Some Stacey news~

Hey there friends, family, and blogger buddies! I finally did another post on here- hooray!

I also wanted to let you all know of some changes to come for me and art. God has been really working on my heart in this area- and I am thrilled about a decision. You all can go ahead and take my art blog (Flutterby) out of your list of blogs. In the next few weeks, I am planning on doing something very different. This fall I am doing an e-commerce website- which is a site that will easily let someone (anyone!) purchase directly off the site. I want to be BIGGER and really have a much more professional "boutique" look for some new simple art/designs. I am planning to have "samples" online to be personalized. I will no longer put emphasis on "custom pieces". I still want to customize- but just in a different and easier way. You'll see.

Along with this website, probably the biggest news with my art is that I am planning on doing Canton Trade Days. Those of you here know...oh, yes. I am registering/getting evaluated for a booth in the Arbors...so we will see. If not- then Trade Centers will be a good start.
I am nervous but also feeling a fire in my belly- and prepared to work my bootie off. Soooo, God-willing...I am praying (you can too!)and hoping that this will work out for November and December.

Summary of summer!

Some have told me that once you have kiddos in grade school, the years fly by. Well, it is TRUE! It is beyond me that I will have a first and third grader this year!


Some summertime stuff.....travel to Co., swimming/sprinkler fun, tackled a reading chart, baking some yummies, girlie sleepover, VBS, going green and started recycling, shopping, soccer camp, playing and more playing, friends & parties, tubing/lake, and just loved not being scheduled and simply hangin' out with two of my most favorite cutie's in the world---

Here's to a great, brand new 2008-2009 school year everybody...

MAKE A GOOD WISH-

(check out Lauren-ha!)

(check out the pic of J I found-flexing his stuff in 5th grade...!)

Josh's mom asked me on the phone today "...is that all you do there in TX is PARTY?" Well, it may seem that way according to this BLOG! But really...we DO work too!!! It's just that it's not any fun to talk about that now is it?

We celebrated the birthday of the man of my life on the 9th- with a simple going out to eat and half eaten cookie cake his co-workers got him (and he brought it home!). We did although have a "cookie monster" at Cheddars- so that count too. The girls got him the Steven Curtis Chapman CD "Cinderella"(and I am sure he secretly got all teary eyed over it in the car going to work and stuff) and I splurged on some Marshalls stuff. It really is one of his favorite stores. He likes a good deal like his someone else I know!
I couldn't even begin to write about my man on here. I can say that I am still falling in love with him over and over again every single day. He's everything and I cannot wait to spend many many more birthdays celebrating him and all the incredible things that make him so INCREDIBLE! ....You make every day a joyful, priceless treat, honey. You are a gift from heaven. XO.

Okay- now the other important person in my life we celebrated this week was my Mom. Us girls went to a girly lunch and saw the cute "Kit Kittredge:The American Girl" movie with some friends. Mom has always been in love with American Girl dolls- and so it was perfect. (She even wants one of her own- and is the other grandma that supplies all the cutie-patootie outfits for Hannah and Lauren's dolls... and...um, I gladly let them!!$$!)
I love you more than you know, Mom. I love that you are choosing to look at the "rainbows" instead of the "clouds". You and I have something so special- and I am continually proud and honored to call you not only my Mom--but also a best friend.

Colorado fun...

Yup- it is July... and we were bundled around a fire to stay toasty. (nope,not in TX!!!)

We celebrated the 4th- with sparks from fireworks (and newlyweds too!)


Went to a Rockie's game! Pigged out on loaded dogs and had baseball fun- even though they lost...

Did some tubing and kayaking down the Phlatt river...just gorgeous!


Went to Pike's Peak and the views took our breath's away...ha, literally!

More wedding pictures-

An amazing Colorado wedding...

I really could post a zillion pages on my big brother's wedding...and the incredible woman he married...but I'm not sure if I could sum up all the beauty and emotions behind it in just that.

The wedding was one memory after another- and was as beautiful as out of a magazine. They had the ceremony overlooking Colorado mountains on the golf course they met on. A huge white tent, gourmet food, cocktails/hor'doeuvre's, incredible live band (of which we danced the night away with!), beautiful flowers...you name it- just paradise.

