Saying a Fond Farewell to Summer

SORRY in advance... this post contains loads of pictures

Finally getting around to packing up our 4th of July decor. This summer whizzed right by and I am surely not ready for it to be over. Tomorrow, I will be pulling my hair out trying to get 4 kids school shopping done in one day. I usually spend a day with each of them, but that is so not happening this year. I figured, why not get this torture over with in one day? I know what you are thinking....I must be crazy? Rest assured if you don't hear from me ever again I am just residing in the local insane asylum. I mostly brought this on myself by not being better prepared. I think I am still in shock that I have less than 2 weeks until school starts. There is so much yet to get done....2 kids need physicals, I haven't enrolled the little one in Kindergarten yet, and I need to order a birth certificate. Yep, I really procrastinated this time....so not like me. Definitely in denial that summer is coming to an end. I think there are deeper issues in my brain related to this whole going back to school thing. My youngest will now be in school all day and I am going back to work outside of the house. I have been at home with my kiddos for 12yrs. My husband seems to think I can just get back out there and get myself a what he sometimes refers to as a "REAL JOB". I have most definitely been blessed with talents that have allowed me to make some monthly income. I still have orders for this year, another show, and quite a few photo shoots on the books, so it might be quite the juggling act for the next few months. 

    

So I will be exchanging the above party for some peace and quiet.

Here is a peek into our summer smash book. This is the first smash book I have ever made and it is still a work in progress. I am surprised at how fast this went together, much quicker than a traditional scrapbook and I loved working in this smaller size. I will be sure and post the rest when they get finished. As always, thanks for stopping by
Rhonda

Spring Lilacs

                                                                   Fresh Lilacs


Spring has finally arrived to this part of the country and I am beyond excited about it. I love the hot days and late nights. The kids are out of school and ready for summer. The two youngest ask me daily if it is time to fill the pool. It isn't quite warm enough for that, but maybe, in a few weeks. We are looking forward to spending some time in Omaha, Denver, and Kansas City this summer. It will be nice to get out of here for a while and enjoy some other scenes.
Rachael signed up for T-ball this year and that gets us out of the house Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  Liz has been at Volleyball camp this week and picked up a summer job, babysitting for the neighbors. Brandon is working hard to save up money for his mission in 3 years. He has been working cows for a few local ranchers. And my little Christyn is busy getting dirty, playing outside all hours of the day, and refusing to ever brush her hair. I have been on a bit of a break from the crafting, until this week. My house needed some attention the last few weeks. I did start a summer smash book a few weeks back and have been putting some of our Instagram pics in there. I'm planning on finishing up the gardening this week and then I'm ready to enjoy this Memorial Day weekend. Hope it is a long weekend, because after Monday it is back to work I go.
My oldest daughter and I have been working really hard to loose weight and doing some walking everyday. Going to get in three miles today, so I better get going before it gets dark.
Hope all of you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!
Rhonda

                   
                                                     Robin nest outside our living room window.
                                     My oldest daughter has named them all after her and her siblings.

Blizznado

The weather here has been the worst. Monday night around 11pm we had the tornado sirens sounding and some serious hail. I read on a facebook post they were calling it a Blizznado. Tuesday the kids got out of school early and today we have a snow day. The weather has just been plain crazy in these parts.  Just last weekend we were experiencing 80 degree weather....can someone please send it back? I am so sick of snow and ice! I really wanted to take my kids out to do a photo shoot for Mother's Day gifts, but I guess that is going to have to wait. My little monkey let me get a few pics of her on Easter break and they turned out pretty good. I got all excited about getting all my kids in one picture...it has been a while. I am always missing a teenager. 

This Saturday is my first spring show and so, I feel sorta like a basketcase around here. I have 3 more pieces I am trying to finish up before Friday and then I am taking a few days off next week for my kids' track meets. I hope the weather gets nicer by then. I really need to get back to work just wanted to post a few more pieces I finished this week. 

Be back soon! 

Rhonda

Clothespin Dolls

So, I have seen the most adorable clothespin dolls on Pinterest and thought I had to make one for myself. I couldn't stop myself at just one. They are quite time consuming, but oh so fun to make. The ideas and designs are endless. Of course my girls love them and now want to design some of their own. 

