Tinkerbell update

Here' s the plan: Grace has to do chores around the house and she gets paid... when she has enough money to buy the movie for herself, we will go to the store and she can use her own money to buy it. I know, I know it's an allowance, but we haven't started that with her yet, so I thought this would be a good introduction! What I am really excited to see is if she will understand the concept of finding the lowest price so that she can keep more of her money! I can't wait to get all the ads printed out and show her the different prices... Maybe that's a little above her head, but maybe not! We'll see. (I am a D-O-R-K, that's OK)

So, if any of you have any chores around your house that you'd like for Grace to do, she is available.... well, that is, when she finishes the chores at my house!

Confessions and Advice

Ok... I have a confession... I caved. I caved and did something I said I would NEVER do. I bought Grace some Tinkerbell PJ's. {GASP} I know, I know.... it's not Disney Princess, but it's close enough. If you'd seen her face when she realized they were hers, you would have melted too. Don't worry, I only paid .50 cents for the stupid things... (I am making myself feel better by including this statement)

She is totally obsessed with Tinkerbell. Those brilliant people at Disney have done it again. They have sucked my child in right along with every other 3 year old girl in the world. I mean, seriously, a 30 second commercial, and she now wants to be freakin' Tinkerbell when she grows up. Unless she is learning about it from her friends at school, I am at a loss.

Here's where I need the advice: Should her I let her watch the new Tinkerbell movie that is coming out this week????? She is well aware, from all the darn commercials that it's coming... And I know that it would make her so happy... but it goes against anything I thought I'd EVER do with my daughter..... I always said I would not have one of those girls that had every Disney princess, Tinkerbell, sparkly thing ever invented.

She now owns a Tinkerbell phone (potty present this summer) and the PJ's. {CRINGE} How does every 3 year old girl get sucked into Disney's spell???? It's uncanny. Mom says I'm encouraging the obsession, but I seriously don't think I am.

I think the reason I was against all the princess stuff in the first place is that I didn't want to encourage a 'sickie-sweet girly girl' if you know what I mean. But somehow Grace is the perfect balance of tomboy and girly girl. If you ask anyone that knows her, they will tell you the same. Everything she wears these days is required to twirl, and all things sparkly are her favorite... but somehow she holds this incredible balance. And to be honest, I like that.

So, what to do... make my child so happy by letting her watch "her" movie.... or be stubborn and just say no?

tooth fairy

She has the tooth....

She is the fairy....

Still not holding my breath on Harper crawling, although these past few weeks she's given it a go. She'd rather stand up.

These toofers have given us a run for our money... things are calming down this week, but I am not convinced that our sleepless nights are over. If' she's had this much trouble with the teeth she has, and they have only just eeked through the gums... Molars are going to push the child over the edge.

Grace wore these wings to a wedding on Saturday. In the family pictures and everything. Awesome. She is going to be purple Tinkerbell for Halloween. Is anyone surprised???

What is your destiny?

I am a little nervous about posting this, but I was encouraged by my sweet friend earlier today that this is GOD's story, not my own...So true, so true...

Earlier this summer, I was reading one of the Williamson County newspapers. There was an article about a new store that had opened in the Grassland area. Their mission was three-fold: Carry only goods made locally; Sell items made out of recycled materials; and re-sell antiques and other vintage items. Of course, it immediately tickled my fancy. I knew in my heart after reading that article that I needed to contact the owner of the store and show her some of the things I'd been making. Pride and fear of rejection got the best of me and for over 3 months I did nothing about it, but I couldn't get the thought out of my head.

Last week, I decided to take Harper and just go walk through the store. Immediately after walking through the door, I got a sense that this was something I was supposed to do. I mentioned to the guy working that I may be interested in selling some of my items there, he told me to email the owner, tell her my story, send pictures etc. and she would contact me back.

