Time Out!

Someone very special has a BIG birthday this week!

(I can not believe she will be 5!!!)

Anyway, I am waaaayyyy behind on her party planning so I will be taking a time out this week to prepare for her big day!

So, if you place a custom order between now and Saturday, it will really be like placing it on Sunday. If you have questions, just email me.

Oh- and if you are curious as to the inspiration for this years party... look no further...

Have a great day!

Randomness

Last night, while sewing by the light of the moon, I ran the sewing machine needle through my middle finger. Yep- it hurt. Still does.


Daisy has the croup, and some gunk to go along with it. Monkey do had it last week. She's a bit cranky and very sensitive. It seems her brother Bud, keeps making her cry.


Speaking of croup, Puddin was feeling sorry for poor Daisy in the van yesterday and said, "Momma, I'm so sorry Daisy has the crickets, poor thing!" hehe!



Monkey Do is very, very into Farmer Jason. Do you know him? He's a regular around here.

MD has even decided that he is going to be Farmer Jason for Halloween. In fact, for 3 weeks straight he asked me every single day if I had made him some "farmer clothes" yet. And every day I said, no not yet. Finally while at Target one night I saw some overalls and voila! MD has his farmer clothes! FYI- he has worn them every day since them (I have been able to sneak in 1 wash!)

Huge Praise! My sister in law that I mentioned a while back and asked ya'll to pray for is finally out of the hospital and in a rehab facility now!! Truly, her story is amazing! I wish she weren't so far away so I could give her a hug and see her smiling face!

Nap time- oh glorious nap time- ugh! It's a bust around here these days. It seems 3 out of my 5 children aren't really into naps anymore. This really complicates things for me since that is when I would typically work or rest- depending on which was most urgent at the time. Also, it's another sure sign they are growing up. *sigh* bittersweet.

Speaking of growing up, Monkey Do has another obsession. For the past 6 days he has made mention to me that he is growing, It goes a little something like this,

"Watch dis Momma, watch dis! Did ya see dat?? I gwowing up wight now!! See me!! I a gwown up man now!"

And every day I tell him I do think he grew a little but he's still not a grown up man... that takes time. bittersweet.

And Bud... where do I start? Maybe I shouldn't. Now is just not a good time probably. Let's just say we're having issues and each day seems to be more challenging than then next. The child has a personality all his own.

He is either happy

or he's not.

No in between.

Combine that with a very, very short fuse and well, I think you get the picture. I could do a whole series of posts on Bud. Maybe I will. He definitely challenges my mothering skills. I guess I should look at is a learning opportunity! Ha!

Monkey See loves, loves loves school! This makes me happy since he was the one that needed it the most and was most reluctant to go. We saw one of his teachers this week out and about and it thrilled him to no end to see his "fwiend" as he called her. After that, every where we went he wondered if he would see his "fwiend" there too. So cute.

Hubby's working hard. I love him so much. He is such a wonderful husband and daddy.

Custom Orders

Hello friends...
I'm taking a quick break from the humm of the machine right now because it just dawned on me that I had not updated everyone! I am officially in the midst of the "busy season". (Not just my real life as mommy either... 'nother story- 'nother time.

No, this is Puddin Pop Busy Season around here. It seems the humm of the machine is the constant background noise through every nap and in between moment I can catch.

So in effort to not take too much time away from my hubby and my littles I will only be taking custom orders through Nov. 15th. After that, it's directly off the shelf orders only!
I'm currently working on some cutie-patooties too! I have 4 shows this fall, the most I've ever done in one season! I'm nervous and anxious and excited about it all at the same time! So for now, I'm finishing up some current orders and working on stock for the shows.

Also know, due to this being "busy season" and all, it will take longer for your order to be processed. Please allow 3 weeks (maybe more, but hope not) for your order to be completed. If sickness hits my family (Please, Lord, no more!) it may take longer. Right now I'm finishing up some orders from late August because In the past 4 weeks we have had 2 stomach virus', a nasty bout of toddlers diarrhea (yep, it's real... just ask google)and currently a case of tonsillitis and croup!!

When would you like to visit?!?!

Throw in a little separation anxiety by a certain toddler (it's really, really terrible- I'll share soon) and an upcoming birthday to plan as well as just getting back in the swing of things in general and you have my life right now! So, I promise, I am working on your orders just as quickly as I can and they will ship as soon as they are completed!

So for now, hubby's on "daddy duty" and I better get back to work!

Proud as Punch

This little guy is as proud as punch!

He dressed himself!!!

YAY!!!

This may not sound like a big deal to some, but when your twin brother has been doing this on his own for quite a while, you start to notice and feel bad about it. Poor thing!

Have I mentioned before how fiercly competitive he is?? Well, he is. And, he was determined that he was going to be able to do this "all by myselwf" as soon as possible!

We worked on it, and worked on it. Finally, today he popped up after he was dressed and yelled, "MOMMA!!!! I did it all by myselwf!" I was so happy for my sweet boy! Way to go Monkey See!!

PPK

I thought I'd share a few PPK's that went to

their new homes last week...

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

to which indeed you were called in one body.

And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

Love my Puddin

While I do love my Puddin, I have been meaning to share some

pictures of you and your Puddins.

Somehow, I overlooked it.