My smallest is home from preschool today and keeping me busy. I thought I would spend the day getting some work done, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. She did help me a little with the laundry and now wants me to sit with her and watch Gnomeo and Juliet. I do love that movie! Every time I watch it I am inspired or see something I missed before. I always get a kick out of Christyn when the gnome shows his bum she always covers her eyes. 

We are looking forward to the Easter holiday this weekend. My mom is coming to visit on Saturday and the kids want to take her to look at deer. I think they are mostly excited about the 4 day weekend. I am still in shock that March is almost over and we only have like 7 weeks of school left. Last night I took some time to check out hotels and attractions around Kansas City. My husband and I thought it would be fun to get away for a few days this summer if everything goes smoothly with farm stuff. We haven't had a real family vacation in 3 years, so I think it is time to get out of this little town and do something fun.

Honestly, I would just be happy with some warmer weather. Today when we left for school it was 7 degrees outside. I am so ready for spring weather.

Hope you all have a very Happy Easter!

Rhonda

Random Paper Mache

Just dropping in to post a few pics of some more pieces I finished this week. Me and my girls are sick again with strep throat this time. It has been a long winter season and we are expecting snow/ice mix for the next few days. I am patiently waiting for glorious spring to arrive. At least I can dream of spring through some of my art. I have been creating these panoramic eggs and just love how they have turned out. It will be hard to part with some of them. The photos this time do not do any justice to these pieces. I have been having trouble with my 1.4 lens and I miss it greatly. 

Farm work is in full gear...we have new baby calves arriving daily and there is much fencing to be fixed. I hope to get out there and take a few pics of all the new little moo's. My kids have been spending tons of time with dad out in the pastures. They love this time of year. 

I better get back to some work. 

Rhonda

Cindy Lou Who and some finished pieces

My sweet little preschooler had a silly Dr. Seuss day yesterday and so, of course, we had to dress her up as Cindy Lou Who from the Grinch. She was a big hit at school. I forgot it was silly day and woke up late, so I had to throw this look together in like 5 min. I wish I would have been better prepared, because I'm pretty sure we could have done a better job. Never the less, she loved it. At one point last night I had to bribe her to take her hair down. Apparently, she was under the impression she was going to wear her hair like this forever. I had to take my older daughter to the doctor yesterday and Christyn had to come with us dressed like this. You can imagine all the attention she received around town. Let's just say it's no wonder she didn't want to take her hair down at the end of the day. Every girl dreams of that kind of attention. It must have been nice to hear "Oh my Gosh you are so CUTE" all day long. I might be getting a few phone calls from the preschool next week, because she is now referring to herself as Christyn Cindy Lou Who and I did promise her we could wear her hair like that again if she would just take a bath and go to bed. Luckily my kids go through phases pretty fast, so we will see how long this one last.

In other news I am still working away getting ready for a local craft show in April. The weeks are going by quickly and I am now pulling all nighters trying to get inventory ready. I'm still not very organized at these things and I would like to give my booth an over haul as far as display ideas go, so I have quite a bit of work ahead of me. I have only done 2 of these things, but this year I decided to book up the year with shows just to see how things go. This year is also the first time I will be doing far away show...not quite ready for the out of state thing, but maybe next year. Here are a few pieces I finished up last week. I just wanted to pop in and share a few highlights from my week. Back to work I go!

Rhonda

Happy Valentines

Things have been busy as usual. 2 months and counting until my first show of 2013. I have been trying to get work done in between the day to day and church responsibilities, but today I decided to take a break when my little one came home from preschool. We played outside for a bit. It looks beautiful outside, but it was just to cold to stay out. We decided to come inside and build a tent. I use to love playing in these with my brothers when I was a kid. She has now officially eaten way to much Valentine candy and is a little wound up. The rest of the kids came home from school and now there is much laughter coming from under these blankets. They are now camped out for the night. I am excited that they have a four day weekend and I will get much time to play games and snuggle this weekend.
Saturday, we are headed to our friends house and while the kids have play time Melane and I will get scrapping time. I am looking forward to spending time with them and getting some much needed scrapping done.
Husband came home and told me not to cook or do the dishes, because tonight that is his gift to me. I WILL TAKE IT!  Just wanted to pop in and say Happy Valentines to all of you!
I'm off to have a glorious weekend with the kiddos.
Rhonda

I just can't get enough snuggle time with this sweetie. She has never been my cuddly one. She is always on the move, so I sure do soak it up when she offers.