The ceremony was perfect. Their pastor said words that every married couple needs to hear, they had a very old traditional wedding rope tying, and ended it with a butterfly release. Of course, that was very special to me personally. Many of you know why.

Heather looked spectacular. And Steve was quite a handsome dude I must say. Josh and I were proud and honored to be standing with them as matron of honor and best man. There is not anything better than being around all the people you love in a celebration of love. Josh had a special, sweet and funny look down memory lane toast. And I shocked myself with the microphone (and packed my emotions down so I could hold it together a bit) and said a toast too. I needed to not only honor the brother (and sis-in-law) that I love so much but also Dad as well. We had tears indeed, but he was there. I felt it. He was there in love- with his beaming smile. We know he was so proud.

Girl time!

Our pretty toes here on the top and the entire wedding party at the rehersal dinnner below. It was on Steve's beautiful golf course he runs- and we made new friends, reunited with good old one's, and saw family from all over the U.S. There was a beautiful sunset, beautiful rainbow, and just the prettiest Co. night....

The wedding party had such a blast being pampered the day before (and the day of w/ our hair done all fancy!) Steve and Heather's wedding. Starting off with some gifts from the bride... and a Starbucks run of course. Hannah said "Mommy, I want a "fappacino", okay? Oh, my what have we started?? We all (including the cutest flower girls!) got pedicures and manicures. Yes- a first for myself, my mom, and the girls. It was so cute watching them get pampered....and my mom at one time had 3 ladies working on her (which is huge!). Then off to a lady luncheon place in a beautiful garden- it was such a wonderful beginning to a lovely memorable weekend.

Hannah's pretty ears!

Hannah has been wanting her ears pierced for f o r e v e r it seems. Mommy said that she didn't want to torture her daughters by having to wait until they were 13 (sorry, Mom)...and so I have been saying "okay". Well- Daddy had, like, age 20 in mind before she could get them pierced. And he also says she won't start dating until she's 30! hee! hee!
Oh yes, he caved in...and we got them done. We had some "girl support" from the Anderson's (and Rachel's phone camera...c'mon, how could I have forgotten my camera??) and she did it. It was a full life circle for me (as I watch with cloudy eyes and know why her leg is twitching with nerves) because it was just yesterday for me. Heavens, I did have to wait until I was 13!! (still love ya, Mom:-)

Anyway- I had to literally sign my life away for her to do this. It was like buying a house--all the signatures and initials. IT IS 2008 NOW. She has to clean her ears 3x a day and looks just adorable. I said "Hannah, how do you feel?". With a glimmer in her eye, she says "different....I feel kinda GROWN UP."
And I say...."whoooa, waaaait a minute now....."

Only the latest and greatest gifts!

Okay, maybe not the latest- but seems to be pretty great (just not when it is too blazing hot out!). Lauren got a croquet set from Nana (yes, among other six yr. old girly gifts too) and we have been fascinated with this new to us- old game.

I said to Josh..."honey, whatcha want for Father's Day?" He says... "I want one of those things on T.V. that gets rid of the 2 inch of thickness on your foot." Okay. So, a "Ped Egg" is what he got! Us girls figured that if he likes this... then surely he will like "Mighty Putty" as well. Let's go for the other $9.99 wonder! It really is amazing too. (I know you have seen the commercial for it- and our men secretly would love it!) He can now fix, mend, and smooth out things with both. What every man wants. Ha.
(Now really...this perfectly amazing Daddy actually got $ to get some new shirts and towards purchasing a new guitar. We aren't that bad!)

A day in the life of a 6yr old's BIRTHDAY!

First breakfast in bed- fit for a princess. Mommy even picked fresh flowers in the field next to us....yup, crazy in love.

Then off to the b-day party she started planning the day after she turned 5! Ha! An ice cream sundae party (with sprinkles and cherries of course!)at a small sprinkler/spray playground near town.

Then home to open more presents from grandparents and parents and off to Olive Garden to eat a big bowl of noodles...a definite Lauren favorite and a birthday tradition to pig out at O.G.

We were overjoyed to be celebrating and honoring Lauren on Saturday. We love this very blonde, sensitive, creative little princess that has a smile that lights up the room! Here's to another year of wonderful you!