't fun. I can only imagine what other families feel who have more kids than us. What is the magic number of acceptance in society? Is three ok, four....well I am sure not five!!!! What do you think? Maybe it is all in my head. Or maybe I just have to think of a new punchline.

6 years sober

Yesterday we celebrated the 6th birthday of the twins by taking them to a waterpark for an overnight. They had a great time and will remember it for awhile. On our way home we stopped for lunch at Noodles and Sean and I shared a bit of what we remembered about the day of their birth with the twins. It was pretty funny actually as we remembered bits and pieces of the day to think about how far we have come. I had a hard time thinking about them being 1 month old when they were born and now THEY ARE SIX!!!!! Yikes! Time flies! They get the priveledge of being our "trial" kids as far as our parenting and discipline goes. Sean and I are both first born children so we were both "trial" kids. I think every year I come to the same conclusion as I think about just what it is that they have shown me each year. They are totally different. It is frustrating to them that people pair them but sometimes...they want to be alike. They think the idea of switching classes is fun and they will probably try to get away with it...when Kiara's hair grows back. But deep down...they want you to know them. They want you to know what makes Kellyn-Kellyn and visa versa. And lately, you can definatly tell Kiara by her robust laugh! She is showing her true colors every time she cracks a joke and enjoys making everyone laugh. Kellyn has been showing a sweeter side and recently told me that the best part of her birthday was "everyone coming together". People already matter to them at six. The greatest blessing that God gives twins is a person whom will accept the other no matter what. They take them as they are. That's what I am striving for in my life. I want to accept people for just who they are. Maybe my greatest lesson with them this year is just that. God will accept me no matter how much mud and filth I have in my life. He says "come". So I am six years sober. My eyes have been opened to another wonderful aspect of God, parenting for six years now. I am blessed to be a parent to these two amazing girls.

Diaper of the Week #1-Valentines Pocket

I thought I would share with you some of my new diapers and maybe help some people begin to understand a little about the complicated cloth diapering world. This cloth diaper is a pocket style diaper which means that you put an insert(something like an old style diaper folded into a third). The outside layer is waterproof so you don't need any prehistoric covers. It does seem kinda bulky in this picture of Kierstin but I have changed the type of insert that I used and it isn't bulky anymore. So...here it is. I haven't had any leaks with it and it is made by Chloe's Toes which is a Work at Home Mom store(WAHM) that I found on www.hyenacart.com. If you are interested in WAHM wares check out the hyena cart to see just what is available. I have found some wonderful people and wonderful items that have sparked my interest.

A new adventure!

Most of you have seen my birth announcements from Kierstin. Well I have decided to take something that I enjoy and turn it into what I hope will be a WAHM business. I have decided to make custom birth announcements and photo shadow boxes. I think that I can accomodate up to four orders a month of custom announcements and probably up to six orders a month of shadow boxes. What do you gals think? Here are examples of what I did with Kierstin's birth announcements.

Ummm...any suggestions???? PLEASE!!!!

Ok...well I am getting desperate. Sean and I haven't been sleeping for the past 4 nights because our dd#4 is making "life difficult" and not sleeping through the night. AAAAGGGGHHHHH. She is almost 13 months old and for some reason is waking up at some point in the middle of the night and SCREAMING. And I mean Screaming. And that is after Sean or I go into her room to 1. change her diaper, 2. give her a fresh bottle, and 3. find her a pacifier for the other hand. So...in our minds...we have the bases covered. But we must be missing something b/c whenever we turn around to leave the room....all heck breaks loose and once again we are left feeling like....hmmm....I hate life. Well of course not really but those of you who remember these nights will remember the feeling. I have tried letting her cry it out(last night and she screamed for over 75 minutes before finally falling asleep), and then woke up at 630am for the day. I have thought of drugging her...with tylenol of course thinking that perhaps her teeth really do hurt. But part of me thinks that can't be it b/c she is only screaming when we leave her. So...I am open to any and all suggestions. Please...I am begging you. Restore my life to normal. Oh and if you are wondering...I have tried praying too. TIA for your ideas!

K1 & K2's Birthday plans!!!

This year for Christmas my parents gave Sean and I a overnight bed and breakfast package to the Grand Geneva in Lake Geneva. I was and still am very thankful for their generosity in giving us this gift. After reviewing the gift card Sean noticed that we could use the card towards a few different resorts and packages....so...... we are taking Kellyn and Kiara away for their birthdays(no their won't be any CROWDED birthday party at our house!!! We have learned our lesson!). We actually were able to book the overnight for Timber Ridge, which has (I am told)a great water park and activities geared towards their age group. And... I AM SO EXCITED!!! We haven't told them where they are going. We decided that when you are 6, the excitement of a surprise can be just as good as the surprise itself! So we are going to go on a Monday to save the crowd and return on a Tuesday. My sister is going to keep Kyla and Kierstin so that we can spend our time focusing on the twins. We will be sure to take pictures so that we can remember our trip and the girls will have some spending money to buy a souvenir to remember their birthday. Ummm...can you tell how excited I am!!!!!