Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!

My what a difference a year makes.  Peep has changed SO much it's hard to believe.  This is her, last Christmas, click here.

Now she is talking saying new words every day.  She is walking, running, climbing.  She has been walking around with her afghan on her head.  She comes up and hugs me and pats me on the back looking like Cousin It.  She's been sleeping through the night since July.  Loves dogs, babies, kids, people, horses, and on and on.  Talks about her Papa (which I've learned she calls Nana too, so it's grandparent encompassing) and cousin K* all the time, along with our dog and the neighbors dog.  She loves for her daddy to hide under a blanket sitting on the couch, she pulls the blanket off and he chases her snorting and growling.  She laughs her head off and the minute he stops she says and signs "more?".

To add to our joy, we are expecting baby #2.  We're excited and nervous...  I'm not sure how I will corral two munchkins and get them out of the house, it'll be interesting!

Safe travels everyone!  See you next year!

Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer!

Just saw a cute article on wrapping ideas for the holidays on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/how-tuesday-last-minute-packaging-round-up-11450/?ref=nf

Hard to believe that it's winter, let alone Christmas...  And the new year, 2011 (holy crap!!), is just around the corner. I remember hearing the adults at family get togethers talk about how fast time went and I thought they were crazy! Time dragged waiting for Christmas, draaaagged waiting for summer, draaaaagged waiting for my birthday, draaaaaaaaaaaaagged waiting to grow up.  Wow, how that has changed!

Who knows what the new year will bring for us! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Painting painting painting!

Flutterby 11x14" Acrylic on canvas

Commissioned piece just finished!  I hope the commissioner (?) likes it.  She requested a butterfly and left it to me to sort out the style and doing so has sent me on a bug kick, so expect to see more bug paintings coming up!

I used real acrylics rather than craft acrylics on this and I must say I have been converted.  They are SO much nicer than craft acrylics!!!  I thought they'd be a lot more expensive, but they aren't, especially if you catch them on sale. 

You know...  it takes me longer to finish a painting with a small one to chase and wrangle, but it's as satisfying as ever.

Another year...

Another birthday!  Birthdays always seem like a good day for some introspection, where I am, where I thought I'd be and where I'm headed.  A good day to reflect on just how lucky I am to be married to my best friend and to have the sunniest, sweetest little girl and to be happy for our family's health.

So here goes!

Past: I try not to have regrets, but... a few still linger.  I remind myself that every choice I made led to where and who I am today and in that I am truly blessed.
Present: Loving it. Looking forward to what each new day brings. Peep is growing and changing every day and she brings me such joy.  (Even when she is yelling at me, "ma! ma! or maybe especially then, haha!).
Future: I want to do more art, more selling of said art, more blogging, more yoga and more bible study.

Monarch Migration

We had loads and loads of Monarchs in our trees last night and our camera just wasn't up to the job!!  Nothing makes me want a fancy camera more than an instance like this.  It was gorgeous and majestic.  One of the most beautiful things I've seen.