So, without further a do... You and your Puddins....

Aren't they just precious!!!

I love getting emails with pictures of you and your sweet Puddins

so keep sending them in!




And finally... this one just warms my heart.

This little guy is a reminder for his sisters of their brother,

far away in Africa right now.

I just love that they have him to play with and to

remind them to pray for a little brother in a land far away.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

So, I'm having trouble keeping up these days.

Preschool has thrown me for a loop. Well, not really preschool... more like the 2 babes not in preschool.

Oh well! That's another story for another time.

For now, these pictures have been screaming to get out of my camera!

Puddin, Monkey See and Monkey Do started baseball this past weekend!

Aren't they the cutest things?!?

Hubby is on the right helping Monkey See get his legs just right, Monkey Do is standing next to them, one of the coaches and 2 of the team mates are on the left and the little pixie running free in the outfield??? Well, that's Puddin!

Monkey Do at bat

Puddin at bat

Monkey See at bat

They had fun, so did Daddy!

It was so cute to see the 4 of them out on the field together! I loved it!

Monkey Do running home

Bud and Daisy

My boys!

Everyone had a ball until they got hot.

they are starting to wither!

And well, if you have a preschooler, you know how that goes.

Now, onto team pictures tomorrow and another "game" on Saturday!

And just to earn myself a few points here... all 7 of us were dressed, fed, and at the ball park with minutes to spare before our 8:00 starting time on Saturday morning! I couldn't believe it!

Tractors on Main Street

Puddin has started taking violin lessons. She loves it. I'm so happy she is enjoying it but there was a big, BIG, hesitation on my part before we started. It was, "What am I going to do with the other 4 kids in a music store while she takes a violin lesson??? Am I crazy- I already have to deal with this during dance lessons, and man- it is not fun!" And really, truly I say to you, it.is.NOT.fun.
When they were little it was one thing- I mean, they would sit and be entertained by all of the smiling mommies... they are no longer entertaining and the children no longer like to sit.
Dilemmas.
So, what's a mom to do??
Well, with a little planning that violin lesson went by lickety split!
All I had to do was load up 2 John Deer Tractors and double stroller, along with the violin of course, and voila! Tractors on Main Street!

We dropped Puddin off at her practice, I told the teacher we would be walking around the square in case she needed me and told her I would be back after the practice was over. She was very understanding- as was the rest of the music store staff- and we headed out. Unfortunately for the boys, the start of our journey was all uphill... isn't that just like life!

My sweet little Monkeys persevered and made it all the way. Monkey See is in the lead of course- he has a competitive streak a mile wide and absolutely can not stand to not be first.
You can't tell from the pictures but he is peddling a mile a minute!




Here they are taking a break at the corner before we had to cross the street again. Aren't the precious?! Too bad they both won't look at the camera at the same time!

While the boys were having a ball driving their tractors around downtown Murfreesboro, I was in hot pursuit pushing these two darlings. Bud fell sound asleep and Daisy did not. She was having fun though, despite the look on her face.

I loved this shot in front of the flag. Very Norman Rockwell, don't you think?

New flags up around the square... Go big BLUE!

My Monkey's beside the monument remembering when Murfreesboro was the capital of Tennessee, waaay back when.

And finally, Puddin, outside the music store, starring into the sun for her commemorative "1st day of violin class" picture.

All in all, a great lesson for Puddin and lots of fun for the boys. And in case you wondered, yes, I was a little stressed at the end. Monkey See channelling his inner race car driver, and distracted motorists made me a little uneasy a couple of times. Thankfully, he is an obedient child and when momma screams "STOP!!!" he listenes. Not that he was almost hit or anything... he just got to going so fast a couple of times I made him stop and wait for the 4 of us to catch up to him.

We'll see what next week has in store for us!

Playing catch up!

So, I'm nearly a week behind on posting... how does that happen?? I guess it may have something to do with preschool, dance practice, violin practice, a broken dryer, labor day weekend fun with family, traveling, filling orders, taking orders, working a local show and diarrhea. Not exactly in that order. But, you get the picture.



Anyway, in the midst of all of that, we have managed to have some fun too!


So here are a few pictures from our Labor day weekend. My parents have a house on the river and lots of my extended family gathered there this weekend to celebrate. Due to the diarrhea and our broken dryer, we were only able to spend 1 day... too much laundry at home calling our name! But what a fun day we had! My mom's brother and sisters were all there as well as my sister and several of my cousins and their kiddos. The kids all had a super time!

Here are a few pics...

Puddin just realized the boat has set sail with her brother's on it!

Perplexed as to how they could leave her!!

Here they come! My momma, Aunt Judy, A, P and Monkey See

and Monkey Do in the paddle boat

"cheese!"

My cousin Jeremy on the jet ski pulling some of the kids on a raft

Puddin finally gets her turn with her daddy! The boys had to stay ashore and watch...

Here they come!

Monkey Do and Papa

Daisy showing her sticky sucker fingers

G and N sizing up the fish they caught


Bud trying on his brother's shoes

Anyway, we had a great day... lots of fun and family time.

This weekend Puddin and the Monkeys have their first round at baseball so I'll be posting some pics on that.

I also have several orders I should be able to finish up this weekend so I'll be posting pics of those too.

Have a happy weekend!