So, I'd gotten up enough courage to actually walk in the store, now I had to muster the guts to pitch this to the owner. I stewed over it for a while, and just felt it was something I had to try. I am the type of person that would rather prepare myself for the worst possible outcome, than hope for the best and be disappointed.

I waited for the reply email nervously, and almost didn't open it when it came. I finally opened the email and the owner seemed really excited about what I was doing and wanted to meet with me. Ahhhh! What???

I made several things over the next few days, created labels and tags, and again, prepared myself to be rejected....

When the time came, the owner took one look and said "This is exactly what I've wanted to carry in my store!"

This could only be a God thing. I signed the contract, left her with my items and walked away in shock that this had actually happened. I know this really isn't that big of deal, but for me, I finally felt like I had taken a step that God wanted me to take. The items are not out yet, and obviously, nothing has yet sold, but I feel like I've taken a step in the right direction.

What a perfect fit??? Maybe this is part of my destiny, maybe this is what God has created me to do? I will never know if I don't try, and I am thankful that God gave me the courage to put myself out there. We'll see what happens! Whatever it is, good or bad, I know that it is God's story, and He will be glorified.

So, go check out this awesome store: Over The Moon The owner is exceptionally nice, the collection is unique and you can find some exquisite one of a kind items!

Bonfires and Marshmallows

Grace spent the night with Izze and Papa last Saturday night. She got to experience her first bonfire and marshmallow roasting! Needless to say, she was thrilled. Here are some cute pictures:

Notice that half the bag of marshmallows have mysteriously relocated into Grace's cheeks... ????

At the end of the night, Iz wondered why she couldn't calm down and go to sleep.... Ummmm, how many marshmallows did she actually eat??? (Almost a whole bag.) Maybe that's why...
They also went to Disney on Ice, but nothing could be better than the campfire and playing hide n go seek with glow sticks in the yard. Doesn't that seem like a kid's dream?

3 little devils...

So, 3 little devils have found their way into our home over the past 9 weeks (NO, that's not a typo...I said NINE weeks.) Very sneaky little devils... sometimes they show up with a vengeance, sometimes they are quiet, but when they are here, boy oh boy, you better watch out. I had no idea that something so small could cause so much ruckus, or so little sleep. They are so elusive that I haven't even been able to get a picture yet...

What are they, you say??? Harper's first 3 teeth. Barely there, but somehow so incredibly present. Until last week, when they finally revealed their identity, I wasn't sure what had come over my sweet little innocent, perfectly behaved baby. I'd taken her to the doctor, sure she had some kind of serious internal bleeding or a terribly awful disease.

Grace had no problem with teeth. I didn't even know she getting teeth until one day she bit my finger and drew blood. She wasn't bothered at all. Harper has turned into a monster. I am thankful that there may be an end in sight....but the prospect of getting Lord knows how many more teeth is enough to make me a little nauseous.

The little devils laugh in the face of Tylenol and Motrin, cold rags do nothing because she won't gnaw on them, I've purchased the homeopathic teething tablets (I know, I know, they are not FDA regulated.... but people, we need HELP....) Oragel....HA, it numbs her whole mouth but apparently doesn't help the pain...because she still screams.

Last week, I think I got about 10 hours of sleep the entire week... granted, the puke virus plus a little touch of the flu went through our house, but Harper wasn't the one who was sick, yet she screamed for 7 of the 9 hours at night...Lovely. By the end of the week, I couldn't compose a coherent sentence, my body was sore, my eyes were blurry and driving was probably not the safest thing I could have done.

Thankfully, last night I heard silence for the first time in a while. Silence.......... I slept. It was like a little piece of heaven. To be quite honest, I don't know if she woke up or did not. I was so tired that I very well may have completely slept through the yelling, I don't know. Those 3 little teeth are through the gums, so maybe we are in for a little respite from the storm. Anyone have a secret remedy they want to share??? If I had a million dollars, I'd give it to whomever can find the magic cure for the screaming.

Anyways, as soon as I can catch a shot of the little culprits themselves, you better believe I will post it.